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guido
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Joined: Oct 18, 2004
Posts: 381
Location: Italy
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 Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 3:22 pm Post subject: In New York, These Beds Are Made for Eating |
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I think this is funny!
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Wed Oct 27,11:24 AM ET
By Carolyn Koo
NEW YORK (Reuters) - It's the Roman Empire revived in the Big Apple, if some new restaurants are any indication.
The latest trend is eateries that offer beds instead of tables and chairs, giving New York residents the chance to do as the Romans did and indulge in a meal out while reclining.
One restaurant is open, and there will be more in the next few weeks, affording yet another showcase for those in this fickle city who specialize in sampling the next new thing.
As anyone who has tried it at home can attest, eating in bed has less to do with servants hand-feeding grapes than simply trying not to spill anything. Attempting the same in public can seem bizarre or awkward, especially if sharing a bed with strangers is involved.
"It looks like a drastically different experience," said David, 30, a doctoral student, while eyeing one of three king-size beds at Highline in New York's Meatpacking District. "For a date it could be very good or very presumptuous."
Owners and managers of these restaurants -- which also include B.E.D. and Duvet -- are betting patrons will return once they realize how easily inhibitions are lowered, how luxurious the beds are and how good the food is.
"You sort of lose the social borders and barriers with people if you're lying together in bed," said Oliver Hoyos, an owner of B.E.D., which is set to open in early November and is an outpost of the restaurant of the same name in Miami.
People on the beds start out "very stiff," but "half an hour later they're leaning back and within an hour people are lying all over the bed and on each other's bellies," he said.
The most famous reclining diners were the ancient Greeks and Romans. A normal practice for the wealthy throughout much of the history of the two empires, reclining and being attended to by standing slaves was a sign of status.
NO SOUP OR THINGS THAT DRIP AND SPILL
Though only Miami and a handful of cities overseas -- including Amsterdam, Rome and Bangkok -- have bed dining, restaurateurs believe New Yorkers are ready.
"People here are always willing to try something new," said Nuni Mulpramook, general manager of Highline, a Thai restaurant which opened in June and also has regular tables and chairs that comprise most of the seating.
Beds will be the main event at Duvet, which plans to open at the end of the month, and B.E.D. There will, however, be normal seating at both places for New Yorkers unsure about going straight to the mattresses.
At Duvet, there will be custom-made beds and sheets, plus private bedrooms, said owner Sabina Belkin. B.E.D. will have Tempur-Pedic mattresses and sheets changed by a "Pajama Patrol" in as little as 35 seconds. Like all the restaurants, sheets will be changed after each meal and when there's a big spill.
A recent visit to Highline revealed a bustling lounge with a decor reminiscent of the swinging '60s. More than two dozen partygoers were packed into every inch of bed space, drinks and appetizers in hand, avoiding messes with the aid of comfortably firm mattresses and connected tables.
On a cigarette break outside Highline, Andrew, 37, an investment banker who has patronized Miami's B.E.D. said, "They are about Miami style and New York style converging, taking the Miami lounge style to the extreme. At our age, people want to go to a lounge. They don't want to go to a club where the music is so loud and the lights are so bright."
Food will be an equally important draw, the restaurateurs say, with soups, dishes with bones and entrees that require lots of cutting generally barred from mattress eating.
"We have to be careful about heavy pastas with a lot of sauce, and we're very cautious about onions and garlic in our food, spaghetti and things that can really drip and spill," said Belkin, who added most of the food is pre-cut.
The restaurateurs underscore that they've hired experienced chefs to ensure the quality of the food will keep people coming back. "The gimmick of laying in bed is one thing. But you can sustain it only if you provide literally superb food," said Hoyos. |
Ciao, Guido
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In vino veritas! |
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Pie
DishWasher
Joined: Nov 07, 2004
Posts: 8
Location: New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for that post Guido! I read an article about this restaurant not too long and thought it was suspicious LOL Personally, I'd rather go to an indian or moroccan eatery and sit on big fluffy cushions...not on a bed! Then again, you can get away with so much more in New York. |
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