New York

NYC.. As Enjoyed by World Leaders  

Where they dine and meet when they are not busy arguing over politics

New York: Patrick Falby

 

It’s not called “the world capital” for nothing. Heads of state inevitably come to New York City; they all meet there at least once per year, every September during the General Assembly at the United Nations.

It should be an awful time for the already crowded city. Traffic is never worse than during United Nations Week. Roads are sealed off in mid-town into a “frozen zone” for security. Motorcades with flashing lights and wailing sirens scream around Manhattan at all hours.
But since the grandeur of the Big Apple is known around the world, there’s no better time to showcase the best luxury the city has to offer.

 Former French president Jacques Chirac, known for his appetite for large, rich meals, visits classic American steak house Gallagher’s (228 West 52nd Street) nearly every time he’s in the city. Ex-Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney was such a fan of whimsical French restaurant Le Cirque (since closed and re-opened at 151 East 58th Street) that he had his mail delivered there.

Hospitality in New York City can vary. When Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he wanted to visit the site of the World Trade Center downtown and pay respect to the victims, the police turned him down, citing security concerns. Yet when Iraqi president Jalal Talibani arrived for his fantastic Italian dinner at Circo (120 West 55th Street) in 2006, the regular patrons stood from their fritto misto di mare and gave him a standing ovation.

Talibani knew his fine dining, but apparently was less familiar with American cinema -- he reportedly didn’t notice legendary NY native and film director Woody Allen at a table nearby.

The New York Post tabloid’s gossip page also noted that the authentic Italian meal was enjoyed by Qatar ambassador to the U.N. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser and former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Richard Holbrooke.

The pricey Italian restaurant Nello’s on Madison Avenue is also popular with world leaders. Qatar’s Crown Prince Tameem Bin Hamad Al-Thani dined there with his delegation, as has Argentine president Nestor Kirchner, who reportedly enjoyed his $40 pasta so much that he stayed long past midnight.

But some leaders may never want leave the place where most of them lay down their heads: the celebrated grand hotel on Park Avenue, The Waldorf Astoria. There a world leader has the option of having staff take over one of the many banquet kitchens, get room service (which was popularized at the historic hotel) or dine at the Bull & Bear, the only restaurant in the Eastern U.S. that serves Certified Angus Beef, the highest quality grade of beef in the country.

The 47-story Art Deco building, which stands on an entire block in mid-town, is the site for the creation of many classic American dishes, including Waldorf Salad, Veal Oscar, Lobster Newburg and Eggs Benedict.

U.S. president George Bush and several other heads of state booked their own floors for this year’s UN week, as they had to spend several hours during meeting with other world leaders in their hotel suites. For their stay, the hotel management will do anything it can to make the high-powered figures comfortable.

In addition to regular concierge duties like arranging for theatre tickets, Waldorf staff will replace regular beds with special ones, re-wire an entire floor so that electricity voltage output in rooms is 220 volts (instead of the standard in the U.S. is 110 volts), install telephone lines that connect directly to a leader’s embassy or residence in his or her native country, and replace hotel furniture with pieces from abroad to make it more like their home residence.

The distinguished guests and their entourages can buy fine art, antiques, jewelry and flowers at upscale boutiques within the hotel while the legendary shops of Fifth and Madison Avenues are only steps outside, as are a number of art galleries and specialty emporiums. The Waldorf’s staff also arrange to open high-end shopping malls like the Time Warner Center after hours so that world leaders can do their shopping in private.

While staying at the Waldorf this year, Gloria Arroyo, president of the Philippines, managed to squeeze a matinee performance of Broadway show Les Miserables between her slate of UN meetings, coffee with business leaders and the Clinton Global Initiative reception at the Museum of Modern Arts.

Seven blocks from the Waldorf, the 52nd Street Sheraton Hotel packed the biggest show this year. There, former U.S. president Bill Clinton’s charity lured a thousand of the world’s wealthiest and most famous to pay $15,000 to attend his three-day international development conference.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie used the sessions to announce their education initiative for the developing world, while 52 former and current world leaders were in attendance at the Sheraton, including ex-British prime minister Tony Blair, South African archbishop Desmond Tutu and former U.S. vice president Al Gore.

Most were no doubt too busy to enjoy the easy walking distance to Broadway theatres, opulent Fifth Avenue, lush Central Park and Art Deco icon Rockefeller Center. But whenever they want to go, the city is there waiting for them.