My FedEx Cup runneth over

ARTHUR BACKAL, Backal Hospitality Group

CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine

ARTHUR BACKAL • CEO • Backal Hospitality Group
Neighborhood you live in: Upper East Side

It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
This happens to be a particularly busy weekend of travel and entertainment. I enjoyed dinner at Rao’s in East Harlem last night. My friends have a table. I love to get the meatballs, the seafood salad, and the baked clams. Follow that with pastas and chicken, and it’s a good night. 

Where are you dining this weekend?
This weekend I’ll be traveling and enjoying the Toronto culinary scene, including Hy’s Steakhouse, which has terrific food and cocktails, including a pitch-perfect old-fashioned. When I’m in the city, I crave casual Italian, and really love Mezzaluna. And of course: Le Bernardin, always great for a special occasion. Closer to my office in the Village, I love to grab a drink at The Spaniard and a bite at Little Ruby’s, an Australian style café with an amazing burger that’s a great recent addition to the neighborhood. 

How about a little leisure or culture?
I’ll be going to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and a Sports Illustrated party. When I return on Sunday, my wife Liana and I are going to a new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. On weekends that I’m not traveling, I enjoy a night at The Jazz Club in Midtown (one of my company’s venues). If you ever have the chance to see Brian Newman perform, you won’t be disappointed! And then, I’m lucky enough to be sitting courtside for the Nets/Warriors on Monday, and dining at the Crown Club at Barclays, with food by Major Food Group. 

Any weekend getaways?
I was recently in Anguilla. We stayed at the Four Seasons, and everything was outstanding. We mostly ate onsite, but went off-property to Blanchard’s Restaurant and Beach Shack for a delicious meal. It’s a lovely family-run establishment, and you can’t beat their local fish entrees.

What was your last great vacation?
Last year I went to Turks and Caicos and Cabo, both easy trips from NYC. In Turks and Caicos, we stayed at the new Ritz Carlton. Great for families — they have the best beaches. While there, we did a day trip to the Aman, which was first class. We ate at Hemingway’s and the Grill at Grace Bay. 

In Cabo, we stayed at The Cape, a modern hotel with great staff. On a previous visit, we stayed at The Esperanza, which has more of a classic vibe. Highly recommend both. Flora Farms is a great seasonal restaurant sourcing ingredients from its own farm. Another great new farm-to-table restaurant, El Huerto, is closer to the resorts.