FANCY PANTS AND BLUE JEANS
Humble, humble, haute, haute, humble. That's how my dining went during a few-day excursion to New York. And that last humble was start-to-finish sheer deliciousness.
I'll talk about all my NYC dining adventures during the course of this week, right here in this blog.
This was the lineup: Thursday night, first at Sticky Rice, a new-new northern Thai restaurant on the Lower East Side, then at Crema, a nuevo Mexican spot in Chelsea. Friday night, a four-hour feeding at Eleven Madison Park, in the Madison Park 'hood. Saturday night, starting at Gordon Ramsay, in the West 50s, segueing to a non-food interlude at Milk & Honey on the LES, then, spontaneously, scooting to Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village.
Lots of amazing food, particularly at Ssam Bar. Right now, that might be the most original restaurant in New York City. Lots of silly service gaffes at Gordon Ramsay, which doesn't have the food power to make me able to ignore dirty silverware being taken from dirty plates and SET ON A FUSSY SILVERWARE HOLDER, to be used for the next course. It doesn't have the culinary consistency to allow me to forgive dishes being auctioned off tableside or the lack of wine knowledge on the part of the staff.
But more to come. Where/what did you eat this past weekend?
cheers, Andy
1.21.07
posted by Andrea Clurfeld at 4:46 PM
6 Comments:
Thank heavens you had a wonderful time in NYC...after having read your Sunday review of Market in the Middle, I think you needed it.
Unfortunately Asbury is going to experience a rash of restaratuers who are in over their heads. But I digress...
My favorite places to take guests and clients in NYC are usually the smaller, ethnically delicious places in areas like "Indian Row", "Little Korea" and the like...no celebrity chefs, no grand ratings from the NY Times food mavens, no pretentious "foodies", no tall food or weird flavor combinations...just good honest food, cooked by good honest chefs, served with a simple pleasantness by smiling waiters and waitresses.
You can have your Gordon Ramsey's and (chuckle) Rocco DiSpirito's.
Preening, posturing chef's can't hold a candle to the good hard working chefs that step into the kitchen every day and work theirs hearts out for their guests...often 70+ hours a week, with little or no recognition for their efforts. They don't do it for fame or adulation. They're just happy to see the smiling faces in the dining room.
Andrea, not a comment, but a question. i noticed that Mazi in Bradley Beach is gone...our loss. has it moved or have they quit?
To Anonymous:
What thoughtful, on-target comments you've made! And I completely agree on the small, chef-driven places of which you speak (both in NYC and here at the Shore). I hope you've been to David Chang's Momofuku Noodle Bar and his new Momofuku Ssam Bar (you must go for dinner though; sandwiches only - good ones though they may be - during the day). Talk about original voices and devotion! Anyway, more later this week re: NYC restaurants.
To Rich: I've not heard an official word on Mazi. What a loss that would be to the Shore if that place shuttered. If anyone knows the owners and can alert them to the queries (I've gotten several from APP readers), please do ask them to let their fans know what's happening.
cheers and thanks for writing,
Andy
1.23.07
though,
I was at Nobu 57 this week very very good..looking for a great
place in ocean county??? any thoughts???
To Anonymous re: Nobu 57:
Yeah, those Nobus are very lovable. It's pretty remarkable how both Nobu and Morimoto have influenced Americans' sushi-eating habits. So much of the American sushi style can be attributed to the powerhouse chefs behind those two empires.
Now: When you say Ocean County where-to-eat, do you mean sushi? There's Nobi, on Hooper Ave in Toms River Township, which I reviewed a few weeks ago. It's the reigning sushi spot in that area.
cheers, Andy
1.23.07
We went to Tavolo's in Long Branch. We tried the salmon, penne with red sauce and the pepperoni pizza. Large portion of fish with spinach and potatoes. The red sauce wasnt too sweet as is common. And the pizza was above average. Few dessert options on the night of our visit. At least the canolis werent purchased at Caputos. My wallet prevented me from trying the antipasti and martinis. However, the place itself wasnt comfortable. Eating amongst the rafters and totally dark. Almost set the menu on fire with the candle trying to see the writing. Tables too close together and loud when crowded which it was on a Sunday night. Even the drawings of nude women on the walls couldnt help the atmosphere. Good food but poor eating environment.
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