financier

midtown, nyc

website

the original location of this cleverly named patisserie is in the financial district (a financier is both a type of french pastry and someone who handles a lot of money -- get it?), which is located at the southernmost tip of manhattan. this means that lazybones like myself only tasted pastries from this bakery when one of my friends (usually jenny or dorothy) brought some to the office or to a party. on those rare occasions, tarts and pies from financier were a special treat.

something happened, however, when financier opened a branch just a few blocks away from my office. perhaps distance does make the heart grow fonder because i found that the midtown location's pastries are good, but not amazing. the dining area of the bakery is cluttered and dirty. the sandwiches are small and take forever for them to make. we still go every now and then to get some coffee and perhaps satisfy a craving for sweets, but sadly, the allure is gone.

stella manhattan bistro

front (beekman/ peck slip)

website

derek and i braved the throngs of tourists at south street seaport on saturday. we avoided the tourist traps at the actual seaport and walked along front street trying to decide which of the restaurants to try. derek had been here before for work and had enjoyed the charcuterie plate, so we decided to stop in stella.

excellent wine by the glass and the charcuterie plate was pretty good too. derek's favorites were the sliced turkey and the pate. service was a little slow, but the staff was friendly. our entrees, however, were unfortunately below par. so if you're in the area, stop by for some wine, cheese, and meats, but not for dinner.

battery gardens

new york, ny

website

battery park in the summer is full of tourists and people who are selling things to tourists. still, it's beautiful to be in the park and near the water. and if you find yourself in battery park when it's time for your next meal, i'd say try battery gardens. jinny introduced me to this place and i went back again today with derek's parents after taking a quick tour of derek's office.

the pic is my prosciutto-fig tart. food is good but not worth the price. the service is terrible. but from the outdoor seating area you can see the statute of liberty, governor's island, watch the ferries go by and observe people fishing (??) in the murky waters around manhattan.