Le Cirque - A Truly Unparalleled Dining Experience!

In Manhattan for a couple of days, we finally got around do dining at what is possibly New York's most renowned restaurant - Le Cirque.
Fortunately, our tariff was only a fraction of what it might have been since we enjoyed Le Cirque during New York Restaurant Week (actually three weeks this year) and we experienced a marvelous three-course meal.
Le Cirque has certainly earned its prestigious status.
In 1974, Italian Sirio Maccione opened what was destined to become a New York landmark – Le Cirque, which literally translates as “the circus” in French, at the Mayfair Hotel. In 1997, Le Cirque outgrew its original location and relocated to a larger space in the New York Palace Hotel under the name Le Cirque 2000. By 2004, Le Cirque was an established New York City landmark and decided to move to the prestigious Bloomberg Building on East 58th Street and finally opened its doors in May of 2006.
It was here, in this dramatic setting that we were introduced to Le Cirque.
Although over the years, monkeys, circus balls and tent shades have become symbolic representations of the restaurant, but Le Cirque’s most recognizable feature is Sirio Maccioni himself. Staying very much a family-owned business, all three of Sirio’s sons-- Mario, Marco and Mauro-- followed in their father’s footsteps and can be seen working at Le Cirque’s flagship and its other locations and sister restaurants. .
Le Cirque and Sirio Maccioni have helped launch the careers of many illustrious chefs – Daniel Boulud, David Bouley, Terrance Brennan, Alain Sailhac, Rick Moonen, Jacques Torres, Sottha Khun, Sylvain Portay, Christophe Bellanca, Michael Lomonaco, Alain Allegretti, Pierre Schaedelin, Bill Telepan, Alex Stratta and Geoffrey Zakarian to name a few.
In January of 2012, Le Cirque’s current chef, Olivier Reginensi, joined this impressive team of culinary legends.
For over 38 years, Le Cirque has offered an unparalleled dining experience earning its place on New York’s gastronomical landscape. Here guests can enjoy a modern, circus themed dining room, where the food is just as exciting to the palate as it is a feast to the eyes.
Le Cirque also offers a more casual café featuring a seasonal prix fixe menu and outstanding wines offered by the glass.
The 16,000 square-foot restaurant, designed by Adam Tihany and architect Costas Kondylis, features a main dining room with a giant, abstract “big top” light shade, a separate bar area available for special events (Egi), and a private event mezzanine (Stella) suspended above the bar. The all glass bar is a force within itself, serving as a commanding architectural element anchoring the 65 seat bar-wine lounge and balancing the custom designed 27-foot kaleidoscope wine tower.

Our $38 prix fixe dinner at Le Cique was a joy.

After our Bellinitini (the traditional peach/champagne delight as a vodka martini) we began our meal with an icy, pureed gazpacho soup consisting of tomatoes, cucumber,‍ avocado and creme fraiche -- zesty without being too spicy.

The we chose the seared Chatham cod “Sicilian style” with eggplant puree, campari, tomatoes, and caramelized olives. An ample portion of cod, mellow and beautifully dressed. We also enjoyed the grilled Atlantic salmon with bagna cauda, grilled summer vegetables, tomato jam and red watercress. This was among the best salmon creations we've ever had.

We supplemented our meal with pommes frites (a $6 additional charge).

Finally, we dove into the chocolate fondant with dolce de‍ leche ice cream and the mixed berry clafoutis
with toasted almonds and vanilla ice cream. Perfection!
BTW: Do we have to tell you that the service at Le Cirque is exceptional? From the moment you arrive, you will be treated like the most important person who ever patronized this hallowed dining establishment. Le Cique is an oasis of old world manners, attentive service and civility in a harsh and sometimes dangerous world. Fine china, sparkling glassware, crisp white tablecloths and linens and glistening silverware are the norm here. The staff members are perfectly attired. And you're expected to look as good as the environment. So, be forewarned: You must dress accordingly. Jackets are required for men and ties are preferred. Ladies, if you don't know how you're supposed to look when you arrive at Le Cirque, you've got some homework to do.

Now, back to the food. The photos below show the dishes exactly as served.

Photos copyright 2013 by Dan Cirucci.

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The Algonquin - A Living Legend Glimmers Once Again

While were in Manhattan recently we once again stayed at The Algonquin.
The Algonquin is a small hotel with a Big History.
Ideally situated on 44th St. between Times Square and Fifth Avenue, The Algonquin is steps from all that New York has to offer, including Broadway theaters, shopping. museums, bars, restaurants and other attractions. As with most NYC Midtown hotels, the rooms tend to be smaller and you're well-advised not to stay directly opposite the elevators or too close to the stairwells.
But you don't want to miss this one.
Practically everybody of note has stayed at The Algonquin at one time or another.
To stay in The Algonquin is to live amidst the lively heritage of the city that never sleeps.

Famed literary gatherings. Echoes of some of the world’s most celebrated cabaret singers. A singular environment of inspiration that spawned the creation of The New Yorker magazine. All of these things are impressive in their own right. More impressive still is that they all occurred at The Algonquin.
Today these traditions continue, just as they have for over 100 years. Step into the hotel's lobby (bottom photo, above) on any given evening, and you will find a diverse mix of New York’s cultural and artistic cognoscenti. Here, and within the famed Round Table Restaurant (middle photo, above) and Blue Bar, martinis are savored, ideas are shared, insights arrived at, and the designs that result shape the cultural fabric of the city.
At the beginning of the 20th century, New York’s social life was moving from downtown ballrooms to what has become today’s soaring Midtown. It was this migration that led to the construction of The Algonquin. In 1902, an intimate hotel with a red brick and limestone façade opened its doors in what had become one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in Manhattan. The two most popular restaurants of the era – Sherry’s and Delmonico’s – were within walking distance. Five of New York’s great clubs – Yale, Harvard, Bar Association, New York Yacht, and the Century – were neighbors. The Hippodrome, advertised as “the world’s largest playhouse,” opened across the street, as did a number of noted theaters.
From its inception, manager (and later owner) Frank Case created a vision for The Algonquin as New York’s center of literary and theatrical life. His enduring fascination with actors and writers led him to extend them credit, in the process luring such luminaries as Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and John Barrymore.
Famed women flocked to the hotel as well, as The Algonquin was unconventional early on in accommodating single women guests. Over the years, these have included Gertrude Stein, Simone de Beauvoir, Helen Hayes, Erica Jones, and Maya Angelou.
Three Nobel laureates visited on a regular basis, including Sinclair Lewis (who offered to buy the hotel), Derek Walcott, and most memorably William Faulkner, who drafted his Nobel Prize acceptance speech at The Algonquin in 1950.
The legend continued to evolve, maintaining its original spirit faithfully through a series of renovations. After joining the Autograph Collection, a group of independent and unique luxury hotels, The Algonquin was acquired by its current owner. The hotel was then closed for five months in early 2012 for extensive renovations to help preserve the hotel's iconic spirit while adding contemporary comforts.
But perhaps the most important facet of our history is found in The Algonquin's hospitality. This friendly, intimate hotel notes each guest’s individual requirements and preferences, so that upon return, their wishes can be attended to in advance. One keen observer wrote: “The Algonquin is one of the fast diminishing breed of hotels – those that still boast personality.” In the premiere issue of Historic Traveler magazine, The Algonquin was named one of “America’s Ten Great Historic Hotels.”
In 1987, The Algonquin was designated a New York City landmark, and in1996 it was designated a literary landmark. But surely, this remarkable hotel is destined for even greater artistic, cultural, and literary greatness.

Trust us: This is not like staying anywhere else. It's unique -- and uniquely memorable.

Photos copyright 2013 by Dan Cirucci.

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Keeping The Great American Songbook Alive

Last night we enjoyed a splendid concert at the Mann Music Center, outdoors in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park.Michael Feinstein entertained us accompanied by the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra in an evening of music from the Great American Songbook -- show tunes and pop classics that have defined popular music and superb singers for nearly a century.
Michael was joined by his guests Betty Buckley and Christine Ebersole.
The ever-charming and hugely talented Feinstein has just grown better and better over the years. And though he's now almost 57 years old, his voice is stronger (and shows greater range) than ever and his piano-playing and showmanship skills are at their peak. In fact, he sang a good deal of Sinatra last night and showed remarkable maturity and dexterity. His love of the music is obvious, his knowledge of the music is vast and his rapport with the audience exemplary.
The evening began with the orchestra presenting a rousing overture from Gypsy. Remember when Broadway musicals led off with rich, fully-orchestrated music? Remember overtures? Remember when people actually looked forward to (and had the patience to sit through) an overture? By comparison, so much Broadway music sounds cheap and tinny today.
Then Michael led off with a high-flying Strike Up The Band. And, leafing through the songbook of the Gershwins, Porter, Berlin, Kern, Loesser and Rodgers and Hammerstein he sang songs such as Luck Be A Lady, For Once In My Life, So In Love, They Can't Take That Away From Me and The Folks Who Live On The Hill. His instrumentals also included a peppy Latin number heard all too rarely these days -- Brazil.
With Betty Buckley, Michael sang You Made Me Love You and then Buckley brought the house down with the song from Cats that she originated, Midnight.
In the second half of the program the orchestra took the lead again with the overture from Funny Girl. Ebersole then briefly sang with Michael followed by her own are-charging version of On The Atchison, Topeka And The Sante Fe, complete with bells and whistles.
As an encore, Feinstein, Ebersole and Buckley gave us That's Entertainment.
It was a glorious evening.
If you like the Great American Songbook as much as we do, try this: Click here to tune into The Penthouse. We guarantee you'll hear some of the finest music ever written sung by the greatest singers (including many newcomers) anywhere.
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In Philly, A Super-Sweet Exhibit Opening August 16!

Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum  at Penn's Landing will debut its newest exhibition, Oh, Sugar!: The Magical Transformation From Cane To Candy on Friday, August 16, 2013 and it will be up until February 16, 2014.

Oh, Sugar!, located in the Museum’s 2nd floor community gallery, focuses on Philadelphia's candy manufacturing history, tracing the magical transformation sugar takes from cane to candy. Oh, Sugar! is curated by Eric (pictured left) and Ryan Berley (pictured right), the brothers behind Old City’s beloved Franklin Fountain and Shane Confectionery. The exhibition will be on display until February 16, 2014 and is included with regular Museum admission.

With more than 100 artifacts from the Berley’s collection of confectionery machinery, molds and ephemera, visitors will get a glimpse into the raw realities and sugar-coated past of Philadelphia’s connection to the sugar industry. The exhibition looks at the evolution of the sugar industry, from the beginning of our love of sugar in colonial America through today. Visitors can trace the trade routes that brought cane to the colonies and discover the early sugar refining techniques that were anything but sweet. Children can play candy maker in cap and apron within the context of an old-time candy kitchen. The exhibition is suitable for anyone with a sweet tooth, with information geared toward both young and young at heart. The exhibition concludes with a stop at vintage candy counter, complete with a working gumball machine so visitors can purchase a treat. Candy from Shane Confectionery will also be available for purchase in the Museum’s gift shop.

Special programming will be offered on weekends throughout the exhibition’s run. On October 12 see clear toy ship candy making demonstration at the Old City Seaport Festival, and on December 14th there will be a holiday candy making demo before the 4th annual Parade of Lights (lighted boat parade). More events will be added shortly.