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Marseille, in Hell’s Kitchen,
Presents Ballads for Bastille Day
Valentine Biollay, Vocalist
www.valentinebiollay.com
Nick Russo, Guitarist
www.nickrusso.org
at
Marseille
www.marseillenyc.com
630 Ninth Avenue at 44th Street
New York, NY 10036
212.333.2323
Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
July 14, 2018
For tonight’s Bastille Day celebration, what could be more charmante than dining at Marseille in the theater district, also within Hell’s Kitchen, with a Lillet Spritz cocktail, Salmon Provencal, Ratatouille, and a Mascarpone Orio, with the refined and elegant Taher as my personal wait staff. I dined in the bar area, close to Valentine Biollay, who evokes the ballad crooning of Mireille Mathieu, with a touch of Piaf. Her musical partner, Nick Russo, guitarist, has been favorably reviewed on these pages for over a decade. The duo performed a set with no intermission, enchanting the bistro’s guests amidst Bleu, blanc, et rouge balloons. The songs that filled the air tonight with sophisticated French ambiance were “Douce France” (Charles Trenet/Léo Chauliac), “Sur les quais du vieux Paris” (Louis Poterat/Ralph Erwin), “C'est si bon” (André Hornez/Henri Betti), “Les feuilles mortes” (Jacques Prévert/Joseph Kosma), “Les Champs -Elysées” (Michael Anthony Deighan/Michael Wilshaw), “La vie en rose” (Edith Piaf/ Louiguy and Marguerite Monnot), and “C'est Magnifique” (Cole Porter) (Tune list courtesy of Valentine Biollay).
The guitar interludes were lovely and imbued with Parisian rhythms and panache. A few nights ago, by serendipity, while walking on Ninth Avenue, I joined a sidewalk crowd, in rhythmic clapping and motion, outside Marseille, with a five-man street band from France, "Les Incognitos", adorned in yellow and white band uniforms. They played trumpet, saxes, cornet, and drums with personality, passion, and pizzazz. A little Django, a little hot swing, a little Parisian, and more. Marseille is a bistro I know well, gorgeously decorated to transport its guests to the port city of its namesake. Marseille opens early for breakfast and weekend brunch and closes late for the after-theater producers, actors, musicians, dancers, and audiences. Marseille is near all Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, as well as the High Line and Hudson Yards. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, thanks to Taher, my server, and thanks to the arrangements of Sy Rahman, General Manager. I look forward to returning to Marseille in the near future, a lovely oasis of Parisian cuisine and cultural décor.
Les Incognitos Outside Marseille
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Valentine Biollay on Vocals
Nick Russo on Guitar
at Marseille on Bastille Day
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Valentine Biollay on Vocals
Nick Russo on Guitar
at Marseille on Bastille Day
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Lillet Spritz with Lillet Rosé,
Vin Mousseux, Orange, & Mint
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Valentine Biollay on Vocals
Nick Russo on Guitar
at Marseille on Bastille Day
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Taher, Wait Staff at Marseille
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Salmon Provencal, with
Ratatouille and Saffron Sauce
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Cookie Plate, with Mascarpone Orio,
Dulce de Leche Brownie,
Walnut Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
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