Yum, yum, yum!

As I'm no longer a resident of NYC, it's hard to plan my visits these days. Why? Cuz there's just too many new restaurants I want to try and not enough time! Noticing so many cool places sprouting downtown, I chose the new Duane St. Hotel in Tribeca this time, just a block away from Bouley. The hotel is modern & cute with good service so a total thumbs up start!

While we munched on Bouley bakery pastries in the morning, I've gotta say that the best bite in town this time was our 5-course tasting menu at the raved Degustation restaurant (East Village.) For $50+/person, the dishes are well constructed, creative and tasty! The fun part is watching the dishes prepared right front of your eyes. They only have counter seating that wraps around a tight spaced "mini-kitchen" where the chef and his team efficiently grill, whip and assemble. It was amazing to see how the talented 26 yr. old chef, Wesley Genovart, a Spaniard who worked at Perry St., whip up the marvelous and delicate dishes. Wesley kindly gave us advice on where to head for drinks in the neighborhood, which definitely topped off our memorable evening. The image is of the appetizer we had there. Bon appetit!

Lolitas in training

My tropical vacation in Puerto Rico continued on to vacation Part 2 in NYC, my fave town! Having lived there for 3 yrs. with an office down the block from Tiffany and Barneys NY, I thought I was the one that got to live the high life in total luxury. Agh, was I sooooo wrong!!

In NYC for some, luxury seems to start much earlier in life. While my friend and I were enjoying a late lunch around 3 pm at Fred's inside Barneys NY, I noticed some of the other tables were filled with teenagers in their uniform sporting Chanel sunglasses, Pucci hair bands, Louis bags. Hmmm.... We hit the shoe floor where racks of summer sales with Pradas, Louboutins and Manolos were piled up and what do we witness? Another group of teenage gals in uniforms trying out boxes and boxes of shoes galore, skipping around in those delicate heels rejoicing in delight. To top it off, a couple of Barneys shoe fitters are totally waiting on them. I seriously couldn't believe my eyes and never realized Barneys was an extended cafeteria and playground for the nearby private schools. Alas, I finally understood why Tiffany sells silver pacifiers and $100+ baby dishes!! I wouldn't be surprised if AMEX came out with a Paris Hilton AMEX card soon; the mini-black AMEX for teenage spending sprees... wish I had one!

Recommendations on NYC restaurants coming in tomorrow's blog!

Who inspires you?

Since I'm heading out for a fffabulous Puerto Rico & NYC vacation next week, I'm in a Manhattan mode! When I lived there before moving to the West Coast, my best memories weren't about the revolving door of men who "didn't" show up. Yes ladies, SATC is a drama not a biography!! Nor was it the Zagat top-ranked restaurant dinners that filled my schedule at least half the week - yes this part, I feel like Carrie Bradshaw!

My treasured memory is my encounter with black and white photography.

After work I took classes at the NY Center of Photography for almost two years. I developed negatives in my teeny Manhattan sized closet that had some designer clothes, but not as many Manolos as Carrie. All because I stumbled on a beautiful photo by the famed Harper's Bazaar photographer, Lillian Bassman. Born 1917, she revolutionized the fashion industry in the 40's & 50's with her most elegant, experimental and romantic prints. I had to meet her but was she alive? Luckily, one day she was holding a lecture at the NY Center of Photography. Aren't these pictures breathtaking? I treasure the book she autographed for me that day and only hope I'll age with as much elegance as her.

http://www.nytimes.com/specials/ts/home/bass.html
http://www.staleywise.com/collection/bassman/bassman_exhibition.html