MEATmarket, Burgers in London

On our last night in London we wanted to find a great, local burger place. Staying in Covent Garden within a few blocks of both a Shake Shack and a Five Guys kept nagging at my senses. We needed burgers!

Using Google to see what Londeners were calling their best burgers and narrowing it down to those within walking distance of our hotel, we settled on a dive of a place, MEATmarket.

A simple enough menu of burgers and dogs in a small place on the Mezzanine level above the Jubilee Market in Covent Garden. It's only got half a dozen tall bar tables with stools - enough to sit four at a table and graffiti all over the walls. Ordering was efficient and the wait fairly short. This place gets crowded! Lots of young couples seemingly on first dates (odd).

We ordered two Black Palace burgers served each with two beef patties, cheese, grilled onions, pickles, mustard and ketchup (and a tomato).

These were two of the messiest burgers we've ever had. I took off my light jacket & rolled up my sleeves before even attempting the first bite. I mean - look at that crazy, dripping, cheesy patty!!

The burger was fantastic! Really, really great - on par with Shake Shack and Five Guys to be sure. Excellent flavor in every bite. The bun couldn't stand up to the sloppiness of the ingredients mixing together - in the end you were just holding onto something that used to resemble a burger. And perhaps if we went again I'd ditch the pickles - but damn, that's a great burger. Fries were also excellent - crispy and hot.

If you are in the area, highly recommend popping in...but leave your expectations about ambiance at the door (literally) and prepare to get dirty!

http://www.themeatmarket.co.uk/

National Pasta Day: Marea, NYC

We didn't know that the day we decided to meet after work at Marea (midtown, Central Park South & Broadway) for a casual dinner that it was National Pasta Day. Had we known, there probably wouldn't have been anywhere else we would have picked to honor this incredible carbohydrate.

Arriving at 5:00pm to grab to seats at the bar - coveted, quickly snatched up, seats. They start serving the full menu at the bar at 5:30pm which makes it a popular choice at this restaurant who's reputation and two Michelin stars make it hard to get a reservation in the dining room.

We went low key - crudos and pasta dishes. So to start, three bite size pieces of perfection. After much contemplation & discussion, we choose, from right to left, the Scampi (Pacifi c langoustine, Murray River pink salt); Ono (seared wild Pacifi c wahoo, wild mushroom, lobster roe) and the Dentice (Pacifi c snapper, mandarin orange, pistachio, carrot vinaigrette). The selection of crudos on the is stunning and diverse.

SIDE BAR: One night I'd like to go and order every single selection in a Crudo Taste Off. It would cost $407 before tax and tip and would consist of 21 different kinds, 4 pieces of each....if anyone wants to take me up on that just say the word!!!

The scampi was light, buttery soft with a cucumber it's sitting on giving a hint of crunch to offset the wonderfully mushy texture of the langoustine. Excellent.

The Ono was a more earthy flavor if you can say that about fish. The seared edges added smokiness while the mushroom gave it that forest flavor. Very nice.

And our favorite, the snapper with the citrus of the mandarin orange and nutiness of the pistachio was just perfect. Could have eaten those all night.

Then came the pastas. It's almost as hard to choose these as the first courses. We knew we wanted our favorite, the fusilli. But what else? After contemplating all we went for the agnolotti which were piemontese meat ravioli, veal sweetbreads, wild mushrooms in a brown butter. The kitchen was kind enough to split both pastas for us and serve them one after the other - our casual dinner was a three course meal!

First up was the fusilli...red wine braised octopus and bone marrow in a perfect red sauce.

This is hands down THE BEST pasta dish I've ever had. Ever, anywhere. There's something magical about the crispiness of the octopus; the decadence of the bone marrow and the perfect al dente fusilli that just creates perfect culinary harmony. I've had it four times now and it's always flawless.

The second, new pasta was the ravioli.

A much heavier pasta, the sweetbreads were tender; the mushrooms gave depth and the brown butter added a sweetness. Also an amazing dish. We were glad that they split the dishes for us - a full plate of the agnolotti would have proven to be too much for one person. In this manner, it was exactly the right amount. Full but not uncomfortable - a wonderful dinner once again.

I can't say enough about Marea. If you get the chance, you need to go. And then go again.
Jenn's Rating: 91
Michelin: Two Stars
Zagat:28-26-26

Dining London Style: Jamie's in Covent Garden

For Labor Day Alan and I went to London...him for business and me to tag along and check it out. Since he did have work obligations, I had a few meals on my own including Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant in Covent Garden...two blocks from our hotel at Seven Dials.

This was my first experience with a Jamie Oliver restaurant. I didn't know much about him other than his appearances on Food Network. I didn't even realize he was British until I saw the restaurant and connected the dots. I guess I never actually listened to any of his appearances on Food Network! That all being said - it's a huge place with two floors of dining (below ground & main floor) plus two outdoor patios - one in the interior courtyard and one on Upper Martin's Lane. It had been a gorgeous day but without a reservation, my only option was a tiny table for two in the wine cellar room. Lots of wood and a bit dark, the feeling very much was like being in a wine cellar but warmer.

The menu is made up of typical Italian fare - antipastos, pastas, risottos, main dishes and so on. Not wanting to go over board and not feeling adventurous, I ordered the Humble Green Salad and the Tagliatelle Bolognese that was a Ragu of British beef & pork with herbs, Chianti, Parmesan and crunchy herbed breadcrumbs.

The salad was simple & lackluster; the dressing was void of any noticeable flavor. But the pasta was super fresh with loads of meat and a hearty but not overly sweet red sauce. It was a good size portion that left me full but not uncomfortable (I have the capacity to throw down some serious pasta if given the option).

I paired all this with a glass of the house Rose, A Mano Rosata that was summery and light but forgetful.

All in all, I'd definitely recommend going for a casual, inexpensive meal (14 pounds all in). Order the pasta and try and sit outside if the weather was conducive. It's a popular, hopping place so get reservations!

Jenn: 77

Zagat: 20-19-19

Michelin: no stars

Lincoln, NYC

In late August, we reconvened the Manhattan Ladies Dining Club for an evening out at the much hyped, Lincoln Ristorante at Lincoln Center in NYC. It's a gorgeous location and the restaurant itself is quite impressive. Wood, floor to ceiling glass - very modern and yet warm. 

We decided to start off with drinks from the Proseco Bar before heading to the table.

They infuse different seasonal flavors into this light, sparkling drink. A few of us went with the house special of PASSION FRUIT Purée –with Blood Orange Liquore di Solerno. Summery and easy to drink.

Once seated, we decided to go with an appetizer each, a shared special pasta dish as a mid course and then entrees. To start off, Dawn & Marisa ordered the Mare Salad with octopus and other shellfish. Mary had the lamb terrine with salsa verde and I had the burratini with heirloom tomatoes, mint, basil and grilled bread which was perfect for a summer evening. Mary's appetizer with salsa verde was a problem dish...the salsa was too spicy to eat. Unusual in a restaurant of this caliber.

For the mid course - the dish that made the largest impression on all of us...a special of the evening in a lasagna with pork in a bechamel sauce that was stupid good. Much lighter than what I was expected with perfect flavor combinations. The homemade pasta was airy and the bechamel creamy without weighing down the dish.

Entrees included three pasta dishes: strozzapreti, reginette & agnolotti plus the special of the evening, a pork loin porchetta.

Dessert included chocolate tartufo & a cheese plate.

Overall - the evening was a lot of fun. The food wasn't at the level of some of our other dinners but there's potential there. With a daily changing menu, I would definitely go again. Not to mention our waiter was a hoot - attentive, lively, witty...he recommended two bottles of wine that we went with pairing nicely with the dishes. The super Tuscan, LE SERRE NUOVE TENUTA DELL’ORNELLAIA Merlot-Cabernet-Petit Verdot 2010 (Bolgheri) was lovely with a lot of body and fruit but not so heavy you couldn't drink it. He also managed to talk us out of champagne and into a white: Campagnia GRECO DI TUFO Quinto Decimo ‘Giallo d’Arles’ 2011 that was nice...light, short finish but good fruit and fabulous aroma.

Zagat: 25-26-25
Jenn: 85
Michelin: no stars

The NoMad, NYC

In June Alan and I met up with a favorite foodie, Susan, for an early dinner in NYC. Located in The NoMad Hotel at Broadway & 28th Street, the restaurant is a quick walk down from midtown.

The restaurant is under the direction of Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park fame. It spans multiple rooms, each with a distinctive ambiance and decor. The atrium, parlor, bar, fireplace, library and rooftop.

We were seated far back in the fireplace room. Cozy and intimate, still feeling a bit informal and comfortable.

The menu is divided into snacks, appetizers and entrees. We ordered a series of appetizers to share and entrees. The appetizers included Fluke marinated with sorrel, amaranth & royal trumpet mushrooms; Tagliatelle with king crab, meyer lemon and black pepper; Foie Gras torchon with strawberry, rhubarb & black pepper; Egg poached with asparagus, brown butter and quinoa.

For our entrees we split the suckling pig confit with cherries, arugula & bacon marmalade; roasted duck and the whole-roasted chicken for two with foie gras, black truffle and brioche. 

They presented the chicken at the table and took it back to the chicken to be carved. It came out served with the dark meat mixed with truffle and the white meat with that gorgeous, crispy skin. Out of this world.

Overall, what a fantastic surprise. I didn't expect it to be that great - - good, yes. But this far exceeded expectations. I recommend going back. It's a fun vibe inside with a solid wine list. Good for groups or for an intimate experience.

Micheline: One star

Jenn's Rating: 93

Zagat: 26-27-25

Eating in Sin City: Scarpetta

There's a real danger in having an amazing meal: that the magic can't be recaptured. I worry about this every time we revisit a place that scored high or that was truly memorable...will it be able to live up? While in Vegas we took that chance by going back to Scarpetta.

M&S went during their anniversary trip in 2012 and raved about it. So I went with Mom in October of the same year and was thrilled that we had such a similiar - fantastic meal. Going for the three-peat, we booked our final dinner there this last trip. It would Alan's first experience.

We were seated at one of the large, comfortable semi-circular booths that are quite nice. But this one was located so close to the entrance I felt immediately like we were missing out on the ambiance you get when you go deep into the center of this dark, modern yet chic restaurant. We also couldn't see the Bellagio fountains.

We ordered a round of appetizers and then pasta dishes. I don't have all the dishes captured in pictures but you'll get a sense...

White asparagus soup with crab & croutons. I ordered this - I love cream based soups and crab is my favorite thing on the planet...especially blue crab which this dish contained. And can't imagine my disappointment when I realized it was lacking seasoning and came off as quite bland. Couldn't really taste the crab and the whole thing needed salt or something savory to save the dish.

Raw yellowtail. Fresh, nice.

Crispy fritto misto (seafood, vegetables, lentils). Why lentils? Ok.

Braised short ribs with vegetables and farro risotto. Nicely cooked - fall apart beef. Good dish overall.

Pici with lobster, tarragon & almond and chili pesto. This sounds like something that should have just had my name on it. But the tarragon was overwhelming and the other favors got lost. Such a shame.

Duck & foie gras ravioli. I liked this dish (it wasn't mine) much better than the pici I ordered. Alas, it wasn't so I only got a bite before sending it back to it's rightful owner. Probably the best dish of the night.

Overall, it didn't live up to the past. Pasta dishes weren't showstoppers and the appetizers failed to excite. Next time in Vegas, I'll skip this one in favor of trying a new place.

Jenn's Rating: 81 (for reference, I scored this an 88 the last time)
Zagat: 25-25-26

Eating in Sin City: Fleur

With our conference being in Mandalay Bay, we took the opportunity to try out the revamped (to small plates) Hubert Keller eatery, Fleur. I was hoping for great things - having only ever watched one season of Top Chef, it was the original Masters season and Hubert was a favorite to watch by far.

The location in nicely situated over by restaurant row between the casino and the convention center so lots of foot traffic walking by the "outdoor"  patio seating. The place was basically empty - possibly not a great sign.

We ordered appetizers to share and a round of entrees. The menu is organized by country which is a bit odd. Not the entire list of what we ordered but some call outs included the roasted bone marrow with grilled toast points; duck confit over whipped potatoes and the Fleur burger (quartered) with caramelized onions and fried potato.

There were also flatbreads with bbq pork belly and a few other dishes that sounded pretty great off the menu. The issue was that the taste just didn't live up to the description. There wasn't a standout course and a few, like the flatbreads were truly disappointing. We wonder why they chose to switch from a formal, traditional French restaurant into small plates in the first place considering Keller is a superstar French chef. This format and preparations didn't do anything to encourage us to seek out his other restaurants. There are far better meals to be had around the strip.

Jenn's Rating: 79
Zagat: 25-23-22

Eating in Sin City: Lotus of Siam

Our second dinner in Las Vegas this past April was a return to our favorite...Lotus of Siam. Argueably the best Thai restaurant in the US. We haven't been back since March of 2009 with Susan & Rich and were both excited and nervous to see if it still held that magic.

Calling for reservations three months in advance is the first hurdle...even with the new renovations and expanded space, this is a hard place to get into. They will only hold your spot for 5 minutes so don't be late!

We got there 15 minutes ahead of time and grabbed a drink at the bar while we waited. The bar is part of the renovations and definitely beats out having to wait outside in what's a sketchy strip mall at best that you're sure you've seen on either CSI or an episode of COPS.

We were seated at a little table for four right near the bar. The ambiance here isn't much to speak of - they make use of every available inch to get hungry diners tucked into boring wooden tables. But hey, who cares? It's all about the food! With a couple bottles of wine we dove right in and ordered for the table.

Appetizers:
Stuffed chicken wings (stuffed with ground pork, deep fried and served with sweet & sour dipping sauce). SO good!

Thai Salad (mixed vegetables, onions, boiled egg & peanut dressing). Boring? Yummy! 

Spicy Vegetable Soup (hotness level 5 - - and very funny to watch Mary try and eat this). I DARE you to try to soup with anything hotter than a four. Make sure you have someone video taping the experience - it's hysterical.

Nua Dad Deaw (Thai Style Beef Jerky) deep fried, marinated beef served with spicy dipping sauce. Really, really good ~ nice suggestion from our server.

Fried Chicken Dumplings. Classic.

For entrees we shared the Drunken Sea Bass; Pad Thai & Crispy Duck. These are some of the best dishes to be found in Vegas. Drunken anything at LoS is killer - try the bass, noodles or even soft shell crab.

The food was once again amazing - so full of flavor and so many different types of dishes to choose from. Service was fine - they offered suggestions for dishes to try that was appreciated and we didn't feel like we waited for anything.

This is a Must Go to place if you're in Vegas. Wear comfortable clothes ~ there's no scene to worry about. You don't need to be a fan of Thai food - it transcends any ethnic label and is just plain, awesome food.

Jenn's Rating: 94
Zagat: 28-15-23

Eating in Sin City: Blue Ribbon Sushi

Hey!! It's been a long time since I've posted - new job & nicer weather mean no free time. So I'm playing a little catch up here. In April we went to Las Vegas for a conference and piled on as many good meals as possible.

Our first night there after a hectic scramble to get from airport to hotel (and then to a second hotel) and back to Cosmopolitan for dinner at Blue Ribbon Sushi. This was our first time trying BRS though we'd been to the one in NYC with a large group and were a bit underwhelmed.

Starving and jet lagged, we ordered drinks and dinner. As a group we decided to go with the famous Fried Chicken "Blue Ribbon Style" with wasabi & honey and the Oxtail Fried Rice with daikon, shitake and bone marrow. We also ordered sushi to round out the meal.

The chicken arrived looking crispy and reddish - covered in spices. It was super moist in the middle and had quite a kick to it. The wasabi honey dipping sauce was a fantastic accompaniment. An excellent dish - one of the best takes on fried chicken we've ever had.

Served alongside the chicken was the rice in a giant bowl meant for sharing. This might be the single most incredible rice dish I've encountered. The oxtail & bone marrow give it such a heartiness and the rice still has that crisp, al dente style interior...what a keeper! I would go back to BRS for just these two dishes over and over again.

We ended with sushi as I mentioned before - the menu had a lot of unusual and interesting fishes we don't see here in NYC much. For instance, Japanese Red Snapper, Amberjack, Orange Clam, Fluke Fin and Jellyfish. The sushi was excellent - super fresh and with such diverse choices, got to try and great new things.

While we were all struggling to stay awake -the meal was super enjoyable; one of the best of the trip. Service was attentive and fun and the ambiance was jumping, a touch loud, but very energetic with good people watching. Highly recommend!

Jenn's Rating: 91

Zagat: 24-23-22

Rob's Cafe, Madison NJ

A group of us were looking for a BYO in NJ to go to earlier this month. Rich suggested Rob's Cafe in Madison - a little traditional French bistro. We started with appetizers and then onto entrees. To start off...French Onion Soup, escargot, roasted bone marrow were some of the dishes the six of us ordered..

The main courses included mussels (moules mariniere) with pomme frites, steak & frites, duck-duck-foie,  duck breast and bacon wrapped pork.

And to finish off we did cheese and desserts including tangerine semifreddo, chocolate mousse and baked brie.

Overall it was a casual BYO with pretty good food. Some dishes - like the duck-duck-foie (duck breast, duck leg confit and foie gras) were outstanding. The steak and frites also quite good. Some dishes were a bit off the mark - the onion soup was lacking taste. But a very reasonable check, and comfortable enough ambiance and a nice menu made the evening a lot of fun.

Jenn's Rating: 80
Zagat: not rated

Bar at the Modern, NYC

Patty, Alan and I met up after work for drinks and lite dinner at the bar at The Modern in mid-town. We've eaten there once before and remembered it fondly so going back was something to look forward to. We got seats at the bar and ordered a few different plates to share including slow poached farm egg "in a jar" with Maine lobster, mushrooms and sea urchin foam; foie gras terrine with muscat gelee and toasted brioche; spicy steak tartar with quail egg and beer braised pork belly.

I don't have pictures for this one but the food was again quite nice. The spicy tartar had a nice kick to it without being too much to handle. The farm poached egg was more soupy than I expected it to be but the flavor was nice. The winner that evening was the pork belly. You really can't go wrong with pork belly.

The bar at the Modern is a fun place - lots of people watching - big comfortable bar stools so you can settle in for a few drinks while you sample the menu. Recommend it to anyone looking for an upscale bar scene in midtown.

Jenn's Rating: 86
Zagat: 26-26-25

Marea, NYC

Patty and I were wanting to go back to Marea once one of their pasta dishes showed up on a NYC list as best pasta dishes in the country. It doesn't take much to get us to want to go back so in mid-January we met at the bar early for good seats and good food.

We started off with a bottle of champagne (Brut Blanc de Blancs, La Caravelle) and a platter of crudos including Ono (seared wild pacific wahoo), Tonno (bigeye tuna), mackerel and langoustine. If you haven't been to Marea I so wish you would ~ truly amazing! Their ability to pair these bites of fish with perfect accompanyments to bring out the natural differences in each one. So incredible!

And for our entree - pasta!
We got the BEST PASTA DISH anywhere...the fusilli with red wine braised octopus and bone marrow. And the new dish, spaghetti with crab, santa barbara sea urchin and basil.

Always faced with the hope that memory and hype will be lived up to when that fusilli is put down in front of you - it only takes one bite to know that yes, this is an exceptional, perfect, incredible dish.

The crab dish was also really, really good. Lighter and a touch sweeter, this one speaks to freshness and the wonderful combination of tomato to basil. The sea urchin and crab not getting lost and adding a lovely texture.

There really just isn't a better place to have pasta in NYC. Eating at the bar is fun and comfortable if you don't want the formality of the main dining - just get there early!!

Jenn's Rating: 95
Zagat: 26-26-25
Michelin: Two stars

Sansu Japanese Steakhouse, Fair Haven NJ

First - seriously apologize for taking more than a month since the last post. I started a new job and have been crazy busy. But now is the time to get back on track!

In early January we met up with friends at a sushi steakhouse in Fair Lawn NJ. We started off with shared appetizers including this octopus dish. I thought this was the best dish of the evening - octopus was tender yet kept it's texture and sauce was thick without being too sweet.

Other appetizers were spring rolls, sashimi platter. The spring rolls were nice enough - crispy and warm with a nice duck dipping sauce. Most disappointing of all was the sushi and the rolls. Interesting names and descriptions on the menu just didn't translate to the plate. The platters were beautifully presented and yet the fish had a tougher consistency than one would want or like indicating that perhaps not as fresh as possible. Overall, not a sushi place that we would want to go back to or recommend when there are others nearby that get it right time and time again.

On a brighter note - one of our party is not a raw fish eater at all and got a hibachi with fried rice, proteins and vegetables and side dish of noodles. He liked it a lot and the noodles, which I tried were yummy. So if you're looking for hibachi - give it a go. If you're a die-hard sushi lover, maybe skip this one.

Daniel, NYC

On December 30th we had the pleasure of closing out the year with another trip to Daniel in NYC. My long-standing, all-time favorite restaurant - I was so thrilled to be going back for our 13th visit to the flagship restaurant of Daniel Boulud.

On this occassion we were joined by Nick and Patty with the added excitement of being the eve of Patty's birthday. It's a formal place by design so I took no pictures during dinner. What I will share here is a summary of the dinner and our customized menus.

The amuse bouche was a trio of carrot bites served on the classic Daniel tower. For dinner we asked for an eight course, chef's tasting. Almost every course they brought Patty & I different dishes from Alan & Nick and for some, Patty had something without crustaceans. Here's what we were served...

Course #1

• Mosaic of squab with pickled shitake; confit grapes, muscat gelee, purple watercress, pistachio oil and young vegetables
• Pheasant foie gras and black truffle mosaic with artichoke barigoule, celery-mustard coulis and toasted hazelnut

Course #2

• Orange yuzu marinated nantucket bay scallops with pickled Buddha's hand lemon, shiso oil, sea lettuce and chayote
• Trio of salmon: Coho salmon poached with finger lime and mint; salmon tartare with Meyer lemon and shanso pepper tulie; hot, smoked salmon with celery remoulade
• Maine peekytoe crab salad with granny smith apple, pickled cranberries, celery shavings and walnut oil

Course #3

• Slow baked Jade Tiger Abalone with cauliflower, Red Cedar juniper berries, Northern Lights caviar and vodka burre blanc
• Kataifi crusted sweet Maine lobster with licorie braised Hearts of Palm, pickled clementine and Red Ribbon sorrel
• Fennel ravioli with basil salad, Sicilian green oil, braised artichoke, roasted King Oyster mushroom and pickled red onion

Course #4

• Cedar wood wrapped hamachi with braised celery, caramelized salsify, cipollini onion and mustard seed bourbon sauce

Course #5

• Roasted Elysian field lamb chop with Brussels sprouts, spelt risotto, sauteed black trumpet glazed turnips, manouri cheese and hay-lamb jus
• Duo of beef: braised black angus short ribs with wild mushroom, fricassee with horseradish; seared wagyu tenderloin with rutubaga-mace puree and glazed chestnuts

Course #6

• Scottish hare "a la royale" with glazed winter root vegetables, parsnip puree, King Oyster mushrooms, chestnut and winter black truffle
• Roasted Liberty Farm duck breast with hazelnut-spinach subric, confit turnip, poached quince, garganelli pasta, winter black truffle and sauce civet

Course #7 & Course #8
Assortment of desserts
Duo of fruit & chocolate
Petit Fours and Madelaines

Our wines & champagnes with dinner:

• Andre Clouet Bouzy Grand Cru 2002
• Beaune 1st Cru Remoissenet Domaine "Marconnets" Burgundy 2008
• Chateauneuf-du-Pape Domaine La Barroche "Signature" Rhone 2010

Summary...
It can be hard to describe the emotion associated with a great meal. One in which the service flows like an orchestrated ballet; the ambiance is comfortable while being formal enough to feel that something special is taking place; the lighting, noise, roominess of the table, beautiful simplicity of crystal wine glasses on crisp linen; the intimacy of conversation with your dinner companions all a part of a unique ambiance that many restaurants will never perfect. All of that contributing to but taking a quiet back seat to the star - the food.

At Daniel, each experience has been an embodiment of all of those facets with the food shining through to cement itself as (in my opinion) the best restaurant in New York. I don't say that lightly - Per Se is a mega star in it's own right. But on 13 different occasions across the span of 14 years, Daniel has proved why it has earned countless awards, stars and accolades. They never miss a step. Every single presentation of every dish and every bite...it's really the standard in fine, French dining in the US.

If you ever have the opportunity just close your eyes, open up your wallet and say Yes! You won't be disappointed.

Zagat: 28-28-28
Michelin: 3 stars
World's Best Ranking: 25
Jenn's Rating: 99