What is Queen of the Night?

So all of you that follow me were aware that I attended Queen of the Night this past week and raved about it. Without ruining the surprise of the evening I want to do my best to describe it. First of all let me say, it is hands down one of the most incredible evenings I’ve had since moving to Manhattan, and I have done a lot. Secondly, it is not for the inhibited, shy or faint of heart. Queen of the Night is a hands on performance theatre piece from the people who developed Sleep No More. Expect to be touched both physically and mentally, and to leave a much less inhibited person than you were when you entered.

The Experience 

Again I want to promise to preserve as much mystique around the evening as possible because that is part of the incredible allure, you don’t know what you’re in for. Expect to be lead away on mysterious journeys, to be spirited off to hidden chambers for potential seductions and tastings, perhaps kissing a french chef on the cheek for a sample of foie gras. Queen of the Night is an evening that delights in tickling your sensuality and crossing boundaries. Dress to the nines (opulence and elegance are the norm, and black tie and ball gowns are encouraged). Expect to be physically touched and to have your senses aroused, let yourself be led away by the temptations that appear. The show itself is based loosely on Mozart’s the Magic Flute, and the choreography and acrobatics are nothing short of jaw dropping. I was one of the lucky few to be selected as part of the Queens Court which enabled me to an even more intimate experience of the evening. Without ruining anything else, I was integral in one scene that involved a milk bath, and when given the choice to soak in said milk bath…of course I said yes.

The Food 

Absolutely incredible but prepare to be hands on. Each table gets a different delicacy ranging from tender brisket, to cages of lobster, to ribs and guests are encouraged to sample different tables offerings by trading (or stealing!). Divine food, and dessert culminates in a way you would never expect. I traded brisket for lobster with Coco of Ice loves Coco fame, which she ever so graciously accepted.

The Drinks 

Queen of the Night has delightful signature cocktails with lemonade, vodka and mint known affectionately as the Queen’s Bush, and a bourbon orange concoction as well as a full bar, champagne and carafes of white wine, sparkling wine, and red wine on each table. I shared some celebratory end of the evening champagne with Lance Bass of Nsync, a truly once in a lifetime moment.

How Faymous Was it $$$$

All tickets include the meal, with options starting at $150 for certain week nights at the Gala level. From there the options increase if you want an open bar which comes with Premium tickets that begin around $200 (which features only the Queens cocktails but they’re delicious so DO it) and then Ultimate tickets which start at around $300 and feature reserved seating for you and your party plus the open bar. No experience is bad, I do recommend the open bar if only to lower your inhibitions and allow you to more fully partake in the show. Gala and Premium tickets however, do sit closer to the action so beware.

If you’re looking for a life changing, incredibly provocative and engaging evening in Manhattan this is your choice. If you are even the slightest bit curious, I encourage you to take the plunge and experience Queen of the Night. I promise you’ll leave in awe. And it just might change your life.    

#ThrowbackThursday: Isola at the Mondrian Soho

Soho is notorious for having phenomenal restaurants, people and shopping, but finding somewhere as romantic as Isola is hard to do.

Hidden in the Mondrian Soho, this is a gorgeous garden eatery filled with soft lighting and glass everywhere. It’s really well known as a crudo bar. Their pasta is delicious but it’s really the delicate atmosphere you go for, the restaurant is so beautiful it’s like a secret you don’t want to share. I half expected wood nymphs or sprites to appear while we were dining. The entry way itself is romantic and special, a huge, vine covered path that looks like you’re in a romantic fantasyland.

How Faymous Was It: $$$

It’s really a beautiful spot if you’re in the mood for anything romantic or just want to feel like you live in fairy wonderland.

 

A Tale of 2 Burgs: Billy-Burg and Smorgasburg

Williamsburg is one of the most delightful little pockets of Brooklyn. Very easy to access via the L, (or run to if you’re me), the burg brings a foodie A-game that comes close to surpassing some of Manhattan. A quirky, oft-stereotyped area, known to most people who aren’t familiar with it as a haven for hipsters. That’s not to say that hipsters don’t flock to Williamsburg, it’s just that there’s so much more to it than beards, plaid and PBR’s. On top of the phenomenal restaurants and stunning views, Saturdays in Williamsburg play host to God’s gift to foodies everywhere; Smorgasburg.

Smorgasburg is a huge open air food fair ideally designed for standing picnics. The list of vendors and food stuffs you can buy are seemingly endless, ranging from oysters to cashew butter to vegan zucchini noodles, Bruffins (every breakfast item ever in a muffin) and whole coconuts. Literally something for everyone.

The Food

This past weekend I ventured to Smorgasburg with my lovely roommates. I sampled a goat cheese and rhubarb ginger jam cheese pop that was the perfect complement of creamy cheese and preserves. I then had a bite of Gooey and Co. butter cake; a melt in your mouth sugary confection that I couldn’t replicate if I tried. From there I went for the Regal Vegan’s Pesto Zoodles: zucchini noodles with pesto and tomatoes, the best non-pasta pasta I’ve ever had. I finished it all off with a piece of  Jack’s Chedbred maple bacon cheddar cornbread. Basically I ate my way across the universe.

How Faymous Was It $ (surprisingly affordable but mostly cash only!)

From there we went to my bestie’s sisters apartment to drink corona’s on her rooftop and soak up the view. If you have a chance I highly recommend spending a Saturday stuffing yourself at Smorgasburg and then wandering through the burg. You’ll be amazed at the charm that exists across the East River.

 

Charity Galas and Open Bars

 

Last night I attended a truly inspiring and delicious charity gala for the American Cancer Society, called Taste of Hope. I’ve attended in the past and I’m close friends with 2 of the board members and it is nothing short of stunning. A decadent and star studded evening, this year was no exception, with celebrities like Ramona Singer of RHONY and Amare Stoudemire of the Knicks mingling around.

Each year Taste of Hope honors one chef and this year it was Elizabeth Falkner, with tickets available for general admission and VIP tables. The event is designed as an over the top tasting featuring around 100 Manhattan based eateries, from Serendipity 3 to The Smith and Clinton Street Baking Co. and of course an open bar (with lots of champagne and rosé).

The Food We started in the first room and tasted our way in order, sampling brisket tacos and shrimp rolls and fine cheeses and I was already pretty full; it’s amazing how little bites can do that! Walking into the second room I realized to my dismay that there were 3 different tasting rooms and I was going to have a hard time trying everything. The second room was filled with truffled gnocchi, caviar shooters, tuna tartare and fine barbecue just to name a few. And the third room was exclusively desserts featuring hundreds of cupcakes and chocolates and frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity 3. I was struggle city by the time we got to the dessert room, barely managing a sip of frozen hot chocolate.

How Faymous Was It $$$$$

For the future I think my game plan will be a bite of everything rather than eating the whole sample as that saves room for more temptations later. Regardless of how stuffed I felt, it was truly a magical evening with wonderful friends (that ended at a dive bar with pickleback shots) and I encourage you to come if you’re in the area next year. After all, who wouldn’t want to taste their way through Manhattan for a good cause.

 

#ThrowbackThursday: Trufflepalooza

 

So since this blog is a little late compared to when I moved to Manhattan (2.5 years late to be exact), I’ve decided that every Thursday (and possibly Tuesdays depending) I’m going to do a retroactive post, to somewhere awesome I’ve dined or an experience I’ve had. I’ve already been to so many incredible places in the city, most of which I probably won’t return to because I prefer to try new things and I feel like it would be a disservice to not include them.

For my first #TBT I’m covering Trufflepalooza. I am a self-proclaimed truffle ADDICT. Like seriously, if you told me there was cardboard with truffle oil drizzle…I’d probably eat it. So as a surprise for Valentine’s Day this year, my wonderful partner got us a reservation for Trufflepalooza. Held for one night only at Locanda Verde,  Robert Deniro’s trademark restaurant in the Tribeca Hotel, it is the most insane event ever. Needless to say I FREAKED out. Tickets were ridiculously expensive (around as much as a tasting at Per Se) and sold out and I didn’t believe him and could not believe he had been so thoughtful. I don’t think I believed him until I saw the menus with his name on them.

Locanda Verde itself is amazing, their brunch is glorious but their private dining room, where the tasting was held, truly takes the cake. A cavernous room with chandeliers and not one but two fireplaces, it makes you feel like the celebrity you are for the night. As for the truffles, they are the creamiest, most decadent, most incredibly rich little brothers to mushrooms in the world. Unfathomably rare (there are special pigs that hunt JUST for them), extraordinarily expensive (like thousands of dollars per pound expensive) in my esteemed opinion they make EVERYTHING better. And Trufflepalooza is a tasting menu with every course featuring them and wine pairings! I die. I don’t even know if I can explain how incredible everything tasted even though I’ve never been more full in my entire life.

The Food and Drinks: 

• Passed Amuse Bouches: Slivered flatbread with gruyere and sliced truffles,  parmesan arancini rice balls with truffles, tuna tartare on toast with shaved truffles. Paired with chilled Rosé.
• First Course: Sliced Salumi Misto and Prosciutto with focaccia and grated truffles. Paired with Oddero Longhe Nebbiolo from 2010.
• Second Course: Burrata from Puglia with beets and bitter greens, shaved truffles and mandarin champagne vinaigrette. Paired with Oddero Longhe Nebbiolo from 2010.
• Third Course: Porcini mushroom cappucino with black trumpet and truffle dusting. Paired with Oddero Longhe Nebbiolo from 2010.
• Fourth Course: Sheep’s milk ricotta ravioli with walnut pesto and fuglio de toco and grated truffles. Paired with Core Aglianico 2011.
• Fifth Course: Berkshire pork tenderloin, glazed pork belly, celery root and shaved truffles. Paired with Gillardi Fiore de Marya 2012.
• Sixth Course: Black Truffle Tartufo with chocolate truffle vanilla gelato swirl and shaved truffles. Paired with dessert port wine.

*Photos featured are in order of course.

How Faymous Was It: $$$$$

Truly a once in a lifetime experience, if you love truffles and you’re here when they’re in season, I recommend it 10000%. Though, truth be told, you may feel like you can not even smell a truffle for a week or so after because you will be a truffle coma.

 

 

Will Run for Brunch

If you asked me to choose between my two favorite things of-the-moment it would definitely be a toss up between finishing a half marathon and brunch.

I’ve fallen head over heels in love with running this past year, running more races and half marathons than I can count. There is absolutely no greater victory than the personal triumph of finishing a race. I’m a member of the New York Road Runners and am currently working towards qualifying for the 2015 NYC Marathon! This past weekend I ran in the NYRR RUN AS ONE Race in Central Park. A short, fun and hilly sprint race that was a great way to kick start my Sunday!

After the race we headed to Sarabeth’s on Central Park South for brunch. Sarabeth’s is a New York institution, known for classic brunch and classic people. I tend to gravitate towards riskier eateries but this was lovely to try.

Drinks:  I started with a divine 5 flower mimosas with notes of fresh grapefruit juice, passionfruit juice, saint-germain and champagne. A fruity and delightfully refreshing take on the classic mimosa and exactly what I needed to celebrate the race. I ended brunch with a small pot of lovely Harney and Sons green tea to warm my cold muscles up.

Food:  I like it hot, so naturally I went for the jalapeño and cheddar egg white omelette with tomato, onions and sour cream. I was also starving post race so I split a side of three-pepper home fries and a homemade English muffin with preserves. The cheddar they used was incredible, supremely rich and tangy, a perfect complement to the spiciness of the jalapeño.

How Faymous Was It $$$

Overall it was a lovely and delicate New York brunch, very gossip-girl esque and a perfect treat if you want to pretend you always brunch next to the Plaza hotel…and I mean of course you do.

 

Eating la Vida Loca

So as you can kinda tell, I really love food. If I could eat at every restaurant in Manhattan, I probably would. However one night a week I do try to make it a point to actually cook a meal.

Typically my “night in” is Monday night, I go to my favorite spin class, pop over to Trader Joe’s and make up a recipe. And I mean seriously, make up a recipe; it’s rare that I follow directions, I usually just go by what Im craving. The majority of what I cook is health conscious and tasty; my half hearted attempt to make up for all the truffle fries I consume. I then try and take leftovers for lunch.

Monday night I was craving taco salad so I made my personal and interpretative take on it. And when I say interpretative I mean…I made it up.

Ingredients:
– 1 pound of chicken breast
– 2 bags butter lettuce
– 1 box of pre diced cooking onions
– 1 green bell pepper
– 1 container of fresh salsa or pico de gallo
– 1 bag lite Mexican cheese mix
– 1 avocado
– Coconut Oil spray (my fave thing ever)

Instructions:
Toss pre-diced onion in a big pot, spritz with coconut oil spray. Chop green bell pepper and toss in with the onion. Cut up raw chicken and then toss that in with the vegetables. Spritz again with coconut oil spray and add sea salt. Stir until fully cooked. Serve over butter lettuce, with as much pico de gallo and cheese as you want, and a quarter of an avocado for richness. enjoy!

 

Spring in the city: Tales of Romance

New York is wonderful and riotous year-round but it is especially romantic in it’s more transitional seasons. It’s a time where we can watch with anticipation as the city sheds her grey coat of winter.

Spring has been long awaited by New Yorkers this winter and I find myself overjoyed by the pops of color and pale green vistas that have emerged. This year, to me at least, Spring feels like a song; a calling for all of us to wake up and emerge from our winter slumbers to come and greet the earth.

So step outside if you’re in the area and revel in the lukewarm sunlight, and enjoy a season gracefully poised to become the summer heat we all know and love.

Pickles and a Girls Night Out

 

Occasionally living in New York City can become a bit exhausting and take a toll on you with it’s constant excitement. On nights like those I like to choose to recharge by doing something low key.

This past Friday I went to meet 2 of my lovely friends on the Upper West Side for cocktails and a girls night movie date.

We started at Jacobs Pickles, a cool and romantic gastropub, known for their pickles and fried chicken, on Amsterdam. I had an Apple Pie Moonshine drink, made with moonshine and pressed apples. The smokiness of the moonshine played perfectly off the pressed apple flavors, and made for a yummy grown up apple cideresque drink, served in a mason jar no less.

The second drink I had was an incredibly refreshing rosemary infused vodka lemonade. It had simple, clean flavors and in combination with the al fresco seating and the opened front of the restaurant it actually made me believe Summer may be on her way!

From there we went to the movie theatre to watch “The Other Woman”, a new rom com with Leslie Mann, Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton. While the film can be saccharine at times, it was funny enough to keep me laughing. Side note on the theatre: it is the best hidden secret in NYC with reserved seats (!!) and reclining lazy boy seats!!!! I 100% recommend it over anywhere else (and I live on the opposite end of Manhattan).

I stayed with them for the night and we woke up early the next morning to treat ourselves to delicious green acai bowls at Juice Generation. All in all, a lovely way to spend a Friday.

 

Brisket and Reunions

 

 

There is something so effortlessly lovely about seeing old friends. In a city of millions of people it can be hard to stay in touch with even friends who live down the street, so it’s important to make a point of seeing those you care about.

I was lucky enough to make wonderfully supportive and funny friends at my first job, so we routinely make an effort to get together. This past week we decided to go on a deliciously barbecued adventure to Mighty Quinn’s in the East Village.

If you’re in the area and in need of something hearty, delicious and relatively inexpensive I highly recommend it. A new space that recently opened in the past year, Mighty Quinn’s specializes in mouth watering brisket and ribs.

I opted for their brisket which was crispy and juicy, caramelized on the outside with a sweet and smoky richness that is relatively hard to find with brisket. For sides I chose the sweet potato casserole, topped delightfully with candied walnuts, and vinegar slaw that was refreshing and tart, a perfect complement to melt-in-your-mouth meat.

From there we wandered to Davey’s ice cream, a specialty ice cream store offering a small selection of perfect flavors. I sampled both their pistachio and “Brunch” ice cream, made of French toast flavored ice cream and bacon bits, a unique blend of smokey and sweet flavors.

Both eateries were wonderfully accommodating and gracious, and I highly recommend them if you’re in the area.