Dinner at Bainbridge

It was a long-awaited (and once rescheduled) dinner with Ayesha and Maine — two special souls I know through Ida, my partner — at their townhouse in the uniquely romantic corner of Bed-Stuy. When I arrived to their neighborhood, I felt like I am in “Midnight In Paris” set.

Ayesha is an artist both behind the bar and, as I discovered that night, in the kitchen. She’s a bartender and Ida’s colleague at the one and only Mother’s Ruin, while Maine, the “Maine Attraction,” is an artist with a big heart and stories to tell.

Ayesha cooked up a feast: buttery garlic mussels to start, followed by manti — a dish from my home, Turkey — and perfectly grilled (for anyone’s specific needs) lamb chops. She was so thoughtful to include flavors that reminded me of home. We finished with ice cream, laughter, and the kind of conversations that fill a room with warmth.

I often hesitate before going out in NYC; the pace and objectives here can feel so different from what I’m used to in Italy or Turkey. But the night reminded me that when you follow genuine connection, the city gives back in the most beautiful ways. I left feeling grateful — for Ayesha and Maine, two special people in this huge city!