Crafted Thanksgiving Week

This past week, I ventured to New York to visit with my mom for Thanksgiving break. Of course, I was excited for New York’s diverse and delicious food offerings; read on for the three places that stood out to us the most.

On Friday, after spending hours at the David Zwirner Gallery to see its new, very popular Yayoi Kusama show, my mother and I went to The Park (10th Avenue and 18th Street) on our way downtown. It caught us with its tree lit up inside of glass doors, which seemed to come from abandoned countryside factories. The place is large with several spaces and two main rooms, one interior and another called the garden. We preferred the garden with its little round, marbled tables and wooden chairs. Jazz music emanated from the other room, complementing the entire experience.

The menu included mostly Italian-based options like pizza, pasta, salads, meat, and fish. My mother chose the pizza of the day (meatballs and parmesan cheese), and I chose a grilled salmon with fire roasted eggplant, citrus, almonds, and tapioca. The salmon was seared perfectly. The sauce, with its touch of lemon, went well with the vegetables. Nothing was too bitter or too excessive. My meal ended up rather small, but I was surprisingly  full. The prices are reasonable and the setting is perfect for a date, an encounter, or a reunion. I would definitely recommend going, as the restaurant is on the Highline and overlooks the Hudson River.

On Saturday, we went to Friend of a Farmer (77 Irving Place), a place known for brunch. We first went there two years ago, and I immediately fell in love  with its rustic feeling flowery patterns. I hate kitsch, normally, but the place used some of these elements intelligently, such as dark wood and  modern tables and chairs.

The restaurant offers a huge array of omelets (my favorite is the Gramercy , with cheese, broccoli and grilled onions), served in a small frying pan with roasted potatoes, along with salads, pancakes, French toasts and other brunch specials. Although the omelets are extremely appealing, I chose a poached salmon salad. The salmon was served in small pieces topped with a plate of string beans with balsamic vinaigrette and grilled small tomatoes. Some of the drinks were served in mason jars, and we received a complimentary cake topped with apples cooked in cinnamon. My mother ordered the Boomer special, a plate of roasted potatoes, french toast (or pumpkin pancakes), poached eggs and sausage (or ham or bacon).

Next, we went to Soho Café (Prince Street and Lafayette Street), a café with light wooden tables, lights dispersed everywhere, and rock’n’roll tunes. I highly recommend this café for its cozy atmosphere, which gives a different setting from certain other mainstream places.

It was a very salmon- and tea-themed week to say the least, but finding these accidental beauties on the way  helped make a memorable Thanksgiving.

Diane Bayeux