To prove how far behind I am, here we go: the Bon Appetit Supper Club & Cafe! The pop-up restaurant that “swept the city by storm” so to speak, for only two weeks… almost a month ago. Oops.
SB and I went on the very last day, for one reason and one reason only: Giada di Laurentiis. We’d thought, from the schedule, that she’d be demonstrating something but that day discovered it was a book signing. Ah well, we still wanted to try the food, and off we went. There was a line at 12 noon already, when it’d just opened, just to get in, and we nervously exchanged glances. Luckily, since we’re experts at efficiency, we were able to do and try everything we wanted to in just an hour, maybe an hour fifteen minutes.
While I waited in line to pay, SB ran off to acquire two of Giada’s muffelettas and a pack of Will Goldfarb’s cookies. She came back and I was near the front already, perfect timing. I also wound up buying, for the sole purpose of having her sign it, Giada’s latest cookbook, “Everyday Pasta” unfortunately her only (of her three) cookbooks that I have little interest in because I don’t eat that many carbs and well, her other two cookbooks are just more geared towards me. (Also, I don’t buy cookbooks, I think I own only a few, and all were either free or gifts from other people. I have my own cookbook, a nice big black binder that I print stuff out and holepunch to slip in there- why not? All of her recipes are available on Food Network’s website…) I was extremely annoyed as well (though sound marketing, of course) that the cookbooks were full price, when I know Amazon has it for like $20- I wound up paying around $40 for the damn thing.
The muffuletta, while yummy and inauthentic, was nothing special one way or the other. The bread was a bit harder than I’d have liked, though the fillings stayed neatly inside, and I wished it was warmed up a little at least. The sandwiches were all pre-made and hanging out on the counter, waiting for people to pick them up, another point of annoyance for such an expensive sandwich, but that is efficient placement, so I can’t complain. Too much, anyway. I couldn’t finish the entire thing and saved half for later; they were kind enough to give me a takeout box in which to put it.
Efficiency at its best, SB and I had gone directly from the line to pay to the line to get my book signed so we ate while standing on line. The line moved fairly quickly, which was nice, but the exit was extremely poorly marked as people pushed past us to get out when there was another door right there that could have been utilized much more easily. Not cool.
But the reason I was there… ah, Giada.
Giada was not allowing photography- so I thought until after I got off the line. No FLASH photography, so I scored these poor shots (I was closer before this, but a woman was guarding the line closely, so I didn’t pull out my camera). Giada announced like, the next day, that she was pregnant. Awww, congratulations Giada! But she really unnerved me when I asked her what her favorite recipe in the book was, and she pointed one out and then when I smiled and said thank you effusively, she changed her mind and said, “Well, that’s a bit labor intensive, this one is also a favorite of mine and much easier!” I was a bit taken aback that something in her mind decided that I couldn’t cook or was a beginner for whatever reason and needed an easier recipe. Ah well. I also noticed she wasn’t as friendly with me as some of the other people who went up- she even high-fived the guy in front of me! I was so jealous!
All in all, it was a fun experience, and I hope they do something fun like this again. Upstairs was also a big bar area where they were doing free wine tastings, giving out samples of cake made with rum (which was delicious btw, I wish I could remember the name of the rum!), bottles of Evian, Ghirardelli chocolate squares (their dark mint chocolate is heavenly!), and other assorted random goodies. Yummy!
Happy eating!!!
Camille Remarkable says
Thanks for this! I don’t like that many people on TV but I really adore Giada and think she should replace Meredith on the Today Show. I actually wrote them a letter to that effect (but received no response). She is such a breath of fresh air and so sweet and open! I am glad to hear she really is that nice in person.
I remember a few months ago she did a segment about working women and pregnancy and how she was struggling about when she was going to try and do it. How exciting that she’s taking the plunge!
Beily says
i love your posts and how you add the smallest personal notes ie what giada said to you. i personally don’t think she’s all that amazing – she is pretty and seems nice, but she needs to cover up her cleavage during her shows. there needs to be an asian on the food network’s reality tv shows too. anyway, i really enjoy your blogs!
Swan says
go team efficiency!