Gentleman Farmer

The calamity of words
lies supreme
ready to spill like
ginger ale
from a
wine glass.

I am tired with
the sameness
of everything.
The performance of
actions
which are being
enacted thousands
of times.
Concrete
existence.


40 Rivington Street
New York, NY
Tel: (212) 677 2172

Le Cirque

Le Cirque, the bastion of fine dining in New York City....is one of the largest restaurant operations I have seen in a while. Most diners see it as the culmination of incredible food, service and culture with it's ever changing locale from one exotic venue to another and it's always entertaining vista of 'high society.' Opened by the legendary Sirio Maccione over thirty years ago it is still operated by the family including sons Mario, Mauro and Marco and Sirio's wife Egidiana. The present 16.000 square foot restaurant located in Beacon Court and designed by Adam Tihany and architect Costas Kondylis features a main dining room, separate bar area and a private event mezzanine suspended above the bar. The all glass bar which appears and disappears like a magic circus box balances the custom designed 27 ft steel and glass wine tower.

Last night I decided to visit my friend Beata, the sommelier at Le Cirque NY, who was kind enough to take me on a private tour of the restaurant, the behind the scene operations where I met Chef Michael who recognised me after 8 years from a brief stint at the kitchens of Chef David Drake from the Stagehouse Inn. It was a lovely evening with much thanks to Beata and Anna. Two lovely and talented women in this sometimes awesome and sometimes crazy city of New York!!

Le Cirque
150 E 58th St
New York, NY 10022

Tel: 212 644-0315

Raoul's

I have been wanting to dine at Raoul's for the past 6 years! Besides being one of the oldest French Bistro's in the neighborhood of Soho, it had been recommended by a couple of my friends whose culinary recommendations I give high regards to.

One walks through a dark and very old bar, through the well maintained dining room into the kitchen and then one is surprised (I certainly was) at the sight of 3 little tables in a tiny but super cute back garden. A secluded little area, underneath well maintained fire escapes and back gardens of old buildings.

The rest of the slightly humid, warm summer evening was spent with a bottle of Tavel's Rose, scallops, white tuna tartare and a zucchini salad. Raoul's is now on my list of favourite French Bistro's in Manhattan. In fact, I must come back here for a drink at the dark and very glamorous bar.

180 Prince St
New York, NY 10012
tel: (212) 966-3518