BryanZ
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Posts posted by BryanZ
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Dude, three cocktails at Tailor. Are you kidding? You're so going to have to cleanse after this trip. I'm very, very impressed. This was your first experience with real modern cooking, right? My contrived attempts excepted by default of course. Do you see the light?
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Asking you to order all at once is in direct contrast to what our server recommended. She highly encouraged/upsold us on the first column of "pre-appetizers". I think, however, due to the lag in that first round of food coming out (and subsequent even pacing) that she didn't put the order in until she took our entire order.
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I'm so proud.
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Yes. She was very thin and rather attractive.
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It's obvious that for the people who care the opening to watch of the late winter/early spring is undoubtedly Momofuku Ko. With that said, Merkato 55 is also of interest for a number of reasons: huge name chef, interesting cuisine, trendy/annoying address. The jury is still out as to whether this restaurant will become the next Spice Market. To be honest, I'm not quite sure myself.
My gut feeling is that this restaurant is more interesting than it is great. I am fuzzily acquainted with African cuisines, primarily Moroccan and Ethiopian, but said meals have taken place in spaces nowhere near as swanky as this. During those those previous experiences there definitely was no new world house music playing the background.
To set the scene, as soon as I park the car in front of the restaurant I look to my left and there is a fashion photo shoot taking place on the other side of the street. This is at about 7:30, so it's pretty dark. Welcome to the MePa.
I walk in, give my name to the hostess and ask if there's any chance we can be sat early for our 8 pm reservation. She's pleasant enough and says she'll do what she can, so I grab a drink at the bar. The cocktails, as Nathan says, aren't very good. Mainly vodka based and sweet. Something with pear vodka and white grape juice tasted, as one of my companions suggested, "like a jelly bean." Hmm. Still, she enjoyed it. My selection was somewhat better, tempered with grapefruit, saffron, and chili. I liked the savory and bitter components, but it still wanted for balance.
A few minutes later another companion decided to check her coat with the hostess and asked if she'd be able to seat us soon. The hostess responds, "As soon as possible"--pauses for dramatic effect-- "as I told the gentleman." Hmm. Was that necessary? It's not like she was a bitch or anything but it gave off an icy vibe.
Thankfully a few minutes after that we're led to our table. This is probably the trendiest dining room I've been in since, like, ever. It's attractive enough but way over-designed to my tastes. Our server was nice, knew the menu well, and the food was well paced despite a slightly slow start to get things rolling out of the kitchen. We ordered a lot of food, and thankfully when I asked the server if what I selected was enough she didn't try to upsell a couple sides or anything like that. Some of the backwait was a bit overeager to clear plates--it wasn't even super crowded--but nothing too egregious.
The food, as I mentioned, is interesting and usually quite tasty. I definitely could not eat this food everyday, as it's just too heavily spiced for frequent consumption. One of companions remarked that it was like palate overload, and I must say that I agree. Although I see parallels between Merkato's cuisine and those of India and the Middle East, this is on an entirely different level when it comes to assertive seasonings and flavor combinations.
The weakest part of the meal was the beginning, where we ordered the breads, the apple yogurt, and the foie chutney. The foie was the definitely the low point of the evening. If there was foie present, I missed it, as I could hardly taste liver at all. It was mainly, if not all, dates. Not recommended, especially for $9. The apple yogurt was simply yogurt with pieces of cooked apple strewn throughout. I was envisioning something along the same philosophical lines of "apple butter," more like yogurt-y apple than apple-y yogurt. We also ordered the basket of breads, which I found interesting if just a bit overwhelming. It's a lot of starch.
Things got better with the small plates--unlike our servers description, they aren't very small at all--where we ordered the octopus and lobster salads and the sausage. We also tried the tuna tartar from the previous section of the menu in this round of food. The tartar was almost more about the seasonings than the fish. Not a bad thing, just different. The seafood salads were also quite good. The octopus lacked the grill treatment that most octopus dishes in this city get, so it tasted more of the sea without the smoke to cover its natural flavor. One of my party thought it was a bit fishy, an assessment I suppose I agree with but didn't find offensive. The lobster salad could've been a great dish if it was executed better. The lobster was probably B-quality so its flavor was somewhat lost in the creamy, slaw-like salad. Still, this was like a novel take on a lobster roll and the least spiced of all the dishes we tried. The merguez was rustic and sat atop a creamy corn puree-mash that I found quite appealing.
We then split two mains, the chicken doro wat and the pork belly. I wish they'd serve the injera folded and off to side with the chicken as it gets rather soggy and cumbersome to use for wrapping when it's rolled up and placed under the sauce. I liked this dish though; it reminded us of a cross between a curry and a mole. The pork belly was also quite tasty and a bit firmer than what one finds at most restaurants that braise the cut to the point of nothingness. This had a bit of texture to it that I found pleasing. I'm not sure what "jerk" refers to in this case, but, again, I simply found it it spiced. I don't really have the vocabulary and the experience with this type of cuisine to accurately convey the differences in the sauces, marinades and seasoning blends though they are apparent.
Didn't do dessert, too full. Total came to about $190 with the above food and two beers. This was for three peeople. The cocktails were paid for at the bar--no, they don't transfer tabs from bar to table.
Chef Samuelsson was in house making rounds at VIP tables. Seated right behind us was that VP dude from Scripps/FN who appears on Next FN Star. The real anal-seeming guy. You know who I'm talking about. Some other person who I thought was famous, or looked like he could've been famous, was also getting a lot of attention from the chef. It wasn't a gross amount of pandering, however.
Bruni will give this place one star. The chance for two is there for the novelty of it--Chef Samuelson is quite expert at carving out unique niches for himself. I enjoyed my meal and thought it was a truly different culinary experience--it's not like I can say, well, we could've had food nearly this good in NJ--but I won't necessarily be rushing back.
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I'm aimlessly speculating that momofukuko.com will be the website. When it drops, no one knows. Or at least not me.
The thought crossed my mind to buy the domains koreservations.com and momofukuko.net and post all kinds of fake stuff just for pure entertainment value. Though that wouldn't be very nice.
Someone seems to have had the same thought as you. momofukuko.com was registered today by some dude on the UWS. I'm almost positive this is not where the reservation system is going. koreservations.com, on the other hand, is still not registered.
I'm with Fat Guy--they'll put in another option on momofuku.com.
But if you look at the ip's where momofuku and momofukuko.com are registered, it is within the same "class b" address space.
momofukuko.com is 74.208.88.51
momofuku.com is 74.208.86.109
It also is throwing very similar 404 pages
example:
The odds of someone registering a domain and hosting it at the same hosting provider as momofuku.com is pretty slim. I think it is probably legit.
My programmer friend said the exact same thing.
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They may link from there but with this new system, it may be hosted on a different domain. Again, more completely aimless speculation.
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I'm aimlessly speculating that momofukuko.com will be the website. When it drops, no one knows. Or at least not me.
The thought crossed my mind to buy the domains koreservations.com and momofukuko.net and post all kinds of fake stuff just for pure entertainment value. Though that wouldn't be very nice.
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Probably going here tonight. Was able to get an 8 pm reso, same day. Nothing available in the sevens. For midweek that sounds about right. Will report back,
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There's also an interview Bruni did with Mo Rocca that Eater linked to, like, yesterday that's mildly entertaining. As Eater points out, Bruni's looking fit.
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[Host's note: the previous part of this discussion can be found here.]
As of today, the three star restaurant it should be. Yay!
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Though I have the utmost respect for Chef Chang and co., what makes this place that fundamentally different than, say, Degustation?
I haven't tried any of the food, but the aesthetic seems similar, if only slanted slightly toward Asian cuisine rather than Spanish. In terms of price point, it seems to fit in nicely between Degustatation and l'Atelier.
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I guess this classifies as kind of a big deal. Not a chance of mere mortals sauntering up to the bar to snag a seat over the next couple days I presume? I'm hopping on a last minute flight home in a couple hours and would seriously camp out.
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Motomachi or Benkei or Kintaro for ramen?
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If you have three, you're better off sitting at the bar. With that said, you can't reserve seats at the bar, so try to reserve a booth (get ready for busy signals and potentially a bit of disappointment). Once you get there, see if bar seats are open and go from there.
Your best bet is to get there right when they open, grab 3 seats at the bar and have a couple rounds before dinner.
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A mini-update. Things are falling into place with cars, plans, hotels, etc. I still need to finalize my meals, but things are looking good.
I somehow wrangled the sickest rate for the Sundial Boutique Hotel. The property looks really nice and is literally right at the base of the two main gondolas. The room is on offer for $399/night, but I'm paying $199/night. Good stuff.
It seems like I'll be renting a car from the 12th-14th, so a two day rental plus a couple hours. Enterprise is the best bet here, as their business focus means they don't absolutely destroy under-25 drivers with surcharges. I'm thinking I'll do Richmond on Wednesday afternoon/evening, then wake up super early the next morning to get to Whistler.
As for dinner at Whistler, Bearfoot Bistro seems prohibitively expensive, and I'm philosophically opposed to menus that are overladen with supplements--it's like systematic unsubtle upselling. I suppose Araxi doesn't look bad, but I'm just not sure it's worth the price based on how the menu reads. What are some good mid-level recommendations--the Fuels, Gastropods, and Rares of Whistler? I'm honestly not even opposed to a bit of mountain kitsch--the fondue place upthread would at least be entertaining. Recommendations?
With regards to getting from Seattle to Vancouver and back, what's the best option? The train sounds cool, it's just not very flexible. I know there are buses both privately run and Amtrak-run. Is one better than the other? What transportation option affords maximum flexibility? Anyone have particularly good experience with a certain company or mode of transport.
Finally, I'm interested in doing an AM half-day kayaking trip that was mentioned upthread. Is there a particularly good outfit for this located in/near downtown?
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Le Soleil hotel may have just eeked its way into my budget. Trip Advisor really likes it. It seems to be a bit more centrally located, if further north. Closer to Gastown which seems like a cooler place to hang out at night and avoids the whole driving after a couple cocktails conundrum.
Any opinions?
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In the deuce for Bar Blanc today:
They’re most certainly not doing bar food, not with a menu on which the half dozen appetizers are easily outnumbered by the pasta dishes and main courses, not when the lasagna, made with braised lamb shoulder, is sculptured into a perfectly round and tidily layered cake that’s like a prim haircut you itch to muss. Lasagna should unfurl and unravel and ooze: that’s the whole point of being lasagna.Its self-possession here is emblematic of the chef César Ramirez’s contemplative and intermittently fussy approach to cooking, evident as well in an entree of “milk-fed porcelet” that divides the young porker into discrete portions of belly, loin and head meat and, for good measure, throws in puréed chanterelles and diced Brussels sprouts. It’s a tremendously busy plate. It’s also a tremendously flavorful one.
Once again Bruni's predilections are made excruciatingly clear. I seriously feel like I could write these reviews for him, donning on his hat, and come to the very same conclusions with the very same language. I'm not sure if this is a strength or weakness, but he is very predictable.
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Thanks for all this info. I've poured over all of it and have made some progress. Unfortunately my time is short, so I'll not be able to visit all of these spots.
A few questions to piggy back off of what's been posted thus far.
How do the Chinese restaurants in Richmond "work"? Do most offer dim sum in lieu of lunch, in addition to lunch? Is dim sum cart service or ordered from the menu? Can I order dim sum and lunch items at some of the places mentioned?
How much crab is a good amount to order? I always get confused when ordering seafood by the pound.
What's the difference between Canto and Shanghai cuisines?
I've also heard that Aberdeen Center is an interesting cultural experience. It, like, an Asian mall, right? Worth stopping by?
Roasted pork will be had like whoa.
What should I seek out on Granville Island? The Public Market obviously, but what else, what part is best? What's this Loft I'm reading about? I can't find a clear description? It seems like there's a lot there. With regards to Go Fish, it seems like a nice lunch spot. Is it walking distance from the Public Market? It's not clear on Google Maps how the roads work.
Stanley Park, worth checking out?
Does Nu have the worst website design ever? I'll answer this one. Yes. Many of these restaurants don't list their hours. What's up with that?
I'm thinking of doing like a post-dinner Gastown crawl hitting Salt, Chill Winston, and Boneta one after the other. Does this make sense?
I'm looking for a couple lunch spots. A Japadog will be had as a snack because I'm a Bourdain whore like that. I have three lunches but only two dinners, most likely, so how can I maximize my daytime eating? But what other spots are lunch-y and good?
George Lounge has probably the most interesting cocktail menu I've seen but the scene-y-ness scares me. Will it be annoying and loud early in the week, Monday or Tuesday? If so, will I be safe if I go early?
I have a couple hundred dollars in Relais Gourmand gift certificates I can burn. Should I go to Lumiere, the Tasting Bar? I know Feeney got the boot late last year, but is it still one of the top tables? It just seems rather expensive and I'm worried I'll be bored to death by it.
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fmed, I actually used your Google maps to build mine and have yours saved in the "Created by others" heading. I am very familiar with the EV scene, but I'm interested in checking out an izakaya or two. for comparison's sake. The prob with most of the St. Marks izakaya is that the quality isn't really there even if the fun is and scene is. Perhaps Robson/Denman will better blend the two.
If I have 4 nights, should I do 3 in Vancouver and 1 in Whistler or split 2 and 2? This former option saves money and is probably better for the food-related pursuits, but with time it takes to get from Van to Whistler I won't have a full day skiing.
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I'm heading up to Vancouver and Whistler for about 5 days in early March, the 10-15 to be precise. As per usual, I'm obsessive when it comes to planning and am looking for insights from the locals. I'm especially concerned about the latter destination because it is, be definition, a tourist town, and I usually don't like tourist towns. I'm hoping to have my impressions favorably changed.
Now I'll admit--much to the chagrin many here, I'm sure--that Vancouver was first put on my radar by No Reservations. I know people have said the episode lacked a bit of substance, but it was so pretty and the food looked pretty delicious.
With that said, I don't feel the need to follow in Bourdain's footsteps. I think I'm interested in eating at the likes of Tojo's and Vij's, but can be persuaded otherwise. As I've written in all of my numerous travel-related posts, I'm not concerned with absolute dollar amounts but rather value. I'll drop a couple hundred or more on a meal with no problem if I can be assured it will be distinctive. I won't pay $50 for generic, "restaurant food" crap. Guide me to your very favorite eating spots, cuisine and price are of no concern, but I would like some variety.
I do, however, want to eat some killer Chinese food. Obviously Richmond seems to be the answer, but if I only have 2.5 days in Vancouver is it worth taking a day/half-day trip down there? I'm interested in dim sum and also traditional dining.
As for drinking, sedate lounges and bars with crafted cocktails are my preference. Based on some cursory research the following spots seem interesting: The Cascade Room, Chill Winston, Bin 941, and George Lounge. Opinions, other suggestions. If it's the kind of place where people are standing around I'm generally not interested. That goes for double if it's loud. And if there's anything resembling a DJ, I'm running away screaming.
With all the food-type stuff out of the way, what else should I do. Vancouver Island, Stanley Park, are there any good markets like Pike Place in Seattle? I realize this veers into "touristy" territory, but I'm okay with that if there is stuff that's especially cool.
I'm thinking of staying on Robson St. as it seems to be centrally located? Is this the equivalent of staying in, like, Time Square or something equally banal? My hotel options are, how can I put this delicately, budget, but I'd love to get opinions if any of you have heard of them. Right now the Blue Horizon, Listel, and Pacific Palisades are the front runners.
Many of the same questions can be said about Whistler. What is there to do besides ski (and as an aside where should I ski)? Eats, cheap and expensive; drinks, sedate and well-crafted; diversions, non-culinary. The hotels I'm looking at for Whistler are The Summit Lodge and The Mountainside Lodge.
I now present a couple Googlemaps for, like, spatial purposes.
Vancouver Map - Hotels, restaurants, color-coded
Whistler Map - Just hotels for now, but is one location better than the other?
Oh, one more question, do you think I'll need a car for this trip or can I rely on public transportation? I'll be starting in Seattle and there's a shuttle up to Vancouver and I know there's a shuttle from Vancouver to Whistler. With two people, is a car necessary or advised?
Thank you so much for the help. If anyone wants to meet up or anything for drinks or a snack I'm probably game. My social circle has increasingly become people I meet through the internet. Is that weird?
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A better designed version of the D&Co. website. I like that they share classic recipes and cocktail basics. Maybe a list of the seasonal bitters being used in the bar at that time. Obvious information that is sometimes more difficult to find than it should be is the phone number and prices on the menu and the reservations/door policy.
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I haven't seen any recent reports. A couple of weeks ago, on a Saturday evening, it was perhaps 50-60% full. However, it was still early days, and the staff claimed that they were deliberately spacing things out, so that the kitchen wouldn't get overwhelmed while they're still wearing training wheels.Have only ever eaten there for lunch - what is the crowd like in the evening?I believe she was referring to EMP. The crowd is, umm, dinner-like. It's more casual than the food dictates but the room's grand if a little cold. Really one of the very top tables in NYC.
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Light blow torch, apply to tuna for a few seconds to get maillard action, slice. I agree it can be a bit chemically tasting. I see it more as a technique to use with baseline maguro to develop more complex flavors.
NY Food Tour / Spring Break '08
in New York: Dining
Posted
I'm going to go out on a limb and say Shake Shack for lunch. It's very NYC, or rather it feels like it's at home in NYC considering the concept is roughly Wisconsonian. If you do BBQ, do Hill Country.