Homey feeling

It’s the kind of story we love. Freshly arrived in NY in 2011, Sofie and Sébastien embark on a crazy project: opening a restaurant. In New York: the city known as being the most difficult to conquer in the food industry. In Soho: the neighborhood where rents are known to be the most exorbitant. He is Basque, she is Flemish. The couple overcame all challenges and opened a restaurant in 2012 (four days before Sandy!) you probably know: Cocotte on Thompson Street. Muted atmosphere, South-West cuisine, tapas style. But…

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Drinks on a boat

Whether you found the time this summer to sail the Ionian Islands, swim in Formentera’s lonely beaches and coves, or cruise near Bonifacio’s rocky inlets… the return of vacation will be tough! If you too miss the ocean’s waves, we found an open-sea substitute to get you smoothly back into the swing of New York. More posh than its counterpart The Frying Pan, more central than Brooklyn Barge Bar, Grand Banks is a bar-restaurant built on a historic fishing vessel, the Sherman Zwicker. Ship lovers…

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Sugar high

As a child, if your favorite fairy tale was Hansel and Gretel and you dreamed of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, we’ve found a new address that is guaranteed to make your blood sugar spike. The ultimate sweet tooth fantasy: an 8-course all-dessert tasting menu! It is a well-known French chef in NY who is the mastermind behind this gourmet initiative. Dominique Ansel opened a new bakery in the West Village two months ago: Dominique Ansel Kitchen. Nothing earth-shattering at its debut – just a sister…

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Commandment #2: Thou shalt not go north of 14th street

We are (of course) teasing! If NY high society lives exclusively west of Lexington Avenue between 63rd and 94th Street, and if French expatriates only swear by downtown, what is amazing about NY is that everyone gets his share! Manifesto: My Secret NY is commited to sharing ALL tips: downtown, uptown, brooklyn, upstate, midtown (hmmm… don’t push it too far!) To show our good faith, here’s a tip 112 blocks north of 14th street. Yes, in Harlem. Red Rooster: a picturesque place for a festive group…

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Commandment #10: Thou shalt grab your coffee to go and replace your traditionnal croissant by a bagel

I know. You like your coffee in espresso version, and your snack from Pâtisserie des Rêves in Paris (and nothing else). But you will have to get used to local gastronomy! It is not as bad as it sounds, don’t worry. First, coffee does not limit itself to the Americano of Starbucks. New Yorkers are actually roasting puritans and there are a plethora of places brewing good coffee (try Toby’s Estate for example). As for treats, it’s all a question of addresses. Donuts, cookies and other American…

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