Gotham Gal

Inconsiderate Cell Phone Man

Last night's dinner was the ultimate in the need for posted signs about etiquette.  Maybe I should write a book?

We went to the Martini House for dinner in Napa Valley.  The setting is beautiful.  Outdoor trellises with vines and tables underneath.  Beautiful. 

There is a guy sitting across from us, alone.  I can tell you what happened to his date b/c we could hear his entire cell phone conversation.  When people speak on cell phones they speak louder than normal because you can't gage your decibels b/c there is no one sitting across from you that acknowledges that they hear you.  This guy, as we now call the Inconsiderate Cell Phone Man, was talking quite loud.  He was discussing the FBI, his passed out date in the car, gay movies, money and loud obnoxious advice. 

Everyone around us was sort of dismayed.  I said something to the waiter, he giggled.  I gave the guy dirty looks.  Where was the management???  I can't imagine the people we know who own restaurants not going over and saying to the guy, turn it off. 

Perhaps the food was better than we thought but the atmosphere made is impossible to enjoy.  The food was mediocre at best.  Over sauced, over thought out but a great atmosphere (if the cell phone man was not there). 

When we left, I said something to the manager for future guests.  His staff should tell him to react to this immediately.  Even a guest said something to him once he got off his first phone call.  Regardless, he decided to get on a 2nd.  It was almost like being in a bad movie.  Lame on the management's part.  We left after our main course.  Actually bolted would be a better description to get an ice cream cone in town. 

Lesson learned.  Keep the cell phones out of public spaces.  Not in elevators - so rude, not in restaurants, not in museums, etc.  Cell phones walking down the street, shopping by yourself, in the car, fine but NOT in public forums.  Rude, rude, rude!!!

Quince Restaurant

It is a funny thing that as you get older not only does the world seem to get smaller but you actually begin to know people that are running companies, are written about, or starting restaurants.   I guess eventually we all grow up.

I had read about Quince Restaurant in all the food magazines, Food and Wine, Gourmet, etc.  Michael Tusk was being compared to Alice Waters.  Pretty impressive.  Michael Tusk is the brother of someone who my sister went to school with, who she was very good friends with and I hung out with for years when we lived in NYC solo my sister.  Not only was I thrilled for Michael, I was dying to get out to San Francisco to check out the place.  Last night was our big night.

We went with 2 good old friends who also happen to know Michael and one of them is best friends with my sister.  Surprise. 

We walked in and who was sitting in the restaurant but Willie Brown, who was the mayor of San Francisco.  Great sighting..right? 

The restaurant has a wonderful warm vibe.  The staff couldn't be nicer and more knowledgeable.  You can tell that it is a small family. 

We began with a few different appetizers.  2 people had the scallops.  Scallops, pan seared with a warm corn salad with mushrooms.  Beyond delicious!  I had the halibut tartare with small crispy pieces of bread and cherry tomatoes.  Yum.  The tartare was simple and light but like butter.  One other person had the zucchini blossoms which were perfectly cooked.

Ok..on to dins.  We decided we should split 2 pastas because the pastas are really good.  Michael sent out for each of us a small plate of a lasagna like pasta.  Two large pieces of pasta, like a big ravioli, that was stuffed with cheese, greens and topped with a luscious tomato sauce.  The cheese literally oozed out.  So, why did we need to order the 2 pastas?  Well, we did, so we ate them.  We split a fava bean ravioli.  Very rich but different and good.  We also had a oxtail pasta.  The oxtail had been cooked forever.  Oxtail in a rich brown sauce sauteed with a tagliatelle pasta.  All good.

Now, believe it or not, we were ready to eat our main courses.  2 of us had the white shrimp.  A dozen or so white shrimp surrounding the plate in a circle with small cherry tomatoes on top in a light orange liqueur sauce.  It was divine.  Someone else had the duck breast, sliced thin in a fruit sauce.  The other dish was sublime.  Beef cheeks that had been braised and then pulled apart and made into a small pancake and charred and served with a rich sauce.  It was like a potato pancake.  Unbelievably innovative and delicious. 

At this point we were so overloaded with food and drink, we marched into the kitchen to chat with Michael.  He is incredibly humble.  He took us into the kitchen and into the refrigerator.  He talked about how each day was different based on the local produce.  He showed us what was going to happen the next night.  There was a medium sized pig hanging up side down for tomorrow's dins.  Beautiful organic produce too.  It was the pig I was taken with.  It was obvious being back there that I was right with the assumption that he has created a family there.  Bravo!

So dessert was being served at the table.  We had 2 desserts to share.  A fig tart and a fruit concoction served between 2 light pieces of dough.  Both delicious.

At the end of the day, Michael Tusk is someone to watch.  He has done an incredible job not only creating the intimacy in his restaurant but the food that is being prepared is new, different and divine.  All I could say to him, perhaps I did more than a few times, is congratulations.  Hey, I knew him when he was just 19.  You never know...

San Francisco

I  have not been out to the San Francisco area in quite a few years.  It is always comforting to return to a city that you like.  Also, as you begin to drive around, everything starts to look familiar again.

We stayed for only one night but it was a very good night.  We stayed at the Hotel Vitale which was recommended by a very good old friend.   

The hotel is a cross between a W hotel and the Mercer Hotel in NYC.  Simple, modern, not too expensive and in a good location.  The hotel sits over the waterfront area.  The Ferry building on the waterfront wasn't there when I was there last time or at least it wasn't renovated. 
Very San Franciscan.  Wine bars, cheese shops, olive oils to taste, organic foods to buy.  On Saturday morning there is a flea market and open air farmer's market.

So, if you are passing through San Francisco, check out the Hotel Vitale for a place to stay. 

Podcast

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I have seen the original version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory countless times.  How funny that Gene Wilder is now the original Willy Wonka. It was part of my childhood.  I also read all the books.  I thought that Dahl was wonderful.  Dark and humorous at the same time.  Very druggy actually.  James and the Giant Peach was wild.

I turned our kids on to the movie at a very young age.  God knows how many times we have watched Violet turn into a blueberry.  I admit as I grew older, I realized that I was never a huge fan of the Grandpa Joe character in the movie or some of the stupid songs.  It was more the nostalgia and the brilliance of all the chocolate.

The new and improved version of Willy Wonka came out today.  Tim Burton directed Johnny Depp playing Willy Wonka.  The early reviews sounding promising.  It was a must see.

Ok...I have seen it.  BRILLIANT!  I loved it.  Johnny Depp is like a guy who has taken way too much acid.  The kids are quirky and obnoxious.  Charlie is so pure.  This movie actually follows the book much better than the original.  There are no stupid songs.  There are some very funny lines.  The computer imaging is fantastic.  The whole flash back scene with Wonka's father could have been left out but nothing is perfect.   

I will most certainly be seeing this film again and again and again.  Don't even bother to take kids with you, I didn't.  Tim Burton has make his mark.  Truly.  I loved it. 

Hearth

Just for the record, we returned to Hearth the other night for a quick bite.  I really like the place.  I like Paul who owns and runs it.  I like the way they do the menu.  I like the wine list too.  But, the food was just not as good.  This is my 4th time there.  The food has gotten a little worse every time I eat there.  This past meal was really disappointing.  So, for all you out there looking for a place to eat, I hate to say it, pass on Hearth.

Dinosaur Jr.

Dinosaur Jr.  played at Summerstage last night.  The weather behaved.  But it was one of those days when you just have a feeling that it wasn't going to be worth the trip uptown.  We had cab problems, we couldn't find a bar just to sit at and have a drink (don't attempt it in the 70's and Madison), I wasn't feeling good.  It just wasn't meant to be.  We were committed so we went. 

I am a huge fan of J. Mascis.  Martin and Me  is a fantastic CD.  Major air time for years in our house.  I really rocked to early Dinosaur Jr. too.  What happened? 

Last night J. Mascis must have thought he was Ted Nugent.  His blond hair straight and down his back flying all over the place while he just jammed out on his guitar.  Every song sounded the same.  I couldn't make out any of the melodies so I wasn't sure if he was playing music I was familiar with or not.  It was a true bummer. 

I turned to Fred and said  "this is horrible, let's go".  He said, "no, let's wait one more song and see.".  Literally 2 seconds later, he says "you're right, this sucks, let's go". 

Such a drag.  I want those fine memories back of listening to Dinosaur Jr.  Usually when I see a concert, the next morning I get up and put on the music.  Not this morning.  It will take me a few days, maybe a few months. 

C'est la.  It isn't always what you expect.  Sometimes recordings are much better than live and sometimes live music is better than the actual recording.  I prefer when the concert finishes, it leaves you begging for more.  Not in this case.  Please turn it off! 

Summer Movies

Summer afternoon movies are perfect breaks from the heat.  You jump into the theater, relax, eat popcorn and cool off.  I saw 2 movies this week that I am really glad that I saw. 

The Talent Given Us is an independent movie that was acknowledged at Sundance and CineVegas.  It is a clever film written and directed by Andrew Wagner, who also plays a role in the movie.  The basic story line is that the Wagners who have been married for 46 years hear of an opportunity for their son to come back to NYC.  Judy, the mother who is played by Judy Wagner decides to take her daughters and husband, Alan, on a road trip to Los Angeles to tell her son and reconnect.  It is a reality/documentary on the Wagners.  Judy Wagner is a trip.  She is a combination of Larry David and Woody Allen.  They are dysfunctional, quirky, loveable and neurotic.  Very original movie.

The other film was Mad Hot Ballroom.   Emily, our middle daughter, saw this the day it came out with her school, so I sort of let it fall through the cracks but really wanted to see it.  I am so glad I finally went.  This is a documentary on a 10 week class on ballroom dancing that is taught in the New York City public school system in 5th grade.  Once complete, there is a contest against all the other 5th grade classes  in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, etc. to compete for the trophy.  The kids are fantastic.  The program is wonderful.  You get a small glimpse into the diversity from one school to another in NYC.  This program really touched some kids that might not have had the opportunity in their lives to feel so special and good at something.  It probably changed the course of many of their lives.  A great reason why we should never cut the arts from the Education budget.  The film is a gem. 

Other indie films out there to see.  I will keep you posted.

Falai

The Lower East Side has gone and is still undergoing dramatic change.  Luckily, that area still has the flavor of the city.  All the restaurants, stores, bars are owned and run by local entrepreneurial spirits.  As my friend pointed out last night, it will never become a "mall" because the store fronts are way too tiny.  She is absolutely right.  It is sort of tough to fit a GAP into a 300 square foot space and make an impact.  Thank god.

This area has become the ultimate hipster location.  We went to Falai , on Clinton, for dinner.  It is perfect for summer.  All white with a small backyard.  Tiny.  The fare is Wild Game, Italian.  Hmm. 

The menu is small.  Appetizers, Fish, Pasta and Meat.  Only about 3-4 selections in each.  Not surprising considering the size of the restaurant.  It took a while but they finally took our order for a bottle of wine.  During this time they are constantly handing out bread.  Small loafs of poppy, black cabbage bread  (swear), sourdough etc.  They were good but not great.  I would have liked them to be a little warmer and softer.  Olive oil or butter on the table would have been a nice accompaniment.  Perhaps they forgot or they just don't have it. 

We started with a variety of appetizers.  I had the special salad.  It sounded good.  Peeled tomatoes, sliced organic zucchini, shavings of Parmesan, toasted croutons and greens.  The presentation was terrific.  Small white bowl and all of the making of the salad layered on top of each other, including the croutons.  Really nice.  Unfortunately there is no taste.  Where was the balsamic vinaigrette promised?  Bland.  Oh well.  Someone else had the octopus which he deemed to be well presented but bland too.  Ok, on to dinner.

I had the chicken in the pot.  Nothing like a good roasted chicken.  Again, beautiful presentation.  It came in a small white pot covered.  Inside was a breast with crispy skin, deboned thigh and a small wing with small potatoes and cippolinni onions.  Again, the problem was there was no taste.  The chicken was cooked perfect, really juicy but bland.  My husband had the fish special.  Roasted monkfish with a green sauce.  Really beautiful, but again bad taste.  Such a drag.

I admit, I didn't and I should have tasted our friends food but didn't.  The appetizer of Ricotta and peas looked really good.  The pasta dish was beautiful too.  Small heaps of pasta and they then poured a sauce over it.

Ok.  We went for a dessert.  They gave us small cones of strawberry and chocolate gelato. I liked it.  We also had a plate of profiteroles which come very tiny stacked next to each other drenched in chocolate sauce.  I actually thought the desserts were the best thing.

Unfortunately this has been my experience down there in general.  Great ideas, beautiful presentations but there is a lack of taste and also service.  Maybe I've become too old for the hipster area of New York.  Who knows but I will continue to try again.

Ama

I am working my way down the list of new restaurants.  Ama was on the list, and so off we went.  It was a Monday night and summer.  I mention that because it is incredible how in the summer, you can pretty much walk into any restaurant with 2 people and get a table.  Last night it was 4 of us.  It gets emptier in August.  It is a treat to be in NYC when it is empty.  There is definitely a different vibe in the air.

Ama is located on Macdougal street between Prince and Houston.  That area has always been a small restaurant row.  Ama is the newest member. 

The place is simple, clean and modern.  The ceilings are low which create an intimate environment.  The menu is good.  5-6 appetizers, 5-6 pastas and 5-6 main courses. 

The food is Pugliese, very Southern Italian, almost Sardinian.  Simple fare.  I started with a frisee salad with mushrooms.  It wasn't that interesting or tasty.  It needed more mushrooms, less frisee.  Someone else had the beet salad, roasted yellow and red beets with goat cheese.  I am not a big beet person but the presentation was really beautiful.  Zucchini blossoms were also tried.  2 stuffed with cheese, sauteed, not fried.  The cheese was delicious.  The perfect amount of herbs but they were so stuffed with cheese that the blossoms looked faint from heat. 

My main course was the whole grilled fish.  They will serve it whole or filleted for you.  I opted for the whole.  It was really delicious, well cooked, lots of herbs, etc.  I had sauteed escarole on the side which was the perfect accompaniment.  2 people had the assorted shellfish with a little red sauce.  The sauce was light and spicy.  Good for dipping bread in.  The mix was shrimp, clams, scallops and lobster.  A good peasant dish.  The other entree at the table was the pasta with eggplant, ricotta salata and roasted tomatoes.  That was excellent.  All the pasta dishes sounded really good.  Not surprising that they would do pasta well in a Pugliese restaurant which is farmhouse type food; pasta, beans etc.

For dessert we split a fried dough with strawberries and chocolate sauce.  Ok, not great. 

We did have a fantastic bottle of red wine.  The place was good but not great.  It is certainly convenient for me.  Right in my hood.  I might return with the kids for 2 of ours love pasta and that seemed to be the best thing on the menu.