Sunday morning and “Daily Bread” in New York City

March 4, 2012 by Robin Ellis

I could fall for it!

Prime time here in the Big Apple–Sunday brunch.

Today at Pain Quotidien (daily bread) on 2nd Avenue between 50th and 49th Streets, an international chain of restaurants where the service is so good and grounded you feel you are in the only one.

It is 12.30pm and the place is full to bursting.

Servers in light grey T-shirts glide calmly up and down the aisles, delivering delicious looking dishes of wholesome looking food.

Omelette with asparagus and goat’s cheese is a popular choice–I just finished mine.

Yesterday I had the Warm Moroccan Chicken Salad with chickpeas, harissa, olives and cucumber–so good I’m going to have a go at reproducing it when we get to Chicago later in the week.

We are sitting at a long scrubbed pine table made from–Rebecca, our waitress, tells us–reclaimed railway car wood. A small metal tray of three organic jam in jars tempt me to have a plate of rye toast–repeating the snack I had earlier at the apartment–I will resist–but they signal the generosity of spirit informing this place.

A mother and father (out-of-towners perhaps) engage in animated conversation with their two grown-up daughters–broad smiles on all their faces–the Big Apple version of family Sunday lunch!

We raise no eyebrows, sitting here working on our computers.

Now off across Central Park to the Pop-up event at Barnes and Noble’s Starbucks–82nd and Boadway.

I could definitely fall for it–but don’t tell the cats!

Posted in Food, other sides to this life | Tagged brunch, new york city | 16 Comments

16 Responses

on March 4, 2012 at 5:56 pm | Reply Chantal

Hello Robin,
Good that the trip goes smooth, enjoy !!!! Hughs Chantal xxxx.
on March 4, 2012 at 6:02 pm | Reply Brenda

Love the fun update! So very happy that you are having a great time and finding all to your liking! Mum is the word with the cats!
on March 4, 2012 at 9:26 pm | Reply Joy Price

Where will you be in Chicago? I have relatives there that I can send on a mission.
- on March 5, 2012 at 1:26 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Hi Joy! Pop-up signing at Starbucks in the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Evanston on Sunday, March 11th 3-4pm.
on March 4, 2012 at 9:45 pm | Reply Rosemary Green Beau

I’m there with you. Vive New York!
on March 4, 2012 at 10:27 pm | Reply Sheila Horowitz

Wishing you a wonderful trip and successful book signings as you travel west
on your busman’s holiday. Truly enjoy all the blogs; miss them when they don’t appear on e-mail.
best to you,
sheila
on March 4, 2012 at 10:34 pm | Reply Nina Witzenburg

Welcome to the Colonies, Robin — any chance of a Washington, DC visit?
- on March 5, 2012 at 1:29 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Yes, Nina, there is a big event at a Georgetown mansion on Tuesday evening, Mar 7th 6-8pm. A professional chef will be demonstrating one of my dishes and other home cooks are bringing dishes from my cookbook. See this url for details: http://katherinetallmadge.com/2012/02/28/cookbook-signing-reception-with-robin-poldark-ellis-on-march-7/
on March 4, 2012 at 11:08 pm | Reply Penny

Happy you and Meredith are having a good trip. Perhaps you will show up around here. Sonoma County, CA?

I wanted to say that I looked you up on the internet because I wanted to write a fan letter and found your blog. I have watched the Poldark series more that once and thoroughly enjoyed it. The rustic feel, historic interest, good acting, great outdoors scenes and beautiful costuming made it very romantic and fun. I think of it sort of as an English Western and compare it to “Drums Along the Mohawk” with Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda, which I also watched more than once. That’s my confession.

Penny
on March 4, 2012 at 11:32 pm | Reply Deborah Crombie

Hi Robin! Glad you are enjoying New York. When I’m in London I hang out at Pain Quotidien in Notting Hill Gate with my notebook or my laptop. Wonderful salads (they do one with duck confit that’s fab) and omelets. And while I’m not usually too tempted by sweets, they do a berry crumble that is absolutely to die for. I’ve skipped lunch just so I could have that with a cup of tea.

Great people watching, too! Enjoy!
on March 5, 2012 at 12:13 am | Reply Odette Stimburys

Hello, Robin,
so very glad to read that you’re enjoying your working holiday. Methinks also that you’re beginning to put together brilliant ideas towards “Delicious” Number Two. Please take the greatest care of yourselves. Kindest thoughts and regards to both of you…
Odette
on March 5, 2012 at 12:31 am | Reply Deborah Akridge

How wonderful! Pain Quotidien will be on my list next time I am in New York. I so wish I could have coincided my time in New York with your visit. It would have been wonderful to meet you! Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Can’t wait to hear about the rest of your visit in New York and Tour!
While ordering your book, I had such a nice exchange with Marek, with Primrose Hill. Your ‘Tour Adventures’ brings people and places together!
Deborah
on March 5, 2012 at 7:38 am | Reply Caroline P.

Dear R. and M.,

I like the -apple- picture very much….and all the little detailed stories you tell us in such a huge town like N.Y….. must be home for Meredith!
Imagine … your cats in New York, all of them with you in Central Park …..this is different…..mew.. we miss Lautrec!
bye for now,Caroline
on March 5, 2012 at 10:53 am | Reply Katherine Tallmadge

Nothing like Sunday brunch in the Big Apple! “New York, New York, its a helluva town… The Bronx is up and the Battery’s down…”
on March 5, 2012 at 1:28 pm | Reply Sheila Horowitz

see above, didn’t print???
on March 12, 2012 at 12:38 am | Reply Jess Keller

Mr. Ellis:

I don’t know if it’s too late to comment here, but wonder if you might share your recipe for warm moroccan chicken salad — when it’s available — no doubt you’ll be able to reproduce it! Thank you for sharing healthy recipes. God bless you with safe travels.