A Voce - Restaurant Week Lunch, Summer 2012

Antipasti
Passato di Zucchine
Zucchini Soup, Pesto, Almonds, Pecorino

Antipasti
Mozzarella
Marinated Prosciutto, Stone Fruit

Antipasti
Pesce Crudo
Fluke, Marinated Cucumbers, Chilies, Lemon

Secondi
Arista di Maiale
Roasted Pork, Pickled Cherries, Coriander, Mustard Greens

Mandilli
Pasta Handkerchiefs, Braised Merluzzo, Toasted Fennel,
Capers, Olives

Dolci
Semifreddo
Semi-Frozen Lemon Mousse, Blueberries,
Candied Lemon

Dolci
Crema di Cioccolato
Chocolate Crema, Espresso, Almonds

Coffee, Marshmallows

A Voce

41 Madison Ave (at 26th St)

New York NY

212 545 8555

Dovetail - Restaurant Week Lunch, Summer 2012

Bread Service
White Cheddar Cornbread, White Truffle Parmesan Arancini

Appetizer

Cucumber Vichyssoise

Pickled Onion, Smoked Trout, Dill

Appetizer
Squid a la Plancha
Snow Peas, Ginger, Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam

Entree
Pork Loin
Barley Risotto, Bacon, Peaches

Entree
Roasted Chicken
English Peas, Mushrooms, Basil

Dessert
Devil's Food Cake
Chocolate Chantilly, Toasted Marshmallows, Peanut Butter Pudding

Dessert
Passion Fruit Mousse
Coconut Dacquoise, Blueberry Sorbet, Basil

Dovetail
103 West 77th St
New York NY 10024
212 362 3800

Veritas Tasting Menu

"The only way to do it (run a restaurant) is to be in the kitchen all the time."
- Sam Hazen, Executive Chef

True to his personal philosophy of running restaurants, my hubby and I had a wonderful second wedding anniversary celebration at Veritas. I barely had the chance to peruse the menu when Chef Sam Hazen came to our table and introduced himself. He was quite the jolly person and he has this way of making his diners feel special.*

The Chef's Tasting Menu is a line on the menu. If you weren't looking for it, you won't find it. If you want to know what's in it, YOU WON'T. According to our friend Ryan**, who was our server for the meal, the tasting menu is never the same for any table. It really goes for whatever the chef feels like serving you.

They are very cautious though, the chef personally asked us three times if we had any food allergies.

One by one, I indulged in Sam Hazen's emotions. My god, his emotions are delicious!

Here's the progression of our meal:

Bread Service

Home Made Biscuit with Shallot Braised in Mangalitsa Pork (front)
Stratchi Bread (Back)

Seared Prime Sirloin with Quail Egg and Garlic Crostini,
Crispy Risotto Ball, Charred Pepper, Tomatillo, Shaved Feta

Sashimi of Montauk Fluke, Lime Ponzu, Cilantro & Jalapeno

Oyster with House Bloody Mary Cocktail Sauce &
Vodka infused Horseradish

Oyster Escabeche - Marinated in Sherry Vinegar,
Candied Lemon Tomato Confit (part of oyster 2 ways)

Crab Salad - Boston Jonah & Venezuela Blue Cram with Peppadews,
Olive Oil, Arugula, Shallots, Phyllo Ring w/Black Olive Salt,
Meyer Lemon Jam & Olive Tapenade

Seared Diver Scallop & Seared Foie Gras
with Wild Mushroom and Veal Reduction

Loin of Lamb, Braised Short Rib Ravioli, Veal Jus,
Braised Wild Mushroom & Watercress Shallot Salad

Pan-Roasted Slicked Veal Chop, Cognac Mustard Potato Cake,
Warm Frisee Bacon Salad

Lemon Thyme Sorbet

Petit Fours - Chocolate Cookie, Rhubarb Hibiscus Macaron,
Apricot Pate de Fruit

From Bottom Left, Clockwise:
Veritas Candy Bar - Peanut Butter, Hazelnut, Devil's Food Cake
Pistachio Pudding, Rhubarb Compote, Buttermilk Whipped Cream
Market Berry Tart - Mascarpone Custard, Macerated Strawberries &
Apricot Vanilla Jam
Root Beer Vacherin, Vanilla Ice Cream, Root Beer Sorbet,
Root Beer Caramel & Sassafras Foam

 Chef Sam Hazen and Me
(The best way to my heart is through my stomach. No kidding.) 

Banana Bread - This was a parting gift.

My definite winners are the Fluke Sashimi and the Scallop and Foie Gras. The Scallop and Foie Gras is such a homerun because I'm a seafood and liver lover. The lamb dish is also very commendable - I hate lamb, but this dish is really, really good. It wasn't gamey and I ate it all. 

I look forward to the rest of our wedding anniversaries, for the rest of our lives. Thank you, Veritas - Our meal was amazing! 

Tasting Menu Price Varies, and starts at $130/person. Please ask your server before ordering.

__________________________


*Chef Sam Hazen made his rounds of the restaurant and paid attention to each table. I was observing. Very rarely do chefs come out of the kitchen to meet us, and if they do it is AFTER the meal. He came as soon as we sat. 
**Ryan is a very good friend of Dave and they met when they were still both working at Dylan Prime. Ryan was our dapper dining companion at Eleven Madison Park.
***My husband was very annoyed to take my fangirl photo. (I cannot wait to take a photo with his boss!)

DISCLAIMER:
This post was NOT sponsored in any way, shape or form. All the photos are opinions are mine. All rights reserved.  
__________________________

Veritas
43 East 20th St
New York NY
212-353-3700

Eleven Madison Park Lunch Tasting Menu

I went back again to Eleven Madison Park. The meal I had there last year was so good that I asked my husband to celebrate my birthday there. We had the four-course lunch menu then - this time we opted for the Lunch Tasting Menu.

Lunching at Eleven Madison Park is pure bliss because the amazing food and service paired with the amazing ambience makes you feel you are on a short vacation. They pulled all the stops and made my birthday a wonderful, wonderful experience.

There has been news of EMP changing its menu & pricing sometime late 2012. Please note that the prices and the dishes in this meal are the ones that I paid for and had at the time of this post. 

This was on our table when we got to it.

They even gave me a letter opener!

A sweet hand calligraphy birthday card! Woohoo!

Four course tasting menu

Our very excited party of three!

This box came first.

It is a savory one. Dont Be fooled.

Apple Tea

Quail Egg and Bacon

Cocktails!

A lady who lunches!

Dapper gentleman and his cocktail!

Yogurt Lollipops with Curry and Chickpea Panisse with Yogurt

Smoked Sturgeon Sabayon with Chive Oil

Clambake!

Lobster Fritter

Manila clams with Chorizo and Potato

Manila Clams with Apple

Lobster Madelines

New England Clam Chowder

Inside the kitchen

Special cocktail treat! Woot!

Liquid nitrogen

Pomegranate foam turning into domes in a liquid nitrogen bath

Mmm.

What it looks inside after all the smoke is gone

Bread with Cow's Milk Butter and Goat's Milk Butter

Presenting the beautiful ribeye

Cauliflower Tabbouleh Salad with Olives and Orange

Foie Gras Cured with Buckwheat, Buttermilk and Lemon

Whey tea poured over the dish

Whey, Fresh Curds, Caraway Gnocchi and Spring Herbs

Lobster Poached with Meyer Lemon, Burnt Leek and Shellfish Bisque

Beef Roasted with Wood Sorrel and Marble Potatoes
This is what became of that beautiful slab that was presented to us.

Cheuflada Cheese with Pickled Mustard Seeds and Pearl Onions

Tissue Coaster, Future Home of Egg Cream, Prepared Tableside

Egg Cream - Orange, Cocoa Nib and Seltzer

Goat Cheese Cheesecake with Cara Cara Orange and Vanilla

Chocolate Sorbet with Caramelized Cocoa Pastry,
Meyer Lemon and Olive Oil (with Birthday Candle!)

Inside.

Siphon Coffee Tableside Service
Water is boiled at the bottom of the machine.

When it reaches a certain temperature, the vacuum is sealed and
the water goes up to the top part.

Now all the water from the bottom has come up.

He stirs the water for it to get to a lower temperature which is optimum
for brewing coffee. 

Upon reaching desired temperature, he puts in the ground coffee and steeps.

Lowering the temperature so the brewed coffee goes back down to be
served and filtered.

Coffee is almost served. 

Real Black and White Cookies. (This time, they are sweet.)

2 sugars in my cup, melting away...

Petit Fours

A small surprise for the birthday girl...

I pull it out and there it was...

Mmm. Chocolate!

Our tasting menu for the day. 

But mine had a special happy birthday message!

I am so happy to have spent my birthday here, and I am very thankful to everyone who made my birthday celebration (one of many) very special. Thank you, Maya, for getting this all set up in such short notice.

I look forward to coming back, again. It was a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, indeed!

Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Avenue at 24th Street
New York NY