WHITESTONE’S SUCCESSFUL SMORGASBORD OF CUISINES

Whitestone Merchants Association held a special event, A Taste of Whitestone. On Thursday, May 2 various restaurants and providers offered what were supposed to be “sample tastes” of their food and drinks as a way of advertising new and older eateries in the community.

The event was held at Holy Cross Greek Church, 11-05 150^th Street from 7 to 9pm. However due to both the raffles and entertainment, it extended just a bit more.  There was certainly enough space for those to peruse the vendors and enjoy the food while seated at a table.  

“We expected about 200 people”, said Albert Teekasingh, WMS board member and owner of Restaurant Revival.  “More than 300 showed up. Next year we will be looking to have this event in a larger facility.”  Albert shared his award winning chicken soup, as well as the stew chicken, cornbread, cranberry rice and pepper shrimp.  

Due to the efforts of the association, the event was a true success as each vendor was anxious to serve more than just a tidbit that only cost a $20 ticket for adults and $10 for children 10 and under.  

WMA posted the following on their facebook page: “The Whitestone Merchant Association Board would like to formally thank all of you who made last night’s Taste of Whitestone an amazing, successful event! It was so great to see our community come together for a fun filled night.” 

A special thank you was given to the following restaurants saying that they “made the magic happen:” Villagios / Sangrias (both Villagios and Sangrias are owned by Joe Loccisana and hared a table where both the Spanish Paella as well as chicken marsala and artichoke franchese as well as a few other Italian favorites); Ginger and Lemongrass and the new Taco Azul have the same owners, Petra Rickman and Michal Prelovski.  The Vietnamese fusion restaurant featured its summer rolls while the newly opened Taco was running out of churros.

We continue with Clinton Restaurant, Tropical Revival, CBD SUPERSTORE, Honey Bee Cakes, Sergimmos Salumeria (sampling fresh mozzarella as they continually made it at the table as well as their caponata and store made sausage and peppers ); Cascon Cheesecake;  Health Kitchen; Bagel Time, Tasty Grill (who presented one of the largest spreads of Greek delights that went from appetizers to desserts); Ralphs Ices, Chillato (who gave samples of their coconut gelato, Ferrara Rocher gelato and strawberry sorbet); NOCO Catering, Coffee Lab, King Chef, Cherry Valley; Freddys Pizza; The BLVD, Concettinas; and Aphrodite’s Sweets. 

Singer Freddie Lando was originally supposed to entertain after the meal.  However, it was decided to have him croon Italian songs throughout the event.  The height of his performance was his final number, Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s opera Turandot.

BUNNIES ARE NOT JUST FOR EASTER

Playboy bunnies are back at the new Playboy Club in Manhattan and it’s not just for an Easter celebration.  An insignia lies atop an awning at 512 W. 42^nd Street.  “What are you here for,” asks a man that looks like he could be a bouncer.  Unless you are a member, or have a dinner reservation, you take your chances about indulging in an elegant evening.  

 

Monday evenings bring New York’s rising Broadway stars and vocalists onto the stage to do their own thing rather than perform songs from the show that they may be presently in. Produced by Beau Speer with Music Direction by Brandon James Gwinn & the T-Shirt Tuxedo Trio, Anne Fraser Thomas was the very talented featured vocalist.  

Having said that we have dinner reservations, we entered into a Playboy Bunny decorated hallway that led to what appeared to be the main lounge with a center bar.  There was a private party in progress and told the matre’d that we were having an early dinner.  

Escorted into the next room, I saw a few areas of seating.  One area was reserved for the earlier lounge entertainment with little seating.  There were two intimate type rooms on the same level, separated by a middle wall that had an aquarium of colorful fish and a bunny rabbit insignia object in the center.   I wanted that table and sat facing the aquarium.  Although not close up to the action itself, I had a view of the entertainment.  There is also another seating area located on the viewing side of the lounge situated a few steps up.  I was able to view another large room in the back most likely used for private parties.

Table setting was done elegantly the way you would expect a “fine dining” décor to appear.  Lighting was low which for me made it a bit difficult to capture clear photos with my “point and shoot” set on “auto.”   Next time I will actually study the information in the instruction book. 

We were greeted by a Playboy Bunny cocktail waitress, Bria Fleming. As much as some of the cocktails sounded yummy, I decided to pass since I get drunk on Scotch Tape.  Our waiter arrived promptly to ask if we wanted tap, still or carbonated water.  

Executive Chef Tabitha Yeh has created food that should be nurtured to appreciate how they wonderfully affect your eyes, aroma, and palate with a menu divided into categories of Plates to Share, Sushi and Sashimi, Salads, Mains, and Sides.  

Our waiter informed us of an appetizer special; soft shell crab prepared in a tempura batter.  I couldn’t resist.  Passed up on eating the accompanying thin slices of jalapeno pepper.   Miyazaki Wagyu Katsu Sando, House Tonkatsu Sauce, Cabbage ($80).  Although it was served sandwich style, cut up in six squares, I was totally able to appreciate the tenderness of the beef along with whatever Yeh does to it!  Being a lover of sushi rolls, I ordered the Playboy Club House Roll, of Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail, Avocado, and Shassetra Caviar ($26).  It is certainly not your average tasting sushi roll.  My friend opted for a Chilled Prawn, five huge shrimp served with a cocktail sauce ($26). 

One main dish of 14 Oz. Gold Label Wagyu Ny Strip with Frites, Truffle Butter, and Arugula (which actually turned out to be frisee lettuce) with a cost of $79 turned out to be at least as tender as filet mignon.  Keep in mind that it is wagyu beef. 

Being a true chocoholic, I purposely saved tummy room for the Manjari Chocolate Gold Bar, which left me euphoric. Yes, there are gold flakes on the top as well as some kind of crispies, hazelnuts, and strawberries on the side that are both large and sweet ($15).  

If you want to go on the lower end of your bill just to get an idea of the quality and sharing, I would suggest the following: Two Arctic Char Tacos for two people with Goma Miso, Wasabi Aioli and cilantro, each at $8 per taco.  Add a Spicy Bluefin Tuna Roll ($15) and sharing a main of Chicken Milanese with Frisée, Baby Carrots, Shaved Fennel, and Radish ($36), or the Roasted  Atlantic Hake, with charred scallions, “Tom Yum” and golden Enoki mushrooms that are thin, tall and delicate ($37). Hake is the most common fish used when you buy Boston Scrod.  

When one orders a California Roll the term “crabmeat” does not necessarily mean that you are getting real crab meat.  They are made with what is known as “kani” with the fish being from Pollock.  Playboy’s version is made with Alaskan King Crab meat, which is one of the most expensive of the crab varieties.  

I was interested in sampling a side of the Roasted Thai Eggplant with an aged Sherry Vinaigrette ($12).  I could certainly become a fan of Yeh’s delights.

Playboy Club has quite a long beverage menu that includes wine, beer, spirits, top of the line sake and cocktails concocted by a mixologist.  Here is one called A Bunny Thing: Bacardi Cuartro Anejo Rum, Rockey’s Green Chartreuse, Pineapple Bitters.  How about Call Me: Ketel One Botanical Cucumber-Mint Vodka, Don Julio Blanco, Canton Ginger, Mint. 

There are various nights of live entertainment, some of which you have to become a member and present your key.  If you go to their website, you can get some of the information, but not all. I found some that needed clarifying and not up to date. That’s what phones are for (212-644-8227). 

Speer told me that they are planning a lot of events for world pride, which says that this Playboy Club is open to the LGBTQ community. He is also looking into doing a Drag brunch and other charity events. 

You never know who’s going to be seated near you and in this case I was introduced to The Amazing Kreskin. I will be interviewing him live on Tuesday, the 16^th on my internet radio show which is taped for a podcast.  He must have read my mind that I wanted to meet him. 

Unrelated, May 1, 7:30 to 10:30 pm, has a scheduled event here called Magic and Mayhem billed as “An enchanting 3-course dinner served with intimate tableside trickery and grandiose magic.” The dinner is curated by the chef. 

As for membership, the most expensive is $100,000 on the Mansion level while the least is $5,000 on the Lounge level.  The 5G includes: VIP Access to Playboy Club New York for Member and their guests; Personalized Playboy Club New York Membership Card; Iconic Playboy Key giving entry into The World of Playboy and its Member Only Events; $1,000 House Account loaded onto your Personalized Playboy Club Membership Card at the Playboy Club New York; Cocktail master class for 10 people hosted by the Playboy Bunnies and Playboy Mixologist; 2 complimentary tickets to the Exclusive Playmate of the Year Event in NYC; 2 complimentary tickets to the Playboy Club Masquerade Ball; 4 complimentary tickets to the Playboy Club New York Movie Night with the Playboy Bunnies; Access to Playboy Club London; and Access to the Bunny, Grotto and Mansion Lounges Within Playboy Club New York. 

For further information go to: www.playboyclubnyc.com  Come on…hop to it! 

MARLENE YU FEATURED AT GEORGES BERGES GALLERY

Georges Bergès Gallery held an opening reception with a theme of The Feminine Sublime, curated by world-renowned art critic, poet, and historian Donald Kuspit, featuring abstract paintings by Alex Chowaniec, Carol Brown Goldberg, Hisako Kobayashi, Jill Krutick, Carol Ross, Sonia Stark, and Marlene Tseng Yu.

Works of the women artists were chosen for the exhibition due to their being “oceanic--wombcentric--one way or the other,” said Kuspit. In one of his essays Luspit explains the difference between “wombcentric and phallocentric art more fully, and show in some detail the oceanic character of the works in the exhibition.”

Internationally known Marlene Tseng Yu featured two of her 10 foot x 6 foot 

abstract murals from her earlier collection titled “Molten Lava in Circle” 1971, 

Molten Lava Series, Acrylic on canvas and ” Milky Way “1987

( space& universe series), Acrylic on canvas.  

Both paintings were from her collection at her Rainforest Art Foundation studio located in Long Island City.  The Marlene Yu Museum, located in Shreveport, LA is a second location maintained by her daughter Stephanie Yu Lusk. 

Marlene and her husband James offer the opportunity for artists to exhibit their work regarding nature with no buildings or people in any of the pieces.  The next exhibit will take place on May 3^rd with a theme of International Photographers and is free of charge to both the artists and public.