I’m back; I went to the gym; I bought a horse; I’m ready to rehash. So much eating!
Wednesday morning, I boarded the Acela with Tatte’s egg and salmon sandwich in hand (I had planned to get something from Hearth & Hug’s soft opening, but the line was around the block, so that will have to wait, and will also have to find its way to the Boston board where both it and I belong.) I did take a look around at Penn Station dining and marveled at the train hall as instructed, but I wasn’t really hungry and wanted to save room for our first dinner, which I’d reserved at the Grand Central Oyster Bar. We ended up sharing most food which was great and I footed the bill for my lucky dining companion with the exception of her drinks, which I thought might raise suspicion. It’s okay; she earned it by living with me through my worst break-up during my 20s in grad school. We shared popcorn shrimp and an order of mussels. I had some cherrystones and littlenecks all to myself, as raw clams were a bridge too far for her but they are right up my alley. Then we split a tuna steak entree which was generously sized, gorgeously seared, and we left quite full.
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Next, we wandered in the direction of our hotel and stumbled upon the Bryant Park winter market which was a lovely diversion and where we bought some chocolates which were passable. I was thrilled to see a Hungarian Chimney Cake stall, which I've only had in Budapest and always since wondered why they aren't more commonly recognized as one of the Great Pastries of the World. Unfortunately, said **Kürtőskalács** was a pale facsimile of its Old World cousin, lacking a turn over a charcoal grill or any real caramelization of the sugars.
To cap off our first night, we were looking for a cocktail and I was drawn like a moth to the flame by the bar decor at Crab House Times Square. In a glitzy gilded marble over-the-top display of opulence, a herd (or is it a flock if they’re airborne??) of six enormous Pegasuses takes flight up and over the bar. This place was a trip, and turned out to be an all-you-can eat seafood situation, with groups tucked away into a labyrinth of private dining rooms. No matter, our drinks were meh but the mythical creature situation and the bartender’s eye-rolling at the rest of the patrons who apparently only come for the free birthday deal, more than made up for it.
Thus concluded my first day, and you’ll have to stay tuned for the next installment as I have about 300 receipts to deal with in order to get reimbursed for this Herculean eating effort.
