Entertainment

John DeLucie: My New York

John DeLucie may be famous for feeding the glitterati, but his private passion is New York coffee shops — those with a bit of European style. Between working as chef and co-owner at the Lion downtown, Crown uptown and now the newly opened Bill’s in Midtown, it’s no wonder the 51-year-old is able to start the day at a java joint in the West Village and end it at one on the Upper East Side. This is his caffeinated New York.

1. Via Quadronno, 25 E. 73rd St., between Madison and Fifth avenues

“They have the best little sandwiches in NYC: not too thick, just delicious fresh bread, a couple slices of meat and mustard. I discovered the coffee after finding those sandwiches. It’s real Italian coffee culture. People don’t tend to take out: they stand up and drink it at the counter. There are not enough places like that in New York. I run into a lot of Upper East Side Crown customers. They’re not sure who I am out of my whites! I went there for coffee to energize the night we hosted the Met Gala after-party at Crown.”

2. Zibetto Espresso Bar, 1385 Sixth Ave., between 55th and 56th streets

“These guys are serious baristas — no pumpkin lattes here. It’s a little sliver of a place; if you’re walking briskly you can miss it. When my agent got me my book deal, we walked over and celebrated with an espresso.”

3. Sant Ambroeus, 259 W. Fourth St., at Perry Street

“When I was working on the Waverly opening, I would go there every morning. I like that kind of environment for work, and I still go to it most mornings to write e-mails. Recently, I saw Martha Stewart there having a business meeting, and Anna Wintour at lunchtime. When we were about to open Crown, I started going to the one uptown, which is very high-energy. They have great panettone and brioche, so when I’m in a carb mode, I’ll indulge.”

4. Morandi, 211 Waverly Place, between Perry and Charles streets

“While I was writing my book, I went in there every day, and sat at the same seat at the same table for 11 months (above.) I like to make my own Americano, so I get a double espresso and a side of hot water, and sometimes order scrambled eggs with herbs or an egg- white frittata. They would give me a big farm table, I would spread out my notes and meet once a week with my co-writer. I love the sense of community in the West Village; people were supportive and I made some coffee friends there. I ran into Malcolm Gladwell quite a few times, but I was far too intimidated to have a conversation with him. If I saw the restaurant was getting too busy, I would pack up because they needed the table, and because it got too loud.”

5. Kava Cafe, 803 Washington St., between Horatio and Gansevoort streets

“My morning workout is a bit unusual. I run up the West Side Highway for 20 minutes, stop to re-energize with an espresso at this Meatpacking District spot, then run back home. It’s got a cool, modern décor, and it’s filled with young people and tourists. When the weather is good, it’s nice to sit in the garden.”

6. Buvette, 42 Grove St., between Bleecker and Bedford streets

“It’s owned by Jody [Williams], who had been the chef at Morandi. The place is so quaint, and the staff is sweet and adorable. They make these delicious espresso eggs that they cook with an espresso/cappuccino steamer, then add smoked salmon or prosciutto.”

7. Abraço, 86 E. Seventh St., between First and Second avenues

“I love the husband-and-wife vibe. The owner has a thick mop of silver hair and knows everything about coffee; his wife cooks absolutely delicious peasant-style food. I love the frittata with potato and olive oil pound cake. Coffee is ground to order, because otherwise it oxidizes and gets bitter. I would have walked right by this space thinking nothing could be done with it, but they turned it into a wonderful, vibrant spot. It’s so small that everyone winds up congregating on the sidewalk.”