Since my blog has lacked in the content department recently I thought it'd be good to start a new series where I can talk about one of my many passions, food.

I'll start the recap's with one of the more hot-to-trot restaurants in NYC, in fact even the world. wd~50 was ranked 45th in the world.

As mentioned a couple of month's ago I took Lindsay here for her birthday, as it was kind of a treat for me as well.

Wylie Dufrense's restaurant takes everything you've ever known about food and turned it completely upside down. He has been a leader in the molecular gastronemy movement and has been garnered a lot of praise amongst his peers and reviewers alike.

The Prix Fixe menu is certainly pricey and me being the poor SOB that I am, I chose not to partake in the tasting menu. $140 for the nine course tasting menu, and another $75 for the wine pairing....Hmmm no thanks.

So to my memory these are the menu items that we had.

Corned duck, rye crisp, purple mustard, horseradish cream
(An interesting dish, while it didn't thrill me, the tastes were right up my alley. I don't know if I'd spend that much on an appetizer usually but for this one time tasting it was worth it.)






Aerated foie, pickled beet, mashad plum, brioche
(My first time having foie. Without knowing anything about the taste of Foie Gras, I thought it was very rich and delicious. The aeration of the Foie Gras allowed the flavor to explode in your mouth which was a great experience.)





Entrees:
Lindsay: Arctic char, snow pea, fried yucca, cherry-black bean
 (I tasted Lindsay's dish and all of the flavors came together quite nicely. The tartness of the sauce along with the added texture of the Yucca was a nice compliment.)





Myself: Iberico pork neck, endive, buckwheat, clove 

 (My First time eating Pork Neck and probably the last. While I love all things pork, this cut was just very tough and tasted similar to a country ham. The texture of the buckwheat and clove was interesting but the taste of the clove was too strong for my liking. 

It's unfortunate this meal left a bad taste in my mouth. My intial choice was sold out for the night, (Venison chop w/ freeze dried polenta, fennel, asian pear) so I was left with an interesting choice.  

Overall:
It was an interesting meal and I enjoyed the way the flavors were presented in an unorthadox fashion. I don't think I'd go back though. There are plenty of other restaurants in this city that'd I'd like to try, than spend this kind of money for a meal I wasn't in love with. 

If I were to go one more time and have an unlimited budget I'd probably go with the tasting menu paired with the wines for a cool $215. 

I've been pretty bad as of late keeping the blog updated. For all of those keeping tabs on me I'll give you an update since the last time I updated.

• Continue to not drink Soda's (This was my first resolution I was actually able to keep in 25 years, probably 15 or so years of actual resolutions)
• Use my passport to visit a country I have not been to yet.
• Remove fried foods from my diet.
• Read more books (May be tough since I think I read 6+ books this past year)
• Be cognizant of my posture, walking taller is a good thing.
• Write more posts (Both at Yankeeist and here)
• Cook more frequently
• Spend less time playing Xbox360 update: I've been an epic fail at this, playing a ton of Modern Warfare 2.
• Learn something completely new
• Take a surfing lesson
• Take a couple of golf lessons to fine tune my swing
• Keep the weight below 205 lbs
• Join a rec softball team

I got a new computer. A beautiful 17" Macbook Pro that is a major upgrade from my 4 year old Dell Inspirion.

Attended a beautiful wedding down in Miami, stayed at the Eden Roc.

Went to Vermont for Lindsay's birthday with a great crew and I was able to keep off the slopes for yet another year.

Went out to dinner at WD-50 for Lindsay's birthday.

Will be attending my first bachelor party in Las Vegas in June. I was able to leverage my knowledge of Social Media to get Jetblue to submit to my demands.

Fantasy baseball season is just around the corner and I'm hoping to defend my title in all three leagues.

One of the most anticipated announcements in 2010 comes from Apple, who have announced the iPad today.

My initial reaction seems to think that this is a really cool and innovative product. (Basically a pimped out iPhone). Although I am not a big Apple user I would have no problem using any of their products. I currently only use the iPod but used a mac during my tenure at Takkle. I love the UI for Apple products yet can't seem to get over the hurdle of their price points. I plan to migrate to the iPhone whenever it goes to the Verizon network, and I'm currently in the market for a new computer but not sure if I want to migrate to Mac.

Check out what some of the top tech blogs had to say about the iPad, as I am basing a lot of my opinion off of what they have to say, especially since most of them get to see it in action first hand. (Gizmodo, Engadget, Mashable, Techcrunch)

In essence this is a beefed up netbook/iPhone. I don't see people walking all over the place with their iPad's but it certainly is a great way to stay connected and get stuff done when not working on your regular computer. It does however spell the end for all of the new book readers, in my opinion. Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Sony and whoever else is deciding to make these new readers have a bumpy road ahead of them. Overall, the reading experience looks much more like you're actually reading a book and all of the apps available at your finger tips along with an unlimited data plan via AT&T make it quite the hot item.

So I was going through my Google Reader articles and came across a cool site called Web Seer, via Lifehacker. So I decided to type a query of "Why do men" and "Why do women" similar to their example of "men want" and "women want". The results are pretty funny...The most common suggestion being why do women and men have affairs....as they deviate from the most popular they get pretty funny. It's interesting to see that the top 3 searches for why do men, involve some kind of cheating.

This will surely occupy a good hour of my time as I look for some funny relationships so stay tuned for more to come...

As mentioned in previous posts I haven't given my blog the time and attention it needs to grow and flourish. I've been neglecting my readers. Content is king and if there isn't fresh content then why should you come back. So I'm hoping you take this as an apology and let's kick some ass in 2010!

I haven't made many posts lately. That should be a resolution, in fact it will be a resolution since I haven't had any resolution in 2010 yet! I've been busy trying to come up with ideas for a new blog that I write for about the Yankees. It's called Yankeeist and I'm happy to be part of the team with two extremely talented writers in Larry Koestler and Mike Jaggers -Radolf.

Check out my latest post as a retrospective on the Alex Rodriguez trade of 2004.

So this is a little dated but a couple weeks ago I penned an article for a Yankees blog that has been gaining some good traction.

When it comes to Yankees and Sabremetrics it comes naturally so it was a match made in heaven when Larry asked me to join.

Check out the article for Yankeeist on the all time worst Yankees of the past decade..

Check back more often as I'd like to write more in 2010 both on Cleats Up and Yankeeist.

So I was thinking today about when I lived in Barcelona Jan 06' and Paris Jan 05'. It was a great experience and I highly suggest everyone live in a foreign country for a month or so. Get immersed in the culture and see if you can handle living in a foreign place on your own.

Just so everyone is clear, I lived in Paris with a UD study abroad group. I loved the experience so much that I found an internship/housing in Barcelona the next winter session and went on my own. The latter was definitely a harder experience but I wouldn't change anything.

With the power that Google has now I thought I would share the Apt's that I lived in just for shits and giggles.

Barcelona

(I lived in the apt next to that white little car. The apt with the black door)

View Larger Map

Paris

(I lived in the Apt next to the shop with the green awning and the store with the orange sign.)


View Larger Map

That's all, just thought it'd be cool to show where I called home for a couple months.

James Lipton was brought on for a PSA ad to warn of the dangers of Sexting/sending racy photographs. (See Grady Sizemore, Vanessa Hudgens, Rihanna, Sean Salisbury, Jeff Reed etc...) Check it out below..

This video is absolutely awesome... I wish these types of videos still existed on cable tv... Maybe E harmony should use these clips for a commercial or something like that... My favorite is the guy in the Viking Costume because obviously that's something that turns the ladies on.

An awesome photoshopped ad found at RiverAveBlues

To all of my loyal readers ( I count something around 3 based on the analytics). I think it's high time I give you my two cents on how the 2009 MLB season ended. The Yankees won their 27th World Series title, by far the most in MLB. The second most championships for a MLB team is the Cardinals with 10 and the A's with 9. Not to mention the Yankees also have the most championships for any team in sports history. The Montreal Canadians are 2nd with 24 Stanley Cups and the Celtics are 3rd with 17 NBA championships.

For those that don't know I was extremely lucky and attended the World Series clinching game 6. This was my second clinching World Series game I have been to but the first where I had free reign to do as I pleased and celebrate.

The plan all along was to head up to the Dugout and drink some beers and watch the game on TV with hopes of possibly scalping a ticket in the 3rd inning. Earlier in the day I read on Craigslist that the Yankees released 1,000 tickets. Not having much to do I mozied on up to the Bronx and waited on line for 30 minutes only to be turned away saying no tickets were available. Hey it was worth a shot, I still had my backup plan of catching the game with a ton of Yanks fans with hopes of celebrating on River Ave after the win.

My buddy Adam and his brother Matt came up to the dugout about 30 minutes before first pitch and we drank a few brews. Already 5 man can's of PBR deep I was lovin life. That fateful call came to Adam, it was his dad and he was already in the stadium but had come across 3 tickets. I was in the right place at the right time, and a thousand thanks go to Adam, Matt and their dad Jay. We ran around the stadium and waited on line at Gate 2, this seems to be where all the VIP people enter, as I saw Bill Murray usher in 10-15 people (Mostly young females). I couldn't hold back and shouted I love you Carl Spackler!! Unfortunately he did not look my way but it was still awesome to see him. I only wish I was one of those lucky people who have randomly ran into him at parties throughout NYC.

We got inside in time to catch the first pitch down on the lower level and headed up to our seats in the bottom of the first. Located in the last section in LF and the 2nd to last row I couldn't have cared less if I was sitting on top of the lights. To be in the stadium was all I wanted. From the first pitch to the final out I made as much noise as possible and gave every Philly fan the Bronx Cheer, better known as booing.

We got ahead of Pedro early and rode Pettitte as far as we could. The best part about winning this was beating Pedro twice. For all the jibber jabber he had for the NY media about how we mistreated him, he can add to list the drumming we gave him in game 6. Mariano came in to seal the deal and we took home World Series #27!

9 years is a long time for Yankees fans of my generation. I did grow up with the maligned Yankees team of the late 80's and early 90's with Donnie Baseball at the helm but the dynasty years of 96-00' surely made up for it. Here's to the beginning of a new dynasty and many more championships in the new house!

Jimmy Rollins is an asshat by first of all picking the Phils in 5, but also not giving credit to the Yankees after we took it to them and deflecting the attention to how poorly they played. Be a man and accept defeat. By the way, my prediction of Yanks in 6 held up. I don't think I could've survived a game 7.

After the Yanks won everyone poured out onto the streets and there was slight pandemonium underneath the L, all along River Ave. The police did their best to curb any rioting and dispersed the large crowd approximately 30 minutes after the ceremony. All in all it was an incredible playoffs and a great way to finish up the 2009 baseball season.

My Fantasy Baseball dominance, the Yankees best record in baseball and finishing that up with a World Series made this an unforgettable year.

See my previous post and you can see why I have been living in NYC for the past 3 years.

Yanks in 2010!

For those that know me and even those that don't. This next week and a half is going to be one of the most stressfull/joyful weeks in recent years. My beloved Yankees are back in the World Series for a record setting 40th time and looking to capture their 27th championship.


I am by no means a front runner, I've been a baseball fan for as I can remember, playing little league as a 7 year old and idolizing Don Mattingly and the New York Yankees. In fact me and my buddy Keith often play a game where we spend 10 minutes rattling off obscure Yankees of the late 80's and early 90's. (Andy Stankiewicz, Mell Hall, Eric Plunk, Greg Cadaret, Scott Sanderson, Roberto Kelly, Matt Nokes etc.)


I have experienced the full gamut of emotions during my 20 years as a fan from heartbreak (2001 WS, 2004 ALCS, 1994 Strike, Don Mattingly's retirement are some that come to mind) to absolute joy. (See 1996 playoffs, 1998 season, 1999 WS, 2003 ALCS). This season has an extra layer of meaning. It's the first season in the new house, we finally beat our playoffs nemesis in the Angels, we are arguably the best team in baseball for the first time in a few years and it's going against the 2008 World Series Champs.


My disgust for Philly is almost as much as my hatred for Boston and the vast majority of fans that live in those cesspools. Going to school at the University of Delaware I was exposed to wayy too many Philadelphia sports fans, the reputation they have earned for some of the worst fans in all of sports is being kind. I actually think Boston fans are more informed sports fans in general.


Some of my best friends are Philly fans, but the gloves will come off for this match up and I've already heard my fair share of Philly chatter. They are not fans of the game of baseball but are more about getting as drunk as possible and rooting for whatever team is doing well at that time. I still hear those horrible echoes of E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES chants wherever and opportunity presented itself.



Not to mention I made a nice little bet with my buddy Drew who happens to be a big Philly fan. Last year he proposed a bet to me that the Yankees wouldn't win the WS in the next 5 years and if they did he'd pay me $500, and if they didn't win I'd pay him. I liked my odds when I made the bet, but with the acquisition of CC, Tex and Burnett, I like my position even more.

This is for ultimate bragging rights for years to come. Philly has a very formidable ball club and this will be a great series! My guess is Yankees in 6.


LETS GO YANKS! 


I'll see you at the Canyon of Heroes in 2 weeks

The Yankees lost a heart breaker last night in Los Angeles. Burnett gave up 4 runs in the first and there was a lot of trepidation with the crowd I was watching with that we'd have to dip into the bullpen early and claw our way back for a win.

I think I would've been happier if we lost 4-0 instead of scoring 6 runs in the 7th to take a 6-4 lead only to give up that lead in the bottom half of the inning. The turning point in this game was Phil Franchise's performance. He had Vlad at a 1-2 count with 2 outs. On the previous pitch he made him look silly on a nasty curve ball in the dirt. With the reputation Vlad has for being a free swinger, why not throw the same pitch and see if he'll chase. Instead Hughes shook of Jorge and went for a fast ball up and in. He missed his spot and left a fastball in the heart of the plate and Vlad got his game tying RBI. Fast forward to the top of 9th. We load the bases all with 2 outs and Swish works the count full. As a kid you dream for this situation, unfortunately Swish popped out on a fastball right down the middle.

I caught the game at my buddy Adam's where he has a ridiculously awesome private deck where the game was broadcast with a HD projector on the wall. It's probably 8ft by 10 ft. The best part about this screen is the ability to throw beer cans at the screen when you're frustrated. Needless to say there were plenty of beer cans both full and empty being tossed at the screen from the 7th inning on.

This game 6 is a must win for the Yanks. By pitching CC in game 7 it will ultimately screw up the rotation for the pending WS games. Obviously we need CC to pitch game 7 if that situation presents itself. I just hope the big game pitcher we all know and love, Andy Pettitte, shows up.

Now to the elephant in the room, there will be endless talk about 2004 especially if we lose game 6. The Yankees had 2 games slip out of their hands when they had the chance to bury their opponent. This is not a situation any Yankees fan wants to be in. So in short, lets hope the Yankees drop a crooked number on Saunders early and Pettitte cruises for 7 strong innings.

I love October baseball, especially when the Yankees are involved. I'm not sure if I can take much more of this drama though.

LETS GO YANKS!