Finding Warmth in Finestra

On a bitterly cold winter night, when not even your warmest hat, scarf, and gloves are protection enough against the wind as it whips around buildings and tears through intersections, there is nothing better than a warm, hearty meal in a cozy little restaurant. And perhaps it’s the red wine, the steaming plates of pasta, or the thick, creamy sauces, but an Italian restaurant always seems to do the job best. This was certainly the case earlier this week, when I met my parents for dinner at Finestra.

On the corner of 73rd and York, Finestra is marked by a red and white awning that, during the summer months, protects a charming patio, and, during the winter months, serves as a beacon of warmth on a brisk, chilly night. My parents and I huddled through the front door to Finestra’s small but inviting interior, where exposed brick walls are decorated with plants, paintings, and a selection of brightly colored ceramic plates. We were seated right away by a friendly hostess, and, just as we sat down, an acoustic guitar player set up at the front of the restaurant and began to play.

As we were softly serenaded by a selection of cover songs from artists like The Beatles and Stevie Wonder, our waitress brought over a basket of warm, crusty bread, a bowl filled with hunks of fresh parmesan cheese, and a dish of olives, all of which went perfectly with the bottle of Beaujolais my dad chose for us. Wine in hand and plenty to munch on, we began to browse the menu, a lengthy list consisting mainly of traditional Italian fare, with a few more unique selections mixed in.

There was, for example, a fried calamari appetizer, as well one featuring grilled chicken sausage and sautéed spinach. There were also a variety of soups and salads to choose from, including a fresh mixed seafood salad with chopped tomatoes and lemon dressing, and a stracciatella soup featuring spinach, eggs, and parmesan cheese. For entrées, we could chose from an assortment of pasta dishes like cappellini primavera, tortellini alfredo, and fusilli with sausage, tomatoes, and garlic sauce. There were three types of risotto, plus several shrimp and salmon dishes. There were also a variety of chicken and veal entrées, like the pollo contessa, chicken breast sautéed with prosciutto, peppers, sage, and mozzarella in a sherry wine sauce, or the veal scallopine with mushrooms and shallots in a light pink sauce.

Despite all the options, I knew with one look at the menu what I wanted to order—gnocchi in a fresh pomodoro sauce, the perfect warm and hearty meal for such a cold night. My mom chose the rigatoni ortolana, rigatoni with eggplant, zucchini, ricotta cheese, and tomato sauce, while my dad went with the classic chicken marsala. For an appetizer, we selected the crostini di polenta, polenta with mozzarella and mushrooms in a white wine sauce.

The polenta turned out to be a warm, cake-like creation held together with melted mozzarella cheese. Delicious yet surprisingly light, it was the perfect prelude to the substantial entrées we had each ordered, which were all served in ample, steaming portions. My gnocchi was fluffy yet filling, and I had enough to take home for dinner the following night. My parents were both pleased with their meals as well. We were all so pleased, in fact, that we didn’t have room for dessert, though we couldn’t help peeking at the menu, which featured a variety of sorbets, gelatos, tartufos, and Italian pastries. Next time, perhaps.

After we (or, I should say, my dad) paid what turned out to be a very reasonable bill, we bundled up to brave the cold once more, armed with full stomachs and memories of a delicious meal in a warm and cozy atmosphere. And somehow it didn’t feel quite as cold on the way home.

One Lovely Blog Award

I’m always excited when readers leave comments on my blog, but I was especially excited last week when Suzee of Chez LaFleur in Manhattan, nominated me for the One Lovely Blog Award. Thanks so much, Suzee! I am pleased to accept the award—and pass it along to these blogs with a New York City focus:

Miss Menu: The restaurant adventures of a “walking Zagat guide.”

The Upper East Side Informer: New Upper East Side Informer Jocelyn Jane provides an insightful look at UES goings-on.

Postcards from New York: Postcard-perfect glimpses of the city and all it has to offer.

Home Sweet NYC: NYC happenings with heart.

I Could Not Stay in Strawberry Fields Forever: A fabulous NYC photoblog.

NYC Foodie: Eating out in NYC from a foodie's-eye view.

StrumErika: Another great take on NYC restaurants.

These awardees just need to follow these simple rules to receive this award and pass it on:

• Add the logo to your blog.


• Link to the person from whom you've received the award.


• Nominate seven blogs of your choice.


• Leave a message on the nominees’ blogs.

Enjoy!

A Fresh Perspective for a New Year

After nearly two weeks off, a vacation filled with family, friends, rest, relaxation, and large quantities of baked goods, I am ready for 2009. Determined to make this year my most productive and fulfilling yet, I decided to take on the challenge of a new hobby. No, I am not building the world’s largest ball of yarn, nor am I growing a family of sea monkeys. Instead, I have taken up painting.

Though my resume includes only a few walls (the baseboards of which needed touching up when I was done), I went to the art supply store last week, my much more artistically experienced father in tow. With his help, I chose several tubes of watercolor paint, a set of brushes, and a book of techniques—plus a nifty little carrying case to store it all in. My dad purchased some supplies as well, and the next day we set up our acquisitions on the kitchen table and got to work.

An hour or so and a few spills, splatters, and splashes later, my dad, after experimenting with several techniques and color combinations, had painted a lovely little beach scene. I, meanwhile, had filled a piece of paper with several mud-colored streaks and then painted a flower that looked more like a pastel sea anemone than the orchid it was supposed to be. Technique, I discovered, is everything—and I had a lot to learn.

While practice makes perfect, so does patience, perspective, and observation, whether you’re learning how to paint, teaching yourself a foreign language, or nursing a sick sea monkey. And one of the best places for such patient observation is a museum, as few other spots feautre so many fresh and talented perspectives under one roof—especially now, as many of the museums in our area are or will soon be featuring brilliant new exhibits. And I'm sure my new hobby could benefit from all of them. Here are some of the highlights:

Art and Love in Renaissance Italy: Now at the Met, this exhibit explores the themes of love and marriage during the Italian Renaissance with approximately 150 objects that range from portraits and paintings to jewelry and glassware. “Art and Love” is on display until February 16—just in time for Valentine’s Day. In addition, curator Andrea Bear will be giving a lecture on the exhibit next Thursday, January 15 at 7 p.m. in Wallace Hall at the Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola (on the corner of 84th and Park). The lecture is free and open to the public, and it will be followed by a wine and cheese reception.

Masterpieces of European Painting from the Norton Simon Museum: Starting February 10, the Frick will feature five master works from 16th-and 17th-century artists Peter Paul Rubens, Guercino, Francisco de Zurbarán, Jacopo Bassano, and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, none of whom are currently represented in the Frick’s collection.

The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia, 1860 to 1989: Opening at the Guggenheim January 30, "The Third Mind" will explore the impact Asian art and philosophy have had on the American art scene. With approximately 260 works by 114 American and Asian-American artists, this exhibit is sure to be a lesson in perspective.

Paris/New York: Design/Fashion/Culture 1925-1940: On display through February 22 at the Museum of the City of New York, “Paris/New York” explores the themes in art, design, architecture, film, fashion, and theater brought to the forefront in—where else—Paris and New York during the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s. Featuring drawings, photographs, costumes, furnishings, and more from the likes of Coco Chanel, Salvador Dali, and Josephine Baker, the exhibit delves into our creative and culturally rich history.

Eudora Welty in New York: Photographs of the Early 1930s: Also at the Museum of the City of New York are author and photographer Eudora Welty’s Depression-Era photos of both her home state of Mississippi and New York, now through February 16.

Artists Making Photographs: Opening January 16 at the Whitney, this exhibit features photographs by artists like Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, and Robert Rauschenberg, alongside their works in other mediums. Perhaps they ventured into photography in an attempt to take on a new hobby for a new year as well.

No matter what your New Year’s resolution, interest, or hobby, these exhibits are sure to provide fresh new perspectives and a healthy dose of inspiration.