The Intrepid Museum and Dinner at Becco

My father and I took a field trip into NYC today.  Mainly to visit the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum have dinner with Amy, and partly to experience the bus commute from the house for his future reference.

Having taken the bus at the end of the block to Port Authority in NYC, we walked the 7 blocks to the Museum.

Starting with the Sea part... The Intrepid is a decommissioned aircraft carrier that had been in active service from April 26, 1943 to March 15, 1974.

The aircraft carrier's island contains the bridge
and command center for flight-deck operations

There is also the USS Growler on the north side of the pier.

The only American guided missile submarine open to the public,
the USS Growler offers a close-up inspection of the
once "top-secret" missile command center.

Not part of the museum, but on the south side of the ship, is the Manhattan Community Boathouse on Pier 96 with free kayak rentals.

Free kayaking in Hudson River Park

For the Air part, there are many fighter planes

And a British Airways Concorde

This Concorde first flew August 25, 1976, and crossed
from Europe to the United States in under 3 hours.

And finally Space

Barney and a replica of the Mercury Space Capsule

The first space shuttle, Enterprise, never made it to space: it was not capable of spaceflight as it was built without engines or a heat shield, but here it is on the flight-deck of an aircraft cattier in NYC.

With the Space Shuttle Enterprise

After an exciting visit to the museum, a short walk to Becco to meet Amy.

We dined curbside, as is the practice in this Age-of-COVID

Barney's father, with a well-deserved Prosecco after the museum 

Becco is one of Lidia Bastianich's Restaurants and has a great wine list of $35 bottles.

Becco is known for its $29.95 unlimited table side service of Executive Chef William Gallagher's Three Daily Pasta Preparations. You start with your choice of Isalate Cesare or Antipasto Misto, followed by the three unlimited kinds of pasta.  BUT THERE IS MORE!  It is Restaurant Week here in NYC, so for an additional $10, you get a glass of Prosecco and a “Choice of 1 Secondi”.  So let's start!

The main Antipasto Misto plate...
add to this some octopus, ricotta with honey,
fresh peas, and sweet potato.

Tonight the three unlimited kinds of pasta are:

FETTUCCINE with Veal Bolognese and Fresh Peas;
MEZZI RIGATONI with Tomato Sauce, Fresh Basil, Black Olives, and Onion;
Potato GNOCCHI with Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce.

For the Secondi

Trancio Di Salmon
(Pan-seared salmon with roasted potatoes,
green beans, and red onions
with grainy mustard vinaigrette)

Costolette de Maiale alla Maniera dello Chef
(Chef Gallagher’s signature brined, grilled pork chops
served alla pizzalola {green, red & yellow peppers,
green pepperonici, sweet & hot cherry tomatoes
& extra virgin olive oil})

Or the [sorry no image] Pollo alla Milanese (Pan-fried breaded chicken breast topped with arugula, cherry tomatoes and red onion tossed with sherry vinaigrette and extra virgin olive oil).

After all of that, there was no room for dessert.

Buca di Beppo

1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

Meeting our friend Jenn G. before seeing Dear Evan Hansen 
                 

Notes

SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP   A mixture of Italian cheeses, artichokes & fresh spinach, served with chips.

BRUSCHETTA  Roma tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, red onions, basil-infused olive oil & balsamic vinegar, served with parmesan crostini.

CHICKEN PARMIGIANA  Topped with our homemade marinara sauce, Roma tomatoes, basil & mozzarella.

BAKED RIGATONI  Spicy Italian sausage & meat sauce tossed & topped with mozzarella, parmesan & ricotta.

Dinner After a Successful Visit to the Dentist

591 Anderson Ave, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010

Our usual after dentist stop.  Tonight we sat at the bar.  The new generation is putting their special touches on the menu.  My usual Broccoli Rabe & Sausage, does not come with pasta any longer.

Notes

Italian Dinner in Kamakura

Amalfi Kitchen

2-1-5 Komachi, Kamakura City

Kanagawa Prefecture 248-0006, Japan

Okay, to review, today in Tokyo Japan, started NOT in Tokyo. In CHINATOWN. At an OKTOBERFEST, and is now ending in an ITALIAN restaurant.  What a multicultural day.

Gnocchi  in Cheese Sauce with Oysters

Then back to Yuko's Condo for the night.  Thanks again to her and her family for their hospitality.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Wine Bar: Iavarone Brothers Cafe

Iavarone Brothers Cafe

We were headed to Montauk for the Labor Day Weekend, and planned a dinner stop at Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas:  But we pasted an old familiar Iavarone Brothers first.

Notes

Wednesday is half price bottle of wine night, and NYS law says we can take home what we do not finish!  So a $34 bottle of Chianti cost $17 - less than 2 glasses of the same wine!

RUFFINO CHIANTI (ITALY) and Focaccia: great start 

ORECCHIETTE ALLA BARESE : Iavarone sausage, broccoli rabe

RIGATONI WITH BRAISED SHORT RIBS & BROCCOLI RABE 

End of a Great North Fork Trip with Lisa

Return to A Mano - It Never Disappoints

aMano Restaurant, 13550 Main Road, Mattituck, New York, 11952, 
631-298-4800

The kitchen opens at 5... a perfect time for us to have dinner.  The weather was perfect, and the patio was beautiful.

Notes

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After dinner to another favorite, the Magic Fountain Ice Cream before the drive home.

Pre-Theatre Hadestown at Il Forno

Il Forno

Il Forno, 709 8th Ave, New York, NY 10036

A quick bite before seeing the new musical taking Broadway by storm: Hadestown. 

 We had intended to eat at Carve Cafe on 8th Ave @ 45th Street, but when we arrived, it looked more like a deli than a dinner spot.  So we walked along 8th Ave and found Il Forno.

Notes

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Great flatbread! Seasonal veggies meant just that.  Asparagus and arugula. 

Beet Salad

Hadestown was a great show.  First, we were in the back of a very cramped balcony, so Amy suggested I ask for different seating (with legroom!).  The usher helped, and I sat in a regular straight-back chair.

The show started pretty much on time.  Starting with a great jazz number.  About the 5th or 6th number, the STAGE MANAGER comes over the PA system calmly saying "Hold, please.  Actors would you please exit the stage.  Musicians would you also please exit the stage."  The house lights came up and there was a medical emergency in the orchestra seating.

After about 15 minutes.  The show resumed.  GREAT SHOW.