Peachy Picks The Shop at Andaz 5th Avenue

The Shop at Andaz was first featured in Tasty Tidbits:

http://www.whomyouknow.com/2011/01/tasty-tidbits-andaz-5th-avenue.html

We are pleased to announce that it has graduated to Peachy's Picks!  The first restaurant in a hotel that has made it, we might add.  As you know, the Andaz on Fifth Avenue at 41st is a relatively new hot spot opened last July, and the cuisine at The Shop only confirms that.  It is hip, it is happening and it has the dinner you want to eat.  And, it has beautiful architecture by Next Step Design, which is how we discovered it in the first place-fabulous exhibition type foodservice.  Clean lines and sharp geometry combined with uncharacteristic Manhattan spaciousness in the company of outstanding cuisine will make The Shop a memorable experience for the Manhattanite or the traveler that frequents the restaurant.  


But as a girl from Farmington where the oldest continually farmed land in America is, Peachy feels uniquely qualified to critique a spot that is all about farms and local sourcing.  Do not fear though, Peachy is not "farmy" one bit and neither is this spot that is clearly dressed for fashion week in design.  If you are too cool for school and love lounges, but can't stand the lousy food they serve, this is the place for you.Also, the service was outstanding.  Gabriel, our server, and Chris, the manager were totally attentive and the care they took in their position was evident in every aspect of the success of this restaurant.

We began with some tomato soup which had excellent consistency and substance but may have been a hint too sweet.  The hint of mint Peachy loved in it-as you know if you make any of her food green she loves it.   The Balthazar bread with the grand reserve butter from the Bronx was a nice start too.  However, The Shop had Peachy Deegan at hello with some roasted shrimp with garlic (we love garlic!), lemon, peppers and herbs.  Not only was it seared to perfection, but the presentation in both color and arrangement was thoughtful and stunning as you can see above. 

You know she's a girl that loves the sea and seafood, so she could not pass up the special of the night-Pan-seared scallops served over potato has of peruvian purple and yukon gold, complete with bacon which surely would have delighted Kick Kennedy the bacon lover.  Some fava beans joined the party fueling Peachy's green color inclination, and the dish was a hit. 

The chocolate ganache was lovely but the real dessert winner was the pumpkin bread which could not be more ideal for this weather we're having.  

Everything about The Shop was fabulous, however a couple of pointers for the hotel:

Having the restaurant bathroom on the same floor of the restaurant is key.

We have never seen such a funny wine glass - the bar in the basement gave us one that looked like something we should use to brush our teeth....but hey, we like wine at Whom You Know so perhaps we'll start brushing our teeth with it.  Laugh with Peachy!

Server Gabriel Eagleson was cordial, entertaining and so on it all night and served everything with his fabulous smile:

It is not only Peachy who prefers The Shop!

She brought along a panelist who is a restaurant pro, if we must say so, and she says:

The restaurant’s style is modern but not cold.  Open kitchens, wood floors and tables, and floor to ceiling wine racks create a terrific, warm ambience.The people that work here are welcoming and genuine, from when you enter the hotel lobby to the last bite taken of the locally sourced meal.  The greeters, manager, server and the Chef were all most accommodating. 

Before having a chance to order from the menu, our server graciously brought a tomato basil soup with fresh mint.  Served warm yet coolly refreshing, with an unexpected chunkiness that you don’t often find-everyone seems to want to over puree soups these days.

The menu is arranged into four sections: Small plates, large plates, sides, and sweets.

I started with a small (although not really!) assorted plate of artisanal cheeses.  The Hudson red cow’s milk had a soft paste with a pungent, earthy flavor.  The aged Grafton Cheddar, from Vermont, was sharp and tangy with a nice bite.  The Calabro ricotta from Connecticut was delicately rich and creamy.  Toasted hazelnuts, warm and crispy breads from Balthazar, and wonderfully chunky honeycomb rounded out the dish, deliciously!

In the large plate selection, being a non-meat eater, I had much to choose from.  I opted for vegetables from J. Glebocki  Farms in Goshen, NY (Orange County).  Leaf spinach, potatoes, squash, ginger and tumeric were perfectly prepared and seasoned.  I asked for no butter and the olive oil preparation was terrific.

Always saving room for dessert, I tried two.  Chocolate ganache with toasted bread and sea salt was deeply dark and dense, yet not too sweet.  The pumpkin bread pudding with rum sauce was out of this world.  Spicy and tangy with orange zest and a cinnamon stick, it was quite a nice ending to a great dinner.

The 2008 Durigutti Malbec from Argentina was perfectly paired with all our dishes, being fruity and juicy with a big, round finish.

All in all, this was a terrific meal and I always appreciate the extra effort required to support local farmers and suppliers. I look forward to going back.

Whom You Know highly recommends The Shop!  

Other nice things to know about Andaz:

ANDAZ 5^th AVENUE

FACT SHEET

OPENING DATE:                  On July 5^th, Andaz 5^th Avenue brought a new sense of sophistication and whimsy to midtown Manhattan.  Following the successful launches of Andaz Wall Street, Andaz San Diego, Andaz West Hollywood, and Andaz Liverpool Street the opening of Andaz 5^th Avenue is the fifth property in the brand’s expansion.  Andaz 5^th Avenue is unique in midtown for its history-inspired design, modern approach to amenities, and intelligent, personalized service.

LOCATION:                            Located at 485 Fifth Avenue on the corner of 41^st Street, Andaz 5^th Avenue is at the center of the Bryant Park neighborhood.  Guests are also within close reach of other New York icons such as:

·         The New York Public Library (directly across the street)

·         Bryant Park

·         Grand Central Terminal

·         The Empire State Building

·         Times Square

DESIGN PROGRAM:           The building was the largest and last of the Rogers, Peet & Co. department stores, and later become the Tommy Hilfiger global headquarters before its transformation into Andaz 5^th Avenue. The hotel marks the first full hotel designed by internationally renowned design firm Tony Chi and Associates.

                                                   The contemporary, yet historical interiors and public spaces are filled with New York inspired design touches, including factory sash windows that pay homage to New York City’s pre-war apartments, exposed pipe ceilings that channel industrial New York and muted palettes evoking the feel of the silence of pre-dawn midtown.

                                                  

THE ANDAZ LOUNGE:       In keeping with the Andaz spirit of inclusivity and interactivity, there is no check-in desk in the Andaz Lounge.  One Andaz Host takes guests through a streamlined arrival process, skipping the traditional procedure of doorman to desk concierge to bellhop. 

                                                  

The Andaz lounge - home to a 14- foot tall paintings by Carlos Capelan and an inspiring Nick Hornby sculpture– is divided into unique areas.

·         In the library the room’s bookshelves contain a rotating content of literature chosen by the New York Public Library. The built in closets here conceal refrigerated drawers and an espresso machine for Andaz Hosts to provide guests with welcome refreshments.

·         The main lounge is an open space where guests and visitors are greeted, meet friends or ask hosts for tips on where to go for the day

ACCOMMODATIONS:         Andaz 5^th Avenue has 184 rooms, 36 of which are suites. Starting at 322 square feet, the guestrooms have 12-foot ceilings, and double glazed windows.  Rooms feature:

·         Oversized bathrooms lined in polished travertine marble, with rainfall shower heads and dual sinks

·         Amenities from legendary New York apothecary C.O. Bigelow

·         A black porcelain footbath in the shower area with a spout dedicated to filling it, for city-weary feet

·         Transparent, open-faced closets reminiscent of the rolling racks in the Fashion District

·         Complimentary non-alcoholic mini-bar snacks and beverages

·         Complimentary Internet access

·         Complimentary local calls

·         42’ flat screen televisions in all rooms.  Suites also have a 54’ flat screen television

·         Smart lighting technology

·         Roomlinx television system offering internet, city guides and room service menus

·         Desk space and oversized leather desk chairs

·         Geneva Sound Systems perfect for radio, alarm or listening to an iPod

ROOM CATEGORIES:         Andaz 5^th Avenue offers guests a varied selection of room types.

·         Andaz Large King - The 12 foot ceilings help you take in street views of 41st or 42nd Streets (without the noise) from the 392-sq.-ft/36-sq.-meter Large King room.

·         Andaz Large Loft - With extra space for sleeping or lounging/working, Tony Chi designed this true, open-plan 483-sq.-ft./45-sq.-meter loft with 12 foot ceilings, separate sitting area, and large windows overlook either 42nd Street or the landscaped courtyard. In the South Tower, Loft rooms include a kitchenette for making yourself feel a bit more at home in the city.

·         Andaz Splash Suite  - Few visitors to New York can claim to have viewed the changing lights of the Empire State Building from a free-standing soaking tub. Guests of our 787-sq.ft./73-sq.-meter Splash Suite can. The capacious, Tony Chi-designed corner suite has 12 foot ceilings, and looks south to the iconic building and west to 5th Avenue and the New York Public Library.

·         Andaz Large 2-Bedroom Suite  - This 971-sq.ft./90-sq.-meter, loft-like suite is truly residential in size. Two bedrooms with 12-foot ceilings flank a sitting area with sleeper sofa, kitchenette and large windows overlooking 41st Street or 5th Avenue and the New York Public Library.

·         Andaz Extra Large Terrace Suite - An extra-large suite perfect for entertaining or taking meetings, the 1,779-sq.-ft./165-sq.-meter Tony Chi-designed two-bedroom corner suite includes a 793-sq.-ft./74-sq.-meter wrap-around terrace looking south to the Empire State Building and west to the New York Public Library and 5th Avenue. A sitting area with sleeper sofa, kitchenette, 12 foot ceilings, steel-blue walls and black poplar shutter doors lend a serene feel to the large space, whose features – like light fixtures that evoke subway lanterns – are inspired by the neighborhood.

44 Andaz King (322-372 sq. ft.)

22 Andaz Large King (392-397 sq. ft.)

14 Andaz Large Twin (387-404 sq. ft.)

26 Andaz Loft (366-486 sq. ft.)

21 Andaz Large View King (416-449 sq. ft.)

7 Andaz Large View Twin (498 sq. ft.)

14 Andaz Large Loft (483-675 sq. ft)

12 Andaz Suite (519-634 sq. ft)

10 Andaz Large Suite 715-1018 sq. ft)

7 Andaz Splash Suite (787 sq. ft)

5 Andaz Large 2-Bedroom Suite (971-1175 sq. ft)

1 Andaz Extra Large 2-Bedroom Suite (1537 sq. ft)

1 Andaz Extra Large Terrace Suite (1779 sq. ft)

GUEST SERVICES:             

·         Complimentary mini-bar snacks and non-alcoholic beverages

·         Complimentary WiFi

·         Complimentary local phone calls

·         24-hour in-room dining

·         24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center

·         Newspaper delivery

·         Overnight shoeshine

·         Valet parking

·         Dry cleaning and laundry service

·         Robes and slippers

·         Geneva sound systems

·         Electronic safe

·         Valet services

·         Shopping services

·         Bike rental services

FOOD & BEVERAGE:          The shop at Andaz 5^th Avenue, located on the corner of 5^th Avenue and 41^st Street, is a 42-seat dining and retail space offering fresh, seasonal food headed by Executive Chef Roberto Alicea.

The menu consists of locally driven ingredients celebrating produce and proteins from New York State farms as well as local New York City purveyors such as:

·         Katz’s Delicatessen

·         Sullivan Street Bakery

·         Mast Brother’s Chocolate

·         Russ & Daughters

·         Blue Bottle Coffee

·         Pickle Guys

The open kitchen features a stainless steel custom Jade range with a mirrored glass hood overhead.  The shop is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

The retail space of the shop serves artisanal Blue Bottle coffee, pastries, sandwiches and goodies from local purveyors.  A sparkling white marble mosaic floor lends the air of an old-world patisserie and display of goods is set upon a 15-foot long reclaimed wood table.  In the evenings, the table is cleared and transformed into a communal gathering place.

The bar downstairs serves small-batch liquors, a carefully curated selection of wines by the glass, and small and medium plates to share. Featuring two 14-foot long bars carved out of 120 year old slabs of Claro Walnut, guests can find plenty of nooks for quiet conversation in banquette seating or near the corner cheese room.

Opening September, 5 pm – 2 am Monday through Saturday

Apartment 2E:                       Andaz has created an innovative concept for meetings and events, called Apartment 2E.  Located on the second floor, the 6,400 square foot space has been aptly named Apartment 2E due to its residential, home-like layout comprised of versatile function space. The Apartment 2E studios are a new interpretation of traditional meeting space with floor-to-ceiling windows offering:

·         Full audio and visual technologies

·         Complimentary WiFi

·         Sound systems that can be synched with an iPod®

·         Open pantries

·         Espresso makers

·         A unique “touch panel” that manages sound and light

·         Views of the open-air courtyard, access to a private bar area and a central open kitchen

THE GYM:                              The Gym is equipped with Life Fitness cardiovascular and strength-training products, including the renowned Lifecycle Exercise Bikes.  There is also a large area for strength training and stretching.

ACCESS:                                  With main entrances on 41^st Street and 5^th Avenue, Andaz 5^th Avenue is accessible by car or subway 4,5,6,7 and B,D,F,V, subways.

MANAGEMENT:                   Hyatt Corporation