The Skinny Pig

March 1 - 14 2010 is Martini Week!

I am so over this weather. NYC got bitch-slapped by mother nature yet again with the "perfect storm." This is NOT perfect. If this was perfect, I would be at home, on my couch, with a blanket, watching The Office and eating chinese food directly from the carton. FUCK THIS. Seriously. I can think of no better time to promote alcoholism..

March 1 - 14 is Martini Week (shouldn't it be weeks?), 14 days of $10 gin or vodka martinis at high end spots all over town. Served nightly from 5:30 - 8:30 pm, you can get an array of martinis from Strawberry Cheesecake (at Dylan Prime) to Liquid Gold (at Public) to Really Dirty (at Braeburn). See below for Restaurants participating and click here to see their specialty martinis offered. I put a star next to the ones that I like/have the best deals...

10 Downing

Aspen Social

Bobo*  (this is my cat's name...so I'm a little biased)

Braeburn*

Delmonico's

Dylan Prime* (mmm Strawberry Cheesecake martini..)

Forty Eight

Gaslight

Harbour Lights* (offering complimentary sampling of the bar menu during Martini Week!)

Highlands

Knickerbocker Bar & Grill* (serving $10 Martini Week cocktails all day from 12 pm - 2 am)

Levant East

Madam Geneva

Oceana

Peacock Alley

Public

Rayuela

Revel

Scarlatto* (serving $10 Martini Week cocktails all day 12 pm - 11:30 pm)

Tabla

Tao

The Oak Room* (serving $10 Martini Week cocktails from 5:30 pm til close)

Two E Bar & Lounge* (serving Martini Week cocktails for $8!)

Let's just say you'll know where to find me during those two weeks. In the meantime, I will be drowning in a combination of snow and tears.  

Dinner at Bistro Vendome

In the glorious land of Midtown East, the abundance of French restaurants makes it hard for a new one to stand out. Unless, of course, you happen to make delicious Mussels Provencale and a steak that melts in your mouth...

Bistro Vendome, opened just last week on 58th st between 1st ave and Sutton Place in the former March townhouse space. Owned and operated by Chef Pascal Petiteau and his wife, Virginie, who oversees the front of house, Bistro Vendome has a cozy, intimate feel - and the food aint half bad either.

Garlicky, buttery mussels. Who knew...?

I received an insider tip that I should try the Mussels Provencale, which are mussels baked in a garlic-parsley butter (much like the sauce that escargot is made with). Now, hear me on this one, because I DO NOT like mussels. I never order them. EVER. So, the fact that I not only ordered them, but enjoyed them as well, was fascinating in and of itself. My friend Arian was with me and she is not a super adventurous eater, but even SHE ate them and thought they were delicious. I mean, it was garlic, butter and parsley - you could put that on pebbles and I would probably eat it. They also offer other variations of mussels including Thai (curry, lemongrass, coconut milk), Normandie (creamy chicken broth, mushrooms and white truffle oil), Mariniere (steamed with white wine and shallots), and Basilic (basil, white wine, garlic). We also decided to split the Endive & Bacon Salad with blue cheese and walnuts. Again, a classic combination that's hard to screw up, so it was good; not as good as the mussels, but I never complain about anything that has bacon and blue cheese on it. Substantial amounts of it, nonetheless...

Endive & Bacon Salad 

Whenever I go to a French restaurant, I usually give it the steak test. I figure a French place HAS TO know how to make a good steak, and if they don't, they've got no shot. So I went with the filet mignon with peppercorn sauce on the side and sauteed spinach and garlic. No pommes frites? Yes. It comes with that. But I had eaten a boatload of fries at Minetta Tavern earlier, plus I happen to love spinach with steak. I'm like popeye. I eats me spinach every day. Arian ordered the Organic Breast of Chicken over mashed potatoes and garlic jus. As I mentioned before, she likes to keep it simple. Nothing wrong with the classics...right??

Filet Mignon with Peppercorn sauce, and sauteed spinach w/garlic

My steak was beautifully cooked and my knife cut through it like butter. It didn't really need the sauce, in my opinion, which is why I was smart enough to get it on the side. I feel that if you have a really good piece of meat, you don't need to drown it in a heavy sauce, it will be flavorful enough with just a little salt and pepper. The chicken was good, but I think the garlic jus made it better. Chicken is kind of the opposite of steak for me. I like chicken with a little jus or some kind of sauce, because chicken can get dry. This chicken wasn't "dry" but it wasn't really "juicy" either, so the sweet and savory garlic jus punched it up a bit, but the mashed potatoes were a little gummy. The steak was by far the winner of the entree race. I have heard good things about Bistro Vendome's beef cheek shepherds pie and rack of lamb as well, so perhaps they are more skilled with red meat than with poultry? At a French restaurant, I think I would expect that anyway, so I'm not that surprised.

Mmmm so tender...

Organic Breast of Chicken with Garlic Jus 

Here's another area that needs to pass the test for suitable French restaurant: desserts. The French are known for their delicate, yet rich, desserts, and since we had been sticking with traditionalism most of the night, we were leaning towards creme brulee or profiteroles. I really NEED something chocolate at the end of a meal, and the profiteroles came with a chocolate sauce to dip them in. SOLD. They were perfect. Light and flaky puffs with vanilla bean ice cream inside that was just starting to melt, drizzled with some chocolate sauce...mmm. Nums. Whoever thought of putting those three things together is a genius.

Warm, flaky profiteroles 

I think there are a lot of good French restaurants in this area, but Bistro Vendome can certainly hold it's own from what I've tried so far. However, I'd like to go back and be a little bit more adventurous with my ordering - then I can make an even better judgement. The beef cheek shepherd's pie is calling my name...

Bistro Vendome

405 East 58th st

212-935-9100

Sandwiched Menu Revealed!

Sandwiched, the new "pop-up" cafe in the Whitney Museum brought to you by Danny Meyer's Hudson Yards, will be opening this Thursday, Feb 25th, in conjunction with 2010, the Whitney Biennial. The menu has just been released, and there's not much to say except, "I'll have one of everything."

This is like a Danny Meyer celebration on one menu - which isn't a bad thing if you love his food (as I do). The Blue Smoke Applewood-Smoked Turkey and Gouda sandwich with pickled onion -jalapeno mayo on ciabatta is calling my name for sure, as is the Hudson Yards Knoll Crest Egg sandwich with slab bacon, cheddar curds, bibb lettuce and tomato marmalade on Pain de Mie roll. What's better than a sandwich? A dessert sandwich! Sandwiched offers the S'Mores from Hudson Yards and the Fluffernutter from Blue Smoke. God help me. This will bring me right back to college...

 

Menu

Soups

Onion 6.00

Chicken 5.50

Salads

Carrots, Feta & Pine Nuts with Coriander Vinaigrette  6.00

Endive, Radicchio & Arugula with Oregano Vinaigrette 5.50

Snacks

Kettle Chips 2.00

Hudson Yards Sour Cream Crumb Muffin 2.00

Blue Smoke Peanut & Jalapeño Chocolate Bar 3.95

Fresh Fruit Salad 4.50

Ultimate Yogurt Nut Mix 4.95

  

Sandwiches

Hudson Yards Knoll Crest Egg 7.50

Slab Bacon, Cheddar Curds, Bibb Lettuce and Tomato Marmalade on Pain de Mie Roll

Hudson Yards Line-Caught Albacore Tuna 9.50

Lemon, Olives, and Arugula on Ciabatta

Eleven Madison Park Chicken Schnitzel 14.95

Black Truffle-Celery Slaw and Gruyère on Toasted Brioche

Blue Smoke Applewood-Smoked Turkey & Gouda  9.75

Pickled Onion-Jalapeño Mayo on Ciabatta

Tabla Bombay Pita Panino 9.25

Roasted Eggplant, Tomato and Mozzarella with Coconut-Cilantro Chutney

Gramercy Tavern Heritage Ham & Sharp Cheddar 9.75

On Potato Onion Roll

Union Square Cafe Cured Salmon 11.95

Avocado Cream Cheese, Cucumber & Radish on Sourdough Rye

PB&J 5.50

Natural Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam on Toasted Country Bread

Dessert Sandwiches

Hudson Yards Lemon Whoopie Pie 3.00

Hudson Yards S’more 3.75

Gramercy Tavern Chocolate Mint Patty Brownie 3.75

Blue Smoke Fluffer Nutter 3.75

 

Beverages

Coffee 2.75

Latte 3.75

Cappuccino 3.75

Espresso 3.00

Double Espresso 4.50

Orange Juice 3.25

Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite 2.50

Bottled Water 3.00

Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Pilsner, Abita Beer 6.50

House Glass of Wine 8.00

Specialty Glass of Wine 11.00

Sandwiched at the Whitney Museum of American Art

945 Madison Ave @ 75th st

212-570-3600

 

Brunch and the Black Label at Minetta Tavern

I love a good brunch, but more importantly, I love a good burger. Where do you go to satisfy both needs? Only one place in my book: Minetta Tavern.

Me and my friend Lindsay aka The Lunch Belle have been dying to test out Minetta's famed Black Label Burger for the longest time, and I am happy to report that it was well worth the wait. But before I get into that, let's walk through the entire experience, shall we? Hell, I waited for that burger for months...you can wait a few mere paragraphs.

Minetta Tavern doesn't look like much from the outside - it's kind of tucked away on the corner of Minetta Lane between Bleecker and West 3rd in the Village - and the only windows are in the very front of the restaurant by the bar, but the blinds are closed all the time so you can't see inside, and when you walk in, you have to walk through a dark hallway and a heavy velvet curtain just to get to the hostess stand. Pretentious much? Whatever - I just wanted to eat.

We were taken to the back of the restaurant which screamed Parisian cafe (in my opinion): old black and white photos on the walls, black and white tiled floor, gleaming yellow light and red seats. Oh and the foreigners surrounding us made the whole "European" vibe that much more real. The service was good, albeit a bit confused. We must have had 3 or 4 waitresses show up to ask for our drinks, and we told each of them the same drinks every time, and still didn't get any. That, and they also double booked my reservation - one for 2 pm and one for 6 pm. I had trouble getting a res at this place for weeks and yet somehow I managed to snag two in one day. Score!

Finally - time to eat. We ordered the Chilled Gulf Shrimp appetizer with Fennel, Artichokes and Coral Vinaigrette. Out of all the yummy-sounding things on this menu, chilled gulf shrimp? Really?? Well, I saw a waiter walk by with it and the shrimp looked big enough to rent it's own apartment, so I was officially intrigued. Sue me. It was fresh, meaty shrimp, and the fennel with lemony artichokes gave it such a refreshing taste. It was actually a better choice for a starter than you would think; not that there's anything wrong with their selection of Panier (chocolate brioche, fruit focaccia, croissants and canele).

Chilled Gulf Shrimp

As the title of this post states proudly: this brunch was really based around the Black Label Burger. I've heard such things about this burger (including the fact that it's $26), that I knew we had to split it. I also knew that it was brunch, so we needed some eggs to round out the meal. Shirred Eggs with Black Truffles and Baguette Soldiers was our choice - and not a bad one. Lets just get the eggs out of the way so I can describe this burger. I'm so one-track minded. Shirred eggs, traditionally, are baked eggs in a ramekin with cream, butter, and cheese (is there any other way?). Minetta put it's own little spin on it by shaving black truffles on top (this would justify the $20 price tag I assume) and serving long slices, or soldiers, of crispy french baguette bread for dipping. And believe me, you WANT to dip. The eggs were not runny, but the yolk was; take your baguette and swirl some yolk around in the buttery, creamy pool of eggy goodness. It's a rich dish, but how often do you have eggs with truffles on top anyway? Might as well give in.

Shirred Eggs with Black Truffles..buttery nums...

Speaking of giving in...this Black Label Burger could turn a vegetarian into a chest-pounding, blood-thirsty carnivore. Funny side note: we asked for it cooked "medium" which prompted the waitress to tell us that this burger is served "European style", which means it's pink most of the way through. "Isn't that what "medium" means??" we asked, confused. "Well, no, it means just a hint of pink in the center", she replied. "No, I think that's medium-well.." we countered.  "Ok, I just wanted to make sure." Then she walks away. So I guess I've been asking for the wrong burgers my whole life. FYI people, if you want a medium to medium rare burger, make sure you ask for it "European-style" - they'll know what it means, apparently. Anyway, this was probably the best burger I've had in a long time - and it has no cheese! They actually frown upon ordering it with cheese, and after tasting it, now I know why. When it arrived, I just stared at it for a second. The juices were running down into the bun, and it was cooked perfectly with a bit of caramelized onions on top. Truly, the best part was the meat itself and the crust on this thing - yes, crust. The meat had such a perfect char on it that it created this crust, which encapsulated the flavors and made it like a juicy-meat-preserver. That sounds naughty. But you know what, I felt kind of naughty eating it. I'm pretty sure my eyes rolled back into my head at least once. Can a burger be that good? Can it be worth $26?? Yes. It can and it is.

Trust me - my picture doesn't even do it justice - yet it still makes me drool.

I would discuss dessert, but I got sorbet (I know, boring). I didn't want anything too heavy and I didn't want to ruin the taste of delicious burger still lingering on my palate. But were there downsides of Minetta Tavern? I could say that the service was a bit disorganized, and the pickle that came with the burger was downright strange (kind of like a bread & butter pickle dipped in battery acid), however, you could have blind clowns on unicycles taking my order - as long as that burger arrives safely to my table, I'd go back tomorrow.

Minetta Tavern

113 Macdougal St (btwn Bleecker and W. 3rd)

212-475-3850

A+ Thai Restaurant Comes to Midtown

Well well...what do we have here? I spotted this little nugget while strolling through midtown yesterday - it's right next to Primavera pizza between 53rd and 54th st on 2nd ave. I'm not positive...but something tells me this will be a Thai Restaurant...

K! pizzacone Opens Monday

We can file this one under "Things that make you go hmmm" (or in this case, "things that make you go mmmm"). And you're totally singing that song right now, don't even try to hide it.

Opening Monday is K! pizzacone, and yup, you guessed it; it's pizza in a cone - not a sugar cone - that would be kind of gross. It's all of your favorite pizza toppings rolled up into a doughy, pizza-crusty cone.

If you like to customize your cone, you'll start with your choice of sauce (regular or pesto), then add some cheese (unless you're lactose-intolerant), then add your veggies and/or meats. And just like any new and trendy food shop, you can expect the unexpected. Artichokes, prosciutto, jalapenos, salami and even chili are available as toppings. There are also ready-to-order cones ranging from the usual Four-Cheese and Vegetarian to the unusual scrambled eggs and ham Breakfast Pizza. And don't forget dessert cones! There is rumored to be some sort of ice-cream, berry, banana concoction for your noshing pleasure as well.

I don't understand the major appeal here other than the packaging (so cute!) and perhaps the now-enhanced mobility of the pizza slice. Was there a big problem with this before though?? I've shoveled down many a pepperoni slice all the while stumbling to the train station and never missed a beat. I may have dropped a few pepperonis along my trail, so I guess K! pizzacone could put a stop to that with their clever design. I guess we'll just have to see...

K! pizzacone

325 5th Avenue btwn 32nd and 33rd st

646-823-9318

Au Bon Pain Open in Rock Center Concourse

After months of staring at "Au Bon Pain...coming soon!" signs in the 47-50 st Rock Center subway concourse...it's finally here. I believe it just opened yesterday, even though I passed by yesterday and didn't notice anything. That could have just been me and my morning tunnel vision kicking in though. And with what seems like 100 pastries sitting in the window staring at you, I have to wonder HOW I didn't notice it, if in fact it was open yesterday. I don't know what else to say about it really - it's very bright and sunny-looking thanks to it's yellow and orange walls, which adds a nice touch to the rather dingy BDFV concourse too. I mean it's a subway station...unless someone is peeing on the tracks, I don't notice too much else.

Check out Au Bon Pain's Facebook page for pics.

The Situation and The Apology at Summit Bar

No, that's not a new character on the Jersey Shore. Though I can see where the confusion lies...

Just before we all got snowed in last week, I visited Summit Bar on the LES where the lighting is dim and the drinks are unique. How unique? Well, they had a drink called The Situation. Need I say more?

The bar is kind of narrow in space, but the exposed brick wall, plush velvet banquettes and glowing sconces make for a perfect date spot or intimate gathering of friends. And when you have The Situation, who cares if you're rubbing elbows with strangers? Rarely have I had a drink made with whiskey that I actually enjoyed, but this one was good - Afghani Raisin infused Rittenhouse Rye, Caraway infused agave, fresh lemon and Summit orange bitters. Served in a wide tumbler (with a few of the biggest ice cubes I've ever seen), with a light peach/orange color, and slightly frothy - this Situation was a good one. Not too sweet and not too tart, you could really taste the lemon and the raisins. It kind of made me wish I was on an island somewhere lounging poolside...as I looked out the window and saw the snow pounding the ground. Oh well...

The Situation!

If you're not a mixologist or very advanced in your cocktail knowledge (i.e. vodka/soda is where it ends for you), the cocktails at Summit will probably stump you a bit. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable on all things food and drink, but even I couldn't "taste" the drinks before I actually tasted them (which I can usually do), so I did what anyone would do in that situation (no pun intended, I swear) and took a shot on something, anything. I wanted something kind of sweet, kind of tart, and kind of strong...so I went with The Apology first. Old Raj gin, Cantena Chardonnay, apricot cordial, Summit safron orange bitters and a dash of St Germain. I happen to love orange and St Germain together, so I thought that one was quite delicious. Served in a martini glass, I bit into the apricot cordial first (who doesn't like fruit soaked in alcohol?), then I took a sip. Strong, tart, and orangey - just what I was looking for. I could certainly down a few of those after work on a Friday night.

Summit Bar
133 Avenue C
No Phone (how mysterious!)

Danny Meyer Brings Sandwiched to The Whitney

This just in from the Danny Meyer empire: Union Square Hospitality Group announced that it will be opening a "pop-up" cafe in the Whitney Museum called Sandwiched. What's a pop up cafe and what business does it have making sandwiches?? I have no clue, but that only intrigues me more...

According to the press release, the new cafe will be opening with the Whitney's Biennial on Thursday, February 25th, and will feature sandwich selections from some of USHG's most prominent chefs like Carmen Quagliata (Union Square Cafe), Michael Anthony (Gramercy Tavern), Floyd Cardoz (Tabla), Daniel Humm (Eleven Madison Park), Kenny Callaghan (Blue Smoke), and Robb Garceau (Hudson Yards). These creations were crafted for Sandwiched (and Sandwiched only!) and will be available for a limited time while the pop up cafe is still "up." The plan is to unveil a permanent cafe in the Fall of 2010.

And for all you sweet-tooths out there, have no fear - the cafe will serve snacks and desserts from USHG's talented pastry chefs as well. Sandwiches and sweets. Now you're speaking my language.

The Whitney

945 Madison Avenue @ 75th St

New York, NY

 

Hours: Wed, Thurs, Sat and Sunday: 11 am - 6 pm

Friday: 1 pm - 9 pm

General Admission: $18

Gelato Heaven at MaximoPino Cafe

I'm uber-cranky today because Mother Nature decided to screw all of us once again, so I am going to reminisce about all the yummy gelato I had last night at MaximoPino Cafe..

Gelato Anyone?

This place had one of the nicest (and largest) displays of gelato and sorbetti I have ever seen; I felt like I was back in Italy, sampling almost every flavor (all in the name of research, with maybe just a hint of gluttony). Ever had popcorn-flavored gelato? Yea, I hadn't either up until last night, but I am now convinced that this is something everyone should try before they die. It tasted like Corn Pops! Who doesn't like Corn Pops?? So strange, yet so delicious. How about Ferrero Rocher? Or Tiramisu? Or Vanilla Cookie?? Yes, these are just SOME of the flavors offered, and honestly, they were all delicious. It's hard for me to pick a favorite, but I think I would honestly go with the Popcorn and the Chocolate Raspberry. Technically, all of their chocolate flavors were great: creamy, rich and slightly overindulgent, just the way I like my chocolate gelato. You know how else I like my chocolate gelato? Stuffed inside a cupcake. That's right! MaximoPino takes it to the next level with their Gelato Stuffed Cupcakes. I had two: chocolate cupcake stuffed with raspberry sorbetti, and chocolate cupcake stuffed with mocha gelato. Mmmm.

Mocha Gelato Cupcake fall down

I also sampled some of Maximo's drinks, like the Truffle Hot Chocolate. If you like chocolate as much as I do, you will love this. It was basically warm, liquified chocolate. Very thick, very nums. Other than the little bit of "skin" on top that real hot chocolate tends to get, it was smooth and comforting. I'd like to curl up with a cup of that right now..

I came to Maximo Pino with my friend Rudy, who has been eating cereal for dinner for the past week, which is completely unacceptable in my book, so I decided that we should order a pizza. I'm like Sally Struthers..feeding the hungry. We got one of their pizzas, the Capricciosa, but you can totally customize your own and they have plenty of toppings to choose from. The Capricciosa consists of tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, artichokes, black olives, spicy pepperoni and prosciutto. The crust was thin and crisp (just the way I like it), but I felt it was lacking a bit in seasoning, which was odd considering the multitude of toppings. Some basil or garlic would have been a good addition, since black olives, artichokes and mushrooms can get kind of bland. Even some salt and pepper would have helped..or maybe some more pepperoni? It just needed some spice. I sampled the margherita pizza and I actually liked that one better - sometimes simple is the way to go with pizza.

Capricciosa Pizza

Even in the winter, I can see coming here for a  healthy scooping of gelato and coffee. Or coffee-flavored gelato (loved it). $4.50 gets you a Piccolo (2 scoops), and they have toppings like Amaretto cookies, chocolate sauce, Amarena cherries, fresh fruit, sprinkles and whipped cream for no additional charge. I think MaximoPino Cafe's strength lies in their sweets, and that's never a bad thing.

Popcorn is 3rd one in from top left! TRY IT!

 

MaximoPino Cafe

504 6th ave (nr 13th st)

646-360-4143