Saturday morning and I have parted company with the Evanses as they are doing a tour of the 09/11 Trade Centre which had little appeal to me. I got going quite late (11:00) and decided to go to Telepan for Brunch. I have been here before and love the atmosphere and the menu. At the table next to me were two Australians as well as the waitress so felt right at home. I really enjoyed my choice Mushroom Soup ricotta spaetzle, pine nuts & sage followed by Omelet with salad and potatoes lobster & scallion bacon & aged cheddar mushroom & herbs - it is Telepan who couldn't spell Omelette not me. Then walked down Broadway to Times Square across and up to the Rockefeller Centre where I again went to"Top of the Rock". I always find looking at New York in 360 degrees as stunningly beautiful.
Then some mooching down at Macys and back to the hotel for a rest before 18:15 dinner at Daniel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Boulud). The Restaurant is Michelin Three Star and the ambience, service and dining experience was certainly top of the top. However the food, while outstanding didn't measure up to L'Atelier the following night.
Amuse Bouche was a taste of Squash (Delicata with Smoked Sable/Parika Yogurt - Pickled Butternut With Buddha's Hand Lemon (??)/Cured Hamachi - Red Hubbard Puree. Also black truffle Cromesquis (??) with Lobster and Wild Mushroom Pomponette (??), Fontina and Black Truffle. And that was just the Amuse Bouche!!! For Entree (Australian Word) I chose the Yellowtail Tasting which was amazing. Main of Slow Baked Dover Sole with Sunichoke (??) Marmalade left me a little cold but I will put this down to the poor choice rather than anything else. For dessert a Chocolate-Coconut Biscuit with Caramelia Cream, Caramel Emulsion and Coconut Sorbet. Dont get me wrong I seriously enjoyed it but would prefer to try something else next time. But the experience was enhanced when the guy at the next table asked the lady he was with to marry him - and mercifully she said yes so that was good fun.
Then walked back to the hotel to change into casual clothes and walk to Time Square to watch the ball fall for NYE. Yeah Sure!!! I had tried to get a Times Square pass from the Accor Hotel or even celebrate there ($1000 a seat believe it or not - which I would not have paid even if it were available) but no luck with a pass. The closest I got was 7th Avenue between 58th and 59th which looks straight down at the ball but about 14 blocks away. Anyway it was very exciting being one among half a million. I then went to a cafe and watched the party/concert on TV before heading back to the hotel.
Sunday morning and another lateish start. I walked for about an hour including a visit to Grand Central Station and then hopped a cab down to Seaport which is on the South East tip of Manhattan near Fulton Street. There is a nice mix of restaurants and shops here so I had a dozen oysters while sitting in the sun. Yes folks the weather has been truly amazing with most days over ten degrees making the holiday and time in New York very pleasant. Four blocks away is R&J Electronics and Century 21. Didn't do too much damage. Hopped a subway (my 16th trip this visit yes folks the iPhone App is great) to 14th Street only to find Chelsea Markets shut. Had already been once but like mooching round the quaint shops and then Chelsea afterwards.
Anyway back to the hotel to change into my suit - no tie tonight - only two stars :). I have been to L'Atelier once before and I truly love it rating it in my top ten. I asked to eat at the counter which looks into the kitchen. The name L'Atelier means studio or workshop so hence the "sushi train" style seating. I was so fortunate to have a waiter who spoke to me during the entire meal service telling me everything about everything. Joel Robuchon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%ABl_Robuchon) was voted Chef of the 20th Century by a highly credited magazine in 1989. In 1995, seeing so many chefs burn out and die around him he precipitately decided to retire and moved to Tokyo. He was encouraged a few later to open a new restaurant which he did but only on condition that the style and menu was what he wanted not what Michelin said he should have. Anyway he now has more Michelin Stars (27) than anyone else and has a restaurant empire. I suspect that he puts his name to the restaurants, creates the ambience and menu, controls the quality and simply takes a royalty. There are around 10 L'Atelier restaurants around the world and I am guessing with similar menus. There is one in my next Stop, the MGM Las Vegas but I won't have a second meal this trip.
The ambience is excellent and service excellent. No not as overstaffed and effusive as Daniel but exceptionally good. I decide on the degustation which was a good choice. The Amuse Bouche was warm duck liver parfait with a pudding and froth - forgot was in them but sure tasted good.
Chilled corn veloute with caviar, Scallop Carpaccio with sea urchin, black truffle langoustine ravioli with lightly braised savoy cabbage and black truffle (which I couldnt taste), Seared duck foie gras with muscat grapes (peeled noch) and ginger confit, seared black cod with daikon and yozu broth. There was then a choice between caramelized quail stuffed with foie gras and potato puree (my choice) or glazed wagyu beef with olives capers and piquillas (??). To finish off a cranberry and marscapone cheesecake and chocolate cream, bitter chocolate sorbet and grated oreo cookies.
This restaurant does rate in my top ten on just about every front.
So next morning I wake with a cold and spend the day laying low venturing out just to get a salad for lunch but winding up with a sore neck from lying in bed. GRRR!!!! With eight and half days in New York not really a problem.
I looked at all the places I could go, airfares and other possibilities and settled for ..... Las Vegas. Yeah I know nothing new there but the Cavendish wont be held this year so no visit in May and I am happy to just chill for 5 days before I head to Miami for a few days and the cruise. One thing I have always wanted to do in Las Vegas is spend some time going to second tier shows. Human Nature sing Motown is one that springs to mind. I may also go and see Love (Cirque Du Soleil Beatles for the third time)
Anyway enough for now. I hope everybody had a really great New Years.
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