This week opened with my father-in-law’s 75th birthday at Old Post Tavern and closed with a pot of beef-and-bison chili on a perfect fall Sunday. In between came an old fashioned at Cipriani in Grand Central, a disappointing return to a FiDi pizza spot, and a gluten-free feast at Bistango with both daughters, now officially city workers. It was a week of family milestones, simple home cooking, and one more daughter getting ready for the move to NYC.
Monday: A 75th Birthday at Old Post Tavern
Monday was a work-from-home day, and the evening was a big one: my father-in-law turned 75. We chose Old Post Tavern in Fairfield for two reasons. First, we wanted a casual vibe with good food. Second, it’s right by the train, so picking up my daughter was easy.
I ordered the fish and chips. They’re normally really good, but this time the batter was a bit doughy. Still good, just noticeably different. My wife had the pear and Gorgonzola salad with chicken, which was solid and enjoyable. Everyone liked their food.
Seventy-five years is worth celebrating, and a full table in a relaxed spot was the right way to do it.
📍 Old Post Tavern | 1418 Post Rd, Fairfield, CT ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tuesday: A Crazy Day and an Old Fashioned at Cipriani
Tuesday was an NYC day, and a crazy one. Before I knew it, it was 3pm. Lunch was catered meeting food. Ugh.
But the day ended well. Before catching the train, I stopped at Cipriani Dolci on the west balcony of Grand Central for an old fashioned. Yum. There’s something special about sipping a well-made old fashioned while looking out over the Grand Central concourse, with commuters rushing below and the ceiling glowing above. It makes even a long day feel a little glamorous.
📍 Cipriani Dolci | Grand Central Terminal, 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wednesday: Grill Night on a Beautiful Day
Wednesday I was home, and the weather was too good to waste. Time to grill.
Dinner was on point: grilled chicken, grilled zucchini, and roasted sweet potatoes. Simple, fresh, and full of flavor. When the weather cooperates in October, you take advantage, because grill nights are numbered as fall moves in.
Thursday: A FiDi Letdown, Then Bistango With Both Daughters
Thursday was an NYC day. I wanted to try Two Bros Pizza, but the line was long and I was short on time. So I went back to Rosella’s Pizzeria on William Street. Last time I enjoyed my slices. Not this time. They were undercooked and super greasy. Not good at all. Every pizza spot has an off day, but this one was rough.
📍 Rosella’s Pizzeria | 164 William St, New York, NY ⭐️⭐️
Dinner more than made up for it. I met both of my daughters, who now both work in NYC, at Bistango at the Kimberly Hotel in Midtown. Bistango is known for its huge gluten-free menu, which works perfectly for my daughter.
We started with fried calamari, and it was excellent. You’d never know it was gluten free. My daughter had the gluten-free short rib ravioli, also excellent. I went with the skirt steak and onion rings, and it was excellent too. The meal was great all around.
Sitting across from both of my girls in the city where they’re building their careers was a moment worth savoring as much as the food.
📍 Bistango | 145 E 50th St, New York, NY ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Friday: Rigatoni and Shaggy Coos Sausage
Friday I worked from home, and dinner was a comfort classic: rigatoni with Shaggy Coos hot Italian sausage simmered in red sauce. Yummy.
Shaggy Coos Farm in Easton is one of our go-to local sources, and their hot Italian sausage gives a red sauce real depth. It brings just enough heat and richness to make a simple rigatoni taste like Sunday on a Friday night.
Saturday: Errands, Martel, and College Football
Saturday was an awesome-weather day. First came some errands, then lunch at Martel with my wife in Fairfield, one of our regular spots.
📍 Martel | 2316 Post Rd, Fairfield, CT ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The rest of the day was spent working outside and finishing furniture inside. A great day of projects led into a great day of college football. Dinner was leftovers, the right call when the games are on.
Sunday: The Recollective, a Globe Hunt, and Homemade Chili
Sunday was a fun family day. We headed to The Recollective in Bridgeport, an indoor Sunday market that feels like a cross between a flea market and an antiques mall, to look for furniture for my daughter’s move to NYC. Yes, another one is heading into the city.
As for me, I’ve been on the hunt for a standing globe and a barometer. Don’t ask me why. It’s just a vibe I’m going for. Places like The Recollective are perfect for that kind of hunt: you never know what’s around the next corner.
Then came lunch-slash-dinner: homemade chili with ground beef and bison, beans, and some veggies. Yummy. A big pot of chili simmering on the stove is exactly what a perfect fall day calls for.
Closing Reflection
This week was about family at every turn. A 75th birthday at Old Post Tavern. An old fashioned on the Grand Central balcony. Grilled chicken on a gorgeous Wednesday. A bad slice at Rosella’s, then a great gluten-free dinner at Bistango with both daughters. Shaggy Coos sausage rigatoni. Martel and college football. And a Sunday of furniture hunting, globe dreams, and beef-and-bison chili.
One daughter starting out in the city and working there, and another getting ready to join. The table at home keeps changing, but the meals keep bringing us back together.