This soiree in New York was a surprisingly fun one! Magazine parties are notoriously dry and boring, but my friend Manny and I really enjoyed Resident Magazine’s fete celebrating golf expert Ann Liguori, who’s gracing the cover of their latest issue.

A poster of the mag’s cover. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.

The festivities took place at Golf & Body NYC, near Herald Square. Manny and I were delighted to discover this place. It had a “Joe sent me” vibe to it, if Joe was a golfer!

It’s a private indoor facility with golf “simulators,” so New Yorkers can work on their games any time of year, in any weather, and without having to drive out to whatever far-away place has actual golf courses in that area of the world.

So much was going on at this soiree! We mingled, ate, and some of us even swung a few balls. Ann addressed the assemblage at one point, to thank us for coming, and then went around and greeted some of her and Resident Mag’s guests personally. And her bro, Dan Liguori, provided fabulous live music all night.

There were also prizes awarded for various virtual golf competitions, which I really wanted to do but had no time for that night. Here’s a shock—I used to play golf! I was pretty weak, but not as awful as Charles Barkley is! He could use a few sessions, (or a few dozen,) at this place! I first learned the game in high school, when my auxiliary boyfriend was on the golf team, and then when I was doing my TV show, I got forced invited to play in many celebrity charity golf classics. I was always the worst celeb player, by far, but I did have the cutest wardrobe. So there’s that.

A student and instructor in one of the golf simulators. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Speaking of wardrobe, the young girl photog for this event, who was styling with her sideways beret, was just adorbs. She was so polite and non-intrusive, which was a breath of fresh air in that category.

The cheeseburger sliders. Photo by Karen Salkin.

There was also plenty of food all night. In addition to a healthful little buffet of veggies, cheeses, and figs, fabulous tidbits were passed almost continuously. The cheeseburger sliders were the best I’ve ever tasted, and I was also a major fan of the pork dumplings. Manny enjoyed the little mac ’n cheese bites, the tiny chicken nuggets in the cutest teensy waffle cones ever, and the mahi-mahi fish tacos. I wish I had eaten more of all of it, but as were on our way to yet another party in a restaurant right after this one, we held back a bit.

My favorite server, Armand, told me that the caterer was the venue’s own chef, and showed me that there’s a little cafe right adjacent to the golf lounges. I may have to start playing again, just to access that eatery!

Ann Liquori addressing the crowd. Photo by Karen Salkin.

But the most important aspect of the evening, of course, is that we all were there to support Ann. She and I had a lovely chat for awhile before I had to leave for that other function. I loved meeting a fellow female sports-radio personality. I stopped doing that a long while ago, (when I got way too busy with this e-zine for all my other media endeavors,) so I give her lots of credit for continuing in that arena on behalf of all us sports-loving gals!

But I was very surprised by one part of our convo, because I erroneously misspelled Ann’s last name in my head. I asked if she was related to the wonderful Olympics middle distance runner and commentator, Marty Liquori, who’s really famous, and she not only is not related to him, (because the middle of her last name has a “g” where Marty’s has a “q”,) she didn’t know who he is! But shouldn’t all people with a very similar unusual last name, especially in sports, know each other?! Since I now know both of them, (I ran on a team with Marty in the Jimmy Stewart Marathon many moons ago,) I guess I’ll just have to introduce them!

In addition to covering golf, Ann comments on tennis. So if she’s ever met The Stranger I Love Most, Roger Federer, I will either have to shun her, (out of jealousy,) or totally befriend her, (in the hope that she can introduce me as a quid pro quo for getting the Liquori-Liguori clan together!)

Dan Liquori and friend, entertaining the guests. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Ann is also a philanthropist with her own Foundation, which has the very worthwhile mission of raising greatly-needed funds for cancer research.  To that end, next June, (when I will, coincidentally, be in New York again!,) she will host a Charity Golf Classic in the Hamptons.

As a reminder of all the fun we had at this event, the magazines were readily available to us throughout, and as we exited, we each received a copy of a Ann’s golf book. What a perfect way to end a really enjoyable evening!

What a lovely time my friends Sheila and Manny and I had at Russian Samovar in New York City recently. This eatery is a gem that is hidden in plain sight, right in the Theatre District!

The exterior of Russian Samovar. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the big one at the top of this page.

The food was delish, the service impeccable, and the ambiance totally authentic. Sheila pointed-out that last note because of the big number of Russian diners that night. When people from any country flock to a restaurant that serves their native cuisine, you know that it’s being done right! (That’s why I’m an expert on hot dog and pizza places—those are foods native to my Brooklyn!)

Also contributing to the very happy, convivial atmosphere is all the Russian art on the walls, and the piano playing and singing all night by Alexander Isbitzer, who’s there every Monday. (I was told they have “a variety of acts” on other nights. We even saw a dinner guest get up and play for awhile, but you’d have to check with the manager when you go, if the spirit so moves you to perform for a bit. And please remember to tip the musician if you enjoyed his or her tunes!)

Alexander Isbitzer doing the honors at the piano. Photo by Karen Salkin.

And we were lucky enough to have the amiable Maria and Aiym as our servers. They’re both really Russian, so they’re able to explain every nuance of the menu, which they did for us that evening.

Manny joked that there’s “a red room and the green room,” because of the colors of the lampshades—red in the dining room, green in the bar area. Those hues, combined with the soft lighting, make Russian Samovar perfect for the holidays.

The bar area. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Many of you will be happy to know that they’re famous for their infused vodkas, which come in a wide range of interesting flavors, along with their many original cocktails. Sheila had the Baba Yaga, which is made with infused horseradish vodka and apple brandy, and she said, “It has some bite!,” and jokingly added, “It will put hair on your chest.”

Some of the samovars. Photo by Karen Salkin.

The first thing we ate was the black bread, which comes to the table wonderfully warm, with lovely soft butter. Manny commented that it’s “sweet,” while Sheila loved the “great crust.” She said she could have eaten just the bread as her whole meal!

There’s an entire caviar menu here, but none of us are into that, which was actually good because that left room for us to try so many other dishes.

Prawn and avacoda salad. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Several of the Signature Salads are creative. We decided to go for the most interesting one–the Prawn and Avocado, which also features mango. Sheila said it was “very refreshing,” and that the mango was “a nice surprise.” And the presentation made it even more exotic—it appears as a tall mound of green and yellow, just like my favorite twirl of frozen custard in Coney Island!

We tried two hot appetizers, both with potatoes, and lucked-out because, as Manny said, (and Sheila and I whole-heartedly agree with,) all the potatoes here are amazing! And he’s never deemed anything better than just “good” before in his whole life! He jumped all the way to “amazing” for Russian Samovar’s food!!! Wow. Will wonders never cease?

Potato pancakes. Photo by Karen Salkin.

The vegan Vareniki is pan-fried potato dumplings with mushrooms and onions, which Sheila said “excited the gustatory pallet.” We also tried the Deruny, which is a duo of giant pan-fried potato pancakes, and are just the perfect crispness for me. They come with a side of sour cream that’s presented in a gravy boat, so it looks more special than the usual “dollop” that accompanies latkes at other eateries.

Then we moved on to the entrees. Sheila had the Grilled Atlantic Salmon, which she said was “cooked perfectly” and was “delicate and very good.” I had the Chicken Kiev, which comes with the bone in. It was delish, and the creamy mashed potatoes were the perfect complement to it.

The lamb chops. Photo by Karen Salkin.

This next one really surprised me because Manny is just a basic eater, but here he was happy to try the Karski, which is grilled marinated double cuts of lamb in Georgian spices. And…he said it was fabulous! It came in a presentation of three baby chops with a spicy sauce on the side. And, as were the rest of the spuds at Russian Samovar, the home fries accompanying it were out of this world! Manny actually said this is the perfect meal for a meat-and-potatoes guy. I would have not thought of that myself because the dish is so upscale.

We were totally full by then, but just for you guys, we tried a few of the interesting desserts, many of which I’ve never seen anywhere before, such as the Medovik, a layered honey cake. But our favorite was the homemade Napoleon. Manny was a fan of its very light, flaky crust, while Sheila loved the combo of that with the vanilla cream filling. I just managed to say, “Yum!”

The restaurant’s eponymous tea. Photo by Karen Salkin.

One of the most interesting aspects of the whole meal is the Russian Samovar Tea, which is served with whole cherry preserves and lemon. Sheila loved every aspect of it, especially the beautiful way in which it’s presented on a tray with all the components separate on it.

On top of all that, Russian Samovar has an amazing history! You should really read about all of it on their informative website, but here are the two tidbits that I find most fascinating: One is that this restaurant is the original site of Jilly’s, where Frank Sinatra and The Rat Pack hung-out all the time! And the other is that the incredible Mikhail Baryshnikov is one of the current owners! I can just see him jete-ing through the dining room to the strains of Ochi Chernye playing on the piano! And I’ll join him for a spirited pas de deux next time I’m in town.

Russian Samovar 256 W. 52nd Street  NYC  212-757-0168  www.russiansamovar.com

I attended the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame Gala in 2016, and had such a good time, (mainly because I finally got to meet my favorite broadcaster, Charles Barkley,) that I was thrilled to be invited back every year since. And disappointed that I had no time to make it back to the East Coast until now.

So I was happy that, once again, this fabulous event coincided with my very recent Fall trip to the Big Apple!

The cocktail party assemblage. Photo by Karen Salkin.

The event was a bit different this time, and perhaps even more beautiful. It was held in a new venue to me, the Ziegfeld Ballroom, which is right in the heart of the Theatre District, which was perfect for me, because—here’s a shock—I was once again overbooked; I was reviewing the incredible Broadway musical, Tootsie, that same night. (In case you missed it, here’s my review of Tootsie, which is, very sadly, closing soon: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/theatre-tootsie.) So the new location of the gala made the entire evening really convenient for me. (Even though, as the title of this e-zine states, it’s not about me.)

Deborah Norville. Photo by Karen Salkin.

So just who is it about, you may ask? The answer is the over two dozen people in the broadcasting industry who were inducted into the 2019 Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame that night. And I’m glad to report that most were not famous, (except to probably others in their line of work.)

The most known of the honorees at this the Twenty-ninth Anniversary Gala was Meredith Vieira, along with the correspondents on Dateline, which I admit that I do watch on occasion, (usually when I need reminding of just how wonderful my own life is!) Most of the others were Presidents and CEOs of networks and studios. Of special interest is that one of the hosts of the evening was Deborah Norville, who had been inducted herself the last time I attended it in 2016! So she’s come full circle with the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame! I like that symmetry.

Kerry Washington. Photo by Sheila Tracy, as is the one at the top of this page.

As we were leaving, we saw Dateline’s Keith Morrison (who is much taller than we expected) get off the elevator, and he gave us a big smile when he heard my associate mention his name. That was good to see. I’m just glad he didn’t grill us!

And everyone seemed delighted that the uber-thin Kerry Washington was there, as well. I kept hearing people gush about how beautiful she is.

Since, as I already alluded to, I was triple-booked that night, (what else is new, right?,) we were able to be there for only the cocktail portion of the evening, which was served in the upstairs bar area, overlooking the stunning ballroom where the actual dinner took place. But that was gratifying enough for us.

And the hors d’oeuvres were phenomenal! I have no idea how anyone still ate a full dinner after even just a few of those tasty treats! There were tiny tidbits of short rib; mango sushi, (which was fun because I don’t eat raw fish, so I rarely get to try any sushi); mini lobster rolls; lamb chops with a pretzel stick as the bone—how adorbs; crab cakes; gorgeous caviar on a champagne cloud; and my fave, (on both levels,) the cleverly-named “Fig in a Blanket,” which contained a fig in place of the usual mini hot dog!

There were also containers of potato chips and hollowed-out chick peas on the bar, with little bamboo dishes to put the snacks into instead of a gauche napkin or, even more gauche, your hand. (Though I did spy a few nescients doing the latter.)

The classy bar snacks. Photo by Karen Salkin.

All the while we were entertained by lovely non-intrusive music provided by a live strings trio.

And here’s more good news—just about every member of the assemblage was appropriately dressed-up and looking marvelous, like the glitterati in a grand movie. Even on a very rainy evening. You know I loved seeing that.

The constantly-in-motion musicians. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I say this next part with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, but I know that some of you have been waiting since 2016 for me to discuss this, so here goes: To those fans of my former Los Angeles cable television show who read my write-up of this Gala three years ago, and wrote to ask me (I’m sure jokingly, although I appreciate the love) if I’ll ever be inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, (since I fit both the “broadcasting” and “cable” requirements,) I say do not hold your breath. Even though Karen’s Restaurant Revue is often referred to as “the original reality show,” most New York peeps are not even aware of it. I have a feeling I won’t ever be recognized for it again, except posthumously, so, knock on wood, that’s too many years away to even think about now. (And achieving my lifelong dream of being on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson multiple times is career recognition enough to last a lifetime! I don’t ever need anything else.) I’m just thankful to be included among the beautiful people when I’m in Gotham.

More of the guests, with inductee Byron Allen in the center. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Now that that nonsense is out of the way, let me earnestly congratulate both the inductees and the people who put together this exquisite event, which was one of the best celebrations I’ve ever witnessed. I just hope to be in New York again for their 2020 rendition!

Okay, now you know what went on at the 2019 Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame Gala. But if you’re still curious, you can find the full roster of inductees right here: www.broadcastingcable.com/news/b-c-names-29th-annual-hall-of-fame-class.

My friends and I made a wonderful eatery discovery in the West Village recently. Seabird had been recommended to me, but since only one of our trio eats seafood, we were a tad concerned about what fare we would find there. But we needn’t have been–it’s a very easy simple menu with something for everyone.

Shrimp Tacos. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.

So let’s get right to discussing the delicious food, with the other particulars to follow.

The only appetizer we tried is the Shrimp Tacos, but let me tell you—that was just about the best thing I ate in New York in my entire two-plus weeks there! Sheila pointed-out that the shrimp themselves were so tasty because they were bigger shrimp cut into smaller pieces, as opposed to baby shrimp which don’t taste as good as big ones. And the tacos were topped with avocado slices. The dish came with a little zesty side salad on the plate, and Manny said he loved the cherry tomatoes on it.

Scallops. Photo by Karen Salkin.

We tried entrées in three different categories. Sheila, my biggest seafood expert, went with the Pan-Seared Scallops, the beautiful presentation of which we both appreciated. She said the scallops themselves were “large, meaty, tender, and well-seasoned.” And the dish also featured asparagus and tri-colored roasted cauliflower, with a garnish of baby spinach.

Photo by Karen Salkin.

My meat eater, Manny, went with the House Burger, which is a high-quality beef blend of brisket and short rib. I took one little bite myself, and can attest to his assessment that it was “deliciously tasty.” He added that the burger itself was “plump and ample,” and we all noted how nice and tall it was, with a crisp bun. But the star of that dish is the incredible homemade french fries that accompanies the burger. All three of us went nuts over them! (Just make sure to request them a little well-done because we were falling all over each other to get the next one for ourselves.)

Photo by Karen Salkin.

Since I’m really not supposed to eat meat anymore, and I don’t eat most fish, I went with the Homemade Mushroom Ricotta Ravioli that comes in a brown butter sage sauce. Not only was it yummy, but so filling that I couldn’t even eat more than one of the quintet of raviolis on the plate! (But no worries—Sheila and I went to town on the leftovers the next day.) It’s an excellent choice for your vegetarian pals who want to go out with you, but don’t eat meat or fish.

Kale and Farro Salad. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Or they could just go with one of the two salads on the menu, which we all agreed is a meal unto itself. We tried the Kale and Farro Salad, which turned-out to be Sheila’s favorite dish of the night. She said that having the kale cut so small makes it taste even better. It comes with roasted butternut squash, cherry tomatoes, and a very generous helping of avocado. Sheila said, “The sweetness of the squash contrasted with the kale beautifully.”

I was shocked to see that Manny, who didn’t even want to try even a bite of the salad to begin with, kept going back for more! He explained that he was very impressed that the dressing was so light. He said that the reason he doesn’t usually like salads in restaurants is because the dressing usually overwhelms them, which was definitely not the case at Seabird.

Chocolate cake. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Then came my favorite part of the meal. There’s a lovely simple dessert menu with just five basic items, and we were unanimous in our desire for the Chocolate Cake. It was actually a beautiful little delicate spongy cake; I could have eaten a whole one myself because it wasn’t one of those heavy wear-you-down make-you-sick desserts. It was actually perfect. And the vanilla ice cream on top with a garnish of raspberry coulis and fresh berries was the proverbial icing on the cake.

As to the atmosphere, I loved the British feel to Seabird. It’s very cozy. The entire time we were there I was picturing a whole story of living in the neighborhood and coming out in the snow and walking around the corner to this comfy neighborhood restaurant, and sitting at the bar for a drink and oysters. (I don’t drink nor eat oysters, but I’m trying to portray the romance of the situation.)

Photo by Karen Salkin.

Sheila appreciated the “nice thick walnut tables” and the old sepia photos of New York on the walls. And our server, Marcela, made our time there run smoothly.

Seabird is in a very bustling area of the West Village, right on a corner, with easy public transportation to get there, and plenty of parking spaces on the street if you drive down there, as we did. And it’s right along the Halloween parade route, which is good to keep in mind for next year!

If you’re in New York and visit Seabird, make sure to ask for Elizabeth, the charming British owner. She loves to engage with her customers, which makes the experience even more special.

Seabird 361 6th Avenue in the West Village New York City 212-414-9500 www.seabirdny.com

For the first time in my entire life, I haven’t set foot in New York for…three whole years! I moved out to Los Angeles as a teen-ager, but as my parents were lifelong Brooklynites, I went back home at least twice a year. And then from 1999 (when my father died,) until 2014, (when I finally gave up my childhood home that I cleared out for three years after my little mo became an angel,) I was basically bi-coastal; I went back and forth constantly.

View of Columbus Circle from the Mandarin Oriental. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.

So after that, without having the comfort of my own house and car there, I stopped going to the Big Apple. I did pay one three-week visit three years ago, and, shockingly, had the time of my life! I had dreaded that trip, but it worked-out better than I could have ever hoped. To this day, I can still tell you what I did every day and night on that trip—it was that special.

And then…I haven’t had time to go back there since! Until today, that is!

On the way to the Brooklyn Bridge in the rain. Photo by Karen Salkin.

So, wish me luck! Even though everyone thinks of me as the most confident person, I do get a tad nervous when I’m sort-of at the mercy of others. And in such a gigantic city where I have so many fewer pals and business contacts than I do at home.

I am planning on having lots of big city adventures, though, so keep checking this e-zine for those tales. I intend to review restaurants, parties, plays, and anything fun, in general. (But first, I still have a few Los Angeles events to tell you about this week.)

Photo by Karen Salkin.

I want to thank a few of my east coast peeps in advance, including my thankfully easy-going host Manny, my friend Lauren who looks-out for me like a sister, and Sheila, my most fun friend who’s more on my wavelength than just about anybody else I’ve ever known!

I’m ready for New York City now—I just hope that it’s ready for me!

As I was recently leaving one of the fabulous New York City events to which I was privileged to be invited, and walking down Madison Avenue, I looked up and noticed the Angelo David Salon! That has always been the only place in Manhattan where I’ve had my hair done, but, since I had been out of town for so long, I didn’t realize that they had moved from their previous Grand Central Station neighborhood! I’m thrilled that they did because I found that area so hard to get to, but this place is the opposite.

The interior of the Angelo David Salon.

Even though I was totally time-constrained in New York, I knew right away that I had to make time to pay a visit to this new salon of Angelo’s; besides wanting to check the place out, in general, I also wanted to have my hair and nails refreshed before I went back to Los Angeles. And I’m so glad that I did!

Not only is this a very convenient location, no matter where you’re headquartered in the city, but the interior of the salon is even better than before, too. The view of Madison Avenue is great! I felt like I was having my hair done in a movie!

The waiting area. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I was happy to see that the Angelo David Salon is still staffed by such professional yet personable personnel. Some were new to me, and some old pals. They all contributed to the all-around pleasant experience.

As I exited the elevator on their second floor space, the first thing I noticed is the pretty product display. There was a great assortment, of only the best. I was proud to see so many that I already use!

I ran into Angelo himself right away. That man never ages! He’s also the most honest person in the hair business that I’ve ever met! As soon as he greeted me, he told me that my hair “looks great!” How many other salon owners do that?! They usually try to knock you down, so that you feel like you need them. Angelo’s secure enough to know that his clients all choose them!

One of the private rooms. Photo by Karen Salkin.

He’s also someone who is known to help so many clients counter their hair loss, (which there are several private rooms for.) But, when I showed him how my new stroke meds are negatively affecting my follicles, (in my opinion,) he told me to stop worrying, and declared, “You have an amazing head of hair!” I was floored—I have never encountered such good honesty in the entire beauty business before! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that attitude.

After assistant Nyla Aldridge set me up, (including with a beverage and snacks, which you know I loved,) I met my stylist, Dion Moore, who had the same kind honesty as Angelo. Dion had recently done the hair of a close friend of mine, and she had sung his praises to me, so I knew I was in great hands. He not only came up with the perfect color in a nano-second, but he also did a gloss and a protein treatment, for a little extra gorgeousness. I have good tresses to begin with, (knock on wood—and everything else I can find,) but I swear—my locks never felt so good! I could not keep my hands out of my own hair!!!

The finished product! Karen Salkin, (with her back to us, to show off her new fabulous blunt cut,) flanked by stylist Dion Moore and assistant Nyla Aldridge. Photo by Helen Rothwax.

Then Dion cut about four inches off my waist-length hair! But, somehow, he made it still look pretty long. And healthy! He did a very hip blunt cut. It’s been five weeks now, and I’m still getting compliments on it! I can’t believe he cut it so that it still holds that shape for so long. I have no idea how he did it, but that man is a whiz! (By the way, my color is hanging in there, as well.)

I was in a major time crunch from luxuriating for so long, so Dion and Nyla each grabbed a blow-dryer, and double-teamed my wet mane, to get it all dry and styled in the shortest time possible, which I sooo appreciated! And, of course, I walked out of there looking fabulous.

The classier version of Halloween nails that Marjanna did on Karen Salkin. Photo by Helen Rothwax.

One of the biggest perks of this salon is the manicures.  Besides that lovely long-time nail tech Marjanna Kryekurti does a gorgeous job, and is uber-pleasant while doing so, she can do nails on the fly.  As I said above, I was in a time crunch that day, so she started my mani at her station, continued it while make-up artist Alma Sadeghi shaped my brows, and finished the shiny nails while my head was in the sink being shampooed! What luxury! Even though she usually does classy nails, she didn’t mind painting mine orange and black for Halloween. But she gently suggested that we change my design from all black, with one orange accent nail, to the other way around, which was so much less cartoonish. I was happy with that better color scheme because I had to fly home the day after Halloween, so there was no need to look like a clown for that!

My entire time at the Angelo David Salon was wonderful. I loved everything about it! I just don’t know which was better—the pampering I received there or the compliments I’m still getting on my new look! So, I’ll just have to call it a tie, and look forward to my next visit there to break it.

420 Madison Avenue  New York  646-741-3624  www.angelodavid.com

This is the restaurant I was the most looking forward to for this entire trip!  I love an eatery with a special little twist to it, and this Charlie Palmer offering has a few.  First of all, I’m a fan of his former place, River Cafe in Brooklyn, and of Aureole, a current one of his.  Secondly, it’s located on the fourteenth floor (hence the moniker, Upper Story,) of the beautiful historic D&DB (Decorations and Design Building) which is open exclusively to design professionals.  Thirdly, they serve lunch only.  And lastly, at night, it’s a party space.

Asian Chopped Salad. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I’m sorry I missed the parties while I was in town, but I enjoyed the lunch that Lauren and I had in the mirrored and naturally-lit room, which featured impressive views of the city.

I have to tell you right now–this was one of the most delicious meals, from top to bottom, that I’ve had in a long while. We began with the Asian Chopped Salad, which was made-up of romaine, red cabbage, carrots, jicama, red peppers, cucumbers, chicken, and crispy wontons, topped with a peanut vinaigrette, which made it even more interesting. It was delicious, and the perfect choice for health-conscious peeps such as us. Lauren said that she “loved the crunch of the crispy wonton noodles, and the sweet chomp of red bell peppers, which went so well with the peanut vinaigrette.”

Southwestern Chicken Spring Rolls. Photo by Lauren Bennett, as is the big pic at the top of the page.

Then we moved on to the surprisingly scrumptious Southwestern Chicken Spring Rolls, which Lauren declared a “major yum!”  She really enjoyed the “succulent chicken pieces,” and that the rolls were “laced with chipotle chili spices.” I gobbled them too fast to even analyze any further, other than to notice that they were very crispy on the outside, (a texture I adore,) and uber-flavorful.

Everything was beautifully presented on the plate, none moreso than the entrees. Lauren’s choice was the Scottish Salmon. It was accompanied by wheat berries with charred scallions, and roasted artichokes. She noted that the salmon itself was “perfectly cooked,” which she’s (rightfully) a stickler about. She most notably appreciated the “delish sour yuzu emulsion that was drizzled over the hearty wheat berries.”

Panko Crusted Chicken Breast. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I was thrilled with my choice of the Panko Crusted Chicken Breast, which came atop a very thin layer of sweet potato purée, and lots of ratatouille. I begrudgingly offered Lauren a couple of bites of it, and she declared it to “melt in your mouth,” and be “a winner!” I thought it was downright delicious, especially due to the crunchy panko bread crumb coating on the chicken. It’s a special dish, one that you don’t often find at lunch time. And it was unbelievably filling! I could have eaten just this one entree, and been totally sated and happy.

Scottish Salmon. Photo by Lauren Bennett.

Although the menu is pretty limited, it does have something for everyone. In addition to the three “Mains,” there are plenty of salads and sandwiches. Who needs more than that at lunchtime?! And there’s a very interesting, lovely “Side”—a reasonably-priced half avocado! I was curious about it, (and I’m supposed to eat avocado for my health regime, but rarely remember to do so,) so, even though we were totally satisfied with everything else we tried, we just had to order the avocado, as well. It arrived prettily sliced, and when we asked if it comes with any dressing, (since seriously, we had never seen it on a menu before,) our obliging server, Yiani, suggested just oil and vinegar. So, that’s what we did, and it was perfect. What a simple surprise. I agreed with Lauren’s assessment that it’s “the perfect healthful side option.”

The view of the city from the terrace! Photo by Karen Salkin.

Upper Story’s only dessert is warm chocolate chip cookies, (which I believe are complimentary,) and Lauren deemed them “sinfully good!” I could have eaten a dozen of them—they were that delish.

We were there in late October, so, of course, we sat inside, but I have a feeling that it’s super-fun to sit outside in good weather. Yiani showed us around the entire space, including the view from the terrace, and, I swear, it felt like we were in a movie out there!

So, you know I’ll be returning on my Spring trip. And where to find me on the premises!

979 3rd Avenue  New York   212-644-9394   www.upperstoryny.com

On the last week-end of my recent New York trip, I went to dinner at the Morningside Heights Mexican restaurant, Amigos, so it was only appropriate that I bring mi amigo, Manuel, con mi.  (It’s really just “Manny,” but I like to get into the spirit.)

Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the big one at the top of the page.

It turned-out to be my favorite meal that I had in those entire three weeks on the east coast! And it was a really fun time, too, especially because it was the week-end before Halloween.  Manny erroneously assumed the Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead, for you gringos out there) decorations were for that time of year, but I knew otherwise; they’re up all the time because…it’s a Mexican restaurant! (I think Manny needs to get out more, don’t you?) We enjoyed all of the funky décor; there was so much to look at!

The casual, laid-back atmosphere, and our uber-pleasant server, Paulie, combined to make our visit a wonderful one.  We lingered much longer than just the amount of time we spent consuming their delicious food!

I really appreciated that most of the dishes have the ingredients listed right on the menu. No mysteries there. That way, if you want something left off, like sour cream, let’s say, it’s done before it comes to the table and surprises you. Good job, Amigos!

The pineapple and pomegranate guacamole. Photo by Karen Salkin.

So let’s get to what we ate already! Manny started-off his repast by drinking the tasty sangria, which was chockfull of fruit, and came in an interesting vessel. What a cute presentation.

I had already tried their famous guacamole the week before at AG Kitchen, their sister restaurant on Columbus Avenue, (my review of which you can read here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/new-yorkdining-ag-kitchen,) and I couldn’t wait to have it again.  Since Manny doesn’t eat it, (and I’m not a food hog,) I had to forego having the trio of flavors they offer, so I went with my favorite one, the pineapple and pomegranate, and I loved it as much as I did at AG.

Potato and cheese flautas. Photo by Karen Salkin.

Next up for us were the potato and cheese flautas with tomatillo salsa. I had never even seen this dish anywhere else, and was very happy with it. Manny was unfamiliar with it, as well, and exclaimed, “It’s like a blintz!”  He added that “they combined that soft texture with a crispy outside,” and he really enjoyed the results.

Then we tried what Manny deemed the “phenomenal” chicken tortilla soup. If we lived near-by, I think we would both stop into Amigos on a daily basis just to have that soup! It was truly OMG! Manny said, “It wasn’t too salty, or sweet, or spicy, or plain—it was just right!” That’s an assessment I (and Goldilocks) wholeheartedly agree with.

The colorful choppped salad. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I ordered the chopped salad as my appetizer, but it was gigantic! It was seriously enough for four people. It was a fabulous mix of grilled corn, roasted peppers, beans, chayote, and queso oaxaca and was topped with crispy tortillas strips and lime vinaigrette. It’s the perfect healthful meal, which I was heavily in need of, at that point in my travels.

We then moved on to the entrees. Manny ordered the hangar steak which he said was “wonderful!” He was really a fan of the flavoring, and added that he loved that “they cut the steak up for you.” It comes with very seasoned (read “spicy,” for us wimps,) potatoes. The staff was very pleasant about substituting plain ones for us, which we appreciated, and we both loved them like that. Both ways were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Manny pointed-out that they were also “good size chunks.”

Arroz con pollo. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I chose a surprisingly scrumptious entree. The arroz con pollo was perfect! It was exactly my kind of meal. They do it as strips of chicken breast mixed into saffron rice and…peas. My favorites!!! (Up until Amigos, my rice with chicken has always come with the obligatory Mexican beans and red-ish sauce, so I could not have been more delighted with this combo!) [Note: The menu also lists tomatoes for this dish, but mine didn’t have any. I was in such heaven eating it that I neglected to get to the bottom of that discrepancy. Sorry.]

The hanger steak churrascaria. (I’m assuming that that designation explains why it’s served already sliced!) Photo by Karen Salkin.

Five interesting types of tacos are featured, and they come in an order of three, with rice and beans. I really wanted to try the slow-cooked pork carnitas with grilled pineapple & avocado salsa, but I was already totally stuffed at that point, so kind Paulie got me just one. And it was as yummy as it sounds! It will be a conundrum the next time I’m there as to whether to order the arroz con pollo or the pork tacos. Or just soup and guacamole. I rarely have that many dishes that I want to eat again!

The clever dessert menu! Photo by Karen Salkin.

When we were done with all that, Paulie came over with something that looked like a colorful fan in his hands.  It appeared to be made out of paint sticks that were attached on one end, and each one was colored for parts of the Mexican flag  It turned-out that it was the dessert menu! Each stick featured the name of one of their desserts, which Paulie then described for us.  Very clever presentation.

We were more than happy with our two choices, Oaxaca churros and Mexican rice pudding.  They were both delish, especially the churros, which come with chocolate dipping sauce. And by the way—I detest churros, in general!!!

The churros with chocolate sauce. YUM! Photo by Karen Salkin.

Amigos is also known for their lunch specials, which is great for all the college kids near-by. (It’s in close proximity to Columbia and Barnard.) So, between Chef Alex Garcia’s delicious food, fun atmosphere, great personnel, (led by manager Seth ,) easy street parking, and very affordable prices, you know that I will be back next time I’m in NY. I hope to see you all there! (Their colorful website, below, will give you another portent of what’s to come.)

2888 Broadway  New York  212-864-1143  www.amigosnyc.com

I came back to Los Angeles last week, to be here for tomorrow’s major endeavor.  I needed to make sure I was back in time to vote…for Hillary, of course!

On the plane, heading back to LA. Photo by Karen Salkin.

But, before I go back to sharing the tales of my glamorous LA life, I still have over another week of East Coast stories to go!

If you guys think I’m on the go here in LA, you’ve never seen anything like my schedule in New York for those three weeks.  I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’m me!

While in the Big Apple and environs, I reviewed six restaurants, a bunch of parties, two musicals, three screenings, and a partridge in a pear tree, (which was lovely, by the way.)  And a hair salon and an out-of-town bed-and-breakfast, as well!  I spent time not only in Manhattan, (more than I ever had before in my whole life, actually,) but also Brooklyn; Greenwich, Connecticut; New Hope, Pennsylvania; Lambertville, New Jersey; and Danbury, Connecticut.  In three weeks!!!  In that span of time in Los Angeles, I often spend the majority of it in my house! (I know you’re surprised by that fact, but after I live all the events, I need time to write about them! Unfortunately, my thoughts on what I’m doing don’t just get magically transferred to the page from my brain, complete with images!)

Just one of my over 2,500 images of NY in those three weeks. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I seriously don’t know how I did it there.  You need to have lots of stamina, and be in uber- great shape, to live in, or even just hang-out in, New York City!  A majority of the residents look really worn-down, but you just know that they have to be more physically fit than we car-riding West Coast folks are.  I ate like a garbage truck for those three weeks, but didn’t gain even one ounce of weight.  I couldn’t figure that out until I realized how much I walked in that city.  And how much stuff I schlepped there, too!  You have to bring all your possessions with you every time you leave the house, because you never know what you’ll need to get through the day.  Each morning, you have to pack as though you’re going on  a day trip, which you virtually are!  (I often left my headquarters by 10AM, and did not make it back there until midnight!)  In LA, your life is in your car.  I barely even carry a purse here!

So anyway, keep an eye out for the rest of my New York reviews that are yet to be published, especially if you live out that way, or are planning to visit that fair city in the near future. (Or ever, actually. Most everything I’ve been writing about will be there forever!) Mixed in will be some of my new LA reports, and by Thanksgiving, we should be back to all-LA all the time.

Please vote for Hillary Clinton today! If you care about America at all, you know it’s the right thing to do!

Until April, that is. I had such a wonderful month in NY this trip that I vowed to not wait another two-and-a-half years to return!

And for today, I beg everyone reading this in America to get out there and vote for Hillary! This time, it’s really not about me—it’s about the safety and the good and the future of this country. If (God forbid, bite my tongue) the Presidential election does not go the right way, the rest of my reviews from here on out may just be coming to you from Canada!!!

The porch area. Photo courtesy of AG Kitchen, as is the big one at the top.

This is such a fun eatery, especially with a group. (And not just because of the happening atmosphere, but also to eat more of the delicious Mexican-American food!) I went late one night recently, after a screening, with two of my best eaters, Sharon and Sheila, and we had a blast. We actually had such a good time that we wound-up closing down the place for the night! (We were there so long that the uber-pleasant Kevin had to take over for our original waiter, Chris, and I’m happy to say that we lucked-out with both of them.)

We considered sitting on the covered patio, where Gerardo makes their famous guacamole table-side, but we opted instead for a booth in the back, so that we could also keep an eye on the baseball play-off game that was on the TVs in the bar. We took all of the menu suggestions of Joshua, the cute manager, and came up with a winner meal.

Guacomole Trio. Photo by Karen Salkin.

We started off with the Guacamole Trio. And if we had not eaten even one more bite of anything else that night, we still would have been thrilled with our meal! The three flavors are the classic, a papaya and mint, and a pineapple and pomegranate that I could eat every night of my life. We appreciated that the menu gave us the choice of mild, medium, or spicy. And that they didn’t make fun of me for choosing mild. And that it comes with really crispy corn chips. Sheila said all of the guacamoles were “very refreshing,” and Sharon pointed-out that each flavor was a “generous portion.” Even though I don’t drink, I knew right away that the guac and a margarita at AG kitchen would always make for a great night. We all agreed that we would come back just for this one – no matter how the rest of the food was.

Baby Arugula Salad. (That’s the cheese on the side, as I asked for.) Photo by Karen Salkin.

But, happily for everyone concerned, the rest of the fare was fabulous, as well. We moved on to the Baby Arugula Salad, which comes with super-tasty candied pecans and a mint vinaigrette dressing, along with a surprise of dried cherries. Sharon said that the mint and arugula were a wonderful combination, and I went nuts for the nuts!

At Joshua’s suggestion, the girls tried the bacon-wrapped dates appetizer, that comes with endive and blue cheese. Sharon commented that she loved “the juxtaposition of the crispy bacon on the outside and the creamy warm baked dates on the inside.” And Sheila said it was a “sweet and salty delight.”

Rum-Glazed Jumbo Shrimp. Photo by Karen Salkin.

For my entree, I went with one of their signature dishes, the Brazilian-style Samba Chicken, which is marinated for twenty-four hours. It comes with two sauces—a honey glaze and a spicy mojo–contained in special little spaces on the compartmented plate, and they were both equally delicious. But the chicken itself was so flavorful that I really didn’t even need sauce for it. It also comes with a choice of sides, which I’ll get to in a second.

The girls shared two “Dinner Favorites,” with great success. First up was the 1940 Rum-Glazed Jumbo Shrimp, which I couldn’t get a comment about from them because they were so busy enjoying it! At one point, I queried, “Do you guys like it?!” Sharon answered with a resounding, “We sure do!!!”

They also shared Chef Garcia’s Seafood Paella, which Sheila said had “the most beautiful presentation,” an assessment I wholeheartedly agreed with, even though I didn’t try it myself. (I don’t eat seafood.)

Seafood Paella. Photo by Sharon Lieberman.

They admired that it was “chockfull” of crab claws, lobster, shrimp, clams, mussels, chicken, and chorizo, and came with a “flavorful, creamy sauce” over the saffron rice. Sheila, the New Englander of our trio, was very impressed with the “ample seafood.” You can order it as a single, or for two people. They ordered it “para uno” (which I hope you all know means “for one,”) but I swear, it was enough for four people!

AG Kitchen’s side dishes are in the categories of “Veggies” and “Starches,” which is clever. I got to choose one with my chicken, but we also ordered two more, so we could share all three. Since I am on a limited diet these days, I was thrilled that they had not only sautéed green beans, but also grilled asparagus. Both of them came topped with tomatoes and garlic, and are perfect healthful choices. The girls went nuts, I mean absolutely bonkers, over the Hollywood Fries, which are crispy, crunchy French fries topped with parmesan, parsley, and sea salt. I’ve actually never seen an order of French fries go as fast as these did!

A customer viewing the dessert “menu.” Photo by Sharon Lieberman.

We were fully stuffed and happy by then, but when Kevin showed us the adorable dessert “menu,” we loved it so much, we just had to try a couple. This is why “menu” is in quotes—the presentation of it is…individual View-Masters! We each got a viewer, and perused the dessert choices at our own pace. We had so much fun going back and forth with the pictures and descriptions; all three of us were practically squealing like children on Christmas!

We ordered the desserts really just because of the fun we were having discovering them that way, but we were all very pleasantly surprised by just how delicious they were! We chose two to share, and they are both unique, inventive, and positively yummy!!!

Banana Mania. Photo by Karen Salkin.

The Banana Mania is bananas (duh!) with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, and whipped cream, but is so much more delicious than it even sounds. The Chocolate Empanadas are a half dozen warm bite-sized empanadas filled with chocolate, and topped with whipped cream. I could eat those every night!

Seriously, if I lived in the neighborhood, I would go to AG Kitchen several times a week, just for this dessert, preceded by the guacamole. That is a must-have duo. (Thank goodness for my waistline that I live across the country from it!)

I’m also a fan of the Columbus Avenue location of AG Kitchen, which is so easily accessible by every method in New York City. The parking is soooo easy there, especially at night. Between that ease; the lovely, knowledgable, and enthusiastic staff; the atmosphere of fun; and especially the food, this place is a win-win-win!

269 Columbus Avenue  New York  212-873-9400  www.agkitchen.com