Le Bernardin...

As part of graduation gluttony, I'm topping off a week of Reyarnd's, Kefi, Lincoln, Ai Fiori....with Le Bernardin lunch!

I have to say, service and cooking is immaculate--that's a good piece a fish ya knowhaddamean? Sauces were great, tasted asian-y is as best as I can put it. I don't remember much other than some kind of black garlic persian lemon sauce with my black bass, and pata negra emulsion with the roasted monkfish. Escolar was delicious with kaffir lime-lemongrass scented mariniere and sea beans + nori. Desserts were good. Everything was nice, just not mindblowing. Strangely enough I salivate more thinking of Tchoup Shop than I do Le Bernarin. Still, an experience to be had. I think so far on this level of fine dining, I still like Marea much more than the rest.

ONWARD!!

Oysters to start (Albie's)--assorted west coast/east coast including kumamoto and others I didn't pay attn to :)

I had the poached escolar. Sauce. was. amazeballs. Really dug the lemon grass and kaffir lime. Subtle!

Salmon rillettes--not a big fan of salmon, but I liked it enough to eat a significant chunk!

Roasted monkfish! monkfish was meh, sauce again was delish. Morels = <3.

Black Bass--tasty, cooked perfectly, wish there was a little more going on with this tho. Maybe some veggies!

Desserts--refreshing, light, nice...nice. no exclamation marks. :)

Yuzu:

Hazelnut-vanilla marshmallows:

...and...financiers & coffee to finish!

Reynard's...

Mom's day dinner @ Reynard's at the Wythe Hotel...
Everything was fresh, tasty, and sauces were highlights to every dish.
***whiskey bread pudding special with mast brothers dark chocolate sorbet was AMAZEBALLS***

Grilled clams! <3 <3 <3. The cocktail sauce was amazing and so were the clams by themselves.

Pork chop special with some kind of something I didn't pay attention to...and artic char with something...

Rabbit meatballs with consomme and oyster. OHHHH the broth. brothy broth broth...

Almost forgot the trout!

Ai Fiori!...

So rich. so heavy. so. much. butter. and seafood! :) good, just not sure i'd go back. pastas were spot on. I think I still have a better spot for Marea seafood even tho it's the same peeps running this!

Cannolichi: razor clams, chorizo, fennel. Grangio: soft shell crab, prosciutto, lemon yogurt, canteloupe.

 

Crudo di Passera: fluke crudo, american sturgeon caviar, meyer lemon. Animelle: sweetbreads, pomme puree, pancetta, truffle vinaigrette.

 

Trofie nero: ligurian crustacean ragu, sepia, spiced mollica, scallops. Spaghetti: blue crab, bottarga, chiles, lemon.

 

Tortelli: ricotta and marscapone ravioli, sottecenere cheese, red wine glaze.

Astice: butter poached lobster, asparagus, morels, chateau chalon sauce. Anatra: long island duck, ramps, foie gras, fava beans, frisee.

 

DESSERTS! Tartelletta: dark chocolate, anise, hazelnut gelato, grapefruit. Budino: chocolate cremaux, coffee crema, apricot, macadamia gelato.

Panna cotta: balsamica crema, blood orange, marcona almond, lemon sorbetto. Torta di Olio: ligurian olive oil cake, strawberry, pine nut, rosemary yogurt gelato.

Tchoup Shop pop up restaurant!...

Uh....so...friggin' delicious and flavorful and layeredddddd....ON WITH IT!!

Crispy chicken biscuit with handmande red pepper jelly:


Seriously. SERIOUSLY LOOK AT IT:


...AND LOOK AT IT ONE MORE TIIIIME!!!




Soft shell crab po boy with red cabbage and some kind of remoulade:




Peel & eat shrimp w/thyme (i think?), bay leaf, lemon and other goodness I don't know:


LOOK AT IIIT...



LOOOOOK AAAAAT ITTTTTTT!!!!! :) :) :)




Creole corn on the cob:


HELLO DELICIOUSNESS:



bloody mary's (from DBA, not Tchoup Shop. Twas aiites):


CLEAN PLATE CLUB!

Vendome Patisserie macarons...

"The only one to rival Laduree - NY Times"...and I'd say it's pretty close. Other than Kee's, I'd say this is one of my faves in the city. Laduree can be a little too sweet for me, and Kee's is the only one with 'weird' flavors like Vendome Patisserie has--I def dig the campari macaron! Julia got a bunch but I nibbled on some for research purposes...heheehehehehehe.

If I remember correctly, they're only open on the weekends (near Rucola, on 104 Bond St. in Boerum Hill)...


I can't remember all the flavors but there was your usual pistachio, jasmine, etc...

But also champagne cocktail, peanut butter, and of course...CAMPARI!! :) Mixed with what I read as "pample mousse" from my way over exposed photo :) Super friendly peeps, I like.

And...here's an obligatory shot w/ a half eaten macaron :)...

Rucola brunch...

Meant to go here for their ramps special but brunch was good too! (Strangely not crowded!)

Start out w/ my usual drinkies in ice shot:

Fontina & ham risotto cake + fried egg w/ bechamel;

Trout salad with stuff:

 

Bombolone w/ pastry cream--one of the better ones I've had since Sicily--and sfogliatella!

Pastries were really good, trout salad was meh compared to risotto cakes--the sammiches @ Rucola looked pretty spot on too!


Stickin' to my resolve to just post pics and limit the gab, YEAH!!!!!

:)