mk

Thanksgiving moments

November 25, 2015 by mk

This year, Dine Girl is not in charge of cooking the Thanksgiving feast. We are committed to spending the day separately – one of us in Tokyo and the other in the glamorous state of New Jersey. It’s an odd feeling not to have to fret over menu planning and the Whole Foods madness, but it’s also nice to have a moment to look back on some of the feasts we have pulled off in the years past.

Last year on the East Coast, we braved a blizzard and power outage in the Berkshires (restored just in time) and prepared two beastly sized meats: rolled stuffed pork loin, and a classic herb roasted turkey breast. The pork was a compromise solution since our friends were not hugely keen on a “boring” turkey (but we couldn’t not have turkey – this would be unAmerican!), so we of course, made both.

Juicy, flavorful and unique, the pork was amazing. Everyone was raving about it! The recipe itself was a combination of our own ideas and some detailed research. Our sides included the requisite cornbread stuffing, buttery mashed potatoes, and glazed carrots etc… For dessert, pumpkin pie and apple crumble.

Reflecting back, the pork was a reminder that sometimes adding an unexpected dish to your traditional menu can create new memorable traditions for family and friends. Which, after all, isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about?

Vaucluse

October 16, 2015 by mk

All Photos by Thomas Iannaccone / WWD

Sometimes a reason to go to a splurgy dinner on a random Thursday night is simply the fact that you can walk home. Being residents of the Upper East Side does have its perks, but unfortunately the restaurant scene (while definitely improving) is far from buzzing and happening.

We popped by to check out Michael White’s new French venture – Vaucluse. The warm, welcoming and airy lounge bar is perfect for an after work cocktail or casual date, and the dining area is more formal with vaulted ceilings and great lighting. Love the greige (grey+beige) color scheme. This was all the rage back in 2005 yet still feels fresh and chic. Maybe we’re just jaded and used to the $20 cocktail, but surprisingly the price points at Vaucluse are very reasonable. $14 cocktails and plenty of wines by the glass under $20, with an equally friendly wine list. The menu itself also didn’t feel too punchy, even though we were happy to splurge – especially given the Michelin starred chef. Not to despair, there are of course splurgy options. You can always start off with a few ounces of caviar, paired perhaps with a 2009 Chavalier-Montrachet Grand Cru Domaine Leflaive, and move onto the ‘pour deux’ roasted canard, washed down with a 1995 Chateau Palmer. À la prochaine…

Highlights from our visit included the classic foie gras terrine, and the pillowy, dreamy artisanal lobster raviolo – definitely has the Michael White magical touch. There was the odd question mark in the tarte aux pommes de terre, which had great flavor but felt a little hodge podgy and busy. (Nevertheless, we polished it off anyway.) And actually if you’re parked up at the bar, one might pair the potato tarte it with a tall beer for a perfect afterwork fall nibble. So perhaps it’s just a matter of context for that puppy.

Being high end-barbarians, we opted for a third course: the cotelette de porc. A berkshire pork chop, paired with apple, roasted endive, walnuts and bergamot. Juicy and light, its the perfect entrée to welcome the New York fall. As we were tackling the pig, Michael White himself made the rounds and came by to say hello to every diner. Always a nice touch to see chef himself chatting happily with satisfied guests.

All in all, Vaucluse is a great mix of approachable high end, with friendly, impeccable service. There’s something on the menu for every budget and appetite, including the requisite burger – in this case the “White” label. We loved Vaucluse, and will be strolling back soon. We are excited for our fabulous new French neighbor, its just the perfect spot Park Avenue needed.

Vaucluse
100 East 63rd Street / at Park Avenue
NY NY 10065
Tel. +1 646 869 2300
vauclusnyc.com

A whale of a weekend…

August 20, 2015 by mk

Truly magical, mystical and other worldly, Nantucket is known as the “faraway” island. Wondering what all the fuss was about, we planned a last minute splurgy getaway to check out the sites and bites… Here’s a few highlights from what proved to be a quintessential all-American East Coast summer vacation!

Our dear friend and amazing Michelin starred chef Neil Ferguson has recently taken over ownership of the lovely American Seasons restaurant, so we made sure this was the cornerstone of our pilgrimage to ACK.

DINE:
Food options on the island are incredible given the picky and discerning regulars such as the likes of Maria Shriver – who is much prettier and quite petite in person when we passed by her on the cobblestone street in town.

Oysters and Raw Bar:
Cru – super chic, splurgy and evidently quite the scene. Oysters and clam chowder were seriously the best we’ve ever had. So much so that we went back for lunch on our last day to do a round 2 visit. Worth the splurge and it’s dreamy to watch the sailboats and yachts parallel park in the busy harbor. Another great spot for raw bar was Cisco Brewery. Live music, hand crafted beers and a plastic plate full of oysters and crab claws was an amazing way to spend a few hours post beach.

Smoked Bluefish Pate:
Toppers – we ordered the bluefish pate not knowing it was an island specialty. What a treat to pair with something crisp and light from their amazing wine list. I mean, there’s half a page dedicated just to Château d’Yquem! Happy sigh… We took advantage of the one rainy pouring day to have a destination posh lunch which did not disappoint.

Farm to Table:
American Seasons – obviously we are bias due to Chef Ferguson, but the vibe here is so warm and cozy – no wonder it’s an island favorite. Earthy and rustic. Highlights include the pillowy and melt in your mouth gnocchi with chanterelles, and the rich and buttery sockeye salmon. Upon arrival we ponied up to the bar and ordered a round of Sunny’s Old Fashioned, which paired well with the golden puff pastry and pear appetizer. Buzzy, sophisticated atmosphere. On the walk back to the White Elephant we were coated in a blanket of stars and got to see the meteor shower! Truly memorable.

Unexpected Hits:
We made a last minute reservation post-Pops concert at Oran Mor Bistro, where we had the most incredible roasted chicken, prepared sous vide. We were completely blown away! So juicy! So flavorful! Standing ovation! Oran Mor is located in a historic home with wonderful combination of old world, friendly ghost vibe. Another unexpected hit was the summer corn bisque from Dune. We pretty much had to stop ourselves from licking the bowls. Seriously, this was crack soup.

Picnic options:
Provisions – prior to saddling up the tandem bike, we stopped by here to pick up an Italian (sandwich that is – amazing), Cape Cod chips and waters to pack for our ride out to Cisco Beach. There are several other great spots for picnic items (Something Natural was a recommendation) which we’ll be sure to try next time.

DO:
Boston Pops Outdoor Concert at Jetties Beach – supposedly this is THE event of the summer social calendar. Despite the ‘no glass’ policy on the website, just about every single group had bottles of vino and beers with full on living room style set ups. The sunset here was literally show stopping, as the orchestra stopped mid-tune to let everyone get their requisite #nantucketsunset photos in.

Whaling Museum – unintentionally we arrived just in time for the 45 minute “movie” which was actually more of a touristy introduction to Nantucket. Slight yawn, but the fascinating things to see here are the sailing captain log books and the Nantucket history time line. Oh, and the huge whale skeleton overhead dreaming of Moby Dick.

Beaches – a weekend doesn’t give enough time to venture to all of them, but we managed to bike out to dreamy Cisco Beach (favorite) and Jetties Beach (geared towards families given the calm / shallow water) which were both picturesque and relaxing.

STAY:
Mostly due to the last minute nature of the trip and lack of availability elsewhere, we “had” to splurge at the White Elephant Hotel, which is perfectly located two minutes from the center of town. Planned in advance it appears that there are plenty of lodging options for every budget and style, both land and sea. High marks go to White Elephant Hotel’s impeccable service, chic décor and friendly vibe. Who can resist the 4pm daily Port and cheese in the library and popcorn delivery service in inclement weather? Simply fabulous.

Given the ease of getting there from NYC, we’re already popping our collars, throwing on our Lily dresses and planning our next visit back to the faraway island…

I dream of Genuine…

April 15, 2015 by mk

We recently had the pleasure of attending a sneak preview of Genuine Superette, the second outpost of the Genuine eateries. (The other is Genuine Roadside, located in Gothamist West Side Market). Genuine’s are brought to us by the ever-so talented and creative team, AvroKo. We’re huge fans of everything they do.

WARNING: The buttermilk battered chicken sandwich and the spicy smokehouse burger are seriously addictive. There’s a scene in Overboard where Grant Stayton (the “third”) is hugging a huge 80s decorative shell, longing for a painted lady named Tofutti Klein. “Ahhh Tofutii.. where art you when I need you..?” I picture many a hipster hugging their organic cotton pillows late night, craving the buttermilk chicken sando in the same way. Even I (in a sober haze) dreamt longingly for my new little buttery fried chicken friend. It’s that insane.

What were we talking about again…? Ah yes. Genuine Superette. Everything from the tuna tacos to the quinoa salads were all fresh and tasty. In true California-free-love-spirit, there’s something delicious on the menu for everyone. What’s cool about its corner location (Mulberry and Grand) is that it’s the perfect pit stop for a quick morning bite, afternoon lunch, casual dinner, or late night snack. We hear there’s also a downstairs lounge in the works. The vibe is cool retro and positively upbeat. Evidently 80’s cassette tapes are now works of art, worthy of displaying on the wall. Kids today, many of whom probably don’t even know even what a CD player looks like, will appreciate the historical references. Case in point, overheard in amongst the crowd, “oh wow…I’ve heard of those [cassette tapes] before but I’ve never actually seen one in person.”

Genuine Superette is all about retro roadside classics and fast food done the right way. Their unique chef collaborations on select dishes, drinks and desserts, and of course their buttermilk chicken sandwich will keep us coming back again and again…

We highly recommend!

Genuine Superette
191 Grand Street (at the corner of Mulberry Street)
New York NY 10013
Tel. 646 726 4633

Robataya

January 26, 2015 by mk

Images from Robataya NY

Japanese “Robata” style cooking (or Robatayaki) originated centuries ago by northern Japanese fisherman near Hokkaido. While at sea, the fisherman would cook rustic meals over hot coals encased in a stone box. And since the boats were typically made of wood, this was a genius way of creating hot meals without burning down the vessel. Eventually this communal style of cooking made its way into the restaurant scene, and in the 1960s became hugely popular.

We’re all familiar with the teppanyaki / yakitori style of cooking, to the point where they have become Americanized. So there’s something still old school and unfamiliar about Robata, which is why a visit to Robataya in the East Village becomes a transportive experience.

In the casual, rustic, izakaya style vibe, Robataya keeps to the tradition of having the chefs sit front and center. Reserving a seat by the counter is a must to see the action and theatre. Since the cooking style is subtle – with a little smoke and glow from the hot coals (not blazing fire), fattier meats and fish work really well. We started with the house made tofu, sashimi, then treated ourselves to wagyu beef and a special Japanese medai. The beef and fish were both buttery and melt in your mouth. The meal was capped off with a traditional kamameshi – kettle rice with king crab. Each dish coming from the robata chefs are handed to you from a large paddle, which represent the paddles for the fisherman.

Robataya is a fun spot to sit side by side, enjoy some freshly flown in treats. For a nightcap, head across the street to the grungy underground Japanese sake bar speakeasy Decibel, which is dark, intimate and graffiti filled. Are you in Shibuya or New York? Hard to tell, but that’s part of the adventure. Great spot!

Robataya
231 East 9th Street
New York, NY 10003
T. 212 979 9674

mk

Footer