Our last dinner with my parents was at Gotham Bar and Grill – and it lived up to all of our expectations – sophisticated cuisine, amazing flavors, and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. This was definitely one of the best meals we’ve had in NYC.
Yellowfin Tuna Tartare
Japanese cucumber, shiso leaf and sweet miso, Asian ginger vinaigrette
Black Trumpet Mushroom and Chestnut Risotto
smoked bacon, dry sherry and fines herb creme fraîche
Grilled Prime New York Steak
marrow mustard custard and vidalia onion rings bordelaise sauce
Miso Marinated Black Cod
bok choy, shiitake mushrooms and sticky rice soy lemongrass ginger sauce
Juniper Spiced Organic Chicken
roasted root vegetables, rapini and parsnip purée golden raisin and hazelnut stuffing
Truffle Crusted Atlantic Halibut
romanesco cauliflower, baby leek and mushroom fricasseé marcona almond vermouth sauce
Gotham Chocolate Cake with seasonal ice cream
Restaurant #2 while my parents were in town was Tom Colicchio’s Craftbar. We’d been to Craftbar before and so were expecting simple, good food and a casual atmosphere – we were pleasantly surprised to find the food was even better than we remembered! We’ll definitely be back.
Veal Ricotta Meatballs
Black Angus Hanger Steak, Baby Shiitake Mushroom, CippoliniOnion,PotatoPurée
~definitely the winning dish of the night, flavorful and delicious~
Apple Crisp, Brown Butter Ice Cream
I just realized it’s December 31st and I’m seriously behind on all the great eats we’ve been enjoying over the last few months – definitely not the best way to start out 2011. So, I’ll attempt to catch up…
We went to Dovetail with my parents when they were in town at the end of October (yikes – so far behind!). Located on the upper west side near the American Museum of Natural History, Dovetail earned a Michelin Star just a few week prior and we were excited to give it a try. Also, we love the idea of upscale cuisine, emphasizing farm-fresh seasonal ingredients, offered in a casual and approachable setting. While we all enjoyed our meal, I think we were also a bit underwhelmed given all the hype. I loved the restaurant design – clean modern lines that still felt warm and worked with the exposed brick of the building – but felt like the service was a little stuffy.
Sautéed Foie Gras with Graham Crackers and Huckleberries
~flavors were nice, but this was a HUGE piece of foie gras, could definitely be shared~
Pistachio Crusted Duck with Beets, Soy Beans, Curry
~this was my pick for the main and it was delicious, i think others at our table were jealous~
Roasted Sirloin with Beef Cheek Lasagna with King Trumpet Mushrooms and Onions
Lamb Loin with Potatoes, Artichokes, and Olives
Pumpkin Cake with Earl Grey, Lemon Curd, Cinnamon Toast Ice Cream
Bittersweet Chocolate Soufflé with Grand Marnier Ice Cream
Petit Fours
Finally catching up on our latest eats…
A little over a month ago, we headed to Sushi of Gari – we’d heard great things about Gari and it was even better than we expected!
We turned ourselves over to the experts and ordered Gari’s Omakase (the Chef’s Tasting Menu) – definitely the right decision! Each piece was a unique combination of flavors – we were surprised and delighted with each bite!
We couldn’t pass up the Seared Foie Gras…
We did a Pork & Pinot night this summer in Napa – but this Pig Roast hosted by Jay and Sarah and their friends last month took this theme to a whole new level!
Inspired by this NY Times article, they procured a 47 lb whole pig and roasted it in a Caja China pig roasting box. They had previously dug a test pit but decided this roasting box would be the best (and most reliable) option for hosting a pig roast for 40-50 people. There were also other goodies to nibble while waiting for the pig and guests supplied an array of different Pinots to try. Jay, Sarah, Jay’s sister, and their friends did an amazing job with the roast! They provided an array of accoutrements to go with the pork – I made myself a simple pork sandwich which was delicious!
So, here we go…but WARNING – there are some explicit pictures below!
Seared Tuna and Wasabi on Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
I’m definitely keeping this appetizer in mind for any future parties.
Homemade Doughnuts
Yum!
Caja China Pig Roasting Box
The pig is already inside roasting away…
Time to flip the pig…a delicate operation…
Scoring the belly after the pig has been flipped…
The pig is done! Golden brown with crispy skin…
Yep, this is definitely a roasted WHOLE pig!
