Nespresso SoHo
Wherever I travel in the world, I always seek out Nespresso boutiques. I enjoy the elegant and original designs of the stores and seeing their coffee machines and new coffee pod flavors which I at times get to taste..
I also love going to Nespresso events as everything is as first class as their coffee and coffee makers. The opening of the long awaited SoHo boutique was no exception. the high point was: I finally got to meet the president Frederic Levy (a cousin?) who is from Paris but lives in the US and manages both the US and Canada.
There were several appealing drinks and food stations, all of which included coffee as one of the ingredients. I chose the champagne cocktail with "caviar" made from their ristretto coffee and some molecular gastronomy truc that created the pearl shape and temporarily solid consistency. It was delicious I had two cocktails!
Trays of appealing appetizers such as foie gras (i had many) circulated through the crowd and three NY restaurants set up stations to serve their special dish featuring coffee. The risotto with freshly shaved white truffle was delicious (not sure where the coffee component was here but who thinks of coffee when there is he scent of white truffle in the air--sorry!). Arepa containing shredded pork and several fabulously zesty sauces, made me take a seat to enjoy it fully. And then surprise surprise: my dearest friend Elizabeth Karmel, who recently opened Hill Country Chicken, was serving her amazingly perfectly cooked beef tenderloin with the reknowned Anson Mills grits, and red eye gravy--yes--made traditionally with coffee. Elizabeth grew up in North Carolina so red eye gravy was not a stretch!
President Levy made a short and charming speech as a spotlight illuminated the Nespresso banner fluttering in the pre-rainstorm wind.
I ran the block home just as the rain started and sadly missed what I'm sure was a delicious dessert.
A special benefit to me: with the new store just one block away means I am minutes away from refurbishing my supply of Nespresso pods!