Gotham Gal

Born Rich

Last night I went to the film premiere of Born Rich. Jamie Johnson (of Johnson and Johnson) directed and produced this documentary which is being distributed by HBO. It was quite an interesting perspective into the lives of children of the very wealthy. Supposedly, money is something never openly discussed growing up among their families but as each of the 10 people start talking about their wealth, it is quite an interesting look into what being born rich means.

Like anyone, some people appear to be more grounded than others. Ivanka Trump came off seemingly grounded and real considering she has grown up in the press, surrounded by divorce, and controversy.

Imagine becoming 18 years old and now you are worth somewhere between $100 - $200 million. You don't have to work. But, how do you feel good about yourself? How can you feel normal surrounded by people that are perhaps uncomfortable by your money? Money after all is a weird thing. Noone likes to talk about it.

The most interesting person in the film was the heir to the Guggenheim/Whitney legacy. At 18, he was brought paperwork to be signed from his parents which brought him into millions of dollars. He became really depressed afterwards. His parents took him out of college and for 2 years he worked on an oil rig down in Texas surrounded by true blue collar workers. Great experience for him. He realized that working was something that gave him self satisfaction. So, although he rakes in probably around $1m a year, he makes $50K doing something for himself. I liked that.

I also liked Jamie Johnson. He really was very curious about his circumstances and how his father dealt with his circumstances as well. He wanted to make sure that his comfort level was better than his father's. He realized that being born rich is a privilege but what do you do with that?

All and all, an interesting perspective. Who hasn't thought that wouldn't it be easier if I just had tons of cash. Well, it obviously isn't that easy.

Kalustyan's

Yesterday I stopped by Kalustyans. I found out about this wonderful store while taking a course at the Ice Culinary School, formerly Peter Kumps. BTW, they offer recreational courses from Cooking 101 to Baking Cakes to Wine Tasting. The classes are fun and you definitely get something out of them.

Kalustyan's is certainly worth the visit (28th and Lexington) but their online store does the trick. It is an oasis of specialty foods from the middle east to asia. The herbs are packaged in small to large plastic zip locks. There are a variety of olive oils from Italy, Spain, and Israel. The dried fruit is abundant. Every rice imaginable. Also, incredible nuts. Yesterday, I filled up on all kinds of goodies. I bought wasabi peas, roasted almonds, mixed nuts, pine nuts for making pesto (great buy), huge can of olive oil from Seville, dried black missions figs, sweet paprika, sesame seeds, vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, jasmine rice, white rice, moroccan eastern couscous (similar to israeli but bigger) and of course a treat to go - Mixed Vegetable Paratha. Paratha is like a flat indian bread with vegetables already in the mixture. The paratha is spicy and delicious!

I have ordered online before. The order came quickly and I found their site pretty easy to navigate. The prices are good and the spices are fresh.

This might be an only in New York store. As I was leaving, a middle eastern gentleman came in and purchased his Israeli Yogurt, dried fruit and cauliflower paratha. Obviously his lunch. He was able to get the same meal here as he was in his homeland. Gotta love it!

caramel apples

I found the kit today. Check out Cooking.com. This looks like a really great kit.

apple picking in the fall

I love apple picking in the fall. The smell of fall brings out the farmer in me. We went out to the end of Long Island this weekend where the leaves are just starting to turn. The bugs are gone. The sun is warm. I would say the crowds are gone, but that is not the case.

We went to The Milk Pail in Watermill is the perfect orchard. The trees are low to the ground so everyone can reach up and pull an apple off the tree. This orchard is very organized . There is a table, before you enter the orchard, with every type of apple available to taste. This way, you can insure that you pick the apple of your liking. Also, as much as apple picking would seem like a fun inexpensive family outing - it is not. We started with our 2 bag purchase - empty and waiting for you to fill. That was $40. The Milk Pail also has pumpkin picking, gourd picking and squash picking. We opted for the gourd and squash picking. That was another $25 with the cider and donuts we threw in - of course! The property is incredible and thank god they have kept the farmland instead of selling off to a developer. God knows what that property is worth.

There are a variety of other places to pick apples around the New York area. We used to go upstate where the supply is endless. There are literally somewhere between 650-700 apple farms in New York State. We used to go to Wilkens Apple Farm. This website will give you a few places in the area of Westchester and Long Island that are not too far from the city. Long Island and Westchester. Another great site is Pick Your Own. Lots of orchards are listed with recipes and other available pickings through out the year.

Of course, half the fun is going home and doing something with all those apples. We made caramel apples with tons yummy additions mashed into the caramel. Last year I had purchased a caramel apple kit at Williams Sonoma. Unfortunately they do not carry that kit this year. But, simply take loads of caramels and melt them either in the microwave or a double boiler until the caramel is completely melted. Be wary, the caramel gets cold again very quickly. Take short wooden sticks and push into the top of the apples. Dip the apples in the caramel and then roll them into your goodies of choice. We used peanut butter chips, crushed peanuts, orange/black sprinkles and small m&m's. A low-cal treat. Not! Put the apples on wax paper to dry. I'd recommend leaving them in the refrigerator when you are done.

We also made applesauce which is easy and delicious. Use a variety of apples for this. Peel, core and quarter about 15-20 apples. Put into a big deep pot. Pour about 1-2 cups of apple cider into the pot with 1T cinnamon, 1T nutmeg and 1/2T cardamon. Bring the pot to a boil and then reduce to medium low. Put a top on and continue to check the pot so the apples do not burn. Stir and break up the apples as they soften. It will take about one hour to completely break down into applesauce. We made about a gallon or so. We then put the applesauce in Kerr containers for canning. Boil the jars after filled and closed for about 10 minutes to make sure they are sealed. Or, just put into the refrigerator and the applesauce should last about 2 weeks.

The last dish was of couse apple pie. Everyone has an apple pie recipe. My only advice to the perfect apple pie is to first saute the apples in butter and the ingredients that the recipe calls for (brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg, etc.) until the apples get a bit soft. Also, taste the apples after this. If they are not sweet enough, add more sugar. Then, put this mixture into your pie. I have found that the apples don't always cook as quickly as the pie crust, so this way, your apples will be soft instead of crunchy in your pie.

Happy Fall.

Collecting Art

I have always enjoyed art. Museums, galleries, etc. I started working with a terrific woman who basically helps people learn, appreciate and collect art. It has been a great education. You must buy what you love. Also, art does not necessarily have to be ridiculously expensive. Anyone can collect within their price range. Personally, I enjoy collecting young emerging artists. It probably sits within my personality of taking risks. I believe in my eye and I really enjoy getting to know the artists which at this stage are so approachable. Then, you get to watch their careers. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The key is do you like looking at the piece you bought hanging on your wall.

I try to get out to the galleries in Chelsea at least once a month, so I will keep writing about what I have seen.

Last night, we went to 2 openings. The first opening was Mark Innerst at the Paul Kasmin Gallery. We had bought a James Nares piece there a few years ago and I love that piece! James builds his own brushes in a variety of sizes and literally suspends himself (at times) from the ceiling and pulls the brush across the canvas in one fell swoop. The image of the stroke appears to be 3D. Our painting looks like a giant wave crossing the canvas. Paul Kasmin has a variety of fantastic artists that he represents. Most of the artists are way past the emerging category and have become solidly rooted in their profession. Mark Innerst pieces are beautiful. The pieces appear to look as if Mark's colleague was Vermeer. He paints beautiful landscapes of New York and recently, in last night's show, of Wildwood NJ beach and amusement park. He layers the paints over and over until the pieces almost look like they are enamel. The pieces are not large and the details are incredible. Absolutely worth seeing.

The other opening we went to was at Wallspace Gallery. The two women who own this young Gallery are two of the grooviest girls I have ever met. They have a lot of energy and obviously love the art world. Here is where you will see emerging artists. Wallspace Gallery is at 547 West 27th where there are also a variety of other young galleries. Last night, all of them had openings. It was like going to a walking party. There were tubs of beer out in the hallways. It was quite the scene. The artist at Wallspace is a young photographer named Mark Wyse who shoots pictures of surfers. The photos are crisp, clear and worth seeing.

Another gallery that I have been in a few times (and bought something for my husband's office) is Ziehersmith. The 2 people who own and run the gallery, I believe, have a terrific eye. The artists they represent are all emerging. Check them out too!

The other thing to keep in mind as you stroll into the galleries, is that there are now some good restaurants to give your feet a rest. Particularly enjoy the restaurant on 10th avenue between 25/26th where you can see the communal bathroom sink from the street. The insiders see a mirror, the outsiders see their faces. It is pretty hilarious!

Enjoy...

BTW, if you enjoy reading this, you can now get this emailed to you every day. See the column on the left. Email, after all, is the killer application.

shopping on the net

I love the Internet. The power of the Internet is incredible. For me, the power of being able to get a million things done without ever talking to another human being. To purchase with a push of a button is tremendous! I literally decorated an entire house online. Boxes kept coming and I kept marking them for the intended room. It was a beautiful thing. God knows how long it would have taken me schlepping from one place to another.

I am the true Internet consumer. I figure that whatever I need will come quicker if I order it on line than by the time I get there. I hate bad sites. Nothing worse than a site that is not efficient and easy to get in and out of.

So today, I'd like to share some of my favorite sites.

Amazon The ultimate site. The designer is a genius
Your Grocer I use this site monthly. Easier than Sam's Club.
Plum Party Clever party and random goodies
The Container Store Any container you could possibly use
Staples Why go there and give yourself a big headache?
Land of Nod Great gifts for babies
Cooking.com Great supplies. Always has a good deal running.
Penzeys Best spices and prices around
Athleta The best woman's athletic clothes around
Daily Candy I get this every day and love it.
Word of the Day As a crossword fanatic, I love getting this daily.
Bed, Bath and Beyond Why go in there and get angst?

There are many more I use when I need something. Getting my kids ready for camp was a breeze. I needed new faucets, ordered them on line. Even if my kid loves her Puma's and her shoe gets a little tight. I just go to Puma and reorder bigger. Makes my life easier and so I can focus on more interesting things, liking writing a blog.

Avid reader

I have always been an avid reader. Love books. Truth be known, I read too fast but I get carried away and want to get to the end. It would probably be more intelligent to savor the book but it isn't in my genetic makeup.

Every year, we go down to Jazzfest in New Orleans. Friends of ours are friends with another couple that are always there at the same time as us. Actually, they are hardcore and stay for 2 weeks. More power to them. Each year, I discuss books, music, food, new york, etc. with their friend. This past year, she asked me if I was interested in joining a book group. Sure. Why not.

The best part of this book group that I have met a whole group of people that I am not sure I would have met otherwise. They are incredibly well read and beyond intelligent. Discussions are interesting and certainly thought provoking. They are all voracious readers.

We have chosen some interesting books. The first book we read was called Family Matters which was good but not great. It was about a family in Bombay that is basically dysfunctional and unhappy in their lives. Would not recommend. The second book we read was Middlesex which is one of the best novels I have read in years. The writing is spectacular. Middlesex really depicts how first generation to second generation immigrants come to America, quickly assimilate and become Americans. The book also gives good insight into nature vs. nurture and how the gene pool can show up in weird ways. Highly recommend! The third book we read, which we discussed last night, was Reading Lolita In Tehran. Very interesting but not well edited. The author is an amazing woman and gives the reader insight into how living in Iran during the Revolution affected life on the University. She is a professor of literature and writes about her students reading the classics and relating them to the life they are living. Not top of my list. The next book we will read is When the Emperor was Divine. I will keep you posted.

I did read one book this summer which really stuck with me besides Middlesex. Random Family. An incredible true story of young lives growing up in the Bronx. You wonder how that cycle of hell can ever be broken.

I will keep you posted on the books I read over the next month.

kugel anyone?

If you are Jewish, yesterday was a day of fasting. The best part of fasting, of course, is breaking the fast. My daughter believes that this is the best Jewish meal we have. Breakfast for dinner. Bagels, nova, whitefish salad and of course, kugel. Everyone has their own kugel recipe. It's almost like Thanksgiving where everyone has their own families particular type of stuffing which is of course "the best". My Grandmother was not the best cook but she was a helluva a baker and made a killer kugel. Although she has passed on, we continue to make Sally's kugel every year. You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy this recipe. Sweet noodles...what could be bad?

Sally's Kugel Recipe

12 ounces egg noodles
1 pint sour cream
1 pint cottage cheese
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter
3 eggs

cinnamon and sugar mixed

Optional additions can be raisins, currants or any type of dried fruit. I happen to like currants.

Boil the egg noodles until ready, drain and put back into the pot. Add all the ingredients (make sure the eggs have already been whisked before you put them in). Add any optional ingredients here if wanted. Pour noodle mixture into a 9 by 11 glass greased pan. Sprinkle a cinnamon/sugar mixture over the top, as much as you like. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour or until the top is browned.

Delicious!

School of Rock

Weekends are always full. One one hand we want to hang out and relax, on another hand with want to enjoy NYC. Everyone has a different vision of what enjoying NYC means. But, we all agreed on one thing this weekend. School of Rock was a must see movie.

School of Rock completely held up to the expecations we had. Jack Black is absolutely hilarious. He is the John Belushi of this genre. His comic timing paired with his face, body and expressions are impeccable. The kids are adorable. The whole concept of teaching rock music history with the final project of becoming a band is something that anyone can relate too. The message underneath the hilarity of the entire film is that type A parents should chill out! Let kids be kids.

Although there are a variety of good films out there this fall, I highly recommend School of Rock to anyone who has ever loved music and still loves music. After all, who hasn't ever thought about being the eternal rocker star?

dinners in new york

This weekend was a food lover's paradise. We had dinner at Babbo and AOC on Bedford Street.

Babbo is one of the best restaurants in New York City. The food is incredible. The atmosphere is great. The place hums. Mario Batali, who is quite the individual, has slowly made New York his oyster. Everyone of his restaurants have a different vibe but there is a thread running through them. Great music is played, the service is solid, the food is interesting and delicious. You really can't beat it. Also, for an added bonus, the sommelier, David Lynch, is a wealth of information. Everytime we have eaten at Babbo, the wine has paired perfectly with the food we ordered. We picked up his new book last night. Vino Italiano, The Regional Wines of Italy. I can hardly wait to delve in.

AOC was a true find. We went with one of our foodie friends. I can hardly wait to go back. The octopus appetizer was a vision of beauty. Sliced thinly over the entire plate as a carpaccio. The two main courses we had were made for 2. We had Paella for 2 and Suckling Pig for 2. The Paella is one of the best I have ever had. The rice was spicy with large pieces of seafood cooked to perfection. The Pig was served with sweet roasted dates and braised endive. The Rioja we drank was delicious. Check out the Rosengarten report this month on Spanish wines.

The other fave of the month that I must mention is Prune. I actually told the host when we left that I might have to come here and work for free. Truly a foodies paradise. We were sorry that only the 2 of us had dinner there because you wanted to go around and taste all the plates. Menu is always changing based on what is seasonal. Gotta love that.

Now, I'm off to spin those calories away...