Betony and Alder
August 16, 2014 § 1 Comment
Two very different meals, spanning seven months. One of my first splurge meals after moving back to NYC was at Betony, helmed by Eleven Madison Park alums and executed to perfection. Unfortunately, since this meal took place so long ago, I don’t really remember the specific components of each dish but just that the overall experience – food, service, ambiance – was very much worth the money. The standouts were definitely chicken liver mousse, super smooth and served with bits of fried chicken skin and green apple, the roasted chicken and the grilled short rib.
The second meal was in late spring at Wylie Dufresne’s Alder in the East Village, which focuses on bar food with a modern twist. Though I didn’t think it could compare to his flagship (WD-50, which is sadly closing this coming fall), it is a way to sample some of Dufresne’s food without paying a pretty penny. The best dishes were the “pigs in a blanket” (Chinese sausage, Japanese mustard, sweet chili sauce) and the French onion soup rings with beef gravy and gruyere but I do wish the portions had been a little bit more generous.
Momofuku whole rotisserie duck
August 4, 2014 § Leave a comment
Three months later…another large format meal at Momofuku Ssam (I swear that I eat at places other than Momofuku).
This time, we had the whole rotisserie duck stuffed with duck and pork sausage (and served with chive pancakes, bibb lettuce and four flavorful sauces) with the broccoli salad (smoked bluefish vinaigrette and crisped duck skin), spicy rice cakes and sausage (because it’s too good to not order), pork belly buns (for the Momofuku virgins), and crispy fingerling potatoes (with crab mayo and chili).
Yet again, so much food for the five of us (the maximum allowed is six), even with multiple rounds of eating, but we still managed to knock back a few Blood Mary’s (which had country ham in them) and dig very deep when it came to the dessert of Concord grape sorbet with black sesame and peanut crumble (in other words, the best iteration of the PB&J ever) and mint julep truffles (which were a little too dense and sweet for my taste).
Afterwards, I wanted to pass out so badly but amazingly, an iced coffee from Third Rail and a 45 minute walk all the way downtown managed to keep me upright for the rest of the day.
Momofuku Bo Ssam
April 8, 2014 § 1 Comment
Had a pork-tastic dinner this past weekend consisting of Momofuku Ssam Bar’s pork belly buns and bo ssam. Totally worth the meat sweats and food coma afterwards, although it’ll be a while before I can eat any pork again.
Hot Doug’s
October 3, 2013 § 1 Comment
Hot Doug’s – first on the “where to eat” list of so many travel guides, shows, and blogs and a must for the food-obsessed’s first visit to Chicago. We got there relatively early in the day since we’d heard about long wait times but the line was barely out the door when we arrived. Menu choices ran the gamut from the classic Chicago dog to the famed foie gras and Sauternes duck sausage with truffle aioli, foie gras mousse, and fleur de sel, so we ordered a variety (plus the duck fat fries which are only available on Friday and Saturday) and tucked in. Big hits were the Chicago dog (it’s classic for a reason), the Texas smoked link, and the wild rice and Asiago bison sausage, which wasn’t as gamey as I thought it’d be. I actually wasn’t floored by the duck fat fries but they did the job of lending some crispiness to all the meat and starch. In the end, Hot Doug’s is definitely worthy of all the acclaim and fandom, a casual place where Doug himself still mans the counter and takes orders, the staff are super efficient at getting customers their food as quickly as possible despite the long lines, and the food is just frikkin’ delicious.
Hot Doug’s
Menu
Well said
Smoked Texas hot link with Coca-cola BBQ sauce and habanero-jack sauce
Cheddar Jack-stuffed atomic bomb with ancho-chipotle aioli and cheese-stuffed hot peppers
Wild rice and Asiago bison sausage with chilli aioli and smoked Provolone cheese
Classic with everything
Cognac-infused pheasant sausage with fresh herb mustard, double creme brie cheese, and duck confit
Duck fat fries
Spread
Hot Doug’s
3324 North California
Chicago, IL 60618
773.279.9550
GT Fish & Oyster
October 1, 2013 § 2 Comments
From a trip in May – upscale seafood at GT Fish & Oyster in downtown Chicago. The mussels, which came in a large cast-iron skillet with crusty grilled bread, were the hands down favorite dish of an all together great lunch.
Assorted oysters with ponzu mignonette and GT cocktail sauce
Fish and chips with dill pickle remoulade and house malt vinegar
GT lobster mac and cheese with English peas
PEI mussels with roasted tomato, basil and ciabatta
GT Fish & Oyster
531 N. Wells Street
Chicago, IL
312.929.3501
Big Star Chicago
June 27, 2013 § Leave a comment
After so many years of saying that I’d visit, I finally took a trip to the Windy City as a short break before bar review began. Much eating and touristy activities ensued, including an inaugural meal with Esther (who, together with her husband Bryan, graciously housed Jee and me during our stay) at Paul Kahan’s super chill restaurant Big Star in the hipster-ish Wicker Park neighborhood, where we indulged in Palomas, margaritas, and an assortment of tacos.
My favorite dishes were definitely the queso fundido, a molten mixture of queso Chihuahua with poblanos, and housemade chorizo generously smeared on warm corn tortillas, and the fish tacos with beer battered tilapia, chipotle mayonnaise, cabbage, lime, and cilantro.
Classic margarita and La Paloma
Tacos de panza with crispy braised pork belly, tomato guajillo sauce, queso fresco, onion, and cilantro
Tacos al pastor – marinated spit-roasted pork shoulder, grilled pineapple, grilled onion, cilantro
Queso fundido – my favorite
Tacos de pescado
Big Star
1531 N. Damen Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60622
773.235.4039
Summer RW meals at Nougatine and Colicchio and Sons
May 14, 2013 § Leave a comment
Better late than never, right?
The last week of work, Alice, Komal and I had a lovely dinner at Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Nougatine at Columbus Circle. Beautiful interiors, great service, and delicious and surprisingly light food. I really loved the tomato and avocado gazpacho (even though I don’t tend to like cold soups) and the salmon entree I had.
A bottle of Morgon 2010
Corn cucumber shooter
Tomato and avocado gazpacho
Roasted salmon, greens and sweet chili vinaigrette
Roast chicken dish
Summer dessert and poached fruit
The classic Jean-Georges molten chocolate cake
Cindy, Beth, and I also snuck out of the office during one of the last couple days of work to have a long, leisurely lunch at the Tap Room at Colicchio & Sons. Again, a great cold, corn vichyssoise, a wonderful meaty entree, and heavenly beignets to top off the meal. If only work life could always be like this.
Inside the Tap Room
Cold corn vichyssoise
Steak tartare and chips
Panzanella with burrata cheese
Steak with bone marrow butter, greens, and horseradish cream
Chicken with farro and mushrooms
Heavenly beignets
Think that finally might be the last of the summer 2012 posts. Now to get through Winter and Spring 2013!
Nougatine
Trump Hotel Central Park
1 Central Park West
New York, NY 10023
212.299.3900
Colicchio & Sons
85 Tenth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
212.400.6699
A Day in Newport, RI
March 1, 2013 § Leave a comment
The weather in Ithaca has been especially miserable lately, not extremely cold or anything but just disgusting and sloshy. Also, I feel like I haven’t seen the sun in ages, so these photos from a family day trip to Newport, RI are a welcome reprieve.
We left home early in the morning and arrived in Newport at around 9:30 in the morning. We spent some time just driving around a beautiful, secluded Hampton-ish neighborhood with shingle style homes and private coves before doing the requisite Newport Mansions tour of the Breakers, Elms, and Marble House, dug into some delicious seafood (lobster mac ‘n’ cheese anyone?) at Brick Alley Pub downtown, took a detour at a local farm stand, and then ended our day with a scenic stroll on the Cliff Walk. After years of practice, I’d say our family has become seasoned pros at the jam-packed day trip.
Brick Alley Pub
140 Thames Street
Newport, RI 02840
401.849.6334
Murray’s Melts
February 23, 2013 § Leave a comment
I’ve always loved Murray’s Cheese Shop in Greenwich Village (such an amazing selection of cheeses, cured meats, and other gourmet items and super-friendly staff), but it took me a whole summer of living literally right down the street to discover their Murray’s Melts. Probably for the best; otherwise I would’ve been there all the time and eventually unable to fit through the door. The owners also just recently opened Murray’s Cheese Bar, which I’ve heard great things about, but this is probably a better idea if you want something quick and on-the-go.
Below is a “Da Bomb” sandwich that’s unfortunately no longer on the menu – short ribs, Murray’s secret cheese blend, caramelized onions, and fresh arugula on Pullman bread – but you really can’t go wrong with any of their melts. The current ‘Shroom Melt (brie, mushrooms, truffle-pesto aioli) and the Mayflower (smoked gouda, turkey, bacon, cranberry chutney, and a “stuffing” aioli) sound especially delicious.
Look at that gooey butteriness… Just this side of too rich for me, the sandwich’s arugula and sweet onions did a good job of complementing all that dairy and meat.
Afterwards, a walk on the beautiful High Line is the best way to work off the cheese bomb you just ate.
Murray’s Melts (at the Murray’s Cheese Greenwich Village location)
254 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10014
212.243.3289
Branching out at Ssam Bar
January 26, 2013 § Leave a comment
Photos from Esther and my summer meal at Momofuku Ssam Bar, which is still one of my favorite places to eat in the East Village.
A seasonal cocktail and the Penicillin – scotch, lemon, honey and ginger…all my favorite ingredients in one beverage with a giant ice cube.
The famous steamed pork belly buns with hoisin, cucumber, and scallions. Still so good that I could make a full meal out of these babies.
A new addition to the menu since my last visit – bbq buns with crispy pork belly, coleslaw, and smoked mayo. Maybe it was the novelty of the dish, but I think I actually preferred this version to the original, and Esther and I seriously contemplated ordering more.
A classic – spicy pork sausage and rice cakes. I always tell myself that I won’t order these again, but something about the crispy starch mixed with the crunchy Chinese broccoli and spicy meatiness of the sausage just keeps calling me back.
Silky Santa Barbara uni with some melon ice and a strange but tasty gelee (I vaguely remember a porky, ham flavor) with summer tomatoes.
Beef, two ways, with bulgur, fava beans and soubise. I think this may have been the first time I’d had bulgur actually and it was totally great – nutty flavor and a toothsome texture. The meat, as you can see, was also perfectly cooked. Just goes to show that while it may be easy to fall into the same great dishes again and again, it’s definitely worth your while to try new dishes at places where you’ve eaten many times in the past.
Notes on Food 