Tag Archives: restaurant

Milanese Meal in NYC

Posted on by

Guess what I had for dinner last night?

Fillet on a bed of sauteed spinach and roasted potatoes – da Umberto

JUST KIDDING! I haven’t eaten a steak since my 21st birthday and that was…just a few years ago. This is a snapshot of Hubs’s perfect steak dinner.  Even for a non-meat eater like myself, I thought this looked just delicious.

We had a great meal last night at da Umberto in Chelsea.  Da Umberto is an understated gem situated on a side street with a simple glass storefront. Our dining companions, Sandi and Mike, used to live 2 blocks away and had always wanted to dine there, but never had. It is the anti-scene. Inside, there is a dimly lit, elegant dining room and a menu reminiscent of a classic Milanese restaurant.

We were seated next to the antipasti bar, a rainbow of vegetable delights beautifully displayed, and begging to be ordered. The contents disappeared so quickly, I didn’t get a chance to snap a picture. You’ll have to use your imagination: roasted magenta beets, bright green broccoli rabe, perfect button mushrooms, roasted corn, eggplant caponata, caramelized brussel sprouts, and I can’t remember what else…

Mixed Grilled Seafood on a bed of Charred Corn – Grigliata Mista da Umberto

After a simple, fresh arugula salad, I had the mixed grilled seafood plate (grigliata mista) for dinner. It was a classic preparation – scampi, squid, a small piece of orata and salmon, all lightly drizzled with olive oil, lemon and some fresh herbs and grilled to perfection. What our dining companions ate, I cannot tell you. I was far too absorbed in my plate.  And in honor of our recent trip to the Maremma, Hubs ordered a yummy, medium-bodied, pepper-y red wine from Bolgheri.

I was already feeling quite full when the waiter wheeled over the dessert cart. Again, a lovely presentation: a beautiful ceramic bowl of tiramisu, ricotta cheese cake, goblets of frutti da bosco, chocolate mousse cakes and more. We could not resist and shared a chocolate and vanilla ice cream tartufo. Delightful. I can’t wait to go back.

Epilogue: Night Out at Northern Spy

Posted on by

A quick epilogue on our meal at Northern Spy Food Co in the East Village.  The name of the restaurant is taken from a local NY state heirloom variety of apples. We tried to pick some this weekend during an apple-picking expedition at Windy Hill Farm in Great Barrington, MA, but no dice.

Windy Hill Farm in Great Barrington, MA on Saturday, September 22, 2012

I liked this sign.

Night Out at Northern Spy

Posted on by

I had Northern Spy Food Co in the East Village on my restaurant hit list for some months, long before it was featured in Food & Wine. It had been recommended by long-time foodie and friend, Dave Wyman. Dave has an impeccable palate, so I implicitly trust his recos. Northern Spy did not disappoint. Yes, it’s your now standard “farm-to-table,” seasonal, local joint, but it has the distinction of superior execution.

With sister-in-law Rebecca and her husband in tow, we had enough people at the table to justify sampling almost every dish on the menu. Some highlights included the Fried Green Tomatoes with crabmeat on top, the Kale Salad, corn side dish (a bit of a surprise since local corn season is over, and an interesting entree of Smoked Carrots with Freekeh. Between the tomatoes and corn, the menu was still suspiciously full of summer favorites. But everything was so yummy, all doubts of freshness and ingredient origin disappeared.

Corn with roasted peppers, feta @ Northern Spy Food Co

Like the corn dish above, the chef takes a heavy hand with cheeses of all kinds. The Kale Salad was also particularly tasty and likely due to the generous helping of Pecorino cheese on top. Rebecca’s carrot entree, however, had flavors of a totally different kind. The carrots tasted like they were marinated in barbecue sauce – most unexpected

Smoked Carrots wild spinach, freekeh, almonds@ Northern Spy Food Co

The french fries fried in duck fat were also a hit. Yes, I admit, I tried them, despite my no meat stance. I rationalized that it was for research purposes only. Fortunately, did not feel sick afterwards despite this transgression.

Duck Fat Fries

And with that, I ceased my picture taking. My dining companions rightfully chided me and reminded me to get back to the real purpose of the evening – enjoying our meal and the company.

Next post: tomorrow’s CSA pick-up and back to the pots and pans.

——————-

Windy Hill Farm in Great Barrington, MA on Saturday, September 22, 2012

Epilogue: The name of the restaurant is taken from a local NY state heirloom variety. We tried to pick some this weekend, but no dice.

 

Restaurant Sub-cultures – Terms of Service by Ben Schott

Posted on by

I found this article by Ben Schott in today’s NY Times absolutely fascinating. The articles’s entitled “Terms of Service” and lists insiders’ lingo at some of New York City’s top restaurants. Ever wonder what they say behind closed kitchen doors? Or when that snooty reservationist puts the receiver down?

Some abbreviations are downright funny, some offensive, some clever. Interesting also how the -phrases used represent the establishment’s culture and vibe. I did find a few surprises, too. Who ever thought the clientele at Daniel, Daniel Boulud’s formal restaurant on the Upper East Side, would be referred to as Original Gangstas?

Happy reading and let me know what you think…