Eataly!

Heirloom tomats @ Eataly!

As we all know, Italy has bestowed a wondrous gift on the world with its simple and amazingly delicious cuisine. NYC's Eataly in Chelsea is as best a representation of the nation as you can get other than the real deal. I finally ventured there this past Saturday and I truly felt like I died and went to foodie heaven. Eataly is a market, an apertivo spot, a bakery, a restaurant and wine purveyor all in one glorious location.

Freshest of veg

B. Sprouts!

My friend K and I journeyed to Eataly with a mission of assembling a fresh salad and pasta dish for her birthday meal. When you enter the store on the 23rd St entrance, the colors of the vegetables are like an artist's palate. The produce is artfully arranged, beckoning you to select! We chose some arugula, french beans, heirloom tomatoes, sundried tomatoes and a red pepper. Next we moved to the cheese counter, where we eventually abandoned to the pre-cut cheese area as the line was slow and crowd was busy. You have to walk through the wine-tasting area from the vegetables which on a Saturday was a tad treacherous. We powered on and selected a delicious Gorgonzola and Parmesan reggiano before moving on to the fresh pasta section (again having to brave the tasting area madness). Oh the fresh pasta! Again, everything looked so good but we finally selected a spinach spaghetti, truffle & pecorino casonsèi, and spinach-ricotta ravioli. A simple tomato-basil sauce and a fresh loaf of bread and we headed to the checkout.

Eataly has a separate wine store next to the main space so I popped in there for the ever-important wine. Prosecco was obvi on the list, but boy was I in for a treat! After months of searching wine stores in the tri-state area I finally found my VINO ROSSO FRIZZANTE!! I originally discovered this wine at Taste of Emelia in Dublin and on some trips to Italy to visit one of my bests, AL. Until Saturday, I was only able to source the too-sweet Lambrusco so I was absolutely delighted. And the price was right at $15! Oh Eataly I will be back! Next time I'll go on a week day though as the crowds were a bit OTT and I wouldn't mind checking out the tasting area ;-)

Rosso Frizzante & the fruits of our labor

EATALY
200 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10010
http://www.eataly.com/

27

I suppose it's about time I post about some foodie adventures here in New York so here we go. And what better event to post about than my 27th birthday spectacular, methinks!

The weekend started out in a most excellent fashion with one of my besties, KL, coming down to visit from Buffalo on the Friday eve. We met in Grand Central after work and made a speedy move to happy hour at Fraunce's Tavern in the Financial District. This little gem requires a separate post that will be coming as it's one of my new haunts and has a sentimenal tie to Dublin.

Cycling in CP

No vodka, just wheat grass. This is 27.

Saturday I awoke a year older and with a belly ready to be filled with delicious FOOD! In preparation of the main event later on I went for a reflective run along the water in Battery Park. The remainder of the day saw mani-pedis in the West Village, wheat grass shots (wild!), a fantastic nosh at Grey Dog Cafe in Union Square and bike riding in Central Park.

Now on to the big show, DINNER! As a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain, I had been saving an excuse to dine at Les Halles and weeks prior had made reservations for the big day for myself and a close group of revelers. I went over the menu multiple times, deciding between different cuts of steaks and mouth-watering sauces. The final cut? Steak Tartare. I had never eaten steak tartare and figured there was no better time and certainly no better place. As the server wheeled out the cart for traditional tableside preparation, I nearly squealed with delight! After all the pomp and circumstance, the time of judgement arrived. It. Was. Amazing. One of the best taste experiences I have ever had! Plus I felt my iron levels instantly rise! Take that aging! As for the rest of the group, they enjoyed a mix of steaks, one order of poulet and saumon grille. We drank a delicious Beaujolais and took our time to savor the simple yet sumptuously rich French fare.

Tableside tartare prep!

The final product: c'est manifique!

After the requisite dessert (a la mode of course) with a candle and a digestif pour moi, we continued the eve with some beverages and dancing slightly uptown in the Greenwich village area. I had such a wonderful time from start to finish the weekend of my 27th and am so lucky to have had wonderful friends to celebrate with. Though I missed my friends upstate and across an ocean, I felt the love for sure from my NYC gang... and certainly in my sated belly!


Les Halles
15 John Street (off Broadway)
New York, NY 10038
212-285-858

Beautiful friends