A Fork And A Suitcase

I was happy to score a reservation at ABC Kitchen during the Restaurant Week (more on Restaurant Week in the previous post).  ABC Kitchen is one of a few Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurants in New York City and it is located inside the ABC Carpet & Home store.  This visually stunning restaurant has been built and decorated using found, salvaged, reclaimed and recycled building materials.  The menu is very creative and they pride themselves on using fresh, organic and local, when possible, produce, fish and meat.    The Restaurant Week menu offered some really great choices.  I loved the simplicity of the table setting, it was clean, modest but very modern and inviting. The mixed and matched china gave it a home like feeling.  This delicious bread which comes from the wonderful Sullivan Street Bakery came with olive oil and salt. I started with the farro, chickpea and white bean soup.   There ...

Restaurant Week is my favorite time of the year, it is a wonderful opportunity to sample some of the most delicious food that New York City has to offer.  Twice a year, (January/February and July/August), participating restaurants in New York City offer prix-fixe meals at $29 for lunch and $42 for dinner.  Usually, once the list of restaurants that will take part in Restaurant Week is announced; I start booking. Yesterday we had the great pleasure of enjoying a fantastic lunch at Boulud Sud.  We have dined at other Boulud restaurants in NYC, but it was our first time at Sud.  This is a Mediterranean inspired restaurant that features flavors from the shores of Southern France to the coast of North Africa and beyond. The interior is very chic and modern, the floor to ceiling windows fill the space with plenty of light and help to create a comfortable and open space. There is a special Restaurant Week menu but one can also order from the regula...

The Union Square Holiday Market with over 100 vendors has a great funky vibe.   A very large chunk of the items sold are original and locally made. Union Square Market offers plenty of unique gifts by local artists and craftsmen.  I found creative jewelry, beautiful artwork, home goods, candles, clothing, soap and such.  I liked the semicircular layout of the market; it makes it easier to walk it by sections.   The market is nicely decorated and the park setting gives it a lovely, small village - like feeling. The food area is much more creative than the typical selection at a fair.   There were quite a few food vendors that I remember from the Madison Square Eats, they offered: Sicilian rice balls, empanadas, whoopie pies, Persian soups, hot chocolate, truffles, pretzels, crepes, doughnuts and much more. If I had to choose markets to visit this season, it would be this...