I say new, and by that I mean new to me. Madeleine’s (known as Mad’s among my friend group), underwent a major redesign early this winter. The comfy couches that lined the west wall have been moved to the right of the door as you go in. The walls have been repainted an olive-green, and new paintings adorn the walls. Certainly, a change in artwork was long overdue. But I miss the pictures of John Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald in the hallway to the bathroom. The hallway walls are now a bright blue, unmarred by artwork of any kind. I am hoping that will change soon. Speaking of the bathrooms, they have gone transgender, according to the bartender the other night. Two unisex bathrooms. Now ladies don’t have to surreptitiously duck into the empty men’s room when the ladies’ room is occupied. Another change that was long overdue.

Yet another appreciated change – the menu. The  menu has been shortened considerably, and fits neatly on one double-sided page. Cocktails, wines, beers, and non-alcoholic beverages on one side; appetizers and mains on the opposite. Dessert, as usual, is chosen by you from the array of tempting choices in the dessert case.

First, the cocktails. The Gray Lady is newcomer to the cocktail list: Earl Grey tea-infused gin, Lillet blanc, Luxardo Maraschino, and bitters. Quite tasty. The bitters keep the maraschino from being too cloying. I also revisited a Madeleine’s classic: the Aviatrix. Composed of Magellan gin, elderflower liqueur, and lime. I prefer it with Junipero gin, which I think makes it a little less sweet, and definitely more juniper-y. The Magellan makes it a beautiful blue hue, though, so if you prefer jewel-toned drinks, this one’s for you.

Next, the food. Mad’s has some new apps on the menu. I tried the crispy octopus takoyaki and the grilled Naan flatbread with curried hummus. Both were delicious. I was expecting the octopus to be more like calamari – fried strips of octopus tendrils, but in fact, they were… balls. Crispy on the outside, with a creamy polenta-esque interior, and then the chewy aforementioned tendrils of octopus. The pineapple hoisin sauce they were served with was good – not too pineappley.

And finally, one cannot go to Mad’s without having dessert. It is simply de rigeur. Their desserts are too numerous to put on a menu, so they display them for you. Visit the dessert case and ogle the selections. Choose one or two and decide on the way back to your seat. Earl grey chocolate mousse or fruit gallette? Prinsesstårta or cranberry cheesecake? Bread pudding? Oh, the decisions! The Prinsesstårta was a no-brainer this time, because it is a rare visitor to the dessert case. Grab it if you see it, because it won’t stay long. This cake is mostly whipped cream surrounded by a layer of shortbread-esque cake with raspberry filling on the bottom, and a thin layer of green marzipan on top. It’s a marvel to behold, and even better to eat. Goes very well with gin-based cocktails, such as the Aviatrix. Fancy that.

So, pop on down, sit on a couch if they let  you (reserved for dinner diners before 9 pm usually) or take a place at the bar.

This isn’t about food; the Peregrine Foodie does have other interests! The shorter days and long shadows in the early afternoon make for spectacular lighting. On those rare sunny days, I grab my camera and dash outside. This weekend, I headed to the Cornell campus, wandering around and remembering my own days as a co-ed on the Hill. Everywhere I looked, I saw beautiful patterns in the leaves, juxtapositions of the greens of summer ripening to the golds and reds of fall.