Marchesi di Barolo 90th Anniversary at TAK Room
I was honored to spend a delightful evening celebrating the Abbona family’s 90th Anniversary of owning their winery, Marchesi di Barolo, at Thomas Keller’s newly opened Hudson Yards restaurant TAK Room. The luxurious venue, offering stunning views over the city including the Vessel landmark, was ideal for an evening of exquisite wine tasting and Continental cuisine.
Valentina Abbona, now head of the winery, and her mother Anna introduced us to the history of their estate, with strong pride in their history and tradition. The Marchesi Di Barolo wine is referred to as “the king of wines and wine of kings” due to a French Noblewoman in the early 1800’s, Juliette Colbert de Maulévrier, being the first to see potential in the wine made in Barolo, sending barrels to the Italian king. The wine was praised for its unique power, elegance and strength. The Abbona family eventually were able to acquire the lands of the winery after Juliette’s death, starting a legacy of years of hard work aiming to enrich the traditions of the winery, in memory of Juliette’s techniques, with knowledge passed from parent to child combined with modern advancements across over five generations. The family’s commitment to continual hard work has been paramount to the high standards of the winery.
Anna and Valentina Abbona
We were served a range of flavorful wines throughout the evening, with Valentina explaining how their production varied. Despite being from different years, vineyards, and using methods of production, Valentina emphasised how all the wines had “the same soul.” A table favourite was the Sarmassa 2014, with a colorful dark and fruity taste that had a bit of fight in it to release its expressions gradually, which Valentina explained was due to the grapes being from a single vineyard that grew in the tougher conditions of rocky soil. Another favourite, the Barolo 2014 offered a different sharp and immediate taste, with its grapes being sourced from a blend of vineyards on the estate.
The wine paired beautifully with food from the TAK Room menu. First starters were served of fresh bread, “Super Chilled Iceberg Salad” with applewood smoked bacon and marinated tomatoes drizzled in Maytag blue cheese, followed by hand cut steak tartare. The main dish was “True Ribeye Steak” with spinach and buttermilk whipped potato. Each bite of the steak was like experiencing the delicious flavours for this first time, richly complemented by the deep and fruity tones of the wine. Dessert included an elegant “Dark Chocolate Layer Cake” and home-made caramelised popcorn.
For a range of exquisite wine options, try Marchesi di Barolo and discover more about the famed winery here. Also make sure to visit TAK Room at 20 Hudson Yards 5th floor, 10001, to enjoy a large menu of carefully made, delectable food in a timelessly elegant and luxurious setting.
Secret Summer is back!
Secret Summer is back for it’s 5th year in a row! On Sunday August 4th music by the High & Mighty Brass Band filled the Foundry as attendees sipped on spirits and cocktails while dancing the night away.
My favorite drinks at the event were from the London Essence booth, Westward Whiskey booth, and Fizzy Fox booth. I liked trying all of the drinks, but after I found the ones I liked I continued to go back for more!
Luckily Secret Summer was also a food festival so I was able to munch on delicious eats while having a few drinks. Unlimited drinks were included in the ticket price but the food was not. The different food trucks and vendors had countless food options ranging from 10 to 15 dollars.
Bad weather couldn’t even stop this party. The event was half indoors and half outdoors and everything was absolutely beautiful until the sky opened up in the last hour. But since everyone had more than a few drinks in their system, no one seemed to mind partying in the rain.
Samaritans 10-Year Anniversary Soiree
“Everybody needs a helping hand at some point in their life, when they do, Samaritans is there!”---Samaritans
Believe it or not, Samaritans, a Suicide Prevention Center in New York City has been around for 67 years. Beginning in 1952, Samaritans created the first suicide prevention hotline in the world. And today, it has developed into a network of 400 affiliated centers in 42 countries. Over these years, Samaritans has answered over 1.3 million calls and provided 24/7 emotional support to people dealing with loss, trauma, illness, or simply need someone to talk to.
Besides the efforts of 40,000 health providers, Samaritans wouldn’t have saved so much lives from desperation without the community support, which was given a massive thank you during the Spring Soiree Anniversary.
2019 is a special year for Samaritans, with the group celebrating its 10th annual Soiree. On Tuesday, April 9, the party was held at the breathtaking 230 Fifth Empire Penthouse, a ballroom facing the majestic Empire State Building and the city’s beautiful night scene. The Soiree was kicked off with a fabulous silent auction featuring many items like the Miami Getaway journey. Winners will escape the New York cold a spend a carefree weekend at the stunning Mondrian South Beach, enjoying the local food and beverages that took them further to Mexico. I was fascinated by this idea, as it substantiated the concept of how we can relive our stress by calling the Samaritan Hotline, where warmth, love, and understandings resides.
Later in the night, Samaritans’s Board President Wes Puryear and Executive Director Alan Ross took the stage and delivered a Thank You Speech to the crowd. Some of them were attending for the first time, and some have been truth-hearted followers for the past 10 years. Audience with a great variety of identities in terms of age, race, gender, culture, occupation, and more came to celebrate the night together because the prevention of suicide, as a public health issue tied to mental health, proved the universality of people around the world. Everybody, under certain circumstances, can feel distressed and suicidal. Everyone, at certain moments in their life, needs a helping hand.
When you are in the dark, it is better to stand with people and hold their hands than stay alone. As Alan Ross said during his speech, the Soiree was a concept of Samaritan’s core value. Guests were regaled with comfort food and beverages of two open bars. There were live performances by the incredible magician John Born, who could restore the Rubik’s Cube and read your minds in less than one second. Lively music by the genre bending, Darius Christian and DJ David “Prints” Aguilar ran through the night.
The venue was lightened by twilit light bulbs in the room and city lights through the windows. As I was relishing the beef burger and sipping from the champaign, I realized that this is how life is. We can be fragile in the darkness, but we can always talk to people and treat ourselves with drinks, snack, music, and magic. Oh and maybe a getaway to Miami.
Grand Opening of RFTP at the POD BK Hotel
On Wednesday, July 11, POD BK Hotel presented its guests and visitors with a new bar in town: RFTP. The bar is a lounge located on the rooftop of the POD BK Hotel.
RFTP is the perfect spot for an after-work hangout or a weekend meetup. It features an extensive terrace with a comfy lounging area and a large bar, which offers delicious drinks such as Frosé, Modelo and Pacifico. To complement the drinks, RFTP presents “Vegetable Garden,” which is a mixture of seasonal vegetables served on quinoa with a touch of black olive and burnt leek powder to resemble edible soil, all accompanied by a buttermilk ranch dip. The “Artichoke Dip,” which is a delightful mix of cauliflower, garlic confit, seared fontina, is served with pita chips and guarantees a perfect match to any drink from the bar. RFTP also provides classic side appetizers, such as a charcuterie board and paratha flatbread, which consists of feta, figs, arugula and balsamic.
Extend your visit to RFTP by also staying at the POD BK Hotel, which features a clean and minimalist design with splashes of color. The hotel, which opened in October of 2017, features cozy rooms with bunk beds and queen-size beds, while also emphasizing comfort in a close-knit space. Each hotel room is small, but as one of the staff members pointed out, “You come to New York to be outside of your hotel room.” Indeed, the hotel is a perfect place to rest and re-energize before heading to the city.
247 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Photos courtesy of RFTP
Make My Cake Upper West Side Opening
Make My Cake, Aliyyah Baylor’s café and sweet treats shop, has opened up a new location on the Upper West Side. Inspired by the baking traditions of Alabama and Mississippi, Make My Cake is home to traditional southern sweet treats with a Harlem twist. Aliyyah launched Make My Cake after gathering a collection of family recipes that have been around for nearly 40 years. Now, Make My Cake is home to numerous sweets, including custom cakes and homemade pies, and its fan base includes Jay-Z and Tina Fey, as well as Fortune 500 Executives.
Aliyyah’s mother formed roots of the business in a family kitchen in the Bronx when Aliyyah was only five years old. The family moved to Harlem, where Aliyyah became her mother’s apprentice. However, shortly after Aliyyah attended college, her mother took on a corporate job and passed the business down to Aliyyah.
The business grew rapidly due to its unique recipes. Aliyyah’s grandmother, Ma Smith, grew up in Mississippi on a family farm, where she grasped the details and history of Southern cooking. The rest of the business was inspired by Harlem, since it has become a home to Make My Cake for more than 20 years.
What makes Make My Cake special is that every sweet treat is taken care of differently, strictly following the family recipe guidelines. There are no “mystery” ingredients involved, but there are specific baking methods required. “Our pound cake is truly a pound of everything, made the max 4 at a time,” said Aliyyah. “Our sweet potato pie and cheesecake only use fresh baked not boiled sweet potatoes, [while] our ice cream is made from a custard base my grandmother created when I was young.”
Make My Cake is not a regular dessert spot; it is a place to which you come to savour every flavor of homemade sweets. Whether it is in its original spot in Harlem, or at the new location on the Upper West Side, Make My Cake allows you to travel through various southern flavors. And if you’re not in Manhattan, no need to worry as Make My Cake, is aiming to expand. “We will start to ship nationwide by the end of the year as well as open two other locations, one of them will be in Brooklyn,” said Aliyyah. “Our goal is to open boutique bakeries that can be franchised to the home bakery looking to leap into entrepreneurship.”
Make My Cake
Photos courtesy of Make my Cake
The Springs Preview
If you are on the lookout for a new summer cocktail bar, The Springs is the place to go. Located on the border of Brooklyn and Queens in the Greenpoint neighborhood, The Springs offers a 1950s Southern California vibe without having to leave New York.
Sarah Boisjoli Photography
Sarah Boisjoli Photography
Sarah Boisjoli, who is a mixologist, photographer, and the owner of the new “it” spot, introduces a wide variety of perfect summer cocktails. The cocktails include classics, such as the Old-Fashioned, but also cocktail slushies that come in surprising flavors and with unique names, such as Sunburn (Tequila, Aloe Vera, Blue Curacao, and Lime), Desert Springs (Milagro Silver Tequila, Dolin Blanc, cucumber, mint and Thai chile), Riverside Revival (Hendricks gin, grapefruit cordial, lemon, and Absinthe). If you are feeling a bit more on the traditional side, you are welcome to grab a refreshing Pina-Colada or a classic Coca-Cola float from the bar.
Sarah Boisjoli Photography
Sarah Boisjoli Photography
To complement the delicious assortment of summer cocktails, you are welcome to grab a juicy beef burger, mac’n’cheese, or a martini-flavored grilled cheese. Want something a bit more on the healthier side? Try the eggplant rollatini sticks that come with their own special dip.
Sarah Boisjoli Photography
Sarah Boisjoli Photography
Sarah Boisjoli Photography
The Springs has everything and more to offer. With summer temperatures in town, it is the perfect time to pay a visit to Southern California without breaking the bank by taking the train to 224 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222.
Photos courtesy of Springs