February 28, 2018 Fly to NYC Lunch – Campesi Salads Dinner – Mirabelle

February 28, 2018 Fly to NYC  Lunch – Campesi Salads  Dinner – Mirabelle

We rose at 4:30 for our 6:30 flight to Dallas connecting to New York

We arrived in Dallas at around 9:00 and on our way. To our NYC flight bought salads at Campesi’s airport kiosk.  I took a chopped salad with chopped green and black olives, artichokes, tomato, provolone cheese, and salami with iceberg lettuce and a vinegar dressing.

Suzette got a chicken salad with lots of organic greens which she did not eat, which I added to my salad.

When we arrived at New York La Guardia we cabbed to Melissa’s 107 86th street.  We talked and drank a couple of bottles of rose and looked at her newly remodeled apartment, that is going to be lovely with lots of gray tile and white birch cabinetry.

We walked to Amsterdam Ave and went into a liquor store and bought a bottle of Bordeaux rose for 11.99 and a bottle of By Ott, which is a new rose wine from Cotes Du Provence for $21.99.  On the way back to Melissa’s I saw a restaurant across the street named Mirabelle.  I looked at the menu and although the prices were in the $30+ range, the menu looked classically French.  We drank the Bordeaux rose at then walked across the street to Mirabelle at 102 W. 86th St.  We were seated in the middle of the restaurant since we were the second  customers.  Soon others arrived.  The menu was sensible French standards.  Suzette ordered a monkfish in lobster sauce and Melissa ordered a daily special of braised lamb shank.  I was torn between lamb sweetbreads and roasted duck in a Mirabelle (white plum) sauce.  The waitress said, take the duck.  “Okay,” I said.

We each ordered a glass of wine.  I took a Cotes Du Rhone red, Suzette took a Sancerre for her Monkfish, and Melissa took a rose’.

I tasted each dish.  I loved the Monkfish with a lobster sauce.  Melissa’s lamb shank was good also, rather firm, but tender.  My duck was roasted to perfection but the skin was not crisp.  Each dish was served with polenta and sautéed vegetables.  Mine were red bell peppers, onion,  and broccoli.  A good meal but not a great meal.

I was unable to eat my entire ½ duck, so asked the waitress to wrap up the ½ duck breast, polenta and mashed potatoes.  The mashed potatoes were wonderful, creamy and smooth without any lumps.

We the taxied to Rebecca’s to spend the night.  She was gracious enough to stay with Mickey so we could stay in her apartment.

We went to bed at 9:00 after our long da6 of travel.

Bon Appetit