NYC in May

This weekend Phil and I spent a little time in NYC - staying for the first time in the Meatpacking District. On a recommendation from our globetrotting, celebrity friend Rob - we thought it would be an adventure to stay in a district we'd never explored. For years I've been reading about The Spice Market restaurant in gastronomic journals - so we took the plunge. The Hotel Gansvoort is billed as NYC's first urban luxury resort that transformed the Meatpacking District from gritty to chic. We negotiated a bit on the rate (directly over the phone), so paid a pretty avg $300/nite avg for an upscale NYC room, and it was a good value. I could wax on and on - most comfortable and exciting hotel stay that we've had in a long while.

So, Friday night we dined with local friends at Son Cubano, great fun - cha cha cha. We ordered a collection of tapas and mojitos and had a lovely experience. Since we started early (by NYC standards) we were able to sit outside on the sidewalk which was mucho better for conversation and taking in the vibe of the city. There was live cuban music inside, which made for great atmosphere but less amenable to dialog exchange.

Saturday we trekked over to Hobokon, NJ on the Path train to see our friend's new high rise condo - pretty striking contrast to suburban SoCal living. Fabulous view of the Geo Washington Bridge and city across the Hudson! Hobokon is charming and full of youthful energy - everyone there seems to have a tight body, a child in an expensive stroller and a dog. Restaurants and shopping along Washington St. was great fun. We lunched at The Elysian Cafe, the oldest continually operated bar/restaurant in Hoboken. (scenes from the movie Sleepers were filmed here) Food is straightforward and delicious - the hamburger was about as good as it gets and the wine list was unexpectedly interesting. They've done a lovely job of restoring the interior - however the day called for outside dining - so we did.

Saturday evening was my long awaited dinner at The Spice Market, across the street from our hotel. We slipped over on Friday afternoon to examine the menu and get some inside scoop from a knowledgeable bartender (the nuts at the bar are terrific) - so the decision was already locked up to order the tasting menu. This includes a selection of appetizers, a selection of entrees, the signature ginger rice and dessert. We give the restaurant a strong DO IT! recommendation.