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Manhattan: Cooking & Dining Around

May 8, 2022May 8, 2022 JWF Leave a comment

MOMENTOUS MOMENT

This has been a dramatic week with the leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion upending Roe v. Wade. For many of us who were of age in 1973, contemplating a return to when abortion is no longer a legal right/option is positively medieval. It feels so very wrong. Pro-choice protests erupted in cities near and far. This one we noted in Union Square.

FUN WITH KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

Our granddaughters have both developed an interest in cooking and baking. After school one afternoon, the 6-year-old and I, at her request, made mini-muffin pancake bites from the latest issue of Highlights High Five. F knew where all the necessary ingredients were along with the essential mixing bowl, measuring cups, and muffin tin. She scurried around to assemble them and kept a close eye on the oven gauge as it proceeded to preheat to 350.

As we began the mixing process, she reported every few minutes, “It’s at 350 Fahrenheit, Grandma,” and then, “It’s still at 350 Fahrenheit,” always precisely including the word Fahrenheit. The mini muffins use pancake mix as the base with the addition of the requisite milk and eggs and then some cut up blueberries and strawberries. Once baked, they were served with maple syrup for dipping. A sweet success!

Her older sister, E is becoming an accomplished cook. Her current bible is Melissa Clark’s Kid in the Kitchen, and she has already tried several recipes. The other evening, she boiled the pasta and made a sauce of cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and slivers of garlic. After adding the sauce to the pasta, it was topped with dollops of ricotta cheese along with fresh basil and mint. Delectable and a pretty dish besides! The Chief Penguin and I were eager tasters for both creations!

Fusilli with cherry tomato sauce & fresh basil and mint

DINING AROUND—MOSTLY FISH

Seamore’s

Seamore’s on the Upper East Side is the newest location of a local restaurant chain. It’s an airy, two-level space with white walls and light wood tables. A blackboard on one wall outlines the shape and characteristics of some of the fish they serve. Once we were seated at a fine table (we rejected the hostess’ initial attempt to seat us in the back next to the restrooms), we were pleased with our friendly waitress and the very good service.

Since we’d had a large lunch, we stuck to the smaller items on the menu. Between us ordered the fried cauliflower appetizer, clam chowder, and the shrimp tacos on corn tortillas. A place to return to with an appetite!

Avra Madison Estiatorio

Friends introduced us to this upscale Greek seafood and fish restaurant. It has one of the most beautiful outside dining areas. Inside is an expansive two-level space with lots of activity and noise on the main bar level. Fortunately, we were seated downstairs where the tables were set apart, and we could easily converse.

Whole fish is their specialty, and the prices reflect that. We shared a bunch of appetizers: zucchini chips, spreads, and hummus, and we all ordered the fish of the day which was fillets of dorade accompanied by roasted Brussels sprouts. Everything was delicious. This is a great place for special occasions and expense account dining!

Disappointing Reprise

Tue Thai Food used to be a favorite West Village spot for an inexpensive lunch. We hadn’t been back since pre-Covid and were desirous of the same good food. This time the curries were thin and watery and somewhat bland, while the whole ambience was shabbier than we remembered. We wonder if they have a new chef or if a lack of business has made them lax.

Manhattan & Covid, Dec. 2021

December 19, 2021December 19, 2021 JWF Leave a comment

MANHATTAN–THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS

Full of optimism for being able to celebrate Christmas this year in person with our son and family, we flew to New York a week ago. The first few days were lovely—spring-like temperatures hovering around 60, dining in favorite eateries, and spending time after school with our marvelous granddaughters. As we watched the Covid-19 case numbers climb and observed the long, around-the-corner lines at Covid testing sites, we became a bit concerned.

We stayed off the subway, we did not go to Rockefeller Center to see the always beautiful Christmas tree, and we did not get tickets for any museums. Instead, we restricted ourselves to eating dinner indoors, often early, at our handful of favorite restaurants. Going early, we avoided large numbers of diners and generally got great service. One day we walked 60 plus blocks for exercise, and on another, we strolled in a lightly populated Central Park. We were staying in comfortable digs, so reading and watching the occasional new film kept us occupied.

Yesterday, that changed when a family member tested positive for Covid. More concerned, and feeling vulnerable at our ages, we made the hard decision to leave town and return to Florida. Alas, it will be another Christmas shared via Zoom. Perhaps 2022 will be better and next Christmas, we can once more celebrate in person! In the meantime, we prize our current good health and will do what we can to preserve it.

COMPELLING NEW FILM

The Power of the Dog (Netflix)

Peter, Phil, George, Rose (theplaylist.net)

Jane Campion’s new film has been getting a lot of attention and mostly praise. Set in Montana in 1925, it’s the story of two brothers, Phil and George, and George’s new wife Rose and son Peter. George is the owner of the ranch and seemingly ineffectual while Phil is “cowboy” personified and a mean cuss. Phil berates his brother regularly, calling him “Fatso.” When George marries Rose, Phil turns his venom on her and initially bullies medical student and aspiring surgeon Peter.

Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliant with a commanding presence as Phil. He seems to be the one in charge and in control of events. Phil teaches Peter how to ride and makes him a rawhide rope in scenes with erotic undercurrents. How the relations between these four characters play out is shown in acts like a play, and the ending will surprise you. Only in retrospect did I appreciate the clues that were laid out from the beginning. Peter is a much more complex individual than he appears as is Phil.

The cinematography is gorgeous showcasing the wide-open spaces of the west and the smallness of one man against such a vast horizon. I look forward to watching this film a second time. Highly recommended!

NEW FICTION–SUCCESSOR TO THE MORLAND DYNASTY

The Secrets of Ashmore Castle by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

For some of us, maybe Americans in particular, Harrod-Eagles’ long series, The Morland Dynasty, was a way to easily absorb the sweep of British history from the 15^th to the 20^th centuries. I have read nearly all 35 novels about the successive generations of Morlands and found them fascinating. That series seems to have ended in 1931, and now there is a first novel in a new series.

The Secrets of Ashmore Castle introduces the Tallant family and the sons and daughters of the late Earl of Stainton. As the oldest son and the newest earl, Giles has a duty to marry and to marry well. His father left the estate in disarray and in poor shape financially so Giles needs to find a rich bride. He meets Kitty Bayfield and her friend Nina Sanderton and becomes engaged to one of them. The house and stable servants also have a role to play, think Upstairs Downstairs, and have dreams and aspirations of their own.

This first novel covers the courtship and events leading up to and including Giles’ wedding from several different perspectives. Harrod-Eagles has a keen eye for detail, and you get a real sense of the social niceties and rules governing behavior in 1900 Britain. Recommended for fans of historical fiction. (~JWFarrington)

Note: Header photo is the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center we didn’t see (people.com).

Art & Eating in Manhattan

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021 JWF Leave a comment

CURRENT MUSEUM EXHIBITS

Surrealism Beyond Borders

One of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s current exhibitions brings together Surrealism works of art from around the globe from Egypt to Mexico to Europe. Most of the artists I did not know. I also don’t know that I liked these paintings and objects but they are different, often provocative, and sometimes chilling.

*Body Snatcher in Switzerland* by Enrico Baj

At least one, Salvador Dali’s black telephone, has some whimsy.

*Lobster on Telephone* by Salvador Dali, 1938

Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror

The Whitney Museum of American Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are jointly presenting the largest retrospective ever of Jasper Johns’ work. Prolific since the 1950’s, he is 91 and still producing. There are many rooms of paintings on display at the Whitney. I agree with the critic who stated that the Whitney might have showed two-thirds of what is here.

Lots of American flags in different color combinations; several maps of the U.S., some multi-colored, some black or gray; and various paintings including real objects (tableware, used paint cans) or string and pieces of wood. I especially liked the colorful version of the United States, the placement of tableware along a frame, and the fifteen monotypes of a Savarin coffee can filled with paint brushes.

Frame detail, *Dancers on a Plane,* 1979

Seeing gallery after gallery, one appreciates Johns’ recurring themes and recognizes the repetition of certain elements. I wish we’d been in Philadelphia long enough to see the other half of this massive exhibit!

EATING AROUND

Marwin Thai

A nice addition to the Upper East Side, Marwin has about five tables and offers on site or takeout dining for lunch and dinner. We enjoyed a satisfying and modestly priced meal from the special lunch menu. Between us, we had Thai dumplings and spring rolls to start. The Chief Penguin tried pad Thai while I sampled the green curry with chicken. His pad Thai was good and my curry very satisfying. It’s a brothier curry with less coconut milk and lots of green peppers, bamboo shoots and basil. And since Happy Hour runs from 11:30 to 7:00 pm, we decided on beer—Singha and Stella d’Artois—$5.00 apiece.

Canyon Road

Occasionally, I have a yen for some good Mexican food and prefer to patronize a restaurant that isn’t part of a chain. Canyon Road on the Upper East Side fit the bill for a recent casual dinner. It’s decorated with colorful square flags and strings of little white lights and has a comfortable feel.

We ordered the requisite original margaritas and the house guacamole. Both were very good, and the guacamole had a lively kick. I tried the chicken tacos (three small corn tortillas on a board and plenty of food). The Chief Penguin, who’s a fan of quesadillas, had the shrimp and jalapeno one which came with salsa, sour cream, and a bit of guacamole. We went early so there were only a few other diners. Service was excellent. It’s now on our yes, return list.

Note: All photos by JWFarrington. Header images is Squash with Pan de Muerto by Maria Izyquierdo, 1947.

Manhattan in the Fall

October 3, 2021October 3, 2021 JWF Leave a comment

RETURN TO MANHATTAN

Manhattan in late May was quite lively; Manhattan in October is brimming with energy. Yes, there are a sad number of empty storefronts, but people are out and about and bustling here and there. Outdoor dining structures remain popular while many restaurants seem to have been re-discovered. Having to show proof of Covid vaccination to eat inside provides a welcome sense of comfort. Waiters also are masked.

Before arriving, we downloaded the NYCCOVIDSAFE app to our phones and added photos of our driver’s license and vaccine card. Easy to do and easy to show this when entering a restaurant. So far, we’ve dined at several favorite or familiar restaurants and one new to us. We also ventured to 34^th Street to eye the old post office building, now transformed into the grand and soaring Moynihan Train Hall. Such a magnificent improvement over tired Penn Station!

RESTAURANT REPORT

August

This small Upper East Side restaurant is cozy and welcoming. With mirrors on the back wall and above the bar, the space has a bit of an Art Deco feel about it. Patrons were a mix of ages and gender with several couples, a table of four, and a single woman diner.

Service was efficient and the menu intriguing. Tempted to try several new dishes, we over ordered. The warm cornbread came cut in pieces in a cute square cast iron dish. A wire basket of zucchini strips looked like the world’s best skinny fries. Both were very good!

For entrees, we sampled the ahi tuna on crispy rice and the sole meuniere over spinach and marble potatoes. They were also tasty. Based on this one dinner, we will return to explore more of the menu.

RECENT READING

SCIENCE IN THE TREE CANOPY

The Arbornaut: A Life Discovering the Eighth Continent in the Trees above Us by Meg Lowman

Decades before I knew Meg Lowman, I read a review of her first book, Life in the Treetops in the New York Times. I bought the book and read it and thought about using it as part of a presentation I was going to give. We were in Florida around that time, and realizing she worked nearby, I contemplated contacting her to chat about her career. I didn’t and the years passed.

Fast forward to late 2013 and I had the opportunity to meet Meg. The Chief Penguin hired her at the California Academy of Sciences. We got to know her and consider her a friend. Early on, we celebrated New Year’s Day, January 2014, with a memorable picnic in Myakka River State Park. Having grown up in winter climes, the idea of a picnic in January was unheard of, but appealing. Meg was chief organizer. We met some of her friends, ate well, and then climbed the canopy walkway she helped design. On the tower, you are 75 feet up overlooking the trees and greenery below.

Meg’s new book, The Arbornaut, is partly memoir, partly science, and completely engaging. From a childhood in upstate NY spent outdoors, to graduate school and research in Australia, to stints as a professor/single mom at two colleges, to field work and being an international ambassador for tree conservation, it’s a multi-faceted, varied life. As one of the few, and sometimes the only woman, in class or out in the field, Meg faced discrimination, indifference, and occasional sexual harassment. Yet her love of trees and her passion for saving this key planetary resource kept her plugging away, always creating partnerships for future collaborative work. Along the way, she made it a priority to include and mentor girls and young women in her branch of science.

In person, Meg is exuberant and an enthusiast for her cause. Her infectious spirit comes through on the page too. I learned a LOT about the kinds of leaves in various tree canopies and about which or how many insects nibbled, chewed, or put holes in them. Her explanations of the field work and her research studies are accessible and tinged with the occasional humorous bit.

For her adventuring spirit, no challenge is too much. Individual chapters on the treetop BioBlitz in remote Malaysia, preserving the church forests in Ethiopia, and tree climbing in Kansas with disabled individuals are all fascinating. By the end, the reader is well acquainted with Meg the person and Meg the field biologist. Highly recommended! (~JWFarrington)

Category: Manhattan

Manhattan: Cooking & Dining Around

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Manhattan & Covid, Dec. 2021

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