Love & Food in the Big D :): New York City - Day 1 ; Four Year Anniversary Weekend

Thursday, November 21, 2013

New York City - Day 1 ; Four Year Anniversary Weekend

It’s amazing how four years can feel so short and so long all at the same time...

Four years ago, on November 14, 2009, I snagged one of the best husbands any girl could ever hope for. Luckily for me, he probably didn’t realize what he was getting himself into (haha..sucker ;). I truly couldn’t ask for a better partner in life. He’s been such an incredible blessing to me..(and now Everleigh ;). I didn’t know it at the time, but he’s also become one of the best FATHER’s any girl could ever hope for too. Everleigh’s one special little girl to have such a great dad in her life. Swells my heart to ridiculous proportions to see those two interact together.. Every. Single. Time. J

In the five and a half years that we’ve known each other (and in the four years that we’ve been married), we’ve done our best to pack LIFE in. Two houses purchased, a few countries traveled, one puppy spoiled and a beautiful daughter later.. we find ourselves in New York City celebrating our anniversary. Just as we tackle a lot of other cities we visit, we didn’t really have set plans on this trip. We simply came with a list of things we’d like to see and do… and of course a long list of places to EAT!

Happy Four Years Love... thank you for saying "I DO!".

And now.. NYC - Day 1, in pictures. :)

Beautiful Sunset from the cab ride into Manhattan :)

First stop of the evening.. after quickly dropping off our luggage and changing for dinner.

"Appetizers" at Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant

Chad's pick of east and west coast oysters...

BOUILLABAISSE

Literally every single person around us had Clam Chowder. We HAD to order it. :)

Running into the New York Public library as we wandered to dinner. :)

Next Stop: Dinner at Marea (where we went with the Four Course Prix Fix menu)

Iphone photos will have to do since we were sitting in the middle of the restaurant and a big 'ol flashing camera would've been a little too obnoxious for this fancy schmancy place. ;)

Yvette - FRUTTI DI MARE - shrimp sausage, grilled kale, manila clams,

sea urchin, crosnes, cured swordfish

Shared Plate (Middle of the table) -

POLIPO - grilled octopus, smoked potatoes, pickled red onions, radish, chilies, tonnato

Chad (sorry I didn't get a good picture of his.. didn't want to be too obvious about pictures!)

- slow poached egg, celery root, charred kale,

smoked whitefish, sturgeon caviar

Yvette - AGNOLOTTI - piemontese meat ravioli, veal sweetbreads,

wild mushrooms , brown butter

Chad - (not pictured, sorry) - FUSILLI - red wine braised octopus, bone marrow

Yvette - CAPESANTE - seared sea scallops, potato puree, fried chickpea,

brussels sprouts, golden raisins, pickled mustard

Chad - IPPOGLOSSO pan roasted halibut, chestnuts, orange,

charred turnips, brown butter

Chad - AFFOGATO - vanilla gelato, espresso and amaro

Yvette - BOMBOLONI - doughnuts, rosemary, chocolate sauce, spiced honey

And because our dinner desserts weren't quite enough... Our next stop was SERENDIPITY 3 :)

Funny side story: As we left Marea and were walking down the sidewalk across from Central Park, we ran, almost LITERALLY, into Brooke Shields and her husband! They had just left an event that was ending at The Plaza and Brooke seemed to be struggling with her heels.. as we got to part of the sidewalk where we all couldn't squeeze through, Chad almost literally ran into them! :) Crazy town! :)

By this point, we were pretty well stuffed...but couldn't leave the area without at least attempting to try this famous dessert. Frozen Hot (Mint) Chocolate for Chad and Strawberry Fields Sundae (cheesecake, strawberry ice cream, strawberry topping with whipped cream) for me.

(We couldn't finish them...BUT we certainly gave it our best shot!) :)