Dinner Date: NYC Style

Hello lovelies!

It's been quite a while. I just got back from a month long vacation with hubby and I've been busy with work ever since.

Let me share with you some of the pictures of our dinner date in New York.

As soon as our NYC trip was confirmed, hubby made it clear that he wants us to try this restaurant in New York Eleven Madison Park. It is located in yes, Madison Avenue along Madison Park and is named as the #5 Best Restaurant in the world (based on the annual 50 World's Best Restaurant list), and #1 in the US. It is also a 3 Michelin Star restaurant.

When I called a month prior to our trip to book, it was all booked out so I had to pull out some strings and make a very compelling story so they can give us a spot on the day we wanted to dine. With some stroke of luck, I was able to get us a spot on the Monday we were in New York.

It was a 16 course degustation menu and surprisingly, the portion wasn't as small as we expected. The food is superb. I'm no critic but I was impressed by the food and its presentation. The whole meal lasted for about 3 and a half hours. And the service is very professional that you'll wholeheartedly give them the gratuity they well deserve.

After the meal, and after finding out that hubby is a chef, they gave us a free tour of the kitchen and was able to see the chefs in action.

It was a great experience celebrated with excellent food and superb service.

Enjoy the pictures!

We started our dinner with this surprisingly yummy Savory Black and White cookie with Apple.

this turned out to be one of our favorite dish of the night. Our next dish is a very interesting take on Sea Urchin.

It is made of snow with smoked cantaloupe and conch. The third dish is surf clam with fava bean, meyer lemon and green garlic.

Next dish is this very elaborate littleneck clam made of clambake with whelk, parker house roll and chowder.

the pot has a seaweed based that literally smoked as soon as hot water was poured in it. Next is this lobster salad with tomato and lettuce.

The sixth dish is my favorite of the night. It's a foie gras brulle with summer berries and beets. Very good!

Next dish is called carrot tartare with rye bread and condiments.

The carrots are grind in front of you. They bring out a grinder and set it up in your table, then a chef comes out and grind the carrots while explaining how the dish should be eaten.

Next dish is this very refreshing poached striped bass with zucchini and squash blossoms.

The ninth dish is this interesting corn pudding with truffle and buttermilk in an ostrich egg.

Main course is roasted duck with pistachio, rhubarb and fennel

I am never fond of any duck dish, but this one, I super super love. Next dish is this greensward basket with all kinds of food inside like pretzel, mustard, their own brewed beer and pickled strawberries.

The 12th dish is this egg cream malt with vanilla and seltzer that is prepared in front of you.

Next came the dessert. A mint sorbet with fernet branca and chocolate ganache. 

Next came their own version of cheesecake with mango and peanut.

At the bottom of the cheesecake is this chocolate surprise that is only revealed after a card trick is performed by the server in your table.

 Next  is this chocolate covered pretzel with sea salt and a sweet black and white cookie with apricot.

Here is a peak of the chaos in the kitchen.

 

they even created a special cocktail for us inside the kitchen for us to drink while watching them in action.

 

 

Hope you loved the pictures and you didn't feel too hungry after reading this post.


xoxo,
Coco

 

Vivid Sydney

Hello lovelies! It's been a busy month for me (hence the lack of posts) but I just can't resist sharing with you these lovely photos taken last week as we played hosts to some relatives who visited from Manila. They came at the most opportune time with Vivid Sydney currently on.

This festival of lights, music and ideas is an annual Sydney event that features lighting the sails of the Sydney Opera House, using best lighting technologies to transform sky scrapers and  heritage sites to an amazing colorful canvas and many more.

Here are some of the pictures we took. Enjoy the lights...the Sydney way!

Have a lovely weekend lovelies!

xoxo,
Coco

A Mother's Day Weekend to Remember

Belated happy Mother's day lovelies! How was your weekend?

My weekend started out wonderful with dinner Friday night at Cantina Laredo with our dear friends Sanela and Jamie. Good food, Margaritas and tons of laughter. We always have a great time when we go out with them.

The rest of the evening didn't turn out as good. I had to work on an issue when we got back home. A case that I was expecting to get released that day had a problem and we have to get it fixed. I worked the entire day Saturday until 3 am Sunday to get it resolved. Yes, it sucked!

This however made up for it when I woke up Sunday morning, breakfast in bed prepared by my hubby...

I love the thoughtfulness and effort he put in it - specially the rose he hand picked from our garden to adorn the plate. Sweetness!

Hubby got us tickets to watch The Players Championship. We spent the afternoon at the TPC Sawgrass. We live near the area but this was the first time I went. I had such a wonderful time that I told hubby I want to go again next year.

Pictures were not allowed on the course but we managed to take a few shots.

Striped button-shoulder tee: Banana Republic

boyfriend jeans: American Eagle

Chelsea flats: Tory Birch

I told hubby I wanted to see Tiger Woods play before we go to dinner.

 I saw everyone snapping a picture of him and so I tried to get a couple as fast as I can when he passed by us. I wish I had turned my zoom on and focused. No time to do that.
 

It was so hot and humid yesterday but it was all worth it. We didn't get to stay and finish the game but I saw Tiger Woods play towards his second The Players Championship trophy. Woot woot! Go Tiger!


We went home to change, called my mom-in-law then my mom and greeted them both. I am very fortunate to have them both in my life.

We then headed to St Augustine, FL to have dinner with our next door neighbors and dear friends.

Sangria de Cava

We had such a wonderful time with them and the Columbia Restaurant was a superb choice to celebrate Mother's Day. The food was delicious and the ambiance authentic. Be sure to check them out when you visit St Augustine.

Isn't their baby the cutest ever?

 

striped elbow-sleeve tee: Banana Republic

circle skirt: Banana Republic

Though I am not blessed to have kids of my own, I was blessed with three wonderful step kids. Hearing their voices on Mother's day was very heart warming. Love!

I could not ask for a better way to celebrate Mother's day and be blessed with an amazing husband, loving step kids, wonderful family, in-laws and friends.

How did you celebrate Mother's Day? I would love to hear your stories!

xoxo,
Tey