The Premium Life

I recently wrote about pizza (here)…and while this short blurb isn’t about a savory slice, I did think of this food the other day.

What makes pizza unique in the food world is that even “bad” or bland pizza can still be tasty.

Cookies, on the other hand, are not all created equal, and even the slightest of imperfections (whether too mealy, too soggy or poorly prepared) can make this sweet unacceptable to this foodie.

So, when the sweet tooth tempts me, I seek out perfection, a truly sublime experience – which by all accounts is a difficult state to pin down in a world as diverse as cookies (sometimes thin, sometimes crisp, with nuts, or without, even the occasional taste of white chocolate).

In comes Levain Bakery, which is a small, unassuming neighborhood shop known for its baked goods and serves this rare breed of cookie perfection –   the walnut chocolate chip cookie is the crown jewel.

The cookie at Levain is decedent by all measures – they appear more like a scone in size and shape, weighing in at ~6 ounces and contain significant chunks of chips.  And while the appearance is intimidating, the ingredients are so perfect, the preparation so flawless and balanced, that you won’t think twice when you are devouring them.

Levain has been opened since 1995 and the history of the bakery is also part of the allure for me…the shop was opened by entrepreneurs Connie McDonald and Pam Weekes, who met at a swimming pool on the east side of Manhattan.  The two, who share a passion for exercise and food, parlayed their baking skills into creating this fine shop.

They make everything fresh on premises, including rustic breads, brioche, and Bomboloncini, but it is the cookies tend to steal the show.

Owners Weekes and McDonald keep the recipe sealed under lock and key, so don’t try to replicate…just find a way to get to the West 74^th Street shop to experience first hand (alternatively, you can order from their website, listed below).

As always, eat well and feel free to reach out.

For more information please visit http://www.levainbakery.com/. And for assistance on planning your next unique experience visit our website at www.premiumlg.com .

I consider myself to be a bit of a Bloody Mary connoisseur – I sample one everywhere I go. This past weekend was not an exception; I set out to find the tomato juice-enhanced hair of the dog and ended up in the well-hidden Freemans Alley on the Lower East Side.

Fully armed with a wretched Cooper Square Hotel-induced hangover, my friend and I stumbled over to celeb-friendly Freemans Restaurant at 11am (my pounding headache was making sleep an impossibility) where we plopped down at the back bar. I’m not a Freemans virgin in the slightest, I’d just prefer to avoid this neighborhood during weekend nights – too young and hipster-ish for me then. It’s normally packed with a fashionable, in-the-know crowd.

“So I heard a rumor that you have exceptional bloody marys?” I asked Bobby, our incredibly chipper bartender.

“I made the mix myself just a few minutes ago,” he said. “Hands down one of the best bloody marys in town; I even added chunks of fresh ground pepper to give it a little kick.”

“We’ll both have one, but make mine extra spicy!”

As he concocted my elixir of life, I took a quick walk around the family-filled restaurant to find the restroom. Freemans is homey, rustic, low-profile and low-frills – it looks like a restaurant you’d find at a ski resort, a national park or even The Haunted Mansion in Disney World. The cabin feel and woodsy ambiance is accentuated by the unfinished plankwood floors and the taxidermy lining the walls. Is that a peacock, a turkey or a unicorn behind the bar?

After I came back from my trip around the stuffed zoo, I sat down at the bar and sipped on my zingy, caper-berried bloody as I scanned the savory brunch menu. Should I have the grilled cheddar, tomato, and watercress sandwich with a mixed green salad? Poached eggs, roasted tomato, and cheddar cheese grits with buttered sourdough toast? Or Beef brisket hash with fried eggs and piccalilli relish? This wasn’t exactly a difficult decision for me – I had the poached eggs, roasted tomato and creamy cheddar cheese grits. As someone who is moderately OBSESSED with tomatoes, I must say they’re amazing. They were cooked to absolute perfection and the rosemary topping was the right touch. The eggs were a little too heavy for my still-queasy stomach, but the cheddar cheese grits were divine and contained the perfect amount of grease – not even a southern mother could’ve made them more authentic.

After another round of scrumptious bloodys and multiple glasses of water – neither of which cured my pain – we bid adieu to the fabulous Bobby and began our slow walk back towards Gramercy Park.

An hour later, once we arrived back in the neighborhood, we popped into the Gramercy Tavern for a glass of Muscat and mushroom lasagna. The sweet Muscat threw me over the edge and I headed home with one of the worst headaches of my life.

Gramercy Tavern will be properly reviewed next time – when I’m well enough to sit among the jet set.

Even though Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel is 2007’s news, I cannot turn away from the sexiness of this NYC staple. It’s a perfect first date spot—especially if you’re going to eHarmony it up (who actually admits to this?)—the dim lighting is so flattering it makes Uncle Fester look like Brad Pitt. I kid, I kid.

Now I must preface this entry by saying that I have not attended the nighttime, promoter-sponsored parties—I am a happy hour type of chick. I cannot muster up the energy to rage with the masses on a Friday night, even if it is with a date.

Whenever a guy asks me to pick the date spot (FYI guys we secretly loathe this—it’s your duty) I always drag them to Ian Schrager’s—yes, of Studio 54 fame—and Julian Schnabel’s revamp of this once dowdy joint. Hey, if a guy can hang with me and sip on $20 martinis at Rose Bar and then walk across the way to Pete’s Tavern for a beer, he’s my type of guy.

Medieval is the word that comes to mind when describing Rose Bar. I feel like I’m a maiden lost in a Spanish castle’s great hall where models serving bottles and beefy men in black lead me to Prince Charming behind the wooden, oak-leaf-shaped bar. On my way to the Vanilla Passion martini (which consists of Stolichnaya Vanil and Tuaca liqueur with coconut cream and passion juice) I always pause to take in the impressive sights. The walls are lined with authentic works from celebrated artists. You cannot miss Warhol’s fifteen-foot gold leaf “Rorschach” print, Schnabel’s “Teddy Bear’s Picnic” (near the red-felt, smoked-wood pool table) and “Suddenly Last Summer #2” above one of the two, 10-foot high, wood burning fireplaces. The red and white tiled floors are adorned with custom-designed, ultra-cushy velvet couches and chairs—the perfect excuse to whipser sweet nothings into your date’s ear!

The cocktail menu is pretty extensive and features a wide range of drinks to please the fussiest drinkers from the Ginger Fig (Reyka vodka with muddled ginger root and fig jam and fresh orange juice) to the Pineapple and Cinnamon Mojito (Sailor Jerry rum with muddled fresh pineapple, fresh mint leaf and cinnamon foam) and over to the male-friendly James Bond (Hennessy Cognac, Orange Curaçao, a splash of pineapple and fresh lime topped with Prosecco). As usual, I tend to stick with my Villa Maria New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Rose Bar also serves food during the lunch hours, but I’ve never eaten here and haven’t heard much about the cuisine at all so I stick to the booze.

It has been my personal experience that Rose Bar is on its best behavior between the hours of 1pm-9pm. During this time period you’ll avoid the kiddies, the celeb stalkers and the *cough* working girls. It’s quiet enough to hold a business meeting, take a client out for drinks or even that girl from marketing who your boss is also interested in dating…

Did she mention that she’s also on eHarmony?

I found this article in the September 4, 2009, edition of AM NewYork newspaper. Had to share the wealth! I am definitely going to check out The Empire Room since it’s right near my office and will report back on my findings!

BY ALEXIS KORMAN Special to amNewYork

From a stylish club in Chelsea to a Coney Island-themed bar near Union Square, there’s no shortage of nightlife spots opening in early fall. Here’s the scoop.

Forty Eight

1221 Sixth Ave.,

at 48th St.,

212-554-4848 (Recently opened)

This lounge is located in the McGraw-Hill buildingnear Rockefeller Center, making it a swanky spot for after-work cocktails. On weekends, a DJ gets partygoers moving in this modern space adorned with Swarovski crystal light fixtures. “We hope that we’ll get to serve NYC’s local influencers and late-night partygoers,” said co-owner Brian Packin.

Brinkley’s

406 Broome St., at Cleveland Pl.,

no phone yet (Opens Sept. 7)

Anthony and Tom Martignetti have replaced their shuttered eatery Bar Martignetti with this relaxed English bar. Brinkley’s plans to serve pub grub (from former Kingswood chef Ben Towell) and, of course, plenty of suds on tap. Two TVs will be in place to show games. Read more »

Last week I headed off to Chicago for a family wedding. I used to head to “Chi-town” quite often, when I was a student at the University of Wisconsin Madison. I have always viewed this bustling metropolis as one of the most under rated cities in the US, offering its guests awe-inspiring architecture, swinging jazz and delectable dining. These gifts often go unnoticed as the jet set tend to favor New York and LA over the Windy City, which becomes inhospitable in the winter months.

This week the Windy City once again found a warm spot in my heart…I encourage you to give it a chance, if it hasn’t found a special place in your heart.

Although our itinerary was, for the most part, consumed by wedding festivities, we did sneak in some low-brow, high quality eats.

My sister came across an article a few months back in the New York Times on Mado. It is located in Wicker park, an upcoming area with some breathe taking residential apartments.

The restaurant is BYOB but they recommend Red & White, a chic wine store, down a few blocks. He staff was charming and extremely helpful as they are very familiar with the Mado menu. Read more »

Last winter, when I made the difficult decision to move to the Upper East Side from the South Street Seaport I was saddened by the loss of the Front Street bars and restaurants. This area truly is a hidden gem in the city, but I will divulge on this at a later date. I’ve always thought of the Upper East Side as a collegiate playground—I avoid the local bars for fear of being humiliated by a bouncer requesting my AARP card; forget about my driver’s license (why do I have one? I haven’t driven a car in eight years).

Don’t get me wrong, the neighborhood isn’t entirely Romper Room and cheerleader uniforms—I have discovered a few diamonds in the rough—there’s David Burke Townhouse, Philippe, Elaine’s, Elio’s, Orsay and JG Melon. I’m not going to get all hoity-toity, even preppies and yuppies enjoy slumming it on the weekends. JG Melon is an undercover socialite’s paradise.

Melon transports you back to the 1930’s with its old school charm, green-and-white-checkered tablecloths, pressed tin ceiling and melon decor, but this landmark opened in 1972. Local Wall Streeters, Tory Burch-clad women and grey-haired regulars flock to this tight-spaced, narrow, cash-only bar/restaurant to nosh on their famous, thick and juicy burgers, crispy waffle fries and sip on (or chug) one of the BEST Bloody Marys in the city. Read more »