A Day In A Life........

Some days just get better. Last Tuesday was like that…….
I took the 11:03 train out of Little Silver NJ, destination Penn Station NY. I was going in early and meeting friends for dinner. On a whim I called a friend and asked about lunch. 1:30 at Union Square Café. Perfect. A great friend, my favourite restaurant, things were looking up.

First stop, Penn Station, I go through Penn on average of once a week. I almost always stop at Don Pepi Pizza…..best pizza ever, sausage and onions please .
But not today…………. Union Square Café awaits…

I arrive in Union Square with in 15 minutes by subway.
Best urban transportation ever………

Slowly walk through the park to USC.
Strange to be there without the green market… …

My friend and I have a lunch tradition. We order an
appetizers and one main course…Usually what she chooses…..Often this a problem, an added fee, one full plate and one empty, we do the splitting…..Not here.

We debate….
Fried Calamari with Spicy Anchovy Mayonnaise
Fried Zucchini in Scapece with Stracciatella and Cherry Tomatoes
Seared Yellowfin Tuna Tartare with Pantelleria Capers, Lemon, Celery and Fennel Crackers
Greenmarket Heirloom Tomato Salad with Basil, Red Onion and Coach Farm Goat Cheese.
Calamari it is, not healthy but lovely.
And true to form it arrives on two plates with dipping sauces on each plate.
Perfect.

For a main course we discuss…..
USC Burger - Grilled and Served on a Homemade Poppy Seed Bun with French Fries
and Your Choice of Melted Cheddar or Crisped Bacon
BLT - Berkshire Bacon, Greenmarket Tomatoes and Arugula with New Potato Salad
Yellowfin Tuna Burger with Ginger-Mustard Glaze, Grilled Red Onions and Creamy Cabbage Slaw
Tuna Salad Sandwich on Tom Cat White with Slab Bacon, Arugula and Garlic Potato Chips
Chicken Cutlet Milanese with Syd’s Crunchy Vegetable Salad and Pecorino Romano
We choose the burger

We are served two handmade, equal size burgers on a role sized to fit with a ring mould, on separate plates with a mound of fries
Perfect

On the way out we chat with one of the managers, who greets us by name, about the next Morning Market Meeting. This one is on pickles. Need I repeat. See an earlier post.

My next stop....

Newly renovated….

View up Fifth Avenue….

View up Fifth Avenue….

Lovely......
My next stop.....

The James Beard Foundation for dinner with long time food friends.....

The foundation is located in James Beards Greenwich Village town house. Almost nightly, chefs from around the world prepare signature dishes their restaurant. There are passed Hors d’Oeuvres, four of five courses, each served with a different wine. It is great fun.

A little history
After James Beard’s death in 1985, a group of his friends and colleagues led by cooking school founder Peter Kump heeded a call from Julia Child to do something with Beard’s house. While he was alive, Beard always welcomed students, authors, chefs, and other food and beverage professionals into his home—his kitchen was truly at the heart of America’s burgeoning 20th century food scene. Kump organized a fundraising campaign to raise the downpayment to purchase the Greenwich Village townhouse from Beard’s estate, which was held by Reed College.On November 5, 1986, the James Beard Foundation officially opened the James Beard House “to provide a center for the culinary arts and to continue to foster the interest James Beard inspired in all aspects of food, its preparation presentation, and of course, enjoyment,” according to a press release issued that day. Calvin Trillin presided over an opening ceremony that welcomed Jacques Pépin, Judith Jones, Larry Forgione and other culinary world luminaries who had been touched and inspired by Beard.

Cooks’ Reunion Dinner Menu and Chefs link

http://jamesbeard.org/?q=node/1340

Photos of the evening by my friend Erin

http://eringleeson.blogspot.com/

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=9ljy7xex.7t1cv6jp&x=0&h=1&y=-aseiup&localeid=en_US&cm_mmc=site_email-_-site_share-_-core-_-view_photos_button

Back to Penn Station

a happy guy.......

Great lunch, dinner and drink with friends...

What could be better......

RATS.......

"Grounds for Sculpture’s charming restaurant, Rat’s (located near Princeton, NJ), conceived as part of sculptor J. Seward Johnson’s vision; is designed to make visitors feel they have stepped into a village reminiscent of French impressionist Claude Monet's beloved town of Giverny. Overlooking Johnson’s sculptures inspired by Impressionists paintings, as well as the lily pond and bridge inspired by the works of Monet, Rat’s offers a magical ambiance for dining and a lovely compliment to the Grounds for Sculpture experience."

http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/RatsRestaurant/index.html

Your welcoming committee, to RATS a classic J. Seward Johnson’s casting….
"Why the name Rat's? In Kenneth Grahame's classic, The Wind in the Willows, one of J. Seward Johnson, Jr.' favorite books, the character Ratty represented everything a host should be. As founder of Rat's and Grounds For Sculpture, Johnson likens himself to Ratty who threw the best parties with the best wine. Likewise, the two share delightful imaginations and far-reaching dreams."
And lunch, just lovely and perfect....
Tartine aux Chevŕe toasted bread with goat cheese, tomato, olives, garlic & fresh herbs
Followed by delightful salads....
Salade Niçoise Seared tuna, potatoes, boiled egg, olives, green beans & red wine vinaigrette
Farm Salad local greens, grilled chicken, Roquefort, red onions, tomato & avocado, Dijon vinaigrette

Dessert.........
Tahitian vanilla ice cream,White chocolate and mango sorbet, Coconut lime sorbet


View from the patio and dinning area...the lily pond and bridge inspired by the works of Monet

View from the dinning area......


Interesting life like reproductions/castings…..
The Luncheon of the Boating Party...
I was not invited...

A few surprises to fool the eye….....

Less classic…. One of many more.....

"Depression Bread Line was cast in bronze at the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture in 1999. The five male figures lined up by the wall on the sculpture pad represent a scene from the Great Depression, ... The original sculpture was made in 1991 from plaster, wood, metal, and acrylic paint--it is from this original sculpture that a mold was made for casting. The sculpture in the park is the second in an intended edition of seven. The first edition of the sculpture is on view in Washington, D.C. at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial--a tribute to the president who held office during this era in America's history and whose policies helped move the country out of an economic decline towards prosperity."

After your tour back to the patio at RATS........

Brooklyn Brewery…..I like what they do.....

Brooklyn Brewery is located in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY. It is a few minutes walk from the Bedford Ave. stop on the L train. The neighbourhood is young, hip, industrial, gentrifying and fun. See my last post.I like Brooklyn Brewery,
they are amazingly creative, smart marketers and make great diverse beers. Where else can you go on a Friday night for “happy hour” and have pizza delivered or take out from any number of local restaurants. Menus provided.
I, need to explain…
Every Friday night Brooklyn Brewery has a ”happy hour”, they open thier doors for any and all to taste all their beers (for a fee), including the private reserves. Private reserves are not sold at retail, only on tap. No food is served, take out allowed. With a group….. It is great fun. Plus you will taste the best seasonal and speciality beers they have to offer.

Inside the brew house they have various displays:, bottling machines, beer bottle collection, a gift shop, a small bar with most of their beers on tap (coffee stout please), a number of picnic tables for Friday night happy hour. The room is rustic, it is in a brewery and just perfect for a pizza and beer party.

Hops
Flavouring beer is the major commercial use of hops. The flower of the hop vine is used as a flavouring and preservative agent in nearly all beer made today. The flowers themselves are often called "hops".

Beer Cat......

On Saturday and Sunday they have “tours” of the brewery, mostly in front of the above tank…..
For the novice, who is more interested in the “tastings”, think wineries, it is ok. But a subsequent tour through Urban Oyster our guide was a brew master, a far better tour. But again either would be fun with a group.
http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/home/ http://www.urbanoyster.com/

Fun store across the street......

Nice logo..... http://www.beaconscloset.com/pages/home

Sneakers….

A ghost of the past. Brooklyn was once home to 40 breweries........
Brooklyn Brewery is the first successful commercial brewery in Brooklyn since Schaeffer Rheingold brewery closed in 1976. The last of the great Brooklyn breweries. Brooklyn Brewery is now one of Americas top 40 craft breweries.

Try Local 1 and Local 2. Both are bottle fermented/conditioned in the monastic tradition. Beer as it was originally made, not a ghost of the past in a can made with rice, barley and corn.

And as of September 1, 2003 Brooklyn Brewery has wind in their ales. They are the only NYC company to switch to 100% wind power. Provided by Newwind Energy. Smart……..

Road Trip to Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY.....

A few weeks ago my wife and I went to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. We were interested in a brewery tour and tasting at Brooklyn Brewery. It was part of my research for a beer, cheese and chocolate tasting class. But, more about that on my next post. Since we were visiting a brewery, I thought the neighbourhood would a warehouse district not residential. I was correct and wrong. We emerged from the L train at the Bedford Ave. stop to find a vital shopping/dinning/party district. The street is a little run down, but no vacant stores. We found upscale “hip” shops, a rooftop restaurant, bars, pubs, gourmet shops. Plus any number of street vendors: food and retail. There is a great park, a Greek Orthodox Church and lots of young people: lots of young “hip” people. On a Sunday afternoon, the streets were packed as they seem to be most nights. On Saturday night the street has been closed to accommodate the crowds. Oh and do they party, lots of street party litter……”To Go Cups” anyone…..
But the area is surrounded by finished and unfinished townhouse/condo projects and warehouses…….

Bedford Ave.

Rooftop dining....

It is the 40th anniversary of Woodstock…….

Great cheese, chocolate and gourmet food shop…

Street/wall art............

Bean to bar chocolate.......

Lots of street vendors…….

Sidewalk/wall billboard ad……no comment

2:30 Sunday afternoon......

Please start slicing…….

Store front from above.....