Archive for June 29th, 2010

Art begets art: YSL is Ari Marcopoulos’ latest muse

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Photog and film artist Ari Marcopoulos’s new vid “No Way Back,” to commemorate the launch of Yves Saint Laurent’s Spring 2011 men’s collection, is beautiful and raw.

My brother Siddhartha Shukla is YSL’s Global Communications Director.

Fancy food is the bees knees, with local honey, natch.

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
so ornate

too much? (photo by Krista Garcia)

We went to Blue Hill last night. It was nice, but something shifted in my mind and I think that I am over fancy food.

I like the farm-to-table concept very much, but the patrons and staff at Blue Hill take themselves too seriously. It was not a relaxed environment. The food and drinks were delicious and presented beautifully but my salad was much too artfully composed. The cocktails were too-lovingly crafted. The dessert presentation was ornate bordering on ridiculous. I found myself longing for simple, un-self-consciously rustic meals a la Peter Luger or even Blue Smoke, and pretended not to remember that those are meat restaurants where all I can eat are side dishes.

I am going to explore new places and re-visit restaurants to see if this mood holds, and if I can find restaurants that balance service, values and atmosphere well. CRAFT BAR might be ok, Stuzzichini would be if only the service was not worse every time I go. I never made it to Corton but I’m afraid that it’s too late. The food descriptions remind me of paintings. Do you have any suggestions? Oh – Blue Ribbon Bakery is good; all the Blue Ribbons in fact. Phew.