Dinner Date: NYC Style

Hello lovelies!

It's been quite a while. I just got back from a month long vacation with hubby and I've been busy with work ever since.

Let me share with you some of the pictures of our dinner date in New York.

As soon as our NYC trip was confirmed, hubby made it clear that he wants us to try this restaurant in New York Eleven Madison Park. It is located in yes, Madison Avenue along Madison Park and is named as the #5 Best Restaurant in the world (based on the annual 50 World's Best Restaurant list), and #1 in the US. It is also a 3 Michelin Star restaurant.

When I called a month prior to our trip to book, it was all booked out so I had to pull out some strings and make a very compelling story so they can give us a spot on the day we wanted to dine. With some stroke of luck, I was able to get us a spot on the Monday we were in New York.

It was a 16 course degustation menu and surprisingly, the portion wasn't as small as we expected. The food is superb. I'm no critic but I was impressed by the food and its presentation. The whole meal lasted for about 3 and a half hours. And the service is very professional that you'll wholeheartedly give them the gratuity they well deserve.

After the meal, and after finding out that hubby is a chef, they gave us a free tour of the kitchen and was able to see the chefs in action.

It was a great experience celebrated with excellent food and superb service.

Enjoy the pictures!

We started our dinner with this surprisingly yummy Savory Black and White cookie with Apple.

this turned out to be one of our favorite dish of the night. Our next dish is a very interesting take on Sea Urchin.

It is made of snow with smoked cantaloupe and conch. The third dish is surf clam with fava bean, meyer lemon and green garlic.

Next dish is this very elaborate littleneck clam made of clambake with whelk, parker house roll and chowder.

the pot has a seaweed based that literally smoked as soon as hot water was poured in it. Next is this lobster salad with tomato and lettuce.

The sixth dish is my favorite of the night. It's a foie gras brulle with summer berries and beets. Very good!

Next dish is called carrot tartare with rye bread and condiments.

The carrots are grind in front of you. They bring out a grinder and set it up in your table, then a chef comes out and grind the carrots while explaining how the dish should be eaten.

Next dish is this very refreshing poached striped bass with zucchini and squash blossoms.

The ninth dish is this interesting corn pudding with truffle and buttermilk in an ostrich egg.

Main course is roasted duck with pistachio, rhubarb and fennel

I am never fond of any duck dish, but this one, I super super love. Next dish is this greensward basket with all kinds of food inside like pretzel, mustard, their own brewed beer and pickled strawberries.

The 12th dish is this egg cream malt with vanilla and seltzer that is prepared in front of you.

Next came the dessert. A mint sorbet with fernet branca and chocolate ganache. 

Next came their own version of cheesecake with mango and peanut.

At the bottom of the cheesecake is this chocolate surprise that is only revealed after a card trick is performed by the server in your table.

 Next  is this chocolate covered pretzel with sea salt and a sweet black and white cookie with apricot.

Here is a peak of the chaos in the kitchen.

 

they even created a special cocktail for us inside the kitchen for us to drink while watching them in action.

 

 

Hope you loved the pictures and you didn't feel too hungry after reading this post.


xoxo,
Coco

 

Perks of Being a Chef's Wife: The Bourbon at Kings Cross

Being married to a chef is not an easy life. This article and this forwarded to me by a friend is spot on. I found myself smiling and nodding while reading them.

Having said that, being married to one also has perks. You get to eat free sometimes and you get freebies in most cases.

So far, he has worked for three restaurants and boy do I get spoiled every time I eat on those places.

They make you order their 7 course degustation/tasting menu and then forget to mention that you need to save some space because they will be sending out more food for you to try out. There were times I even have to beg them to stop sending food because I'm on the verge of experiencing "food comma".

And when it's time to ask for the bill, the restaurant manager approaches and says "it's on us" or "so and so took care of it". Well now, isn't that lovely!?

And just recently, my husband started work in a new restaurant, The Bourbon at Kings Cross which has a Creole inspired menu with James Metcalfe at the helm.

As our customary practice, he brings me to the restaurant in one of his rest days to dine and taste their food.

I like the design of the place. There is an old/vintage feel to it.

 

And of course the food. The moment we sat, the kitchen sent out this heart warming gumbo.

Spicy duck broth, smoked sausage, red chili and coriander

We then ordered this finger licking good crab clusters with its light spiced butter

Grilled Alaskan crab clusters

and this Melon and Ham to start. The combination of watermelon with the ham and mint is a pleasant surprise for me. It was so refreshing!

Watermelon, serrano, mint, chilli, white pepper vinegar

For our mains, my husband ordered the Porchetta. The skin was so crispy while the meat melts in your mouth.

Belly, sage, spices

I ordered lobster and chips. The butter and truffle in the lobster was a perfect combination. And of course you can never go wrong with parmesan fries. (ok, i'm a cheese lover that's why!)

Grilled, montpellier butter, truffle, parmesan fries

For dessert, the kitchen made us try all the dessert in the menu.The s'mores were to die for. Such a simple dessert but the chocolate they use is superb. I can't get enough of it.

I'm not a fan of pumpkin pies but the combination of the pie and the ginger ice cream worked well.

Pecan tart, Lime cheesecake, S'mores

Beignets. Peppered strawberry caramel, whipped cream

Pumpkin pie with ginger ice cream

So if you happen to be in Sydney or going to Sydney, why not drop by The Bourbon and experience for yourself the nice food and the super nice chefs (my husband included!). 

Bias aside, the food is good. But as you may know by now, when it comes to food, I am very easy to please. :)

Have an awesome week lovelies!


xoxo,
Coco

Argentinian Cuisine is Delicioso

A few weeks back, we ate at Porteno, an Argentinian Restaurant in Surry Hills. This restaurant is awarded the 2 Chef's Hat (Australia's version of Michelin Star). I'm no food critic and when it comes to food I am pleased easily. But my husband being a chef, is very difficult to please, and he was very happy with the food.

 The interior of the place has the old Spanish villa feel to it.

Being true to its Argentinian roots, a spit roast is the star of the restaurant.

The chefs/owners in action. They were named as Australia's Chef of the Year for 2012.

We started off with a freshly baked bread with olive oil and pork pate and pickled veal tongue. The pork pate is to die for.

Lengua En Escabeche

We then ordered a kobe wagyu beef skirt and an 8 hour woodfired pig for our mains with a side of crispy fried brussel sprouts.

Chanchito A la Cruz

Entrana

Repollitos De Brussela Frito

By now I feel like I'm in a food comma but I.Just.Need.To.Have.Dessert. We ordered two magnificent desserts. A burnt milk custard with peach and chocolate ice cream.

Leche Quemada

 Apricot and chocolate tart with muscat and creame fraiche ice cream and vanilla chantilly.

Tarta De Chocolate

If only for these desserts, I can come back again and again and again.


Xoxo,
Coco