Restaurant: Mario Batali's Eataly - Italian Gourmet Food Center
Location: New York City, NY
Date: September 2010
This post is dedicated in honor of the premiere of NBC's "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (Season 11) on Tuesday, January 4th, 2011.
I try to visit New York City several times each year for shopping, Broadway and the greatest sport of all - eating. While my love of open spaces and clean air precludes me from living in Manhattan, I do love to visit. On my last trip to NYC, I was ecstatic that Mario Batali's temple to Italian food: Eataly had recently opened. My UK friend, John, was visiting NYC for the first time and I told him we absolutely had to go to Eataly for lunch.
I was gobstopped at the shiny white food hall. The variety of amazingly scrumptious delights - pastas, meats, seafood, bakery, gelato ... oh Mario Batali, how I love you so!
Wandering around Eataly, I stumbled upon the most amazing sight of all. Ravioli? No. Aged Italian cheese? No. Italian beer? No. NBC's "The Biggest Loser" trainer Bob Harper was there at Eataly - in all his svelte, vegan, taut, toned fabulousness. Now I could wax on forever on how seeing Bob Harper at Eataly was a tremendous cosmic joke. It was like someone served me a 14 layer cake and then vomited on it while I was trying to get the first bite! Or more accurately, like an Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor blocking the entrance to a bar. Come on man, I wanna get my binge on!
I was so looking forward to diving into some hedonistic carb-loaded delight for lunch at Eataly and there was Bob Harper, dressed all in black, blocking my road to calorie nirvana. Damn you, Harper!
I lived for a couple years in Los Angeles and became quite used to seeing celebrities on a daily basis, it became almost blase. "Ohhh Michael Douglas and Kobe Bryant AGAIN ... sigh." However seeing "The Biggest Loser"'s Bob Harper threw me into a slackjawed seizure disorder. UK John looked at me as if he was trying to figure out whether he needed to shove something into my mouth to keep me from swallowing my own tongue. I believe I said "Blah - grr-- argh- globulous -- ballucious -- BOB HARPER!" between salivia-expelling gasps.
UK John had no idea who Bob Harper was, but God bless him - UK John went over to Bob (who by this time was standing behind us next to the cheese stand-- DAMN YOU BOB HARPER, QUIT BLOCKING THOSE GLORIOUS BLOCKS OF FAT AND LOVE!). UK John tapped Bob Harper on the arm and asked if he would be so kind as to be in a picture with UK John's apparently epileptic friend. Bob graciously agreed and wrapped his arm around my waist for the picture. (BOB HARPER, DON'T SQUEEZE MY LOVE HANDLES!)
Bob Harper is even skinnier than he looks on TV. A monumentous advertisement for a vegan lifestyle, exercise and healthy living. You would think that being in "The Biggest Loser" trainer's presence, I would have looked around Mario Batali's Eataly with new health-conscious eyes, walked away from all the food and headed out for a 20 mile run. But no.... Sadly, sadly, no. After taking a picture with Bob Harper, I gaped at him with bulging eyes as I tried to suck in my stomach and stage whispered "I LOVE YOU!" Yes, I did. Sigh.
Am I a twelve year old girl? Do I subscribe to Tiger Beat? Why was I acting like such a fool? Bob looked at me with pity and walked away. I felt slightly ... OK more than slightly ... stupid. But my feeling of stupidity was temporary and fleeting. My picture with Bob is forever! I should print a life-size copy of the picture and put it on my fridge and my elliptical.
I'd like to say that the power of Bob Harper was stronger than the allure of orange croc-clad wearing Mario Batali's cuisine. I'd like to, but I'd be lying and 2011 is all about honesty. :) After taking a picture with Bob Harper, UK John and I were ready to have a celebratory lunch! Eataly has small mini restaurants within the food hall. Each mini restaurant has a theme - a meat restaurant, a seafood restaurant, pizza, vegetables ... and each one had a waiting list. Each section looked better than the next, however we chose our cuisine by the one that had the shortest wait list - the seafood restaurant.
I'd like to say that after being in Bob Harper's skinny ass presence I ordered a 3 ounce portion of steamed fish and a glass of tap water. I'd like to say that, truly. After being near one of the world's top trainers, I ordered the ... FRITTO MISTO. Yes, deep fried seafood and an Italian beer in a pale ale style. UK John ordered the swordfish, a specialty soda and we shared a side of roasted fingerling potatoes. Maybe if I had met Jillian Michaels I would have been too petrified to make such a caloric choice. That's right, I'm blaming Bob Harper for why I ordered deep fried seafood. OK, no I am not. :)
The lunch was absolutely worth the wait for a table. The fritto misto was light and savory (regardless of the fat and calorie count). The seafood - fish, shrimp and calamari - were all perfectly cooked. The Italian beer brought out the flavor of the seafood and cut the fat from my tongue. UK John's swordfish was the real culinary treat of the lunch - thick and covered with a seasoned breadcrumb - it was hearty and a flavor revelation. While I still love "The Biggest Loser" trainer Bob Harper in my own pathetic fan way, the star of the day was Mario Batali and his wonderful Eataly. I'll gladly do a few (hundred!) miles on the elliptical for another bite of Mario Batali's food.
I look forward to more trips to Eataly in the future. However if the next time I go there, I see Jillian Michaels in front of the pizza restaurant section I may have to run out screaming. Run out with a "to go" bag! :-) I'll be watching Season 11 of "The Biggest Loser" while on my elliptical, Bob- I promise!
Unfortunately in the battle of Chef Mario Batali vs. "The Biggest Loser" Trainer Bob Harper, my stomach chose Mario! It would have been a smarter choice if my fleshy abs chose Bob ... maybe next time!
Location: New York City, NY
Date: September 2010
This post is dedicated in honor of the premiere of NBC's "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (Season 11) on Tuesday, January 4th, 2011.
I try to visit New York City several times each year for shopping, Broadway and the greatest sport of all - eating. While my love of open spaces and clean air precludes me from living in Manhattan, I do love to visit. On my last trip to NYC, I was ecstatic that Mario Batali's temple to Italian food: Eataly had recently opened. My UK friend, John, was visiting NYC for the first time and I told him we absolutely had to go to Eataly for lunch.
I was gobstopped at the shiny white food hall. The variety of amazingly scrumptious delights - pastas, meats, seafood, bakery, gelato ... oh Mario Batali, how I love you so!
Wandering around Eataly, I stumbled upon the most amazing sight of all. Ravioli? No. Aged Italian cheese? No. Italian beer? No. NBC's "The Biggest Loser" trainer Bob Harper was there at Eataly - in all his svelte, vegan, taut, toned fabulousness. Now I could wax on forever on how seeing Bob Harper at Eataly was a tremendous cosmic joke. It was like someone served me a 14 layer cake and then vomited on it while I was trying to get the first bite! Or more accurately, like an Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor blocking the entrance to a bar. Come on man, I wanna get my binge on!
I was so looking forward to diving into some hedonistic carb-loaded delight for lunch at Eataly and there was Bob Harper, dressed all in black, blocking my road to calorie nirvana. Damn you, Harper!
I lived for a couple years in Los Angeles and became quite used to seeing celebrities on a daily basis, it became almost blase. "Ohhh Michael Douglas and Kobe Bryant AGAIN ... sigh." However seeing "The Biggest Loser"'s Bob Harper threw me into a slackjawed seizure disorder. UK John looked at me as if he was trying to figure out whether he needed to shove something into my mouth to keep me from swallowing my own tongue. I believe I said "Blah - grr-- argh- globulous -- ballucious -- BOB HARPER!" between salivia-expelling gasps.
UK John had no idea who Bob Harper was, but God bless him - UK John went over to Bob (who by this time was standing behind us next to the cheese stand-- DAMN YOU BOB HARPER, QUIT BLOCKING THOSE GLORIOUS BLOCKS OF FAT AND LOVE!). UK John tapped Bob Harper on the arm and asked if he would be so kind as to be in a picture with UK John's apparently epileptic friend. Bob graciously agreed and wrapped his arm around my waist for the picture. (BOB HARPER, DON'T SQUEEZE MY LOVE HANDLES!)
Bob Harper is even skinnier than he looks on TV. A monumentous advertisement for a vegan lifestyle, exercise and healthy living. You would think that being in "The Biggest Loser" trainer's presence, I would have looked around Mario Batali's Eataly with new health-conscious eyes, walked away from all the food and headed out for a 20 mile run. But no.... Sadly, sadly, no. After taking a picture with Bob Harper, I gaped at him with bulging eyes as I tried to suck in my stomach and stage whispered "I LOVE YOU!" Yes, I did. Sigh.
Am I a twelve year old girl? Do I subscribe to Tiger Beat? Why was I acting like such a fool? Bob looked at me with pity and walked away. I felt slightly ... OK more than slightly ... stupid. But my feeling of stupidity was temporary and fleeting. My picture with Bob is forever! I should print a life-size copy of the picture and put it on my fridge and my elliptical.
I'd like to say that the power of Bob Harper was stronger than the allure of orange croc-clad wearing Mario Batali's cuisine. I'd like to, but I'd be lying and 2011 is all about honesty. :) After taking a picture with Bob Harper, UK John and I were ready to have a celebratory lunch! Eataly has small mini restaurants within the food hall. Each mini restaurant has a theme - a meat restaurant, a seafood restaurant, pizza, vegetables ... and each one had a waiting list. Each section looked better than the next, however we chose our cuisine by the one that had the shortest wait list - the seafood restaurant.
I'd like to say that after being in Bob Harper's skinny ass presence I ordered a 3 ounce portion of steamed fish and a glass of tap water. I'd like to say that, truly. After being near one of the world's top trainers, I ordered the ... FRITTO MISTO. Yes, deep fried seafood and an Italian beer in a pale ale style. UK John ordered the swordfish, a specialty soda and we shared a side of roasted fingerling potatoes. Maybe if I had met Jillian Michaels I would have been too petrified to make such a caloric choice. That's right, I'm blaming Bob Harper for why I ordered deep fried seafood. OK, no I am not. :)
 |
| Yes, I met the world's top trainer and then ate deep fried food. |
The lunch was absolutely worth the wait for a table. The fritto misto was light and savory (regardless of the fat and calorie count). The seafood - fish, shrimp and calamari - were all perfectly cooked. The Italian beer brought out the flavor of the seafood and cut the fat from my tongue. UK John's swordfish was the real culinary treat of the lunch - thick and covered with a seasoned breadcrumb - it was hearty and a flavor revelation. While I still love "The Biggest Loser" trainer Bob Harper in my own pathetic fan way, the star of the day was Mario Batali and his wonderful Eataly. I'll gladly do a few (hundred!) miles on the elliptical for another bite of Mario Batali's food.
 |
| Extraordinary Swordfish! |
 |
| Don't tell Bob I ate Fritto Misto! |
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