New York, New York...

Recently while in New York, I had dinner with my friend Sally, who I always love seeing. She took me to Casa Mono (17th/Irving). We didn't have reservations and the place is tiny, so we put our name in and were sent next door to their wine bar. We stared at the extensive Spanish wine list and had no idea what to order. We wanted to buy a bottle, but quite honestly--we could hardly tell what was white from the reds. So we sat there trying to prompt each other to go up to the front to talk to the bartender. Fine. I finally got off the stool and made my move. He talked me into a bottle but just as we were going to seal the deal, the restaurant called and we scurried over to the restaurant. We were seated right at the bar looking into the kitchen. It was perfect, as we were able to see everything that was being prepared. I love watching people cook--especially since reading HEAT (great read, if you haven't read it yet!). We then relaxed and ordered a bottle of wine, and then pumpkin and goat cheese croquettes (seen above). We ate very well. The salad was extraordinary--with manchego and quince dressing. I could go on and on but then you'll think I ate everything on the menu...


The plate at the left is from my FAVORITE place to have lunch while working at the NY Gift show at the Piers. For lunch, I eat everyday at the same place...Azuri (465 51st St., betw. 9th & 10th, 212-262-2920), which is hands down the best food anywhere near Pier 92. The owner, Ezra, a gruff unemotional man in his fifties, makes the best falafel, Israeli salads, and soups in NY. It's always fresh and remarkably tasty.