Dim Sum A Very Sociable Way To Dine

A coworker of mine has been trying to get me to go for  a Dim Sum lunch for a very long time. We finally got it together and went to Chinatown for what I have to tell you was a wonderful meal. I love small tasting plates so this was such a great experience. My friend who is Hong Kong Chinese took us to a place not frequented by tourists so it was a truly authentic experience. Jing Star is an Hong Kong style restaurants that seems to be very well regarded. Our little group turned heads a little with two Asian woman an Irish guy and an African American.

The food was incredibly good but I did not take many photos as the conversation was even more incredible. I know feel I could go without a guide and try even more dishes..
And usual a wander around Chinatown is always interesting.

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I have had a lot going on of late and have very little energy for blogging. I have some time of this week and am hoping to get back in the groove. 

Print Restaurant: Farm To Table in NYC

You know a restaurant is committed to a locally sourced farm to table philosophy when not only do they have a forager on staff but they are also a pick up point for a CSA (community supported agriculture) program.

Charles Rodriguez is a former co worker of mine and is now the executive chef
at Print Restaurant in the Ink48 hotel on the West Side of Manhattan. He has developed an
incredible menu with sustainable and locally sourced ingredients. 
I have been intending to eat there for quite some time and finally a group of friends 
a couple of whom included Print employees and I enjoyed a meal there recently. 
To say I was impressed would be an understatement. I loved everything .
and particularly liked the unfussy plate presentations which allow the food flavors to be the .
star of the show.

The menu changes frequently and is very market dependent but here is a sample of a typical selection.. As you can see the menu items link directly to how it is sourced.

Seared scallops, avocado salsa, pomegranate-fennel salad

Goat cheese gnocchi, ramps, favas, english peas, pancetta, pea shoots, parmesan



Roasted farm fresh chicken breast, fingerling potatoes, saute spring vegetables, spinach, thyme jus

Mountain View Farm crispy duck breast, english peas, ramps, asparagus, turnips, kumquat sauce

Braised lamb shanks, potato puree, roasted carrots, ramps, brussel sprouts, horseradish gremolata

Grilled dry aged beef sirloin, english peas flan, grilled spring garlic, roasted carrots, bordelaise sauce

Grilled Berkshire pork chop, saute apples, hazelnuts, sage, quinoa, parsleyrisotto

Dessert

Marsala cream puff, expresso granite, frozen mascarpone parfait

Frozen hazelnut parfait, Argyle Cheese Farmers maple yogurt mousse, expresso syrup, warm grappa caramelized banana

Chocolate bread, Catskill Provisions raw honey, Salvatore Brooklyn ricotta

Ricotta creme brulee, caramelized apples, apple-cider sorbet

Whipped chocolate flan, Seven Stars heavy cream, bittersweet chocolate sorbet

House made ice creams and sorbets

Farmstead cheeses, house-made accompaniments
All the cheese are American farmstead. Accompaniments include but are not limited to dates and dried apricots.

After dining there is a wonderful lounge on the top floor of the hotel with incredible views of Manhattan.


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Now This Is The Way To Do a Friday Fast

If you follow the rules of the Catholic Church and abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent you might as well do it in style. Here are some of the Catch of The Day Specials we have been serving.

     

    

     

When it comes to restaurant dishes writing recipes can be very difficult. Each plate can be a combination of several component recipes. In the case of these dishes it is some simple but quality fresh ingredients well prepared and artfully presented. I cannot take credit for these dishes as they are a product of the culinary team. I am much more involved in the catering end of our operation but this is the kind of food that is produced in the main restaurant.

Some Fun Eats Atlantic City, NJ

After a very busy holiday season it is great to have the chance to take a break for a few days. I am spending a few days in one of my favorite escape places just a short hop from NYC. I am not a huge gambler but I do play some slots. What I really enjoy is being able to dine out and have some drinks with no commute home.  I thought I would share some of my dining experiences. I tend to enjoy fairly mid priced places. I have one more full day and I hoping I will be able to share at least one more place

The first two places I would like to share are both in the Pier Shops at Caesars.

Phillips Seafood is very well known for it’s crab. They have an inexpensive happy hour at the bar with $5 appetizers which is a good value. We had a crab and spinach dip which was a meal in itself. And also something I really want to develop myself which is a sausage and peppers slider. The sliders tasted good but I think with some small tweaks they could be incredible. The dip was delicious.

Buddahkan is a very cool looking restaurant with a eclectic menu. They have a lunch special with very interesting Bento Boxes.  I was very disappointed with my photo of my bento box but I am posting it to give you an idea of how it looks. The lighting was just too low. The bento box came in three segments, a calamari salad, fillet mignon with wasabi crust and an incredible edamame ravioli.

My batteries will be fully charged when I return to NYC and I have lots of plans and ideas so stay tuned..

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