Supply & Reprimand....

Mr.G was approached by his gardener:

" I have some beautiful tomatoes from my garden to give you..."
"Very kind of you but...we don't cook"replied Mr. G. "Why don't you enjoy them instead"he replied politely hoping that would be that and he could get on with whatever he was doing.

"You don't cook?" asked the suprised gardener. "Well we have some lovely potatos, my wife does a delicious dish with them....I'll bring that over instead"insisted the gardener not getting the finality of the previous sentence uttered by Mr. G.

"No don't bother yourself...really. Enjoy them yourselves!" replied Mr G kindly, insisting with charm and class not wanting to offend the man but now tiring with this repartee.

"Oh! No trouble at all...I'll bring it over tomorrow " satisfied that he had found the compromise, the gardener would finally be able to share his fresh vegetables.But Mr.G unflustered and undeterred firmly replied:

"NO, don't come!"

Don't Shop till You Get Enough...in New York.

So in previous posts I mentioned The Muse Hotel,restaurants and even shared my holiday snap shots...but what of shopping in New York.

Once Upon a Time...shopping in New York was all about : the frenzy! Bloomingdales had hidden treasures only you as the visitor could unearth and the shopping streets were truly paved with golden fashion opportunities....but now?....Not so much.

New York has now also become the victim of :"Everything you can do...I can do better" attitude that London has adopted. All the big US brands are in London and even the ones you could only buy in the States...and the States has now done the same.

Reiss, All Saints have gone Stateside and swamped the market...even bloody Ted Baker is opening on 5th Ave! Just walk around the revamped fashion halls of Bloomingdales's... the British are ever present and frankly,I was bereft and felt like I was in Selfridges. And the same applies to London now: I counted 2 Coach stores, 1 Kate Spade, Club Monaco @HN, my beloved JCrew available on Netaporter and... Rag and Bone soon opening on Sloane Square. Don't even get me started on A&F...

I only want to buy in New York what I can't find in London and frankly...it is getting harder.

So this is why JOE FRESH...is simply that, a breath of fresh air right on 5th Ave....and it is larger than life :

So who is Joe Fresh?

It is the creation of Joe Mimran (Club Monaco) and only available in the States and Canada...YEAY!!!

It was launched in 2006 and was available in certain supermarkets!!! EEK

The fabulous flagship store opened this spring 2012 on 5th Ave. New York and it caught my eye as soon as I walked past it.

At the opening event,Mayor Bloomberg announced that Joe Fresh was:..."the greatest Canadian export since Justin Bieber..." Steady On , Mayor..no need to put us off!

So the clothes:it is a stylish,super affordable brand with bright colours that pop out from the sleek white decor. The shop is spacious and minimalist in order to let the main event:the clothes stand to attention...and believe me they commanded mine from the minute my eyes came to rest on the shop front.

To be honest,I didn't know what to expect with a name like Joe Fresh in orange juice colours...it is COS's brash and bold Stateside cousin with great styles in all sizes for men,women and kids. 

I bought an Equipment style silk shirt in "blush" for 29.99$ and a sleeveless one with orange trim (check out the website) for my sister for a fraction less and less is definitly more at Joe Fresh...more for your buck and that is what makes holiday shopping the best part of your holiday...that special find that everyone is going to ask you about and no one will be able to buy...unless of course they visit New York.

When Life Gives you Lemons...You make Basil Lemonade!

Summer is here!...well almost officially! So pluck the lemons off your trees (I hope to go and pluck some off my friend Janet's...!) and try out this recipe by Recipe Girl...she taught me how to make a great Kumquat marmalade....fun recipes on her website!

Basil Lemonade

BASIL LEMONADE
www.RecipeGirl.com
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup fresh basil leaves
2 cups ice
3 cups water
7.5 oz. container frozen fresh lemon juice, thawed
additional basil leaves for garnish, if desired
1. In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water and sugar to a boil over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add basil leaves; cover and let stand 30 minutes.
2. Fill a pitcher with 2 cups of ice. Strain the sugar syrup into the pitcher; discard the basil. Stir in 3 cups of water and thawed lemon juice. Pour into glasses and garnish with a fresh basil leaf.

Sounds good,no? Waiting on those lemons, Jan!! :)

How much is that Blender in the Window?...

Due to a moment of carelessness on my part, the glass jug of our blender lay in jagged pieces on the floor....Stupid,stupid,stupid.

We went to buy a new one yesterday...jug,blender and all. We saw the same and decided to go for round 2 with the same one ...at least we'll have spare parts!
I finally spy a sales girl..they are always scarce when you have made your choice and she looks it up on the computer to check availability and  then announces:
"That will be 32€99..."
"But it is listed at 29€99" replied my BF calmly.
"Well the price went up" she replied getting bored with the conversation now.
"When did it go up ?" I ask her.
"Just now...a few minutes ago" she replies a little stupidly.
I crack up laughing in her face: " Just Now!!!"

Obviously the law is on our side on this one...the listed price is the price one is required to pay and so we walked out victorious... with our blender at 29€99.

NYC.... Oui Oui Oui/TOME 2

*CENTRAL PARK:TIME WARNER BUILDINGS*

*NEW YORK SKYLINE FROM CENTRAL PARK*

*ROCKERFELLER PLAZA*

*ROCKERFELLER PLAZA 2*

*LEGO PIECES @ LEGOLAND*

*A WINDOW OF WARHOL @ LEGOLAND*

*OLD LADY FEEDING PIGEONS A LA LEGOLAND*

*FOUNTAIN*

*RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL*

                                                              Boy...I love NEW YORK...don't you?                

...NEW YORK BY PHOTOS-MAY 2012 /TOME 1

*TIMES SQUARE BY NIGHT*

*THE NAKED COWBOY ...needs to diet*

*BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND...*

*THE BRILL BUILDING-TIMES SQ*

*T-SHIRT COLOUR PALETTE @ GAP 5TH AVE*

*WHY DON'T YOU TAKE ME TO...NIKETOWN..*

*THE MAJESTIC CHRYSLER BUILDING*

*COLUMBUS CIRCLE AS SEEN FROM THE TIME WARNER*

*5TH AVE & WEST 41 ST...*

*PATIENCE OR FORTITUDE..GUARDIANS OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY*

*CORNER OF PASTIS AND HUNKY...*

*DVF XOXO*

*HOGS & HEIFERS BBQ*

*THE HIGH LINE *

....MORE TO COME.

In a New York Steak of mind....

So let's get down to the brass tacks: FOOD!...and the wondrous variety of restaurants in New York City.

Let me start with: BREAKFAST...(the Most important meal of the day...especially for my BF who can devour 2 portions of pancakes and still have breath enough to speak.. 'Tis a wondrous sight to behold...

*GORGEOUS PANCAKES AT THE MUSE HOTEL*

*HEALTHY MUESLI WITH RED BERRIES AND ALMONDS @BLUE FIN-
W HOTEL TIMES SQ.*

*BANANA BUTTER PANCAKES WITH CARAMELISED BANANAS
                                                         @BLUE FIN*

BLUE FIN:

I always recommend going out for breakfast and seeing what else is out there and we just happened upon BLUE FIN while on our discovery walk of Times Square... What I didn't realise was the fact that it is part of the  W Hotel in Times Square..not that it made a blind bit of difference.

The restaurant is modern and sleek and since we got there early...nice and quiet. Our waiter looked like a cross between John Kennedy Jnr and Matthew Fox...yes, I am not exaggerating ; an eye candy appetiser.. And he was extremely good at his job! He found us a French newspaper which kept the BF happy while we tucked into our breakfast of pancakes and my all time favourite: Cinnamon bagel and cream cheese. Although the pancakes at The Muse not only tasted gorgeous but also looked pretty as a picture, I can guarantee that what the pancakes lost on presentation at the Blue Fin,made up for in taste and variety...the Citrus ricotta pancake is a dream!

Perfect service and lovely breakfast/brunch menu.

LUNCH:
UPPER EAST SIDE: LAVO
 When it is hot(as it was) and you have enough shopping bags to drag your knuckles on the floor...a time out has to be called for lunch. Off to LAVO ..(which my sister and I went to last year) wanting my BF to get a taste of this fab Italian restaurant from the folks who brought you TAO.
LAVO had not changed...it was as welcoming as Cheers and nobody knew my name. It has retained the easy breezy bistro feel that I remembered so well and the equally excellent service. The food  hadn't suffered at all and I immediately ordered the Chopped Louie salad with lobster..which was so mouth wateringly divine when I had it last year that the memory of it lingered tenaciously,like a raspberry seed between my teeth(tenacious buggers those seeds.) BF went for the Lavo Burger with truffle fries...the picture speaks volumes!...

*LAVO BURGER &TRUFFLE FRIES@ LAVO*

*CHOPPED LOUIE SALAD*

THE MEATPACKING DISTRICT: SPICEMARKET

Spicemarket has been around a while but boy! does the food still pack a punch and the service: 5*. Jean Georges still has his finger...heck,his fist on the pulse of cuisine...no two ways about it. Try the chicken skewers in peanut sauce and the mango ice cream...to cry for!

DRINKS: THE ROYALTON HOTEL 
@FORTY FOUR
...Which was around the corner from us and perfect for early evening cocktails. The Royalton has undergone a face lift since last I went many...many years ago...it has that dark,broody and heavy lidded sexiness about it that lends one to imagine what could possibly be going on in the rooms. I had a refreshing Mojito while my BF was more adventurous ordering a cocktail that was vodka based and tasted like an Indian takeaway...yes,there was curry powder in it. Not for the weak kneed...


DINNER: KOI @ THE BRYANT PARK HOTEL
2 words: Edamame dumplings:with lobster,mushroom and mirin broth....and here are 3 more words for you:Koi crispy rice:topped with spicy tuna...(hot sushi that packs a crunch)
Now let me expand : the above are part of the signature dishes at KOI ...and they are anything but coy,I can tell you..they are as chic and refined as they are delicious. Designer mouth fulls that make you want to cry:
"PLEASE SIR...CAN I HAVE SOME MORE???"
Boris our waiter pumped our hands as he handed us the bill...I felt like we were at a pep rally:
"Nice to meet you guys...have a good night"...Did I tell you how super friendly everyone was in New York?I have never shaken hands with my waiter before, all my BF needed was a back slap to go with it...and they could have broken into song.
NB:the combination of jet lag and cocktails made me too woozy to remember my name let alone to take pictures of the food...sorry!)

BECCO
We wanted someplace walking distance and Becco was on a restaurant lined street: restaurant row to be precise.A lovely and lively Italian,family style restaurant that made me want to break out into song Dean Martin style while I scoured the place for fellow gumbas. I didn't have to look far...cos right beside us were a French couple as confused as we were by the menu.
Let me explain it to you as Monsieur Gumba explained it to us: in order to have the trio of pasta I saw on other people's plates and you had to choose Becco's 3 Daily Pasta menu: $22.95 per person.
There is a  choice between Becco's version of the classic Cesar salad..which in fairness isn't that different from the classic....and the antipasto misto:an assortment of grilled and marinated vegetables and assorted seafood (calamari and baby squid.) Then you get to heartily sample the renowned and unlimited...with the emphasis on unlimited " 3 daily pasta du chef"...now that was worth eating the so so appetisers. There was homemade spaghetti bolognese, penne in tomato sauce with peas and artichoke ravioli. 
I only needed a single round,BF went for doubles...and our french gumbas went for thirds.
Good wholesome food at good wholesome prices(there are wines at $25 a bottle.) 

JING:


Our last night and we wanted something as unfussy as possible, we were sent back up to 9th ave to the unassuming JING for Asian cuisine that had a wholesome,home cooked feel..all you needed was a tray and the TV and you felt right at home. No fuss,no muss straightforward menu but delicious flavours for unpretentious food.It is a neighbourhood restaurant where you rub elbows with New Yorkers and not fellow tourists. If they like it enough to return,you can be sure you are going to eat some delicious food...and we did.

THE MUNCHIES:


Who doesn't suffer from them after walking from sun up to sundown in New York? I mean you can eat all day nonstop from all the vendors on one street and never have to change blocks ! 
STARBUCKS: Kept us hydrated and sated with their divine Taizo Iced tea and lemonade and 
MAGNOLIA BAKERY: who now has expanded all the way to Dubai and with 3 bakeries in New York, you no longer have to lose your way in Chelsea in order to find the original Magnolia bakery (seen on Sex and the City...)
Red velvet cupcakes with smooth cream cheese on top...like a prized possession we walked the few steps to Rockerfeller plaza and devoured them...Slowwwwly.

ADDRESS BOOK:

BLUE FIN @W HOTEL TIMES SQUARE: 1567 BROADWAY @ 47 TH STR.

LAVO :39 EAST 58TH STR.

FORTY FOUR @ THE ROYALTON HOTEL : 44TH STREET BET.6TH & 5TH AVE.

KOI @ THE BRYANT PARK HOTEL : 40 WEST 40TH STR.

BECCO : 355 WEST 46TH STR.BET. 8TH & 9TH AVE.

JING : 689 9TH AVE BET 47TH & 48TH STR.

MAGNOLIA BAKERY : 1240 AVE.OF THE AMERICAS (6TH.AVE) ON W.49TH STR.

STARBUCKS : EVERYWHERE....

My musings on :The Muse Hotel,New York.

                                                 To Muse: v.ponder quietly



                                                 The Muse: n. a. A guiding spirit.
                                                                         b. A source of inspiration.
                                                                         c. muse A poet.

You don’t need to “ponder quietly” or otherwise when it comes to making the choice about staying in this little haven off Times Square....just go for it. I did and I had never even heard of this charming boutique hotel a year ago when I was last in New York.

I truly believe that: “a guiding spirit” led me to this hotel when I had just about run through enough hotels online to give me an ophthalmic migraine for a week. I spent hours comparing prices and trying to find the ideal location versus price and still be in a 4 star hotel. Just when I had booked in a well known hotel that was a little more than we agreed to pay for but a fail safe nonetheless , I came across a small boxed advertisement on some anodyne website and had my Hallelujah moment! I swear I heard Frank Sinatra sing “It’s up to you New York, New Yorkkkkk!”...New York chose for me; let me introduce you to:
The Muse.

As creatures of habit, my sister and I always circumnavigate the same areas when it comes to staying in hotels in New York...and for the last 6 years or so we have been concentrating on the Columbus circle area and loving it. So I was a little nervous about leaving my haunts to move to Times square but I needed to mix it up a little and I had complete confidence in The Kimpton group who had pampered me from the get go. It came out during my reservation that it was my BF’s birthday treat and his first time in New York...a double reason for wanting things to run smoothly and not to be let down by anything if humanly possible. Not only were all my requests met upon check in... (a room away from street and construction noise...) we also happened to be far away from the elevator too... Bonus!



There was a lovely welcoming card and chocolate in the shape of a New York cab for my BF ... wishing him a Happy Birthday. We were blown away with the deluxe king size room that was decorated with a keen eye for the original and savoir flair! Down to the plaster bust beneath the flat screen TV.

As a member of the Kimpton group... (I signed on straight away) we got free Wi-Fi and were given $15 off the mini bar...how cool is that??The Morning newspapers are complimentary and laid by your door daily by faeries...we never heard the slightest sound.( I remember hearing the newspapers being dropped as if from on high in front of every darned room on our floor when we were last in Montreal...every day!)Then again we were never inconvenienced by any noise whatsoever and slept like babies. The only tiny weenie criticism we had was that the towels were a little on the thin side, not very plush and my BF ..during an involuntary Hulk moment, inadvertently ripped one while drying himself...Sorry!


Every morning around 11am for an hour there is complimentary coffee/tea served in the reception area. The mysterious curtains by the reception desk were whisked open twice daily “Tah Dah!” style... to unveil a bar from which the wine is also served every evening from 5 till 6. This happy ambiance adds to the fun and cordial atmosphere of the Muse Hotel. Happy people make for a happy, fun vibe and everyone there was: Hap, Hap...Happy! The Muse is all about your pleasure which is tantamount to them and they make sure that your stay there is as seamless as possible. Forget your toothbrush? Mouthwash? Hairbrush? Band-Aid? They have it all and then some( on the house naturally) with a list as long as your weekly grocery shopping.

The laid back vibe and cool decor of NIOS: the in house bar and restaurant is inviting as opposed to off putting...sometimes the “cooler” the place is the colder the atmosphere, lending it an intimidating air that is quite common in New York.You don’t need to claim your spot in Nios nor in any area of this upbeat, vibrant hotel...The Muse makes its space your own for as long as you are staying there.

Everyone from the reception, to the restaurant and even the guests themselves with whom we chatted freely with in the elevator were all without exception professional, charming and extremely friendly. We were given great directions and tips for dinner and drinks....but more about that on a separate posting...this is all about The Muse.


So, planning a trip to New York?....Go “find your muse” at The Muse Hotel: 130 w.46th street ( between 6th and Times Square) A hop and skip away from Rockefeller plaza...right in the beating heart of NYC.
Inspiring and inviting , a modern and fresh approach to the hotelier business...I give it a HUGE FOAM THUMBS UP!...So you can see it from space...


Many, many thanks to Samantha and all the staff at The Muse ...for making our stay special.

http://www.themusehotel.com/
Do check out this fabulous website and the gorgeous gallery of photos...that do it better justice than my own.
There are rooms with balconies, a gym and your pooches are not only welcomed but equally pampered...what is not to like about The Muse? 
Find something,I dare you...