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Thursday, February 9, 2012
WSJ.com - For iPad And Mobile Devices, a 'Port' out of the Norm
Monday, February 6, 2012
ELEVEN MADISON PARK
NEW AMERICAN CUISINE & FOODIE HEAVEN
Once in a while, (rarely) it is a good thing to treat yourself. ELEVEN MADISON PARK was the place for a delayed celebration. WOW. This is one of NYC's premier restaurants. NY TIMES 4 Star. Michelin Three Star (top). You cannot tell what will happen from the menu, so you get ambushed so to speak. This is one of the unexpected delights/discoveries of living in NYC.
UNDERPROMISE and OVERDELIVER is a Tom Peters Business ethic. These guys do it to the "nth degree."
There are about 20 wait staff roaming with sharp eyes. They walk with military precision and even the youngest are TOTALLY competent in the menu. They appear to be cross trained, are all pleasant and have genuine personalities. Great hiring. GREAT TRAINING. No one ever moans "duh ...um...I don't know, I'll find your waiter."
You pick a Four Course or Tasting Menu theme. The four course menu that is presented initially appears as a GAME. It is a grid of four rows by four rows with 16 names. You pick a theme from four names that appear and pick your favorite. Such as Foir Gras, Lobster, Muscovey Duck and Triple Creme (Cheese). But if you are on a particular dietary restriction, they will honor it with a DIFFERENT CUSTOM SAUCE!
Starters are continually starting. About four Amuse Bouche nibbles and two breads show up before the first course. I thought the waiter put us on the tasting menu. The breads came with great cow butter and GOAT butter.
Each course is well spaced. ALL COURSES are served with a ridiculous attention to detail and garnish. This is "Kitchen Stadium in person" for Food Network junkies like me.
Too much detail is needed to describe each dish. The duck stuffed with LAVENDAR and carved at the table, etc.
Just when you think you are done, they bring a custom NYC Egg creme. Not the usual of course, but an interpreted concoction that complemented the cheese course perfectly.
Dessert continued with more nibbles arriving in "mini courses."
They "finish you off" with trust. They bring an open bottle of VSOP Cognac, pour a glass for each, leave the bottle and say have as much as you like. (!)
As a quibble, the wine list is over the top. Pricing reflects 4 Star expense accounts, but you can find French Pinot Noirs for under $60.
Final item: Your coats are waiting for you when you leave. No ticket, or coat check. They just know. The place competes with Le Bernardin for one of the best in NYC with a different cuisine.
Gentlemen will be most comfortable with a Sport Jacket or suit, tie is not required but most common.
ELEVEN MADISON PARK
11 Madison Avenue, NYC
212-889-0905
ELEVENMADISONPARK.COM
Once in a while, (rarely) it is a good thing to treat yourself. ELEVEN MADISON PARK was the place for a delayed celebration. WOW. This is one of NYC's premier restaurants. NY TIMES 4 Star. Michelin Three Star (top). You cannot tell what will happen from the menu, so you get ambushed so to speak. This is one of the unexpected delights/discoveries of living in NYC.
UNDERPROMISE and OVERDELIVER is a Tom Peters Business ethic. These guys do it to the "nth degree."
There are about 20 wait staff roaming with sharp eyes. They walk with military precision and even the youngest are TOTALLY competent in the menu. They appear to be cross trained, are all pleasant and have genuine personalities. Great hiring. GREAT TRAINING. No one ever moans "duh ...um...I don't know, I'll find your waiter."
You pick a Four Course or Tasting Menu theme. The four course menu that is presented initially appears as a GAME. It is a grid of four rows by four rows with 16 names. You pick a theme from four names that appear and pick your favorite. Such as Foir Gras, Lobster, Muscovey Duck and Triple Creme (Cheese). But if you are on a particular dietary restriction, they will honor it with a DIFFERENT CUSTOM SAUCE!
Starters are continually starting. About four Amuse Bouche nibbles and two breads show up before the first course. I thought the waiter put us on the tasting menu. The breads came with great cow butter and GOAT butter.
Each course is well spaced. ALL COURSES are served with a ridiculous attention to detail and garnish. This is "Kitchen Stadium in person" for Food Network junkies like me.
Too much detail is needed to describe each dish. The duck stuffed with LAVENDAR and carved at the table, etc.
Just when you think you are done, they bring a custom NYC Egg creme. Not the usual of course, but an interpreted concoction that complemented the cheese course perfectly.
Dessert continued with more nibbles arriving in "mini courses."
They "finish you off" with trust. They bring an open bottle of VSOP Cognac, pour a glass for each, leave the bottle and say have as much as you like. (!)
As a quibble, the wine list is over the top. Pricing reflects 4 Star expense accounts, but you can find French Pinot Noirs for under $60.
Final item: Your coats are waiting for you when you leave. No ticket, or coat check. They just know. The place competes with Le Bernardin for one of the best in NYC with a different cuisine.
Gentlemen will be most comfortable with a Sport Jacket or suit, tie is not required but most common.
ELEVEN MADISON PARK
11 Madison Avenue, NYC
212-889-0905
ELEVENMADISONPARK.COM
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
New Sam Adams Sampler
BEER: New Spring Sampler from Sam Adams. Must be the calamity of an early Global Weirding in the Northeast. Sam Adams has released their SPRING SAMPLER. Love the Mighty Oak Ale, the Black Lager and the other surprises. Have fun in the playground of Malt and Hops.
http://www.samueladams.com/enjoy-our-beer/beer-detail.aspx?id=0cbc03ba-f238-4f1f-89e9-59fdd94d2e4d
http://www.samueladams.com/enjoy-our-beer/beer-detail.aspx?id=0cbc03ba-f238-4f1f-89e9-59fdd94d2e4d
New Music: Leslie West
NEW MUSIC: Leslie West. Yes THAT LESLIE WEST. MOUNTAIN. Wondering what had become of the remains of one of my favorite bands, I did a search on iTunes. Lo and behold, he has a BLUES ALBUM OF COVERS and new stuff on an Album called UNUSUAL SUSPECTS. Very tasty.
Monday, January 30, 2012
New Winter Sam Adams Sampler
Dang those people at Sam Adams! Just when you get into the comfortable rut of the liking the same old thing, they come up with new and inventive brews to challenge the playground that is the US brewing scene. It is a FUN TIME to enjoy beer.
Sam Adams has a Winter Sampler mostly populated with new stuff like WHITEWATER IPA. It is an unfiltered wheat beer, heavily hopped with a touch of APRICOT. Not as strong flavored as their Lattitude 48 :).
My other favorite is the new MIGHTY OAK ALE. This is the inverse of the Lattitude 48. Uses 4 kinds of MALT as opposed to hops and has a different character.
Challenges all those refusniks who say "I DON'T LIKE BEER."
Friday, January 27, 2012
NEW ORLEANS Jan 2012
Black Cap Night heron - Audubon park.
Steamboat Willie playing on Bourbon Street. See the Trip log for details.
Just got back from New Orleans, assisting with Mardi Gras preparations (eating and drinking).
New Orleans, Lousiana (NOLA) is a very strange place in America 2012. It is a truly freedom loving city. Cheap alcohol is available 24 hours a day. Bottled water is $3.25. Public drunkenness is tolerated. Strip clubs are all over Bourbon street. But so is the live music. The clubs are alive with Dixieland, Modern Jazz, Zydeco, Cajun and Rock music. Gambling is available at Harrah's. Great Food is a religion here. Somehow the wagging finger of the regulators have not gotten to NOLA yet to threaten them with limits on how much butter or salt is allowed in the food. They are still free for now.
No wonder the Convention scene is as vibrant as it was before Katrina. NOLA has also made an effort to revive the cruise industry. This is again a destination for ships bound for Mexico and the Caribbean.
The French Quarter, the Garden District via St Charles Streetcar to the Audubon Zoo are in fine shape after the "Katrina Vacation." The 9th Ward was not so lucky and still needs rebuilding.
Click here to see the Trip Log and details.
Click here to see the photo gallery.
WSJ.com - From Honkytonk To High Art
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