Every few years, my dear friends Annie and Tommy pop over from London and give me the great privilege and pleasure of escorting them to New York, where I once lived and of which they still, kindly, consider me expert. I guess I do manage to keep up…
Last weekend, the tables were turned, however, and when we all touched down in the Big Apple, it was they who did the impressive hosting, bringing me to two quite fabulous new places they’re connected with, through friends back in London: Le Caprice in the newly renovated Pierre, and the Monkey Bar in the Elysée – both gorgeous and oh-so-glam! To shake things up, we always stay in a different part of town, and this time, except for drinks and dinner --oh yes, and our visit to MoMA to catch the end of the breathtaking Bauhaus exhibition -- it was a downtown experience. We checked right into the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, where could wake up to a view of Lady Liberty herself.
Saturday night at The Monkey Bar was like wandering in to Hollywood of another era: I kept having the feeling that Bette Davis was about to walk around the corner. To begin with classic cocktails seemed the right thing to do in such an atmosphere, and Tommy and Annie started off with martinis, James Bond style. I put the bartender to the test by requesting an old school daiquiri – not frozen. He passed with flying colors.
And for Le Caprice, New York Times restaurant critic Sam Sifton, in his list of the best dishes from the best restaurants that opened in 2009, chose one from Le Caprice, and I was anxious to try it: the Smoked Haddock Tart. Indeed, it lived up to all his promises and all my expectations, and set a new standard for fish, in my book – and for tarts too, come to think of it. However, that was all about what I liked at the restaurant. I did not want to burst Tommy and Annie’s bubble at the time, but truth be told now.
Is was nice to sit back and not have the pressure of getting into the savvy places on everyone food writer’s list. I am usually the one hitting the streets to try it all with a few chef friends to go along for the culinary ride. I think I’m going to have to let Annie and Tommy take the New York lead more often…and put them to the test!
PS I did sneak a place I love so much and the chef is a friend- Artisanal by Chef Terrance Brennan. But Oh the array of cheeses that are over flowing at this restaurant and where it all began- Picholine- by the city’s first celebrity maître fromager, Max McCalman. I happen to have a fondness for the places as was there with them and helped to be a part of their success when I was brought on by the public relations company to help their publicity. Wow! That was about 12 years ago!
