I owe you some Telluride tips, don’t I?
Yeah, I know!
I’m making it up to you now.
I wish I had the chance to write a top 10 restaurants feature, since that’s all I can actually talk about – food – since I’m far from an expert in mountains and skiing.
But it was only 5 days in heaven, which means it was impossible to go to 10 restaurants, right? Nope. That’s easy for me. But we didn’t, since we only had one meal a day.
So I brought together everything we had here for you guys.
Let’s go?
Palmyra is the first restaurant we’ve been to! Kinda accidentally since it was so close to home.
We got there about 3 pm and they were serving only snacks, a reduced snack menu, you know? No actual meals.
I was a little frustrated, since I was starving.
The good thing is that during happy hour you can have a glass of wine for 6 dollars.
All we need in a time of financial crisis!
We had some pizza-slash-sandwich which I didn’t enjoy especially, and I can’t talk about the food since we didn’t have an actual meal there.
But the wine was incredible and the view was so beautiful. The place is all made of glass, on a high floor. Sunset view from the table! Amazing!
La Marmotte was recommended by a friend who’s a regular. It’s as cute as you can see from the picture, looks like a chalet!
Very intimate atmosphere – it’s actually a little house, very small, no view. All closed, with one table by the window (which we got! yay!) but all you can see is the snow on their backyard.
Cosy and cute.
Alpino Vino is the most famous restaurant around there. Everyone recommended it. We booked it for dinner.
It’s an event in itself, since it’s the highest restaurant in North America. That single fact made me curious about it.
We made our reservation and by 6 pm we were waiting for the shuttle they offer to the location.
Yep, that red little truck in the picture! It’s their snow cab. They schedule the ride with everyone who’s going by the same time and there we go!
We went up the mountains forever before getting to the restaurant.
We arrived. Since we went by night, no view for us. Can you imagine being at the highest restaurant in North America but not being able to see anything, no view? Yeah…
We were greeted with a champagne glass and then moved to our table.
And it was beautiful, facing the fireplace, super romantic. And then the waiter came to our table to explain that the restaurant offered a tasting menu and each course harmonized with a different wine. All white. Which I don’t do. I only have red and rosé wine. So we were listening…
Then he explained that all we could pick was basically the main course and the dessert, from two options each. We ordered one each, since there were two. And we waited.
No prices were listed on the menu. No one told us that it worked that way when we booked, we were really surprised.
We asked if we could have red wine instead of white. The guy didn’t take it well. They take it wine very seriously around there, explain glass by glass before they serve it, details about the harvest and all, so he tried to convince us the whole time that their suggestion was the best and all. But we won. We ignored his babbling (he was actually rude, you know?) to have what we wanted.
And then the food started coming.
It was all very good. No woooow, but good.
And, in the end, the bill. US$ 700 for the couple. Not that good, right?
I believe that’s an important information to have in mind. If we knew it from the start, got prepared to it, I guess it would be fine. The problem is to be taken by surprise and having no other option. Taking the cab, getting to the top of the mountain and no one telling you what awaits you, giving you a menu with no prices listed… Well, kind of a prank! But it’s alright. It was a nice adventure and we laughed about it. Some story to tell…
In fact I told it in such great detail so no one can say I didn’t warn you and blame me afterwards!
The day after Alpino Vino! Lol. We went for a good old pizza to make up for it.
Some friends (pretty picky with food) recommended Crazy Elk for the best pizza ever. And the guys whom we shared the snow cab to Alpino told was about Brown Dog, where we accidentally bumped into while we were strolling around town. So there we went.
It’s REALLY cheap and REALLY good.
I still think about that pizza. And the slices are huge. We had one each with soda and payed about 8 dollars.
Amazing! Must go.
Our last restaurant, last night.
Loved it! I think it was my favorite. For those who like sushi, it’s excellent. I loved it.
We had a bunch of different stuff and it was all delicious!
It’s bigger, zero romance, zero snowy/cosy vibe. Large restaurant atmosphere. But the food was really, really good.
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That’s it
A bit of what we had in Telluride!
I usually say a little bit about lots of things, right? But now it was really a little bit about just a few things. I wish I had much more to eat, there are several restaurants on my list for the next time!
Soon, I hope!
Another check from my Oscars list!
I’m completely nuts about Eddie Redmayne. He’s on my top 5 favorite actors of all times. Easily.
If he’s in the movie, I’ll buy the tickets. Don’t even bother to know what’s the story about.
As for The Danish Girl, my obsession was with both him and the director, the Londoner Tom Hopper, who directed The King’s Speech and won the Oscars for best picture, actor, screenplay and (of course!) director in 2011, I think. 2011 or 2012.
Anyway… I also love his work. I’m a big fan of both. That’s why this was my first pick when I arrived in New York. I ran to the theater. I don’t think it’s out in Brazil yet. Is it? I don’t know…
It’s based on a true story, told in David Ebershoff’s book, and it takes place in Kopenhagen in the 20s. It tells the story of Lili Elbe, played by Eddie, the first trans woman to undergo a sex reassignment surgery. Can you imagine that in the 20s? If it’s shocking nowadays, imagine how it must have been…
We keep up with the character’s internal struggle the whole time. From beginning to end. Einar (the name of the character before the sex reassignment) is married to Gerda (played by the FANTASTIC Alicia Vikander) and, after trying a dress in order to pose for a painting of hers, something comes up inside him.
This is all on the trailer, ok? I’m not giving any spoilers!
The work of both actors is filled with sensitivity. I can’t remember any of her past works … Can you? I have a terrible memory… But I was delighted by her.
The chemistry between both, the moments of silence, the subtleness of their interpretation… They nailed it!
The direction is flawless. And the photography… Can’t even describe it. The frames are always really elaborate. Sophisticated… All very sensitive and touching.
I feel that Tom Hopper is taking home yet another statuette this year. And I think Eddie is also a very strong candidate. I swear I was really rooting for Di Caprio this year – I haven’t even seen his movie, but it’s for all he’s done. I don’t know if the Academy has some kind of pet peeve about him, why is it that he never won an award. So I really support him because I find him an incredible actor (and he was my teenage crush and all). Anyway, I was really going for him, but after seeing Eddie here, I felt like it got tougher for all the contestants.
By the way, he won the Oscars in 2014 for The Theory of Everything, remember that? And here he makes us equally breathless with his acting…
Anyway, let’s wait for the awards night and see!
Last weekend was for the foodie round!
I took advantage of the fact I had visitors (perfect excuse) to try again some of my favorite restaurants in São Paulo.
Brown Sugar was one of them. I had so many amazing stuff (I hadn’t been there for a while) that I thought it would be good to mention it here even though it wasn’t new.
I actually looked up at the archives to see if I hadn’t written about it before – I write about so much stuff that I got confused! But I didn’t find it. My mistake. And I’m making up for it right now! So take notes of this amazing restaurant at Jardins, in São Paulo:
I think it’s waaay nicer to go for dinner. I’ve never been there for lunch, but I assume so, since at night it’s all candlelit, with some music on, a whole atmosphere I guess they don’t have at lunch.
I mean, that’s just for those who’re looking for atmosphere. If what really matters for you is food, anytime is a good time, you’ll never leave unsatisfied.
Those were the starters we had!
I might even say it was the most delicious burrata I’ve ever had. Unbelievable! Of course the cheese can change according to the day, but still, lucky or not, the one we had has made to the top 3 best burratas in my whole life, on its way to the first place!
The rice dices and the coxinha are also happiness money can buy! Totally! I also tried the tartare, which I don’t particularly enjoy, but this one was pretty tasty.
That means, get there hungry so you can dig in the starters!
Incredibly delicious!
Now I feel like trying a whole bunch of stuff on the menu, so I’ll have to go back soon!
Oh, another reason to go for dinner and not lunch?
The cocktails!
They have a pretty long list of cocktails to offer. I tried two of them:
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Brown Sugar
Rua Padre João Manoel, 1055 – Jardins | (11) 3063.4249
I love to fall in love with new restaurants in São Paulo.
I feel like a tourist in my own city, you know? Such a good feeling…
And that’s how it went with Brasserie, which is no news, but I went for the first time this week!
First because I had one of the best rosés in my life – I’m a sucker for rosé wine.
You’re going to kill me since I can’t remember the name, but they only have two kinds of rosé and I went for the one they recommended to me at the time. So, so good!
Then, the starters…
I might even say those are the best starters I’ve ever had in São Paulo.
Check it out:
Those balls… I can’t even start! You must try it. If you’re into truffles, gosh…
God, just at the thought of it I feel like going back. It’s beaten my beloved Ritz rice balls.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I’m an old time fan. And I think that, if I had to choose between the rice or the risotto balls right now, gosh, I’d go to Brasserie to have the risotto ones. And the wine. And the carpaccio. I’d do it all over again. Every single calorie.
The carpaccio is also insane! It comes with mushrooms, parmesan cheese, also truffled… Oh, boy!
The fish of the day was also pretty good, but the starters were so amazing that I think the best thing to do is to order a bunch of them and then share a main dish with your date in the end.
That’s what I did.
Especially because there’s a mandatory dessert to finish in style!
I’d rather not say much…
Just go. And try it.
Tell me about it afterwards.
For those who live or stop by at São Paulo, I have to say it made easily to my Top 5 favorite restaurants!
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Phone: (11) 30613326
Rua Padre João Manoel, 1231
A few months went by without me going to the movies. You’ve probably realized it, right? Have you? No?
I feel like you get really fired up on the comments when I talk about a TV show (I guess that’s why I got to see more and more of it!), but I don’t feel the same reaction when I talk about film.
Why’s that? Any ideas?
All I know is that I’m crazy about movies and this will always be a subject here, when I’m able to overcome those unintentional pauses this crazy life imposes.
Now back to our regular program in great style: with my great muse Scarlett Joahansson starring a delightful film: Lucy.
Has anyone seen it? I loved it!
It’s definitely not the kind of movie I enjoy. I had a bunch of movies ahead of it in my to-watch list. But it was available at my flight back from NY so I didn’t resist to the face of my muse all over the movie poster. So I pressed play. And I loved it!
Scarlett plays an aimless, uninformed girl who accidentally gets involved in a completely shady business conducted by a powerful, violent Taiwanese gangster.
She goes from girl next door to a super evolved amazing warrior on the first 15 minutes of the movie. From there on, get ready to have lots of fun.
I caught myself laughing my head off. I was absorbed 100% of the time. I also watched the new Woody Allen movie on the flight. Loved it. But while it was on, I had to change positions in my seat or the earphones hurt me a bit. Regular stuff. But none of that happened while I was watching Lucy. There was no external world to compete with their story.
Scarlett nailed it as always. I’m a huge fan. Morgan Freeman is also incredible. In a less-is-more vibe. And all my loving to this actor I didn’t know Min-sik Choi. He rocked!
Great cast!
Don’t want to give spoilers. I want you to watch it and tell me about your impressions. I mean, is it silly? It is. A bunch of unreal stuff? Most definitely. But it’s delightful. Pure entertainment. Forget about intellectual stuff. Cult movies. And surrender to pure entertainment.
Fantastic entertainment.
Another wonderful play I watched at my last time in nyc.
I even think I started off wrong by saying “another play”, since this is “the” play.
Who saw me on snapchat bursting into tears on the interval between the first and second acts?
It touched me very, very deeply.
It’s the story of a boy who has some kind of autism, and one night finds the neighbor’s dog dead, murdered with a garden fork, and decides to investigate what happened.
Sounds ordinary, right? Well, no!
It won FIVE Tony Awards!
Best drama actor, best setting, best lighting, best director and best play.
What?
Was there anything left for the other plays?
I guess not…
Without any doubt the best direction I’ve ever seen, it’s incredible. And maybe I’m wrong to say only the direction is ingenious, since the setting and lighting are perfectly managed to make the director’s magic happen.
The actor is also something else…
You have to see it in order to understand!
And the text brings you to endless places… Endless sensations… Endless reflections.
I might even say it’s the spectacle that touched me the most so far!
So, if you’re in nyc, go!
Mandatory!
Another trip to New York, another list of new must-go restaurants!
I’ve made two or three lists like that before, right? Have you seen it?
I was away for less than a year and there were a bunch of new places again…
That’s why I love this place so much…
Are you ready?
Wanna check out my feast?
Let’s go!
I had never seen that many beautiful people in an only place – along with some amazing food as well. Actually, it’s a pretty tough choice between numbers 1 and 2. But since #2 is not open to the public (members only! I’ll get to it in a minute!), I thought it would be fairer to hand Indochine the first place.
This restaurant is nothing but new, alright? It’s pretty traditional. I had never been there though.
You have too book in advance, it’s pretty pricey, always packed, but it’s definitely worth it.
My favorite of the season, hands down!
Perfect for dinner and drinks before a night out!
This is the members only spot.
Yep, that’s it. That’s why it’s so cool…
You can find a Soho House at most big cities around the world (I’ve been to the NY, LA and Miami ones) and you can only get in if you’re a member or friends with one.
I went there for dinner before the Victoria’s Secret show party and almost gave up. On the party, I mean. I didn’t wanna leave the place – it was that good.
And by “that good” I mean all the beautiful people around!
The food is also pretty good. Brunch on weekends it’s super cool too, so find a friend who’s a member and go for it!
Third place for Alexa Chung’s nyc staple.
The Butcher’s Daughter. Let’s start by the name of the place. I’ve made up a story in my mind, about a girl who grew up watching her dad slaughter animals, all that pain, and so decided to do something about it: opening a super cute and delicious vegan spot.
I must confess I wasn’t very certain when I got there, since, for me and my child’s palate, food that’s both tasty and healthy is not easy to find. But I went for it.
The place is delightful, it was a beautiful, sunny day, so we sat by the balcony and I ordered the sandwich named after the restaurant. I love to go for the dishes named after the place, since it usually is their specialty.
Anyway, it was an incredibly delicious (gluten and dairy free, don’t ask me how) bacon and cheddar sandwich.
Feel like going back just at the thought of it.
Unbelievable…
So, so good!
And with a great audience too!
I’m definitely going back for brunch!
Right in front of Butcher’s there’s the Egg Shop – if it’s too packed you run to the Butcher’s which is much larger!
Yes, we have gluten, dairy and meat at the Egg. It’s a tiny, charming spot, Karlie Kloss’s go-to for brunch. Kind of like the new Gitane. That’s what I felt.
I didn’t eat there, got in and out ‘cause it was packed, but I’ll definitely be back to try it!
This one was recommended by some Brazilian friends who are living there!
Fancier, something more like Indochine but not as cool. Not that many cool people. More fancy people, you know?
AMAZING food!
In fact, I went to check it out because my friends told me it had just won some award of best in nyc, so I couldn’t let it out of my list.
Also a bit pricey, but if you’re in for a nice treat, it’s worth every penny!
I LOVE The Smile and I didn’t even go there this time! I promised I was only going to new places, remember?
Fine, I had to make an exception for some places, but unfortunately The Smile wasn’t one of them. Too bad!
It’s a hidden, less popular spot, you know what I mean? More of a cool spot. I had about three meetings with important people who picked the place.
Less likely to run into tourists and it’s all pretty delicious!
I fell in love with By Chloe!
Wanted to grab my laptop and spend the day working from there. Just sit and people watch.
Another incredible vegan spot! Except this one is less of a restaurant and more of a café, a quick bite. Not so much to sit and talk for hours, more grab-and-go.
They have a pretty famous vegan cheeseburger which is delicious! The muffins are amazing as well.
And everything I said for every place on this list: cool people all over the place…
A Brazilian friend of mine (who also like boys and lives in the city for years now) that Dimes has the most handsome boys in all nyc!
I didn’t make it. I passed by it right after I ate, so I just got in real quick, scanned it and left.
And, yes, beautiful people only. So I included it on the list even if I didn’t eat there, since another two friends recommended it to me as well.
So if any of you guys go there, eat for me and tell me how it was!
This is no news either, I’ve been there several times but I think I never mentioned it here. I went since Gabi Pugli said it was her favorite.
If you’re around, try the truffled cheeseburger and fries!
The last place is for Kikis. Pretty new Greek place (they opened in April, I think!) in the heart of Chinatown.
The entrance is on the picture, some chinese/japanese (I’ll never be able to tell them apart), no number, nothing. You just have to look for it, and you’ll find it quickly.
So… I went there because a friend whose taste I really trust said it was the BEST restaurant she’s ever been. Only beautiful people, amazing food, and all that.
Well, my experience wasn’t that good!
I got there craving some wine, tried all the rosés they had (no kidding!), then all the whites and I didn’t like any of them. Everything there is Greek, 100%. Even the salt on the table. It’s pretty traditional.
I tried some appetizers, had the moussaka and, really, it wasn’t all that.
I went there for lunch, so it was quiet. It’s a really tiny place, I guess the tiniest one I’ve been in nyc.
So I recommend that, if any of you want to try it, go for dinner and try to be as lucky as my friend, who went to the place three times in the 15 days she spent on the island and really enjoyed them all!
Maybe I’ll try it again next time…
Phew!
That’s it!
A bit of everything I’ve eaten…
Miss it so much already!
See you next time, nyc!
With yet another endless list of restaurants!
Ok ok ok…
Maybe not the world’s best, it can be too much.
Alright!
But the best in New York, it MOST DEFINITELY is.
And that’s not just me, ok?
I’ll explain!
I really missed this treats tag!
Long time no see, right?
So…
A friend who knows I’m obsessed with cheesecake was a bit shocked when I told him I didn’t know Eileen’s.
It was awarded best cheesecake in nyc for several years now on Trip Advisor. And it still holds the title.
And it’s a tiny little door on soho. Amazing!
I tried the strawberry one, my favorite flavor ever in the history of cheesecake.
And…. I had four of them!
Good enough for you guys?
It’s really fantastic. So good. Mandatory if you’re in nyc.
Enjoy cheesecake?
Then that’s the right place for dessert when you’re in soho.
They have all the flavors you can possibly imagine!
Just go for it!
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Eileen’s Special Cheesecake
17 Cleveland Place, New York