#scenefromny

Birthdays are significantly different and all together more meaningful than anytime I can remember. Birthday’s are celebrated through FaceTime or Zoom in lieu of big parties with friends & family. One thing still remains the same, the joy a homemade cake and singing Happy Birthday can bring a smile to a child’s face. For tonight’s episode of the Coronavirus Cooking Diaries, I do more than cook. Through photos and writing I am trying to share and help document these unprecedented times. The process I hope is keeping me grounded and sane and maybe entertaining. I have always felt the most comfortable in a kitchen, whether it be mine or someone else’s. I am good at lots of things, can do almost anything but I know I truly enjoy; cooking, taking pictures and telling stories. Telling stories either through those photos, writing or most enjoyable, oral story telling are all art forms. Story telling goes back centuries and is an ancient and intimate tradition which creates a bond between the storyteller and their audience. The storyteller reveals intimate details of themselves through the telling of the story. The listeners in turn allow themselves to be enraptured by the words and emotions being shared with them and through the potential shared experiences they may have in common. I also tell stories through food and in this story my son wanted a special cake for his birthday. He requested a Vanilla cake with a Chocolate Ganache filling, Vanilla Buttercream frosting and a Minecraft design. I know nothing about Minecraft but he seemed pleased. I also ran out of time and could’t make the chocolate ganache filling. The design and flavor of the cake accomplished the goal. I think his smile speaks for itself. Making people happy through food gives me pleasure and I will continue to do so until I take my last breath. Happy Birthday Felix! . #happybirthday #birthdayboy #birthday #birthdaylove #storytelling #art #cooking #baking #mancanbake #artofbaking #coronaviruscookingdiaries #coronavirusbirthday #nyc #nyc🗽 #nyclife #nyclifestyle #scenefromny #scenefromnyc ##nycmanofmanytalents #foodislove #newyorker #newyorkcity #newyorkny #newyorkcitylife #212 #manhattan (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_gh23pnqxs/?igshid=w31ywjy0tti0

Grand Central Terminal in monochrome on a bright, beautiful Sunday afternoon. I ❤️ NY. . . . . . . . #blackandwhitephotography #bnw #localtourist #nyc #nyc🗽 #nyclife #nyclifestyle #scenefromny #scenefromnyc #midtown #newyorker #newyorkcity #newyorkny #newyorkinstagram #citywhereilive #touristinmycity #citywhereilivein #thecitywhereilive #newyorkcitylife #newyorkcitypics #newyorkcityphotos #bnwphotography #monochrome #architecture #architecturephotography #nycarchitecture #nycmanofmanytalents #manhattan #grandcentralstation #grandcentralterminal (at Grand Central Terminal) https://www.instagram.com/p/B25lBs9Hmqp/?igshid=zuvvo6jr4me7

ST. VERAN, ‘LES PIERRES GRISES’, DELAYE 2017 is from Burgundy, France and made from 100% Chardonnay which most are 25+ year old vines. The wine is aged in 80% tank, 20% barrel so it is vibrant yet succulent and classy. It has bright citrus, acidity & a backbone of minerality with a clean, bright refreshing finish. The name of the wine, “Les Pierres Grises,” refers to the grey rocks that define the terrain of Saint Veran. Saint-Véran is an appellation known for dry white wines produced in the southern half of the Mâconnais sub-region of Burgundy. The appellation is split into two sections by the vineyards of Pouilly-Fuissé. The northern half is home to the communes of Davayé, Prissé and Solutré-Pouilly, the last of which may produce both Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran wines. The southern half comprises the communes of Chânes, Chasselas, Leynes, Saint-Amour and Saint-Vérand (from which the appellation gains its name). The final 'd' of Saint-Vérand was lost due to an administrative error when the appellation laws were being drawn up in 1971. As the southernmost appellation of Burgundy, Saint-Véran overlaps slightly with the northern edge of Beaujolais. The commune of Saint-Amour, for example, produces white wines labeled as Saint-Véran alongside the fine red Beaujolais Cru wines for which it is more widely known. All Saint-Véran wines are made exclusively from the Chardonnay grape variety. They are traditionally dry in style, yet more full-bodied than other white Burgundies. In their youth, they have floral aromas and notes of white stone fruit, developing into more honeyed, nutty aromas with age. They also have a mineral, flinty aroma. . . . #nycmanofmanytalents #nyclifestyle #manhattan #scenefromny #scenefromnyc #washingtonheights #newyorker #newyorkcity #newyorkny #newyorkcitylife #winelover #LESPIERRESGRISES #maconnais #delaye #saintveran #burgundy #chardonnay #whitewine #delicious #deliciouswine #wineislove #nyc #nyc🗽 #hautescotesdebeaune #frenchwine #france #upperwestside #amelieupperwestside (at Amelie Upper west) https://www.instagram.com/p/Byb9bShHUAb/?igshid=11cm4e18lsefc

Rateau 2017 Hautes Cotes de Beaune Pinot Blanc from Burgundy in France is a rare find. Burgundy winegrower Jean-Claude Rateau is vintner, viticulturist and owner of the winery. His estate practices both organic and biodynamic farming, ferments with wild yeasts and ages his wines in minimal or zero new oak thus preserving the aromatic complexity and mineral flavors that are the essence of Burgundy. Permitted in Burgundy, but rarely seen on it's own, this Pinot Blanc by Rateau in the Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune makes a lovely and versatile wine. The aromas are subtle and pleasant, with apple, pear, lemon, and herbal notes. The palate is smooth and silky with white fruits and hints of anise. It is light but round and pretty. This wine is comes from 25 year-old Pinot Blanc vines give a ripe, citron, floral but angular wine. The wine is vilified and aged in older barels for six months before bottling. Jean-Cluade Rateau was the fourth vigneron in France to convert to biodynamics, beginning in 1979. Rateau has always believed that the soils must be alive to ensure the healthy transfer of nutrients to the vines. He has encouraged the life of the soil, uses natural composts and biodynamic preparations and has many wild plants in the vineyards that are beneficial to insects. Jean-Claude's techniques in the cellar also enable expressions of terroir. Fermentation solely uses wild-yeasts and stems are included depending on the vintage. There are manual techniques applied with no attempt to over-extract the wines. Aging is done in used barrels, three to ten years old, and minimal sulfur dioxide is used. Rateau wines speak for themselves, with a purity and mineral character seldom seem in "modern" Burgundy. Rateau's passion for his vineyards and his wines is evident and he possesses a tremendous respect for nature and vintage variations. . #nycmanofmanytalents #nyclifestyle #scenefromny #scenefromnyc #washingtonheights #newyorker #newyorkcity #newyorkny #newyorkcitylife #rateau #jeanclauderateau #burgundy #pinotblanco #biodynamicwine #organicwine #whitewine #delicious #interestingwine #deliciouswine #wineislove #nyc #nyc🗽 #hautescotesdebeaune #frenchwine #france (at Amelie Upper west) https://www.instagram.com/nycmanofmanytalents/p/BvzlBXOnTPg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=djhd2jpc1kbk

Union Square on a beautiful day in NYC. . . . #nyc #nyc🗽 #nyclife #nyclifestyle #scenefromny #scenefromnyc #sunnyday #nycskyline #washingtonheights #unionsquare #manhattan #unionsquarepark #newyorker #newyorkcity #newyorkny #newyorkinstagram #newyorkstateofmind #citywhereilive #touristinmycity #citywhereilivein #thecitywhereilive #newyorkcitylife #newyorkcitypics #newyorkcityphotos #architecture #architecturephotography #architectureporn #architecturelovers #nycarchitecture (at Union Square, Manhattan) https://www.instagram.com/nycmanofmanytalents/p/BrdTFa4HbaL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=48s8hmslvxqk

The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon and completed in 1931. A triumph of American ingenuity and dogged determination. #nyc #nyc🗽 #nyclife #nyclifestyle #scenefromny #scenefromnyc #koreatown #nycskyline #washingtonheights #newyorker #newyorkcity #newyorkny #newyorkinstagram #newyorkstateofmind #citywhereilive #touristinmycity #citywhereilivein #thecitywhereilive #newyorkcitylife #newyorkcitypics #newyorkcityphotos #architecture #architecturephotography #architectureporn #architecturelovers #nycarchitecture #empirestatebuilding #localtourist (at Empire State Building) https://www.instagram.com/nycmanofmanytalents/p/BrO2wD7nM-H/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ep0v2rb5pkpn

I love the Christmas Markets in NYC. They bring an Old World feel back to NYC around the holidays. They are found in a number of neighborhoods and many are similar in their offerings but made it to the Columbus Circle and Union Square Holiday Markets today. Picked up some cool gifts and enjoyed a beautiful, cold, yet sunny day in New York City. What more can you ask for on a day off? Nothing. . . . #nyc #nyc🗽 #nyclife #nyclifestyle #scenefromny #scenefromnyc #beautifulday #columbuscircle #holidaymarket #happyholidays #gettingintheholidayspirit #seasonsgreetings #columbuscircleholidaymarket #washingtonheights #newyorker #newyorkcity #newyorkny #newyorkinstagram #newyorkstateofmind #citywhereilive #touristinmycity #citywhereilivein #thecitywhereilive #newyorkcitylife #newyorkcitypics #newyorkcityphotos #localtourist (at Columbus Circle) https://www.instagram.com/nycmanofmanytalents/p/Bqyt3wFHGbu/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=oflr3kbl8vaw

Not going anywhere fast in black and white. . . . Gorgeous sky in Greenwich Village. - - #nyc #nyc🗽 #nyclife #nyclifestyle #scenefromny #scenefromnyc #bandw #monochrome #notgoinganywherefast #oldbicycle #brokenbicycle #greenwichvillage #westvillage #washingtonheights #newyorker #newyorkcity #newyorkny #newyorkinstagram #newyorkstateofmind #citywhereilive #touristinmycity #citywhereilivein #thecitywhereilive #newyorkcitylife #newyorkcitypics #newyorkcityphotos #localtourist (at Corner Bistro) https://www.instagram.com/nycmanofmanytalents/p/Bqx9B9WH0vq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12v0ykn09i5k1