For 49 years I’ve enjoyed warm summer days for my birthday. Well not this year. My god -13 overnight in NYC and freezing conditions as a beautiful sunny day dawned.
Mardi got me a couple of lovely gifts, that will come in handy, a scarf and a pair of gloves
She also got me some t shirts for back in Australia and some fragrance samples.
We headed out at around midday for lunch. Yummy Mexican. My favourite. A trio of guacamole with some yummy chips followed by tacos. Mardi had a quesadilla. I toyed with the grass hopper tacos but went for the prawn. Or as its called here, shrimp.
After lunch we took it easy, dinner at 11 Madison was planned later in the day so it was going to be a late night.
We both dressed up and made our way to the 23rd street station in the flatiron district for dinner on Madison Avenue. The restaurant is simply called its address, 11 Madison. We made the short walk in the icy cold.
http://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners/eleven-madison-park
It’s located in a banking, insurance building, has 30 foot floor to ceiling windows, wood floors and a large single dining area
We were greeted at the door by Justin, who took our coats, gloves and hats and were seated at our table. The magic started straight away. A sealed envelope was on our table which gave us the option of a flavour each to choose. I chose maple and Mardi cranberry.
We then selected free range duck as our main meat theme, we didn’t choose the venison.
We met the sommelier and chose a bottle of champagne to go with dinner and were set.
The first course, bread rolls, yum. Yum. Yum. Gorgeous butter and the crispest, freshest bread I’ve ever eaten. Just yum.
Then we moved into a number of cold entree styled courses. A salad, some seafood and a wonderful homage to the NYC delicatessen. The pastrami sandwich, so often seem as a massive sandwich with layers of pastrami and mustard on a fresh bread roll. This version was a petite piece of bread dotted with mustard and garlic and two exquisite pieces of pastrami in a heated pan. Added to this dish was a freshly made bottle of soda in an old style bottle matched to our originl choice. Mine was maple juice and Mardi’s cranberry flavoured. Yum.
We then moved into the hot dishes. Fish and a seafood dish followed by our duck. Each dish perfectly plated and a piece of art on the plate
Each dish was presented differently and sauce was made in front of us or added at the table.
We then moved into desserts. Baked Alaska, pretzels, cheese, cookies and chocolate. All delicious and all exquisitely made.
In all 15 courses, but we didn’t feel over fed.
At the conclusion of the meal, my dessert came with a birthday candle and a gift box of chocolate. We were also given breakfast to take home, a freshly made granola mix. Yum.
In all about three hours, a wonderful experience. Not something you’d do every weekend, but once every 49 years, perfect. Thanks Mardi. Check out the photos for each course and more details.
After dinner we went for a subway ride to 50th street to check out the lights on the Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree. We were shocked, the lights were off. Now it was 1.30 or thereabouts in the morning, icy cold and there were few people out. But the lights were off. Off. In the city that never sleeps we had finally found a sleepy moment. Not to be deterred we walked across the road to Saks and checked out the Christmas windows there. They were all on.
We then headed home, walking the six or so blocks and enjoying the last of the evening out. We found a sponge bob garbage bin and some giant diamonds as we walked. There is always something to see.
A great birthday and another great day in the big apple.
The weather forecast for tomorrow has a major storm front incoming, so we might have a day in. We haven’t stopped since we arrived three weeks ago, so a lazy day might be good.
