New York missive no 3 - Gottino

Just back from wine & lots of good things to eat at Gottino, with Ve (going to get complicated this initials thing, with two "Vs" already). There seems to be a food-theme to this blog, which given I'm in New York is inevitable.

Gottino is a new Italian place in West Village, so new that apparently it isn't "open" yet. Though I'm not sure what "open" will look like, as they already seem to have a steady stream of contented customers. Apparently they're testing out what works and doesn't work. I suggested that they never "open", relying instead on word of mouth and the feeling of exclusivity that people get from being among the first to try it out.

The barman who tended us knew his wines but got stuck on quinces. There was a basket of unripe quinces on the bar, and when Ve asked what the plan was for them, he tried bluffing then gave up. "We were just discussing that earlier...Yes, I think they do ripen off the tree, like apples...But well, for the moment they're there for decoration. I might be wrong about the apple comparison, so if you find someone who knows otherwise..." Next time I find a quince farmer I'll ask.

"Gottino" is apparently Italian for "a small glass of wine shared between friends" (shared roots with "gota" no doubt). But the atmosphere's so relaxed and the food and wine so good that it should be renamed gottinazo, or however the superlative works in Italian.

Found a good walking route to work today, feeling upbeat with Maná blasting through my headphones. Went up 9th Avenue through the Meatpacking district - which in the early mornings before the shi shi shoe shops and swanky bars open does still feel like a meatpacking district, with its off-loading lorries and gaping warehouse doors - then up into Chelsea and right, across to 7th Avenue and the dusty, seen-better-days chaos of the garment district.