I was teary-eyed and appreciative! My second ring included a piece of jade that Lewis purchased for his recently-deceased grandmother... but was never used. He had a jeweler set it in a white gold ring!
Next, he advised me that we needed to wear chinos (instead of shorts) and leave my apartment by 11am to an undisclosed location. Boarding the subway, I sensed that he was coordinating with other people, because he frantically texted someone during each subway delay that we endured. Apparently, we still arrived on time, and he took me to lunch near the High Line Park. In the heart of Chelsea, La Bergamote is a picturesque pastry shop/café. I munched on a fresh-baked baguette, slathered with pâté and sliced cornichons.
Knowing there'd be dessert later, I foreswore pastry, and Lewis led me by the hand to the piers. I suspected he might be taking me on a River Cruise, as my dear friend, Yvonne, had done, several years ago. Instead, we started walking into the Chelsea Piers Athletic Center. Looking up at the directional signs, I wondered where our destination was? Finally, Lewis asked if I could guess. Seeing the sign for indoor ice skating, I joyously guessed correctly!
Feeling the cold air, I knew why Lewis wanted us to wear pants. The next shock was being grabbed from behind by Yvonne and her new boyfriend, Chris! Seeing me enter, Chris turned away and used his larger frame to hide Yvonne. So clever! A skating instructor, Chris was thrilled to share my birthday afternoon and give me some free pointers! It was only my third time skating, but I let go of the railing soon enough. Staying along the outer edge, I eventually built up some moderate speed... and enjoyed myself immensely! Chris toppled only once, and Lewis slipped just once. Quite a few skaters were excellent, and Lewis and I felt proud as we exceeded some others who remained on the railing. Two hours whooshed by!
It then became evident that Yvonne and Chris were departing, as Lewis guided me to our next undisclosed place. I kissed and hugged both of them, and they await this blog entry to see all the pictures! :)
With great forethought, Lewis brought a change of socks for both of us. Then, he took me all the way downtown to the oldest part of Manhattan. It is now named the Financial District (FiDi).
The subway deposited us by City Hall Park. I recognized the area from our recent excursion to Temple Court. See it in my previous blog entry: https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2018/08/restaurant-review-temple-court-bar-room.html
Two cheery women greeted us, and one said, "Which one of you is Kenneth?" I raised my hand. She continued cordially, "We want to thank you for sharing your birthday with us!" I was thunderstruck! So nice! It proved that a talented reservationist alerted the hostesses to make my welcome extra-special. I value details like that. The other young woman escorted us past a faux-living room (replete with unused bar cart) to a bank of elevators.
Two special elevators automatically take riders up to the 60th floor.
When the doors hissed open, I beheld a candlelit reception podium and a gleaming bar room overlooking the entire city! We stood amidst restaurant-god Danny Meyer's newest opening: Manhatta (named after the Native Indian wording for the island, which translates to "place where wood is gathered"). Only two weeks since its opening, it was a treat to be one of the first couples to savor it!
Having been telephoned from downstairs, another hostess proceeded to welcome me by name (such a nice touch) and ask if we wanted to start at the bar or be seated. Lewis politely chose for me; we'd take our seat and have drinks sent over. He chose well: we nestled into a cushy corner banquette with an equally-grand view of the bar room, dining room, glass-enclosed wine cellar, and roundabout view of the skyline!
Lewis double-checked to make sure I liked our seat and didn't prefer to sit at the counter by the "open kitchen". Nope, I was "sitting pretty"--just fine where we were. In an elegant restaurant, I prefer to enjoy the procession of courses and the anticipation of its plating presentation. Besides, sitting by the kitchen catches the backwash of cooking chatter, noise of pans and crockery, and heat form the stoves. Save that experience for a breakfast nook or a sushi bar.
I appreciate how Meyer involves staff of varied ages, instead of only hiring cheap/young servers, like many restauranteurs do. An older woman in artsy attire got us situated and placed menus. An apron-wearing gent poured water. In fact, only the captain and sommelier wore suits; everyone else wore tidy "street clothes" and various footwear with their "uniform apron". Thus, Manhatta's dress code is even more casual than Meyer's Gramercy Tavern or Maialino.
Our server was cordially observant. For my last cocktail of the night, I selected their version of a Manhattan. In my opinion, the bowl of their cocktail glasses looks small, compared to the tall stems. Watching the bartender ferociously shake it was spellbinding. Made with Ragtime Rye, Carpano Antica, Demerara, bitters, and a real cherry, it was superb. Thinking of the pink-tinted sky, Lewis sipped a Sunset Park: tequila, Zucca, blackberry, and lemon.
With a soft lisp, a food runner presented the amuse bouche: raw garden-fresh baby radishes in cream sauce. Meyer is respected for his universal use of Farmer's Market ingredients. I must say that when you use items plucked from that morning's soil, you get radishes that are powerfully flavorful. So good! However, the oven-fresh bread that came to our table was covered in seeds--something I disdain whenever I don't have dental floss.
Hungrily, we desired extra first courses, so our waiter helpfully planned out our meal: two rounds of appetizers, then dinner with glasses of wine, then a pause during sunset, before dessert under the stars.
First to arrive at the table were handmade Cavetelli & Clams with breadcrumbs, tomato, and sausage. Alongside it, we shared escargot--also with crumbled sausage. It was accompanied by a wonderful baguette... which gave me an idea. I asked our waiter if I could have extra baguette, in lieu of the seedy bread. With a grin of ingenuity, he agreed.
Lewis thought the Scallops were delectable.
*To see when we ate the world's best scallops, please use this link:
That was where Lewis took me! I was truly delighted to return to the Bar Room; it was less crowded and always debonair. This time, we perched atop cushy bar stools and enjoyed lamp-lit concoctions from a chatty mixologist.
After two drinks, Lewis wanted to go upstairs for a better view of the building's amazing skylight.
With our Happy Hour concluded, he led me around the corner towards my surprise dinner location. We sauntered down Nassau Street, named for the royal Dutch family's House of Orange-Nassau (honoring the Dutch settlers who initiated the city). [Similarly, on the day that Lewis and I visited Polish bakeries in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, we were on Nassau Avenue... also named for that noble Dutch heritage].
After two drinks, Lewis wanted to go upstairs for a better view of the building's amazing skylight.
With our Happy Hour concluded, he led me around the corner towards my surprise dinner location. We sauntered down Nassau Street, named for the royal Dutch family's House of Orange-Nassau (honoring the Dutch settlers who initiated the city). [Similarly, on the day that Lewis and I visited Polish bakeries in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, we were on Nassau Avenue... also named for that noble Dutch heritage].
We crossed John Street, which is one of Manhattan's oldest streets and named for a Dutch shoemaker and landowner: John Haberdinck. It goes to the riverfront, where an area was called Dutch Hill. (That area is gone, but Dutch Street remains).
The Financial District is a hodgepodge of towers--crowding the streets like the weeds of an unkept garden... which is accurate symbolism. The older spires and architectural ornaments are eye-catching.
Several blocks later, we arrived at Liberty Street. Before the American Revolution, it was named Crown Street, to commemorate New York being a Crown Colony of the British king. We turned the corner onto William Street, which existed since the 1660. Before the American Revolution, it was called King Street.
As I strolled, I was interested in The Federal Reserve building of 1919 that resembled the Florentine palazzos I saw during my trip to the Italian Republic. To see our trip to Florence, please click this link:
(As the wealthiest of America's 12 Reserve Banks, its builders clearly admired the Medici banking family's Palazzo Vecchio).
Preoccupied, I didn't notice that Lewis stopped walking. He stood by a nondescript office building that soared upward.
Preoccupied, I didn't notice that Lewis stopped walking. He stood by a nondescript office building that soared upward.
Filling the block between Nassau and William Streets, Chase Manhattan Plaza was built in 1961 as headquarters for the Rockefeller family-owned Chase Bank (now owned by JP Morgan Bank, whose founder was their cohort). It was built over the site of a 1727 Middle Dutch Church. The skyscraper didn't seem like a place to have dinner. Hesitantly, I entered it with him. (The restaurant's sign was not lit at that moment, so I didn't notice it, but that added to the surprise).
Two cheery women greeted us, and one said, "Which one of you is Kenneth?" I raised my hand. She continued cordially, "We want to thank you for sharing your birthday with us!" I was thunderstruck! So nice! It proved that a talented reservationist alerted the hostesses to make my welcome extra-special. I value details like that. The other young woman escorted us past a faux-living room (replete with unused bar cart) to a bank of elevators.
When the doors hissed open, I beheld a candlelit reception podium and a gleaming bar room overlooking the entire city! We stood amidst restaurant-god Danny Meyer's newest opening: Manhatta (named after the Native Indian wording for the island, which translates to "place where wood is gathered"). Only two weeks since its opening, it was a treat to be one of the first couples to savor it!
Having been telephoned from downstairs, another hostess proceeded to welcome me by name (such a nice touch) and ask if we wanted to start at the bar or be seated. Lewis politely chose for me; we'd take our seat and have drinks sent over. He chose well: we nestled into a cushy corner banquette with an equally-grand view of the bar room, dining room, glass-enclosed wine cellar, and roundabout view of the skyline!
Our server was cordially observant. For my last cocktail of the night, I selected their version of a Manhattan. In my opinion, the bowl of their cocktail glasses looks small, compared to the tall stems. Watching the bartender ferociously shake it was spellbinding. Made with Ragtime Rye, Carpano Antica, Demerara, bitters, and a real cherry, it was superb. Thinking of the pink-tinted sky, Lewis sipped a Sunset Park: tequila, Zucca, blackberry, and lemon.
With a soft lisp, a food runner presented the amuse bouche: raw garden-fresh baby radishes in cream sauce. Meyer is respected for his universal use of Farmer's Market ingredients. I must say that when you use items plucked from that morning's soil, you get radishes that are powerfully flavorful. So good! However, the oven-fresh bread that came to our table was covered in seeds--something I disdain whenever I don't have dental floss.
Hungrily, we desired extra first courses, so our waiter helpfully planned out our meal: two rounds of appetizers, then dinner with glasses of wine, then a pause during sunset, before dessert under the stars.
First to arrive at the table were handmade Cavetelli & Clams with breadcrumbs, tomato, and sausage. Alongside it, we shared escargot--also with crumbled sausage. It was accompanied by a wonderful baguette... which gave me an idea. I asked our waiter if I could have extra baguette, in lieu of the seedy bread. With a grin of ingenuity, he agreed.
Lewis thought the Scallops were delectable.
*To see when we ate the world's best scallops, please use this link:
In between courses, I noticed with amusement that servers continuously pricked their foreheads upon the flower arrangement on their waiter station. Whisking the palm fronds and leaves away, they all smiled at their repeated collisions. I wanted to rotate the bouquet for them but thought better of it.
Speaking of "people watching", the restaurant has random binoculars along the windows. They encourage patrons to peer at the city far below! By then, the bar was packed, yet the large dinning room only half-so. Nonetheless, it made me feel like Lewis had reserved the place just for us!
Dinner consisted of Veal Blanqutette with Sweetbreads (which I always love) and foraged mushrooms for me, and Turbot with roasted fennel for Lewis. Each tender forkful was a dance across my palate.
My sleek wine glass contained a perfect summertime pairing: Beaujolais made from Gamay grapes. Lewis enjoyed the nose of a Wolffer Riesling, made locally at a Long Island vineyard & winery. They were delicious.
My sleek wine glass contained a perfect summertime pairing: Beaujolais made from Gamay grapes. Lewis enjoyed the nose of a Wolffer Riesling, made locally at a Long Island vineyard & winery. They were delicious.
*On a tangent, if you want to read amusing poetry quotes about being tipsy, please click here:
Admiring the restaurant's location, we finished our wine, as the daylight waned and starlight emerged.
Eschewing coffee, I ordered the pastry chef's Date Cake with ice cream and whiskey sauce. Lewis' vanilla soufflé peeked over the edge of its cast-iron pan.
With flickering votives across the room--and stars twinkling outside--the kitchen presented an extra candlelit treat for my birthday! Cheerily inscribed, it made my heart flutter.
Admiring the artwork in the corridor between restrooms and elevators, I appreciated just how cozy Meyer made his high-altitude space.
The hostess remembered my name and wished me another Happy Birthday, which was echoed by the two women in the lobby. They hoped my day had been special. It truly had!
Admiring the artwork in the corridor between restrooms and elevators, I appreciated just how cozy Meyer made his high-altitude space.
The hostess remembered my name and wished me another Happy Birthday, which was echoed by the two women in the lobby. They hoped my day had been special. It truly had!
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