26/3/13 - Pranzo at 'La Scuola di Eataly’ to Lion King

The weather was still a little chilly but it was a good day for a bus tour so we took the big red bus downtown – but with a twist. Last time we were in Eataly (the famous Italian delicatessen near the Flat Iron Building) we had noticed that Head Chef Lidia Bastianich often gets her students at her cooking school (called ‘La Scoula di Eataly’) to create lunch and dinner for guests using the fresh ingredients that are available from the many different outlets and stations at ‘the shop’. So half way through the bus tour we took a break and dropped into ‘the shop’ for lunch at ‘Pranzo’ (the restaurant of and at ‘La Scuola di Eataly’). It was delicious.

The pasta was fresh, the sauce tasty, the quail tender and the red wine just perfect. But what made it even more interesting was that we got to watch it all being made right before our very eyes! The student chefs who prepare all the meals work right out in the open at the front of the restaurant, in full view of all the diners. There are even big screens showing  close ups of the dishes at each stage of their preparation … so by the time your meal comes all beautifully ‘plated up’ to your table, you almost feel like you have cooked it yourself. What a great innovation this is and one we will certainly be back to sample at least once more before we leave here.  

After lunch Bo, Kristie and I ‘cruised’ through the rest of the bus tour while Peter popped up to Broadway to see if he could get us some tickets for ‘Lion King’ that night. Bo, Kristie and I finished the bus tour in good time and while I waited for Peter in Times Square they went off to engage in some serious ‘retail therapy’. I was left people watching in the Square for some time, but when Peter eventually did manage to reappear he came bearing a surprise. Luckily for us there were some half price returns and not just average seats but a private box! Well done, Peter!       

Next task was dinner. Many places had long queues, so we called into some random burger joint. Much to Kristie’s delight the huge burger came with fries, onion rings, mustard, sauce and you guessed it a huge pickle! And it was delicious!

 

As we entered the theatre we realised how lucky we had been to be able to pick up tickets for this ever popular show. It was, of course, Spring Break, meaning that all the schools were on holidays. As a result it seemed that every child who lived within a 100 mile radius of Times Square had come to town that night to see Lion King. How lucky we were to get any tickets at all. As it turned out the ‘box’ was just the wheelchair side balcony with four chairs but there was no denying the magic of the show.

Unfortunately Bo was still suffering from jet-lag and as the performance progressed he gradually sat lower and lower in his chair, then he took off his shoes, then his socks and belt – how far would he go? Luckily for him there were some chocolates at the intermission, a few songs to sing along to and the cab ride home was quick. So I think he just made it to his bed before falling fully and properly asleep!