A chance meeting at Morandi
The other night, I went to dinner with a few friends at Morandi. This is a fun Italian trattoria located on Waverly Place in the West Village in New York City. Morandi is a creation of Keith McNally, the restaurateur who also owns Pastis, Balthazar, and Schiller's Liquor Bar. One of the things I just love about New York is that you never know who you will bump into or who will be passing by. What started out as a dinner for four quickly turned into a lively gathering of six. Come and take a look.
Thom Browne in his signature shorts and unironed white shirt. Really,
this is how Thom walks around New York City. He is, of course, the very
famous menswear designer who has a very successful line of clothing for
men and women at Brooks Brothers. By chance, he was walking by and
joined us for drinks at Morandi.
Kevin Sharkey is Thom's friend and he was also just walking by, but not
with Thom. He gladly joined us, too. On the right is our chairman's son,
Brian Koppelman -- he is a famous Hollywood screenwriter ("Rounders,"
"Ocean's Thirteen," "Runaway Jury," etc.), producer ("The Lucky Ones," "The
Illusionist," "Tilt"), actor ("Michael Clayton," "Knockaround Guys"),
and director ("Tilt", "Knockaround Guys"). His new movie is coming out very
soon. Brian wasn't walking by, but was actually invited to dinner by
his father, Charles Koppelman.
The gang as assembled and photographed by an accommodating diner
sitting outside at Morandi: Robin Marino, our co-CEO; Kevin; me;
Brian; Thom; and Charles.
The charcuterie is really tasty at Morandi. It comes on a French bread
board on top of butchers' paper -- cheeses, prosciutto, salami, and
olives. Obviously, I wasn't fast enough with the camera!
Charles looking happy -- he loves a good dinner, especially if it's Italian.
Robin in her designer garb. Actually she fooled a lot of us by admitting it was a rather inexpensive jacket from J.Crew. Mickey Drexler, the CEO, is doing a phenomenal job at J. Crew.
Tom Brown looks very interesting. Also very handsome.
Posted by: michael anthamatten | August 27th, 2008 at 12:12 am
I beat Jan 'The Stalker' Erickson!
Posted by: sybil | August 27th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Hi Martha, Wow, what a great time all six of you look like you were having in NYC! How fun to be joined by more friends. Morandi sure looks like a great reataurant and I'll bet the food was fantastic. If I ever came to New York, I wonder who I might bump into......hum. If I had my druthers, I would love to bump into you and join your group for a fun evening. Thanks for brightening my day. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | August 27th, 2008 at 1:22 am
That Tom looks like a Von Trapp child in those shorts! Your night out looks like a gas Martha, good pics. Love your little stories- and the blog. Thanks!
Posted by: Leah from Toronto | August 27th, 2008 at 4:12 am
Hi, Martha,
Sounds like a fun evening!
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | August 27th, 2008 at 6:38 am
I'm like Jan; if I'm anywhere in this country or any other country I wish my chance bumper would be you. I'm fixing to see you on the Today Show this morning. Give them all your most. Nan
Posted by: Nan Ashby | August 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Looks like a fun night. It is good to see Charles out and smiling. I remember moons ago when wool shorts were so cool to wear to Friday night football games. The short suit is rather cute on Tom. I too had a lovely evening as it was my mother's 79th birthday and the family all gathered and celebrated with a three layer german chocolate cake and lots of fun presents. Martha I saw your show yesterday on the Cincinnati station and it was a rerun about Papaw's death. It was so precious as I had missed it when it originally aired. Have you made a decision yet about the puppies?
Posted by: Pam | August 27th, 2008 at 9:17 am
I love the short-pant suit look! It's very 'giddy-little-school-boy' but all grown up. Did Kevin lighten his hair? It looks good!
-Andrew
PS: It's nice to see Charles smiling again.
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | August 27th, 2008 at 9:58 am
So if I'm walking by in NYC and see you at a restaurant, may I join? PLEASE?
Sarah
http://sarahheartsdesign.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Sarah | August 27th, 2008 at 9:58 am
What did you all eat besides the contents of the bread board? I love Italian food! Kevin's blond hair looks nice and I like your jacket. I saw you on the Today show this morning; the first time all summer and those were some great quick meals you whipped up. Tom is a good looking guy but I'm not so sure about those shorts. He must get some stares or maybe New Yorkers don't care? Ciao, Trish
Posted by: Trish | August 27th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Thom has great legs..why not show them off!
Posted by: Patricia | August 27th, 2008 at 10:27 am
(Hey, go easy [this is meant kindly!] on Jan, fellow-blogger...she is obviously just an avid fan of Martha's, like most of us, who happens to be up late to get an early slot in which to post. I rather enjoy reading the "regulars" remarks and feel a sense of camaraderie as I get to know them. Hopefully, they feel the same too if they read my remarks).
Chance meetings, like this one, can be some of the funnest and memorable times! Mr. Koppelman indeed does look good, as does everyone else, and I did have to chuckle when I d-i-d-n'-t see the olives on the bread plate as I was scrolling down - the caption to the picture pretty much summed it up!
It's good, Martha, that you're enjoying some down-time...September 15th IS coming soon! Can'twaitcan'twait!!
(...From your undying/avid/admiring fan in Western Maryland. [I can't help it!] )
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | August 27th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Sounds like good old college days when everyone knew everyone and the party just kept going; old faces leave, new faces sit down. Of course there was that thing called the ticket.........
Posted by: Margie | August 27th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Thom's legs, charcuterie, and Martha - oh my!
I love it when you do posts like this - so totally awesome!!
Thanks Martha!
Posted by: The Bitter Foodie | August 27th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Hi Martha, I hope it is OK to add another comment....this time to answer a couple of other posters. First of all, to Sybil: Would you please define "The Stalker"? I live here in the Seattle area and find it easier to post a comment around 9PM {midnight on the east coast} because there are fewer interruptions. Next to Cindy Bricker: Thank you for your nice comments. I AM an avid fan and I love reading everyone elses comments. Yours are always great. Hope you had a great day, Martha. I loved you on the "Today Show". Thanks, Jan Erickson
Posted by: Jan Erickson | August 27th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
is Thom's suitlet a spoof on the stodgy stuff at Brooks' Brothers? the fitted jacket & short fitted pants are just too funny and ironic juxtaposed with the conservative/prep my family relies upon Brooks' to provide. got to love it.
Posted by: lil | August 27th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Do you really write the blog yourself?
Posted by: Toni Reece | August 27th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
My girl Martha going hard!
I see you baby girl. Rock on with ya bad self. By the way, I'm down with MSNBC's The Today show as an affiliate too..(smile)
http://www.Drewryonline.net
http://www.myspace.com/sophisticatedndetermined
Posted by: Shawn | August 28th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Jan, I don't think of you as being a
'Stalker" for this or other blogs for Martha Stewart. I was glad you responded. Sybil needs to read carefully your comments because they are always very well stated and so related to Martha's interests and her unselfish share of her life which we all admire. Sybil just putted her foot in her mouth. Nan
Posted by: Nan Ashby | August 28th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
(...this is a follow-up for fellow-blogger Jan Erickson...
Thanks too for your kind words, Jan! In a most recent post, you mentioned you were in Seattle, and I put two-n-two together - you weren't "stalking" Martha at the midnight hour - you were just checking her blog at a normal time of the evening, like, nine-ish in the evening (west coast time). It was unclear in gauging the tone in the previous blogger's "stalker" comment...we'll trust that no maliciousness was meant!
I always look for your comments, and, as I said, enjoy reading the regular post-ers.
Okay, let's see what you have to say on today's post about the Today Show... Here I go...)
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | August 28th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Oh good lord, some of you have absolutely no sense of humor! The mention of a stalker a few mere minutes before she appears with yet another gem:
"If I had my druthers, I would love to bump into you and join your group for a fun evening."
Priceless!
Posted by: Celestia | August 28th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
I forget what this mornings blog was pertaining to ... honestly I did! I am too entertained by the whole 'stalking' business.
*laughing*
thanks for all the entertainment!
Lisa in California
Posted by: Lisa | August 29th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Sybil and Celestia, your comments did wonders for this sycophantic snooze. Thanks.
Posted by: jw | August 29th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Thom looks like a member of AC/DC with his english school boy ensemble. Hey, he's got the legs, why not flaunt them?! Sounds like a fun, delicious evening. I'd be interested to hear what Alexis thinks of Kevin's new hair color.
Posted by: debbie | August 29th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Dear Martha,
Several years ago you had a recipe for Chicken Pot Pie baked in small pumpkins (I do remember one ingrediant was fresh ground nutmeg). I tried it then and it was a hit! A VERY GOOD THING!
I have since lost the receipe and every year when the little pumpkins show up I wish I had it! Can you tell me where I can find that receipe again?
Thank you so very much!
Tanya Andrews
Posted by: Tanya Andrews | September 26th, 2008 at 8:39 am
hi martha,i am a fan of your show.i want to be like you,a good chef. but my father cant afford to send me to a culinary school because of financial problem...it's ok with me because i understand my father.so i just watch your show and learn something new(ingredients, recipes, etc.)i want to have some of your recipe books but i dont have the money to buy it. . i want to learn more about cooking techniques and new recipes. . .i dreamed to have a restaurant someday. . .but i think that dream of mine will be just a dream. . .
Posted by: jaizle | September 29th, 2008 at 10:28 pm