Went to Osteria Morini

Went to Osteria Morini last night. This is Chef/Owner Michael Whites place. I've been to one of his other places, Marea. That was an amazing meal. Morini is more rustic and not as $$$. Let me start by saying the food was great. It was cooked perfectly. It was served well and the waiters are great. I will have to say I did not like how loud the place is. It was hard to talk. Also the music choices were very strange mix of hard rock. Not what I thought for a rustic Italian place. But Osteria Morini is well worth going. Let me tell you what we had.

- BRACIOLA, grilled duroc end-cut pork chop, fried polenta, cipollini onions, balsamico $28
This was a wonderful end cut with the right amount of fat. The flavors were great.

- GRIGLIATA MISTA, mixed grill of side pork, sweet sausage, lamb chop, skirt steak

Greeting, so tonight I am going to Osteria Morini This is Chef/Owner Michael Whites place. I've been to Marea. That was an amazing meal. Morini is more rustic and not as $$$. I really looking forward to this meal.

Am I back..?

Edit... The below post never happened. Need to win Lotto or just wait some.
-E

"Let's see, I said I would post more. I did not. I don't think anyone is reading but me. Life has been busy and hard in the last several months. Time to move on.
In the next few weeks I am taking myself to two restaurants I've always wanted to go to.
On 1/24 I taking myself to Eleven Madison Park.. Let's see how they handle a table of one. I'm sure it will be great. Then on 1/31 I am then a table of one at Le Bernardin. Another place I have always wanted to try."

Cheers,
Evan

Where did I go..?

I'm really not sure. Was kind of into trying to blog my food thoughts then I fell out of being into it. Maybe soon. I will say I love the new Eataly Store! To add I've had a lot going on in my personal life. Family stuff and such. And have not been to any new good or bad places. Been more cooking and such. Anyhoo, this Sunday I am doing the Bo Ssam Pork dinner. I will post that!

Paradou

So last Sunday I was taken out to dinner by an old friend to a small rustic french bistro called Paradou. Located on Little West 12th St. Also known as the Meat Packing District. A area I use to enjoy a lot and now find myself hating what it has become. But there are still a few places that are worth the area and Paradou is one of them. I've been there before and what I like is that the food is always good and the service also good. I would say they are know for Chef Kfir Ben-Ari's Foie Gras Creations.

We tried all five:

FOIE "GRAVLAX": Cured with sugarcane, sea salt, sugar cane, ricard fennel leaves and spices. Served with candied fennel & red wine reduction

FOIE GRAS en TORCHON: Cooked mi-cuit with pistachio at the center. Blanched in red wine, air dried overnight and rolled in pistachio dust. Served with cherry tomato & coriander confiture

FOIE GRAS "BRULEE": Fresh Hudson Valley Foie Gras sprinkled with light brown sugar & caraway seeds, then bruleed. Served with warm roasted macadamia nuts soaked in Lillet

TERRINE de FOIE GRAS: Marinated in port wine & cognac, accented with alea Hawaiian red salt. Served with onion & chestnut marmalade

FOIE GRAS FLAN: A foie gras custard topped with red wine caramel. Served with lavender honey-glazed almonds and fennel pollen

And we also had grilled sardines. I must say this dish is my new favorite

It was a perfect dinner and night. I just wish they had A/C it was so freak'in hot. But I would still go back.

Peking Duck House (Mott St.)

So this past weekend I went to The Peking Duck House this time to the location downtown on Mott St. They also have a location on the UES in the 50's. I was at the UES location two Christmases ago with a good friend who also had nothing to do that day. We had a great dinner. I have not been to the Chinatown location since I was a small lad.

At both locations the duck is very good. Maybe Mott St location is a little better. Funny it's a little cheaper.

Anyhoo, I was fine ordering just the duck and a vegi side. I picked sauteed spinach and garlic. Both were great. Also ordered at the table was, Shrimp in lobster sauce, Moo, Shu (whatever?) they were not good. But I'd think they would not be. But that is my thoughts. The duck was great. the company fun. I can do that again...

here is a photo from their web site.





Yep it pretty much looked that good.

I want more!

Cheers,
Evan

Foodie vs. Gourmand

I am tired of the word "foodie" and I don't really like being called one. If I need a title let it be Gourmand.

From Websters;

Main Entry: gour·mand
-- one who is heartily interested in good food and drink and it's preparation.