Day 1063: Trans Atlantic posting..

I know it's been quite the long stretch of silence my friends and I apologize. It has been, well I don't need to say, quite the whirlwind of a beginning of 2014 and it is has left my cheese musings more twitter focused but fret not, there will be more appearances of Fromagical's musings, whether it's penned from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan or somewhere else inspiring....take for example, today's post written somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. 

Heading in which direction you may be wondering?

Homeward bound after close to ten days in Paris for work. Let me tell you, there is something supremely special about the Parisian springtime light. It's hopeful, fanciful, and truly magical and it reminds you to savor life's little moments. 

Savor I did, but primarily in the form of produce cooked in the small flat I had rented for my trip. Fret not though, there was some magnificent burrata at my local favorite bistro sprinkled into the ten days for sure. 

French tomatoes sprinkled with just a touch of sel de guerande.

Girolles and purple carrots lightly sautéed with shallots and fresh thyme with shaved 30 month aged Comte tossed with mâché.

Roasted Jerusalem artichokes and parsnips with Beaufort.

Lightly scrambled French eggs with chives and crumbled chèvre.

And much much much more..

Each meal was truly about savoring life's little moments through fresh and delightfully local produce for ten days of Springtime in Paris.

Day 1062 : Gosh it's been a while!

I know you must be thinking, gosh 2014 has been a ghost year for Fromagical's musings..where did she go? Well my friends, I definitely still exist -- these days much more so on Twitter -- in a more immediate experience basis, connecting with people over a shared love of cheese. Don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean you won't have the pleasure of seeing musings here from time to time, that's for sure. So, if you want to keep up with me and my adventures on a more constant basis, follow me @fromagical.

But for the moment, you might be wondering what's happened in the beginning of 2014? 

Where did January go you might ask? 

A blur of busy days, long runs, nights spent enjoying nice red wine and cheeses and good company. There was the fantastic discovery of the new cheese company, Mystic Cheese, hailing from Mystic, CT, and found in the cheese cases at Beecher's; the lovely aged Parmesan and sundried tomato appetizer at Bocca Di Bacco; the elegant cheese selections at Leopard des Artistes and the more casual paired offerings at Dakota Bar, both neighborhood favorites; and of course my first visit to DiBruno Brothers in Philly. Looking back, January was a full month of cheese experiences, enjoying each moment and morsel. 

But now, it's Feburary! Or well, February is almost half over, gosh, where does the time go? 

February is my clean month. What do I mean by that? 

Each year, for one month, I substitute out my red wine and dirty Gin Martinis for green tea and muddled cucumber with seltzer. At the end of the month, I'll be running the Napa Valley Marathon and the cleansing month leading up to it improves my running, my energy, my mental clarity, and has become a tradition. It pushes me to mentally prepare for my race and to stop and savor the small moments in life. So for the remainder of the month of February, I suggest my dear friends, to stop and pause and enjoy. We, as New Yorkers lead very busy, over scheduled, hectic, and stressed lives. So instead of constantly being on that hamster wheel, take a moment to stop and recognize what's around you and how you are truly lucky. Oh and definitely enjoy a nice glass of red wine for me!

Day 1061 : Welcome to a new year

The beginning of a new year is a time for hope, for reflection, for goals, and for a whole new start.  The end of any given year is a time to celebrate, enjoy, and be with loved ones, and of course to look back.

2013 wrapped for me spent in a ski lodge right off of Lake Harmony, PA, with good friends, good times, good food, good wine and of course good cheeses! It was about getting away, simplifying, and closing the year out right.

New Year's Eve is about the classics -- food that warms the heart and the soul. Classics dressed up for the evening. We started off with a bottle of Veuve Cliquot along with a selection of cheeses - classic aged Parmesan, elegant and refined and always a good choice; the dressy and routinely fabulous Sottocenere, aged truffle and ash ripened cow's milk cheese, and lastly the decadent and luxurious La Tur, a mixed milk Italian cheese that just melts in your mouth in the best sort of ways.

A few hours later, accompanied by a glasses of red wine, we all sat down to a wonderful homecooked meal to ring in the New Year and to reflect on the year gone by. 2013 was quite the year and who knows what 2014 will bring. On this New Year's Day 2014 my friends, I ask you to take a moment to think back on what 2013 meant to you and what you want to look forward to for 2014.

Happy New Year all!

Day 1060 : Christmas Eve Celebrations

Each family celebrates the holidays differently -- some focus on Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, or just a classic New Year's, others have a feast of seven fishes on Christmas Eve or cookies and presents around the Christmas Tree Christmas morning, my family is the sort that does a celebratory Christmas Eve lunch. A home cooked meal, celebratory bubbles, delish nibbles, and of course cheeses!

So what cheeses were on the list today?

The bloomy rinded, raw goat's milk Midwesterner - Juliana. Dusted with Rosemary and thyme, it is festive in every which way. Bright and citrusy, with a airy yet dense paste, herbaceous yet milky, this is the perfect cheese for a glass of bubbles. Elegant and inviting, you can't go wrong here.

Next up, how about a morsel of the firm aged goat's milk cheese from Wisconsin, Evalon? Subtle yet delectable, rustic yet round, grassy with hints of hay and a nice goaty tang. A versatile pairing partner, you can't go wrong here!

And lastly, a morsel of Bay Blue hailing from the great blue cheese producers -- Point Reyes out in California. Spicy and piquant, with a milky roundness, this cheese is at perfection right now. And to me nothing says Christmas Eve like a morsel of blue cheese and a glass of port.

Happy Holidays!

Day 1059 : Winter nights, neighborhoody haunts

The Upper West Side surely isn't lacking in wine bars - whether it's the Italian focused Barcibo Enoteca on Broadway or the flatbread pizza focused Riposo 72 or the classic combination of good wines, a warm atmosphere, and tasty nibbles at places like Vai, Tolani, and Bin 71 -- there surely is something for everyone. However, as of late, my favorite of all the choices is Dakota Bar. Opened earlier this year, this space is larger than its other neighborhoody counterparts with a warm and inviting feel. The wines by the glass selections are extensive and the nibbles are broad ranging. They have three cheese selections -- the white wine collection, the red wine collection, and the beer and spirits collection. Each collection features three cheeses meant to be enjoyed with the corresponding beverage of choice. 

Enjoyed with a nice California Cab, the red wine cheese collection is the perfect bite for a cold wintery night featuring Roquefort, Robiola due Latte, and Prima Donna. Three classic European cheeses that pair wonderfully with a nice glass of red wine. Served with caramelized walnuts and pecans, membrillo, sliced apples and pears along with a bunch of red and green grapes, this is cheese selection is plenty for sharing. 

What Dakota Bar does right is it achieves that delicate balance of comfort, elegance, and warmth which truly is what you look for in a neighborhoody wine bar. 

Dakota Bar

72nd and Columbus

Day 1058 - When in Miami for Art Basel Miami Beach

I read somewhere recently that Art Basel Miami Beach is like spring break for the art world -- the fairs, the parties, the dinners, the clothes, the cars, the opulence, the va va voom, all taking place at the beach. The crowds, the scene, the entire experience is completely surreal- it is conspicuous consumption in its ultimate form.

Over the next few days, stay tuned for the dining experiences, both good, bad, and just plain entertaining and of course much much more.

Day One - arriving into Fort Lauderdale airport from the chilly winter world of New York, gosh the sun feels nice! After a few wrong turns and a leisurely drive, I arrived at the Deauville Resort, the location of NADA Art Fair, the Beatles first concert in Miami, and my home base for the next six days. Unpack clothes, check! Unpack the booth, check! Time to head downtown for the openings of Art Miami, Context, and Miami Project down in the Wynwood Area of Miami. Two and a half hours later in traffic and in search of parking, it was time for the beginning of Art Basel Miami Beach week 2013. Check out those shoes! Gosh isn't that a nice Deborah Butterfield! The Prosecco was a-flowing, the buzz was a-buzzing, dealers were chatting away with new and old collectors, the red dots were appearing. People from all over the world were reconnecting here on this strip of the design district of downtown Miami. Three fairs later, with the hopes of other events scattered around Miami and Miami Beach, a few of us sat down for a bite and a drink at Michael's Genuine. Located not far from the hubbub of the Design district fair openings is Michael's Genuine - a long standing buzzy yet delicious joint that's known for its fresh and seasonal cuisine sourced from local farmers. 

A lovely glass of Zweigelt hit the spot and then Stracciatella served with heirloom tomatoes, basil tops, fleur de sel, and extra virgin olive oil. The classic preparation done elegantly and supremely well. Wood oven roasted Brussel sprouts and cauliflower were each rustic and flavorful and nice shareable veggies. Pizzas, mains, and larger appetizers were available as well - each with an inventive seasonal twist on classics in a new light. 

Miami dining experience number one was delightful, this was going to be a good week of food. Let's see what's up next tomorrow.

Day 1058 : A little less cheese, a little more greens

It's that time of year again -- for holiday parties, mistletoe, champagne, chocolates, presents and plenty of holiday cheer! The food and drink options abound in this final month of the year...but sometimes you just want something clean, fresh, and healthy - food that makes you feel good after. Right?

If that is what you are in search of then I recommend you go to Ellary's Greens. A natural and organic cafe that's just quality good food in a relaxed calming environment. All about the ingredients and keeping them as true to themselves as possible, this is a great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner during this season of holiday excesses.

So what did I have yesterday for lunch?

Their curly kale salad, hold the toasted barley, but with roasted butternut squash and cremini mushrooms topped with a cider vinaigrette. Fresh, clean, and delish, this is the sort of food that makes you feel good..

A lovely edition to the dining options in the West Village.

Ellary's Greens

33 Carmine Street

NYC