I remember when we opened a high end restaurant with a very talented chef, that we thought that he understood the value of a dollar and that we were not only creating an amazing restaurant, but that it was also a business. (It really doesn’t matter what the name of the restaurant or chef was.)

About 2 weeks into the restaurant's life, I walked into the walk-in refrigerator and was almost knocked over by the aroma of fresh with truffles.

I opened up one of the lock boxes in the fridge, to see that it was packed with $80,000 of white truffles. Back then they were around $500 per pound and now run around $1200 per pound.

I ran to the chef and said, #WTF did you do?

He looked at me and said that he got a tremendous discount on the truffles and it was a bargain. #OMG I walked away and quickly gathered my partners to tell them about the truffles and the conversation I had with the chef.

I said to my partners that we made a huge mistake in hiring this talented chef, who had zero concern and understanding for our business, money and profitability.

The moral of the story- people show you their true colors very, very quickly.

Make sure you are aware of those colors and act on them quickly. Otherwise, you are going to be sitting with $80,000 of white truffles and 50-60% of them will go bad, before you even use them.

Welcome to this sophisticated 2-Bedroom, 2-Bath home in a lovely full-service Art Deco Coop in one of the most desirable and prestigious neighborhoods in Manhattan. This sunny and spacious estate condition home boasts a graceful layout and lovely prewar details. A gracious dining gallery overlooks the generous, south-facing sunken living room showcasing stunning original details including high beamed ceilings and gorgeous basket weave hardwood floors with inlaid wooden borders. The windowed kitchen has northern views and is off of the dining gallery. Both bedrooms are spacious and serene with excellent storage and also feature a desirable, split-layout, ideal for privacy. The master bedroom offers beautiful south and western sunlight, including a direct view of Central Park! Washer/ dryers are permitted in units with board approval! A prestigious full-service building, 19 East 88th Street is situated on quiet 88th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenue, with distinguished neighbors including the Guggenheim Museum and Central Park. Residents of this special building enjoy amenities including 24-hour doorman and full staff including excellent, live-in Super, beautiful planted roof deck, bike room, and central laundry. Pets are welcome. There is an assessment running through 2016 in the amount of $299.99. The 2% flip tax is paid by the purchaser.

http://www.elliman.com/new-york-city/19-east-88-street-9d-manhattan-fchjxet

This listing courtesy of Douglas Elliman

The Alycia, 304 West 114th Street, 1A - Harlem, New York $479K

Looking for a deluxe starter home, inviting weekend place, or smart investment property? Look no further than this bright and airy convertible 1BR at the lovely Alycia Condo in the heart of South Harlem! Walking through the front door, you'll be charmed by the apartment's high ceilings with soft recessed lighting, and crown molding all around. To your left is a giant walk-in closet with all the space and clever built-ins that you could ask for. And to your right is the spacious, spa-inspired bathroom featuring ceramic tiles with glass-tile inlay, Kohler fixtures, and a simply wonderful deep-soaking Jacuzzi tub. The open kitchen gleams with stainless appliances? Including a built-in microwave and dishwasher? Granite counter and a handy butcher-block rolling island with abundant cabinet space. Apartment 1A also has an efficient IslandAire HVAC system, video intercom, and its own basement storage space with a stackable washer-dryer! The Alycia has a (free) bike-storage room and a delightful rooftop deck as well as abated taxes through 2035. Just two blocks from the B/C subway, four blocks from Central Park, and moments away from neighborhood favorites Bier, Melba's, 67 Orange Street, Harlem Tavern, Lido, Harlem Food Bar, Harlem Shambles, and the rest of the fun on Frederick Douglass, it's easy to say yes to this gem at The Alycia!

http://thezwebenteam.elliman.com/new-york-city/the-alycia-304-west-114-street-1a-manhattan-wsgrjev

For a private showing, please contact Neil Porter at: NPorter@elliman.com

Serves 4 people:

Ingredients

• 4 cloves chopped garlic
• 3 sliced shallots
• 1 head of roasted fennel
• 3 roasted peppers
• 5 ounces sliced crimini mushrooms
• 5 ounces sliced white mushrooms
• 1 bunch chopped chives
• XVOO 5 ounces
• Sea Salt
• Cracked Black Pepper
• ½ tsp. crushed red pepper

Method

• Sweat the garlic and shallots in the Olive oil
• Once the shallots and garlic are caramelized, add the mushrooms and sauté until tender
• Add the chopped roasted Fennel and Roasted Pepper to the mixture. (Fennel and peppers should be roasted in a roasting pan with Olive oil , salt and pepper at 375 degrees for approx.. 45 minutes to an hour, or until tender.
• Add the chopped chives, sea salt and crack black pepper to taste and the crushed red peppers.
• In a spate pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until tender.
• Drain the pasta on a colander and add to the sauce.
• Serve with Roasted bread and a delicious dry white wine or Rose~

710 West End Avenue, 11B - Upper West Side, New York

$1,500,000

First Open House~5.10.15 11:30am-1pm

Enjoy stunning sunsets in your gorgeous, high floor, river-view apartment on lovely West End Avenue! Move right into this gracious 2-Bedroom 2-Bath home with generous proportions and lovely prewar details. High, beamed ceilings and original hardwood floors are complemented by a modern renovation. The windowed, eat-in kitchen boasts sleek cashmere granite counters, plentiful, hardwood contemporary cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. Both bathrooms boast fresh renovations keeping with the prewar style of the apartment. The serene master bath features marble sink, deep-soaking tub, marble floor and white subway tiles. Both baths have Toto toilets and views of the River! The bedrooms are spacious with deep closets and soothing, river views to lull you to sleep.710 West End Avenue is a full-service, prewar building, built in 1928 and converted to Cooperative in 1982. It has 24-hour doorman, private storage, bike storage and excellent live-in Super. Pets are welcome!

http://www.elliman.com/new-york-city/710-west-end-owners-710-west-end-avenue-11b-manhattan-cafsmmj

251 West 95th Street, 5N - Upper West Side, New York

Welcome home!

Open House Details

• Sunday, January 18^th, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

This stunning, spacious and bright, 6-room residence (originally 7 rooms) combines the elegance of pre-war details with the comfort of a luxurious and impeccable, modern renovation. The large, eat-in windowed kitchen features a cozy built-in banquette breakfast area, Caesar-stone counters, professional grade stainless steel appliances, including a 5-burner Miele oven and range, Miele convection oven and dishwasher.

Upon entering, the sophisticated layout flows beautifully from its long, lovely foyer hallway into the expansive living and dining areas. This great room boasts huge east-facing Skyline "tilt & turn" picture windows and window seats, creating a light and airy, yet quiet and peaceful oasis in the midst of it all. The living room also features beautifully appointed built-ins, which include bookshelves and an entertainment center. Gorgeous hardwood floors grace the expanse of the entire apartment, and a "secret" office nook is perched, just off the kitchen, in addition to a conveniently tucked-away Miele washer and dryer. A walk-in closet and en suite windowed, serene spa-like bathroom, with oversized bath tub, Toto toilet, deep ceramic sink and top of the line fixtures, compliment the soothingly quiet master bedroom. Two additional well-proportioned bedrooms offer plenty of living and closet space and share a second full bathroom just off the hallway. 251 West 95th Street is a meticulously maintained, cozy co-op building, just moments away from Riverside Park and public transportation, boasting a gorgeous, restored marble lobby, bike room and private storage. Pets are allowed with board approval. This is a non-smoking building.

http://www.elliman.com/new-york-city/251-west-95-street-5n-manhattan-zkxdycb

For a private showing, please contact pzweben@elliman.com

•  645 West End Avenue, 5D - Upper West Side, New York
• First Open House-
• Sunday, June 29^th, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM 

PREWAR GRANDEUR!   Welcome to this special Classic Six at 645 West End Avenue, a striking, turn-of-the-century luxury Coop on a quiet stretch of West End Avenue between 91st and 92nd Street. This elegant home ushers you inside with a gracious entry foyer, high ceilings and spacious layout. The grandly proportioned formal dining room, featuring opulent original cherry wood paneling, decorative moldings and beamed ceilings, is the centerpiece of this home and an ideal spot for hosting formal dinner parties. Beautiful French doors open to the living room, a lovely setting for relaxing and entertaining. The home chef will enjoy a windowed eat-in kitchen with modern stainless steel appliances and plentiful cabinetry with the potential to be transformed into a contemporary, state-of-the-art chef's kitchen. Immediately off of the kitchen is the staff room, a flexible space currently used as both an office and laundry room with a Washer and Dryer. The two peaceful bedrooms are quietly removed from the home's common areas and offer sunny eastern views across West End Avenue. The master suite is a serene retreat with upgraded bath complete with subway tiling and a standing glass rain shower. The generous second bedroom enjoys exposures to the south and east and access to the second full bath.645 West End Avenue is a coveted full-service building with stunning roof garden and rooftop gym, all conveniently located near public transportation, fine dining, and all area amenities! Pets welcome!

12 West 96th Street, 7A - Upper West Side, New York

$2.595M 

GRAND CENTRAL PARK HOME! Gracious in size and character, this lovely 3-bedroom 2.5-bath, Classic 7 Home welcomes with charming prewar detailing throughout and sunny, open city views. An elegant entry foyer showcasing arched doorways and herringbone floors ushers you into the expansive, side-by-side living and dining rooms, ideal for entertaining and joined by beautiful French doors. With original moldings and high-beamed ceilings, the living and dining rooms along with two of the three bedrooms all face north onto 96th Street, enjoying bright, open views. The home chef will be inspired by the recently renovated kitchen with custom Brookhaven cabinets, natural quartzite countertops, imported porcelain tile flooring, and stainless steel GE Café appliances. A quiet home office off the kitchen features custom built-ins, a half bath, and externally vented washer and dryer. The generous bedrooms are secluded and removed from the home's common rooms, separated by a glass paned door for added privacy. Facing both north and east, the master suite even offers a view of Central Park! This serene space is enhanced by great closet space and ensuite bath with classic pedestal sink, standing shower, deep soaking tub, and subway tiling. The second shared bath has been updated with attractive deep soaking BainUlta tub, contemporary subway tiling, and marble floor. 12 West 96th Street is a beautifully maintained pet-friendly Coop with 24-hour elevator operator, live in super, playroom, central laundry, bike room and storage, located only seconds away from Whole Foods, public transportation, Central Park and all area amenities.

http://www.elliman.com/new-york-city/12-west-96-street-7a-manhattan-zwqxwzi

Ingredients

• 2 pounds bone in legs and thighs
• ½ bottle dry white wine
• 4 ounces balsamic vinegar
• 2 ounces chopped pitted Kalamata olives
• 1-2 tablespoons capers
• 2 sprigs chopped fresh rosemary
• Seas salt
• Cracked black pepper

Method

• Place legs and thighs in a casserole dish
• Place all other ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix together
• pour mixture from the bowl over the chicken
• cover with tin foil and place in the fridge for 8 hours- *You can do this in the morning, before you go to work.
• preheat oven to 425 and place the casserole dish, with foil in the oven.
• bake for 50 minutes.
• remove foil and increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees for 20 more minutes.

*serve the chicken with rice and a delicious sautéed green vegetable.

*a dry red wine from Abruzzo would be perfect with this!!!