Eleven Madison Park

July 02, 2015 in Food

Cheddar - Savory black & white cookie with apple

Our long awaited lunch began in a very interesting manner. After being ranked the 5th best restaurant in the world, I had to find out for myself.

For some odd reason, Eleven Madison Park's electricity was out and unable to prepare 3 out of the 14 highly anticipated courses. At first I was a little sad but I realized that 11 courses were more than enough. Apparently we missed out on the veal and warm foie gras that was served cold instead.

But nonetheless the taste profile and food were impeccable. I enjoyed every moment. It wasn't absurd or overly done. And given our special situation, our meal was only $125 per person—this adjustment alone made the experience 10x better.

Food

I didn't have the highest expectation initially because several friends have told me that it was good but not worth the price. I, however, thought the food was very excellent and the overall 3-5 hour lunch experience was worth the cost.

We began with a teaser, salty cookie with apple that was relatively neutral and a good opening act to the rest of the meal.

My favorite courses were the Caviar Eggs Benedict, Asparagus, Lobster, Sichuan Peppercorn Duck, Whey Yogurt Sorbet and Strawberry Edel Flower dessert.

Their play on eggs Benedict with caviar was not only picturesque but it was possibly the most elegant eggs Benedict I've ever had. The mini english muffins were too cute. The caviar was a very nice touch.

The Sichuan peppercorn duck was absolutely delicious. The skin was perfectly crispy with hints of peppercorn that made every bite so delectable.

I was very impressed with the food overall and must say that I genuinely enjoyed almost every dish. The flavors really suited my taste profile.

It wasn't over the top or flashy—which I preferred because the emphasis was really on the food and overall experience of a proper 3 hour meal.

Ambiance

The space is rather large with very high ceilings. It is spacious enough to allow each party privacy. The decor is classic and elegant with white and warm tones.

Duration

Expect at least 3-5 hours.

Price

$225 per person fixed menu.

Reservation

Advanced reservation ~1-2 months.

Carbone

June 10, 2015

Ambiance

I always love the decor, music and vibe of Major food group restaurants. They really know how to set the mood and atmosphere. The setting reminded me of Minetta Tavern, a classic higher end diner-feel that takes you back maybe 30 or 40 years—except the decor was significantly nicer. The music selections were on point. The waiter was eccentric, humorous and most importantly genuine.

Food

Overall, I found the food to be very solid. We started with the beef carpaccio that was light and understated. The arugula and mushrooms were a nice touch. It was good, but I personally preferred the richer flavors of the lamb carpaccio at Dirty French. In retrospect, given the heavy entrees, the light beef carpaccio was actually very appropriate.

Next, we were served the vodka rigatoni and lobster ravioli. I really enjoyed the pasta. Both were excellent! It was so tasty, I'm drooling as I write this. They were not only generous with lobster it was also quite fresh. However, at this point, we were stuffed.

Next, we had the veal parmesan and roasted mushrooms. In general, I am not a fan of chicken parm or any parm type sandwiches, so I was hesitant. But the chicken parm at Carbone was very well made and high in quality. I think one pasta and a main entree or two pasta would have been plenty for two. We definitely over ordered. Many people tend to leave with leftovers. Reheating made the veal parmesan and mushrooms even more delicious the second time around.

Quality

The quality of food was definitely on point. Everything was well prepared.

Price

It can get expensive if you order too much. The portions are actually very large so you don't really need to order too much. I'd say about $70-80 per person.

Reservations

Getting a reservation can be tough. I got a reservation at 7:30pm reservation a month in advance.

Dirty French

May 28, 2015 in Food

Apologies for the long overdue review of Dirty French and subpar photos. I've been here a few times now, including brunch and I really like this spot. The food is actually subtly unique. You'd think it's your typical play on Italian or American food, but it's not. It's so much more. In fact, it's Algerian French.

Ambiance

It had a very retro feel accompanied by classic 80s music. The vibe was fun and boisterous but not overly loud. I've said this before, but Major Food Group kills it when it comes to setting the mood. The decor, ambiance, and music were all so well intertwined. I loved the choice of utensils, cocktail glasses, and music.

Food

The food here was pretty solid. The free bread might have been the best aspect, partly because it was free. But no, it was actually really fucking good. So soft and delicious. I fantasize about falling asleep next to it sometimes.

My favorite was the lamb carpaccio, it was so well spiced. I've had the crudo carpaccio at ZZ's Clam Bar and the beef carpaccio at Carbone, and I must say, the lamb carpaccio at Dirty French was my favorite. It's unique and well seasoned. Granted, the three carpaccios at each location are all very different and delicious, but I am a bit bias towards the slight Middle Eastern flare of the lamb carpaccio.

The mushroom mille-feuille was very excellent. It had an Asian flare with Thai accents. I really enjoyed the texture of the thinly sliced mushrooms. It was a clever original play on the classic French dessert.

The famous chicken & crepes were mediocre in my opinion, definitely worth a try but nothing off the wall in terms of flavors. However, what I enjoyed the most was the visual and interactive components. It was fun creating your own crepe. It reminded me of Peking duck, also interactive and delicious. The scandalous chicken feet was intriguing and provoking. Another great play on this style of eating.

I did not particularly enjoy the duck a l'orange, it was very ordinary and I did not think the flavors were well paired. Something was a bit off but I can't quite pin point what exactly.

The grilled oysters at lunch were also very delicious. It was cooked very similarly to French esgarcots with butter and parsley.

Overall, I think Dirty French is a great spot for an upbeat dinner with friends, dates, and weekend brunches. The bread and appetizers alone are worth coming back for.

Quality

Great quality of food. Everything I tried was fresh.

Price

Not cheap, but on par with its peers. I'd say $60-80 per person.

Reservation

You'll definitely need to make a reservation far in advance. The earliest I've ever gotten was sadly at 9:30pm.

Hong Kong

May 05, 2015 in Travel

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to Hong Kong for work. It was pretty awesome. The last time I was in Hong Kong was when I was six. I remember going to Ocean Park and unable to go on any of the cool rides because I was a midget.

It took me by surprise, I really enjoyed the city. It was exactly like New York in its busyness, accessibility and culture. But better. The subways were clean and there were no weirdos. I loved that literally everyone spoke English. It was the best of both worlds, quality gourmet dim sum with the ability to communicate in English. I felt very comfortable navigating alone and blended in rather easily. I can't wait to go back and explore the nature that surrounds it.

More pictures...

Sushi Nakazawa Round 2

April 26, 2015 in Food

I can't believe it's been a year since I've been back at Nakazawa. After having mastered the skill of clicking the reservation button at the stroke of midnight I safely secured a spot once again. This time, I sat in the corner near the window; although my view was not the best, I was served first. This gave me more time to digest before the next piece. I must say, Nakazawa has been consistent with the quality and I was once again impressed. It is still some of the best sushi I've ever had. My favorite pieces include the scallop with yuzu pepper, cuttle fish with shiso, hand piece, and tamago. You can't go wrong with the tuna set.

My top sushi spot still remains Sushi Azabu and Nakazawa. Despite the absurdity in getting a reservation here, I personally think it is worth the hype. I recommend saying that it is your birthday to try and get a seat in the middle.

Eleven Madison Park

Carbone

Dirty French

Hong Kong

Sushi Nakazawa Round 2

Wells Blog

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