Food with Friends

Over the weekend, we met old and new friends for very enjoyable dining experiences.

One evening, we visited the home of Suzanne and Ron.  We first met them in Iceland on a hiking tour.  They are intrepid travelers and both are talented health care professionals who moved to the Upper West Side from New Jersey a few years ago.  Aside from being the warmest and most hospitable people around, they are recently first-time grandparents.  When visiting their spacious apartment, we noticed an interesting cardboard box in the living room.  Ron said the box (photo below) was for their granddaughter.

Did she arrive in the box?, we asked.  No, said Ron.  He explained that Finland years ago was among the worst countries in the world for educating children.  The children of the well-to-do tended to succeed in school, but many other children fared badly.  To eliminate the disparity at a very early stage, the Finns provided to every newborn a box for sleeping, together with some necessities.  All infants, whether born into a well-to-do family or not, were treated alike.  The end result?  Finland is now among best countries in the world for educating children, with a much lower infant mortality rate to boot.  That is one special box.

The Box
Nobody puts Baby in a corner, but baby in a box
is a good thing.

Suzanne and Ron took us on a walking tour of Riverside Park.  In the 80's, you would not have seen Greg in Riverside Park after dark.  Things change.  Now, the park has been reconstructed, expanded and transformed into a safe place to stroll, exercise and dine during the day and after dark.  We dined at Pier i Cafe with a view of the Hudson River and the twinkling NJ skyline.  (Note from Greg:  It was a good thing Susan did not see the scampering rat on the bike path.  Ignorance is bliss.) 

We plan to see Ron and Suzanne again.  There was even talk of returning to Iceland during Winter to see the Northern Lights.  

Susan and Greg near the Hudson River (not in Iceland)

Riverside Park South at dusk, looking across the Hudson River to the NJ skyline

View from Pier i Cafe

The next day, we lunched with the amazing Riva who was in New York on business.  Riva is smart, talented, down-to-earth and has been a foodie from a young age. We ventured to Hell's Kitchen (some now call it Clinton) and dined at Marseille.  We selected the restaurant for its location (on 9th near Times Square) and for its menu.  We were not disappointed.  The fare was classic Marseille cuisine--well visioned, prepared and served.  Riva savored the escargot.  It turns out that we had dined at the very same restaurant years ago during a trip to NYC, thanks to a recommendation from a family friend, Lori.  The decor has changed, but the je ne sais quoi is the same.  

Riva and some random hottie

The Marseille's Dining Room