The Quest for "it"

University Settlement Celebrates Its Annual Fine Wine Dinner & Auction--An Evening at Lutèce

Bonjour!

University Settlement celebrated its 9th Annual Fine Wine Dinner & Auction with An Evening at Lutèce on April 16, 2013, at 82Mercer in New York City.  A Henriot Champagne reception started at 6pm followed by dinner and live auction at 7pm. For one night only, celebrated Master Chef André Soltner re-created the legendary menu and incomparable dining experience that was Lutèce. Guests savored an unforgettable selection of wines expertly paired with his award-winning cuisine and guests enjoyed dessert by Master Pastry Chef Jacques Torres. Mimi Sheraton spoke to the room with long time friend, André Soltner from the stage as she expressed her love for Lutèce and the chef behind the savory food.

The evening’s auctioneer, Socialite Lydia Fenet of Christie's did a brilliant job auctioning off fourteen different lots. Over all The Fine Wine Dinner and Auction raised an impressive sum, proceeds from the evening will go to support University Settlement’s programs.

New York City's Top Bars for St. Patty's Day

Hey There!

With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, where will folks go to celebrate? To figure it out, Skobbler, creators of the hit mobile navigation app GPS Navigation 2—one of the most downloaded and trusted navigation services available on iPhone today—opened up their data library, reviewing all NYC-based GPS search queries from St. Patrick’s Day 2012 (keep in mind, this is literally thousands of data points, as skobbler maintains a user base of over 3 million across GPS Nav 2).

To no one’s surprise, bars were the most sought out destination. Here are the top-5 bars for NYC, in order, per Skobbler GPS data (you can believe we’ll see people headed to these same bars this year):

·         O’Neill’s Irish Pub – 729 3^rd Ave

·         The Irish Pub – 839 7^th Ave

·         Hibernia Bar – 401 W 50^th St

·         Playwright Irish Pub – 27 W 35^th St

·         O’Brien’s Irish Pub – 134 W 46^th St

 

 

INVITE: Bistro La Promenade Introduces Wednesday Night EXECUTIVE COCKTAIL Hour

Hello!

Bistro La Promenade is getting down to business. That is to say they are now offering an Executive Cocktail Hour. Yes, for those that miss the "traditional" Happy Hour you can stop by at 10:00 pm and get to cocktailing. It all begins Wednesday, February 20th. Drink and bar food specials will be flowing at this West 23rd St. Chelsea bistro.

VALENTINE'S GIFT IDEA: Hollywood’s A-list couples declare their love with MOЁT ROSÉ

Hello!

What’s the way to Clooney’s heart this Valentine’s Day? A bottle of Rosé perhaps! With Cupid’s favored day right around the corner follow the lead of your favorite celeb power-couples and celebrate love with Moët & Chandon champagne! Hollywood’s A-list lovers like George Clooney and Stacy Keibler, Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt, and John Legend and Chrissy Teigen toast to love with Moët & Chandon and you can too with the new Moët Rosé Valentine’s Day Gift Bag.

Taking luxury to the next level Moët & Chandon’s Valentine’s Day Gift Bag effortlessly combines the personalization you prize and the romantic glamour you deserve with a customizable champagne bottle that invites lovers to express their feelings by way of Rosé champagne. It includes an array of stickers to personalize and decorate the bottle with your own special love message: “I ♥ You” “Let’s Celebrate!” or even “Marry Me!” And in case you have reservations, an easy-to-carry handle makes this bottle of bubbly easy to bring along to dinners out. Available at for $52.99 at Sherry-Lehman.com.

And, for the most passionate lovers out there, declare your love even louder by sharing your love story with MoetUSA’s Facebook and Twitter. In celebration of Valentine's Day, Moët & Chandon will invite consumers to share their #MoetLoveStory via photos or words.  Moët will showcase consumers' love stories to create a short video and feature Valentine’s Day fans of Moët! The video will launch on YouTube on Valentine's Day, February 14th!

LAS VEGAS: 24-Hour In-Room Nobu Menu to Be Featured at Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace

Hi!

World-renowned chef and soon-to-be hotelier, Nobu Matsuhisa, is set to welcome guests to the world’s first Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace early 2013 with rooms now on sale for Feb. 4.  In addition to the 181 stylish rooms and suites designed by David Rockwell, the Nobu Hotel will present a total transformation of in-room dining and the concept of room service will be forever changed.

Moët & Chandon Announces Roger Federer as First Ever Global Brand Ambassador

Hi,

Moet & Chandon, the icon of success and glamour since 1743, announces today its first-ever global brand ambassador. Roger Federer, the 17-time grand slam winner, brings a shining aura of bold success, elegance and style to the celebratory universe of Moet & Chandon, the world’s most beloved Champagne.

The announcement, made this morning at 8:00 am in the US, is for all to celebrate. Federer shared his thoughts on his new role in representing Moet & Chandon in a video, now live on Moet’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/moet. The video also offers a peek into an exclusive photoshoot with stylemaking photographer Patrick Demarchelier, who also shot the attached photos to accompany the news.

As per Federer “It’s more than just an honour to be Moët & Chandon’s brand ambassador, it’s an invitation to be part of a very glamorous tradition,” says Federer. “Moët & Chandon has always been the champagne of international trendsetters and I’m proud to be part of a brand that is as dedicated to the pursuit of excellence as I have been throughout my career.”

Discover the reveal video unveiling Roger Federer as the new Moët & Chandon Ambassador on www.youtube.com/moet, with an exclusive track signed by Bob Sinclar, world's most famous music generator.

*photo by Patrick Demarchelier

Celebrate Thanksgiving at SD26

Dear Friends,

A Thanksgiving note from the owners of the owners of the renown SD26.  

Thanksgiving is a wonderful American holiday. We love it here at SD26 because as much as Italians love good food, friends and family, there isn’t really an equivalent Italian holiday.

It’s such a terrific way to celebrate and take time to reflect on all with which we are blessed. When we think of all our guests that have been with us for once or multiple visits we are reminded on a daily basis how blessed we are to have you!
Thank you for this past year and great wishes throughout this holiday season from our SD26 family to you and your family. We hope to see you soon at SD26. Have a delicious and Happy Thanksgiving.
 
With Warmest Regards & Gratitude,
Marisa May, Tony May, Chef Matteo Bergamini and the SD26 Family

Thanksgiving Menu

Prix-Fixe Four Course Menu

Thursday, November 22^nd , 2012

Porcini Mushroom Soup, Robiola Cheese Flan
Bufala Mozzarella, Golden Beets, Roasted Red Onion & Rucola Pesto
Baccala Mantecato, Potato Rösti & Radicchio salad
Grilled Baby Octopus, Cicerchie Puree, Sundried Tomato & Rosemary Gremolata

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Butternut Squash Tortelli, Butter, Sage & Amaretto Crumble
Chestnuts Pappardelle with Hare Salmi
“Chitarra” Homemade Spaghetti with Basil & Tomatoes
Homemade “Uovo” Soft Egg Yolk filled Raviolo with Truffle Butter

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Seared Sea Scallops, Wild Mushrooms, Olive Oil Crushed Potatoes & Crispy Prosciutto
Wild Striped Bass Acquapazza, Zucchini, Tomato & Saffron Fregola Sarda
Barolo Wine Braised Beef Cheeks, Savoy Cabbage & Soft Polenta Taragna
Roasted Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing, Sweet Potato Puree & Cranberry Sauce

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Extra Bitter Chocolate Fondant, Vanilla Gelato
Pumpkin Tart, with Natural Yogurt
Pecan Pie, Whipped Cream
Homemade Ice Cream & Fresh Fruit Sorbet

Piccola Pasticceria
Coffee, tea, Decaffeinated

3-courses: $65.00 per person, 4-courses: $75.00 per person,
$37.50 per person, children under 12.

White Truffle Season is here: Special Seasonal White Truffle Dishes will be avalaible on Thanksgiving White Truffles are additional at  $11.00 Per Gram

Scenes from M57 Pop UpCafe at Holiday House

Hi!

A recent visit to M57 Café was a refreshingly welcome hour of fun on a cold night.  Moscow 57 Café  aka M57, the pop up restaurant on the Upper Eastside,  lends an edgy elegance to the Holiday House 2012's tented courtyard café, designed by Lee Najman Designs and called "Seasons of Joy". Holiday House, the brainchild of socialite Iris Dankner is now in it's 5th year.  This the ultimate designer showhouse  benefits the Benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation can be found at 2 East 63rd St.

On our visit, M57 owner Ellen Kaye (see photo above w/ Seth Goldman) who is also an accomplished artist from a long time restaurateur family (think original Russian Tea Room) bought her warm aura and vivacious personality to the forefront via song.  Notably performing the song Cigarettes for a select crowd backed by bassist Benjamin Franklin Brown and guitarist Ethan Fein.

Are we enticing you? If so know that, M57 will serve a selection of hot dishes all with a nod to the savory herbs and spices that come from the cities along the Silk Road which adds up to "little tastes" with big flavors, and great food for the way we live today.  Upon our visit Chef Seth Goldman (see photo above), a farm to table vegan wiz, dazzled us with the following scrumptious light bites that included:  Rose Petal Yogurt with Fresh Mint and Pomegranate,  Silk Road Lima Bean Hummus served with pita and  Crudité, M57 Russian Eggplant Salad, Deviled Egg Salad, Georgian Roast Pork Loin  Also the menu will be Moscow 57 Cafe's Smoked Salmon Salad, Samarkand and Sweet Bulgur Salads, hand-made Pierogies, Pelmeni,and more. We were partial to the bottles of Chardonnay that seemed to appear on our table that made a perfect pairing with the cuisine.

In addition this year, Salon (with live the Moscow on Cici the The Visual Arts) will be presented digitally representing many different mediums and philosophies  from charcoal sketches to abstract paintings and photography with Leah McCloskey curating and
exhibiting, and artists Rina Root, Philippe Bocquet, Anne Delaney, Dan Root, Leslie Thresher, Yuka et al

 M57 serves Breakfast, Brunch, and  Lunch daily from 11:00 am-5:00 pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they are open til 7:00 pm.  Do stop by now through November 25th. Cilck here for a list of  M57 Pop Up Cafe special events.

*photos courtesy of The Quest for "it"

SD26...Open & Ready To Welcome You Back!

Hi There!

Over the weekend, long time New York City Restaurateur Tony May along with daughter Marisa May sent the following message to alert it's customers that their parkside hotspot SD26 was gain open in these Post-Sandy times. To follow is their heartfelt note. Remember, everyone, support your local businesses.

Our Dear Carissimi Amici, New York…the city of survivors!
 
We have owned and operated restaurants in NYC for 5 decades and survived twocity-wide blackouts, several Dow Jones crashes, the abolition of the two Martinilunch, the loss of two of our restaurants in the World Trade Center on 9/11,Hurricane Irene last year and now, Hurricane Sandy.
 
Sandy hit hard, very hard, and we know many friends, family, neighbors and fellow colleagues in the restaurant industry are also facing tremendous difficulties and our hearts go out to you; just as your thoughts were with us, the SD26 Restaurant Family, during this difficult time.

Sandy staggered us for a moment, but now it's time to get moving. We need to do what we do best - taking good care of our friends and family, with enthusiasm, passion, lots of good authentic Italian cooking and warm Italian hospitality. Yes! We are open for business - starting this evening, Saturday November 3rd, and we wanted you to know that.

Please, consider a visit.  Let us take care of you the best way know how: at the dinner table.

Thank you very much for your never ending support.  We so look forward to welcoming you back to SD26

*photo courtesy of Robert Caplin

Steve Shaw Jr. of Shaw Vineyard 'Wines it Up' with an Autumn Tasting....

Hi!

How's fall treating you? Ready for an 'Autumn Taste', of libations? We were, and for fans of fine wine and beyond, here's a look at you 've missed. The recent Autumn Tasting provided by Shaw Vineyard, the Seneca Lake based winery, took place at a private space in Tribeca, New York City. It began for many with a complimentary tasting of the vineyard's own wines (red from Shaw and white from both Shaw and Libella labels) and continued with fine spirits ranging from rum to cognac.

The wine rotation was as follows:  #1 2008 Riesling (Shaw Vineyard) an aged Riesling, done in stainless steel, fruity;#2 2010 Pinot Grigio (Li Bella) pleasantly consistent; #3 2011 Sauvignon Blanc (Shaw Vineyard): #4 2008 Reserve Pinot Noir very light; #5 2006  Cabernet Sauvignon; and #6 2007 Cabernet Franc so much like a Bordeaux we wanted more and more.

Steve Shaw Jr.

Also presented at the tasting were Cockspur Rum, Comandon Cognac, Diablito Mezcal, Iceberg Vodka and Quinta De Gomez Tequila.  Shaw Jr. presided over the spirits with precision even urging guests to speak with a representative from Comandon Cognac regarding the brand's batching processes--small samples from various years were made available.

Sound GOOD? It was! For up to date info on Shaw Vineyard events please visit them on Facebook

*photos by The Quest for "it"