So I check out of my lovely hotel room on a beautiful Monday morning in New York. For those who have stayed at the Waldorf Astoria, you will agree that the hotel has a charm about it. It is beautiful, a little old school and all about service. I seriously loved my stay here!
I head off for a walk to the ABC Kitchen. A beautiful chic New York restaurant in furniture shop. I came here (previously) before this place was popular. Then a group of celebrities started coming and now its tough to get reservations… Seriously what is it with the NYC celebrity culture. I am taken to my seat, a lovely girl hands me the menu. I have my mind set on the Tuna Sashimi and Maine Lobster. I start with a glass of the chianti classico riserva, castellare ‘il poggiole’ 2010 to tempt my taste buds.
The tuna is beautiful, raw and drenched in some ginger and mint dressing. Just melts in your mouth with the dressing providing a tangy aftertaste.
Then the wood oven roasted maine lobster with oregano and lemon-chili vinaigrette arrives. It is perfect. Succulent lobster meat, seasoned perfectly to be flavoursome but still retaining that fresh taste of the sea. This place is all about produce and simple cooking. I also have a side dish of caramelised brussels, slow cooked with a tangy mayonnaise. I wash it down with a Pinot Blanc, kreydenweiss ‘kritt’ 2011 from Alsace. Could this moment be any better, I really need a remote control for my life just to freeze this moment!
I then move onto dessert, The Sundae: salted caramel ice-cream, chocolate sauce and popcorn and peanuts. Its an amazing array of flavours, probably too sweet… but hey its a sundae.
The atmosphere is awesome a mix of cute Park Avenue girls, old dowagers, slick guys trying to impress their dates and the corporate crowd. The background music is supplemented with the lunch time chatter.
I still love this place, even though its harder to get a reservation now. The staff are friendly, food is amazing, it has a hip vibe and I am learning the art of people watching.
I then head back to my hotel to pick my bags to head off to the airport. New York; I love you, I will miss you, please look after yourself and for goodness sake elect a Republican Governor!
Anyway, I am off to live the Travel Czar Life (Confessions of a Lounge Lover)!
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