New York City, New York - Day One of Fun

While home in Boston this month I grabbed the train down to NYC for two days of fun with old friends in the city. Upon arrival my first stop was lunch with a former coworker at SD26, owned by the famous Tony May of San Domenico Central Park fame. I ordered the Il Quadrifolgio, which is described as "a nutritionally balanced one course meal comprised of four individual recipes designed to provide all the necessary ingredients to stay energized throughout the remainder of your work day without compromising the pleasure of the senses." It was a tasty meal for $26. 

Sicilian spaghetti with olives, capers and eggplant to start, followed by chicken breast with slices of pear and a mustard glaze, and to finish a rucola and tomato salad and some refreshing cantaloupe melon

Some lovely home-made biscuits came with the check at the end of the meal

After lunch, my friend and I met up with another of our former co-workers for a little reunion trip back to our old office at the Italian Trade Commission where we all first met. My first job out of college, I was a Marketing and Promotions Officer responsible for promoting the food and wine from all of the various regions of Italy on the US market. I ate very well those two years!! 

Some history on the building: Nestled on a quiet and highly coveted street in Manhattan’s fashionable Upper East Side, this magnificent townhouse is a luxurious retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. The rare 35’ wide building has windows on 3 sides and was built in 1910. It has been meticulously maintained and has served as the home to the Italian Trade Commission for over 20 years.

• 18,789 s.f. includes english basement
• 6 finished floors, 1 sub-basement floor
• 6 marble fireplaces
• Original detail and hardwood floors throughout
• Continuous rail spiral staircase from 1st-5th floors

Here we all are reunited in the hallway of our old floor (with Michelle's daughter Ella Rose Victor Hugo - Ella's father is the well-known chef and award-winning cookbook author, Florian V. Hugo, who is a descendent of Victor Hugo).

What I'm wearing: Dress Cynthia Rowley, Cardigan JCrew, 
Shoes SE Boutique from DSW and Bag Hermes Birkin

One of the little luxuries I miss from NYC living is a manicurist shop on every single block. In London, unless you go to a pricey hotel spa, it is difficult to find a good, affordable manicure. So before dinner, I headed for a relaxing half hour manicure on Lexington Avenue on the Upper East Side.

Taxi cab shot: Nails, Essie Nice is Nice

After a quick shower and outfit change, I headed downtown to Rivington and Bowery to meet a friend for drinks and dinner at Freeman’s. At the end of a seedy little alley, Freeman’s is a very hipster restaurant made to look and feel like “a rugged clandestine colonial American tavern.” Indeed it is a cosy and inviting space, with dark walls and uneven rustic wood floors with taxidermy animals adorning all of the walls.

Seared filet mignon, sweet & sour onions, mashed potatoes and horseradish cream

Daily fish special of salmon and native american corn with rucola

We ended with a sinful dessert of Bananas Foster with rum butterscotch, but after half a bottle of red burgundy, I forgot to take a picture :-). It was a jam-packed and fun-filled day. Stay-tuned for day two! 

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