Best of New York: Dining Guide for Mother’s Day 2016 MAMO Restaurant Treat Mom to the best of SoHo dining at MAMO Restaurant. This French/Italian Provencal menu from Michelin-starred Executive Chef Massimo Sola hits all the right notes. Mother’s Day Specials include Salmon Carpaccio with Asparagus Salad and Burrata, Risotto Primavera with Diced Vegetables, […]
Tag: Restaurants
What’s Hot in the Hamptons This 2015
Each summer, the villages which make up the Hamptons, such as Southampton, Bridgehampton, Amagansett, East Hampton and Montauk to name a few, becomes one of the hottest destinations to visit. Celebrities and socialites escape from New York City to Long Island’s East End to take in the beautiful scenery and enjoy some of the best […]
Grand Central Oyster Bar’s Dutch Herring Festival Finally Here THURSDAY, June 18, After Delay
Lovers of nieuwe maatjes herring imported from the Netherlands can finally celebrate the arrival of the delicacy this Thursday (June 18). The Grand Central Oyster Bar‘s annual Holland Herring Festival was delayed a week, and will finally get underway on Thursday. The first-tasting ceremony, now in its 35th year, will begin at 12:00 noon. This […]
Chef-Owner Eric Miller NYC’s Bay Kitchen Bar Outpost Lays Claim to Being The Best Seafood Restaurant on the Upper East Side
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Reserve Online By Clicking Here & Go To Reservations.
Only 4 thing to say about Eric & Adam Miller’s Masterpiece, BKB, 313 E. 73rd St. 212 861-1038: GO, while you can. pic.twitter.com/yLbplKmwcO
— Walman Report (@foodytweet) May 2, 2015
THE HAMPTONS’ HOTTEST Sea-to-Table
BKB 321 East 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021, 212-861-1038, www.bkbrestaurant.com
Hours of Operation: Dinner: Sunday-Thursday: 5-10pm, Friday-Saturday: 5-11pm
Oyster & Wine Happy Hour: 5-7pm daily in bar & lounge
Cuisine: Sea-to-Table & Farm-to-Table
Raw Bar
Social Media: Facebook: bkbrestaurant
Twitter: bkbrestaurant
Instagram: bkbrestaurant
Hamptonites and those who long for the flavors of summer by the sea rejoice! Dynamic father-and-son team and co-owners Eric and Adam Miller transported their popular seasonal sea-to-table concept Bay Kitchen Bar from East Hampton to Manhattan’s Upper East Side with Partner Richard Silver. Located in the space that formerly housed Hospoda, the new outpost gives New Yorkers a chance to experience Miller’s cuisine year round.
BKB is the latest project from the Millers, who couldn’t wait for the Hamptons to come back to life this spring. “We were lucky to be embraced by the local community our first season. When an opportunity to take over the restaurant space at Bohemian National Hall came along, we couldn’t resist the temptation to see our guests again, plus introduce our cuisine to a whole new audience here in the city,” says Chef-Owner Eric Miller. Like the East Hampton original, this restaurant will serve inspired cocktails and the best seafood and meats that local East Coast suppliers have to offer. For a Long Island native like Eric Miller, sea and farm-to-table is not a new trend, but a way of life, having built relationships with local sources over the past 30 years as a chef. With an emphasis on high quality ingredients and clean Mediterranean preparations, everything is expertly chosen to provide the freshest and best selection for his guests.
Crafting menu that blends favorites from Bay Kitchen Bar with some new seasonal additions, BKB’s crave-worthy Snacks like Fresh Jumbo Lump Crab Cake; Slow Cooked Short Ribs; seasonal Poached Asparagus with Seasonal Vegetables and crispy Montauk Pearl Oysters, are all great new options , for a light bite alongside drinks. Plentiful Raw Bar selections like fresh and fabulous Eastern Oysters; Little Neck Clams; and marinated fresh fish salads made with Scallops, Harbor Fluke or Yellowfin Tuna are also offered to whet the appetite. First Course options ooze with comfort, from Miller’s signature Fisherman’s Soup; to Chickpea Crusted Fritto Misto that is the best I’ve had since Italy; and Braised and Seared Octopus with tomato-vegetable ragout, couscous and herbs that would do any Greek mama proud.
Seafood entrées of pan roasted fish and lobster rolls star on the Second Course menu alongside turf from the rotisserie and grill. Highlights include Bay Kitchen Bar’s signature Day Boat Sea Scallops, accompanied by a new spring blend of farro piccolo-grain salad and refreshing Champagne vinaigrette; and Mustard & Herb Crusted North Atlantic Tuna with a new basil potato & roasted peach cipollini glaze finish; while East Hampton Harbor Fluke with Sicilian capers, herbs, orzo and rainbow chard is a welcome new addition rounding out the offerings and is destined to become the signature dish. Poultry lovers will delight in Miller’s Roasted Herb-Stuffed Organic Chicken; and Slow-Turned Long Island Duck with wilted greens & dried cherries. The BKB Burger with aged cheddar, caramelized onions and special sauce; and BKB Hand-Shucked Lobster Roll have returned from the original menu for a more casual meal on a bun. Poultry lovers will delight in Miller’s Roasted Herb-Stuffed Chicken; and Slow-Turned Long Island Duck with roasted golden potato, wilted greens & dried cherries. The Black Angus Sirloin Cheeseburger and BKB Hand-Shucked Lobster Roll have returned from the original menu for a more casual meal on a bun.
Finishing on a sweet note, desserts are prepared by Pastry Chef Lukas Pohl. Czech-born Lukas is a decorated pastry chef hailing from Prague’s Michelin-starred restaurant La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoisie, and most recently Hospoda. A student of the Culinary Institute of America, Lukas was also a pastry instructor at prestigious Czech cooking institutes for years. BKB’s dessert offerings include a Crème Brûlée Trio that mashes up flavor pairings from espresso & cookie to matcha & raspberries; the signature Dark Chocolate Black Forest Bombe presented with a sidecar of warm salted caramel that is ceremoniously poured over to melt the bombe open and reveal sweet cherry jelly inside; to a comforting Czech dish of Warm Strudel; and seasonal Summer Berry Rhubarb Crumble, all accompanied by house made ice cream and sorbets. A selection of dessert wines, Toby Estate coffees and teas by In Pursuit of Tea are offered to pair with dessert.
Partner and General Manager Adam Miller, a graduate of the wine program at the International Culinary Center, reprises his role overseeing operations and the dining room. Having worked alongside his father as Director of Operations at Madison and Main in 2013, he came along for the ride at Bay Kitchen Bar last year as a full-fledged partner. There, Adam put his creative talents to work co-designing the space and overseeing the dining room. He developed a reputation for showering guests with his unique brand of irresistible charm, welcoming them with a smile and making sure service hums. With a natural eye for design, Adam studied fashion and interior design at Pratt Institute, after which he founded home goods brand Waverly & Irving. Adam’s passion for fine spirits and wine lead him to curate an extensive list of spirits, which will delight connoisseurs of whiskey, rum and tequila alike. He also assembled an all-star team to collaborate on BKB’s beverage program, offering inventive cocktails and carefully curated wine & beer lists to accompany Eric Miller’s cuisine.
The Millers are thrilled to welcome mixologist Maura McGuigan as their Beverage Director for this new venture. Maura comes with an impressive résumé under her belt, having been the first female Head Bartender at Chicago’s The Violet Hour, as well as Chef de Bar at Daniel Boulud’s Bar Pleiades and General Manager at Booker and Dax here in New York. She was also the “woman on the ground” for Death & Co. founders David Kaplan and Alex Day at The Rose in Jackson Hole. The cocktails at BKB meld all the techniques and tools Maura has been acquiring in her arsenal over the past eight years. “Expect to have elegantly crafted vintage and modern classics as well as a seasonally changing menu of creative originals that will take cues from the cuisine,” says McGuigan. Signature cocktails range from the Dime-Store Diplomat, made with Four Roses Bourbon, muddled clementine & lemon, Assam tea and aromatic bitters, to the Beaumont Club, Prairie Organic vodka, Angostura bitters, orgeat, lime and egg whites. A wide and sophisticated selection of beers by the bottle and draft are also prominently featured, including Cricket Hill Brewery’s East Coast Lager.
Reappearing from Bay Kitchen Bar is Eric Heine, serving as Wine Director at BKB. He is on hand to help guests navigate through the restaurant’s wine offerings and perfectly complement their meal. Certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers, Eric has an extensive knowledge of wine, beer, and liquor. He has traveled through winemaking regions in South America, Canada and the west coast of the US, where he explored the wines of Washington, Oregon and California. He is passionate about European-style winemaking, which mandates tighter control over the soil, grapes and consistency of the wines, and is gaining popularity outside of Europe. The cherry-picked wine list at BKB is focused on small producer wines that are characteristic of their regional terroir. It includes a variety of bottles under $100 as well as a global selection by the glass to pair with the menu. In true Hamptons fashion, each night kicks off with $1 Oyster Happy Hour from 5-7pm in the bar, including $5 Muscadet by the glass. We loved the wine list with lots of options under $50 and Mr. Heine’s expert advice, sans attitude.
Adam also brings Designer Scott Rominger to the team, a Pratt Institute friend with a degree in Architecture. A talented designer with a modern aesthetic, Rominger served as project manager for Rafael de Cárdenas’ firm Architecture at Large and worked on projects for Leong Leong before designing the original Bay Kitchen Bar interiors. He was called on again to reimagine the new space, as well as the restaurant’s visual elements from graphic design to social media. The Millers tasked Scott with transforming the mood of the room in just one month’s time. BKB’s ambiance echos the easy elegance and tranquility of the East Hampton original, but incorporates more upscale and modern muted tones with urban stainless steel touches.
The space has been thoughtfully renovated to retain some of the existing elements such as the walnut herringbone flooring, custom made furniture and see-through glass bar. The dining room has been cleared of communal picnic tables and filled with more intimate two and four tops. To provide guests with a comfortable dining experience, Thonet-style bentwood chairs upholstered in rich cobalt blue fabric hint at the maritime-focused menu, while the walls have been covered with textured fabric panels to both add warmth and reduce sound from New York’s noisy streets. A new low partition was added, creating a separate bar & lounge area as well as providing a central service station for efficiency. The overall atmosphere provides a modern yet comfortable experience that is on par with the cuisine.
The 1,430 sq. ft. space seats 44 for dinner and to accommodate walk-ins, a more casual 12-seat bar & lounge area with a prime view of the bartender in action shaking up signature concoctions. There is also a private dining space for up to 8 guests tucked away, and an open kitchen on the lower level.
BKB is open for dinner seven days a week, from 5-10pm weeknights and 5-11pm on weekends. The restaurant and Bohemian National Hall are both perfect venues for special occasions and private events of all sizes. For event inquiries, please call 212-861-1038 or contact Jacqueline Le Borne jaci@foodandco.com.
Let’s hope NYC will begin to offer more restaurants like BKB wonderful food, bar, wine, service and gentle prices. What more can you ask for. Well . . . I wish it were in my neighborhood.
Sample Dinner Menu
Copyright 2015 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.
Swifty’s Will Make Your Feel Rich, But The Food is Light, Modern and Better Than Ever.
Combines East Side Swank, With Surprisingly Good Food
The Charming Back Dining Room (Above)
Swifty’s
1007 Lexington Ave., New York, NY; (212) 535-6000
Hours of Operation: Open for Lunch & Dinner.
Location: Upper East Side
There are three reasons to check out this long, narrow restaurant, peppered with pictures of Swifty, celebrated restaurateur Glenn Bernbaum’s perky pug. The most obvious is if you live in the neighborhood. The second is if you’re an in-the-light socialite (or wanna get a glimpse of some notable examples). The last is for some unexpectedly good food by executive-chef Stephen Attoe.Even the Melba Toast is house-made and delicious.
Truth be told, I have always had a place in my heart for this watering-hole-for the-rich with its cozy English manor-house back room with wood-beamed ceilings, bright laminated photos, skylight and windows sporting bamboo shades. (The warm atmosphere, enhanced by seasonal flowers, was created by renowned decorator Mario Buatta.)
Appetizers are just stylish enough to be fashionable — just familiar enough not to offend: Corn Fritters with Alaskan Salmon Roe and Crème Fraiche was as downtown-a-dish as Jumbo Lump Crabmeat on Tomato Aspic was fancied-up steak house. East/West Coast Oysters were beautifully fresh and a perfect compromise, between old and new.
Entree fare includes the signature "twin burgers" with delicious slaw, and fries, the noteworthy Crab Cakes; a beautifully grilled Angus Strip Steak with Béarnaise sauce and fabulous Fries; and specials such as cooked to perfection Roasted Loin of Venison, Braised Red Cabbage, Gratin Potatoes.
Swifty’s Is Also Doing A Sunday Evening Lobster Dinner For Two With Choice Of Field Green Salad Or Corn Chowder, Homemade Ice Cream, Sorbet Or Cookies And A Bottle Of Either Red or White Wine For Just $125.00. Now that’s a real deal and the lobster is tender and juicy (2 steamed or grilled 1 & 1/4 pound Maine Lobsters, slaw & those fabulous fries).
Desserts are all homemade American adaptations and some are extraordinary, such as Classic Vanilla Meringue Cake that is light and luscious, Granny Smith Apple Galette, with Creme Fraiche and Lemon Pound Cake with whipped cream. Inquire if the Chocolate Soufflé is available, if so, go for it. The homemade Ice creams make a great sundae and what classic meringue cake!
The wine list is small and offers some good values under $60, like Chateau-Fuisse, Pouilly Fuisse, Tete de Cru, 2009 for $58: a best buy.
Service is very friendly and accommodating. On our visit, the Maître d’ Romana was wonderful. Since chef Stephen Attoe is part owner, he is hands on and in the kitchen, which explains the carefully prepared food. Swifty’s may be a club, but first timers get a warm welcome. For an extraordinary treat, observe the regulars and order a sometimes-on-the-menu Cheese Soufflé with Mustard Sauce. It is arguably the best in town. (It has now been added to the menu and remains a paragon of perfection).
Chef Stephen Attoe
Copyright 2015 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.
The Historic Home of the Triangle Grandma Slice, Pizza Italia Re-Opens in Chelsea
Copyright 2015 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.
Disclosure
Pizza Italia is located at 307 W 17th Street, between 8th and 9th avenues, www.pizzaitalianyc.com, 212-242-4242, is open Sunday noon to midnight, Mon 11am-midnight, Tues-Thurs 11am-2am, Fri-Sat 11am-5am. Delivery and catering are available.
It all began with Grandma’s sauce. Prepared only with fresh, raw peeled plum tomatoes, simmered for hours with carrots, celery, onions, garlic, herbs and spices, Anthony Sorisi’s grandmother’s marinara recipe has been passed down from generation to generation. It became the inspiration for the unconventional round Grandma pie he invented at Pizza Italia on Stone Street in NYC’s Financial District, as well as the basis for signature dishes such as Rigatoni Vodka and Seafood Fra DIavolo.
Sorisi, born in Borgetto, Sicily, learned to cook at his father’s side at Sorisi Pizza in Forest Hills. He followed in his father’s footsteps, opening Pizza Italia in 1992. When Sorisi decided to relocate to Chelsea, he asked his nephew Giuseppe Gambino, who trained at the Culinary Academy of Long Island to be his partner in Pizza Italia. Eventually, Sorisi’s eldest son will take his father’s place.
The new location quickly became popular, serving the vibrant neighborhood from school kids to club kids, parents to office workers, from morning to late night. Gambino keeps the restaurant open until after the bars and clubs close to meet the demand of customers who literally knock on the door, begging to be let in, at 4:30 in the morning.
Behind the marble counter that dominates the white tiled space, you’ll see the massive brick oven that takes two hours to heat, and a variety of pies ranging from the classic Margherita to the vegetarian Eggplant and Ricotta; to the untraditional but very popular Chicken Bacon Ranch; and many others. In addition to the list of gourmet pizzas, any variation can be made to order from any combination of toppings—pepperoni, broccoli, Italian sausage, sliced ham, meatballs, bacon, spinach, olives, anchovies and so on—as an 18” round, or 12” personal pie with regular or whole-wheat crust.
But what makes Pizza Italia really stand out is what you can’t see. Behind the scenes, Anthony and Giuseppe prepare an extensive menu of restaurant quality meals. The price and the setting may be casual, but the execution is fresh and made to order using the finest ingredients. It takes a little longer, but guests will find that it’s worth it. For example, The Gotz Panini begins with a chicken breast that isn’t grilled until the order is in place, then lightly charred, until juicy and layered with broccoli rabe, fresh mozzarella from a local supplier and housemade garlic aioli on a toasty-crispy roll. Heroes are substantial too—potato and egg, meatball, peppers and egg, and a choice of parmigiana—veal, eggplant, chicken or shrimp.
But for the full restaurant experience—whether in the restaurant, your office, or home—we recommend you begin with the baked clams. Based on Giuseppe’s grandfather’s recipe and passed down by his father, Giuseppe prepares them with just a touch of seasoned breadcrumbs so the flavor of the sweet, fresh tender littleneck clams shines. Housemade soups such as Tortellini en Brodo, Pasta Fagiolli and an outstanding Minestrone are also a great beginning.
Then, it’s on to the pasta dishes, all prepared a la minute. Some favorites include Spaghetti Carbonara with peas and Italian bacon, Homemade Gnocchi Sorrentino, made in house daily and served with tomato, fresh basil and prosciutto, and Cavatelli Godfather, red sauce, broccoli rabe, sausage and shrimp, as well as Seafood Fra Diavolo, clams, shrimp, calamari and scallops with spicy marinara served over linguini. Pasta dishes can also be customized—with the addition of chicken or shrimp, or whole-wheat penne. There are also baked pastas such as a classic Lasagna layered with meat sauce, ricotta and fresh mozzarella and a selection of risotto—the Classic, Arborio rice prepared with shallots, white wine and butter, 17th Street, with chicken and mushrooms, and Seafood, with shrimp, clams, and calamari.
For the main course, favorites include Shrimp Francese, parmesan-crusted and sauteed with lemon-butter sauce, Chicken Bellamore, grilled chicken with prosciutto, roasted peppers and mozzarella, and Sausage and Peppers Parmigiana. Beer and wine selections are coming soon. For now, there’s a selection of Pellegrino Italian sodas—or you can create your own pairing in the comfort of your home.
Continue reading “The Historic Home of the Triangle Grandma Slice, Pizza Italia Re-Opens in Chelsea”
Chapter One Celebrates Fall in the West Village with American Food and Drink
Chapter One is located at 33 Greenwich Avenue, click here for the website, 212-842-9146, and is open for dinner, Mon-Thu from 4pm-midnight, Fri-Sat, 4pm-1am, Sun 4pm-midnight, for brunch Sat-Sun from 10am-4pm. Lunch coming soon.
Chapter One is a classic example of what an American tavern should be. Straightforward, unpretentious, friendly and comfortable, it’s a place that proves that fine food and drink doesn’t have to be fussy, and casual doesn’t have to mean ordinary. It’s a place designed to appeal to its West Village neighbors. Chapter One is direct and uncomplicated with a focus on quality and substance, rather than pomp and circumstance. Guests are equally welcome whether they come looking for a complete dining experience, an evening of cocktails and snacks with friends, or a couple of beers or glass of wine at the bar.
Chef Warren Baird’s kitchen is professional and fine-tuned. He has worked at some of the finest kitchens in Europe and is blessed with the good looks of a movie star,
Partner Ann Marie Delaney, who manages day-to-day operations, grew up in the restaurant business, learning from her father Austin Delaney, one of the creators of the successful Rosie O’Grady Irish restaurants and bars. Her experience includes managing three top restaurants in Boston and working with two James Beard award-winning chefs, Lydia Shire and Michael Schlow. Back in New York, she worked alongside her father as General Manager and Wine Director at his Harbour Lights restaurant at the South Street Seaport. Sadly, after 25 years in business, Ann Marie was forced to close the doors after Hurricane Sandy. But now a new story has begun with Chapter One in the West Village.
Ann Marie chose a historic location on Greenwich Avenue as the perfect place to celebrate American food and drink. The decor honors Old New York with archival photographs of the old neighborhood, a classic bar with plush barstools, and a sleek, elegant design accented with Oxblood banquets and pewter-topped dining tables, and great views of the street from any seat in the house.
Chef Warren Baird heads the kitchen as Executive Chef. Trained at Johnson & Wales in Charleston, SC, Baird worked for many years in Charlotte before landing in New York at Esca, where he served as sous chef. At Chapter One, he is combining hard work and raw talent to produce an enticing menu of his own invention; rooted in the classics and distinctly American. The ingredients are prime: Hereford Beef, Long Island Duck, Berkshire Pork, and fresh local seafood and vegetables, and the menu changes with the seasons.
Everything is made from scratch, beginning with the bar snacks—crispy spiced chickpeas, house-made pork rinds, and smoked almonds. Starters for fall include cast-iron cornbread baked to order and served hot out of the oven in its skillet with a dab of melting maple butter. Whipped salt cod will convert the hesitant—it’s comfort in a dish, blended with smooth, smoked-potato puree with caramelized onion, perfect for sharing. And for those who look for comfort in a bowl, cauliflower soup is heavenly: smooth, creamy and savory, with the light sweet touch of caramelized brown butter apples, garnished with the complementary flavors of crisp sunchoke chips. Another new menu item is grilled quail beautifully prepared and served on a soft bed of mushroom barley with bright-red beet-raisin chutney.
The mains have been updated for fall too: Herb-crusted cod, moist, tender and delicious, is served with brilliant bacon-braised endive and roasted Brussels spouts. Brick chicken is the Platonic ideal of a classic: crispy skin, matched by equally crisp leaves of kale and highlighted with delectable delicata squash, cooked until meltingly tender with hazelnut butter. Seared scallops are paired with celery root puree and a sweet-tart-crunchy apple and fennel salad. 12-hour pork belly shows off Baird’s Southern roots with a side of chorizo-apple pudding and beer-braised collards. Perfectly rendered duck confit (the best dish in the house) is matched with perfect companions—red cabbage, maple-flavored rutabaga and crispy sweet potato. In addition, there’s a spectacular new side dish, mac n cheese with house-made bacon and thyme, baked and served in a cast-iron skillet.
For dessert, Chef Baird dips into his pastry experience with a bit of savory influence—smoked chocolate pudding is enriched with cocoa nibs and capped with creamy buttermilk mousse. Salty, sweet and bitter (beer) come together in the apple-IPA fritters, served with salted caramel ice cream and walnut streusel. The warm carrot cake is uncommonly good, yet still homey, drizzled with vanilla goat-cheese fondue and showered with candied kumquat on top.
Weekend brunch includes egg dishes such as an elevated version of the bodega standard egg sandwich, with house bacon (12-hour pork belly sliced, confited, pressed and deep fried), avocado and jalapeño mayo. Local duck has a starring role on the brunch menu as well: from a sunny side up local duck egg (richer and more satisfying than chicken eggs), alongside with chorizo-apple pudding and Brussels sprouts, to duck confit hash with poached egg and smoky hollandaise. There’s also an amazing breakfast burger piled with white cheddar, onion jam, house bacon and an egg on an Orwasher’s potato roll with toasty hash browns. Baird also makes “other than egg” dishes his own: For example, he does a 3-day cure and a 2-hour cold smoke on Scottish salmon before presenting it with cucumber, crème fraiche, pickled onion and black bread. For his ricotta pancakes, even the ricotta is made in house and served with luscious thick lemon curd and blueberry syrup.
The beverage program represents the same philosophy as the food—high quality, but accessible and uncomplicated with a comprehensive list of American spirits, including 80 bourbons, including rare and highly desirable expressions of Pappy Van Winkle, and 53 ryes. Guests will be glad to learn of the introduction of three different levels of bourbon flights ranging in price from $15-$35—a great way to dip into the extensive offerings. The cocktails are classic and well built: The Old-Fashioned is prepared with 12-year-old bourbon, and the Sweet Manhattan is mixed with rye. The beers on draft include Old Speckled Hen, Sam Stout and selections from local brewery Captain Lawrence. Delaney, who completed a wine certification at the CIA at Greystone in Napa Valley, also oversees the wine list including wines by the glass sourced from City Winery, and a changing bottle selection. Ann Marie’s future plans include wine dinners featuring winemakers that she has met from around the world, who will come and pair their wines with Chef Baird’s creative cooking.
Celebrating the origins of authentic, regional American cooking is what Chapter One is all about. To highlight this mission, Chef Warren Baird has introduced The Heritage Dinner Series, the first Sunday of every month. The goal is for guests to enjoy the pleasures of American food and drink, presented in a straightforward, honest and authentic way. The first was a Southern Dinner based on Baird’s experience as a chef in the American south, featuring real southern sweet tea and bourbon punch, fried chicken and banana pudding. To prepare for the upcoming dinners, Baird has delved into American history, researching archival menus and paying homage to the time period and region featured at each dinner. A recent Colonial Harvest Dinner focused on the influence of Native Americans on our culture and cuisine, while a future dinner will highlight the NYC Prohibition era. For more information on the Heritage Dinner Series, visit www.chapterone.nyc.
Really nice people and a nice easy-to-take place.
Copyright 2014 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.
Continue reading “Chapter One Celebrates Fall in the West Village with American Food and Drink”
Sachi, A Completely New Kind of Asian Bistro Is Easy On The Eyes, Delicious on the Tongue and Wow What Service
Sachi is located at 713 Second Avenue at 38th Street, 212-297-1883, www.sachinyc.com and is open seven days a week, Mon-Fri, 12-3pm (lunch), 5-11:30pm (dinner), Sat, 12-11:30pm and Sun 12-11pm. Takeout, delivery and weekend traditional dim sum brunch with pushcarts are coming soon. Sachi is available for private parties and special events. For more information, contact David Chan.
From the Creative Minds of Chefs Pichet Ong and Andy Yang
Sachi is a completely new kind of Asian bistro, offering fun and inventive interpretations of authentic Asian cuisine with a menu created by Pichet Ong, a multiple James Beard Award nominee and culinary consultant specializing in menu development, and Andy Yang, creator of Rhong-Tiam, the first Thai restaurant in the U.S. to receive a Michelin star. Sachi’s menu features familiar street food and classic dishes that have been elevated with the finest ingredients and re-imagined with personal twists that surprise, ranging from dim sum to noodles, Grade-A sushi and sashimi, to entrees with influences and inspirations from China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore—all designed to be shared.
Inspired by the Southeast Asian cooking they grew up on and their travels around the world, Yang and Ong bring us healthy, inspired versions of authentic Asian foods, using high heat and little oil. Yang, known for his spicy, multi-layered Thai food, comes up with an idea for a dish, and then Ong twists it around, adding unusual accents or a surprising dipping sauce, always ensuring that it all works together. The result is power food—clean and light—that gives you energy and nourishment, but is always delicious and deeply satisfying, accessible and affordable.
Management powerhouse David Chan of the Amber Group, who has opened 15 successful restaurants, heads the team as General Manager. Thoroughly knowledgeable about all aspects of food, beverage, and service, his greatest strength is building strong teams and empowering them through leadership, example, and inspiring service and hospitality. One of the strengths of this team is that many of the members have worked well and closely together in the past.
To design the interior, Chan brought in Phakkapol Pasuthip, a trained architect and interior designer from Thailand, who also designed Yang’s Rhong-Tiam. Using existing elements from the restaurant that formerly occupied the space, he completely reimagined it. Reflecting the logo of the restaurant, the design embodies the number 8, a symbol of good luck. From the front of the restaurant, the eye is drawn from the miniature Tibetan twin pixiu statues at the entrance to the life-size twin forms (also symbols of good luck) set against the stone waterfall wall in back, creating a sense of perspective. Strong vertical lines in dark-stained pine wood panels extend across the space, producing a clean, sophisticated and calming atmosphere, while also dividing the space to create a sense of intimacy for each group of diners, seated on red banquettes. The zinc-topped bar with a golden patina, is lined with green-beige stone.
Guests will be familiar with each dish by name, but pleasantly “wowed” by how it tastes. For an example from the dim sum menu: shrimp toast, a far cry from the pallid pu-pu platter, is firmly packed with delicious, flavorful sweet fresh shrimp and crunchy water chestnuts. Char Siu Duck Buns give stiff competition to even the best steamed pork bun. Filled with duck meat, they are delicately seasoned with lightly sweet barbecue marmalade and shallots. Stuffed eggplant, served piping hot and crispy on the outside, filled with pork, shrimp, mushrooms and scallions, is tender on the inside. (All dim sum are served with a choice of three sauces, sophisticated flavor-packed, super fresh versions of the familiar—suca, soy vinaigrette; rau ram Vietnamese coriander-ginger scallion oil; and gochujang sambal, an Asian sweet-hot sauce.)
Inventive starters borrow from different cultures: Eel tacos turn the familiar eel avocado roll on its side, filling a soft taco wrapper with barbecued eel, cucumber, sesame and soy barbecue sauce. Uni Chawanmushi is a beautiful rendition of delicate silky egg custard, served warm and embedded with sea urchin, crab and mushroom. While Teriyaki Octopus changes your perception of both teriyaki and octopus, with tender tentacles flavored with orange and kaffir lime, accompanied by spiced sweet potatoes. Even simple Tomato Egg Drop Soup is transformed: the tomatoes are slow-roasted, the base broth is made from organic chicken bones for much more intense flavors.
Meat and fish entrees shake up your taste buds. A classic Vietnamese beef stir-fry, Bo Luc Lac, is prepared with the classic sauce but substitutes the finest rib eye and blistered shishito peppers. Lemongrass Poussin is brined, slow-cooked with circulated air in the combi oven for evenly cooked juicy meat, and finished with a blast of heat to make the skin crisp, and served with Asian greens and black rice. And the Lobster Roll is an Asian-influenced reinvention of the classic American, with miso brown butter, crispy bacon and yucca fries.
Noodle and rice dishes are mind-blowing in both their simplicity and in the amazing flavor profiles: Chicken Lo Mein is prepared with house-made hand-pulled noodles, high quality soy sauce and house made tofu; Dan Dan Duck Ramen is prepared with a spicy duck ragu, Sichuan peppercorn, tofu and duck crackling over toothsome noodles; and Oink Oink Oink Fried Rice has the flavor of wok hay (the breath of the wok) infusing the rice and the three kinds of pork—pork belly, Chinese sausage, and bacon.
Entrée stars include SHAKING BEEF, Wok charred beef, tomato, red onion, shishito, celery, roasted salt & pepper and BRAISED SHORT RIB MASSAMAN CURRY, with Coconut, peanut, toasted brioche (the real star of the dish).
Creative sushi and sashimi rounds out the menu with inventive sushi rolls such as breakfast futomaki, inspired by a New York favorite (bagels and lox) with salmon, tamagoyaki, cream cheese and red onion in a soy paper wrapper; scallop and crisp bacon rolled together with pineapple and vanilla caramel; and eel and buffalo mozzarella with radish greens and heirloom tomatoes. But you’ll also find classic sushi and sashimi by the piece or by the platter.
The desserts are all Pichet Ong with wonderful Asian accents. Notably famous for his desserts at Spice Market, Rick Moonen’s RM and Jean Georges, named one of the Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America by Pastry Arts & Design and Chocolatier, and was selected as a “Pastry Provocateur” by Food & Wine, Ong has come up with completely original creations for Sachi. They include: caramelized ginger custard with brown sugar, orange and graham cracker; sesame and milk chocolate ice box cake; and yuzu meringue pie with condensed milk and coconut cookie crumbs.
Sachi’s cocktails are designed by veteran mixologist Jason Walsh, alum of several of New York City’s most acclaimed bars and restaurants including Monkey Bar, Bistro La Promenade, Bouley and Bea, who has been published in several leading publications, including the Wall Street Journal. Walsh has developed a unique cocktail list with a culinary perspective to match that of Sachi: Cocktails represent twists on classics, which will be recognizable but designed with a slightly new dimension. Specialty cocktails include Gun Powder Bramble, smoky with
Lapsang souchong tea-infused bourbon, blackberry liqueur, fresh pressed lemon juice, served over crushed ice, and the Mehkong Martinez, complex with Thai sugar cane rum, Noilly Prat sweet vermouth, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, Regan’s orange bitters, served up, and The Jade Lantern, bright green and bracing with vodka, Matcha green tea, lemon juice and mint leaves, shaken and served over ice.
The wine list focuses on wines that pair well with Asian flavors, sparkling wines such as Prosecco and Cloud Chaser rosé, as well as several other options by the glass: whites such as Marlborough Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and Urban Nik Weis Riesling, and reds like J. Lohr’s Falcon Perch Pinot Noir and Firestone’s Merlot, as well as a selection of bottles. There’s also a selection of sakes such as Osakaya Chobei Daiginjo, and Ozeki Nigori Junmai, plum wine and beers on draft such as Sapporo, Angry Orchard Cider, Southampton Double White, as well as a selection of Asian, domestic and European bottled beers.
Service is outstanding: knowledgeable, attentive and caring. And Here is the place to enjoy creative cocktails. They are what most are not: delicious and potent.
Copyright 2014 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.
The Walman Report 
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