Britannia Comes to Brooklyn

I spent this evening at Pier 12 in Brooklyn, aboard the luxurious Queen Mary 2. It was great to be back on the mighty ship, the largest ocean liner in the world. (I had my first opportunity to see the vessel when she dropped anchor in New York on her maiden voyage, in 2004.) Tonight, however, I was a guest at a very special fundraiser to benefit Brooklyn Academy of Music and New York City Opera. This was the sort of party that should have no fears of getting lost in the shuffle of galas that grace places such as the Waldorf Astoria or Capitale on any given Manhattan weeknight. No, this was not going to be a hum-drum evening with endless speeches and a heart-string video presentation. Tonight was about opulence and fun. (For two good causes, of course.) After cocktails on deck, guests moved indoors to the Royal Court Theatre, for a special performance by legendary Broadway actress Patti LuPone. When I first learned the name of her routine, "Lady with the Torch," I presumed we were in for a pre-Memorial Day salute to nearby Miss Liberty. If only. LuPone's "torch" turned out to be more of a flame-thrower, a weapon aimed squarely (if playfully) at the unsuspecting men in the audience. I've got great admiration for Ms. LuPone. She has a phenomenal voice, one like none other on Broadway. However, even for a fan, one hour of "spurned woman" ballads began to get tired after a while. It was also a bit of a downer on an otherwise celebratory night. Dinner in the Britannia dining room (straight out of a scene from Titanic) was all about people watching and less about the food, but highlights included foie gras and duck terrine and fillet of sole with shrimp-mousse soufflé. After the meal concluded, guests headed to the ship's planetarium (the only one at sea) for a show called "Cosmic Collisions." Still others boogied on down to the G32 discoteque or the Queens Room, where the Peter Duchin Orchestra played into the wee hours. All in all, a night to remember. For once, I was sad to return to Manhattan.

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What’s That Smell?

There was something in the air last night at the Carlyle Hotel, on Madison Avenue. Guided by New York Times fragrance editor and author Chandler Burr, a select group of journalists got a sneak preview of a unique olfactory-cum-culinary tour that officially kicks off with a special night at the Carlyle on June 18, and will continue around the world at various properties owned by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. Seated in the Carlyle restaurant's private dining room, my colleagues and I put our noses to the test as Burr teased our senses with scent strips in one blind-test after another, each one designed to awaken and tantalize the palate. (Incredibly, a whopping ninety-five percent of a diner's perception of flavor actually comes from his sense of smell--not taste.) To be sure, it was a novel way to enjoy a meal and many of the fragrances were beautifully paired with the cuisine and cocktails laid before us. My "smelling partner," good friend Jennifer "Bless Your Heart" Cole, of Travel & Leisure magazine, graciously humored my poor scent perception (and zero knowledge of perfumes) as we shared scent strips and compared notes on whiffs of synthetic essences of everything from cotton candy to cucumber. Burr was a gracious and supremely knowledgeable host and his enthusiasm carried the night. There are still a few spots available for the June 18 dinner (the night will be offered to a maximum of 20 patrons) and costs $200 per person. The price is an absolute bargain considering the profusion of food—prepared by Carlyle chef Jimmy Sakatos—not to mention the retail value of the two-ton goodie bag, which is loaded down with fragrances such as Estée Lauder's Pleasures; Dolce & Gabana's Light Blue; and Missoni. After the one night in New York, the Chandler Burr scentapalooza travels to The Mansion at Turtle Creek, in Dallas, and the Inn of the Anasazi, in Santa Fe. For more information, visit www.rosewoodhotels.com. %%showphotos [setid=72157602750681277]%%

Haute, Haute, Haute!

Along with good friend Sara Gragnolati, editorial director of KIWI magazine, I popped into Haute Green, a temporary exhibition of sustainable (yet fashionable) home furnishings being held this week at 33 West 19th Street. Shown in connection with the always-buzzy International Contemporary Furniture Fair (an annual May event that draws the finest design to New York from around the world), Haute Green featured more than seventy pieces selected from a submission pool of more than three times that amount. Among the highlights for us were the burgundy Illu Stration rug (www.illu-stration.com), which looked as if it were a purple patch of lawn made entirely of felt; a three-dimensional component rug called "My Secret Garden," which was made from re-used wool blankets; a series of cork bowls from Daniel Michalik; and expandable, honeycomb-style cardboard seating from Molo Design. The latter reminded me a bit of those cheesy party-store centerpieces that fan out for easy table display and then fold up again for flat storage. Molo's work, though, was a touch more stylish. Catch the exhibit before it closes tomorrow. For more information, visit www.hautegreen.com. %%showphotos [setid=72157602747828050]%%

In Good Taste

Most New Yorkers like to believe they possess taste, an understanding of quality and style that pervades their lives—whether in their choice of clothing or in the way they furnish their homes. However, an elite few not only have taste, they set its very standards. Those elect were honored last night at a fête thrown by House & Garden magazine. This talented coterie, architects, sculptors, fashion designers, artists and interior decorators among them, descended on the Metropolitan Pavilion, on West 18th Street, to celebrate their being featured in the magazine's June issue. Even for a tastemaker, attending a tastemaker gala apparently requires even greater attention to style than normal and the honorees and invited guests did not disappoint, as was seen in the wild-pattern trousers worn by designer Michael Coorengel (below) or the coordinated ensembles of Paul Talbot and Kerri Kundra (also below). It was a buzzy night and the room was filled with great people—old friends like Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke and Jane Berk—and new ones like Zem and James Joachin. Guests swirled throughout the hall, perusing the tastemakers' portraits, which had been lifted from the pages of the magazine and affixed to the walls. The stunning images offered a window into the passions of these creative individuals, each one captured in his or her natural habitat. For more on the styles and pieces that you'll soon be emulating (or craving) pick up House & Garden's June issue, on newsstands now. %%showphotos [setid=72157603234768889]%%

You Bet Your Buddha

New York's Buddha-Bar, off-shoot of the famed hot-spot of the same name in Paris, was hopping last night, as it celebrated its one-year anniversary with a special dinner to benefit the Institute for Civic Leadership. The richly appointed restaurant, presided over—of course—by a large, seated Buddha—looked especially festive for the occasion, festooned as it was by large cherry-blossom arrangements. A special menu featured a salad of King Crab, hearts of palm and avocado; sushi aplenty; and, my favorite, a Malaysian spice-crusted filet mignon. Cocktails prepared with Ty Ku, a brand-new sake liqueur, were served throughout the evening. Perhaps it was the Ty Ku. Conversation at my table—which was peopled by Flo Pesenti (winner of Season 3 of The Amazing Race); Fashion Police hosts Bobbie Thomas and Robert Verdi; a producer from the Today show; New York Times Styles writer Lola Ogunnaike; and publicist to the stars Liza Anderson—was spirited and ranged from "the new liposuction" to New York real estate to Verdi's jacket, which he claimed—for about a millisecond—was a holdover from his high-school band days. He quickly let on—lest anyone call the fashion police on him—that it was, indeed, by Marc Jacobs. Entertainment for the night included a live performance by Def Jam recording star Chrisette Michele, and one by an aerobatic artist who writhed above the crowd in a large sheet suspended from the ceiling. (See video clip below.) Actor Kevin Spacey took his spot in a deserted VIP area, while my friends Jon Benjamin, the deputy consul general of Britain to the United States and Deborah Berebichez waited (in vain?) for David Bowie to show up. All in all, it was a night that did Buddha proud. The Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL) is a non-profit organization created to provide young people with the training and tools they need to effect change, empowering them to make a difference both on a local level and in the world at large. For more information, visit iclny.org. %%showphotos [setid=72157602747645062]%%

The 2007 James Beard Awards

The twentieth annual James Beard Awards were held at Lincoln Center this evening, in what was surely the ceremony's glitziest outing to date. The event, named in honor of the late culinary pioneer James Beard, recognizes the best and brightest in American cooking and, as usual, Manhattan restaurants dominated. Among the New York chefs and eateries that took home medals: Rising Star Chef of the Year: David Chang (Momofuku Noodle Bar) Best New Restaurant: L'Atelier de Jöel Robuchon (Four Seasons Hotel) Best Restaurant Design: Xing Outstanding Pastry Chef of the Year: Michael Laiskonis (Le Bernadin) But it wasn't a complete sweep for the Big Apple. Chicago's Frontera Grill was named Outstanding Restaurant of the Year and Michel Richard (of Michel Richard Citronelle of Washington, D.C.), received the Outstanding Chef of the Year award. One of my favorite memories from the night was the double victory by brother-scribes Matt and Ted Lee. Shortly after their win in the Food of the Americas category for The Lee Brothers Southern Cookbook--their first-ever Beard Award-- I asked Matt where their storied career might take them next. "It'll be all downhill from here," he answered in characteristic self-deprecating fashion. Not ten minutes later, the brothers had to make a mad dash out of the press room and onto the awards stage to accept a (clearly unexpected) second medal, this one for Cookbook of the Year. A visibly shaken Ted was so excited that he swayed back and forth as he made his acceptance speech, causing the two medals on his chest to clank noisly next to the microphone. Brother Matt finally reached across Ted's torso and clamped the medals together, effectively silencing the din. This is what brothers are for. Take it from me. I have two of them myself. Following the black-tie awards ceremony, presided over by a mighty perky Hannah Storm, of The Early Show, attendees fanned out for the gala cocktail reception, with cuisine by chefs including Marcus Samuelsson (herring-potato salad and cured salmon with burnt leek nougatine); Fabio Trabocchi (slow-braised veal cheeks with osso bucco jus and alba hazelnuts); Traci Des Jardins (Sonoma rabbit escabèche with fava bean crostini); and Allison Vines-Rushing (banana pudding brûlée with cat's tongue cookies). In years past, the crowded reception (held in a ballroom at the Marriott Marquis) has often felt more like a melee than a soiree. This time, however, the scene was refined and elegant. A new standard has been set for the James Beard Awards and not a soul was complaining. %%showphotos [setid=72157603230252964]%%

Come on Down to Grom!

New York's newest (and perhaps soon-to-be finest) gelateria opens today on Manhattan's Upper West Side, at 2165 Broadway. Visit today (till 11:00 p.m.) and try a free cup of the shop's sumptuous, clean flavors, imported straight from Turin, Italy. While you're there, say hello to the shop's owners, straight from Turin, Guido Martinetti and Federico Grom.

It’s A Bird…It’s Plane…It’s a Wine!

A new bordeaux blend was introduced to a small group of journalists this evening, at an event held at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), in Chelsea. Called Vinetta, the wine, created by Robert Mondavi Private Selection, is a mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot, Malbec and cabernet franc. Mondavi's Scott Kelley, the company's director of winemaking, proudly handled the unveiling, assisted by Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's food and wine expert, Ted Allen. To underscore the point that this curiously named wine can go with a variety of foods, Mondavi put whisks, cheese graters, tongs and stirring spoons into the hands of the journalists and set the scribes to work preparing a meal to be served with the new wine. Within minutes of starting to cook, the erstwhile chefs had filled the amply sized instruction kitchen of the ICE with the enticing smells of spice-rubbed pork tenderloin with roasted red grapes and a red-wine (Vinetta, of course) reduction; a red-wine (yes, Vinetta) braised chicken and three-cheese pasta gratin; and a Vinetta-free lamb roast with a cherry-tomato-and-basil compote. The meal was topped off with Allen's own wine-and-chocolate truffles. (Any guesses as to the wine he used?) Explaining his philosophy of wine, Kelley said it's not about how much you pay for the bottle (Vinetta retails for $11 a bottle), but whether your first reaction upon sipping is "Yum" or "Yuck!" To my palate, the perfectly pleasant Vinetta inspired neither recation. The food, however, was "yum" all the way.