A recent trip to NYC led to a fortuitous opportunity to check out Il Matto the night before its NY Times debut review. Chef/owner Matteo Boglione opened the Church Street eatery in TriBeCa in June. Il Matto (or “The Mad Man” in Italian) offers inspired Italian dishes and plenty of disparate design elements to keep you entertained.
Pop Tarts. Those brick-like little pastries that come in a box. The crust is a bit thick and dry and the taste never lives up to the image on the box. But, on my next trip to NYC, I will no doubt visit Pop-Tarts World Cafe, if only to check out the hourly light show that promises to simulate the look of frosting.
Circus aims to bring spectacle to the dining experience by hosting ’surprising and intriguing acts’ throughout the evening, the details of which are under wraps at this time. Performances are dotted around the space, rather than being focused on a single stage. Drinkers and diners can get involved in the performances should they wish – those seated at the wide main table will find their dining space transformed into a stage once they have completed dinner.
To me, the ultimate summer refresher isn’t a dip in the pool but rather a fresh, frothy cocktail over ice. When you get the right combination of flavors and presentation, it not only cools you down, but puts you in instant vacation mode.
I was so excited when the winners were announced for the 2010 Restaurant and Bar Design Awards. I love a good bar, so started to mentally prepare (ie. what would I wear?) to experience the winning design. Then I realized it would be quite a bar hop, as this year’s winner, The Tote was over in Mumbai, India. I had to settle for the virtual experience and a self poured Kettle and soda whilst checking it out.
