welcome to my homage to food & wine (and likely other forms of booze). consider it an aggregator for all that has struck me, be it a recipe, image, article, review. i hope you enjoy this magnificent world seen through my humble & hungry eyes. cheers.
mad props to Eater NY for this most awesome list (as well as giving me a reason to live this year).
ALERT Gotham: The Breslin opened yesterday! by the kids behind the still near impossible to get into, but when you do you are happy you waited- Spotted Pig. apparently new home of the best fries in NYC.
Minetta Tavern NY- a journey into excellence
last weekend (yes, this is dreadfully late) i had the extreme pleasure of dining at Minetta Tavern, Keith McNally’s latest opus. and an opus it was. hard to get into, packed with a lovely crowd, great bar, terrific ambiance. there is the classic french bistro with a lively din, that one has come to expect from a McNally venture. thankfully i went with a party of four hungry people, who were willing and able to delve into the menu. we started with the heirloom tomato salad, which for the record was the last time it was served this year (sigh). spectacular colors, flavors and texture. it was served on a bed of avocado, or really guacamole minus onions, garlic, cilantro & spice.
we then dug into the frites. heavenly, ethereal, delicious. anyone who has dined at a McNally establishment knows of what i speak. they are standard brilliance at balthazar, pastis or schillers. crispy out, creamy in and perfectly salted. i could probably eat them daily if my metabolism supported this endeavor (which alas, it does not)
main courses were shared the cote de boeuf, which is any meat-lovers dream. particularly if you are a fan of bone marrow (check please!). massive array of meat with two giant bones sliced in half to allow facilitated scoopage of the marrow. the meat itself is rib-eye, my most coveted cut with it’s succulent ribbons of fat and was expertly charred on the outside, red and supple on the inside.
we also dove into the pasta zaza, which was a superb compliment to the meat and is a solid competitor if you are not sharing food. the combination of sage and prosciutto play well together.
but the coup de grace was the coconut cake. it stole the show. yes, away from the frites. it is that good. imagine light and fluffy white cake with the hint of coco, two layers to be exact. now in between those likely delicious on their own layers is a rich, thick coconut custard that adds depth and moisture. then wrap those in a creme fraiche frosting with toasted almonds. bliss. i came close to ordering a piece just for myself and i am making this one of my life’s missions… to recreate that cake, as that is a party trick that can win friends and influence people.
so go, go now to minetta tavern. eat at the bar, sneak in for supper (past midnight) or make ressies far out. it is a treat that is hopefully here to grace us New Yorkers for years to come.
happy coconut caking!
