NYC Tastes

Wow 2016 is almost over and what crazy year it was.  If I was to look simply at the year in American culture I would have to use the word devastating.  So many incredible artists passed away, the political state of the nation was a non-stop roller coaster ride of shock, disgust, anger, frustration and for the first time in a while the future feels incredibly uncertain.  Of course the NYC dining scene took a huge hit this year with the closing of classic restaurants like The Four Seasons, Les Halles and most recently Blue Ribbon Bakery Kitchen.  I was saddened most by the closing of my two favorite cocktail bars; underground vodka great Pravda and the gorgeous Campbell Apartment in Grand Central Terminal.  We also lost the fabulous  Juni , my go-to spot for a fancy lunch from Shaun Hergatt.   But I'm always one to look on the positive side and 2016 was actually a good year on a personal level.  Mr. T and I had some great East Coast trips to B...

One of the best trips in my life was three years ago when Mr. T, myself and six other friends headed to Denmark for the Copenhagen Beer Celebration .  We crushed Vanilla Bean Dark Lords at Mikkeller and Friends, dined at the world's best restaurant Noma and spent twelve incredible hours drinking some of the best beer in the world at the CBC festival.  We talk about going back to Copenhagen every year but a trip that big is a huge undertaking.  So when the Copenhagen Beer Celebration announced they were bringing the festival to Boston this fall tickets were purchased immediately and we all traveled there for the weekend. We rolled in on Thursday night and headed to dinner at the trendy supper club Yvonne's.  I feel in love with this place immediately.  Gorgeous chandeliers dripped diamonds from the ceiling,  guests clinked glasses at the long mahogany bar (hand carved by French woodworkers in 1886) and oh the glorious cocktails. Let's just say w...

It's so wonderful to find a restaurant while traveling that just feels like a place to call home. In Copenhagen it was Manfred's and Vin, London J. Sheekey, Philadelphia the sadly departed Matyson and now Row 34 in Boston.  As soon as I saw their mantra I knew I was in love "If we could eat oysters and drink beer for every meal period, we probably would."  Well of course! Let's talk about these oysters; so plump and fresh with a gorgeous vinaigrette.  I must have sucked down at least two dozen of these beauties while we were visiting. And oysters are just a tiny part of their incredible raw bar, there's also Scallop Crudo with black sesame and chili oil... An entire section of Smoked & Cured Fish including this incredible smoked Uni Toast... ...and one insanely delicious Lobster Roll chock full of meat served warm with butter.  We loved this place so much we had dinner and drinks Thursday night around 9:00 and w...