recette (New York, NY)

One thing I really enjoy doing is checking out new restaurants and cafes / dessert bars in the city.  Thanks to my friends who are truly big time foodies, I've often had the honor of being among the first to check out some of the best little restaurants and cafes.  (one example that comes to mind is kyotofu, which has now made its spot on many people's lists as one of their favorite dessert bars)

recette may just be one of those places again.  

recette is a small -- I mean, very small -- restaurant in the West Village that has a very simple look on the exterior.  But what you find inside is nothing simple, nothing ordinary.  For starters, we have an ex-Gordon Ramsay chef and an ex-Per Se pastry chef at your service.  The menu is comprised of "snacks" and "plates," which can be roughly translated into "appetizers" and "entrees," although the portions are very small.

recette, NYC

You can also choose one of the two tasting menus (5-course, 7-course), but unless you have a really big appetite or want a really full meal, I would instead recommend carefully selecting your favorite dishes and ordering a la carte.  One snack dish and two plates should be enough to satisfy just about anyone's appetite in my opinion (and trust me, I have a BIG appetite).  Also, you might want to leave room in your stomach for the ex-Per Se pastry chef to do some magic.

I'll share some pictures of the dishes I had tonight.  I thought each and every dish was special in its own way, although I must point out that my favorites were the "marinated hamachi, uni, sea beans, harissa" snack dish and the "chilled corn soup, roasted foie gras, parmesan tuile, thyme" plate dish.  The tuna crudo and lobster risotto dishes were just as delicious, but given that my expectations for these two dishes were already very high, I think it was difficult for them to further escalate the level of blissful satisfaction I experienced after the first two dishes.    

These are the dishes I had:

Snacks

Marinated Hamachi, Uni, Sea Beans, Harissa

Plates

Chilled Corn Soup, Roasted Foie Gras, Parmesan Tuile, Thyme

Tuna Crudo, Fennel, Mussel Vinaigrette, Caramelized Orange, Caviar

Lobster Risotto, Porcini Mushroom, Lobster Emulsion, Summer Truffle

Dessert

"Smores,” Graham Cracker Ice Cream, Toasted Marshmallow, "Hot" Chocolate Ganache

This place might just become one of my favorite restaurants in the city.  It's definitely my kind of place.... and only a short walk from the beautiful Highline Park too.  :)

Do Eun @ recette, NYC

Do Eun @ recette, NYC

Location: 328 West 12th Street, NYC
Dress Code: Casual
Occasion: dinner with friends, date night out, first date
Price Range: ~$15 / snack, ~$25 / plate (tax, tip not included); $75 / 5-course tasting menu (tax, tip not included) 

SHO Shaun Hergatt (New York, NY)

SHO Shaun Hergatt is located within a three-minute walking distance from my office (Financial District).  I had been eyeing on this restaurant even before it opened, and I was glad to have finally checked it out with my ex-co-worker Andy. 


Shaun Hergatt is a relatively young Australian chef, with a unique style.  His dishes are full of flavor, refreshing, and just gorgeous.


SHO has a fantastic 3-course lunch pre-fixe going on this summer (through Labor Day) at $24.  I would highly recommend checking this place out during this promotional season for several reasons: 1) appetizer and main entree options include beef carpaccio, amadai and pork belly, which are not the most common dishes (e.g., garden salad, roasted chicken, and grilled salmon) offered at most restaurants during Restaurant Week, 2) dessert dishes--especially the milk chocolate palet with yuzu chantilly and rasberry-- are highly creative and simply delicious, and 3) this is a gorgeous restaurant definitely worth a visit and you'll have to pay a high price for the visit unless you take advantage of this special opportunity.

SHO Shaun Hergatt, NYC

These are the dishes I tried:

Appetizer

Chilled Heirloom Tomato Soup

Tomato Gélee, Basil Espuma

Main Course

Crispy Skin Amadai

Edamame Purée, Pickled Daikon

Char Su Braised Pork Belly
Green Scallion, Fingerling Potato


Dessert

Milk Chocolate Palet
Yuzu Chantilly, Raspberry

What makes it even more worth this visit is the fact that SHO is currently giving out $24 off coupons to everyone who visits the restaurant during the promotional specials period.  The coupon has to be used at dinner, and is valid through Labor Day.

Location: 40 Broad Street (near Wall Street), 2nd floor
Dress Code: Business Casual
Occasion: date night dinner, business lunch, dinner with friends
Price Range: ~$90/person for pre-fixe dinner (includes tax and tip), ~$45/person for pre-fixe lunch (includes tax and tip), ~$30/person for 3-course pre-fixe lunch during Restaurant Week promotional season (through Labor Day)

Do Eun @ SHO Shaun Hergatt, NYC

Gotham Bar and Grill (New York, NY)

Since I work full-time in consulting, it's very hard for me to take advantage of any of the amazing NYC Restaurant Week offers during the week.  :(  But actually, I would argue that perhaps the best restaurant deals in NYC are not during restaurant week but during special offering seasons at each restaurant.

Since I would one day like to own a restaurant of my own in the city some day, I try to take every opportunity to check out the most popular (and sometimes hidden) restaurants in NY. 

Gotham Bar & Grill was the first on my list to visit this summer, as this was the only place from Zagat's Top 10 most famous NYC restaurants that I had not visited.  

It was definitely worth the wait....  

Gotham Bar & Grill, NYC

Gotham is currently offering the "Summer Sundays: Flash Back to the 80s" menu, where you can choose from among the restaurant's once popular dishes back in the 80s -- and here's the great news -- at the 80s prices.  Now, keep in mind that Gotham was not the cheapest restaurant in town back then, so we're not talking $5 / dish, but the prices are about 50% of current prices.  This is definitely a good deal, and, in my opinion, a much better deal than Restaurant Week specials.

These are the dishes I tried:

First Course

CURED ATLANTIC SALMON (1986)
cracked wheat, golden beet, shaved fennel, orange oil

GOAT CHEESE RAVIOLI (1985)
roast tomato, pancetta, basil

HEIRLOOM TOMATO BRUSCHETTA (1989)
fava beans, pecorino toscano, grilled bread basil aioli

Second Course

SEARED YELLOWFIN TUNA (1987)
caponata, pappardelle, red wine sauce

ROASTED BLACK BASS (1987)
braised leeks, shiitake mushrooms, fingerling potatoes
port reduction

GRILLED HANGER STEAK (1988)
“creamed” spinach, crisp potatoes, bordelaise sauce

Dessert

TRIO OF ICE CREAMS OR SORBETS (1984)

PEANUT BUTTER COUPE (1986)
chocolate sauce, whipped cream


Every little bit of every dish we ordered was absolutely delicious. They were all presented very beautifully as well. In summary, I would HIGHLY recommend this place.

May I add that Chef Alfred Portale is the recipient of the Outstanding Chef in the nation distinction in 2006.

 
Location: 12th Street between University Ave. and 5th Ave.
Dress: Elegant Casual (jeans are allowed but I would probably not recommend)
Occasion: great for a nice family dinner or a dinner out with friends
Price Range: ~$100/person including appetizer, entree, and dessert (includes tax, tip) / ~$50/person if ordering from "Summer Sundays: Flash Back to the 80s" specials (includes tax, tip)

Do Eun @ Gotham Bar & Grill, NYC

Time Management

분명히 시간이 없어서. 스트레스를 받는 것인데

스트레스 받는다는 핑계로 이렇게 인터넷을 하면서
그나마 있는 시간마저 더 없게 만든다.

My Adorable Niece Yune

The best part of my twelve day vacation was the time I got to spend with my niece Yune.  She's such an adorable little baby (eight months old), and it was pure joy to see her grow day by day during the less than two weeks I spent with her.

I fell in love with her the moment I walked into the room (well, I guess technically I fell in love with her even before she was born), and to my (and everyone else's) surprise, she seemed to have fallen in love with me too.  :)  She seemed so very happy to see me, and greeted me with lots of precious smiles and kisses.

Yune at home:

Yune in the car:

Yune with green bikinis and pink towel dress at Ssol Beach Resort:

Yune sitting on granny's lap:

Yune after a bath:

Yune biting mommy's elbow with her two teeth:

Yune a little tired from the trip:

I miss Yune already...