With all of my daydreaming about exotic getaways, I plead absolutely guilty to taking New York City for granted. My hometown remains the number one destination in the USA for overseas travelers for very good reason - NYC has superb entertainment, eats, and energy! To make amends, I am launching a new segment on my blog called A New York Minute to highlight what's fabulous and glamorous in the Big Apple. Whether you are a tourist or a local, don't miss the chance to see and be seen in NYC!
One of my favorite chefs, the very talented Alain Allegretti, has just opened a gorgeous new restaurant in Chelsea - La Promenade des Anglais. Named after a celebrated seaside promenade in Nice, the cuisine is inspired by the French Riviera with subtle Italian influences. The menu will rotate seasonally to showcase high quality ingredients at their peak. I had lunch there yesterday and was seduced by the luxurious setting and exceptional cuisine. A welcome taste of the Mediterranean in Manhattan, I can't wait to go back to La Promenade for dinner.
I love the Mediterranean blue velour banquettes, ornate ceiling, and brass light fixtures in the dining room at La Promenade - very elegant yet warm and inviting.
I ate every morsel of my Trofie. The tiny little pasta spirals were perfectly prepared with heirloom tomatoes, capers, olives, and juicy ventresca tuna. Ventresca comes from the belly of the tuna and is prized for its rich flavor and velvety texture. I could easily eat this dish several times a week.
The swanky bar at La Promenade is the perfect spot to rendezvous and flirt. Ooh la la!
Zucchini Pound Cake sounds deceptively simple but Chef Allegretti's interpretation is enhanced by the addition of olive oil gelato and pine nut brittle. The moist texture of the cake meld beautifully with the smooth gelato and the crunchy brittle.
La Promenade des Anglais is located at 461 West 23rd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues.
images courtesy of La Promenade des Anglais
