411 Park Ave South
New York, NY 10016
212-679-4111
Au Bon Pain
Locations all over the East Coast
Grand Central Terminal
87 E 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
INK did so much research that it's really a shame she didn't stay in the city longer, at least as long as her dining checklist. In the interest of time, convenience, and family relations, she ate pizza from Sbarro! (Although she did have some pretty good thin-crust eggplant pizza made by a New York transplant in Vermont. . .) No hot dogs from a street vendor were had, either.
The eating highlight was Les Halles, Anthony Bourdain's former gig, Bourdain of the what-really-happens-in-the-kitchen books and travelogues on the Food Network and Travel Channel. Mom likes the shows and Dad likes escargot so it had parental approval. Les Halles was dark and loud with happy locals and tourists and the usual "ain't we hip" restaurant playlist. The only song INK can remember is Amy Winehouse's "Rehab," but perhaps because that was the soundtrack of summer 2007.
We started with the escargot, of course, with plenty of bread to sop up the hot, garlicky butter. Even the first-timers dug it. Dad got the vertical pork tenderloin. Mom had the brasserie classic, steak frites. Cousin and Niece ordered the le fancy macaroni and cheese with gruyere and serrano ham. INK was very pleased with her truffle sauce and froi gras burger-- loosely packed and oh-so-juicy. Creme brulee, tarte aux pommes and profiteroles don't disappoint. Exciting and cutting edge? Definitely not, but rich, comforting, satisfying.
The next morning, the chain Au Bon Pain was a pleasant spot for breakfast before hitting MOMA to complete the Delicacheena van Gogh summer tour. Love the self-serve bakery of endless can't-decides.
A salad of falafel, couscous, tabouleh, salad green, eggplant, etc. at Grand Central was a healthy way to end the stay.
So perhaps this was more of a reconnaissance trip--a lot of ground was covered in that tour bus. INK, however, was pleased to have checked off eat a "fancy" dinner, run to/in Central Park to see the Alice in Wonderland statue, see "Starry Night," and don't kill any relatives.
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