The Nomad Bar
I keep saying that this will not become the subject of too many blog posts, but I lied. It took all of my willpower to not go back for another hot dog today and I don’t really even like hot dogs that much. Let’s just say that the pot pie definitely has competition.

Satan’s Circus

Jungle Bird (and no not the $42 one!)

Swiss Cheese, beer mustard, pickles & pretzel chips

Beef tartare, horseradish & cornichons

Baked clams, breadcrumbs, bacon & garlic

Hot dog, bacon wrapped with black truffle & celery

Chicken pot pie, black truffle & foie gras

French fries, herbs, lemon & prommery mayonnaise

Cheesecake, strawberry & shortbread

Banana pudding with rum & brioche

Candy Bar with dark chocolate and caramel

Milk & Honey

It’s so nice to have friends in town who love cocktails even more than I do. Even better is how absolutely deserted most of Manhattan is on July 4th. If only everyday was like this I would stay here forever.

Raines Law Room
Midnight Stinger – Ritthnhouse rye, fernet, simple, muddled lemon, mint

Library Bar at the Nomad
Fresa y Cerveza – Berliner Weisse, yellow chartreuse, strawberry shrub, jalapeño, agave, saline, lemon

Narcissa
The first time I was here I ended up horribly sick from a migraine and remember about 20% of my meal. What I remembered was good, although I wasn’t sure that I could trust my memory. Thank you friends for humoring me and giving me a redo.

Mission Figs, homemade ricotta, mangalista ham, sunflower seeds

Barley risotto, little neck clams, leeks, oregano

English pea tortellini, mushroom bouillon, opal basil

Tuna, cucumber-basil water, burdock, jalapeño relish

Crab salad, navel orange, hearts of palm, hazelnuts

Maine scallops, asparagus, maitake mushrooms, potato purée, lobster butter

Lamb Osso buco, spring pole beans, polenta, Meyer lemon

Lacquered duck breast, parsley root, melted leeks, rhubarb

Baby chicken, broccoli rabe, spiced sausage, brodo

Carrot fries, jalapeño-tofu dip

Super green spinach with potato chips

Sorbets

Warm apricot tart tatin, goats milk ice cream, pepper caramel

Parsnip-carrot cake, cream cheese frosting, golden raisins, poppy seeds

TheThird Man

Sensible Chap – Black Grouse Scotch, Zirbens, ginger, lemon

As I seem to eat at Eataly once a week this is hardly noteworthy other than I think I am finally improving on the close-up photos.

Eataly
Farmers Salad

I think I may have said that I would only do one post on the Nomad Bar, but evidently I didn’t really mean it. I may have to go through the entire menu before I stop posting pictures and yes I have already decided what I am having next week. This is going to become a bad Sunday habit.

the Nomad Bar
Forbidden Dance – genever, Aquavit, amontillado sherry, velvet falernum, vanilla, orgeat, pineapple, lime, nutmeg

Broccoli rabe salad with anchovy & parmesan

Tuna tartare – pine nuts, apple & mint served with rye crisps & cured quail egg

Satan’s Circus – rye, thai bird chili infused aperol, cherry herring, lemon

I think the New Nomad Bar will be in frequent rotation. I do fear however that it will soon become as insanely crowded as the Library and Elephant Bar next door. But perhaps at least for the summer the standard crowd will be in the Hamptons!

Even though it’s hardly a summer dish I had been thinking about the chicken pot pie all day. Its essentially the bar version of the Nomad’s roasted chicken for 2. It did not disappoint and I may go as far as to say that I like it more than the roasted chicken (if I’m allowed to say that).

Shuttlecock – Cab franc, moscatel sherry, maraschino liqueur, yellow chartreuse, lemon, blackberries, mint, orange

Snow pea salad with pancetta, pecorino & mint

Scotch Dumpling – apple brandy,mislay scotch, amaro Montenegro,black pepper, lemon, egg white

Chicken Pot Pie – black truffle & foie gras

Yes this entry is going to be dedicated to gelato. First, I’m sure my nephew would tell you it’s worthy of such (well maybe when he is old enough to distinguish ice cream from gelato) and second, because I accidentally deleted my dinner photos. I eat at Eataly more often than anywhere else in NY and by a large margin. But as often as I am there I have never had the gelato. I typically refuse to wait in line for anything in NY and I try my best to limit the indulgences while at home. Yes I always knew it was fantastic just based on Otto’s and yes I’ve had it a few times at Eataly Chicago where the line seems more civilized. But now that the seal has been broken I don’t trust my willpower. If I gain 10 lbs because of the hazelnut I somehow blame you MFC. Linc, when are you coming to visit?

I have finally turned into my brother and am continuing the birthday celebration for as long as possible. However we were also continuing the celebration of June and Gina’s June birthdays so I don’t feel so guilty.

Rosette
Rosette is just so cute and even though it’s in an almost forgotten part of the city is worth checking out.

Gran Electrica
This place really does have an awesome outdoor space under the Brooklyn bridge. Nit could have been a bit warmer but still was lovely.

Margaritas

Guacamole and salsa

Rajas tacos

Tinga de Pollo

Chorizo con papas quesadilla

Carne Asada

Platanos

Tres Leches

And a few pretty shots from Brooklyn

Unknowingly I happened upon chef’s night out. Marc Vetri, Michael Symon, Anne Burrell and Chris Santos. It’s amazing that I even saw them as I consider myself the typical head down New Yorker. I could brush shoulders with Tom Cruise and I wouldn’t even notice (unless he was committing one of the many sidewalk infractions).

Beef crudo, pickled Fresno chiles

Eggplant, manchego, oregano, balsamic

Piquillo filled with raw tuna, saffron sauce

White chicory salad, chorizo, egg, fontina, apricot-almond dressing

Scrambled eggs, almond romesco, boucheron cheese, tomato confit toast

Roasted cauliflower, pardon peppers, Argo dolce

Pizza with lamb sausage, tomato jam, mozzarella, mint

Steamed halibut, Sicilian olives, mint, anchovy, saffron tomato btoth.

Blackberry crostata, strawberry rhubarb gelato

As much as I love to travel, I like being home during the summer, even more so on holidays, when everybody else has left the city and it’s as quiet as it will ever be. However I did feel like I was missing something without a BBQ to attend. The only remedy was a burger, and as Minetta Tavern isn’t open for lunch on Mondays, I went with my 2nd favorite. It has been far far too long since I’ve had this burger. In a city with an overwhelming number of choices and a constant stream of new places opening, I never prioritize the old favorites. I love everything about this burger especially the intense lamb aroma as soon as I started to cut it in half.

The Breslin
Lamb burger w/ feta, cumin mayo & thrice cooked chips
Brooklyn summer

Oh NYC…you never miss a chance to f me with the weather. I thought I was going to make the most of a lovely day with some outdoor dining. But of course the minute I got my pizza it started raining. Photo from the second before I ran for an umbrella. Not the most enjoyable eating experience standing up with not enough napkins to control the grease seeping through the plate. And yes the second I stopped eating the rain stopped. 😦