PX This.

Fashion Week is over? OMG, did I sleep through it completely?! Goddammit.

OK, so I’m a little late – shoot me. (Or pay me to blog, so I’m more punctual. Whichever!) In any case, I was supposed to post this awesome excerpt from PX This – The Revised Edition. Coming soon in the Spring of 2010

[*warning: Eats, Shoots and Ladders Leaves freaks please CLICK HERE and HERE before reading any further. then take that favorite book of yours and stick it up your ass. thank you!]

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2003. 7:01AM

… ann-demeulmeester looked taken aback, perhaps she was surprised i speak english. the assistant looked totally amused though, she snickered in her nostrils and everything.

oh but the highlight of the trip! was azzedine-alaïa again this time he fed us omelettes and salad. he is sooo cute i just want to scrunch him up and swallow him like a dumpling.
marc told mr.alaïa i made my long chocolate geld-iaz wool halter mock wrap dress— which, by the way, was so smokin, caroline the head big cheese for alaïa and some other random buyer-lady there inquired how they could buy it. and mr.alaïa flashed me a BIG SMILE and said: “ohhh ah-beeee! tres biennnn!” i tell you i could have dropped dead ecstatic right there.

then the next big highlight! was marc and i going to the RitzCarlton to meet some fancy Lady-ofSomeplace from england she was phoning and leaving messages for marc all week long asking to meet him we have no idea why.
so marc and i get there and she and her super cute 20something daughter are sitting having afternoon tea with some dude he was very sweet and funny he made jokes about KFC and krispy-creme how he can’t live without them and how he “owns one of each” because he has given them so much money.
the next thing you know he is saying oh! he is a shop owner too just like marc! he has a little boutique in london ahah haha ahahaa “have you heard of Harrods?” he asks. i mean can you fucking imagine. then here comes the maiterdee with business cards for him and the shop owner dude hands one to marc as he is scolding him for not staying at theRitz.
it was MOHAMED AL FAYED.

i mean. when did life become like this exactly can i ask you

mr.al-fayed touched me warmly on the shoulder as he stood up to leave so i concentrated really hard to suck all his luck if he suddenly gets hits by a speeding bus you’ll know why.
see. things like this you can tell peoples and i think they just wouldn’t believe you ahahahaha imagine me dropping this story on the piglets.

finally last but not least was big highlight#3 marc and i went to a dinner with the big willies from Valentino. it was at Davé and i actually got to meet davé he is the restaurateur that was in isaac-mizrahi’s Unzipped in the scene where isaac is chillin with galliano and leon.talley and they are mocking on donna-karan.
anyhoo so graziano the president of ValentinoUSA was a gigantic sweetie pie and he was in looove with me he admired my dress and told me i am “beautiful” and “elegant!” okay can we back up for a second i said the PRESIDENT of VALENTINO admired my dress. all the way from the other end of the table he halted ALL CONVERSATION to say “i’m sorry but i just haaave to ask who makes your dress?”
by the way i had the seat right next to the new head designer of Valentino he was a cutie face his name is damiano (“dum YAHno”). see i do not even know their last names. how is it even comprehensible i am on a first name basis only with a president and head designer of Valentino? i told damiano how azzedine-alaïa complimented that very same dress and if that was not the moment to be feelin oneself i tell you maybe there never is.

the only thing that ruined it was Chicken, Ferret’s wife…

***For more on this story, read PX This – The Revised Edition and PX This Too – Coming soon in the Spring of 2010***

You’re sagacious, contemplative and yet humorous, right? Of course you are; that’s why you appreciate PX This so much, right?!

Well, my latest Netflix recommendation will have you rolling in the aisles on your living room carpet. What better way to celebrate tolerate the farcical proficiency of our federal goverment than to roll on the floor streaming tears of frustration laughter?

Watch In the Loop. You’ll be aghast glad you did.

:)

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… !

Ramen Takumi (formerly Setaga-ya)

What was your first impression?
So, Takumi is still Setaga-ya with more stuff, right? (The curtains and bowls still say "Setagaya.")

Please rate the Bar:
N/A, unless you mean the open-kitchen communal counter. Takumi has a lot more choices than Setaga-ya did, though— a nice selection of sake, beer and plum wine…

Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
Reasonably priced.

Please rate the Dining Room:
Very simple. Three communal tables and the aforementioned counter. Better than before (nice lamps), but hardly imaginative.

Please rate the BOH:
Solid, but not excellent. Also better than Setaga-ya in terms of selection, with popular additions (appetizers, salads, etc.) to the menu. More ramen variations to choose from.

How was the staff?
Friendly and efficient.

What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Pork Gyoza : Pretty good, but not outstanding.
Shrimp Shumai : The flavor’s not bad, but the dumpling far outweighs the shrimp.
#3 – Miso flavored broth… : Hearty miso tang, savory marinated egg, but the pork and vegetables are weak. It’s a shame that most people look primarily for economy in ramen— I’d gladly pay more for a good dose of meat and fresh vegetables.
#8 – Spicy soybean broth… : Ditto the #3. Nice seasoning, but again with the frugality where it’s least appreciated.

What did you like?
That the check for everything was under $50.

What did you dislike?
That it doesn’t top nonsensically MSG-happy Ippudo.

What was your last impression?
Whew, I’m stuffed.

Would you come back?
Yeah, probably.

Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Arigato Gozaimasu!

• Saturday, February 20, 2010. 2:30PM – James Gandolfini walking along the beach path near The Setai hotel in Miami Beach.

• Thursday, February 18, 2010. 7:00PM – Jackie Mason (and wife?) strolling in for dinner at Pasha’s on Lincoln Rd in Miami Beach.

• Saturday, February 20, 2010. 9:30PM – Bill Cobbs standing by the front door of The W hotel in Miami Beach, discussing with the bellhop his "plans for the evening." You can recognize that voice a mile away.

• Friday, February 19, 2010 8:30PM – Mark Margolis talking on his mobile phone in the lobby of The Shore Club and then later, walking into Nobu for dinner.

Welcome to: Where I Spent My Week Off —by a NYC Restaurant "Insider"

So, what do you do in the industry?
i’ve done a lot of things in the industry over the years— waitress, cocktail waitress, bartender, floor Read more »

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… !

Pudding Stones Wine Bar- 48 Carmine St [CLOSED July 2010]

What was your first impression?
this is kinda cute.

Please rate the Bar:
cozy, warm, friendly. simple.

Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
n/a on the liquor. the wine list is decent, though. nice choices, eclectic, okay in value. in this day/age (/neighborhood) though, i would think a few more adventurous [read: reasonably priced] choices would probably be much appreciated.

Please rate the Dining Room:
very simple. but by virtue of that, somewhat endearing.

Please rate the BOH:
the BOH is in the FOH, and they could use a little more work. evidently however, "it’s a brand new crew," so i’ll give em a minute to work it out…
i like the menu, though— just straightforward, unfussy comfort food. an everyday joint.

How was the staff?
the "staff" (host/bartender/executive chef) is an owner, i presume? nice guy. and the waiter/busboy is affable enough.

What did you eat?/ How was the food?
i had the guacamole with blue corn chips, the fried shrimp, the pigs in a blanket, the fried chicken and one other thing i can’t even recall right now. which kinda brings me to my point: the menu is fine in its simplicity, but simple is one thing and pedestrian is totally another. it doesn’t seem as if PuddingStones has put their stamp on anything, which is odd for an established eatery (i take it they have several locations in midtown). the food is sorely lacking in any distinctive "fingerprint." i feel as though the enthusiasm, conviction, and professionalism is there, but the execution is very trite. i really would love to see them step up their game just a little bit.

What did you like?
they’re very friendly and amiable. and i do like the menu.

What did you dislike?
nothing really.

What was your last impression?
i could like this place very much if they roll up their sleeves…

Would you come back?
i’ll give them another try in a little while.

Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
thank you, i would like that.

Laurel Cellars – Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 – Alexander Valley, California
Cost: $12.99/bottle (on sale)

This wine is dark plum in color, medium-bodied and silky. The aromas are one dimensional, with notes of toasted oak, herbs, green leaves, vanilla extract and some berry fruit. In the mouth, simple and rather oaky fruit through and through, with some green spices. For $12.99, I couldn’t expect that it would be great, but it’s decent. A repeat purchase for me… probably… maybe… not sure yet.. I bought this because some great fruit and wine come from Alexander Valley, but it is quite oaky (I do have a good tolerance for oak, however).
Rating: 84

Justin – Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 – Paso Robles, California
Cost: $28.99/bottle

Justin vineyards in Paso Robles, located midway between Monterey and LA, certainly had one of their finest vintages in 2006. After getting overwhelmed by the 2006 Isosceles (their flagship wine), and then an impressive Justin Orphan (their leftover grapes wine), this cabernet is in no way middle of the road in quality. This one is just a touch under the Isosceles in the yum factor of yumminess. Beautiful notes of black cherry, blueberry, toasted oak, coconut and bittersweet chocolate are enjoyable to sniff and taste. It’s moderately full bodied and with firm tannins, but it comes across as harmonious with the levels of alcohol, fruit and sweetness. It’s a dry wine, make no mistake about it— but it’s quite flavorful and delicious. I’m picking up a case of this stuff, it tastes a lot better than most cabernet costing twice or three times this. Great value.
Rating: 93

hey did we mention it’s fashion week ?

betsey johnson with kelly osbourne narciso rodriguez @ boomboom patrick mcmullan ric pipino boom boom room wyclef jean for donna karan patti smith for LnA + MAC @ Milk

**with many thanks to ricardo garcia

Hey, is it me, or is this feeling like the longest Fashion Week ever?!

Chadwick Bell by Natalie Kates for the stylecurator.com.

OMG, you’re not going to believe it – it’s still Fashion Week. Can’t ya just die?

The Rouge Coco Chanel party at The Mark Hotel.

**With many thanks to Patrick McMullan and Shala Monroque.