Eating Manhattan, Part 4/ by Pamela Hinkley, TDR CEO
New York on 20,000 calories a day:
Monday we were intent on trying the rival classic fish bars- Pearl Oyster Bar and Mary’s Fish Camp, so we ate two lunches and loved them both. I insisted on the lobster roll at Pearl, and Mike had a sublime Johnnycake with sour cream and smoked salmon and briny littleneck clams. It is just a short walk to Mary’s where great music was playing, and we ordered a sardine sandwich, more littleneck clams, and shrimp tacos. So good. The afternoon walk was on paths at a tremendously cool new park built on deserted elevated train tracks called the High Line. Pick it up in the Meatpacking District and head north. You will pass Del Posto, Craft Steak, and the uber hip Standard Hotel. Great views to the Hudson River.
Cabbed it up to check on the retail strong houses Zabars and Fairway Market. Fairway was jamming, so much inventory and great prices, but the food definitely looked more inviting at Zabar’s, and their smoked fish section was glorious.
A twilight stroll through Central Park so we could sip Champagne at Barney’s and window shop. Quick stop in the 24-hour Apple store before we freshened up for dinner.
Jackie told us about dell’anima in the West Village, and we were lucky enough to score seats at the chef counter. Luckier still that white truffles had just arrived from Alba which we devoured on tagliatelle. The best endive and shaved parm preparation I have ever had, and then on to agnolotti, skirt steak perfectly cooked, and a moist, savory quail. So happy! And as we were leaving, Patti Smith walked in which so tickled me because we had just watched her perform with Bruce Springsteen and Bono on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction show. Ended with a perfect cheese plate. Thank you, Jackie!
Tuesday- Brilliant, sunny day- so we decided to walk north to famed bookstore, Kitchen Arts and Letters. Small but passionate. A customer interrupted as I was finishing my transaction, and the proprietor did not get to finish his recommendation, but to my delight when I got back to Seattle there was an email waiting for me with the information!!
Ended the trip on a culinary low note- tried Jean George Vongerichten’s Jojo for lunch. Very pretty, small townhouse, but the food was old fashioned and overcooked.
But that could hardly dampen our spirits- hooray to New York for such energizing food fun!!!!!!!
(a non-food tip: visit Takashimaya in Midtown for stylish home wares and fashion.)
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January 3rd, 2010 at 8:29 pm
I just came across Eating Manhattan part 4 by Pamela Hinkley — I was in Manhattan
earlier in December and would love to read Parts 1-3 for “next time.” Please tell me
where I can find them.
I highly recommend Casa Mono for tapas, a Batali restaurant near Granmercy Square.
It’s tiny so make reservations far in advance.
January 6th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Hi Natalie,
Just scroll down and you will find parts 1-3, or you can put Eating Manhattan in the search to your right and all 4 parts will come up. I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Pamela’s long, detailed posts on Manhattan are one of my favorite things ever for our blog. I’m printing all of them out for the next time I visit New York!