September 27, 2006

There is Such a Thing as a Free Meal

Ted Turner "brought the Big Sky to the Big Apple" today with the opening of the NYC branch of Ted's Montana Grill. And when an invite landed in my inbox about a complimentary pre-launch training dinner, I had to say yes. Helloooo, free steak from Ted's personal stock!

So a quartet of hungry ladies descended on the Time-Life Building last Friday. Having lived off caffeine for most of the day, I easily put away some grilled shrimp, clam chowder, steak , garlic mashed potatoes and and a piece of kahlua brownie under the watchful eye of a mounted bison head, drilling its gaze into my back.

Service was excellent and the food was alright. Nothing mindblowing and the huge portions did put me into a food coma when we left the restaurant two hours later. When one of the waiters encouraged us to be honest about our opinion, we let it rip ("the steak was tender, but really salty," "the smoky flavor of the salmon was just plain weird, almost bitter"). The waiter was appreciative of our comments and commented that these dishes are prepared thusly in Montana, and that other New Yorkers had similar opinions.

Given the location of the restaurant (midtown, smack in between the Rockefeller Center, MOMA and Radio City Music Hall), I'm assuming that the chefs don't need to overly worry about catering to NY tastes, but to the tastes of tourists mobbing that area. Will I be back to plunk $ down for a meal? Not likely. Need better culinary motivation to trek uptown and battle tourists for a table. Salty steak, no matter how tender, is not it (though the chowder and garlic mashed potatoes were delicious).

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September 25, 2006

The Sound of a Ballroom Full of Swooning Women

Haven't done one of these in a while -- concert recap! I've been gigging here and there, but trying something new: not hovering with my camera trying to capture every key moment and just enjoying the moment.

With that said, yes, I did take one shot of my last gig -- a shite shot as the idea of getting camera flash-happy at such an intimate (well, as intimate as Hiro Ballroom gets), low-key gig as last Wednesday's show with Sondre Lerche seemed wrong. To a 70% female and seated (I felt like I was in a wacked-out Japanese elementary school auditorium) audience, Sondre sang some oldies, some stuff from Duper Sessions and some tracks from his next album, the "funny" Phantom Punch (his adjective; some of the audience members started cracking up for whatever reason when he announced the new album title).

Accompanied only by his guitar, I was struck by how amazing his voice is. As I walked through Chelsea after the 90+ minute gig, I remember turning to my friend and gushing about his vocal range. Yes, I was gushing. It was the first time I've seen him live and I was awed. Add a disarmingly charming and comic banter style, I could sense that I wasn't the only babbling audience member.

Highlights:
Human Hands (Elvis Costello cover)
Modern Nature (the audience practically cooed the female duet part back)
Two Way Monologue
Minor Detail

Jury is still out on the Phantom Punch songs he played.

The only negative of the night was the distracting shaka-shaka-clank-crack sounds from the nearby bar. When the only other sound in the joint is from a singer and his guitar, that sounds of ice rattling, bottle opening, glass smaking the bar was really distracting. Hiro, not such a good venue for solo balladeer.

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September 18, 2006

Disappointing Culinary Mo's from the Weekend

Gimme Coffee's Guatemala roast - What happened? You used to be sooo good. My cup of your Guatemala roast didn't have your usual kick, and I drank it black.

Bacalaoito from Atlantic Antic - I took a break from work and dropped by early so I can partake of some greasy fried cod and was given something that looks and tastes like unsweeted funnel cake. Our bacalaoita was missing an important ingredient: cod.

Oh yeah, forgot to report on an awesome culinary moment a few weeks back. Ate at Megu, one of those Japanese mega-restaurants popping up all over the city, on my mom's birthday. Despite my fear of raw foods, our 70% raw dinner was pretty tasty. Though I did feel "I'm going to vomit this slimy fish and alfalfa sprouts up in 10 seconds" once or twice (everything stayed down), I'd go back if only for the theatrical atmosphere (the entire staff hollering greetings at every customer that enters, the big ice buddha in a pool of rose petal-covered water). Oh and only if someone else was paying -- that place is crazy expensive! I could do what a neighboring table of giggly and cash-strapped teenagers did -- just order a few sushi rolls and call it a night.

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September 17, 2006

My Next Stops

I came back from Las Vegas with a major case of wanderlust. So off I go on my next trip in about two weeks -- Prague and Istanbul!

If you have any recommendations of must-visit, unusual, quirky places or things to do in those cities, buzz me. Am particularly interested in checking out the live music scene in those cities (heard interesting things about the hip-hop scene in Istanbul; Crossing the Bridge is next in my Netflix queue). Thanks!

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September 11, 2006

Crazy People Sunday

I am a walking, talking crazy folk magnet. Proof below.

Inside Macy's, morning:
Dishelveled elderly woman with a wire cart smacks me on the arm with an empty coke can, apparently taking offense to the expression on my face as I was chatting on the phone with my mom. Mutters "Why'd you give me that look? Think that I'd steal your purse, huh? You'd probably steal my purse, you!"

R Train heading to Brooklyn, afternoon:
Bloated middle-aged man moans every 15 minutes as if he was having an orgasm, while lying across the orange plastic seats (and looking at me--creepy!).

Starbucks, late morning:
The barista was really nice. Like, too nice. Nice, like made me a free cup of white soy mocha, nice. Used to my monosyllabic, mostly sullen baristas at the one near my work. I think that barista may have put something in that free cuppa.

They rock.

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