Food @ Home

Yes, I know I have been gone too long. A whole bout of lifestyle change of no longer eating out frequently, a 30 day vegan challenge (huh?) and splendid food that is now made by a splendid person, in a tiny "kitchen" has lead me back to food at home. Secretly watching raw ingredients being transformed from fresh aroma, to edible textured morsels. Understanding the truth about seasoning and fat, how it changes good to amazing; making flavors exclamate vibrantly and sing to my palette. Learning that the constant waft of smells in the studio apartment bedroom should be construed as a satisfying consequence instead of a boxed salad devoid of much olfactory pleasures. 

Lack of posts on where to eat in New York City? Quite tragic, really. Now excuse me while I nibble on a warm crunchy wedge of potato from our kitchen, that pops with each crust of sea salt I bite into, and hints of rosemary and roasted garlic...

What a delight to discover that Gotham Bar and Grill offers a weekday lunch prix fixe! This 3-star New York Times rated establishment has been on my radar for a while. An affordable opportunity could not be allowed to pass by.

The butternut squash soup came with celery root custard and spiced honey crisp cider emulsion. The soup was delicious and creamy. Unfortunately, the custard did not contribute to the flavors for me.

The pan roasted day boat haddock was perfectly cooked with crispy skin and the moistest, lightest flaky fish. It came with a smooth potato puree, escarole and white beans white wine and lemon emulsion. This added a different dimension to the fish and was good enough to drink on its own. Perfectly executed. I could have had another three servings of these.

And speaking of wanting another serving, their chocolate cake is an oxymoron of light chocolatyness. Ice-cream of the day was spicy cardamom, a perfect accompaniment on a fall day.

Excellent service, excellent food using quality produce, great value for money.

Gotham Bar and Grill
12 East 12th Street
New York City

The Tea Set

The Tea Set is a great concept - cute cafe/restaurant that specializes in a wide variety of teas, organic food and offers a selection of wines. I would like this place to succeed so terribly that I have returned on more than two occasions. However, a cute concept may be all this place turns out to be. The service for such a small venue is haphazard. Variations to orders causes too much confusion.

Like this cobb salad of mine where I had opted for cheddar instead of blue cheese. Initially came beautifully assembled. But when the blue cheese appeared erroneously and had to be sent back, it came back tossed, on a hot plate.

Come to the Tea Set to check out the adorable surrounds. Arrive with lower expectations and you won't be disappointed. Worth one visit.

The Tea Set
235 West 12th Street
New York City

Kittichai

You readers may now know that I have an obsession with Kittichai. It's one of the few swish places in New York City that serves reasonably priced food, has somewhat of an unlimited drink option and takes reservations. It makes a safe option for a group brunch.

Apart from an unlimited drinks option that comes with brunch, Kittichai has a prix fixe option which we opted on this occasion.

These marinated short ribs were well marinated indeed. It's always a joyous occasion when one gets a good mouthful of sweet marinade when biting into short rib. But not so joyous if the meat isn't quite falling off the bone.

The organic chicken green curry was tasty enough. However, nothing exceptional to write about.

The skirt steak however, was an excellent choice by my dining companion. Tender and well seasoned.

The salmon was over done. Extremely ordinary. However, paired with a most vibrant tasting mango salsa.

The winner of my prix fixe was the coconut creme caramel served with coconut twirl. What a genius idea to make creme caramel out of coconut!

Wonderful enough with the decor, beautiful wait staff, unlimited drinks option and interesting menu to keep visitors distracted enough not realize to that not every single dish is stellar. But for the prices paid, Kittichai is good value for money and continues to be a reliable brunch option.

Stanton Social

Tapas for breakfast? What a novel idea. At Stanton Social, tapas for breakfast exists in a dimly lit space.

There seem to be no order in terms courses tapas-logy. So if the banana caramel pancakes arrive first, don't be surprised. But if all pancakes come with vanilla brown butter, candied pecans and maple syrup, I'm quite happy to take them first, in the middle and last.

The red snapper tacos with creamy avocado and spicy mango was flavorsome, moist and spicy.

But the star of brunch has to be the onion soup dumplings. Stanton Social is the only place I know that serves these dumplings which encases a flavorsome sweet onion soup, individually placed in a hollowed out ceramic bowl, topped with cheese, baked, and served with a crouton on each of the dumpling. Dangerously hot, once these dumplings have cooled sufficiently for an unsuspecting palette, each slightly chewy bite exposes a quick squirt of the sweet french onion soup. Then following the lingering taste of onion, is the texture of a slightly chewy dumpling, and a crisped rich mound of cheese.

Stanton Social
99 Stanton Street
New York City

The Smith

The line outside The Smith on an early Sunday afternoon might be an indication of an excellent brunch, or a terribly overbooked and under managed reservation system. Fortunately, both holds true.

The short rib hash with poached egg made the 30-minute wait with reservation well worth it. Falling off the bone, well seasoned short rib that oozes sweet porky juices against the creaminess of an oozing poached egg yolk couldn't have pacified me more.

The venue far too noisy to hear too much of any conversation. Come for food, perhaps even on your own, you might just get seated that little bit quicker.

The Smith
55 Third Avenue
New York City

Cafe El Porto

A colleague had been raving about some best shrimp taco he's had and these amazing cucumber margaritas. When a foodie Australian friend came to visit New York City for the first time, I knew that this would be the perfect time to investigate Cafe El Porto.

Cafe El Porto is tucked away almost below street level on Elizabeth Street. The place is no nonsense. It seats barely 30 people with almost plastic like decor, our server is friendly and the menu straight forward.

The shrimp tacos that were highly recommended did not disappoint. The shrimp fresh, the salsa flavorful topped off with creamy avocado on a soft tortilla shell. We could have eaten a few more of these.

However, we opted for variety instead of sense in this instance. The pork tacos were cheaper cuts of meat that was not a waste of time but not the star on the menu.

The cucumber margaritas are potent and could do with an extra squirt of lime or two. But when one is halfway through a pitcher of this beverage, these details could be forgotten.

No frills, excellent fresh shrimp tacos.

Cafe El Portal
174 Elizabeth Street
New York City