just walking around

in NYC - on the day before Phil arrived- I went to degustation for dinner (earlier post) and then on sunday went for a walk and sat outside for a good long while- the weather was beautiful and there was a small art installation in Madison Square Park- water towers lined with mirrored surfaces and neon words- the flower bulbs were blooming and the statue of liberty shining nicely in the souvenir store window along Broadway-

I went to NoMad for brunch and had an excellent eggs benedict with frites that would have been perfect but they were over salted..oh well... then Phil arrived and we met up with Angela & Lee and Jeremy & Jenna for dinner - the first time we were all together in literally years!

the good weather held up and the next day we walked to lunch at Gotham and then to a toy store for a birthday gift for our favorite three year old in the entire world!

then the Racine's opening (prior post) and finally we had a fabulous lunch at Juni (yet another prior post) and dinner at Scalinin Fedeli - another excellent meal in the old school of first rate service and food providing an unbeatable combination-

here are just a few photos and then I have to get ready to move along to two days on the road with the girls- fun!!!

on to Gotham-

starters of the fab tuna tartare and the foie gras and duck terrine-  then Phil had duck and I had the burger-

the menu at Scalini Fedeli-

 our final meal was lunch with Laure at an out of the way gastro pub on 30th called the Crooked Knife, on our way to the airport- it was cute and food was fine - mostly we just took the time to catch up with each other....

but I will leave you with Phil's favorite moment of the five day whirlwind-

the main event!

So as you know we have been in NYC for a few days - even though there is a ton of stuff to get done before I leave here for the north- we did not want to miss the opening of our friend Arnaud Tronche's wine bar and restaurant - Racine's NY.... so when all the permits were in place and things all approved we "took" our tickets and headed there to help celebrate the event long in coming!

the evening was lovely despite the uneven first time service - the food was wonderful and the place has the most welcoming ambience- clean crisp lines of natural wood and stone and brick - reflective of the general manager Arnaud Tronche's taste for not just design but wines as well.  The focus is on those wines grown organically and biodynamically... Tribeca will definitely be enriched by the food and wine on offer here!

the menu for the very first night of regular food service-

an amuse of watermelon radish soup- the watermelon is an adjective - LOL - not an ingredient...

the ceviche and the veal tartare starters -

the scallops main and the pork mangalitsa -

the logo to look for-

this morning - the day of the first public dinner reservations and customers- there was an article by FLO FAB (Florence Fabricant) in the NYT (Times) about the opening! See: http://nyti.ms/1ev7Pbs

here is the text-

Headliner

RACINES NY

The notion of opening a restaurant in New York has been percolating in David Lahner’s head for many years. He is finally bringing a branch of Racines, his two Paris restaurants, to New York with his partners: David Lillie, who owns Chambers Street Wines, and Arnaud Tronche, a sommelier who will be the general manager. The somewhat narrow space with an open kitchen has an air of refined rusticity with brick walls and mirrors. The chef, Frédéric Duca, is from Marseilles, but his brief menu has only a light French accent. There is sea bass ceviche, squid a la plancha and lamb shoulder confit. “I want to showcase quality ingredients to go with wines that express the soil,” he said. Mr. Lillie, whose shop holds a trove from small French producers, said they are making a commitment to natural and biodynamic wines, or, as he put it, “wines from the earth.” (Opens Wednesday): 94 Chambers Street (Church Street), 212-227-3400, racinesny.com.

so, bon chance! and congratulations to Arnaud Tronche (and his biggest supporter and help mate - Laure Vienot Tronche...) all the best for you and Racine's NY and many years of success to come! Cheers!

PS- great news! a big article in Zagat! http://www.zagat.com/b/new-york-city/first-look-racines-a-tribeca-outpost-of-a-paris-wine-bar#4

excellent write up - and the people have started coming!!!!!

amazing lunch at a new place!

So we tried a new place for lunch today and LOVED IT !!! It is called Juni and the food on the prix-fixe lunch was amazing. We had really liked this chef about two years ago at the eponymous SHO Shaun Hergott. So when I was looking for a local lunch for today I saw he was now nearby on 31st street. In the Hotel Chandler. 

Phil started with the asparagus and I had the lettuce soup with a 64* egg. Amazing hearty flavor and completely different from anything else. 

Then for mains he had a pork duo and I had pomegranate glazed salmon. 

Then for dessert I had the avocado ice cream and Phil had a chocolate pistachio creation.

Here is their card- be sure to add it to your must try places in NYC.

tasting menu at degustation

Still fabulous!

And starting with dessert! The amazing bruleed French toast.

The pre-dessert. Pop rocks and Gelee of red fruits

And then in quick notes and reverse order - because I am doing this on my phone

Wagyu beef -an amazing pasta course - incredible pork belly with an egg - lovely scallops - yummy grilled asparagus -oysters with a divine sauce.

Chicharones on lichens (they are just for show) LOL and they called them "caribou moss" but I saw a reindeer in Lapland eating the exact same thing when we were north of the arctic circle on our wedding trip.

The menu

Men at work in the kitchen. (Note to Phil- see Honey, it can be done! LOL)