2009 New York City Winter Restaurant Week

5 Ninth

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 (my last full day in New York City - I didn't want to leave)

Breakfast - coffee with Loretta @ home

Lunch - Cafe Luxemburg on W 70 St./Amsterdam

I had a wonderful lunch with a friend I met in Hawaii, but now lives in NYC. She suggested this restaurant because of the celebrity sightings and the traditional French flair.

So ask me why I had a burger (medium rare) with Pomme Frittes? Because it needed to be done by me.

As I was eating my burger and listening to Susan talk, I stopped chewing and look above Susan's head and sat very still like I just saw a celebrity - because I just did - Liam Neeson!!!! Walking to his table - tall, lean and handsome - his hair was messed by the wind. WOW!!! That was the best burger I've ever eaten.

W 70th is where Susan lives and such a great little block - with cafes, bakeries and Magnolia Bakery around the corner on Columbus. So after I left Susan, I went and met another friend from Hawaii. Bob Goode!!! at Magnolia Bakery for a cupcake and some coffee.

Snack - Magnolia Bakery (on Columbus and 69th)

Vanilla Cupcake (yummy)
Coffee

I got to catch up with my old buddy Bob and had a wonderful snack.

After meeting with Bob, I needed to meet another friend, but one from New York.

We met in the lobby of The Paramount hotel and it was too early for our dinner reservation, so we went to the 2nd floor bar. Red wine and engaging conversation. Mark was so fun to talk too and he has always been on the phone in the past - but in person even better.

We decided to get to the restaurant and hang at their bar to wait for our reservation time.

Dinner - 5 Ninth (across the street from Pastis in the Meatpacking Dist.)

An hour later, we still had not been seated and a couple of wine glasses later. But it did not matter, because Mark was entertaining. Finally, he went up to the host/hostess and they had tried to look for us, but could not place us...bull.

So we went to our table on the second floor. This building is at least 3 stories, exposed brick and very inviting...but slow on getting a table.

Prix Fixe menu:
Mark - salad
Natalie - Foie Gras (very rich, I needed to have some salad to break it down)

Mark - White Bean & Duck?
Natalie - Roast Pork (rich)

Mark - Lemon something
Natalie - Hot Chocolate (rich)

I have to confess that I don't quite remember the details of the food, but I know that it was delicious and that I ordered too rich of a meal. Yikes. I really enjoyed the evening at 5 Ninth and it was mainly because of the company I was keeping. Mark was really cute.

I know this is a food blog, but I needed to write that down somewhere. Not only cute but very smart. He asked me a question that will stay with me for a long time - "Where are you from?"

Hawaii was my answer, but he was really asking where were my parents from, my grandparents? WOW, how thought provoking - yeah?

After dinner we took a cab to his old stomping watering hole - is that how you say it? To MercBar on Mercer St. What a great bar - I think I saw it on TV once. Everyone knew Mark and wanted to ensure me that he was a great guy. I knew that already. I had more wine. What I needed was to flush the rich food with hot tea. Great night cap and the best thing happened on our way home - it started to SNOW!!!! I love snow. I am a crazy Hawaiian girl that loves snow - because I don't have to live in it. Thanks Mark for a wonderful evening!!!!

What a great trip - I am already planning another one. I just love this place.