I don’t believe that business and pleasure are mutually exclusive, so on my recent business trip to NYC, I enjoyed the last evening with my friend, Aline, at Bar Boulud. I have been a fan of Daniel Boulud‘s for a while now and a confirmation of delicious food from my friend, Mayssam, sealed the deal on visiting this famed bistro near Manhattan’s Lincoln Center. While the restaurant is considered a casual dining experience, the high stools surrounding the counters, the wooden banquettes, and the resto’s communal tables and didn’t fool Aline and I. We knew that the cuisine would be nothing but extraordinary. After all, owner chef Daniel Boulud also owns Daniel, a NYC gastronomic wonder that’s ranked 8th by S. Pelligrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants. That night Bar Boulud proved itself to be an apple that didn’t fall far from the Daniel tree. The Peekytoe Crab Salad appetizer that we shared made with pink grapefruit, jalapeños, avocado, and tarragon blew both of us away. For our main course, I chose a French classic (fitting for our night at this French bistro), Steak Frites, while Aline decided on Fricassee de Flet, or sautéed fluke, Florida rock shrimp, spring peas, and black trumpets doused in sherry juice. When it came time for desert, we couldn’t pass up trying La Tige, or poached rhubarb, pistachio sponge cake, and red wine-rhubarb sorbet, and the Caragin, a scrumptious salted caramel tart with dried chocolate crêpe flakes and cardamom cream. If heaven can be found in a desert, it might be in either one of these two!
For such high-end food, it was only appropriate that Aline and I dressed in high-end fashion to match. While Aline looked every inch a goddess in a royal blue Catherine Malandrino dress, I opted for a chic Elizabeth & James black dress, my trusty Louboutin heels, and a Chanel bag. Between the fashion and the food, this experience was a serious treat for two women serious about the business of indulging and enjoying their night!
xoxo
