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Location
323 East 79th Street
Quatorze Bis 1 French Upper East Side Uptown East

Mark DiGiulo, one of the two owners of Quatorze Bis, greeted me at the door and immediately jumped into sharing the history of his French restaurant. The name comes from its former location on 14th Street ("Quatorze" is "fourteen" in French and "bis" means "again/repeat"). Mark joked that he wanted to call the restaurant "Mark's" and his partner, Peter Meltzer, wanted to call it "Peter's," but they decided to go with a neutral, authentically French name.

The two men met in the 1970's when Peter decided to leave his job at Random House Publishing and begin a career in photography. Mark worked as his assistant, "lugging around the camera equipment," while also bartending on the side. Soon, Peter became interested in food photography and began getting work in France. Thanks to his frequent trips abroad, his love for and knowledge of French food increased. Mark said that the two men have probably visited France "140 times in the past 42 years." Back home in New York, Mark had begun looking for a space where the two men could open a restaurant.

The original Quatorze made its debut in 1984. "At the time, there was nothing like it," Mark explained, referring to a restaurant with very French food but an American attitude. At the time, 14th Street was not a "nice" neighborhood. Quatorze's bright red facade shared the block with prostitutes and drug dealers. They were an immediate success, however, scoring two stars from the New York Times within two months. Though that location closed in 1994, they had added the Upper East Side iteration in 1990, which continues to be a success with locals.

Ambling through the restaurant as diners were finishing up their lunch, Mark pointed out different touches that he or Peter have added over the years. Peter retained a lot of his connections in the publishing world, which is why there are book jackets featured on the walls. The rule is that authors may have their work up on the wall as long as they come and eat at Quatorze at least a few times a year. There is also a fun cartoon of Louis XIV sitting down to eat at Quatorze, which was a commissioned work from Jack Ziegler of the New Yorker, who had done a similar piece for the magazine involving the 14th Street subway station. In another corner, there is a picture of a very young Peter and his brother that Mark insisted on hanging to "embarrass" them. Because Peter could not be on the wall without Mark, there is an artistic shot of Mark's eyes underneath.

Mark boasted that the menu and its design have remained the same since opening day, though the specials rotate and occasionally feature new dishes that are often inspired by a recent visit to France. Every meal has been created and tested by Peter and Mark at home in their kitchens, and the two men are proud to say that they have never been swayed by culinary trends. An example that Mark shared is that rather than transitioning from French bistro to wine-centric enoteca like so many others, he stated that at Quatorze Bis "The wine serves the food. That's why it's on the menu. Period." The two men have also kept their space technology-free. There is no music playing, no televisions, and no Wi-Fi. The restaurant does not even have its own website. The focus is solely on traditional French food. Mark was adamant that Quatorze "does not serve 'confusion' food," his term for cuisine that involved "fusion" or "infusion."

"We are consistent," Mark declared. After over thirty years in business, Mark is most proud that, in his words, "we are still here. That's an enormous thing to say for NYC." He told me tales of watching people whom he had introduced at the bar get married, have children, and have their children get married. As I got ready to leave, Mark concluded our conversation by saying, "We're like a French Island in a sea of Italian restaurants - we're an enclave."

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Quatorze Bis 1 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 2 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 3 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 4 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 5 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 6 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 7 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 8 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 9 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 10 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 11 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 12 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 13 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 14 French Upper East Side Uptown East
Quatorze Bis 15 French Upper East Side Uptown East

More French nearby

Lost Gem
Miss Madeleine 1 Bakeries French undefined

Miss Madeleine

The story, or shall I say, the saga, for Gerald and his wife, Peggy, might be the most moving one that I have heard from business owners on the side streets of Manhattan. Enduring multiple setbacks and disappointments - both in New York and Paris - the loving couple nevertheless pursued their ultimate dream of opening a pastry shop. Through determination, separation, and very hard work, in 2017, the two have finally opened their doors to the Upper East Side bakery, Miss Madeleine. Gerald and Peggy Hudeau left Guadeloupe in 2012 with the goal of coming to the United States to begin a new life by opening their own company. With five children in tow, they were forced to stop in Paris to obtain their visas. It took over one year to receive this visa, however, it was only granted to Gerald. He chose to come to New York, on his own, in the hopes of filing the necessary paperwork and getting a license to open a food business. Knowing absolutely no one in New York, and having little money, Gerald found some odd jobs and continued with his efforts to secure a space for the bakery and to do whatever was necessary to bring his family here. After three denials from the US Embassy in Paris, while continuing to pay rent on a potential property in East Harlem, Gerald decided to "fight" on his own, without the help of a lawyer. He filed all of the necessary paperwork again and went for another appointment at the Embassy in Paris. "My God, this time I got the visa, but for only six months. " He, once again, had to leave his wife and kids in Paris because the immigration agent told him that he had to prove that he could provide for everyone before they would be allowed to enter the United States. Arriving back in New York, he found an apartment, took classes to get a food protection certificate, and prepared the necessary licenses for the bakery. Returning to Paris he received the visa as an investor for five years. He made the return trip alone, yet again, to New York. As Gerald related to me, "When I got here, I was obliged to close the store that I had rented in East Harlem, and terminate the contract of very good employees. I was crying in my apartment with only a sofa to sleep, without TV and something to eat. I tried to stay strong by working for another business to get some funds and to get my wife and one daughter in New York first. "Here comes the good news, Gerald said to me, "I was able to have the visa for my wife and my daughter. With my wonderful wife, we tried to open again La Mulatresse Corp - the company that we had begun back in 2012 in Guadeloupe. Both from white and black parents, we created La Mulatresse Corporation, but we closed the property after an explosion of the building's boiler in my basement. "Gerald immediately looked for work. He found this in a large American company, where first he was a laborer, then a shift leader, then an assistant manager and, ultimately, the General Manager. "One of the best days was when all of my kids arrived in New York - in 2015 - and Madisson, my daughter, was again with her brothers and sister. " Gerald went on to say, "We spent a long time with dark days, wondering if it was a good idea, thinking about the kids and their future while fighting with the bills and debt. "Peggy was able to find a job at Canele by Celine, the former bakery here on East 82nd Street. Gerald shared, "When Celine saw the magic in the kitchen, she decided to make a business with us by buying some of our products and asked me to be her General Manager. "This is the point in the story when I had the extreme pleasure of meeting this outstanding man and his wife. We organized several events together, and I was most impressed by how professional Gerald was in representing Canele by Celine, and how kindly he treated his staff and each of the guests. What was overwhelmingly acknowledged by everyone was the exquisite French pastries being served. After one year of working very hard in the small kitchen turning out wondrous creations, Celine decided that it was time for her to turn over the operations to Gerald and Peggy to fulfill their own personal dream. It was a long and difficult road to travel, but the beautiful couple has finally found their destiny. Miss Madeleine has opened its doors to their loyal neighbors, who have returned to support them and to eat their variety of delectable sweet and savory food. "We hope to continue to show people the best of French pastries in an authentic French setting. "

More places on 79th Street

Lost Gem
Sojourn 1 Brunch American undefined

Sojourn

Sojourn calls itself the Upper East Side’s “sexiest restaurant, ” and it is hard to argue: the color scheme, in coppers browns and reds, gives the restaurant a warm, intimate feeling. The name, which means “a temporary stay, ” hints at the fact that visitors can expect a full dining experience. Olivia, a member of the Manhattan Sideways team, was excited to return to Sojourn. She and her family had discovered the restaurant, tucked behind a residential-looking doorway, right before Thanksgiving and had visited two more times by the New Year. Along with the friendly staff, warm ambience, and delectable, seasonal food, what makes Sojourn stand out is its approach to courses: all menu items can be ordered as sharable tapas, with just the right number for the table. For example, when Olivia went with a group of seven family members and ordered the chorizo croquettes, the waiter said he would bring out two orders at three to a plate... plus one extra. Using this innovative way of ordering, each party can essentially create their own tasting menu. As for beverages, the cocktail menu is sophisticated and diverse. The restaurant not only has a large selection of wine, but also keeps some of their grapes in barrels rather than bottles, a more environmentally friendly method of storing and serving it. Among the many menu items that Olivia’s family tasted were the zesty arugula salad, crispy fish tacos, and Kobe beef sliders. Despite being thoroughly full, they made sure to have enough room for the warm, fluffy churros served with Mexican chocolate dipping sauce. We spoke to Johnny Musovic, who owns Sojourn with his father, Sami. They originally opened a Mexican restaurant called Santa Fe in the same location, but discovered that the neighborhood did not have a strong need for casual Mexican food. Instead, the father and son duo reopened with a higher-end concept which has been wholly embraced. Johnny proudly told me that his father is no newcomer to the restaurant world, having been the Head Maitre D’ at Sparks Steakhouse and Mr. Chow’s. He also has two other restaurants nearby. As for Johnny himself, he told me “In this industry, you can’t be afraid to get your hands dirty, ” referencing his time spent as everything from dishwasher to delivery boy to co-owner. He is clearly very proud of Sojourn for a variety of reasons, beginning with the food. “Most chefs are into fresh, local ingredients, but these chefs really are. ” He is also happy to have cultivated a chic, relaxing space, which includes live music on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Though he proclaims that the Upper East Side is his favorite part of the city, Johnny’s dream is to open up a Sojourn in Midtown one day. Until then, his goal is to integrate his bar crowd and his dining crowd. One night, he held a two hour open bar as his way of “giving back” to the neighborhood. Along with drinks, he offered his customers a series of hors d’oeuvres. He was surprised by how many of his bar regulars approached him and said, “I didn’t realize you had such great food! ”

Lost Gem
Temple Shaaray Tefila 1 Synagogues undefined

Temple Shaaray Tefila

Shaaray Tefila has a very special place in my heart. For well over twenty years, beginning in the early 1970's, this was a home away from home for my grandparents. Reaching 79th Street and having the opportunity to write about this synagogue has brought tears to my eyes again and again. Rabbi Tattelbaum played an important role not only in my grandparent's lives, but in mine as well, when I was a young, impressionable teenager. It was Chip Schrager, the Communications Coordinator for the temple in 2015, who kindly guided the Manhattan Sideways team through the space, beginning with the main sanctuary. The room is expansive, seating 400 people downstairs and 200 in the balcony, and Chip was proud to say that it was filled to the rafters during the recent Hanukkah services. Something that I did not know was that the building used to be a movie theater until the temple took over in 1958. The old projector room is now used as an office for the parenting programs. Founded in 1845 as a strict Orthodox temple, Shaaray Tefila has shifted locations throughout the city, becoming Reform along the way. Stepping into the chapel, where smaller services are held, I saw bold stained glass ornaments on one side of the room with the names and symbols of characters from Jewish lore. In the meeting room nearby, well-polished Judaic pieces, along with artifacts dating back to the temple's founding were displayed. In addition, we took note of photographs of the old temple on West 82nd Street, the Seal of the Congregation, and even the trowel that the rabbi used to lay the cornerstone of the Temple. Leaving the room, Chip gestured to photographs of six men who were senior rabbis at Temple Shaaray Tefila. The temple has a strong children's program, including a nursery school, kindergarten, and religious school that extends through high school. We appreciated getting to observe the room used for art class. A giant paint pallet decorated the wall and colorful supplies lined the room. We then ventured up to the roof where the playground is located, surrounded by a fence that still allowed for a beautiful view of the winter sunset. It was here that Chip continued to speak of the various programs offered to every age group, including senior citizens. This is what my grandparents took advantage of so many years ago, and it warmed my heart to know that people are still participating in the various classes that Shaaray Tefila has to offer. As Chip beautifully stated, "Whatever your Jewish journey is, we want to be a part of it. "