I was recently reading an article in the New York Times cataloguing some of the editors “favorite things” of the past year and it got me thinking about what I enjoyed in 2023. For many of us, it was not the easiest year. The news was a daily reminder of difficulties both close to home and far away. It is my greatest hope that in the new year we can all find some semblance of peace and much needed kindness towards one another. Here are a few of the items I enjoyed in 2023! Hoping to find new things that will bring a smile to our faces in the new year!
Books
As I have grown older, I find I am much more interested in the real lives of people as opposed to fiction, although I still read and fair amount of that genre. If I am honest, I have been disappointed with a lot of the mysteries and thrillers I used to genuinely enjoy. They seem somewhat formulaic and often as if the writer had a good idea but grew bored of it by the time they got to the end. Of the books I read, I was more intrigued by some of the nonfiction items as I often am and the ones that stood out focused on the life of a huge recognizable name, a maître d in Manhattan and the story of a family fortune coming apart over the last century.
I Am Barbra – What can you say about Barbra Streisand that hasn’t already been said? I wouldn’t say this is a book that is well thought out, but it’s from Barbra and her voice is very clear. It is almost as if you are in a room with her and she is recounting over tea what happened in her life. She has little side notes every now and then that make you feel like you really know her. I also never knew she was as into food as she appears to be. And clearly, like me, she is very sentimental when it comes to New York and the establishments she knew there. If you are a fan, you need to read this book. Even if you are not a fan, it keeps your attention and is highly enjoyable!
Your Table is Ready – For anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant, I highly recommend this expertly crafted account of a restaurant worker’s time in New York City working in famous establishments including the Water Club and Raoul’s to name a few. The writer, Michael Cecchi-Azzolina, just opened his own establishment, which is receiving high praise, Cecchi’s. I would like to visit perhaps on my next trip to see if he learned anything. Owning one’s own restaurant is always fraught with some difficulty, but I am sure with his vast experience, he will be a winner!
Movies
I am obsessed with movies and watch them pretty much every week, although over the years, I am finding that the quality is not as high as it once was and I’m looking at old movies again for enjoyment. I am hoping that the powers that be in Hollywood begin to recognize that there is an audience for films that are not about superheroes! I also am looking forward to watching Barbie and Maestro, but I have not had the time to do it as of yet! For now, these were the two that really stuck with me.
The Holdovers – Even before I saw this movie, I knew I was going to love it. Paul Giamatti and Alexander Payne had a winning combination several years ago when they made Sideways, a film with a great deal of heart. This is certainly the case in this film, which features three people in the setting of an upper crust private school staying over the holiday break in 1970. You know going in that Paul Giamatti’s Mr. Hunham is going to have a sad backstory, but the person who sticks with you long after the credits roll is Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s character Mary who is coping with a tremendous loss. I am guessing that she will get an Academy Award for this performance, and it will be richly deserved. Also making an impression is first time actor Dominic Sessa playing Angus, a student left behind by his parents.
May-December – This movie really made me think and it was not something I even wanted to watch. The topic is unpleasant for sure as it centers around a much older woman seducing a very young child of twelve. Not exactly a story you seek out. But there is more to this tale than one thinks. Natalie Portman gives a performance for the ages and holds her own against Julianne Moore who is no slouch. I thought I would be witnessing the evil from Moore’s character playing the older woman, but Portman’s character in the end is the one that you think about for days after watching. Charles Melton is also worthy of accolades playing the much younger man-child. He does a phenomenal job here. I enjoyed that this was a movie I could talk about with my older son who watched it with his girlfriend. Check it out if you can and see what I am talking about.
Television
Television today simply blows away films with its diversity of stories and topics and the ease with which you can view many of the shows you are hearing about on a daily basis. There were so many I enjoyed, including the final season of Ted Lasso and the third season of All Creatures Great and Small. I also watched Shetland on BritBox and enjoyed The Crown and John Krasinski in Jack Ryan. How could I not? But I truly look forward to the next seasons for the following two shows the most!
The Bear – The single most awe-inspiring episode of this wonderful series was number 6 of the second season simply entitled “Fishes” with guest stars ranging from Bob Odenkirk and Sarah Paulson to a very memorable Jamie Lee Curtis and Jon Bernthal. I watched it with my kids, and it is one of the few times in recent memory that I can recall complete silence. Jamie Lee completely owns the show as the family matriarch Donna Berzatto. It was completely distracting and crazy – particularly John Mulaney as a quiet in law taking the show transpiring in front of him in as anyone else sitting at the holiday table would have when faced with such a situation. You know you have done something right when people are still talking about it months later. My son Luke mentioned it to me just the other day! If you have not watched this show from start to finish, I cannot recommend it enough.
Gilded Age – I absolutely love this series set in the late 1800s in New York City with many scenes filmed in my sister’s hometown, Newport, Rhode Island. I was not familiar with Carrie Coon’s previous work, but she is absolutely amazing here playing Bertha Russell. Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon also provide able support as neighbors to the Russell’s who seem to be patterned after the Vanderbilts. It is fun when real life people pop up like Stanford White or Ward McAllister. But most impressively of all, it details the real-life acrimony that existed between Mrs. Caroline Astor and Alva Vanderbilt, whose “new” money was frowned upon. Other characters I enjoy are played by Meryl Streep’s real life daughter Louisa Jacobson (Marian Brook) and Harry Richardson (Larry Russell) as well as Denee Benton’s enterprising reporter Peggy Scott.
Restaurants
I have had the opportunity to visit a few wonderful places this past year and the following are some of the places that left the most distinct memories!
Maydan (Washington, DC) – I was late to this restaurant, although I had heard about it for a while now. Based in DC, the restaurant features overlapping flavors from Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, and Georgia. It is absolutely delicious and for a really wonderful group experience, it’s fun to try the Tawle menu, which starts with a meze and is followed by grilled fish and meats and capped off with a lovely dessert. My favorite items were the beet puree and the muhammar which came with clay baked pita bread. It is a fabulous place to visit in the Winter as there is a large live fire cooking oven in the middle of the restaurant that is on display as you enter. We celebrated a special occasion here recently and it was truly magnificent.
Garten (Severna Park, Md.) – I don’t usually have the occasion of recommending a spot in my hometown, but Garten is just special enough that it is worthy of your attention if you should happen to be in the area. Owned by the folks behind Preserve, another lovely spot in Annapolis, this restaurant is a modern beer and wine garden with a lovely outdoor setting in the Summer that is perfect for catching up with friends. The food is mainly centered around the cuisines of Germany and Alsace Lorraine, France. I particularly love the curry wurst and fries. You can wash it all down with an Augustiner Brau (my personal favorite from my year of living abroad in Munich) or a seasonal cocktail. This is a lovely spot to go for brunch as well!
Easy Like Sunday (Baltimore) – My new favorite place for brunch is located in the Village of Cross Keys and offers a comforting menu of benedicts, shrimp and grits and ricotta pancakes as just a few of the tantalizing choices. My personal favorite that I have had on the occasions I have been is the Green Veggie Scramble which comes with pesto and is simply perfect. For my friend Kim’s birthday, we indulged in the mimosa flight and had a lovely shopping expedition afterwards in the shopping center.
Dishoom (Edinburgh/London) – I saw that Tom Sietsema of the Washington Post recently made mention of this venerable stalwart café chain which is meant to replicate the old bistros of Mumbai, which is does very nicely. There are so many things I love about it, but my favorites are breakfast which usually consists of a chai with a bacon naan roll. It sounds bizarre, but trust me, you want this. I have the recipe and have attempted to duplicate it. It’s just so good. For dinner, I like the ruby chicken, prawn koliwada and chili cheese toast. How can you possibly go wrong? Numerous locations in London (my favorite is the branch in King’s Cross). I went to Edinburgh this past year and made a beeline for it.
Josephine Chez Dumonet (Paris) – This was my first visit to this veteran brasserie, but I’m sincerely hoping it will not be my last. I had the most perfect Grand Marnier souffle of my life. Not to mention a wonderful, rare steak with potatoes and foie gras. This is not the place to diet or look for healthy choices, but then again, why would you do that when you are in Paris? I booked my hotel specifically knowing it was around the corner. I wish I could have gone twice! It was that good!
Nowon (New York) – I had read about the legendary burger available at this East Village hotspot and was able to take my son Ryan when I was up in New York for a work trip. The real move is to order the special pre fixe menu where you get to try a little of everything offered. We enjoyed the nori tater tots, a half of the legendary burger, baby kale salad, Korean fried chicken, and chopped cheese rice cakes. It was great! The burger was particularly enjoyable as it came with kimchi, special sauce, pickles and onions. A fun spot in the East Village worth checking out!
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