Why am I doing this?

I'm not sure???

I have an amazing love for great food and for the people that make it happen. I enjoy cooking but never wanted to do it for a living. I have had friends and know people that do. People are always asking me for a recommendation for a certain type of place for dinner and have said I should blog or something. I'm not sure I am into this. So far I have told no one about this blog. I think of it more as a diary. I'm not a writer, I'm sure you can tell. I don't want to monetize this. I'm just here.

So if you stumble across this there it is. Now, what is it?

-e

Five Napkin Burger

Greetings all. This will be a short post. So on Saturday I went to have lunch at the new Five Napkin Burger on B'way and 84th St. I've walk by this place many times and it's always packed. I sat at the bar and had two dbl. espresso's and then I ordered the cheddar/bacon burger. I asked for it medium rare.


I think it's me but burgers just don't do it for me anymore. I will say I like the Shake Shack dbl. stack and I do want to try the burger at Minetta Tavern.

Moving on, I would not call what I got Med. Rare. It was more like medium. It tasted fine but did not move me so I can take it or leave it.

Cheers

Colicchio & Sons

OK, left The Standard Grill (see post below) and walked over early to Colicchio & Sons (85 Teth Ave/15th St.) I got there early to check out the bar area. Let's re-cap that this places just opened 3-4 months ago. Most of the on-line blogs have been luke warm and yet Sam Sifton of The New York Times gave it 3 stars (review here).
There has been some buzz about how much Sam Sifton is giving away in his Twitter posts and how well known his face is vs. the amount of effort he puts in to hide that.

FYI, I like to call them twats.

And then there was this post on Twitter from Tom Colicchio reported to be on a night Twisfton was there "@SamSifton after eating curry all day I would hate to be the restaurant you are visiting tonight."

Who know about all this crap. Here is what I had and thought.

The bar was great. I'd like to see more wine by the glass but what they had was good. And a large & interesting beer selection.
There were no Douche bags. They all must have been at The Standard Grill.
The places looks great and the service is good. Not sure if 3 star good, yet. Yes I feel service needs to be part a 3 or 4 star review. The food was very good. Still not sure if 3 stars. I think since it has only been open 3-4 months that it needs time to settle in.

here is what I had:

• SEA URCHIN & CRAB FONDUE
• BUTTER-POACHED OYSTERS
  WITH CELERY ROOT "TAGLIATELLE" & AMERICAN CAVIAR
• WHITE BEAN AGNOLOTTI
  WITH CHORIZO, PORK BELLY & OCTOPUS
• PANCETTA-WRAPPED MONKFISH
  WITH BRAISED RED CABBAGE & BLACK TRUFFLE VINAIGRETTE

I would recommend going here and I want to really try it again in a few months.

I will say I'm a fan of T.C.

Going there reminded me that I need to try Del Posto on the same block. I hear that place is great.


Cheers

The Standarg Grill

Last night I had some time before I was going over to Colicchio & Sons and decided to check out The Standard Grill at 848 Washington St. I was just in the bar area. Where they have a small selection of oysters and some meats.

I got a dozen mix of oysters and a martini. You will learn that I do enjoy this combination a lot. Anyhoo, the service was good and the oysters are great. And yes the martini was good also. It seems the decor of the inside of the restaurant is better for my tastes then the bar area. It also did not help that the bar area had a good mix of Euro-Trash and NYC-Doushe Trash. So kind of a turn off for me. I do want to go back for a dinner. The meats are prices very good for the quality. Or so it seems. We will find out sometime soon.

So I have not decided if being a Food Ronin means I should take my photo's in secret..?

Cheers,

Company Pizza

I have always said that Lucali's Pizza in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn to be my favorite and I will still say that. But I must say that Jim Lahey's Company Pizza at 230 Ninth Ave (24th St) was great. I see why he is called a Master Of Bread.

I had two types there.

First the "Pizza Bianca" w/coarse sea salt, olive oil & Ricotta.
*This was amazing.
Sorry no photo of the ricotta. I'm new to this blog shit.
I would like to have this pizza and great espresso in the morning when I wake up in Italy.


The second one was the Meatball Pizza w/tomato, buffalo mozzarella, veal meatballs, caramelized onions, olives, aged pecorino, oregano
*Also excellent!


This places is about flavor not let's see how much shit we can put on a pie. It's got a simple way about it and the flavors are full. You will and should enjoy!!!


All the ingredients are fresh, the service was great. for the most part it is long communal tables to sit at and talk with strangers or not. The pies are 4-5 slices. It's great to share. For those that don't like to share I don't know what to say to you.

Tonight I'm going to Collicchio & Sons. Boy has this places gotten a strange mix of reviews. And last week Sam Sifton of NYT's gave it 3 stars! Here is a link
I will tell you what I think soon.