🚕 Feeding the Met Gala’s VIPs

Good Morning NY!

This week, we’ve got everything from Moby-Dick-inspired cocktails to a West Village restaurant fighting to stay afloat.

A legendary NYC hotel chef reveals what it takes to feed the Met Gala crowd, while a massive Italian chain makes its U.S. debut in FiDi.

Plus, there’s a new bar with whale murals and old-world vibes shaking up the downtown scene.

Grab a coffee, and let’s dive in.

Once Packed — Now Fighting to Survive

Delice & Sarrasin, a vegan French restaurant in the West Village, is struggling to keep its doors open.

Once a hotspot with over 70 daily reservations, the family-run spot now sees closer to 10.

Owner Christophe Caron blames rising costs, remote work, and NYC’s congestion pricing for the downturn.

Monthly electricity bills have jumped from $900 to $4,000, and insurance rates are up thanks to higher crime.

To adapt, Caron has cut staff, raised prices, and is experimenting with TikTok to bring in more diners.

Despite the challenges, he remains committed to keeping the restaurant open for his loyal team.

Raising the Bar at NYC’s Only Rotating Restaurant

Ricky Dolinsky, the beverage director at The View, is putting his mark on NYC’s only rotating restaurant.

The Times Square spot, perched atop the Marriott Marquis, reopened in February under Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group.

Dolinsky’s drink program blends well-known labels with lesser-known finds, with a focus on American producers.

Signature cocktails include the Katz’s Martini, a pastrami-spiced gin creation inspired by Katz’s Delicatessen.

The New Amsterdam Sour features local New York spirits like McKenzie rye and Ravines Cabernet Franc.

Dolinsky, who has a background in both kitchens and bars, appreciates the rotating setup.

He says it eliminates the battle for the best view, as every seat offers a unique perspective.

The lounge rotates every 45 minutes, while the main dining room completes a full turn in 70 minutes.

Roman-Style Dining Lands in FiDi

Nerolab, an Italian restaurant chain, has opened its first U.S. location in the Trump Building at 40 Wall Street.

The 350-seat space serves a Roman-focused menu with pastas, pizzas, stuffed breads, pastries, and even burgers.

For drinks, they offer coffee, beer, and wine, aiming to cater to both diners and daytime remote workers with free Wi-Fi.

The 21,500-square-foot space had been empty for years, originally slated for a Dean & DeLuca in 2015.

This is the first of 10 planned NYC locations, with the chain aiming to expand across the city by the end of 2025.

They also run a separate coffee shop within the Trump Building at 725 Fifth Avenue.

Feeding the Met Gala’s VIPs

Chef Moosah Reaume, executive chef at the Carlyle Hotel, took on the massive task of feeding over 1,200 guests at the Met Gala.

He managed everything from in-room dining to private events, juggling various dietary restrictions along the way.

Prep for the event included testing hors d'oeuvres like beet tartare sushi and one-bite crudités.

The Carlyle’s kitchen handled triple its usual volume, requiring careful coordination from sourcing to plating.

To keep his energy up, Reaume stuck to his daily routine, including workouts and walks in Central Park.

After the chaos, he celebrated with Champagne, caviar-topped potato chips, and Bugles.

It’s a reminder that even the pros need a snack break after a long shift.

A Moby-Dick-Inspired Bar Opens in FiDi

Quick Eternity, a new bar in the Financial District, draws its name from a line in Moby-Dick.

Owner Bryan Schneider, formerly of Daniel and Bad Roman, developed the concept a decade ago after reading the novel.

The two-level space features brick walls, leather chairs, and cherry wood tables with mother-of-pearl accents.

A mural of the whale, painted by Azikiwe Mohammed, spans the first floor.

Upstairs, The Gam serves as a private event space and includes Idler Books, a shop offering new and vintage titles, including Moby-Dick.

Cocktails like the Quick Eternity, a twist on the Corpse Reviver #2, and The Rachel, named after the ship that saves Ishmael, are on the menu.

The bar also partners with New Davonhaime Food Bank to support food-insecure New Yorkers.

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