Two Delicious NYC Restaurants

This was one of those weekends that I’m just not ready to finish. From start to finish, it was the perfect New York City weekend.

Now that both Bo and his sister Meg live in New York City, his parents try to come up at least a few times a year to enjoy New York and catch up with us. This weekend included some delicious food and a Broadway show. It was a perfect way to spend a rainy weekend in the city.

Friday night Bo’s parents invited us to bring friends to dinner so Theodora and Laura, Meg’s roommate, joined us for dinner at one of our favorite hidden secrets, BLT Fish. I call it a hidden secret as even though it’s over 10 years old the food and service are both always amazing and normally you can get in upstairs as long as you book a few days in advance.

As normal the food did not disappoint and both Theodora and I were thankful for ordering the scallop special. My favorite part of the meal was the raw bar tower and the amazing candied Brussels sprouts! Oh, and just like any BLT restaurant, their signature bread course was delicious. The cheddar biscuits were were divine! IMG_2849

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Yesterday we made the best of the rainy day by heading to Broadway for a matinee showing of Cat on A Hot Tin Roof with Scarlett Johansson and Benjamin Walker. Bo and his father headed to the TKTS booth in Times Square around 10am which allowed them to buy tickets at 50% off! This is one of the best TKTS deals we’ve taken advantage of in ages! As the only Tennessee Williams I read in high school English was A Streetcar Named Desire I didn’t know what to expect from the show other than that it came highly recommended, Scarlett was supposedly amazing, and it was long. The show was so powerful that it left us talking about it for 2 hours afterwards. While I love musicals and other light hearted Broadway shows, there is something to be said for a show that leaves you thinking and talking about the plot.

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We took a break from dining out last night and instead wined and dined at home, sipping some of our favorite wines (Domaine Serene Pinot Noir and Cakebread Chardonnay) while chatting, relaxing, and enjoying a delicious meal cooked by Bo. Meg and I helped with prep but Bo truly owned the delicious meal which included a cheese plate, Caprese salad, hazelnut gnocchi, sautéed mushrooms, and veal chops.

Then, last but not least, we ended the weekend with a late brunch at ABC Kitchen. After a morning filled with working out and errands, Bo’s parents wanted to find a lunch spot near our home that would allow us to relax and enjoy one last, delicious meal before their flight back to Savannah. It’s always hard to think of lunch or brunch places as Bo and I rarely dine out for brunch or lunch, especially in this area. After being at a loss for a moment I suggested a few local restaurants, unsure whether they served brunch. Luckily, ABC Kitchen, one of my all time favorites, only had a 30 minute wait; just enough time for a mimosa before brunch!

This was the perfect brunch spot for our group as we were able to enjoy the beautiful interior décor in a relaxed environment and dine on the top notch food without feeling rushed. We took over two hours fro brunch, enjoying the dishes as they served them as we shared 3 small plates as appetizers before our main courses. I would highly recommend 3 of our items: roasted kobucha squash toast, raw diver scallops, and the chicken salad.

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Overall, our only complaint would be the hit and miss service. Our waiter went from being overly attendant to invisible. We were seated right at the 30 minute point but then once we were seated it took 10 minutes to see our waiter again.

What a wonderful weekend it was. While I’m not quite ready for the weekend to end, at least I can go curl up with a glass of wine and the Oscars!

Have a great week everyone!

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New Years 2013: St. Croix Style

After a day of internet issues and lack of wi-fi on both flights today, I’m finally back to pick up where I left off in sharing our St. Croix adventures!

After a day of exploring St. Croix via the roads, trails, and beaches on Monday, we were ready to toast to the new year together as a large group. IMG_1419

Sunday night we realized that we still didn’t have any firm New Year’s Eve plans and since we cooked in the 2 nights previous, we thought it would be fun to go out to dinner somewhere. We didn’t really know if going into Christiansted was a safe idea with the New Year’s Eve craziness and figured that a large group would be hard to keep together during the night. Therefore, instead of bar hopping, we decided to take it back old school style and pre-game at the house during our evening dance party before being seated for a 10pm dinner at a nice restaurant on the island near our house.

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A local shop owner highly recommended the New Year’s Eve party at The Galleon Restaurant as the restaurant is known for their extensive wine list, reliable food, and live music. The 10pm seating was a perfect option for our group as it allowed us to toast to the new year together at the restaurant during their champagne toast and have some time to hang out together at the house. We made the reservations sight on seen but the Yelp reviews also helped seal the deal. IMG_1426

The night overall wasn’t exactly what our group had in mind, but we still enjoyed ourselves. After all, when you’re a group of 9, you can bring the party anywhere you go. We definitely dropped the average age of the dining clientele by around 20 years when we were seated which put a bit of a damper on our party spirits and noise levels. The food at The Galleon was very good and the wine menu lived up to the reputation however the staff and service left something to be desired. I wasn’t starving, so chose to enjoy appetizers instead of a main course. Raj and I split the tuna appetizer and I enjoyed the lobster ravioli, which stood out above the other dishes, as my entrée. Our group also liked that they didn’t have a pre-fixe menu for New Year’s Eve, unlike many other restaurants. This gave each person the freedom to find something that pleased their taste buds and budget.

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After quite a few glasses of delicious chardonnay later, our group toasted in the new year together with champagne, compliments of the house. The party hats, beads, and noise makers were fun props for a few pictures and helped us truly feel like we were kicking off the new year versus just having a nice dinner out on the island.

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After making out with the local restaurant guppy, better known as Shrek, it was time to call it a night.

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One magnum of champagne, shared poolside between friends and a few conversations about resolutions later, it was time for us to turn in, ready to dream about all 2013 has in store for us!

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A Sunday at the Zoo

Today I woke up with legs that were far more sore than I expected. While the 20 miler went wonderfully, spending most of Sunday on my feet in comfortable but poorly padded boots wasn’t the smartest idea! While Bo was spending the day under water for a technical scuba diving certification, I I spent the day uptown with Meg and Spencer exploring Central Park. But, before we could explore we needed to enjoy brunch, a New York City tradition that I rarely enjoy. I donned a new dress that my brother and I found at the outlets in Vermont and headed uptown for a day of fun.

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Meg and Spencer had plans to go to church on the Upper West Side as they’ve wanted to hear Tim Keller preach forever. Therefore, I did my best to find a brunch spot that was not only relatively close to  Redeemer Presbyterian, but also took reservations. After sending them a list from which to choose we settled on Elizabeth’s Neighborhood Table.

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I kid you not. This picket fence and sweet yellow house complete with gables truly exists at the corner of 93rd and Columbus Avenue. The menu looked like it’d offer something for everyone without breaking the bank and the location was perfect.  The egg white omelet was fluffy and it was filled with vegetables and delicious cheese. I was surprised to find cauliflower was one of the vegetables inside the omelet but it was a fun addition. I’m not sure why this place gets a bad wrap on Yelp because for the price we paid it delivered upon expectations. I paid $11.50 for the entrée, not $20-$25 and therefore didn’t expect complex flavors or fancy plating.

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We were greeted with sunshine and warmer temperatures when we left the restaurant, therefore choosing to meander down to Central Park. We proceeded to spend the next 3 hours wandering through the park and Central Park Zoo. It is so different to walk through the park versus run. I love sharing the nooks of Central Park with friends without worrying that I’ll get lost. I’ve learned so much about the park during this marathon training. Spencer, Meg’s husband, asked that I never take Central Park for granted as even in Atlanta there is nothing like it that is as beautiful and accessible.

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Trust me Spencer, enjoying scenery like this multiple times a week will never get old!

After 3 years living in the city Bo and I have walked through the Central Park Zoo many times but never have we stopped to buy tickets and go through the zoo in its entirety! For $12 it was a great deal and the perfect way to enjoy the afternoon together. We all loved checking out the exhibits and feeling like a child again. The afternoon feeding worked in our favor and allowed us to see most of the animals active, enjoying their lunches.  We could have sat watching the penguins play for hours! They were so full of energy and such characters!

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By the time exited the zoo at 3:00 I was absolutely exhausted. My legs were screaming and my swollen feet wanted nothing other than an Epsom salt bath and the couch.

How about you? Are you a fan of the zoo? What is your favorite animal to check out?

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