Thanksgiving Brunch At Per Se
Many people have been wondering how I spent my Thanksgiving and what foods I prepared and I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I cooked nothing at all. Instead, I decided to spend the day in New York City with my daughter, Alexis and Kevin Sharkey and we had so much fun. We started our feasting at Thomas Keller's wonderful restaurant, Per Se, located at Columbus Circle on the fourth floor of the Time Warner Center. We dined with Nikki Elkins from the TV studio kitchen and her husband Kent Motland. Also joining us was writer, Michael Rips, his wife Sheila, and lovely daughter Nikki.
Per Se was so crowded with many families enjoying an elegant Thanksgiving brunch. Several food stations had been set up serving wonderful pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, fried soft boiled eggs, ham and biscuits, tenderloin, smoked fish, and caviar. There were also many kinds of cakes and other sweets to indulge in. We were happy that it wasn't raining and that Central Park was nearby because a walk in the park was in order after that amazing meal!
1 Looking down on the Thanksgiving parade already in progress.
2 In Per Se, we discovered a quiet corner called the back pantry. Here is Alexis sitting with our friend, Michael Rips - lawyer, op-ed page editor, and author of 'Pasquale’s Nose: Idle Days in an Italian Town.'
3 Posing with Nikki and Sheila Rips
4 Michael, Alexis, Kent Motland - husband of Nikik Elkins - TV chef/kitchen manager
5 Nikki, me, and Kent
6 Here I am with Nikki Rips
7 Sharing a bit of humor
8 This scene looks like a Vermeer painting. The lights had dimmed and Kevin and Michael, who were engaged in a serious discussion, didn't realize that Alexis had curled up and fallen asleep.
9 The lights brightened again and they discovered Alexis, who had stayed up until all hours the night before, washing windows in her new apartment.
Awesome place..Enjoys your days with your love ones.
Posted by: Jenny | December 1st, 2009 at 1:01 am
Martha, it is thrilling to know that you were up there at Per Se having a wonderful brunch while at the same time were actually down there in front of the brick building by Columbus Circle (in photo #1) ,watching the parade.
You have a nice vantage point from up there.
Thanks for sharing with us your Thanksgiving celebration.
Posted by: Nikki | December 1st, 2009 at 1:14 am
Martha - I'm so glad you had such a wonderful Thanksgiving - you more than deserve it!
Posted by: Donna Olson | December 1st, 2009 at 1:14 am
Martha! You've got some explaining to do young lady! How can you not cook Thanksgiving dinner? Go ahead get to explaining and we want a full explanation! Just kidding it all good! LOL
Posted by: K L Brown | December 1st, 2009 at 2:05 am
I think it's great that you didn't have to cook anything over Thanksgiving. I'm hoping to say the same next year!
Posted by: Lynn from For Love or Funny | December 1st, 2009 at 6:48 am
Kudos for for a refreshingly different way to spend the holiday. Sounds like you thoroughly enjoyed it. Best wishes for a wonderful and stylish Christmas!
Shannon
Posted by: Shannon at Old World Charm | December 1st, 2009 at 8:40 am
MARTHA, I TO AM A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT YOU DIDN'T COOK ANYTHING. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR MONTHLY CALENDAR STATED THAT YOU WERE BUYING FOOD, AND GETTING READY TOO PREPARE IT..bUT SOMETIMES IT IS NICE NOT TOO HAVE ALL THE PRESSURE ON YOU. MAYBE NEXT YEAR ALEXIS ILL BE READY TO HAVE THANKSGIVING AT HER NEW PLACE, WHICH I HOPE YOU WILL FEATURE IN YOUR MAGAZINE, LIKE YOU DID WITH HER OLD APARTMENT. HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY...
Posted by: dolly grazionale | December 1st, 2009 at 8:48 am
I'm glad you enjoyed your day. You more than deserved it. You have cooked more turkeys in the last month than you can probably count.
It must have felt very refreshing to have a break with close friends and family.
Hurrah for you.
Posted by: Elizabeth | December 1st, 2009 at 8:53 am
Martha,
So glad you had a great Thanksgiving. Everybody looks so relaxed and having a wonderful time you look just very pleased. You deserve a little time just to be waited on not doing the work.
Posted by: Bernadette | December 1st, 2009 at 9:22 am
Love, love, love the pictures of Alexis curled up and sleeping! No matter how old they get, they (our kids) are always our babies. Of course, mine is only a toddler now, but I know my own Big Martha feels this way about me, and I will feel the same way about my kids when they are adults. Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Amanda | December 1st, 2009 at 11:22 am
Nothing to be embarrassed about! Thanksgiving is about enjoying the company of family and friends, not about how much food you can cook and consume. I wish we could get past the "gorge fest" that twenty-first century Americans have turned this wonderful holiday into.
Posted by: Jon | December 1st, 2009 at 11:33 am
Hi Martha,
I don't think you should feel embarrassed that you didn't cook on Turkey day. It's nice that you went to Per Ser and you had such a nice view of the parade too. The menu sounded good and so did the one at Four Seasons.
~
I had to chuckle at Alexis all curled up and sleeping. It brings to mind the meter I emailed her - maybe she mentioned it to you! She reminds me a lot of my son in so many ways! Thanks for the pics. Trish
Posted by: Trish | December 1st, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Hi Martha, I am so happy for you, I am sure you had a great Thanksgiving, spending it with Alexis, Kevin and friends. Per Se is a wonderful restaurant and has great food. God bless you always and thank you for being a great teacher and an inspiration to all of us around the world.
Best Regards,
Rowaida Flayhan
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | December 1st, 2009 at 2:59 pm
...Exactly, Martha!...it's like several say here today...YOU deserve to be served from time to time! Also, like you said on your show -- 60-some turkeys had been prepared(?!)...I mumbled to myself before you had even said it on that particular episode that you were probably sick of turkey by now. I had figured a quantity of 30-some like Joey's estimate, but 60 or so is quite a sum!
~
I'm glad you enjoyed your day with friends, Alexis and Kevin, and you even got to go on your traditional nature walk with Central Park being nearby! It looks/sounds like you had a wonderful day!
~
I'm glad!
~
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | December 1st, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Don't feel bad, my husband and I had beef roast with potatoes and gravy,The Turkey??...I left it in the freezer. Sometimes ya just gotta break the mold.
Posted by: Dianna L | December 1st, 2009 at 5:22 pm
.
Enjoyed the show today.
.
While sitting around,let's talk about me
Thinks Francesca, with doggie glee;
Martha must know she has my heart
We don't do well when we're apart.
Alexandra wrote a wonderful book,
She can figure out my pensive look.
And I don't pee to mark my ground,
But, only to leave a trail around,
So boys will know Francesca was here
I promise to be choosy, have no fear.
Who says I'm dumb? With Yoda face,
I'm the one with a diamond neck-a-lace.
Oprah says "women hold up half the sky"
It must be in that half we find the pie?
.
The song in my heart - Somewhere Over the
Rainbow
.
Posted by: celia stock | December 1st, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Hi Martha, Please don't feel embarrassed about not cooking anything for Thanksgiving. My goodness dear friend, you have been cooking holiday menus for a long time on your TV show and it must have been fun to let someone else do the cooking. It looks like you had a great time with Alexis, Kevin, Nikki and others at Per Se and that's fabulous. The Macys parade and the Dog Show were great and I'll bet you had lots of fun the whole weekend. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | December 1st, 2009 at 11:22 pm
You are so lucky you didn't have to cook.
Posted by: Vickie | December 2nd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Martha, I love your show and especially love the episodes of fun crafts and hobbies. I watched an episode last year, 2008, on how to pet proof your Christmas Tree. You took floral wire and cut it into 3 to 4 inches of length and twisted the wire into the eye of the ornament then placed around the tree branches. Well, I bought a bunch of that wire and did all my ornaments like that. I thought my 16 lb. cat couldn't get those ornaments off the tree. I was wrong. I still think it's a wonderful idea and won't have to worry about searching for wire hooks but, if there's a will...there's a way with my cat. Keep up the great job on your show. Thank you.
Posted by: Celeste B. | December 2nd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
love your show...i am looking for the faux diamond necklace worn by the creative director of jcrew that was on your show last week...nov???2009...could you be of some assistance? thank you debby s
Posted by: debby s | December 3rd, 2009 at 12:59 am
Martha, your Thanksgiving Dinner at the Four Seasons looks delectable. What a feast!
My daughter treated her father, sister and me to a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday in NYC this year. Since Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October, we passed on the turkey but did enjoy some great food, nevertheless.
New York is right at the top of my list as the place to be at this time of year. Had to leave before they lit the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza but it was still an awesome sight, even without the lights.
Posted by: Beverly from Montreal | December 3rd, 2009 at 11:28 am
i can remember making the folded magazine christmas trees using reader digests. we would make the first fold at the top and then fold the bottom up to the edge of the first angle.
i would hate to ruin your magazine.
Posted by: folksmith | December 3rd, 2009 at 11:36 am
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How about trying the Four Seasons in Boston after attending the annual Bayside Expo gigunda dog show next week? Our canine ambassadors put on the dog there annually!
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I'm glad you 'saw it all' in New York! I tried something new - stayed home alone! I have no family living, so it's off with friends as you went, or eat across the table from the squirrel in the window!
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Very content as a soloist this year! Wishing you the same contentment always.
.
A and the Weims
.
Posted by: andyjspencer.blogspot | December 3rd, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Martha, how I love your shows, your magazines and your lovely pictures !! I am glad to hear that you enjoyed YOUR tHANKSGIVING with some of the people that you love ! I agree that that is the reason for this holiday; being with the people you love and hold meaning for you. I have always loved to read the WAG. December 3rd at 2am my darling 'SPOT'died in my arms and I will miss her, but it makes me feel better to read about your lovely FRANCESCA and SHARKEY. In the spring , I will adopt another stray who needs the love and companionship of my home. Until then dear Martha, I will enjoy your beautiful, loved pets through the WAG ! HAPPY HOLIDAYS ! AND THANKS FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR. Debbie
Posted by: Debbie Gaspari | December 4th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Hi Martha, I love to read about you and your daughter having brunch at Per Se, I know you guys enjoy the food and the company, and I'm glad you considered Central Park is near by, to take a nice walk after all that food...I'm going to meet Thomas Keller tomorrow, in a book signing he is doing where I work,(Williams-Sonoma), so I'm very excited about it. I know you weren't going to cook for Thaksgiving, and I don't blame you, when you have cooked so many meals is nice to let others cook for you. What's going on for Chrismas at your house???
Posted by: Gilda Barco Pritchard | December 5th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Thanks you Martha for this post. I went to several of San Pellegrino's World best restaurants (like El Bulli, The Fat Duck, Noma, Pierre Gagnaire) but I never went to Per Se (one of the San Pellegrino's world best) and I am planning to dine there pretty soon, especially upon reading your post on Per Se.
Posted by: S Lloyd | December 6th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Hi Martha,
Been a fan of yours forever. Listen, going to Per Se down in NYC for the Thanksgiving Holiday was exactly what was in store for you. You have worked PLENTY in your lifetime, & needed a much deserved outing. (Would love to have lunch with you one day, I am a professional baker.)
Very glad that you did not cook on this holiday. Enjoy Martha. Now, I'm taking a quote from a very smart & lovely lady I'm sure you would recognize. "Its a good thing."
Posted by: Stella K. | December 6th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
our friends are starting a new tradition. pajama x-mas. everyone comes over for breakfast as is, no getting dolled up, just in your pj's. this sounds like fun.
Benigna Torviso-Marko
Posted by: Benigna Marko | December 18th, 2009 at 6:28 am
love your recipes and ideas - you are really great. thank you for sharing through your blog
Benigna Torviso-Marko
Posted by: Benigna Marko | December 18th, 2009 at 6:29 am
Always a pleasure reading wonderful things about you and your daughter. Benigna Torviso-Marko
Posted by: Benigna Torviso-Marko | December 18th, 2009 at 6:30 am