The one with Chocolate by the Blad Man

I was taken to an infamous chocolate shop / restaurant last night, just south of Union Square Park: the one & only, Max Brenner. Here chocolate is not something simply to eat, but to encompass you. Their website justly states is below by saying "Chocolate is not just about the taste".  Entering the store the smell of warm chocolate teases & excited you, everything is dark & the color scheme screams tints of chocolate, caramel & cream. There are stacks of chocolate bars, pipes along the ceiling (Willy Wonka Style) carrying chocolate, & waiters gracefully delivering art-work in the medium of chocolate to every table. NO, you do not simply eat chocolate here, you experience it!

 

"Chocolate by the Bald Man" As they say :) 

We started out with respective chocolate drinks, a Truffle Granita, served in an Alice in Wonderland "Drink ME" Mug

And...a Mexican Spiced Hot Chocolate in a HUG MUG (!!!) 

We  then ordered the "S'mores Concoction" & had no idea what delightful confections we were in for! A gridded tray was brought out to us complete with a petri dish of caramelized bananas, a beaker of caramel, 1 assembled S'more, & a jar bursting with whipped cream & promising of chocolate. What we found was the jar was filled with chocolate pudding, layered with marshmallow fluff, with hidden pieces of graham crackers & then topped with light & creamy whipped cream. Decadent doesn't do this desert justice!  It was honestly too much for us to finish together (we made the mistake of going out to dinner 1st) but we were happily looking forward to the Chocolate Food Coma which should follow!

I've only just found out that Max Brenner also does Chocolate Cocktails & Brunch....it's a dangerous combination, but I can't wait to report back on exactly how fabulous it is! 

Until next time, I'll be dreaming in Chocolate!

Very fun little pencil case / bill box. It reads "Money for Life, Chocolate for the Soul"

The one where it's midnight around a table in Firenze

A good friend of mine invited me to a dinner last night which proved to be perfectly interesting. While it was supposed to be a number of other people, it ended up being just my friend, myself, & his two business associates; this ended up being a blessing in disguise, because I don't know that I could have followed the conversation had it been any more -- it was entirely in Italian. I was glad to be able to follow along, though I'd hardly say I added a terrible amount to the subjects conversed. We ate at Osteria dell'Olio, a neauveau Italian place near the Duomo, their website begins to give you a taste of the ambiance they provide (we were seated in the red booth in their picture below).

As I mentioned, throughout the dinner Italian - vibrant Italian - was spoken rapidly: I focused intently in order to keep current on the conversation. The conversation spanned from business, politics, Amanda Knox (aka: lack of justice), Biometrics, & a mild amount of gossip. At one point, they were speaking of a person who shall remain unnamed, & they used the phrase "non ha le pelle" which means "he doesn't have the skin". I really enjoy picking up colloquial phrases as such, they relate to ours, yet are a touch different. Similar to the Tuscan way to say "good-luck" "In bocca al lupe" or, "in the mouth of the wolf".

I'm sure I don't have to say it, but the food was delicious, after several glasses of wine & a little bread, our first course came - an eggplant dish which encased a mozzarella center & was placed upon a tomato reduction. Next an enormous platter of Bistecca Fiorentina was brought out for the table - I can't even describe how perfectly rare this tender cut of meat was, I can only suggest you find your way to Florence to personally try it!

Italian men are very attentive & appreciative of pretty women, that type of flattery is hardly wasted on me. My wine glass was dutifully filled whenever it began to get too low, & I certainly couldn't complain at that, it was a lovely & boldly tannic Tuscan Rosso. Although I added only infrequent & broken sentences, I received only kind smiles for my efforts. Over cafe they all lit cigarettes & relaxed their stance. The image of wasps of smoke drifting over & around empty wine glasses, kerchiefs, a typical Tuscan hat & their own sharp attire & demeanor was quite intoxicating....even romantic or enchanting in a very Casablanca way. Regardless, I doubt it will be an image I'll be able to keep far from my mind for some time.

What I took from this evening primarily, is that as with this fresco below which I found upon a wall of the old Midici palace, sometimes it's the cracks which give an object its character, the wrinkles & ingrained habits from the centuries which impart such a compelling taste upon our palate. As I said, it was a mentally intoxicating evening.

The one with Birreria

On most occasions I would tell anyone that they were crazy to wait 45 minutes in line to put in their name for a restaurant & then another hour before they were seated; this however, was an exception. Tonight I dined at Eataly's newest venue, Birreria, a rooftop beer garden! Before I go further, No, it's even better than it sounds!

Having dinner in the middle of an open-market is ambiance enough for the most harsh of critics to enjoy, but now Eataly has really stepped up their game! You walk up to put your name in with the above pictured sign promising you all the delights of Italian beer, there is a large b&w picture of three men who look like brothers holding hand-fulls of hops & spices. Once you get a text that a table is ready for you you're whisked away to the elevator around the corner & instructed to go to floor 15 - the roof. Within the elevator you find a playful spin on Dante's Inferno stating that here the Gluttonous are sent to the rooftop.

Take my word on this one, once you're up here, you are not among bad company! As you walk up a set of deep mahogany you're swept up in visual, auditory, & olfactory excitement. You first see the brewery before walking out to a patio open to the NYC sun & air. Everyone is alive with conversation & I'm not sure whether to direct my attention to the sharp design, oak casks behind the bar, or the beautiful plates of food being served as an orchestra to the tables around us. From my seat I can see the Empire state building in front of me, & the Madison Ave Clock-tower to my right -- anyone want to contend with that view?

I noticed while sitting down a sign nearby which read "Off centered stuff for off-centered people", instantly confirmed that I was exactly where I wanted to be: far from the mundane! I quickly ordered the house Thyme-pale ale, which was as I had hoped was light & summery with earthy notes. My friend J (cheese-lover-extraordinaire) & I ordered a plate of three cheeses: Robiola Bosina, Pecorino Toscana, & Pecorino Fiore Sardo. The first was fresh, nutty & aromatic, the second sharp & paired deliciously with the house honey, & the third was sharp & smokey: all perfect pairings with beer!

By the time we got around to our entrees, I was far too engulfed in delight to capture it! I had a delicious grilled portobello dish (Portobello con Acciughe) which I did not have one complaint for. As we finished our meal all the lights in the city were beginning to come up, the combination of city lights, a seriously chill atmosphere, & the sound of people getting together simply to enjoy great food & beer -- well, I can't think of any better way to spend a Wednesday evening!