January 28, 2009

NYC City Treasures: Meeting Martha Stewart

Not so long ago, a friend of mine was moping about and I asked what was wrong. She said, "I'm so bored."

I immediately blurted out, "If you live in New York City and you're bored, it's your own fault."

The reason that people flock to New York is that there is an endless list of things that need to be seen, heard, celebrated, tasted, digested, smelled, tried on, gawked at, touched, felt, dreamed of and recycled.

There are a few venues around town where, no matter the day of the week or time of year, something of interest is there for the discovery. So if you find yourself saying, "I'm so bored," check them out.

For the musicians & wordsmiths, there is Cornelia Street Café. For oenophiles and food enthusiasts, there is Astor Center.

Long a Village fixture (like Cornelia Street Cafe), Astor Wines embarked on a new path and created the Astor Center, a green building designed to care for the wines in stock and to provide event spaces for food & wine events aimed at education. There are meeting & tasting rooms, a kitchen and a grand gallery for larger events.

But it's not just about wine. It's about taste – new foods, spirits, beverages, wines, cheeses. It's also about the Collective, those people who work in the food & beverage industry and who care deeply about what they do. This is a space aimed at their needs. It's not a big fancy bank turned into a ballroom & booked for galas and weddings. It is much more sophisticated than that. It is one part village renegade, one part culinary institute, one part thriving business.

Recently, I was honored to attend the NYC Women in Food event, a networking opportunity for women in the in the industry. The keynote speaker was Martha Stewart, once on the cutting edge of farm forward foods and home entertaining. Regardless of ones opinion of Ms. Stewart, there is no doubting the fact that she is a successful business woman and that she has opened doors for the new waves of women in the food & beverage world. One thing that she said sticks in my mind: No matter what we do in life, we must be passionate about it.

The Astor Center is indeed a space that encourages a passionate approach to Food & Beverage. Read more about it here. Check out their weekly calendar and discover what your passion is.

Tags:   astor center, cornelia street cafe, food and beverage, martha stewart, wine

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Posted on 1/28/2009 ( Permanent Link )
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January 22, 2009

Running with the Bulls, or Chasing Pierre Through Navarra

Each year, the Spanish region of Navarra brings a collective of winemakers, chefs, importers and exporters to New York for a week of food and fun. Many of the tastings and events are for those in the trade or related industries, and not open to the general public. But several restaurants participate in the festivities and provide year-round examples of some of the great wines & flavors from Spain.

I had heard a rumor that Pierre would be somewhere among the Navarro-philes, no doubt sticking his nose into the recipe for the foie gras lollipop. So I prowled the streets of the city this week, before making my way to the tasting at the Bryant Park Grill.

Here a few places where diners can catch a glimpse of Navarra, and maybe the elusive Pierre (I still have some unfinished business with him.)

Alcalá
Boquería Flatiron
Boquería Soho
Casa Mono
Degustation
E.U.
Lily’s
Madison Lounge
Olives
Pamplona
Sala
Solera
Suba
Tía Pol
Toledo

Despite not finding Pierre, I gathered reinforcements and we took ourselves to the tasting at the Bryant Park Grill. Maybe Pierre was able to slip out through the kitchen one the white bean soup was had been ladled into the demi-tasse cups. We may not have found him, but we did come away with some great wine recommendations:

Nekeas – the 2006 Cabernet & Tempranillo and the 2007 Grenache were the stars of the evening, and paired well with the amuse buche of octopus with chimichurri sauce. This vineyard is located in the heart of Valdizrbe, known famously as a central stopping point along the “Camino de Santiago”. Our prayers were answered by these vintages.

Earth 2.0 Casta Mami – this vineyard is located in the Baja Montana zone, known for its rosados. Try their Earth 2.0 Tempranillo & Cabernet 2006 Semi-crianza. They also offer organic wines and some cutting-edge methodology. If you are green, these are the reds for you.

Bodega Castillo de Monjardin – Located in the Tierra Estella, also located on the Camino de Santiago, this bodega offers some fine 2005 Cabernet & Merlot blends, and some fine 2007 Tempranillo. The bodega has a storied past and is worth visiting when you are Navarra.

Bodegas Inurrieta – This bodega is noted for its Grenache vintages. Like many of the other bodegas in the Ribera Alta zone (on the right bank of the Ebro), the bodega also has fine Chardonnay. Overall, the bodegas in this zone account for a fair percentage of all local production.

Bodegas Chivite - The Gran Feudo Viñas Viejas Reserva was a hit. This bodega comes from the Ribera Baja, the southernmost of Navarra’s winemaking zones. This may be a small area, but it is a big player.

Note to Pierre: You missed out on the ceviche! It was rockin’!

Gracias, Navarra.

Tags:   navarra

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Posted on 1/22/2009 ( Permanent Link )
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January 20, 2009

Now More Than Ever: Restaurant Week January 18-23 and 25-30, 2009

It seems that over the years restaurant week has grown from an annual single week to a biannual, two-week affair, and has grown to include hundreds of the city’s eateries. True, the trend of expanding into more days & locales is not new, but the quality of most menu offerings is.

We’re all watching our pocketbooks and wallets (and probably our belts as well) and so what we all want is great food at a great value. Nothing is more irksome than dropping big money for a ho-hum experience. And let’s face it, New York City is saturated with restos that deliver the ho-hum at premium prices. If there is a restaurant that has been on your wish list for a while, now more than ever is the time for you to get out and enjoy a great meal.

Here are some recommendations. I remind you that all of these can be reserved directly through NYC.com; just click on the green RESERVE button on each restaurant's page:

The Triad of Daniel’s more casual restaurants, Bar Boulud, db Bistro Moderne and Café Boulud, are offering a special three-course, prix-fixe menu for $24.07. While not the flagship of Daniel’s fleet, the culinary talent is impressive.

Eleven Madison Park: Chef Humm really is talented and the space will sweep you away into the age of refined empire. A must try.

Nobu: It may be tough to get a reservation, but now is the time to seriously try. C’mon! You know you want to!

Café des Artistes: A New York City icon, and if you haven’t been, you really must go.

Vong: I really do like Vong and have fun every time I go. Try to get one of the cabana-type tables so you can misbehave a little without drawing too much attention to yourself.

For the Lovebirds out there (and I do applaud you), here are a few romantic spots where you & your beloved can get cozy:

Gramercy Tavern
Le Cirque
River Café
Spice Market
Water’s Edge

For the Young Ones who like a more frenetic scene with really high heels:

Butter
Fig & Olive Meatpacking
Japonais

Have a look at the entire list and reserve your table today!

Tags:   best values restaurant week, new york city restaurant week, restaurant week 2009

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Posted on 1/20/2009 ( Permanent Link )
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January 07, 2009

Dining Review: John Dory – Glory above 14th Street

We left off in 2008 in pursuit of Pierre, whom I trailed to Alloro on the Upper East Side, where I encountered Italian food, language and fun. Recently, I had reason to suspect that Pierre was at John Dory, a new hot spot across from the überindustrial façade of Morimoto and perched (no pun intended) between Craftsteak and Del Posto.

I made that journey across the wide 14th Street—presently a canal after all the wet weather—and headed north, hoping to catch him while he was enjoying a nice plate of oysters. Immediately, I found myself in the belly of one fine fish. The narrow portal of John Dory leads you into a room that is both too small and yet quite large: two small because the crowds are large and quite large because the food is so grand.

I took a seat at the bar and scanned the room. It was the kind of crowd that Pierre would blend into, the kind that loves anything April Bloomfield touches. It was obvious that everyone was there for the food and the energy and the intrigue that follows a few good cocktails. The bartender was no nonsense. She summed me up in two seconds: "You looking for Pierre?" she asked.

"How did you know?" I responded.

"You're his type."

And then she gave me a glass a champagne. I am a sucker for blanc des blancs when I'm feeling a little sassy. And I was. I heard a familiar voice behind, a friend I hadn't seen in a while. She was looking for Pierre, too. "Let's pool our resources," she said, "and a get table." She was dressed for business, all silk and danger. So I agreed. "Pierre's moved on already," she said. "I hear he's gone to Buttermilk Channel, over in Brooklyn."

"You planning on going?" I asked.

"Maybe," she said.

"Let's order," I countered, distracting her with the promise of octopus salad and cod milt. Sure, they were great dishes. I knew they would be. But then so was the oyster pan roast and the roasted cod and the grilled sardines. Sure, I knew Pierre had already left. But I stayed. I stayed for the spiced carrots and the sweet potatoes and the pudding and the demi-sec. As for Pierre and our unfinished business, I'll be tracking him down in Brooklyn.

MUST TRY:

Razor clam ceviche
Oyster pan roast (with sea urchin)
Cod milt
Fish stew
John Dory for two
Grilled sardines

BEST FEATURES

Chef April Bloomfield
Sommelier David Lynch
Fish-happy décor

Tags:   april bloomfield, buttermilk channel, craftsteak, david lynch, del posto, john dory, morimoto

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Posted on 1/7/2009 ( Permanent Link )
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