Keep on Rockin’: Installment 2

“Would you like your bacon crisp?” I want to marry this man. I’m sitting at Norma’s on 56th Street. Normally I shy away from hotel restaurants (this one is in Le Parker Meridien) but Norma’s was so emphatically recommended by ‘egrossman’ that I could not resist. Let me start by saying there is no pleasure as great as breakfast by oneself. Aside from a wine-laden dinner with close friends, this is my favorite meal. I asked my server which item I should order from the “Your Mom Can’t Make This” section (full of waffles, pancakes, French toast, etc.) and he immediately replied that the Crunchy French Toast was the only choice to make. Complete the offering with the aforementioned crisp bacon, steaming coffee (my very own pot!) and fresh-squeezed OJ. As I’m waiting for my food to come, I will update you on dinner last night.

When you walk into a Michelin-2-Star restaurant as highly praised as Alto, you are bound to be disappointed. So imagine my surprise when in fact, my expectations were surpassed. What a delightful evening! Our seat was amazing: we were perched high above the larger dining room on a little glass-enclosed balcony. It was the ultimate people-watching perch and made me feel like I was flying. Please see my poor excuse for a photo here:

On to the rest of the experience: I love a restaurant where the server wears a suit. Like a real suit (not a hipster suit-as-uniform suit). He looked like an adult – a super-knowledgeable, super-friendly, super-professional one. He knew everything about the menu (believe me – I tried to stump him). He immediately sent over the somellier who kindly helped us select one of the most delicious Chardonnays I’ve ever had. This one was from Piedmont, Italy, and it defied all expectations (and biases) I have regarding Chardonnay. No oak. No butter. Just a silky, full body that took me effortlessly through seared scallops, spicy lamb/mint pasta, and roasted Branzino. We finished our meal with a cheese course. Perfectly done, Alto! The cheeses were appropriately at room temperature and were served with simple but delicious accompaniments, including warm toasted raisin bread. It’s a cheese presentation I would have done myself and it reminded me that Raschera is one of the best cheeses on the planet (and the glass of Moscato didn’t hurt, either). Overall, a sublime experience. 

Back to breakfast:
Well, imagine my bliss when I realized that the “Crunchy French Toast” was crunchy because it was coated in Rice Crispies. Snap crackle pop, baby!

The toast itself, being about 2 inches thick, falls into the “there’s no way you can eat all of this” category but I gave it the old college try, making it through one piece. It came with two little glass bottles of syrup, but who needs syrup when there’s caramel sauce? So I put them in my purse for my daughter (she, being small, likes all things small). This menu is fantastic. I’m sad I was unable to order more than one item because man oh man do they have a lot of sinful starchies. Every type of pancake, waffle, toast, and crepe you can imagine – and many you can’t. Surprisingly, the woman next to me is eating Muesli. MUESLI!!! With yogurt!!! What is wrong with this person? At least her date is making up for her transgression by shoveling down a huge pile of gooey pancakes with some sort of creamy pudding on top. Good for you! Do not cave to the Muesli eaters of the world!

Ah, he just refilled my OJ. I really want to marry this man. Oh wait – I’m already married. Honey, I’d like my bacon crisp.

Next stop: Magnolia Bakery. Only cause it’s on the way back to my hotel. And cause they have cupcakes.