Financier, savory and sweet
June 20, 2008 § 2 Comments
Yesterday, my supervisor Nora and I stopped at Financier to pick up some macarons for her mother. But, you can’t just go into that pastry shop without walking out with something. I’d never tried their sandwiches or salads so I picked up le boeuf roti sandwich with caramelized onions and horseradish creme fraiche along with a fig tartelette because my stomach just couldn’t ignore all the pretty pastries in the case. It wasn’t too expensive either!
Considering the sandwich was wrapped up and not fresh-made, it was pretty darn good. The roast beef was well seasoned and not at all dry, and there was a substantial amount of it even if you can’t really tell from the pictures. The horseradish creme fraiche brought just enough depth and kick to the beef without being too heavy (I automatically think of the Chili’s awesome blossom dressing) and the caramelized onions added a wonderful sweetness that just brought everything together. And let’s not forget the bread. Chewy but crackly, light but sturdy enough to hold the insides. I love this place.
If the sandwich was good though, nothing prepared me for the tarte. I basically just got it because Nora and I both thought it was “pretty” with all the figs and raspberry piled on top. What I didn’t expect was the wonderful pistachio paste inside. Eeeee, I get really happy thinking about it even now. The figs, which were coated with sweet honey, were still juicy, and their ripeness contrasted with the wonderful tart of the raspberry. Slivered almonds added crunch and the sugar dough crust was lovely that I had finished the whole thing before I’d even realized. Nora helped though!
Pistachio and fig tartelette
Pearl Oyster Bar
June 12, 2008 § Leave a comment
I was supposed to meet with a friend yesterday before she left for Paris, but she fell ill and I was left with an open evening after a day-long conference for work. I hadn’t posted in a while so I figured a decent restaurant-outing would be good, plus I hadn’t eaten anything except company logo cookies all day. Got off at the W4th stop in the West Village (near Washington Square Park and NYU, though NYU’s pretty scattered now that I think about it) and walked around until I stumbled on Cornelia Street, between Bleecker and W4, a tiny land quiet little street that’s got three Zagat Surveyed restaurants (including Pearl) and others crammed next to one another.
Those who read Adam Roberts‘ blog may remember the time he cooked his friend’s “pet” lobster, Emma?, and turned it into a lobster roll, modeled after Rebecca Charles‘ invention for the Pearl Oyster Bar, the first in Manhattan and to me, the most delicious. I didn’t order anything else except this dish, which was listed as under market price on the menu (and turned out to be pretty damn pricy)…tricky tricky.
I sat at the bar so I got to watch other people munch on their fried oysters and grilled chicken caesars, but when my order came out, I forgot everything else. The actual sandwich was smaller than I thought it would be, with the bun was lightly toasted and slathered with copious amounts of the butter that nonetheless tasted delicious. It was so stuffed with lobster that I had to eat most of it with a fork, but I loved that wonderful tang from the lemon juice and the hints of celery. Plus, there weren’t any giant gobs of mayonnaise to be found and that’s usually my pet peeve when it comes to mayo-based salads and sandwiches.
The lobster, which can be easily overcooked if one doesn’t pay attention, was succulent and firm (I like a little bite in my crustaceans) and I had to stop myself from wolfing it down the minute the waiter laid the plate down in front of me. Shoestring fries were cast aside since they weren’t anything special.
Lobster roll
Like I said, I only went to try their famous lobster roll, but their clam chowder and fried oysters are highly regarded as well. Though in the end, I think it’s still a better idea to splurge a little on the sandwich than skimp. After all, this was the first of it’s kind in Manhattan, and it’s always good to experience an original.
Pearl Oyster Bar
18 Cornelia St.,
New York, NY 10014
212-691-8211
Financier Patisserie
June 1, 2008 § 2 Comments
Friday, I got off work early, and after spending a couple hours at the Borders on Wall Street studying econ (I’m taking micro at Rutgers this summer), I decided to take advantage of the excellent weather and visit Financier Patisserie for the first time.
There are three locations in Downtown Manhattan, and even though I’d passed one on a previous occasion (when I was lost), it took me 20 minutes and numerous detours before I finally found the store on Cedar Street. The pastries inside looked absolutely delicious, but I really just wanted to take something home with me and a lemon tart probably would not have been a good thing to bring on the train with me.
I opted for their 8-pack of macarons. Before this, I’d never had one before, and i admit with great shame that when I was in Paris last spring, I did not squeeze in the time to visit Pierre Herme’s boutique, the irrefutable god of all macarons. But finally, I am a macaron-virgin no more.
Macarons
The meringue outside gave the cookies a delightfully delicate and crackly texture which countered the moistness of the insides from the ganache filling. However, even though I shared them with my sisters, they became cloyingly sweet after a while and I was left with that characteristic feeling in my mouth from eating too much sugar.
I bought a bag of financiers as well, so I’ll update on that later. But overall, macarons are now a favorite of mine due to their light and airiness for desserts. I’ll have to try the ones at Bouchon and Payard sometime.
Financier Patisserie
35 Cedar Street @ 10 Liberty Plaza
(Bet Pearl and William)
New York, NY 10005
Telephone: (212) 952-3838
Inaugural marathon of a post
June 1, 2008 § 2 Comments
5.24.2008
Cathy, a friend I’ve known since she caught me cheating in Chinese school class (3rd grade?), and I realized after we both got back from school that we had never gone to New York together. Finally, we’d had enough and took a train into the city with a carefully planned itinerary that ended in 50+ walked blocks.
We hit up Chelsea Market, the MoMA, Fishs Eddy, and a few other places, but the best part of the day was, of course, lunch at the Shake Shack.
knives at Bowery Kitchen Supply
As usual, the line was unbelievably long. We waited about an hour, keeping progress by tree trunk and amusing ourselves with the Shacks-ercises. When we finally did eat though, the burgers were amazingly juicy and perfectly seasoned, though I felt a bit let down by the Shack-cago dog. I remembered it being more topping-filled last time. This was my first time trying their custard, and it was almost too rich. We’d finished everything in 20 minutes except the dessert.
Line at Shake Shack
5.26.2008
Memorial Day, I took Laura to two exhibits at the Met, Jeff Koons on the Roof and Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy, and dinner at Brasserie Les Halles, Anthony Bourdain’s restaurant before he became famous.
I thought there would be more Koons pieces at the exhibit, though I guess three giant sculptures takes up enough space. I wonder how they moved everything up there. Though the Costume Institute showing did not disappoint. If only I had the nerve to reach over and touch Christian Bale’s actual Batman suit. Plus I felt rather cool when I recognized the custom-made suits and dresses from the Vogue May 2008 photo shoot with Coca Rocha.
Afterwards, we walked around Soho for a while and then trekked all the way down Broadway until Laura couldn’t take it anymore when..aha! We found Les Halles. It was eerily quiet since no one was at work that day, but I felt less guilty about using flash since there weren’t that many people to care.
Let me just say, the onion soup was delicious…but overwhelming. Those who know me know I’m not a big fan of cheese, but Laura, who was additionally hungry due to our long walk, kept going at it until there was barely any left. And that’s a big bowl. I did love my duck confit though, perfectly crispy and just a little fatty. Les Halles handles their potatoes particularly well – my mini homefries and Laura’s mashed potatoes and chips were crisp and lightly salted – and I made a note to myself to try their award-winning fries the next time after hearing the munching of a nearby client who’d ordered the moules frites.
So, that post wasn’t as long as I thought it would be. More later though on my trip to Financier Patisserie on Friday and the discovery of a Koons piece right by the office where I work!
Notes on Food 