Keeping at It

Say hello to my American Education!

I have to say, I am overwhelmed. My inner nerd-overachiever is on hyperdrive. I go to work, I go to school (I still do for some fun courses plus I'm in the process of applying to an MBA program) and I have a full on social life whenever the homework takes a back seat. Oh, yeah. I'm also married.

In this economy, there is a bunch of naysayers to higher education. I dont blame them - going to a private school is not cheap. Im so glad that FIT is part of the State University of New York (FYI. I paid $2500/semester in-state tuition.)

So what overwhelms me? Everything. The never ending job applications that I fill out on the listings I see on the internet, getting my portfolio together, GRE test prep, grad school applications, next semester... it has come to a point that I dont plan anything far in advance because there's. just. too. much. to. do.

I'm not complaining. Just trying to inspire anyone who reads this that IT CAN BE DONE.

See? I graduated with the highest honors. It can be done!

******

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only. 
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
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• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

Eleven Madison Park Lunch Tasting Menu

I went back again to Eleven Madison Park. The meal I had there last year was so good that I asked my husband to celebrate my birthday there. We had the four-course lunch menu then - this time we opted for the Lunch Tasting Menu.

Lunching at Eleven Madison Park is pure bliss because the amazing food and service paired with the amazing ambience makes you feel you are on a short vacation. They pulled all the stops and made my birthday a wonderful, wonderful experience.

There has been news of EMP changing its menu & pricing sometime late 2012. Please note that the prices and the dishes in this meal are the ones that I paid for and had at the time of this post. 

This was on our table when we got to it.

They even gave me a letter opener!

A sweet hand calligraphy birthday card! Woohoo!

Four course tasting menu

Our very excited party of three!

This box came first.

It is a savory one. Dont Be fooled.

Apple Tea

Quail Egg and Bacon

Cocktails!

A lady who lunches!

Dapper gentleman and his cocktail!

Yogurt Lollipops with Curry and Chickpea Panisse with Yogurt

Smoked Sturgeon Sabayon with Chive Oil

Clambake!

Lobster Fritter

Manila clams with Chorizo and Potato

Manila Clams with Apple

Lobster Madelines

New England Clam Chowder

Inside the kitchen

Special cocktail treat! Woot!

Liquid nitrogen

Pomegranate foam turning into domes in a liquid nitrogen bath

Mmm.

What it looks inside after all the smoke is gone

Bread with Cow's Milk Butter and Goat's Milk Butter

Presenting the beautiful ribeye

Cauliflower Tabbouleh Salad with Olives and Orange

Foie Gras Cured with Buckwheat, Buttermilk and Lemon

Whey tea poured over the dish

Whey, Fresh Curds, Caraway Gnocchi and Spring Herbs

Lobster Poached with Meyer Lemon, Burnt Leek and Shellfish Bisque

Beef Roasted with Wood Sorrel and Marble Potatoes
This is what became of that beautiful slab that was presented to us.

Cheuflada Cheese with Pickled Mustard Seeds and Pearl Onions

Tissue Coaster, Future Home of Egg Cream, Prepared Tableside

Egg Cream - Orange, Cocoa Nib and Seltzer

Goat Cheese Cheesecake with Cara Cara Orange and Vanilla

Chocolate Sorbet with Caramelized Cocoa Pastry,
Meyer Lemon and Olive Oil (with Birthday Candle!)

Inside.

Siphon Coffee Tableside Service
Water is boiled at the bottom of the machine.

When it reaches a certain temperature, the vacuum is sealed and
the water goes up to the top part.

Now all the water from the bottom has come up.

He stirs the water for it to get to a lower temperature which is optimum
for brewing coffee. 

Upon reaching desired temperature, he puts in the ground coffee and steeps.

Lowering the temperature so the brewed coffee goes back down to be
served and filtered.

Coffee is almost served. 

Real Black and White Cookies. (This time, they are sweet.)

2 sugars in my cup, melting away...

Petit Fours

A small surprise for the birthday girl...

I pull it out and there it was...

Mmm. Chocolate!

Our tasting menu for the day. 

But mine had a special happy birthday message!

I am so happy to have spent my birthday here, and I am very thankful to everyone who made my birthday celebration (one of many) very special. Thank you, Maya, for getting this all set up in such short notice.

I look forward to coming back, again. It was a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, indeed!

Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Avenue at 24th Street
New York NY