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Dining Out
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www.theconnectionsnj.com Hours: Tues 7:30am-6:00pm • Wed-Sat 7:30am-9:00pm Sun 7:30am-1:30pm • Closed Mondays Get Your Cakes and Italian Pastries for the Holidays! BYOB 239 Main Avenue • Stirling, NJ 07980 908-350-8064 www.biagiosbakery.com Italian Gourmet Specialties Bakery and Deli FRESH BREAD DAILY Off Premise Catering Available Sandwiches • Salads • Italian Pastries Cookies • Cakes & Pies • Special Occasion Cakes Espresso & Cappuccino Call to reserve your Easter Meat, Rice or Wheat Pies. We’re making Challah and Easter Breads too! NOW MAKING GLUTEN FREE CAKES, COOKIES & BREAD DINNERS TO GO EVERYDAY Dine In Available Wednesday-Saturday Open Until 9pm Online Ordering Now Available $ 5 00 OFF $ 50 00 or more Dinner Bill DINE IN OR TAKE OUT Valentine’s Day Chocolate Covered Strawberries The Met Breuer By: Linda Seigelman When the Whitney Museum vacated its long-time upper East Side home to move to a brand new building in the Meatpacking District (see Big Apple Bites, April 2016), the former space was annexed by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and re-opened in March of last year as The Met Breuer, a new free- standing wing of The Met dedicated to the showcasing of modern and contem- porary art. Located at the corner of Madison Avenue and 75th Street, the museum’s name honors the landmark building’s designer, Marcel Breuer, the famous Hungarian modernist, architect and furniture designer. It provides additional space for the public to explore the art of the 20th and 21st centuries through the breadth and reach of The Met's unparalleled col- lection. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s modern and contemporary art pro- gram includes exhibitions, performances, artist commissions, residencies, and edu- cational initiatives. The Met Breuer’s modest size and small- er space configuration compared to its big sister a few blocks away make it the perfect spot to see a special exhibition or performance. Recent exhibitions by Diane Arbus and Kerry James Marshall and the current exhibition of Marsden Hartley allow an up-close and personal view of the artist and their work in a very intimate setting. The Metropolitan Museum of Art now has three New York City locations: The Met Fifth Avenue (the original location), the Met Cloisters, and the Met Breuer. Each museum location is worth a visit on its own, and for the ambitious museum visitor, tickets purchased at one include same day admission to all three. As to where to eat, The Met Breuer is home to a lovely new restaurant and café, Flora Bar and Flora Coffee. Situated in the light-filled, window-walled first floor, the food and ambience are perfect for a quick snack, a drink at the bar or an excellent meal. In addition, the surround- ing neighborhood offers wonderful shops and plenty of restaurants to satisfy all tastes. So, the next time you are in the mood for a day in the city that mixes the perfect blend of art, shopping and food, head to upper Madison Avenue and The Met Breuer. You won’t be disappointed. SOME LOCAL SUGGESTIONS Café Boulud, 20 East 76th Street (bet/ Madison & Fifth) – another excellent French restaurant from chef Daniel Boulud, seasonal ingredients expertly prepared, Michelin-starred without the pretense, the prix fixe lunch menu is the way to go Flora Bar, 945 Madison Avenue (at 75th) – beautiful bar and seating area, focus is on fresh seafood and vegetables, stop in for drinks and small plates or a full meal, unique wines too, private street entrance allows for dining when the museum is closed Flora Coffee, 945 Madison Avenue (at 75th) – coffee, pastries, sandwiches, etc, open during museum hours, lovely spot to take a break and do some peo- ple-watching through giant windows Laduree, 864 Madison Avenue (bet/ 70th & 71st) – the king of Parisian mac- arons, salted caramel and pistachio are favorites, coffee and great French pas- tries too, definitely take some home Maison Kayser, 1294 Third Avenue (bet/ 74th & 75th) – open early for break- fast–tartines, quiche, eggs–and through lunch and dinner and everything in- between, perfect for a quick snack or a full meal, excellent breads and baked goods, casual and reasonably-priced Orsay, 1057 Lexington Avenue (at 75th) – classic French bistro menu is well- prepared, covers all bases from onion soup to steak and fries, tasty salads and burgers too, weather permitting, a lovely space for outdoor seating Ristorante Morini, 1167 Madison Avenue (bet/ 85th & 86th) – excellent seasonal Italian from chef Michael White, the pasta is tops, delicious meat, seafood and vegetarian options, prix fixe lunch is a good value Sant Ambroeus, 1000 Madison Avenue (bet/ 77th & 78th) – upper Eastside outpost of downtown hotspot, good for brunch, lunch, dinner, or just coffee and a homemade dessert, a neighborhood favorite