C'est Classique

Lillia, Brooklyn

Saturday, June 23, 2018 - 6 comments

Lilia serves beautiful Italian dishes in an refreshed auto-body shop in Williamsburg. Even before the restaurant's James Beard 2018 best chef award, Lilia has been one of the hardest reservations to land in the New York city area. With incredible Italian fare, wine, and dessert, Lilia's is worth the trouble (logging into resy at midnight 30 days in advance) to land the illusive dinner reservation.

WHAT TO ORDER

Cacio e Pepe Fritelle (top left) and Grilled Clams, Calabrian Chili, Breadcrumbs (bottom right)

Cauliflower, Spicy Soppressata, Sicilian Pesto, Majoram

Rigatoni Diavola, San Marzano Tomatoes, Chilies, Oregano, Pecorino

Grilled Lamb Leg Steak, Roman Spices, Fennel, Celery

Apple Tart, Ice Cream

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abcV, New York City

Sunday, June 17, 2018 - 3 comments

abcV is one of three Jean-Georges restaurants nestled in the Flatiron interior decorating outpost, ABC Carpet & Home. The V of abcV stands for vegan. While this location is popular amongst New York's vegans (Beyonce and Jay Z to name a few), the restaurant promises an outstanding meal no matter what your dietary restrictions are.

RESERVATIONS

Aim to lock down a reservation 2-3 weeks in advance. On hot summer weekends you could probably land a walk-in table when the city dwellers flock to the Hamptons.

ATMOSPHERE

abcV has a clean and modern vibe that is simple and approachable. The friendly waiters, clad in jeans and (probably organic) cotton t-shirts, make the high-end vegan food approachable. They even provide a vegetable guide within the menu to explain all the food options and vocabulary you may not be familiar with. Sit al fresco when the weather permits to get the complete neighborhood charm.

FOOD

Like the restaurant's decor, the food is light and clean. The menu is seasonal and the organically-sourced vegetables provide refreshingly bright and flavorful dishes. This restaurant has some great comfort food (a la the Mushroom Walnut Bolognese) but is an especially strong choice if you are looking for a light, healthy, and satisfying meal on a hot and humid New York Summer night.

WHAT TO ORDER:

1) Green chickpea hummus, thai basil, fresh pita and crudité (voted one NYTimes 10 best dishes of 2017)

2) Slow roasted beets, dijon, avocado puree, chili aioli, pickles, lovage

3) Half roasted cauliflower with turmeric-tahini and pistachios

4) Fresh spinach spaghetti, broccoli, kale, preserved lemon, garlic, grana, saffron crumbs (dairy garnish optional)

5) Handmade vegetable pasta special (depending on availability)

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Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination

- 6 comments

The Met's spring 2018 Costume exhibition, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, explores the relationship and influence of Catholicism on fashion. If you frequent the annual fashion installation, this one will have a bit of a different feel.

For starters the exhibit is on view The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters in New York. Secondly, the exhibit is seamlessly integrated amongst the Met's Mid-evil collection and the exhibit is on view almost immediately after walking into the museum. This feels like less of a production and more of a natural extension of the Met's permanent collection. Nonetheless, the fashion on display features unworldly embellishment, craftsmanship, and opulence that could only be demanded under such holy circumstances.

Tips for visiting:

Make sure to visit The Anna Wintour Costume institute to see items that are on view for the first time ever outside of the Vatican
New York Residents can pay admission by donation
Check if your employer or bank is a corporate sponsor, they often offer discounted or free admission
Visit during a weekday or early mornings on the weekends to avoid large groups
Make the trip up to the cloisters to see the rest of the exhibit, same day admission to the Cloister is included in your ticket

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Best Dressed: The 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards

Tuesday, June 5, 2018 - 5 comments

The 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards celebrate achievement in fashion and are always a lively, fresh, and colorful carpet to muse for celebrity style inspiration. Brock Collection and Frame stole the show, dressing with a number of the night's brightest stars, with looks that were perfectly feminine, flirty, and fun for the pre-summer carpet season. Here are the most memorable looks from the night:

Josephine Skriver in Zuhair Murad