This summer, Bull and Bear is closing for lunch and the bar opens for the live Fox News show “After Hour”.. Cocktail Terrace will be closed, as well, and Peacock Alley will suspend its Sunday Brunch for the season. Because the kitchen becomes overheated in summer, I also suspend my Chef’s Table events. We look forward to welcoming you at these venues and events in September.
However, this doesn’t mean there aren’t many perfectly prepared and seasoned meals to enjoy at the hotel. Chef Cedric Tovar’s small plates at Peacock Alley give diners a chance to sample a number of innovative fish and seafood dishes without overburdening their waistlines.
Our Room Service menu also shines. One dessert in particular—Peanut Butter Caramel Sundae—is the perfect cool-down on a warm summer night.
For an historic treat, order the Red Velvet Cake, which began as a signature dessert at the original Waldorf=Astoria during the 1920s. Despite the attempts of chefs around the globe to improve on this classic recipe (with little success, aficionados tell us), the hotel continues to serve it in its pure form.
To take full advantage of the touring suggestions in this issue, I suggest you call Oscar’s before you leave and have a gourmet picnic prepared for you. Many of Oscar’s menu items make perfect summer fare, from the Chicken, Brie, and Caramelized Onion Sandwich on Toasted Country Bread to the Grilled Yellowfin Tuna Panini.
If you find yourself wishing for recipes to many of the dishes you enjoy in our outlets (and most of the ones I mention here), I suggest The Waldorf=Astoria Cookbook, released last year and available in the Waldorf Gift Shop. These dishes have a rich sensory impact, with wonderful aromas, incredible flavor, and beautiful plate presentation, yet all share a fresh, culinary simplicity and ease of preparation I know you will love. I’ve showcased these recipes at food and wine pairings and other gourmet events around the country, and the response has been tremendous.
