Minetta Tavern - NYC

Minetta Tavern

@ Greenwich Village

113 MacDougal St., New York, NY 10012 

minettatavernny.com/

 Wow, what a history. Since 1937, this tavern has been frequented by various layabouts and hangers-on (aka poets and writers) including Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Eugene O'Neill, E. E. Cummings, Dylan Thomas.

And you feel the summated presence of all these previous souls and their languishing highbrow, existentialist conversations from the moment you enter the double-doors and glide beyond the thick velvet curtain. We were transported back sixty years to a Parisian, New York steakhouse with a touch of the familiar France-Soir (if you know your Melbourne restaurants).

Before I indulge you in the blissful food experience, I must tell you about the interior. Elegant, silouhetted wall-paper, black and white tiles (original we guessed) and the fine timber bar were highlights. Without a window in sight, the lighting is soft and dark. I’m thinking it provides a much needed escape form the outside world. I suspect the mood lighting that they seem to have perfected here in NYC will warrant many more mentions in future reviews.

I started with the Roasted bone marrow ($17). This was decadent and rich but ohh so nourishing. I’ve actually never seen such large marrow bones in my life. You smear marrow followed by some onion confit on the bruschetta bread. The marrow was silky smooth with a custard and jellied texture. OMG I had died and gone to heaven.

Next up was the Lamb special with seasonal vegetables ($38). The lamb was so superbly tender that it literally melted on my tongue. The pommes (potato) gratin side was super crunchy in the right places and the sliced carrots side was perfectly cooked and dressed.

Our sommelier dining companion selected an excellent French chardonnay and Beaujolais which we made tidy work of in a flash.

If you visit NYC in the next 60 years, ensure you eat here for an authentic experience.

I’ll be back!

Colicchio and Sons - NYC

Colicchio and Sons

85 Tenth Avenue 
(at the corner of 15th Street)

Meatpacking District 

New York, NY 10011

colicchioandsons.com/

This restaurant was disappointing to say the least. Despite the number of kitchen and wait-staff on hand, as we are quickly learning here in NYC, this does not necessarily equate to a great experience. Sister-chef KM and the industry crew had arrived in NYC that night and unfortunately this provided a sub-standard first impression of the NYC dining scene.

The restaurant presented like something from a plushed-up, cavernous, over-styled casino restaurant. We persisted and sampled over ten dishes in total with each as bland and as uninteresting as the previous. The food itself was technically correct and was cooked well, but clearly lacking in any love.

The only redeeming feature was the six brioche bread buns that were light and deliciously soft with a buttery texture and just the right amount of chipped salt sprinkled on the top crust.

In a nutshell, it was beige food. 

I won’t be back!

The Spotted Pig

The Spotted Pig - a gastropub in the West Village
314 W. 11th Street
@ Greenwich St.
New York, NY 10014
http://thespottedpig.com


So, I'm in NYC and it's my first 'awake' night, sans jet lag which I cast off by surrendering myself to my horizontal bed (Yay!) for a 12 hour soothing and long-awaited shut-eye session.


The Spotted Pig was first recommended by my food fossicker friend ADHD, and also H, the edgy-jewellery girl who I get along famously with at The Standard where I'm staying. The fact that this gastropub's Chef, April Bloomfield, has also been awarded a Michelin Star, best new chef of the year and Iron Chef America accolades, didn't sway me at all ;'D

If I was in need of further confirmation, the pig is renowned for its chargrilled burgers, long waits and celebrity drop ins, so obviously this was a must-stop. 

As I headed down to the West Village for the night ahead, it was raining buckets (but not men unfortunately!) so after a quick stop in the 'drugstore' for a brella and after passing many brownstones, I finally came across the pig on the corner looking all warm, cosy and inviting.


I ducked in, assumed a seat at the bar and started with a pint of their Speckled Hen on tap ($8).


Amid many loud conversations about Ivy League study, Matt Damon running for president and America's ominous debt, I was inspired to escape and order the Chargrilled Burger with Roquefort Cheese & Rosemary Shoestrings ($ 17).


Well it was to die for. The shoestrings were fried with rosemary and tasted like they had been deep-fried in truffle oil. If sa was here I know she would have given it a 'nuom, nuom'.

Apparently the burger (which came with my fries-check the pic!) has been dubbed by many as one of the best in New York but is served rather bare at first glance with the bread, meat and cheese permitted due space for themselves. But this is no ordinary straight-up bread, meat and cheese American burger, no sir-ee, its large, thick patty of  LaFrieda Meats beef is topped with two decent chucks of Roquefort and served on a fat and fluffy cross-hatched grilled brioche bun.

As I moved in even closer, the burger is impressive, with a smokey, straight off the flame smell emanating from my medium-rare burger served exactly as ordered, brown and crispy on the outside, with beautiful pink throughout. The cheese is added just prior to serving, retaining some of its original texture, not too melted, yet tangy. 

After another pint of the speckled hen, a quick chat with some Russians and some friendly locals, I was on my way with hints of smokey, flame grill on my taste buds and on my mind.

I will be back.