Ten Days in New York
City (NYC)
So as many of you know I just got back from a ten day
escapade through NYC. It was my first trip to the greatest city in the world so
I had a lot of ground to cover in a short time.
How did this trip come about? Well a good friend and mentor
of mine Chef Jason Hoffman of “The Taco Guys” (www.thetacoguys.com) had mentioned to me
that he was consulting on a new Bar/Bistro in the Bushwick neighborhood of
Brooklyn, NY. Immediately my attention was his as he described the menu and
concept of this new establishment. “It’s going to be French inspired cuisine
with Eastern European accents.” He said. I was hooked. I figured since I would
be going to work for 6 days I should probably set a steady schedule of vacation
(i.e. eating) around my work days. So
naturally I did just that. What follows here is the true story of my first trip
to NYC.
Day one:
I booked the red eye from Portland so I could have a full
day of adventuring as soon as I got off the plane; I highly recommend this
flight to everyone. So I arrived at JFK Airport at 6:30am, I couldn’t check in
until later in the evening so I took the train to Madison Square Garden and
dropped my bags off at a storage locker on 36th street. Since it was
only 8am I figured I could get some good sightseeing in before the tourist
blitz. I headed to the Empire State Building, what better way to acclimate to a
new city than to see it from its tallest point? The line as I suspected was
rather short, it only took me one hour to get to the 86th floor.
Upon stepping onto the viewing deck I was hit by a gust of warm Atlantic air, completely
refreshing after being on the subway for an hour. I looked out off the deck and
received a bird’s eye view of the most amazing city I have ever seen. I did the
walk around took some photos with my IPhone and headed down, I had been in NYC
for 3 hours without food it was time to get eating!
I had connected with the owner of Mazelle to grab lunch and
drop my bag; he recommended a hot spot in Brooklyn called “Roberta’s.” If you
didn’t know it was there you’d walk right past it. The brick entry is guarded
by a tall wooden fence and drapes. I felt as if I was entering some lost
enclave in a concrete jungle. When I entered the subdued rustic entry my nose,
eyes and, ears all jumped to attention; on my right there was a wood fire oven
roaring away with a bustling staff slinging fresh pizzas like nobody’s
business, the long dining hall is lined with communal tables filled with locals
and tourists alike, and the sounds of true rock ‘n’ roll steadily streams from
the sound system. We are greeted by the hostess who promptly alerts us it will
be a 45 minute wait for a table. This place must be good. We put our names down
and head towards the bar to grab some pre-game drinks. I had the local ginger
beer whose name escapes me, but none the less it was fantastic. We step out to
the bier garden to sit a wait for our table. Again don’t be fooled this
restaurant is huge. I peruse the menu dissecting every little part, I notice
two things: Sweetbreads and a grilled Treviso salad with smoked Escarole (the
fish not green). Really? In this place? I was blown away by the seamless
diversity of the menu, the simplicity and care. It was a very harmonic balanced
design. Someone cared when they put this menu together, immediately I knew it
was going to be good. We ordered two pizzas and the smoked Escarole Salad. The pizzas
are perfect, crisp thin dough with that smoky wood fire flavor I so love
coupled with the sweet and spicy pork sausage, sweet and spicy pork sausage. A
tangy red sauce and plenty of well-placed peppers and onions. The salad? Well you
guessed it; spot on with the smoked fish and bitter Treviso, an absolute delight
for an afternoon salad. My most humble
regards to the folks who made this lunch happen.
We head back to Mazelle to speak a bit further about the
plans for the coming week. As Yury and I
spoke about the game plan I found myself quite impressed by his vision of what
Mazelle would ultimately transform into. Not that I wasn’t already hooked but
after hearing his plans I couldn’t wait to get started. But first I had food to
eat.
Day two:
After a slow night of winding down from my first day in NYC,
I awoke at the early hour of 8am, showered and made my way to the subway
station. I pulled up my map and planned my attack for day two. First I would
make my through The American Museum of Natural History, followed by a stint at
the Metropolitan Museum. I got off the train and found the first bagel shop I
could, it seemed trendy and full of buzz so I figured it must be good. I
ordered up an onion bagel with smoked salmon schemer, what a treat. The perfect
way to start this day, a good balance of carbs and protein to guarantee my
success. I walk the Natural History Museum for 2 hours see the whole thing
(This is a must do when you are in NYC) after taking in the sights and sounds
of the museum, I headed outside to find my first dirty water dog of the trip. I
find the one hit it with some mustard and found a bench to sit down on. As I
sit and watch the world roll by I get a text reminding me to make my way to “Katz
Deli.” Distracted by the notion of real pastrami on rye, I forget about the Metropolitan
Museum and head back to the train.
I arrive at “Katz Deli” to find a line down the block! As it
was highly recommended I figured it must be worth the wait. So I wait in line;
it moves quickly and as I reach the door it hits me! That wonderful smell of
cured meats, pickles and, rye bread. I knew I was home. I get into a line to order
a pastrami on rye extra brown mustard cause that’s how I roll, I talk with the
dude making my lunch and learn he’s been there for 12 years!! 12 years! This dudes
been rocking the sando line. I drop a couple bucks in the tip cup and throws me
a couple slices of pastrami for me to sample. The moment that sweet smoked meat
hit my tongue…Silence, sunshine, cool breeze, doves fly overhead and, a harp
plays softly in the background. Heaven? “Dude! Yo! Your sandwich is ready.” I
grab my monstrous sandwich turn and try to find a table. The nice thing about
dining solo in NYC is that I can quickly find a spot, I drop another couple
bucks with the sandwich king and head to a spot beside a pair of tourists
pretty sure they were French, they had tried to finish their meals but the
pastrami proved too much for their dainty tummies. I look at the feat ahead of
me, snap a quick photo then begin my journey through a wonderful world of meat,
bread and, mustard accompanied of course by some killer dills. Not to defeat by
a miracle of meat I proudly finish my lunch. I look up at I find that the other
diners around me are staring in amazement at my ability to undauntedly attack
this behemoth. An utter masterpiece. I sit and breath a bit before getting up
to wash my hands and find my next meal.
In the spirit of one of my favorite chefs (Anthony Bourdain)
I power onto my next stop. As it was now 6pm I figured it would be an ideal
time to head to Times Square to take in the zoo. And a zoo it was. Now you
should know I love to watch people, it’s one of favorite pass times. And boy oh
boy was I in for a treat. Tourists were everywhere, cameras flashed, people
gazed, Elmo laughed, the naked cowgirl cackled, the big screens glared with
wonder. This by all means is truly remarkable, more people than I could bother
trying to guess all stuffed between two skyscraper lined avenues, much like the
hot dog I enjoyed earlier. There even grandstands to sit and watch the giant
flat screens flash previews of the musicals playing right off Broadway. I
wandered around here for a couple hours, charged my phone at a Starbucks across
the street from “The Letterman Show” and took in the sights. Once my phone was
charged and my coffee had settled I had a choice to make; go home, or go eat. I
choose to eat. But where? Ah ha, it hits me. Why not Les Halles, Anthony
Bourdain’s restaurant, nothing fancy just very well executed French bistro
fare. I make way on foot; it’s only a few blocks on Google maps. Here’s a free
tip, don’t think that the blocks are small, it took me an hour to get there.
Once I arrived I pulled up a chair to the bar ordered my cranberry soda water
with a lime of course, and asked for a dinner menu. I scan the brasserie style
menu and find the old stand byes just as I had envisioned it. I order the
seared scallop salad and it is perfect. The scallop is fresh and tender seared
perfectly, the accoutrements match perfectly to the scallop, for dinner I order
the Hanger Steak and Frites, with béarnaise. The steak is perfectly cooked and
the sauce is to die for. Just as I had envisioned it.
As I leave the Les Halles I look up to find that I am within
walking distance to “Ground Zero” I head in for a closer look, the silence and
still of the night only add to the energy I could feel here. It is a very
powerful moment to stand at the base of a monument to the men and women of that
fateful day. It is astounding the sense of remorse and loss I feel here. It is reminiscent
of the feeling standing at the Iwo Jima memorial, pride, anger, strength, love.
It’s a mash of emotions. The new monument is a beautiful structure reaching
high into the night sky dressed to the nines these towers bring hope and pride
to the front of my emotions.
I take a long train ride back to Ft. Hamilton, it leaves me
plenty of time to be grateful I have the opportunity to experience this; “The Greatest
City in the World.”
Day Three:
To be continued….
