Trip Advisor and Instagram

Since I've been doing a lot of International Travel recently, I've been using Trip Advisor a lot.  So far I have created a Roncierge account and contributed exactly one review, but for future reference:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/members-reviews/roncierge

I have also created an instagram account with the pseudonym Roncierge.

The Paris Email

Much like the NYC email that started it all, I have a Paris email as well.  I have two pieces of advice when you read this list:

1>  Know your source:  I'm not from Paris, and I like to live well when I travel.  You're not going to see much on the list that is a bargain, or that you couldn't find out about on a standard travel list - but I'll vouch for every place on the list....

2>  ... if it's still there.  I haven't been to Paris in 3  years.  Most of these places are the type of spot that lasts, but nothing is forever.

L'Avenue (Costes Brothers - trendy, expensive, see & be seen, but very good food and fun).  Basically, any Costes brothers hotel or restaurant will have a wonderful ambiance and good food for a bit more money than it should cost - but they will never disappoint.

Pershing Hall (awesome room.. food was good, but I just go for drinks usually.  They cost like 25 Euro each, but the room is worth it for one round - it's got a huge illuminated hanging garden, good music, etc.)

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon (He was voted "Chef of the Century" in France, and the Paris version is actually better than any of the others I've been in at the MGM in vegas or the Four Seasons in NY which is now closed)

Pierre Gagnaire (or his smaller restaurant Gayot) - cutting edge chef

******Fontaine De Mars (my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE - although now that Barrack Obama went there it is a little harder to get in.  He must have gotten the email too.)

Bhudda Bar / Bario Latino  (clubby - cool rooms, great music.  Wed night is salsa night at Bario Latino, very fun).

*****Breizh Cafe (awesome crepes near Bastille / Plaza de Vosges) - this is the least expensive place on the list, and one of the best.

*****Chez Andre (brasserie with really good seafood, just a few blocks off the Champs and very near my friend's place where we were staying.  Its the kind of place with a guy full time shucking huitres (Oysters) at the front door).  Another great place for Oysters/Fresh seafood is Atlas over in St. Germaine.

******Les Deux Magots (standard bistro, but full of history - think "Midnight in Paris"....  hemingway, et. al. used to hang there)

***** Relais L'entrecote in St. Germain (not for vegetarians... only menu is "rare/medium/well"  - just steak frites, no other options.  But it's a good value and it tastes great.  They actually serve you seconds because the restaurant is small and they don't have enough room to put everything on the plate the first time)

Also - an art gallery on St. Germain that I highly recommend: http://www.yelp.com/biz/arts-galerie-bencha%C3%AFeb-paris-2  They feature a Tunisian painter named Michel Giliberti whose work I find incredible.

PSA - Be good to your shoes

Jos. A. Bank has their Jos. A. Bank Cedar Shoe Tree for $25 - 70% off promotion code SEVENTY = $7.50. Shipping is free with promotion code SHIPFREE.  

Not sure how long this will last, but if you have good shoes without trees, now's a perfect time to stock up.   Will write a little more on the importance of shoe trees later.

welcome

It started with an email:

Having gained a reputation for my solid sense of savoir-vivre, some clients new to NYC asked for my recommendations.  I'm from Chicago, but I've spent enough time here to accumulate a list of things that most tourists probably don't find on their first few trips.  This email is a few years old, so one or two items have become a little out-dated, but it's still a worthy thought starter to plan a trip to NY.

In the future, I will use this space to chronicle my travels, dining adventures, and general musings on sports, fashion, love and life.  If anyone is actually reading, I'm happy to answer questions on any of those subjects.  I'll also share my sources for information and general philosophy for finding the best stuff as a visitor in a world-class city.

And  here's the email that started it all
.................................................

Joe -

Asyou know, this is a BIG city, so lots of people will tell you lots of differentthings.. it’s probably all good advice.  Here are some of my favorites:

1. I love ethnicfood. 
• In Chinatown, my favorite is Joe’s Shanghai.  There’s also one on 56^th – not quite the same, but still good.  Pretty authentic. 
•  Ippudo makes awesome Ramen – but they don’t take reservations, so you sometimes have to wait a long time.  Not as bad if you’re solo.  Hung-RY is supposed to be as good or better, but I have not been; it’s relatively new.  There’s also a place called Totto Ramen on 52^nd and 9^th (the other two are Lower East Side and NoHo) – it’s much smaller and has a sign-up sheet on the door.  Another long wait.
•     There’s some thai on every corner.  Most of it is decent.  I tend to check zagat before I go someplace... Pam's Real Thai (cash only) in Hell's Kitchen is super tight.
•    Centrico in TriBeCa is a great Nuevo-latino / Mexican place.  It’s chef Aaron Sanchez who is on TV every now and then.  It’s not super pricey, but has a nice atmosphere.  It’s a stone’s throw from Nobu, TriBeca Grill, and a few other gems all part of Drew Nieporent’s Myriad Restaurant Group.
•  Katz’s Deli is a little touristy, but it still rocks.  Round potato knishes there are fantastic, and I think they may come from the Yoneh Schimmel knish company which is a few doors down.  Also near there is Russ & Daughters, a traditional Jewish “dairy” place… kind of the opposite of a deli, since mixing milk and meat is not Kosher.  Great caviar, pickled herring, smoked fish, etc., and some chocolates and candies as well.  During the Jewish holiday of Purim (march, usually) they make fantastic Hamentashen which is a triangular cookie with a fruit filling fashioned after the three cornered hat worn by the villain Haman who was trying to kill all the Jews.
• Il Posto Accanto (190 E 2^nd St.) is that little Italian place (here’s the article from Departures) http://www.departures.com/articles/new-yorks-great-italian-restaurant
• The David Chang restaurants are also great – all named “Momofuku … “ there’s one called “Ma Peche” on 56^th that makes great food.  The noodle bar, saam bar , and KO are all on the lower east side, I believe
•   Eataly – the Mario Battali grocery + + near the flatiron building
• For lunch near the GM building, there’s a pretty solid “quick service” Cuban place on 56^th on the north side of the street between 5^th and 6^th .  I’ve only had the Cubano sandwiches, but I like them.
•  I love Korean, but have never gotten any in NY.  I know Woo Lee Oak in Soho is kind of famous, but I assume there are some less known places that are better and less expensive... near Herald Square on 32nd street/"kimchee alley"
2. Fine Dining (these are all budget busters)
• Le Bernardin is probably the best of the high end restaurants in NY where I’ve eaten.  Seafood focused – Eric Ripert is really a perfectionist , and it shows.
•  I’ve also eaten at the L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon here – very consistent brand.. always great food.
• Other notables – Per Se, Masa, Babbo, Marea, ABC Kitchen, Daniel, Jean Jorges, Eleven Madison Park
•  Craft and Gramercy Tavern are also both really good
•  For seafood, but not sushi, a lot of folks love One if by Land
3. Some of my Other Favorites
• Blue Ribbon  (on prince and Sullivan in SoHo) – not the sushi place – just “Blue Ribbon”
•  David Burke’s Kitchen in the James Hotel (also has a great bar)
•  DBGB – A lower end Daniel Boloud concept – lots of burgers and cured meats… really hits the spot
• Other great burgers – 5napkin, Corner Bistro, Shake Shack
• Upscale bar owned by a friend called Tavern on Jane in the Village.  Right across the street from Corner Bistro[<RLA>]   (actually recently mentioned in Zagat blog for best burgers you don’t know about in NYC)
• There’s a Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner center.  Sadly, the wait almost makes it un-doable.
4. Steak - All the big chains are here, but I’d focus on Old Homestead and Peter Lugar’s.  Sparks is notable because John Gotti’s crew whacked Big Paul Castellano out front; and the steaks are good too, allegedly, but I’ve never been.  Of the Chains, David Burke’s Primehouse is my current favorite.  He owns his own stud bull, and ages his meats in a Himalayan salt cellar for exorbitant amounts of time (up to 75 days – almost doesn’t require cooking or chewing)
5. Shopping
•  Leffotshoes (http://www.leffot.com/) some realbeauties here 
•  BarkerBlack Shoes (near China Town in Soho)
•  Century21 was a bit of a mess, but they had some great stuff… Ferragamo Ties and RLPLties for like $50
• ThePeter Lik gallery in Soho is always fun to check out.  Some greatphotography if you’re not already familiar with his work.  There’sactually a peter lik gallery in the Plaza as well, I think.
•  TheJ Crew “liquor store” in TriBeca has all kinds of high-end collaborations youcan’t get in a normal mall J Crew.  Alden shoes, globetrotter luggage,barbour jackets, etc.
•  Aroundthe corner from J Crew is the Steven Alan flagship.  I like some of thestuff there, but it would really depend on your style.

Here are some recent additions (edit:  added circa. fall 2011):

The Modern (bar / restaurantnext to MOMA – see and be seen, great bartenders, great small plates food)

Anejo Tequilaria – Angelo Sosafrom Top Chef – super good in Hell’s Kitchen – his other restaurant Social Eatz(53^rd/2^nd) is Asian inspired sandwiches

Thai – I’ve settled onPongsri.  A few locations. 23^rd and 6^th is best

Red Hed Bar – super good friedchicken on LES; menu has lots of southern/Cajun inspired stuff that also looksgreat

Holey ice cream on 9^th– they make these donut ice cream sandwiches.  Avoid the donuts, go fortheir homemade oatmeal raisin cookie ice cream

Joe’s pizza in thevillage.  Still haven’t been there, but EVERYONE says it’s the best.