Gotham Gal

Aquavit

Aquavit has settled into their new location on East 55th Street.  I have been for lunch twice in the cafe area since they moved but not for dinner.  Last night, we went with 2 other couples for dinner in the dining room.

Fred and I went to the bar earlier to have some Aquavits.  Flavored Scandinavian vodkas made by Aquavit.  You can taste one or 3 or more.  The group of them is called a flight.  I tried 3 different kinds, Fred had 3 others.  Pineapple Thai Basil, Grapefruit Lemongrass, Cucumber, Vanilla Pear Black Pepper, Raspberry Lime and Ginger and Mango Lime Chili pepper.  We tasted them all.  I didn't really like them.  They were a bit too medicinal tasting for me.  I switched to a basic Scandinavian vodka on the rocks but I think I like Russian vodka better.

Architecturally, the restaurant is absolutely beautiful.  Simple, serene and well done.  The food compliments the decor.  Each plate is a masterpiece.  What you order is not what you expect when the plate is delivered.  Small beautiful portions placed masterfully on a plate.

I always have herring when I go.  Some tastes are better than others.  The herring mixtures come with a small shot of caraway Aquavit and a carlsberg beer.  Fred had the kumamoto oysters which were truly delicious. 

For a main course I had the Sea Bass and Shrimp.  2 pieces of Sea Bass seared and placed on different sides of the plate.  In the middle of the plate was sauerkraut that had the texture of celery room mixed with tiny tiny sizes of chorizo.  For dipping there was a small circle of potato aioli and another one of broccoli puree.  Beautiful presentation.  The tastes, ok.  Everything stands on its own but you have to meld the food on the plates to create tastes.  Fred had the smoked trout.  The trout was served in a bowl over a medley of mushrooms and asparagus and a geoduck clam.  The waiter finishes it off with a horseradish broth.  The flavor and texture of the trout was really good.  Someone else had the roasted Salmon.  I had thought about ordering that and am glad I didn't.  I really did not like the taste.  Way too heavy in flavor.  The scallops and rare tuna was beautifully presented, almost layered and now what I expected.  The scallops were wonderful. 

Dessert was a medley of different tastings.  Some good, some weird, some not great.  Their signature dessert is the artic circle.  Goat cheese parfait combined with sorbets on the side.  The parfait tasted like a creamsicle.  Really good.  The peanut butter ice cream with tangerine jelly was delicious.  I love peanut butter and this was top.  The ice cream sandwich presentation was wonderful but taste wise, just OK.  I had the pumpkin bread with a blue cheese on the side and small round pieces of pear.  Nothing great and the cheese looked like a whipped green pesto.  It wasn't that interesting.

All and all, we had a blast because I loved the company but the food didn't wow me.  Presentations were awesome but tastes weren't. 

Since I have been to Vienna and Scandinavia in the past few days, food wise, I have to say, I prefer Vienna. 

Oprah

I have been thinking about the Oprah show where she scolded James Frey.  Shame, shame on Oprah.

I was a fan of Oprah.  Smart woman.  Good business person.  Brought interesting subjects to the table.  Published a magazine with pretty good content.  Got Americans to start reading. 

James Frey wrote a really good book.  In fact, he wrote 2 really good books.  A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard.  It comes out that content in the books were not completely true even though it was sold as a memoir.  But, the majority of it was true and after all, it was his recall, no one elses.

Oprah put A Million Little pieces on her book of the month club.  Then, she found out that the book was part fiction.  She came out saying that she still supported the book.  Then changed in mid stream.  She invited James Frey back on her show to tsk tsk him.  It was completely self serving and disgusting.  Does Oprah now feel better about herself?

My friend brought a good point.  Oprah has celebrities on her show all the time who lie to the public about how they live their lives.  But, that is OK? 

Shame shame on Oprah.  I was a fan but she has definitely gotten too big for her britches.

What is happening to this country?

Today is a sad day. 

Alito has cleared the final hurdle in the Senate to confirm him to the highest court in the United States, the Supreme Court.  He is not only a conservative, he is an ideologue, who is interested in turning back time.  He has a clear vision of what he believes this country should be.  Even if it is not what the majority of Americans want.  He will now be in a position to change law which change the way we live in this country.  The repercussions are yet to be seen.  My guess is that over time states that have a more Democratic liberal base will pass laws that make the Federal laws null and void in their state.  Over time, the red states and the blue states will be more divided and there will be less Republicans or conservatives living in blue states and less Democrats living in Red States.  What type of country will it be then?

There is also an article in the New York Times today about a trial taking place in Kansas.  This class action suits comes from the Attorney general of Kansas, Phil Kline.  He is a conservative fighting for a law that makes having sex under 16 against the law.  Meaning if you see teenagers, under 16, having sex or seeking contraception or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, they would and could be arrested.  This would include French kissing.  Kline is also on a crusade to eliminate all abortions in Kansas. 

Is this the beginnings of the world that Alito and Bush see for America?   Is this the religious right?  Are these men deciding the rights of women and turning back time?  I certainly think so. 

The whole idea of telling teenagers, who's hormones are raging, that they can not act upon those urges until they are 16 is insane.  Teenagers have been experimenting with sex since the beginning of time. 

In the world of Kline and Alito and Bush, if have sex before 15, you can not get contraception because it is illegal that you are having sex and you could be thrown in jail.  If you get pregnant, you will not be able to get an abortion. You have to have that child who in turn will be raised by someone else because you will be thrown in jail because having sex at that age was against the law. 

Is this our future?  Who are these people pushing for these laws and how did they get to be in such high and powerful positions? 

I can't decide if I am just disgusted, sad or just in shock.

Podcast

New podcast up this week.  A lazy Sunday afternoon podcast...

To listen live, click here.

For more info on how to download, etc. go to Freds blog.

Wallse

Wallse has been open for about 5 years now.  I have had reservations there but somehow never made it over.  I finally did and now I  know why it has remained open and busy for the past couple of years. 

The food is Austrian.  I expected something very heavy and dense but it was surprisingly light and delicious.  The wines were good too.

The restaurant has 2 rooms.  When you enter, there is a nice sized bar to the left and tables around the back right of the room.  During the week I have noticed the bar and the front room packed to the brims.  The other room behind the bar, to the left, is a dining room.  Large pieces of art by Julian Schnabel and modern chandeliers that create a very modern European look. 

We started with a Sauvignon Blanc from Austria.  Light and good.  I began with a green salad that was delicious.  Pumpkin oil dressing with sliced radishes and toasted nuts. Fred had the scallops.  Roasted scallops with a rich cream and vegetables.  All good. 

We went with 2 other couples.  For the main course, I ordered the strudel cod.  3 of us ordered it.  Nice pieces of cod placed in layered filo dough, served alongside braised leeks and a simple beurre blanc sauce.  So good.  Different from anything I have ever had.  Fred had the lobster.  One large tail, split down the middle, unshelled and served over a mixture of spaetzle and corn.  A reduced sauce with concord grapes kept the mixture together.  It was absolutely divine.  Someone else had the wiener schnitzel which was fried to perfection.  The other main course was the pork belly really crispy on one side with braised red cabbage and a potato puree that was sweet and not dense.  We had a red wine with this.

Of course dessert, how could we not?  One dense chocolate cake with whipped cream, one apple strudel that was airy and light but the best was the Salzburger Nockerl.  Baked in a large sized flat round baking dish.  Puffed and browned light custard.  The top was light and gooey.  Underneath was a rich warm custard with huckleberries that pop in your mouth.  The flan or creme caramel of Austria.  Top!

Too bad it took me 5 years to get there, I'll be back, for sure.

On another note, I went back to Little Giant.  Again, an excellent meal.  I'm looking forward to returning, with the family in tow, when the season changes for the new menu.

Stamps.com

Why is it that the Government has the worst technology?  Or is that an oxymoron? 

I just spent over an hour plus dealing with Stamps.com.  All I wanted was to download a picture for a stamp.  Not too hard.  The user inner face is not too good but I finally found my way through the system.  Then I had to re-log in when I completed my purchase.  It would not let me log in again.  I said that I was not in the system even though I had an email in my box assuring me that I was. 

So, I called customer service.  35 minutes later a voice talks to me.  15 minutes into our conversation...oh, we aren't compatible with mac's.  OMIGOD! 

Do you think it mentioned that on their website?  No.  Who builds these things? 

Another day in technology hell.

Filibuster?

Today, Democratic.com, published that Senator Clinton would not be voting for a Filibuster.  I am a supporter of the Democratic party but I have truly hit the wall.  I understand that they do not have full majority but they spent more time pontificating at the hearings for Alito than laying out the issues, regardless of not being answered.  Where is the backbone? 

So, after reading that Clinton would not be supporting the Filibuster, I picked up the phone and called her office.  It ends up, Democratic.com, was wrong.  She was supporting a Filibuster.  Regardless, my conversation with her office gave me an attempt to vent a little.  How could they not vote for a Filibuster?  This wasn't backroom political maneuvering, this was a decision that is going to affect this country for 25 years.

I guess what is the most disheartening is that I truly wonder what has happened to America?  Are we really so dumb that we are taken with all of the lies being fed to us by this Republican party?  Are we really that Conservative as a nation?  We began with truly Liberal roots.  Our forefathers came to this country to start something new.  To create change.  We seem to be going back in time.  Our civil liberties are being taken away slowly by the day.  When is this revolt coming? 

My revolt began today with my phone call to Hilary Clinton.  I hope that the Democrats have enough spine to prevent this confirmation of Alito.  But I guess what I really have to hope for is the moderate Republicans who are not only going to have to live with a pious ideologue of a Supreme Court judge but the laws that will be rolled back that their constituency won't support either.  I hope that they can look at themselves in the mirror.  Don't support a President just because you are of the same party.  Support what you believe in and what the people voted for you believe in.  Our President hasn't done that.  Perhaps some of our Republican Senators can.

Table Mountain Fire

My friend sent me these picture of Cape Town.  Apparently a British tourist walked up Table Mountain and left a burning cigarette butt that created a huge fire. 

We were in Cape Town last year and there are no smoking signs everywhere, on Table Mountain,
specifically for this reason.

My heart goes out to all the people of the area.  The gusts of winds that come down from the Mountain at this time of the year are unbelievable.  This fire must have spread quickly and created serious problems for the people of Cape Town. 

Such a beautiful city.  Table Mountain is one of the most incredible spots.  The topography there is unique to any other place in the world.  What a horrible disaster.

Rabbit Hole

Rabbit Hole is the latest play at the Manhattan Theater Club which is playing at the Biltmore Theater.  I have not been thrilled with their productions this year but Rabbit Hole has made up for them. 

The play is a solid drama.  A couple living in Connecticut, who optimize perfection, she bakes, he works, they have done well financially, etc. has tragedy come knocking at their door.  Their four year old child is killed.  The life as they know it no longer exists.  Grief is now the central theme of their lives.

Cynthia Nixon plays the mother, Becca.  She is really a good actress.  Her sister, played by Mary Garrison, is another main character.  Where as Becca is perfect, her sister is more on the wild side.  Her mother, played by Tyne Daley, had lost her son too years before.  The father, played by John Slattery, is excellent. 

What is interesting about the play is how all of their lives change over time.  Also, the grieving between the husband and wife.  One deals with grief in a completely different way than the other.  They also don't necessarily go through the same stages of grief together.  That is probably why you find some marriages can't handle tragedy.  It rips you apart. 

The other character is a young teenage boy, who happened to hit the kid with his car swerving away from not hitting the dog.  It was an accident but his guilt is apparent too.  He wants to connect with the parents because he wants to be forgiven.  A tragedy all the way around.

Eventually, life moves on, but moves on differently. 

Some of the acts were better than others.  But as a whole, it made you think about how delicate life really is.  How relationships can change.  How life can change.  To be lucky for what you have today. 

Fateless, the movie

Fateless, is a Hungarian movie (sub-titled in English) about a young 14 year old boy who finds himself in the midst of the Holocaust, that is really beyond his understanding.  It is a based on a semi-autobiographical book.  This young boy isn't even really connected to Judaism and isn't a very emotional kid at all. 

The movie has flaws but is haunting none the less.  The photography in this film is so unbelievable beautiful and brilliant that I got more out of that than the words being spoken.  The whole film is shot in black and white until the last few minutes of the film when it turns to color.  This is the first film on the Holocaust that I actually had a better feeling of what it might have been like to live through it. 

The main character, Gyuri, is who we follow through the film.  He first finds out that his father is being sent to the labor camps.  Everyone gets together for his last night to send him off.  This camera captures everyone's emotions.  The father's parents are there.  They zero in on the parents and the mothers confusion and the father tears welling up in his eyes and he stands up and runs to his son to hug him.  We had already learned that this it not a very emotional or touching family and that hug rips at your heart.

Gyuri find himself on a bus en route to work, he has a pass that has been issued by the army to do this. Regardless,  he is stopped, taken off the bus, with a variety of other people, and finds himself being transported to the camps.  What is most amazing is how everyone just went. 

The group of people he finds himself traveling with are both men and women, all ages.  Through out those scenes, the snow just continues to blow and circle around them in the car.  You can feel how cold they are.  As they leave Hungary, a guard comes and asks them to give him all their valuables and money.  He says that you won't need them where you are going.  Wouldn't they rather leave them in Hungary than with the Germans?  A man in their group attempts to negotiate for water with the guard.  This scene explodes with anger from the guard and dismay from the travelers.  It is a very haunting scene because the words that are flying back and forth are exactly how people felt about the Jews.  All money, all business and people hated them for it.  Great scene.  Very disturbing. 

When they arrive in the camps, the conversation prior to this is how they are told that they won't need luggage where they are going, but don't believe it.  Even one woman puts on her lipstick right before they exit the cart.  Once the army has separated the groups, the camera stills on the luggage just sitting outside each car.  It still sticks with me.

Inside the camps, Gyuri slowly disintegrates, as they all do.  The camera captures each persons own hell.  All Gyuri really wants to do is go home and eat.  He is hungry.  He doesn't truly capture his connection to why he is there.  I believe in the end he does, but it wasn't so obvious in the dialogue that we get as the movie winds down. 

Regardless of the flaws, I can not get this film out of my head.  The direction and photography make this film something to be seen.  Even the Germans who didn't believe that this actually happened and ignored the refugees returning home make you wonder and question.  I am glad my friend made me go see this film.  It will sit me with for quite awhile.