readers of PX This know full well how much i’m a fan of Sante D’Orazio. his newest and latest published collection of works, Barely Private, should provide ample (further) evidence as to why he is one of the world’s most prolific, reknowned, and iconic photographers.
Welcome to: Where I Spent My Day Off —by a NYC Restaurant "Insider"
So, what do you do in the industry?
I’m a Floor Manager and Beverage Director for a [very popular] 160-seater in SoHo.
And you have how many days off a week, generally?
Two. I’m off today as well [as yesterday], but I’ll still have to go in for a meeting…
What did you do for breakfast yesterday?
I don’t do breakfast. Just coffee, at home.
Lunch?
A friend invited me to a menu tasting for the new chef at Mangia on 48th St. I must have tried over a dozen dishes and they were very good (my favorites being the fried baby whitefish, the “croquettes varie,” the langoustine, the bacon-wrapped dates, and the tuna slider). I’m not in midtown very often, but I’m glad I went. I was a lot more impressed with the food than I thought I would be. Saw a few friends from the industry that work/ed for The Standard, Indochine, La Esquina, Jean Georges and The Breslin. It was fun, but I probably drank a little too much for so early in the afternoon.
And afterward?
Went with a few friends from the tasting for a drink at Rouge Tomate. I know a manager there, but unfortunately she wasn’t around. The space is very nice, and the bartender was really great. They have an unusual beer list, so even though I don’t drink beer often, I gave one a try. I had something called a "Double White" that my friend recommended, which was pretty good… and I liked the olive oil with sea salt popcorn.
Took a look at the menu for the first time, and it looks interesting and appealing. I may have to try and make it back up there for dinner sometime. I heard they had a few problems in the beginning, but that the food has improved and gotten better.
Then dropped off one friend at The Armory for the Arts/Design preview show (at $150 a ticket, it was too steep for me).
Dinner?
Cercle Rouge. I have friends in from out of town, so I wanted to take them someplace simple and effortless and not in the MPD, since it was a Thursday night ("amateur night"). Cercle Rouge has a great GM/Maitre d’ that I’ve known for years. It was the perfect choice, because my friends loved it. I did steer them toward more of the classics, though (escargot, moules frites, onion soup, etc). Sometimes some of the fussier creations at Cercle Rouge can be a little too much for me, but I find the classics are consistently good.
And afterward?
Thought about meeting up with friends at The Box, but never actually made it there. Walked with my friends from out of town all the way from Tribeca to Union Square, and after popping into the apartment where they’re staying for a nightcap, I decided to just go home. The weather got cold, and I was pooped.
How much did you blow today?
Myself, about $70. [Lunch: $0, Drinks: $20, Dinner $50, all including gratuity, but did split the total tabs with friends (Cab fare to/from midtown was paid by my friend).]
Francis Ford Coppola – Director’s Cut 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Cost: $18-$24/bottle
Dark purple opaque in color. Very young, almost fresh pressed juice but still with a tannic presence. Nice fruit content showcasing notes of toasted oak, vanilla extract, black and red currants and a touch of Read more…
• Which rival nightlife impresarios are vying for the same space, unbeknownst to each other? One has a very deep-pocketed investor, but the other has A-list celebrity names "attached." Little do either realize the space has also caught the eye of two F&B powerhouse contenders as well. May the best man biggest check win!
• Which nightlife impresario who just had a baby is (typically) shagging his pretty, young bartender? Unfortunately for him, she now has bragging rights and knows how to use them. Damn that pesky Primadonna Complex!
• Which James Beard darling is ready to fly the coop (he helped put on the map)? Sigh… creative types…
*image by Shari Davis
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Nice. Looks like it’s been here forever….
Please rate the Bar:
Love the old-world antique feel. As for the bartenders, anyone who opens with, "Hey, I used to serve you at…" is OK by me. Way to make me feel special, memorable and appreciated— and I’m not even a celebrity. Nothing beats a warm, knowledgable, professional, been-around-the-block-a-few-times staff. And in a place like this, they fit right in like a comfy old shoe.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
Impressive in its simplicity yet suitability. Love the enthusiasm and erudition over the obscure, esoteric draughts. This is the best Bloody Mary I’ve had outside New Orleans, and I just emailed a friend (and fellow Bloody Mary lover) to let her know exactly where to find it.
Please rate the Dining Room:
Smart and well-structured. Conventional but elegant. Rustic but polished. An improvement over The Spotted Pig, and a far cry from John Dory, that’s for sure….
Please rate the BOH:
Pretty damned good, especially considering it’s all right here smack in front of my face. I just blew April Bloomfield a kiss, but she didn’t catch it.
:(
How was the staff?
They’re all very casual in their service and demeanor, but I guess it works. Just like the ambience, you would swear they’ve been here a lifetime. Not particularly amiable per se, but certainly adept and proficient in that well-qualified-but-disenchanted kind of way. It’s possible anything more would have been unnerving anyway.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Bone Marrow Soup: Good. Tasty. I can see how it might be a little salty for some (my friend’s opinion), but personally it works for me.
Caesar Salad: Also very good. (You’d be amazed how many places can screw up a Caesar Salad.) And is that fried parsley? Whatever it is, nice touch. I don’t know if I can necessarily detect the anchovy in the croutons, but I like them anyway.
3-Cheese Sandwich with Ham: Wow, that’s rich. But if you’re worried about your cholesterol, this ain’t a sandwich for you anyhow. I can think of a few paninis around town that could learn a lesson or two from this thing (except maybe the price).
Lamb Burger: Considering I’m not even a lamb fan, pretty darned good. Juicy, tender and flavorful.
Baked Beans in Pork Fat: OK, this is where I draw the line. Personally not my thing, but I knew that before they even landed on the table. My buddy sure seems to be enjoying them though (but his favorite restaurant is Gray’s Papaya— you might want to keep that in mind).
What did you like?
The bartender. The pickles atop my Bloody Mary. The show going on in the kitchen.
What did you dislike?
The hike up to this part of town.
What was your last impression?
The floor and the ceiling are great.
Would you come back?
I’ll at least be back to give dinner a try when it starts, for sure.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
LOL. Does "dinner in a couple of weeks" really mean "about a month" in Friedman-speak?
• Saturday, November 7, 2009. 8:00 PM – Famke Janssen dining with female friend (having the miso cod) at Omen.
• Thursday, November 5, 2009. 8:30PM – Tony Shafrazi joining Peter Brant and several other guests for dinner at Indochine.
• Tuesday, November 3, 2009. 3:00PM – Ann Dexter Jones with a female friend walking up 6th Ave near Bleecker St.
• Monday, November 2, 2009. 2:30PM – Michael White walking alone, headed east up W. 4th St. in the West Village. Looking for real estate… ?
• Wednesday, November 4, 2009. 7:30PM – Calvin Tsao, and then later, Hervé Descottes, chatting with Sasha Muniak at The Bon Bon.
This week’s Netflix recommendation of La Misma Luna, a beautiful, heartwarming film, goes out to all the unsung heroes of the F&B/Hospitality industries.
Thank you for everything. We could never do it without you.
:)
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
The “Boom Boom” [ the early hours ]
What was your first impression?
wow did i just waltz right into an andre-balazs hotspot without having to submit my credentials (see: MercerLobby, subMercer, SunsetBeach, Chateau/BarMarmont, theRaleighPool, TheBoomBoom[late night], MK)? huh. that’s weird, i almost feel a little displaced or something. where am i?
Please rate the Bar:
love it. what more can i say. it’s got it alllll goin on, and my bartender this evening (aaron, was it?) is a total sweetie pie.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
oh crap. okay i messed up, this is my 5th or 6th visit here already, and i’ve never once looked at the wine list. the liquor list is extensive, worldly, and impressive, and the cocktails are expertly prepared (albeit a tad slow at times). it’s expensive, but that’s okay (see: below).
Please rate the Dining Room:
with views like this, who cares? oh okay, obviously, it’s designed more for drinking/lounging than dining, but there isn’t a single "bad table" in the whole place. and the room itself is spectacular of course. but i fear those pompous contrived uniforms on all those beautiful ladies are going to get tired/dated reeeeeal quick. this is downtown, it aint times square, bitches— i’d get rid of those awful things if you ask me.
Please rate the BOH:
uhhh… well
personally i think the menu is PERFECT. if it was INTENTIONALLY created to spare theBoomBoom from the most irritating people in new york, it’s GENIUS. pedestrian enough to keep away the foodies/foodists, expensive enough to thwart the trite but opinionated bloggers, and intimidating enough to hinder the hipsters— it’s GOLDEN.
i have finally found the perfect place for me. i have come HOME.
How was the staff?
i love the staff. it’s everybody i’ve met and/or worked with over my entire 20+ year career, and i adore them all. their collective résumés span centuries of service in the most renowned establishments in the very best cities all over this country.
they’re perfectly nice to me. i can’t speak for you.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
at this point, over several visits, i’ve had pretty much everything on the "preview" supper menu except maybe the caviar sandwich. so far, my favorites are the burger, the croque monsieur, the english tea sandwiches, and the french fries (which, by the way, are $10. ha ha ahaa i LOVE it).
but frankly, who gives a shit. let’s be honest already— you’re not here for the food. and if you’re here just because you could finally get in, and all you want to do afterward is tell everybody how "overrated" or "not any big deal" it is, stay home or go someplace else. feel free to experience it from the comfort of your living room sofa when it inevitably shows up in an episode of Entourage or Gossip Girl or Sex and the City The Movie2 or whatever.
What did you like?
everything. everybody.
What did you dislike?
that it was so damned easy to get in here.
that one girl with the unwashed hair in the too-tight jeans and the too-tight/too-short teeshirt with the cheap shoes and the ugly handbag completely ruining the aesthetics for a moment when she lamentably crossed my line of vision.
and what the fuck is with the baby strollers all of a sudden?
What was your last impression?
as soon as i can charm a WiFi password out of somebody with some juice (and i will) i’m moving in here.
Would you come back?
i’m on my way over…
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
sure, you say that now. wait til you’re sick of seeing my face.
It’s Friday! Thank God… this fucking week is over.
Check out my dancing pecker.
That’s a bird, people. Get your minds out of the gutter!
Grgich Hills Merlot 2003 – Napa Valley, California
Cost: $42/bottle
Impressively endowed wine, a merlot that in my honest opinion is the greatest one ever produced in California. This is solid, and ranks even with the finest right bank Bordeaux Grand Cru out there! Complex notes of leather, cedar, black cherry, and cassis with hints of smoke that make this so impressive. In the mouth, perhaps the most smoothest merlot ever made, balanced and loaded with fruit and boasting an impressive finish, this is the quintessential merlot.
Rating: 95
For the record, I enjoyed the 2004 vintage merlot from this winery, and it is consistent and worth every penny.
Accompanied with Beef Negamaki and Black Swan (Peking duck, hoisin sauce, and white rice in a seaweed wrap… YUM! )
More photographs and information on Jean-Philippe “JP” Boucicaut’s works are available here, and at a story describing his recent exhibit.
• Tuesday, November 3, 2009 – Valentino Garavani, Giancarlo Giametti, Narciso Rodriguez, Marc Jacobs, Michael Chow, Martha Stewart, Larry Gagosian, Shala Monroque, Brian Grazer, Madonna, Adrien Brody, and Hugh Jackman at the Valentino: The Last Emperor DVD release party at The Bon Bon Room.
• Tuesday, November 3, 2009. 7:00PM – Martha Stewart dining with three guests at Le Bernardin. Also Gil Bellows (not together).
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
ooh swanky.
Please rate the Bar:
beautiful. but apparently, technically it’s not a bar, "it’s a dining counter, by reservation only." a tad irritating to hear, but understandable considering there isn’t much else you can do if the bar space is needed because the dining room is consistently maxed out. the service was exceptional.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
the wine list is actually quite diverse and reasonable, particularly since i was told LeCaprice is "very expensive."
all i need with my good polish vodka (available) are three big fat juicy olives (delivered) and i’m a happy camper.
Please rate the Dining Room:
nice. maybe a wee stiff for my tastes but really quite nice. spacious, accommodating, serene— very appropriate for The Pierre Hotel.
Please rate the BOH:
quite good. again, i was surprised to see the menu is more reasonable than i had expected. prices are adequately competitive with even more casual places downtown. the menu is unfussy and straightforward, simple enough to please a business traveler, but artful enough to gratify a seasoned diner.
the timing of courses was perfect, and the preparation was commendable.
How was the staff?
the hostess was congenial but professional, as were the maitre d’ and service manager. the barcountertender was most pleasant of all— warm, attentive, efficient, knowledgeable, and amiable. overall an A+ team.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
steak tartare : decent. personally i’m always impressed if i get a little quail egg cuz i love them, so maybe the lack of one was a little disappointing. but i thought the charming arrangement of all the best unpretentious condiments on a silver platter was great. tabasco and lea&perrins rule.
tomato/basil galette with burrata : okay. tasty enough, but for $18, maybe just a wee skimpy on the burrata.
wild mushroom risotto : delicious. very flavorful. very rich. probably my favorite of all the dishes, and i’m not even that crazy about mushrooms.
deep-fried haddock : good! pretty big portion. who doesn’t love a fancy fish&chip?
creamed spinach.: very nice. also very rich. the butter/cream/oil/steamed options will make a lot of people happy.
scandinavian iced berries with hot white chocolate sauce : just kidding. i wish! unfortunately, way too full and short on time :(
but damn did that sound enticing.
What did you like?
pretty much everything.
What did you dislike?
hmm. having to go to midtown?
What was your last impression?
i really enjoyed this much more than i had expected. this could be my next one-and-only midtown joint. my new Grayz, so to speak.
Would you come back?
yes!
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
any minute now…
Here is Adam Wiercinski aka Adam Jamroz. He was employed as a part-time delivery person for over 20 years at Mangia corporation, where he recently attempted to defraud the company by twice filing fallacious lawsuits. The strategy for his attempted multi-million dollar extortion Read more…
= "personne extraordinaire"