Delicious, Party of One - Weekend Restaurant Recap

Over the past few weekends I have eaten at some truly fantastic places. Some trendy, some hole-in-walls, some super casual, all delicious! Instead of posting about each place individually, I thought it would be easier to digest all at once.

When my family comes to visit, I'm always in search of the perfect place to eat - something that provides an easy transition from suburb to city life. I always tend to look for restaurants with a patio or outdoor seating option because it reminds my family that yes(!), there is some semlance of nature in the city. On this particular visit I hit the nail right on the head in choosing De Santos (139 W. 10th Street - http://www.desantosnyc.com/) in the West Village. I knew from past visits that my family enjoyed the neighborhood feel and tree-lined streets of the West Village, so I was certain they would like De Santos, a converted brownstone on W. 10th Street - and I was right. Everything from the beautiful patio seating to the service was outstanding and each of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals. We even split their special chocolate ganache dessert which was to die for. While it was the perfect family dinner spot, it would also serve as an ideal date spot, night out with friends or special occasion venue. They also serve brunch on Saturday and Sunday which looks equally delicious.

Ever feel like there's no place reasonably priced to eat in the Meatpacking District? Well you were right -- until now. The same group that owns Spice and Peep have recently opened up Sea (835 Washington Street - www.seainnyc.com/sea/ ) - a very moderately priced Thai restaurant with outstanding food and the ever-coveted opportunity for outdoor seating. The lunch entrees are only $8 or $9 and come with a free appetizer. They also serve one of the most refreshing pitchers of mojitos I have ever seen. Bonus Perk: The restaurant is directly across from The Standard Hotel so provides some of the best people watching in the city. Also, if you're up for something slightly adventurous after lunch, venture across the street to The Highline - New York City's elevated railroad track park (you'll understand when you see it) that runs from the Meatpacking District to Chelsea.

Ready for a night out on the town and in need of a trendy spot that won't break the bank? Look no further than Mercer Kitchen (99 Prince Street - http://www.jean-georges.com/), one of the many fantastic places in chef Jean-Georges's portfolio (which also includes Spice Market, Matsugen and the newly opened ABC Kitchen). The upstairs bar warrants a visit in itself, but I was thrilled to spend a few hours with my girlfriends in the sexy, energetic downstairs dining room. Not wanting to choose just one entree, we split a variety of appetizers and side dishes including the Tuna Spring Rolls, Shaved Fennel Salad with Argula & Parmasean, Macaroni and Cheese and two pizzas - Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil, and Black Truffle and Fontana Cheese. Everything was outstanding and the cocktails only added to our happiness. Mercer Kitchen is the perfect beginning to a fun night on the town.

Per-fection at Per Tutti

Four wheels, airport scannable laptop bags, GPS tracking! The recent innovations in luggage and travel bags are simply incredible. As a new and proud owner of a four-wheeled luggage set, I can tell you that once you go four-wheels, you never go back. Trekking through even the lengthiest of terminals is a breeze, and I can't tell you the luggage-envy you can feel from other less-fortunate travelers. I was lucky enough to become the proud owner of a fantastic new set - the Samsonite xSpace Spinner Collection (see photo) - currently available (on sale!) at Macy's in a variety of colors. It even comes in fun colors that make finding your bag at the baggage carousel extremely easy. If you're lucky enough to live in Manhattan, I'm excited to share one of the best boutique luggage stores I've seen in a long time - Per Tutti (49 Greenwich Ave, http://www.pertutti.com/ ). They carry everything from Longchamp to Tumi and from simple laptop covers to full-on luggage sets. In addition to luggage, bags and outstanding customer service, they also carry travel accessories such as umbrellas, luggage tags and passport cases. They hold a special place in my heart for selling me the BEST umbrella I have ever encountered - the Knirps 878 Fiber T2 (see photo). Yes, it's expensive at an astounding $58 a pop, but I have been through some wicked weather with this umbrella and I give it a 110% guarantee that it won't break even in the strongest winds. Even when it did turn inside-out amidst the horrible storms and winds this past weekend, I simply pulled down swiftly on the handle and it was back to its optimal rain-shielding position. If I have my Knirps umbrella, I know I'm good to go even in the most vicious Manhattan weather.

Hamptons 101

To the average midwesterner, The Hamptons (yes, it's singular - I researched it) is a mystical place where hunky dark-haired men play polo, celebrities attend charity events and Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson go beach-combing for stones in Something's Gotta Give. In reality, The Hamptons is all of those things, but it can also be one of the most casual, relaxing weekend trips you've had in a while. I was lucky enough to escape the city this past weekend to stay in a phenomenally beautiful home in Amagansett (west of Montauk, east of East Hampton).

If you're a fish lover, you'll be in heaven as all of the restaurants generally incorporate fish into the majority of their menu items. For special evenings out, I highly recommend Dave's Grill (468 West Lake Drive, Montauk - http://www.davesgrill.com/home.html) and Nick & Toni's (136 North Main Street, East Hampton - http://www.nickandtonis.com/). Dave's Grill had perhaps the most delicious fish dish I've ever had - Black Miso Cod. I would take a 3 hour train just for that dish! Going out to eat isn't the only option - the group at our house decided to "stay in" for lunch Saturday, which for this crowd meant pre-ordering about 12 two-pound lobsters, corn on the cob and roasted potatoes from Amagansett Seafood Store (517 Montauk Hwy, Amagansett). As we dug into our delicious food and drank wine in the open-air dining room I thought, "So this is The Hamptons, huh? I could get used to this..."

In closing, I'd like to leave you with a few tips for the inexperienced Hamptons traveler before you embark on your trip:

1. The Friday crowds at Penn Station can be one of the most intimidating experiences of your life. Don't worry - even though the crowds stampede towards the train immediately after the track number is posted, there are still plenty of seats left even minutes before the train departs.

2. While the summer weather in The Hamptons is fabulous, the temperature on the train is comparable to a Midwest winter. Make sure you have a hooded sweatshirt and a scarf handy nearby at all times - and don't wear flip flops either - you will be freezing.

3. Be prepared to be stared at whenever you leave the comfort of your private home. Everyone is always looking at everyone in an attempt to spot celebrities, socialites or any famous face in general. Upon receiving our lunch bill at CittaNuova (29 Newtown Lane, East Hampton - http://www.cittanuova.com/) - home of the best spaghetti I've ever had - we noticed a small insert asking "Love People Watching from CittaNuova's Front Patio?" The card then went on to describe the restaurant's "live webcam" broadcasting pedestrian activity inside and outside the restaurant. I mean, really? Taking people watching to a whole new level - only in The Hamptons!

My recommendation? Take a Friday off (or at least a 1/2 day), grab some friends, head east on the train and relax. While I can't speak for the other Hamptons towns, Montauk, Amagansett and East Hampton were everything I was hoping for - quaint, tree-lined streets, sandy beaches, great restaurants and top-notch people watching. While the shopping leaves a bit to be desired (all of the stores are simply outposts of large Manhattan luxury chains like Hermes, Michael Kors and Theory), the experience itself is definitely worth one of those summer Friday's you've been saving up.

So-Ho Good!

While you may try to avoid the Soho streets due to the crowds sweeping in and out of stores ranging from unique boutiques to luxury mega-chains, I encourage you to pay a little more attention next time you're squeezing by those hipsters browsing the sidewalk fedora stand. You may be passing by the perfect authentic tapas bar. In this case I'm referring to Boqueria Soho (171 Spring - http://www.boquerianyc.com/) - a Spanish small plates/tapas bar that serves as an upbeat yet relaxing respite amidst the busy Soho streets. While slightly hidden from the street, upon entry you are immediately engulfed in the smells of their famous Pan con Tomate (grilled bread rubbed with tomato, garlic and olive oil) which one of their chefs skillfully creates in the front window. From my experience last night, I can highly recommend the Gambas al Ajillo (garlic shrimp) and the Albondigas (lamb meatballs in tomato sauce with goat cheese) - I thought I died and went to heaven when I combined these delicious dishes with my glass of Syrah. On top of everything we had a fantastic waiter who was attentive and eager to suggest his favorite meals. No reservations (they only take them for parties of 6 or larger at dinner) needed if you're content snagging one of the casual, tall bar tables towards the front of the restaurant - we certainly were.

Making Don Draper Proud

If you're looking for a unique mid-week scene to try with some friends, I highly recommend Hudson Bar & Books(636 Hudson, www.barandbooks.cz/hudson), a West Village cigar and whisky bar/lounge whose tagline is "The Most Refreshingly Civilized Place to Meet". I found myself there last Wednesday with a group of friends eager to embrace the "When in Rome" mentality. Because we had a larger group we were led to the back lounge area full of leather couches and low cocktail tables -- it was so casually civilized that I was certain Prince Harry or William would walk in at any minute. At HB&B, "doing like the Romans do" means sampling whisky and testing out one of their many cigar offerings. I asked the waitress for an "entry level" whisky to which she returned with a glass of Glenmorangie Original (from Scotland) - I enjoyed it! I took a few puffs of a cigar from the Dominican Republic that I shared with the girls - I didn't enjoy it quite as much, but it was all for the experience. All in all, a great place to try some new things and pretend you're on the cast of Mad Men for a night. Tuesday nights sound ideal - they have select whiskies for $10 and 20% off all tasting flights.


Fun Fact: Following in the footsteps of M&M's and Hershey, Pop-Tart has just opened a brand new Pop-Tart Store in Times Square. Customers will be able to eat PT sushi, order a customized PT or suggest new flavors of PT's to Kellogg. The shop's focus will be a cafe offering about 30 new PT treats. Perhaps the Fluffer Butter - marshmallow spread sandwiched between two Pop-Tarts frosted fudge pastries - will provide a reason to battle those Times Square crowds? Only time will tell...

Bike Your Way to Happiness

Did anybody know that on Sunday, Lafayette Street in the East Village is converted into a car-free biking lane? I only discovered this when venturing out for brunch this past weekend to Delicatessen (54 Prince, http://delicatessennyc.com/) - delicious Chicken Paillard and lovely open-air seating. As I walked east on Prince Street, I noticed an abnormal number of bikers ahead and was delighted to see the car-free bike lane extending north and south as far as I could see - after some research I discovered it's known as Summer Streets, where parts of Park Ave, 4th Ave and Lafayette Street are closed to cars on August 8, 15 and 22 between 7AM and 1PM. Apparently bike shops, restaurants and snack shops participate by giving bikers fun giveaways like free air refills for tires, granola bars, discounts on food, etc. So, if you have some time over the next few weekends, I highly encourage you to pedal towards the East Village. In fact, this website gives a nice (although lengthy!) suggestion for a bike tour of Manhattan - eating and drinking stops included of course: http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/features/29134/the-perfect-bike-friendly-ride

Anchors Away

As a newcomer to the world of commuting, I've discovered it's always important to be on the lookout for the perfect pair of comfortable yet stylish flats that can easily help you transition from your morning commute to those post-work happy hours. Since my most recent post-work happy hours have turned into full-blown nights on the town, I was even more ready to find something that could add a bit of pizazz to a multi-part day. Say hello to the Sperry Top-Sider Metallic Boat Shoe (http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2854834). While the company is originally known for its traditional preppy boating footwear, they've certainly crossed over into noticeable fashion brand with this fun new shoe, while still staying true to their nautical roots. Perfect with pants and skirts alike, I couldn't be happier with my most recent purchase, and it was the perfect shoe to wear yesterday for a seamless transition from work to happy hour at the Standard Biergarten (848 Washington, www.standardhotels.com/new-york-city/bars/biergarten) Tip: Definitely order a 1/2 size down if planning to buy.

Flea-ing to the Market

One of my favorite adventures this weekend was looking for furniture pieces "with character" that I could use to add a personalized touch to my apartment. After some internet research, I discovered the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market (http://www.hellskitchenfleamarket.com/home/) - apparently a mecca for New Yorkers, designers and celebs alike in search of their next treasure.

While not the most glamorous experience, I ended up finding a gorgeous antique floor mirror that I simply couldn't live without. After a bit of bargaining, I was the rightful owner of the mirror and 15 minutes later (with the help of the friendliest cab driver I've ever encountered), I had transported it back down to Tribeca where it now sits proudly in my bedroom. I was so happy that I may return to the market this coming weekend in search of a great bedside table or lamp. If you want to experience it for yourself, bring cash and go early and ready to negotiate!

Fun Fact: According to the Chicago Tribune, wheat bread has now surpassed white bread in sliced bread sales. Another indicator that people are becoming more and more health conscious in today's society. Click http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0801-bread-squeezed--20100801,0,2644452,full.story for the full story.