When i go to New York go to dine fine and live it up. Over here my friends, in middle-of-nowhere USA, i am limited to bad bad sushi, vegan cabbage sandwiches and grapefruit.
I was thrilled to hear my mother was stopping by the apples on her way to a conference in the Mid-West last weekend. Coincidentally my friend Nash and her sister Lulu (you may remember them as the two fabulous sisters from my Paris posts) were also visiting from Paris, my cousin's good friend Noura was there for some super-hard-to-get-into USC investment banking internship program and Perry was there because he moved to design school in New York.
The first night I dragged Mum off (after just arriving from K) to dinner with Noura at Delmonicos. Americas OLDEST RESTAURANT in the Financial District. Isnt that so cool? The oldest restaurant in the USA. We were soo late because our cab driver was a nutcase (whats new?) and had to order on the phone. The steak Delmonico is famous, their macaroni and cheese with crab is heavenly and the restaurant is also famous for inventing the Baked Alaska, Eggs Benedict and half the brunch menu basically.
Afterwards we headed over to Momofuku Milk Bar on 15W 56th for some of their heartachingly hit-the-spotty Compost cookies (they have crammed everything in them from pretzels to chocolate pieces to etc etc.) and their elegant soft-serves (we got the salty pistachio caramel) and Crack pie.
We stayed at the truly charming Algonquin this time. It is one of New York's historic boutique hotels and is famous for hosting the Algonquin Round Table. Google it. It was this group of the most famous writers and wits (like Dorothy Parker) of 1920s New York and was to be a huge influence on shaping the American literary style of that era. If you love the New Yorker, you'd love the Algonquin. The decor is so elegantly 20s with low, round-backed chairs slightly art-deco motifs on the lampshades and a very becoming buzz in the lobby. The staff are charming and they even have a house cat! So cute.
Anyway. The next night (Halloween), we had dinner at Le Bernardin, which is one of the 5 3-michelin starred restaurants in the city. It is an old-people restaurant. My thing exactly. Just amazing amazing amazing food. The food comes in coin-sized portions and is there simply to delight, confound, puzzle and finally ravish your taste buds. There are renowned for their seafood and... walla im no culinary critic, i was just blown away. A+++++
In keeping with the classic decor, i wore my beloved cropped Valentino "lace" navy top with a simple Alessandro dell Acqua navy miniskirt and classic studded beige Louboutins (with a metal heel) and of course my new Black Orchid Tom ford lipstick (yes i bought another one i cant resist!). Oh and hair that has now turned olive green.
Nash looked like one of those people who you are absolutely sure is famous, as usual. She had on spray-on "nice jeans" with snakeskin Pigalles and a giant yak vest in cream. With dark plum lipstick. Lulu was wearing a dramatic, long dark dress with a cover-up and had just gotten a "loose 'fro" at Orlando Pita and so looked just like a glamorously dark, YSL Opium-ad-heady expression of her own passionate personality. I swear the whole restaurant turned to stare when they walked in. I SO wish i took pictures!! And Perry had on a smart plaid shirt with his favourite Lanvin bowtie and a sharp dinner jacket. It was an incredible weekend. And then my mother sent me home with 5 kilos of tamur from our garden, completely disregarding the fact tha i had to carry that all the way to Grand Central. Fortunetely, Bir7y is the BEST date for date and walnut cake, which i made today for my house dinner. Everyone loved it! Its all good.
First Photo: me on the Left in my favorite old Zara tweed coat, Charlotte Olympia leopard pony and pink-heel platforms and Gucci wolf silk-tie scarf.
Got to Miami on Thursday night for the NUKS conference. It took me less than 24 hours to get fed up with the BS, book a hotel room and one way flight to NY and get the f out. Ahhh, what a relief to get to this wondrous city, so much more my speed! Anyway, went to Shampoo Avenue B, my favourite new salon (they are soooo nice and the all the staff are fantastic and so styling). Got a Brazilian Blowout (my hair is so ravaged from everyday washing) and then dyed my cheap faded blonde PURPLE! Well it was supposed to be blue but ended up looking fab anyhow!
