FROM BEHIND THE OPEN TABLE: >OH POOH & WHITE STRETCH LIMOS>>

It's Tuesday and it's March already; I feel as busy as Holly Golightly...

Thursday night greeted David and I with lots of snow and Bette Davis (which as you can see below, made The Queen very happy).

As snow silently fell outside our bedroom window, David and I watched Old Acquaintance from which we both picked up a new line from Miss Davis: "Oh pooh."

I've been practicing it all weekend. David says I almost have it, but I have to make the p in my pooh more explosive....

Saturday night, was Cynthia's birthday celebration at The Campbell Apartment, for pre-drinks and Blue Ribbon. It was my first time at Campbell Apartment (a former office space in the 20's owned by the Vanderbilt family) and I arrived a bit early which allowed me some time for a pre-cocktail hour snack.

After some light perusing around Grand Central (where Campbell Apartment is located) I decided on Oyster Bar & Restaurant. After a brief once-over of the menu, I decided on the Caviar Sandwich--but they were all out. Having to make a split second decision, I went with Clams Casino, which I've never had. With garlic, butter, bacon and an additional herb unknown to me, they weren't bad. I also had a glass of their Trimbach Riesling which also was enjoyable. $20 later, I left Oyster Bar--unmiffed.

With about a half an hour left to kill (Cynthia was running late), my next stop was at Cipriani Dolci where I had a glass of Moscato d'Asti ($12). My final verdict: not [highly-] recommended. This Cipriani is like McDonald's of Grand Central for the old-guard...

Time for Campbell Apartment.

I walked into the dimly lit enclave looking for an open chair, but happily, I found Cynthia instead, waving to me in a black and pink polka-dot dress.

After two kisses and one birthday wish we both imbibed upon Prohibition Punch, a reconcoction of a popular Prohibition era cocktail, topped off at the table with a Moët & Chandon floater. (A nice touch, I'd say.)

Pretty hefty, one punch each kept us both placid for the remainder of our time at Campbell Apartment until it was time for us to head downtown to Blue Ribbon.

The genius in me figured that we could take the 4/5/6 line downtown, get off at 14th Street and hail a cab, no problem, to Blue Ribbon. But being Saturday night and snowy, there were no cabs for hire to be found.

After 10 minutes of romping around in the snow I noticed, creeping along University Place, a white stretch limo which I flagged down and asked the driver if he could take us to Sullivan & Prince. With $20 to seal the deal, he obliged. Cynthia and I were going to be arriving at Blue Ribbon in style!

As we settled into our table and readied ourselves for some good Blue Ribbon grub Cynthia and I found ourselves at a loss and decided to go with our classic favorites: Beef Marrow and the Duck Club (I also ordered the Watercress, Endive and Blue Cheese Salad which I've oft been curious about).

Tout va bien...

Now I was going to attempt, again, to pay careful attention to my Duck Club because every time I discuss it with someone I'm told about an ingredient which I've somehow missed.

This time, I did manage to notice that there's definitely bacon in it (which they like to use there, they also put it in their escargot--divine!), but I didn't notice any apple, which I'm told is in it as well. Cynthia confirmed for me that, in fact, there is apple in the Duck Club.

I snapped a snapshot, but unfortunately my food photos from that night didn't turn out too well...

I know, not very appetizing looking [here], but believe me when I say that this sandwich is more or less... knockout. (And this is a split serving, Cynthia and I shared one.)

Just a few minutes later...