CATCH IT! CAFÉ ZAIYA and KINOKUNIYA BOOK STORE

Posted on October 4, 2010 by W.D. Moore

CAFÉ ZAIYA and KINOKUNIYA BOOK STORE is Japan.  The address is 1073 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10018 (between 40th & 41st Street).   There I can sit at a commune white table; drink coffee in a white sleek stoneware cup.  For lunch I like the salmon Bento Box, cost: $3.95.  Every so often, my mouth is eager for the Strawberry Short Cake, cost $2.75.  And if I am in a hurry, I have the rice roll to go at $1.50.  When it’s a light lunch; I grab the assorted butter cookies (green tea, sesame, black tea, butter, and coffee) all five for $1.95.  Café Zaiya’s menu ranges from sushi, spicy chicken sandwiches, Sencha Japanese Green Tea, Jujitsu Yasai, Tofu Bread, White Bread (very soft and tasty) carrot biscuits, and red beans chestnut pie.

On a September afternoon, I settled in at the commune table.  I was steadily fixed on my Interior Design Magazine, and engrossed with the cover of a TriBeCa house by Ghislaine Viñas.  Next to me was an older man with light brown hair teaching English to a younger girl in champagne-colored frame eyewear.  He said, “When someone says give me a break, what do you think that means.”  She pondered, giggled, and then stared at her Japan-American dictionary.  “You won’t find that phrase there.” He laughed.  But, she glanced anyway.

Look around and capture a zestful of energy, ambience of quite pleasures, music of languages from faraway places—friends having lunch, families surveying for an available table. If you settle at the window counter—one can gaze at others having their lunch in Bryant Park: pigeons walking about, chess games, players engrossed in Pétanque, and everyday pedestrians crossing the street.

Sometime later, I strolled along the second floor.  It is where Café Zaiya is situated, along with CDs, DVDs, and comic books written in Japan, and English, art and design books.  I have never traveled to Japan; however, it does not matter, for whenever you venture to the Kinokuniya Book store—surely you will be there.

One of my favorite books is Japanese Fairy Tales by Lafcadio Hearn.  It was a gift many years ago.  Still among the thousands of books, and brackets at the Kinokuniya Bookstore —I found a lovely children’s book, Tsumiki no le or Once Upon a Home upon a Home, Illustrated by Kunio Kato and Text by Kenya Hirata.

If you stop by, don’t forget to step down to the basement floor.  Visitors will be enchanted by the special stationery and gifts; a mini Welcome kid’s area of games, books, and toys.  And if none of these items entice your palate, perhaps walk over to the Docomo desk.  It is Japan’s largest and the world’s leading mobile operator.  By the time you return to the first floor, you may be enticed to pick-up a Momiji Doll for your darling little girl or precocious niece.

A Far East country in the heart of the big apple, I say Catch it if you can at www.zaiyany.com, www.kinokuniya.com, and www.docomo-usa.com.

Posted in Book Stores, Bryant Park, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

CATCH IT! PETROSSIAN BOUTIQUE CAFÉ

Posted on September 14, 2010 by W.D. Moore

PETROSSIAN BOUTIQUE CAFÉ: That name Petrossian–could it be Russian?  Can you imagine this in the 1965 epic movie, Doctor Zhivago: Lara Antipova and Dr. Zhivago find one another after all.  They hold hands while walking to the Petrosssian Restaurant.  They have Caviar Cocktails and nibble on Russian Caviar.  “Pardon me,” one would say.  “But the writer, Boris Pasternak did not end the romantic-drama in Paris—for the Petrossian Restaurant is French.”  The restaurant is located in New York City at 182 West 58th Street.  It is moonless, it is refine, and it’s simply divine.

Nevertheless, my heart belongs to the Petrossian Boutique Café.  The smaller relations right next door where one is taken into an atmosphere of the same elegance, and succulent meals for a prudent price.  As I entered, I am greeted by Gigi, the dazzling assistant manager.  I sit at my favorite table while the waitress, Sanaa, takes my order.  I’m ready for breakfast at 8:00 a.m.  I ordered coffee and a mini Brioche.  I first thought of the Petrossian Breakfast: eggs, bacon, salmon, and toast points, or the French Breakfast: baguette, pain au raisin, and croissant, each costing around $13.00.  Then, I wished it was lunch time.  I do relish the Hummus Tahini with warm nan bread and marinated olives for $10.00.  However, I remembered another time: my friend basked in the slow roasted Leg of Lamb, potato puree and roasted vegetables for $16.00.  We shared dessert: Oatmeal Raisin Cookie for $2.50.

When Sanaa served me my coffee, I started to read an article in The New Yorker Magazine.  I overheard another customer request, Des Steppes’ tea.  “That’s my favorite, tea,” I reflected.   “But mornings, I start with coffee.”

Thirty-five minutes later, I was ready to depart, my bill arrived, and it was $4.50.  I gathered my mulberry Hellolulu laptop case, went to the cash register.  I spoke to the sales clerk, Bridget, about a few of the Boutique items for sale.  “I have a niece who is six years old…what are those sticks,” I asked.  Bridget explained, “They are our Chocolate Sticks—a winner for kids, because with a cup of hot milk, you place the stick in the cup and you’re drinking hot chocolate.”  Cost: $3.00 for one.  And so—my bill was now $7.50.

Other items for sale are: Vodka Pill Box (dark chocolate filled with vodka) is $6.00, Gourmet Teas are $15.00, and BaBa Au Rhum is $40.00 per jar.  Prices range from a Lollipop for .75 to a Champagne Bucket for $95.00.

I thanked my waitress, Sanaa, waved good-bye to Gigi, and was off to an appointment.  Petrossian Boutique Café has nine tables, fine food, and is my own little treasure, except for today.  It’s perfection year round.  Catch it if you can at www.petrossian.com

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CATCH IT! SHEEP MEADOW IN CENTRAL PARK

Posted on August 25, 2010 by W.D. Moore

SHEEP MEADOW IN CENTRAL PARK:  It was Sunday, August 15th; the blistering sun was my companion.  I had read chapters in three books, well at least a few pages in each:  The Red Pony by John Steinbeck, The Return by Victoria Hislop, and The Blue Orchard by Jackson Taylor.  Anyway, happiness was I lying on the grass in Sheep Meadow at two o’clock in the afternoon.  This fifteen-acre flourishing heaven is located from the west side at 66th Street to 69th Street, as well as the east side.  However, I wandered in at West 67th Street and Central Park West, whereupon, feeling nostalgia about the empty red brick Tavern on the Green Restaurant.

“What a lovely day,” I smiled and stared at the baby blue sky.  I am relaxed taking in the rolling clouds.  I lied on my back, then on my stomach, followed by sitting up reaching for several concord grapes.  As I grabbed another, I saw a young man in oversize Levi’s jeans cut-off at the knee pulling a grocery store cart.  He said.  “Heineken, Corona, Corona light, water, ice-cold Corona,” I was eating, drinking Pellegrino water—he moved along.  Five minutes later a middle-age salesman with salt and pepper hair approached my vicinity.  “Corona, Water, Spring Water,” he shouted.  He found a buyer three feet away, I paused to gaze at the abundant dense grassland.  And once I adapted to the sellers, I scanned through my Atlantic Monthly magazine—read, rested and returned to my Whole Foods’ prepared sandwich.

Hours later, the majestic bright blue sky never changed, except a twinkle of a breeze here and there, I became one with all: couples flying kites, Frisbees players, ping-pong challengers, soccer championships, cyclists on breaks, persons on cell phones, and children laughing—running away from mom and dad.

In the end, I see why thousands of common folks, status folks and folks from foreign countries venture to Central Park to mingle or just be with self.  It’s a $2.25 metrocard fare or free by roaming feet.  Of course, if Sheep Meadow is not your style—easy on over to Le Pain Quotidien.  It is located at the West 67th Street entrance, and you can sit outside while drinking organic draft beer, eat Vegan ice cream or pick-up a pre-package picnic box and walk along to your special spot.  Either way—spring, summer, fall and winter is winsome in Central Park.  Catch it if you can at www.centralparkny.org/visit/things-to-see.com.

Posted in Restaurants, Sheep Meadow, Upper West Side | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

CATCH IT! LILY O’BRIEN’S CHOCOLATE CAFE

Posted on August 11, 2010 by W.D. Moore

LILY O’BRIEN’S CHOCOLATE CAFE: It’s not like dark chocolate is better or milk chocolate is the best, it was Friday at 6:15 p.m. and I needed to rest.  When I am at that point, I want to pamper my bones, so I go to Lily O’Brien’s Chocolate Café at 36 West 40th Street.  I first started with a hot dark chocolate coffee.  On my left were two young sharp suburban girls.  Katelynn was eating Chocolate Noir; her sister, Shannon was enjoying Butter Cream Milk Chocolate.  I asked, “What it is about chocolate, do you think?”  They smiled as I ate my Sticky Toffee.  “It’s a girl thing,” said Shannon.  “Yes,” Katelynn agreed.  “Besides, you can have a little bit, it’s satisfying and you don’t need more.”  Shannon savored her chocolate for a moment.  “It’s cute in more ways than one,” she said.  “It’s not always in our house, which makes it special.  Our mom got us started, she loves chocolate.”

Not fifteen minutes earlier, a father and daughter from The Netherlands came in with friends who live in New York.  Paul directed his party to Lily O’ Briens.  He said, “I recognized the name from Ireland, and I’m delighted to introduce my daughter, Denise, and our friends to a chocolate treat.”

And when they left, I decided to speak to the manager, Artem Rukazenkov and his assistant, Olesya Dillon about my find.  I found out that Lily O’ Brien’s chocolate is 100% Belgian chocolate.  Their café in Bryant Park is the only one in the United States.  It was started by Mary Ann O’Brien in Ireland, and named after her daughter, Lily.  While listening in between, I ordered a Salted Carmel.  “One of our most popular chocolates,” Olesya said.  “Along with White Crème Brũlèe, Chocolate Noir, and of course, Sticky Toffee is really famous in Ireland.  A complimentary chocolate is always served with coffee.”  “In the mornings,” I mentioned, “It’s busy, buzzing with bright faces and no room to sit.”  Suddenly, a burst of chuckles from Artem and Olesya, who divulged, “I know, it’s like two different worlds, but the chocolate remains the same.”

By this time, I thought I could not eat another bite.  In the background played music from the Broadway show, Chicago.  But I started speaking to a couple from France.  They were having espresso and coffee.  I enjoyed vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce on the top.  Simply delicious, I said.  The Madame said, “This café is comforting, cozy, and I love that they give you a chocolate with coffee.”  We chatted longer—sometime later, she and her husband said, au revoir.  I said good night to the team at Lily O Brien’s Chocolate Café.  What’s more?  Catch it if you can at www.lilyscafenyc.com!

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CATCH IT! MOMOFUKU MILK BAR

Posted on August 3, 2010 by W.D. Moore

Momofuku Milk Bar: I’m standing at the light oak counter waiting for my pork bun sandwich to eat.  I have coffee too.  It’s hot so I watch another customer toss hot sauce on his.  I discovered something new: food across the street from the Eye and Ear Infirmary where I am supposed to be.  Momofuku is located at 207 2nd Avenue.  A family of six competes at eating their bun.  The mother quickly grabs another and says, “This is so much fun.”  Moments later, my sandwich comes.  I enjoy every bite of the pork belly, cucumber, hoisin, scallions on a milky cloudy bun.  I agree with the packed customers…for $9.00 you get two mini ones, and it’s worth a trip to the east village.  Catch it if you can at www.momofuku.com.

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