What
do you get the woman that has everything, including me?
It
turns out the answer would be found right in front of my face. As the bright
light from my computer blinded me one morning I somehow ended up with the
perfect way to celebrate my mother’s birthday. The answer was to partake in the
infamous, historic Sunday Brunch at Peacock Alley Restaurant in the magnificent
Waldorf Astoria right here in New York City. I don’t know how it didn’t occur
to me to do it sooner.
My
mother’s birthday is a national holiday in my house. I am serious ask anybody. She
always insists on having a birthday week and I can remember years not long ago
when she had a birthday that seemed to go on for months. There are always
surprise guests, incredibly thoughtful gifts from her children, her favorite
blue roses from my dad, and pretty much anything else you can think of. I think
the only thing that could top those amazing gifts is perhaps the food that
surrounds her birthday; for sure we are all going to eat our hearts out that
day.
Since
I went to Stone Park Café back in May of this year (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2015/05/for-blissful-brunch-just-stones-throw.html)
I had been planning to celebrate my mother’s birthday brunch there. That would
have been excellent and I still plan to go back there before the year is up.
But
once I landed on the Waldorf brunch there was no turning back. I mean how could
I? The glitz, the glamour, the history, and tradition were too much for me. I
HAD to go.
When
the big day arrived my brother and I decided not to tell my mother where we
were going. The surprise just upped the anty. Instead we just shoved our three
Sunday wearing best selves into an Uber and off we went to the Big Apple.
I
knew she wouldn’t have guessed this was where we were going in a million years.
When we pulled up we were down a side street so we had a few more moments
before our surprise was announced. To say that she was thrilled was an
understatement.
I
ran into that hotel like I had been waiting to all my life. You see I have paid
to be at the Waldorf Astoria before but never actually went there. On my
parent’s twenty-fifth anniversary some years ago, my brother and I sent them to
the hotel, as it was where they spent their honeymoon. We had prearranged the
travel and the day/evening plans. Again I say I am a good gift giver (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2013/01/for-generous-and-great-gift-giving-ideas.html).
Now it was my turn to visit if only for the brunch.
According
to the Waldorf Astoria, Peacock Alley became famous as the place where anyone
who is anyone wanted to be.
“Peacock Alley became
so famous and popular that its moving population on any day could total 25,000
or more. On days when a president, prince, or other notable visited the hotel,
upwards of 35,000 people might visit the grand promenade…the city’s most
extravagant Sunday Brunch that wrapped around the famous two-ton, nine-foot
clock from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.”
It
appears nothing has changed. When its not broken there is no need to fix it.
Besides
being world renowned for beauty and quality service has also led to the
creation of some infamous dishes. The Waldorf salad seems like an obvious one
but I had never had it before. Everything was proportioned out in these
circular bowls that I saw as nearly everybody walked by with one. On my second
or third trip (they all kind of fused together) back to the buffet I grabbed
one. I have to say it wasn’t my cup of tea. It was a salad more like coleslaw
than tossed salad with grapes and walnuts and what looked like a Pepperidge
Farm Pirouette wafer stuck in there. I was confused more than impressed but
when at the Waldorf…
The
next dish I didn’t actually have at the Waldorf that day but have had it before
and no doubt some of you will have also. It is Eggs Benedict. That is more my
speed. I had planned to have some that morning/afternoon but I had to do some
triage and I didn’t have any room for things I have already had no matter how
tasty. I meant business people. Fancy buffets are not for the weak at heart.
The
third original dish is one I know you have had: red velvet cake! I would have
never assumed this was not created in the South. I don’t know what about it
made me think so but so it was. I have never been a fan of that red chocolate
tasting cake with cream cheese frosting until I had it here. The hotel brought
it over to sing happy birthday as well as complimentary champagne for a toast.
It was perfection! It’s a shame everyone’s birthday can’t be celebrated here.
I
shoveled that cake in my face so fast I couldn’t believe what I tasted! I am
now permanently ruined for red velvet cake for the rest of my life, such a
small price to pay for such a treat.
I
also loved the individual baked Alaska pops they were making. It was frozen and
hot at the same time. If I was on death row it is what I would order for
dinner.
In
addition the almond creamed croissants went down so fast I am not even sure how
many I had. The rest of the food is sort of blurry. I know I tried and enjoyed
the lobster bisque soup. There were bites upon countless bites of other foods I
can’t seem to live without despite them escaping my memory right now.
Anything
else you need to know about the food you will find out by watching this video.
As
if I needed any other reasons to attend this brunch: it is considered one of
the top ten brunches in NYC by OpenTable as well as one out of the four brunch
exceptions by the Wall Street Journal. But my favorite recommendation came from
Conde Nast Traveler- a magazine I am devoted to. They listed the brunch at
Peacock Alley as number seven on their list of the most amazing unknown facts
about NYC, the fact being that this is the location where Eggs Benedict was
created. Another fact I learned from the hotel itself is that the honey, fruit,
and vegetables they use are harvested from a roof top garden! The more I learn
the more I love.
On
a related side note, I swear, has anyone been watching The Knick on Cinemax?
The repeats will eventually air on their sister channel HBO. I am a HUGE fan of
that show. It combines many elements that I love namely history, true stories,
and my fair city. For those who don’t know it is a period drama-taking place in
New York City in the early 1900s and how medicine was practiced. Everything is
exceptionally done mostly particularly by their leading man Clive Owen.
Any
hoo, while doing some research for this blog I accidentally stumbled onto a
site that linked the Waldorf Astoria and The Knick. It turns out that in 1867
the Women’s Hospital moved to the location that now houses the aforementioned
Waldorf Astoria. Additionally:
“This had been the
burial ground for New York in the 1832 cholera outbreak.
47,000 coffins were dug up to make way for the new construction. In
1906 Woman's Hospital moved to 110th Street and Amsterdam. In 1953 it was
merged with St. Luke's Hospital, forming St. Luke's Hospital Center. Finally,
in 1965, it was moved to 114th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, just across the
street from St. Luke's.”
This is
what I love most about New York City; you literally never know what you will
find from the past in the present. The secrets held by the land adds layer on
top of layer of mystery and history.
For
those who intend to attend brunch beware that it does not occur during the
summer months returning at the begging of September. At the beginning of
October the price jumps slightly higher so make sure you are paying close
attention to the dates when making your reservation, which by the way is
mandatory to get in when you want. I suggest making it at least a month or two
out from the date you envision to make sure there are still openings, this is
especially true for large parties.
No
matter what they are worth EVERY single dollar, nickel, or penny you have
scrapped together just to be there. I promise you will not regret it that is
until its time to go home again and back to the land of reality. We tried to
avoid that at all costs staying until it closed at two p.m.
Some
people might feel out of place at such an exquisite venue. I am not one of
those people.
The
fancier the transport, venue, activity, the more I feel at home despite living
outside of my means. These occasions are rare so I make sure I enjoy every
single second.
For
me, living like this just feels right. And of course now my mother agrees.
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