A Week of Dining and Redecorating Adventures
When it comes to dining in the Big Apple, my late, wise mom used to say–
“If you want good French food, go to France. If you want good Italian food, go to Italy. If you want good everything, come to New York.”
This week, I was reminded of just how true this is as I had the pleasure of eating out five times (a personal record, I think). Four of those meals were at three favorites: my beloved Beach Cafe, La Fonda Del Sol and Hill Country Barbecue.
The fifth brought me one of the great foodie joys of being a New Yorker — discovering a fantastic new restaurant right at your doorstep.
Jean Claude II is utterly delightful (photo courtesy: jeanclaudenyc.com)
Tuesday night, my friend Colin and I enjoyed dinner at Jean Claude II, a cozy, charming little French bistro on the UES that I’ve walked past many times. Perfect for quiet conversation, the restaurant also offers warm, attentive service and fabulous food. The escargot, sautéed skate and chocolate mousse are all magnifique.
An effervescent force of nature, Colin and I met through work a few years ago — the company he worked for was producing a photo shoot at The Westin New York Grand Central. But he was already acquainted with me–
“Are you the single gal?” he asked, a reference to my dating blog, SingleGalNYC.com.
We immediately hit it off, as he blew me away with his creativity and extraordinary talent for completely transforming a space.
I am having the great good fortune of tapping into Colin’s expertise as I continue my big home makeover project. After dinner, we spent hours going over every nook and cranny of my place. Thanks to Colin’s suggestions, I have moved some furniture around so my living room already feels like it has been infused with new energy and breathing space.
The buffet and table pictured here are showcased so much more in this new configuration!
The same could be said of my perspective on other areas of life. I’ve never felt readier or more excited for the fresh start afforded by a new year. Those feelings only grow with each change I make to my abode.
Green accent wall, here I come!
