Food Stories You Love to Hear

by Faith Rein on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 2:18pm
La Sihlouette
362 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone 212. 581.2400 Fax 212. 581.2405
Email info@la-silhouettenyc.com

I had been searching for an amazing location for the Priscilla Queen on the Desert Tony Award Party. I know...what a fun job. (Thank you Scott).
This came at the best time. I hit the ground running. My favorite things...food, party and Broadway !!
I started calling on my friends of places that I thought might work. The area staying in midtown and as far as Chelsea.
Listen when you are selling a product like a hit Broadway show people love you !!! Sales was never what I thought I would get into, but I can sell ...as they say ice to an eskimo. What I think I can sell is myself and my passion for the product. Response was great. Exciting.
Then proposals started coming in...some high some low. Some just sadly could not do it. It's a viewing, finding a place for food and drink and a TV for 100 ??? In NY ?? who thought it would be so hard.
My ideas were getting the better of me and I thought.
Everyone loves Broadway and Priscilla is such a fun show. Why not call on some of my dream list places.
So I call Daniels...upper east side, Tasting menu only and a place I would have to win the lottery to eat at.
La Bernadin...I would have to sell a kidney.
La Cirque...a bit dated, so maybe they will cut us a fabulous deal.
Daniels were great, they wanted us. But CBS was doing a Pre-show dinner there and they wanted to be sure Chef would have enough time for us.
La Cirque...amazing menu, very helpful and excited. RIDICULOUS rate. I think it was more than my first car times 80.
La Bernadin sent their regrets that we weren't able to work with them this time but suggested we call Sally, the owner of La Sihlouette.
I did, Sally said please come by and see the set up, she wasn't sure it would work.
Time was ticking...we needed a place soon.
Emails and phone calls and negotiations...on an on. I was at the point I just wanted prices and would work with that. I know enough about the NY restaurants and I can see from websites to get enough of what I need.
But I went to La Sihlouette last Friday. I was meeting with my friend Jessica for us to discuss her dance show that I'm working on.
Entering LS was lovely...bright, pretty with a small bar to the left with an amazing bouquet of fresh cut Rhododendrums. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess. Lovely and welcoming.
While waiting for Sally the bartender offered us a drink, we said no thank you. He suggested water. We said yes. Shortly after he poured us champagne as well. What a sweet and smart boy.
Sally was lovely and took us on a tour. The layout is beautiful but a grouping of small rooms. It would not work for our event.
Everyone was gracious and as we were leaving I thank them all and said we were going to have some dinner. Sally said, then please stay and have dinner here. You must at least taste our food to be able to tell all your friends.
Seated by Sam in the downstairs dining room. we were never left unattended.
The service was amazing yet not intrusive.
AND THE FOOD....Sam described some of his favorites. Something I always ask. I say Sam, if you were to sit down to have dinner here tonight what would you order.
Or Sam, if your mother was here what would you want to surprise her with.
I gave Sam a choice to surprise me with either the Steak or the Chicken. Sam's favorite was the Steak. (you have to read the menu...it's too amazing for me to describe here).
But I mention...that in my opinion the sign of a great French Restaurant is their Chicken. Seems so simple, but when you have had some of the best Chicken and preparation in this city and some of the worse (like in my kitchen) then you understand the talent it takes to prepare a perfect chicken.
I get the Chicken...this was followed by Scallops...that melted in your mouth.
I could only eat half of the chicken. Of course they wanted to surprise us with desert...Jessica got a Pistachio Creme Brulee. and me...ah, they made an individual chocolate souffle.
Yes I will go here again and again.
Sally took care of everything for us as her guest...which was the bonus of an amazing dinning experience.
I would have paid double for this meal.
All she asked...I TELL ALL MY FRIENDS !!! So you MUST go, I'll go with you !!