Samar by Stephan Pyles

[Richard Kilgore]

The preview party was quite a huge success, close to 1.000 people showed up Saturday evening to walk the red carpet to the front door of Stephan Pyles newest project. Being showered by rose petals by a young Indian woman as we entered set the stage and gave everyone a smile.

Belly dancers, hookah and pop Indian music.

Obviously shot early before things got crowded five minutes later.

Photos by Bruno.

[Richard Kilgore]

And the food. Indian, Spanish, Eastern Mediterranean. Here's the menu for the evening.

SAMAR

by Stephan Pyles

Grand Opening Menu – September 26, 2009

Inspirations from Spain:

Idiazabal Cheese and Olives Marinated with Garlic and Hoja Santa

Pimientos de Padrone with Smoked Sea Salt

Mussels Escabeche with Apples and Sherry

Chicken and Ham Crouquetas

Inspirations from the Eastern Mediterranean:

Pita and Naan served with:

Hommus

Moutabal

Labne

Persian Spiced Fried Chicken with Sweet Potato Bisteeya

Turkish Spiced Lamb “Pizza”

Kibbeh with Golden Beet Tzatziki

Crunchy Red Lentil Kofte with mint in lettuce leaves

Inspirations from India:

Bread Bar

Naan from the Tandoori

Plain

Rosemary-Garlic

Sun Dried Tomato-Basil

Platters or Baskets

Chutneys:

Plum and Coconut, Fenugreek-Pear, Tamarind-Chipotle, Mango-Mint,

Saffron Paneer Tikka with Spiced Vermicelli & Cumin scented Asparagus

Potato, Peas & Pomegranate Samosa with Chole Chaat

Spiced Lamb Stuffed Chicken Kebab with Okra Sabzi & Tomato chutney

Papadum Sampler:

Mung Sprouts, Spiced Potatoes and Peas, Chaat greens with Tomatoes and Onion

Desserts:

Turkish Coffee Crèam Pudding

Chocolate Samosas with Candied Rose Petals

Chai Bubble Tea

Cinnamon-Apple Empanadas

Baklava with Pistachios

[Richard Kilgore]

The crush of the eclectic crowd around the food bar made it likely that most people sampled just a delicious fraction of the full menu. Here are a few random photos of the food.

There were two versions of this appetizer. This lentil, the other garbanzo.

Idiazabal Cheese and Olives Marinated with Garlic and Hoja Santa

Chicken and Ham Crouquetas

All photos by Bruno. Thanks to Catherine Flagg for providing them and the menu.

[Kevin72]

Great pics. VERY excited about this place. Do you know if that's how the menu will be arranged: by part of the world, or will it be more free flowing?

[Richard Kilgore]

I have not seen the regular menu yet, Kevin. I know they are doing training this week. Pyles twitter post of September 28 says training and "mock dinners" this week and a soft opening next week.

Here's a link to the D Magazine Side Dish page on this Samar grand opening with several YouTube interviews and food coverage by Andrew Chalk. This includes brief clips of Pyles describing the chandelier he brought back from Damascus for Samar and his chef Vijay Sadhu, formerly of Bukhara Grille and Clay Pit, discussing the appetizers for the evening.