Each day we focus on a theme so by the end of the week it's like you've read a magazine written by people you know. I update frequently, so stop by often to check out what's new.
I’m always looking for new ways to enjoy the outdoors. On my last trip to Santa Barbara in January, a friend took me paragliding. I was scared, but after being tasered, I thought, this should be a piece of cake.
We used this company, but I’m sure a quick google search will direct you to several companies wherever your travels take you.
As I always say, the best way to experience a new place is with a local who can show you the spots that truly reflect the culture.
Well, you’re a local, or maybe you frequently vacation to the same spot, and have a wealth of knowledge that will make our trip so much more enjoyable. So I would love for you to send in your tour guide and share your favorite spots with us!
Once you start writing you won’t know how to fit everything in, so use this outline to make your list.
Here’s what we want to know:
How many days do we need to fully enjoy this place?
Where Should We Stay:
If We’re Going All Out
If We’re On A Budget
Your Favorite Restaurants (breakfast/lunch/dinner):
Fine Dining
Trendy
Cheap and healthy
Daytime Activities:
Shopping
Outdoors
Culture
Something Unique
Nightlife:
Lounges or clubs
Culture (theater? live music?)
Anything else fun?
Send me your MTM Tour Guide at Mary@MoreThanMary.com.
It has been my experience that “celeb” chefs and restaurateurs truly earn their status in the industry. Food critics are very particular with their pallet and have no qualms giving their honest opinion. The future of a venue hangs on their every adjective, especially in New York.
Many hot-spots opened in 2009, but the two that stuck out in my mind from reading the reviews were Maialino from Danny Meyer (of Union Square Cafe and Eleven Madison Park) and Colicchio and Sons from Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio (of the the Craft restaurants). Coincidentally, they have a history as partners and won much acclaim for Gramercy Tavern, their collaboration which opened in 1994. Unfortunately neither of their new venues lived up to their past, in my opinion.
Details to get out of the way: On both occasions, we had to pull strings to get reservations, and I dined with foodies who were in agreement with my findings.
Apparently restaurateur Danny Meyer inherited the nickname “Maialino” while he was eating his way through Rome one suckling little pig (the English translation of Maialino) at a time.
Located in the Gramercy Park Hotel, Maialino is a bright, breath of fresh air on the side of the dark and cavernous hotel lobby. After you pass the lovely authentic bar (that apparently serves some serious coffee in the morning), the space looks like a country kitchen lined with wood and accented with blue checked table cloths. I’d be happy to eat breakfast or lunch in this “traditional Roman trattoria,” but the decor didn’t seem sophisticated enough for the evening fare.
As I had read, the wine list was unique and even featured lovely vintages by the glass. Regarding the food, Sarah (my beautiful and beyond talented dinner date) said, “Although not my favorite rustic Italian offering in the city (which is Babbo), the menu holds its own and presents many solid dishes.” The key is to know which ones those are. The fried artichoke appetizer is a must and should be followed by one of their home-made pastas. A little piggy would be obvious the choice for an entree, but we chose the swordfish which was uninspired and bland.
After fully digesting my thoughts, I would say, that for those of us who follow the buzz of NYC’s latest to asses its greatness, Maialino is a well-rounded experience. However, it wouldn’t make my list of recommendations for Italian in New York.
Next Thursday I’ll be posting my experience with Tom and Colicchio And Sons.
“Women who consumed between 1.5 and 3 drinks daily had a 27 percent and 61 percent lower risk of becoming overweight or obese, respectively, than women who didn’t drink at all, according to the study, which was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.”
Interesting, but unfortunately not a statistic that should inspire us to increase our alcohol consumption.
“I think [the study] suggests that there’s no need to quit or avoid alcohol if it’s something you enjoy.”
–Scott Kahan, M.D.,the co-director of the George Washington University Weight Management Program
Another doctor stated this theory, that I have often suspected (and hoped) is true:
“Many other studies that are not nearly as well done or as large as this suggest that calories from alcohol are metabolized differently. The alcohol calories probably don’t count as much as calories from a Hershey’s bar.”
–”R. Curtis Ellison, M.D., the director of the Institute on Lifestyle and Health at the Boston University School of Medicine, says this study is the strongest evidence to date that calories from food and booze are not created equal.”
All quotes are from Anne Hardig’s article in which she offers several studies for you to consider and that I found to be quite interesting.
--By Nutritionista
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