This is a typical exchange between two Tufts students - Person A: "What are you doing this weekend?" Person B: "Going down to New York!"
Did you know that nearly 40 percent of the Tufts student body hails from New England? It's the truth, and as a result of this demographic, conversations like this one are something we Jumbos encounter nearly every day. With the sights, sounds, and (of course) tastes of New York City a mere three-and-a-half hours away, it's no wonder so many of us venture down there at least once a year. In addition to the museums, music, and clubs, New York is also one of the foremost culinary hotspots of the world. This past weekend, I decided to make my way down to the Big Apple to check out the state of culinary affairs in one of the world's truly gourmet hot spots.
As anyone who's ever visited NYC can attest to, choosing where to eat can be downright hard - to feed eight million hungry people, you need a lot of restaurants. My goal this weekend was to try to run the full gamut of New York cuisine, from a spinach and mushroom pizza at John's Pizzeria, to a Crispy Grilled Beijing Duck at Shun Lee's Palace, to an Oreo Cheesecake with Strawberry Puree and Fresh Strawberries at Cafe Lallo.
Although all of these restaurants boasted good eats and many drink choices, surprisingly, the one that left me satiated and smiling didn't even have a wine list. What it did have were little drawings of a toaster and a French-Roast Coffee Pot gracing the bottom of its menu, and headings such as "Mom Can't Make This" and "Somethin' Fruity" dividing the various fares that it listed. What was this gourmet treat you ask? None other than Norma's, New York's hottest spot for the best in breakfast.
Located in the luxurious Parker Meridien Hotel at 118 West 57th Street, with its three-story tall stained glass ceilings and marble entryway, the experience at Norma's is a far cry from your local IHOP. Leather couches grace Norma's "waiting room" (a lobby-like extension of the pristine hotel), although with the short ten-minute wait, my friend and I didn't even get to indulge in this pleasure. As we walked up the short flight of stairs that connected to the dining area, we entered a room clad in dark walnut wood, with wall-length frosted glass panels placed every so often. Overhead, more frosted glass hung closely to the ceiling in extended "S" shapes, adding a further air of luxury. After being seated, our waiter, George, first offered both of us a shot-style glass of the day's smoothie. This particular one happened to be a combination of peach, honey, and tofu. Though certainly an unlikely combination, it fared beautifully - light, complex, and definitely smooth. However, both my friend and I passed, and made our way onto the menu.
Entrees
As we soon learned, it is here that Norma's Chef Alexander Porter makes his statements about which culinary combinations work and which don't. Dishes ranged from the simple to the more complex, with treats such as country-style buttermilk pancakes with juicy Georgia peaches and walnuts, to a seared rock lobster and asparagus omelette, to the more exotic foie gras brioche French toast with asparagus and wild mushrooms. After some serious deliberation (and I mean serious), I settled on the "Light and Lemony Griddle Cakes with Crispy Crepe Strings" ($14), while my friend chose the "Very Berry Brioche French Toast with Maple Syrup" ($14).
Before the food came, George brought us some delicious drinks to help us start out the morning right. For my friend, a fully filled, hot French-roast carafe of coffee ($4, unlimited refills) was brought to the table, while I partook of a glass of pulp-free very freshly squeezed orange juice ($7). Now, I know what you're thinking: "Seven dollars for a glass of orange juice!" The truth is, I was thinking the same thing. Thankfully, after positing the question to George, I learned that this charge, like the coffee, also included free refills (I had about four).
Our food came approximately ten minutes after we ordered it, and the presentation was "simply mah-velous." My friend's French toast had one giant piece stacked atop a smaller one, both of which were ornamented with raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries; a crispy curved wafer rested atop, and added a wonderful touch to the finished the work of art. Upon cutting into the larger slice, he was pleasantly surprised (and happy) to find more fruit hidden within the bread's center, lovely and warm as it gushed forth. As for my griddle cakes, their lemon-like color was complemented beautifully by a dark blue plate, around the outside of which powdered sugar had been lightly sprinkled; thin, short, crisply fried crepe strings rested atop my two cakes. We were both given individual bottles of maple syrup, a nice finishing touch.
In a word, my first bite into these cakes was bliss. I have eaten many a pancake in my day, and to compare them to these griddle cakes would be an injustice. They caressed the inside of my mouth with a warm, ever-so-slightly starchy texture, as the subtle lemon flavor worked its magic on my taste buds. Added to this were the sweetness of the freshly powdered sugar, and the liquid delight of the maple syrup. When I washed it down with my freshly squeezed orange juice, the culmination of the flavors bordered on a metaphysical experience.
Every once in a while, I'm fortunate to experience one of life's true pleasures: fine dining. It's that rare occurrence where the service is impeccable, the company a delight, and the food shines beyond any and all expectations. Don't let the deceptively simple name of Norma's fool you - this mid-town jewel might just be the best breakfast you'll ever have.
