Once a high school teacher told our class that most true long lasting friendships form in high school:
— The older you get, the harder it is to find like minded people and make connections.
True, the older we get, the more we set in our ways, the less we’re willing to budge. And every relationship is a give-and-take — perfect matches, as well as perfect mismatches, do not exist.
When, during the pandemic, I started saving my recipes on Instagram as a quick and easy way to share with my children — picture+recipe — I had no idea about the foodie community that existed in the virtual world. Certainly, I did not expect anyone to be interested in my kitchen or my thoughts. And never could have I imagined that virtual world might turn into a real one.
Meanwhile, there we were, in Hudson Yards, waiting for my imaginary friend Sfornelli.Amo to materialize into real Giaci.
There were all kinds of people walking through Hudson Yards that day. And, boy, the place was swarming with spotted lanternflies.
For our reincarnation, Giaci picked Casa Dani, a stylish airy Michelin-star restaurant serving the food of Spain’s Mediterranean South.
A two-level dining room appeared in full glamor with its high ceilings and huge windows.
Some dining areas featured an open kitchen separated from customers with glass.
This is how I first saw Giaci who came to dinner with her two children.
Instead of zeroing in on a single large paella, we built our dinner around small delicious tapas showcasing seafood and glory of Spanish jamón.
Tuna Tartare Duo was belly and loin of the fish served with pickled pipirrana relish of finely chopped tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cucumber, flavored with lemon zest.
Pulpo con Papa Aliñá, sliced octopus was flavored with smoked sweet paprika oil.
Ensaladilla de Cangrejo turned out to be a light and refreshing blue crab and avocado salad.
Croquetas de Jamón Ibérico, potato croquettes adorned with slices of acorn fed Cinco Jotas Iberian ham were so good I barely managed to take a picture before they disappeared.
Spanish Omelette was creamy and without onions, just the way chef Dani Garcia likes it.
Alcachofas con Jamón, artichoke hearts dressed with slices of Cinco Jotas Iberian Ham was my absolute favorite dish.
Going back to my initial thoughts on human connections.
Giaci was not my first virtual friend that materialized into a real one. Each time this happens, my mind goes to the isolating days of the pandemic, and internet, and food. How, like Tom says, internet amplifies and brings out good out of good people, and bad out of bad. How common interests can unexpectedly unite an Italian expat from North Carolina and a Russian one from New Jersey at the table of a Spanish restaurant in Manhattan.
There was no tension of the first meeting, no heavy pauses when your mind is frantically looking for the next topic. Talking to Giaci felt like we have known each other for years and have so much to catch up on. Actually, we have. Only our previous chats were in written form through the Instagram messaging system. And it turns out writing creates quite an accurate image of a person.
After dinner, we took a walk through Hudson Yards. Around the beautiful but useless now Vessel. It has been “temporarily” closed to the public for very sad reasons.
We finished our evening in the apartment where Giaci was staying during her visit to New York.
Not Burj Khalifa but it was still quite impressive to push button #51 and feel the ears getting clogged up on a speedy rise.
Breathtaking and never boring views of downtown Manhattan.
And New Jersey.
If to look close, you can even see the white dot of the Water’s Soul in Newport section of Jersey City, a woman with closed eyes and a finger pressed to her lips in silent self-reflection.
Our dessert came directly from Italy, from Giaci’s father. Traditional Piedmontese tart made of only five ingredients — hazelnuts, butter, sugar, flour, and vanilla. A perfect and memorable ending.
We talked all the way into the night and got a chance to see the city’s night lights from the 51st floor.
That’s the New Jersey side calling us home.
Not sure now this happened but my camera took a picture by itself and it somewhat reflected the state of my mind and all the great day’s impressions I was, yet, to sort out.