So it took me several days to assemble my notes, some poorly written and type up the first Food Diary #1. I have several other "reporters" gathering their notes from far away places as well. I won't fuss about, let's get to the good stuff. My goodness what a heavenly four days of eating...
Food Diary #1
Place: New York City
Home: Decatur, GA
Length of Visit: 4 days
Hotel: Hilton, Avenue of the Americas, Manhattan
# in party; 5.5
I apologize if some of the meals are misspelled or slightly askew…we ate and drank a lot…One thing about NYC: man is it expensive, and man is it good. Almost every place we visited was great service, food, drink and often offered amuse bouches, little extras and palate cleansers…lovely.
Thursday Dinner at 7:30
Madison Bistro ****
We ended up here as a fluke. We had confirmed reservations for a restaurant nearby only to find it closed when we arrived. We walked around the corner and into this restaurant. It was a wonderful way to start our meals. They sat us in the back in a private little corner, which allowed us to be as silly as we wanted and tend to our 5-month-old companion without annoying folks. We appreciated it. Everything was sublime. We ate:
Foie gras and apple mini-burgers (Had to order a second order it was so good.)
Charcaturie Plate with homemade pate, dry sausage, saucisson l’oil and prosciutto
Green asparagus wrapped in dry prosciutto with chickpea
Camembert and Scallion Crepe
Crab Cake
Escargot
Mussels with shallots and white wine
Bottle of Chateau Neuf de Pape
As you can see, our young foodie protegee offered to pick up the tab since she was a bit ornery during the meal.
Friday Dinner at 7:30
Victor’s Café***
We had reservations for 20 here on a Friday night, and the service was very very attentive and patient with all of us. Overall the appetizers were much better than the main courses, but the Sangria, great company and obliging service more than made up for any culinary shortcomings. We had amongst our 5.5 of the 20:
Bartolito – Sweet ripe plantains filled with roast pork, olives, and raisons over zesty black bean sauce and goat cheese
Yo quita fita con salsa de cilantro – crispy cassava fingers with aromatic coriander dip
Ceviche de Pargo – Fresh red snapper ceviche marinated in lime, onions, chiles and garlic. (Had to order a second one it was so good.)
Lechon asada an Estilo del Puerto Boniato con Moros Cristianos – Roast Pig marinated in sour orange, olive oil, garlic and herbs
Churrascuro con salsa chimmichuri – grilled angus skirt steak with chimmichuri sauce
Rabo Encendido con Fufu de Plantano – Fork Tender oxtail braised in savory stew of tomatoes, peppers, garlic and burgundy wine
Ropa vieja – Shredded Angus skirt steak simmered in garlic, tomatoes, onions and peppers
Vaca Frita al mojo Agrio con platanos Pintones
Several pitchers of Sangria and a few bottles of wines I forgot to write down
Saturday Brief but Delightful Lunch at 3:00
Chat Noir***
My sisters and I had not yet eaten, so following a chocolate tour of Manhattan shops (another post in and of itself), we eagerly sat down to sustenance at around 3pm at this little bistro. Super cute waiter in a darling suit. "High Falutin' Super Hangover Cure" I call it.
Steak tartare with arugala
Pommes Frites with Truffle Oil and Parmesan (This is the sort of thing that leaves you with your mouth hanging open you are so knocked out by how good it is.)
Haricots vertes
Fromage de la jour
Cassis, Coconut and Cherry Sorbet
Champagne
Saturday Dinner at 7:30
Sea Grill at Rockefeller Center*****
This was perfect. Every single thing we had was five star. Our waiter was knowledgeable; the rest of the staff obliging and helpful. We never wanted it to end. Each course was just as perfect as the preceding. Additionally there was the delightful bonus of calm and steady service. We were never rushed, but left to meander our way through the menu, pausing to savor and delight in our choices. Each dish was delicately prepared allowing for the natural marine flavors to shine through.
Lobster salad with asparagus, cape gooseberries, pea leaves and tomato vinaigrette
Fresh tagliatelle pasta with sweet Main shrimp, basil pesto and spring vegetables
Jumbo crab cake with grainy mustard sauce (One of the best I have ever had in my life)
Miso glazed diver sea scallops with asparagus and mushroom ragout
Shropshire blue cheese with local strawberries and Marcona almonds
Grilled fresh Calamari with garlic-pine nut crust and arugla (This was one of our overall favorite, amazing, “I must try to make this at home” recipes from the entire trip.)
Tempura of zucchini blossoms
Sea Grill chowder with lobster, shrimp and clams
Monkfish ‘ossu bucco’ with fricassee of squash and pine nuts
Special of the Day – Skate crusted in herbs and glazed with miso, served with chanterelles, asparagus and crème fraiche
Rasberry soufflé with thyme ice cream and raspberry reduction
Lillet, Martinis, a nice “Hog” Pinot Noir and Pressed Coffee
Sunday Brunch for Father’s Day at 8:00am
Norma’s at the Parker Meridian****
Good Lord this was a filling and delightful meal. Everyone who recommended this place, and all reviews are accurate. We had an exhausting meal of:
Hudson Valley Duck Confit Hash a Cheval (My god there was seriously 4 ducks killed for the mound on my plate, which 4 other people helping we still couldn’t eat it all)
Artychoked Benedict w/ Truffle Porcini Sauce
Waza- a waffle with fruit inside and out and a brulee top
Huevos Rancheros (I think we liked this best of all)
Mango and Papaya Crepes with Brown Butter
Fresh Squeezed Oj
Two Pots of coffee (Left on our table!)
Pot o Chocolate with those crispy fried bread latin things
Sunday Afternoon Lunch at 1:00
Bouley*****
This was the crown jewel in my culinary adventure in NYC, and the perfect way to finish off the trip.I was treated to this lavish, 3 hour lunch by a dear friend of mine from high school.
Sashimi Quality Tuna with Shaved Fennel Dressed in Herb Oils and a Spicy Marinade
Wild King Salmon with Arrow Leaf Spinach Parsley Root Purée, Clémentines, Mandarines and Blood Orange Sauce
Phyllo Crusted Florida Shrimp, Cape Cod Baby Squid, Scuba Dived Sea Scallop
Sweet Maryland Crabmeat in an Ocean Herbal Broth
Pan Seared Chatham Cod with Peas, Hon-Shimeji and Porcini Mushrooms Truffle Flavored Dashi and Braised Fennel
Roast Pig
Grapefruit Gelée, Elderflower Foam, Greek Yogurt Sorbet
Hot Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé,Vermont Maple Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Sorbet
Chilled Lillet, a lovely Alscasian Pinot Noir and Coffee
Food Diary #1
Place: New York City
Home: Decatur, GA
Length of Visit: 4 days
Hotel: Hilton, Avenue of the Americas, Manhattan
# in party; 5.5
I apologize if some of the meals are misspelled or slightly askew…we ate and drank a lot…One thing about NYC: man is it expensive, and man is it good. Almost every place we visited was great service, food, drink and often offered amuse bouches, little extras and palate cleansers…lovely.
Thursday Dinner at 7:30
Madison Bistro ****
We ended up here as a fluke. We had confirmed reservations for a restaurant nearby only to find it closed when we arrived. We walked around the corner and into this restaurant. It was a wonderful way to start our meals. They sat us in the back in a private little corner, which allowed us to be as silly as we wanted and tend to our 5-month-old companion without annoying folks. We appreciated it. Everything was sublime. We ate:
Foie gras and apple mini-burgers (Had to order a second order it was so good.)
Charcaturie Plate with homemade pate, dry sausage, saucisson l’oil and prosciutto
Green asparagus wrapped in dry prosciutto with chickpea
Camembert and Scallion Crepe
Crab Cake
Escargot
Mussels with shallots and white wine
Bottle of Chateau Neuf de Pape
As you can see, our young foodie protegee offered to pick up the tab since she was a bit ornery during the meal.
Friday Dinner at 7:30
Victor’s Café***
We had reservations for 20 here on a Friday night, and the service was very very attentive and patient with all of us. Overall the appetizers were much better than the main courses, but the Sangria, great company and obliging service more than made up for any culinary shortcomings. We had amongst our 5.5 of the 20:
Bartolito – Sweet ripe plantains filled with roast pork, olives, and raisons over zesty black bean sauce and goat cheese
Yo quita fita con salsa de cilantro – crispy cassava fingers with aromatic coriander dip
Ceviche de Pargo – Fresh red snapper ceviche marinated in lime, onions, chiles and garlic. (Had to order a second one it was so good.)
Lechon asada an Estilo del Puerto Boniato con Moros Cristianos – Roast Pig marinated in sour orange, olive oil, garlic and herbs
Churrascuro con salsa chimmichuri – grilled angus skirt steak with chimmichuri sauce
Rabo Encendido con Fufu de Plantano – Fork Tender oxtail braised in savory stew of tomatoes, peppers, garlic and burgundy wine
Ropa vieja – Shredded Angus skirt steak simmered in garlic, tomatoes, onions and peppers
Vaca Frita al mojo Agrio con platanos Pintones
Several pitchers of Sangria and a few bottles of wines I forgot to write down
Saturday Brief but Delightful Lunch at 3:00
Chat Noir***
My sisters and I had not yet eaten, so following a chocolate tour of Manhattan shops (another post in and of itself), we eagerly sat down to sustenance at around 3pm at this little bistro. Super cute waiter in a darling suit. "High Falutin' Super Hangover Cure" I call it.
Steak tartare with arugala
Pommes Frites with Truffle Oil and Parmesan (This is the sort of thing that leaves you with your mouth hanging open you are so knocked out by how good it is.)
Haricots vertes
Fromage de la jour
Cassis, Coconut and Cherry Sorbet
Champagne
Saturday Dinner at 7:30
Sea Grill at Rockefeller Center*****
This was perfect. Every single thing we had was five star. Our waiter was knowledgeable; the rest of the staff obliging and helpful. We never wanted it to end. Each course was just as perfect as the preceding. Additionally there was the delightful bonus of calm and steady service. We were never rushed, but left to meander our way through the menu, pausing to savor and delight in our choices. Each dish was delicately prepared allowing for the natural marine flavors to shine through.
Lobster salad with asparagus, cape gooseberries, pea leaves and tomato vinaigrette
Fresh tagliatelle pasta with sweet Main shrimp, basil pesto and spring vegetables
Jumbo crab cake with grainy mustard sauce (One of the best I have ever had in my life)
Miso glazed diver sea scallops with asparagus and mushroom ragout
Shropshire blue cheese with local strawberries and Marcona almonds
Grilled fresh Calamari with garlic-pine nut crust and arugla (This was one of our overall favorite, amazing, “I must try to make this at home” recipes from the entire trip.)
Tempura of zucchini blossoms
Sea Grill chowder with lobster, shrimp and clams
Monkfish ‘ossu bucco’ with fricassee of squash and pine nuts
Special of the Day – Skate crusted in herbs and glazed with miso, served with chanterelles, asparagus and crème fraiche
Rasberry soufflé with thyme ice cream and raspberry reduction
Lillet, Martinis, a nice “Hog” Pinot Noir and Pressed Coffee
Sunday Brunch for Father’s Day at 8:00am
Norma’s at the Parker Meridian****
Good Lord this was a filling and delightful meal. Everyone who recommended this place, and all reviews are accurate. We had an exhausting meal of:
Hudson Valley Duck Confit Hash a Cheval (My god there was seriously 4 ducks killed for the mound on my plate, which 4 other people helping we still couldn’t eat it all)
Artychoked Benedict w/ Truffle Porcini Sauce
Waza- a waffle with fruit inside and out and a brulee top
Huevos Rancheros (I think we liked this best of all)
Mango and Papaya Crepes with Brown Butter
Fresh Squeezed Oj
Two Pots of coffee (Left on our table!)
Pot o Chocolate with those crispy fried bread latin things
Sunday Afternoon Lunch at 1:00
Bouley*****
This was the crown jewel in my culinary adventure in NYC, and the perfect way to finish off the trip.I was treated to this lavish, 3 hour lunch by a dear friend of mine from high school.
Sashimi Quality Tuna with Shaved Fennel Dressed in Herb Oils and a Spicy Marinade
Wild King Salmon with Arrow Leaf Spinach Parsley Root Purée, Clémentines, Mandarines and Blood Orange Sauce
Phyllo Crusted Florida Shrimp, Cape Cod Baby Squid, Scuba Dived Sea Scallop
Sweet Maryland Crabmeat in an Ocean Herbal Broth
Pan Seared Chatham Cod with Peas, Hon-Shimeji and Porcini Mushrooms Truffle Flavored Dashi and Braised Fennel
Roast Pig
Grapefruit Gelée, Elderflower Foam, Greek Yogurt Sorbet
Hot Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé,Vermont Maple Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Sorbet
Chilled Lillet, a lovely Alscasian Pinot Noir and Coffee
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