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a love letter to New York, with places old and new to go to now
New York, you’re a wonder.
And oh how I have missed you.
Magnificent, maddening, and messy, you’re without boundaries, seeming to stretch far beyond the confines of your mere 304 square miles. You are limitless, a city that is half the size of London, with just as many humans.
Your serene beating green heart called Central Park exudes calm, and yet just steps away you are frenetic, ferocious, in-your-face fearless.
No matter how many times I have wandered your marvels, you never seize to amaze, delight and mystify me.
And after what seems like a lifetime ago, how thrilling it was to be in your fierce embrace once again.
A lifetime of memorable moments
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been to New York. The stories are too many to tell and will have to wait for another day.
Instead, I’m contemplating the week that’s been, when we finally got back to this magical city after three long years.
While it seems impossible, it’s a testament to New York’s infinite layers that even now, there is always so much that is new to discover and enjoy. The spirit of ingenuity and imagination is alive and well, most recently noted in how restaurants new and old have reinvented themselves.
And yet of course what makes New York even more special is going back to favourite places, familiar and special and as comfortable as a cosy sweater.
New York: where to eat now
We were lucky to be staying in a wonderful apartment on the Upper West Side, with the luxury of space and a cook’s kitchen to play in. But this being New York, we ate our way around the city. Instead of a recipe, I’m sharing our favourite places, many on the Upper West Side. Keep this list handy for your next visit to the Big Apple.
La Boite en Bois
75 West 68th Street, Upper West Side
La Boite en Bois, located in a beautiful Upper West Side brownstone, is a charming French restaurant just off Columbus Avenue. Perfect for en plein air dining, the classic French fare is served by warm and friendly staff.
Balthazar
80 Spring Street, SoHo
The one, the only, the original. When Balthazar opened in 1997, it was jammed and the place to eat. These many years later, it’s still the one. Open nearly 24-7, this is a go anytime kind of place that’s always buzzing and always great.
500 Amsterdam Avenue, Upper West Side
Buttermilk fried chicken. Biscuits drizzled with honey. Hot sour pickles. There is no finer place for a late boozy lunch than Jacob’s.
161 West 72nd Street, Upper West Side
Israeli chef Eyal Shani opened his first restaurant in Jerusalem in 1989. With a focus on fresh, seasonal Mediterranean products, Shani went on to open the widely acclaimed HaSalon on Tel Aviv, and the first Miznon in 2011. Since that time, Miznon has opened in Paris, Vienna, Melbourne and of course New York.
The meal was spectacular: grilled octopus with tomato foam; grilled mackerel; Lahm Bi Ajeen (flatbread with mixed lamb meat). But it was the service that took our experience over the top. Try to sit at the bar and make friends with Camille, our effervescent server. She plied us with Arat, stories and genuine hospitality. A meal to remember.
412 Greenwich Street, Tribeca
And to celebrate our anniversary, the truly wonderful l’abielle, the brainchild of Chef Mitsunobu Nagae. A cosy and beautiful French restaurant, the menu seasonally-focused, complemented by an extensive wine list. The Michelin-starred chef’s credentials show and the exceptional service was exactly right: confident, knowledgeable, warm and welcoming. Don’t miss it.
Bookmarking this one for my next visit to NYC! Thx