ORSA&WINSTON
BECAUSE WE INVESTED IN MOST OF JOSEF CENTENO’S RESTAURANTS, I HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO GIVE BÄCO MERCAT, BAR AMÁ AND ORSA & WINSTON THE PRAISE THEY GARNERED FROM [Read More]
NEW YORK 7/5-7/26/2015
THE BIRTH OF CHARLIE SANTO PLESHETTE BROUGHT US TO THE CITY FOR THREE WEEKS IN JULY. WE WERE STAYING IN OUR FRIEND LIZ’S FABULOUS APARTMENT ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE [Read More]
BRUSSELS AND BERLIN 1/26 TO 2/5/2015
BRUSSELS ANTWERP HAS ITS DRAMATIC PORT AND A HIP, COSMOPOLITAN VIBE. BRUGES, THE PRESERVED MEDIEVAL TOWN OF STONE BRIDGES AND COBBLED STREETS, EXISTS FOR TOURISTS BUT IS SAVED [Read More]
CHERCHE MIDI
KEITH McNALLY IS SURELY NEW YORK’S MOST SUCCESSFUL OFF BROADWAY PRODUCER. BALTHAZAAR, WHICH OPENED ON SPRING STREET IN 1997, HAS BEEN PLAYING TO PACKED HOUSES EVER SINCE. THE [Read More]
AMSTERDAM 3/21-3/25/2014
THOUGH 20 YEARS HAVE PASSED, THE ONLY DISH I CAN STILL SAVOR FROM 20 YEARS PAST IS THE SMOKED EEL IN THE OYSTER BAR. BUT MUCH HAS CHANGED [Read More]
VIENNA 3/15/2014
WE HAD NEVER BEEN TO VIENNA, BUT HAD PLENTY OF REASONS TO GO; THE REASONS WE ALWAYS GO ANYWHERE — ART AND FOOD. VIENNA IS AN ELEGANT, PROSPEROUS [Read More]
LONDON 3/11/14: THREE BY ATHERTON
AFTER NINE YEARS BEFORE THE MAST WORKING FOR GORDON RAMSAY WHERE HE OPENED RESTAURANTS IN DUBAI, SHANGHAI AND PRAGUE, JASON ATHERTON, A YORKSHIRE-BORN CHEF, STRUCK OUT ON HIS [Read More]
TROIS MEC
“NO WAY. THAT’S LUDO’S IPOD.” THE MUSIC IS HIP-HOP LOUD BUT WHEN ASKED TO TURN IT DOWN OR CHANGE IT TO SOMETHING MORE CONDUCIVE TO A FIVE-COURSE TASTING [Read More]
NEW YORK 9/8-9/15
FOR OUR WEEK IN NEW YORK I DECIDED TO FORSAKE OUR PERENNIAL FAVORITES (MIAILINO, THE MODERN, DBGB) AND TRY SOME PLACES WHERE WE’D NEVER BEEN. COMPARING PETE WELLS’ [Read More]
SAN FRANCISCO WEEKEND
WE SPENT MY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND IN SAN FRANCISCO AT THE PALACE HOTEL, WHICH WAS FIRST BUILT IN 1875, THEN RE-CONSTRUCTED AFTER THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE. (I HAD [Read More]