Del Posto

Tuesday 14 May

Today was our last day in New York. We skipped breakfast to finish packing and then headed out to Del Posto, a Michelin 1 star restaurant in the Chelsea district. Lunch was organised to celebrate (belatedly) three significant birthdays – for both of our NY friends and my boy, and to thank our friends for their wonderful hospitality during our stay.

This restaurant is absolutely beautiful – a huge Italian palazzo with marble, white linen, custom-made crystal candle holders, white leather chairs etc etc. and the tables are all very well spread-out which was perfect for the men at our table with their potential hearing challenges. We were given warm, herb-scented hand towels as soon as we sat down which I really love (being just a tad OCD about hygiene), and BDR chose a fabulous white wine from the Veneto region.

We were served 2 different tiny starters which were absolutely delicious – can’t remember what they were exactly – and then the most wonderful little panini sticks (the waiter said they were a cross between a panini and a baguette) and a heavenly cheese somewhat like a buratta – and of course they were served on custom made side plates. Great way to start.

We then each chose an entree and main course. I chose a chicory salad and had a bit of food envy when I saw the vitello tonnato our friends had. But the salad was delicious and probably a wise choice given the amount of food I was about to consume. I had fabulous sea bass with crispy skin for mains and chocolate hazelnut cake with hazelnut gelato for dessert. We were given a bowl of mini-doughnuts to share as a birthday cake and four different petit fours served on and in custom-made Italian cheese grater boxes. The company was wonderful, the food was great, the silver service was flawless though perhaps a bit over the top for my liking, but all-in-all a lovely way to lunch.

We then walked together to visit our friends’ daughter and her 2 beautiful rescue dogs at her gallery in the meat packing district before we said our goodbyes and promised to catch up again soon – either in New York, Australia or more likely, somewhere in-between.

We visited our rooftop bar one last time for beer (BDR) and G&T (me) and to say goodbye to Tony, our favourite barman. Then off to the airport with our Emirates’ chauffeur and a very light dinner in the lounge before boarding our flight to Milan.

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We first visited New York 18 months ago and did all of the touristy things and while we loved it, this time has been so much more fun. And now we’re off to Italy – and I reckon my heart is pounding at twice the normal pace at the sheer prospect. Goodbye New York – you’ve been wonderful.