Monthly Archives: January 2016

NYC – 12/11/15 – DBGB & Wildair

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DBGB
I don’t always post about places where I stop for a pre or post dinner drink.  But DBGB is one of my favorites whenever heading anywhere on the Lower East Side.  While there are always interesting beers on draft we of course had to go for the ode to the boilermaker.

Wheat beer and grand mariner with tequila

Wildair
I have said it before, but I love Wildair.  I only wish that so many others did not as well (ok not really I suppose from a financial point of view).  It is not always possible to get there at opening and unfortunately I just don’t have the patience for the ridiculously long waits later in the evening.  But I will still try my best to get here as frequently as possible.


Bread and olive oil

Sweet potato, ricotta, tahini, herbs

Beef tartare, smoked cheddar, chestnut

Black bass, pineapple, nduja
 Persimmon, butternut, burrata, jalapeño
 Pork milanese, gribiche, mustard greens

NYC – 12/10/15 – Bar Room @ the Modern

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My first trip to the Modern after the changeover to service included and honestly I did not notice at all.  I sometimes tend to forget to come here but am always pleasantly surprised when I do.  For as much as I diss midtown in general there is no disputing that there are a number of fantastic lunch options.

Marinated Hamachi, pumpkin-yuzu vinaigrette

Seared Scallops, smoked shellfish, fennel and potatoes

NYC – 12/7/15 – Le Bernardin & O Ya

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Le Bernardin
The City Harvest lunch menu at Le Bernardin is the best kept secret in NYC.  I should probably even stop writing about it!  When I’ve found myself able to have lunch in midtown in the last few months I have tried to check out some other places.  And while I’ve had very good meals elsewhere I will keep returning to Le Bernardin as my absolute favorite.
 

Hamachi – Hamachi Tartare, Cucumber, Lemon-Citrus Emulsion

Skate – Poached Skate, Pickled Shallots, Sea Beans, Cucumber, Verjus Sauce

Pear – Slow-Roasted Pear, “Beurre Noisette” Tuile, Pear William Frozen Parfait

O Ya
I had hesitated in visiting O Ya when it first opened as the price when compared to some other similar options seemed pretty high.  We opted for the shorter 18 course omakase menu which my dining companion had a few times previously and which seemed to go quite quickly for so many bites.  I couldn’t take notes quickly enough as the dishes came out and unfortunately there as no menu at the end.  There were some totally fantastic things and perhaps some I didn’t enjoy as much just due to personal preference and not that they were not well executed.   I probably would have enjoyed this meal a bit more if sitting at the counter instead of a booth (our fault not theirs).  I’m not convinced that O Ya is good enough to warrant the price hike over Shuko but I’d gladly go back (if someone else is paying)!


  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Not pictured, but after all of this fish, I ended the night with a stop at Nomad Bar for a hot dog.

NYC – 12/5/15 – Gramercy Tavern & Porchlight

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Gramercy Tavern
Gramercy Tavern somehow is always excellent and never disappoints.  An added bonus that December is one of my favorite times to visit as their holiday decorations are absolutely gorgeous.

Arctic Char Tartare, Apple, Peanuts and Crispy Shallots
Ricotta Cavatelli, Braised Lamb, Kabocha Squash and Almonds

Porchlight
I wasn’t planning for this to be a USHG kind of day but there are only so many pre-show options when heading to Sleep No More.  After having my first amaretto sour in 20 years last spring, I’m glad that the resurgence is continuing.  The same could be said of the fantastic tater tots.

Amaretto sour

Boiled Peanut Hummus and Vegetables

Tater Tots

Avocado @ Crab Toast

NYC – 12/4/15 – Contra w/ in de wulf

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I’m not sure if I will make it to in de wulf before they shutter at the end of the year so what a fantastic opportunity to have Kobe Desramualts’ food at this collaboration dinner with Contra.  Definitely a longer menu than I was expecting and while the pacing wasn’t the best, it was actually better than I expect at any event where there rhythm of the kitchen is vastly disrupted.  It seems so predictable to be my favorite course, but I could have eaten 4 more of the kerremelkstampers.  I hope that Contra keeps doing these!

snails
beetroot, sloeberry yogurt

sea urchin, carrot, husk cherry
 kohlrabi, scallop, green strawberry

mussel broth, charcoal roasted vegetables
 kerremelkstampers, caviar

monkfish, celeriac, liver

red kuri squash, crab, egg yolk

lobster and homemade butter

persimmon, tangerines, bourbon

chocolate, sunchoke, beer

NYC – 11/30/15 – Bouchon Bakery

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When one isn’t dressed for lunch at the lounge at Per Se, Bouchon Bakery is still a perfectly fine substitute.  This may be one of the best pickle plates that I can remember having and overall a perfect lunch.

pickled vegetables
hearts of romaine, chicken breast, apples, bacon lardons, cider poached raisins, blue cheese, apple cider vinaigrette

Jersey City, NJ – 11/28/15 – Bell & Gray

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I’m not quite sure why the original Carrino Provisions did not really catch on when Talde next door seems quite popular. And based on this one visit I’m not sure if the re-do into Bell & Gray will catch on either.  Something about the front space just isn’t very cozy and when empty it seems VERY empty.  Service was incredibly friendly and everything we ordered was good. But overall the menu leans a bit too sports bar or heavy for my personal taste. I would definitely go back but perhaps not as frequently as next door.


The Jazzy Jeff Flatbread – crushed avocado, confit tomato, corn, pickled red onion

Kale taco salad – salsa verde, cheddar, onion, cilantro crema, tomato, black olive
 Shaved apple, roasted beet, peanuts, cheddar, cherry vinaigrette

Spare ribs – Dr. Pepper, black pepper, smoked paprika almonds

Crispy chicken wings, smoked molasses, chilis, gorgonzola ranch

Black zuchette, blue crab, garlic fondutta, jalapeño

NYC – 11/27/15 – Minetta Tavern

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It may not photograph as well as some others, but the Black Label burger is still my favorite in the city.  And the bone marrow may be one of the best as well.  As I put together this entry I just realized that between the sidecar and the bone marrow my dad would have loved this meal/midnight snack.

sidecar
roasted bone marrow
 black label burger

New Orleans – 11/23/15 – Willa Jean

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I rarely go out for breakfast, even when traveling, but Willa Jean is one of the few places I wish I could go to every day.  All of the baked goods looked absolutely amazing and I decided on the banana bread which was fantastic.  And the avocado toast was one of the best that I have had.  Such a lovely and sunny space which made you think it was much warmer outside than it actually was.  Definitely a NOLA go-to!

banana bread
avocado toast

New Orleans – 11/22/15 – Coquette, Erin Rose , and Tableau

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Coquette
Continued evidence that so much of the great stuff in NOLA now can be found on Magazine street.  An absolutely fantastic brunch (even if the beef didn’t photograph well) and I will certainly return on my next visit.

negroni sbagliato – campari, sweet vermouth, sparkling wine
cinnamon roll

cobia crudo – satsuma, hibiscus, jalapeño

beef cheek, stone ground oats, scallion, poached egg

sweet potato tart, molasses chantilly, salted pecans

Erin Rose
It was an absolutely freezing day and the infamous irish coffee definitely hit the spot. Thanks Bobby for the recommendation!


Tableau
I ended up at Tableau after compromising on to-do lists with a travel companion. When I walked in it appeared to be full of tourists, the lighting was dreadful and my initial thought was to walk out. But without another reservation I stayed. I wish i could remember what my entree was but it was a special and photographed poorly and for the life of me I can’t tell. I can’t say it was bad but not a good use of limited days in the city.

Crabmeat Ravigote – local jumbo lump crabmeat, lemon aioli, marinated grilled tomato, lavash

New Orleans – 11/21/15 – Commander’s Palace, Sazerac Bar, and Square Root

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Commander’s Palace
Not having been on previous visits, I thought I needed to visit Commander’s Palace at least once in my lifetime.  While I love the history of this place and that so many chef’s have passed through and gone on to great things, it is unfortunately too touristy and felt a bit like hotel food.

Commander’s Creole Gumbo
 New Orleans Barbecued Gulf Shrimp
 Pecan Pie

Sazerac Bar
Another place I felt that i had to cross off of the list having not been here on previous visits. As I was staying at the Roosevelt it was certainly convenient. At least now I can have an informed opinion that this is not the best sazerac I have ever had.

Square Root
I salvaged this day with dinner at Square Root and a pre-dinner drink at the upstairs bar Root Squared. Fantastic service and descriptions of dishes as presented by the chef’s. I really enjoyed this meal tremendously from the whimsical elements like cotton candy to so many of my favorite ingredients to perhaps the perfect muffaletta.


 Mussels – Watercress, Calabrian Chile
 Wianno Oyster – Dill, Honey Vinegar, Horseradish
 Muffaletta – ‘Nduja, Face Bacon, Olive Salad, Grana Padano
 Southern Picnic – Fried Chicken, Watermelon Rind, Mustard
  
Pig Head – Caramelized Squid, Boiled Peanuts, Seaweed
  
Matsutake – Raw Lamb, Barley, Egg Yolk
 Foie Gras – Parsnip, Date Leather, Vadouvan
 Garden Sorrel – Oxalis, Chartreuse
 Arctic Char – Onion, Sunflower, Carrot
 Rohan Duck – Persimmon, Satsuma, Trimmings
 Orchid Root – Muscadine, Sichuan Peppercorn, Black Locust Palm Seeds
 Butternut Squash – Curry, Pecans, Raisins, Poirier’s Cane Syrup
 Mignardises
  

New Orleans – 11/20/15 – Shaya, Latitude 29, and Toups’ Meatery

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Shaya
Visiting Shaya was at the top of my to-do list for this trip and it was so fantastic that I almost (and should have) cancelled something on a different day and come back.  I almost ate to the point of making myself sick because everything was just too good not to finish.  I only wish I could have tried more and really want the recipe for the butternut squash hummus!

 moroccan carrots – chermoula and mint
lutenitsa – Bulgarian puree of roasted pepper, eggplant, garlic and tomato
tabouleh – parsley and bulgur wheat salad, red onion, toasted almonds, preserved lemon
 butternut squash hummus, black garlic putter, pecans
 lamb kebab – tomatoes, pine nuts, tahini, cilantro

Latitude 29
Latitude 29 may be the best, and one of the only tolerable things in the French Quarter.  I had planned to make a quick stop for just one drink and continue on, but the first was so good that one turned into three.  Unfortunately I don’t recall what the second and third drinks were but all really great.

Suffering Bastard – Dutch gin, French brandy, lime cordial, bittters, ginger beer

  

Toups Meatery
After Danny Meyer posted an amazing photo of a large format meat board at Toups I had to get here.  Terribly dark for photos but the meatery board lived up to expectations and could easily have been dinner itself.  Also it was great to get out of the touristy part of the city to more of what I would consider to be a neighborhood restaurant.

the Meatery Board
 Pickle Plate
 Roasted Gulf Shrimp – eggplant, tomato, olives, sherry vinaigrette