Food, Glorious Food

 So far this has been a very different experience to our 2007 trip to New York when we stayed just around the corner from Times Square in West 51st, close to Times Square. This time, we're staying in a more residential area, East 70th between 1st and 2nd  Avenues. Generally, the avenues, which run north to south, are the main one-way thoroughfares and quite commercial. The streets, running east to west, are mainly tree lined residential a, with occasional restaurant and the ubiquitous laundramat and dry cleaners. There is also a nail salon every few blocks - NY women obviously take very good care of their nails!  There is one about two doors away and I had a manicure, pedicure and massage - about $30 - for about 2 and a half hours. It was bliss.

Thursday was very humid.  I did, however, manage to find my way to the Banana Republic store (a favourite of mine) and bought myself a couple of knits. I walked for a few of hours, including through Central Park, noticing the price of bananas in New York, and the continuing police presence,  I met up with Peter

 (after discovering I had walked about ten blocks in the wrong direction - would have helped if I thought to check on the address). We stopped by an Irish pub for a cold drink - NZ sauv blanc. We then walked the 15 blocks (half the size of Armidale blocks) to home before deciding to have dinner at an Italian restaurant which was recommended by Hara. She did it again! It was wonderful. We shared a green leaf, pear, walnut, gorgonzola & bacon salad. Peter declared it the best salad he's eaten and it really was delicious. Followed this with rack of lamb (Peter) and scallopine with mushroom & asparagus (me).

On Friday, Peter left very early to prepare for the last day of his Crucial Conversations program as he was first up for a 15 minute presentation (which went very well). I got caught in the rain while walking downtown (I had to get shelter at Bloomingdale's - very expensive!) I eventually bit the bullet and, although I had an umbrella, my jeans got saturated from above the knees to my feet which were sloshing around in my socks and shoes. It was unbelievable!  After meeting Peter, we caught the subway to Macy's and I bought myself a rain jacket (which I had intended to do before getting to Ireland but didn't think I'd need here).

As it was still raining (lightly), we decided to stay local for dinner. What a good decision that was! we went to the Fatty Fish, which is described as Asian inspired American Food & Sushi Bar see http://www.fattyfishnyc.com/  The food was spectacular. We shared entree - a mixture of delicious morsels, and for main I had flounder cooked 3 ways. The presentation was great, the whole flounder was filleted and then the 3 different styles were presented on the deep fried  head to tail skeleton. Other highlights - the Singaporean waiter who had lived in Australia (and still owns a unit in Bondi which he bought when he was 20) and the two girls from New York sitting at the next table. We got talking, they shared some sake with us  and told us about a tiny restaurant in Chinatown that even a lot of New Yorkers don't know about. They were so lovely and friendly.

It's Saturday morning and we're now off to explore NYC together. Hi this is the SO in this relationship (Silent Other). Have been recommended NY's best second hand bookstore - so I am tracking that down and I believe we are returning to Macys too. But also exploring Greenwich Village which we did in 07 and loved it.
Hey Ho off we go!!!