Destination: United States

james beard awards (2008)…

2008 James Beard Awards For the second year in a row, I had the honor of attending the James Beard Awards Gala and Reception in New York City.  As last year, the ceremony was held at the Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center. It was hot.  It was a zoo.  At times, the event was somewhat […]

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james beard awards (2008)…

2008 James Beard Awards For the second year in a row, I had the honor of attending the James Beard Awards Gala and Reception in New York City.  As last year, the ceremony was held at the Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center. It was hot.  It was a zoo.  At times, the event was somewhat […]

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izard…

Congratulations are in order for Stephanie Izard, the winner of Top Chef Season 4. I’m thrilled to see Izard returning to the restaurant scene after a brief hiatus. I had a wonderful dinner at her Chicago seafood-focused restaurant, Scylla, in 2006. A perfectly pan-fried filet of Tasmanian sea trout on a bed of black trumpet […]

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izard…

Congratulations are in order for Stephanie Izard, the winner of Top Chef Season 4. I’m thrilled to see Izard returning to the restaurant scene after a brief hiatus. I had a wonderful dinner at her Chicago seafood-focused restaurant, Scylla, in 2006. A perfectly pan-fried filet of Tasmanian sea trout on a bed of black trumpet […]

Continue

review: of the place…

Canapes, Del Posto I was assured that Mark Ladner, Executive Chef of Del Posto, was cooking for us when the server came to our table to apologize that he had no clue what the chef was preparing. Apparently, Ladner had remained “tight-lipped” about our dinner. The courses would be revealed to our servers as the […]

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review: of the place…

Canapes, Del Posto I was assured that Mark Ladner, Executive Chef of Del Posto, was cooking for us when the server came to our table to apologize that he had no clue what the chef was preparing. Apparently, Ladner had remained “tight-lipped” about our dinner. The courses would be revealed to our servers as the […]

Continue

review: reprioritizing life…

Sea Urchin-Caviar, Le Bernardin Le Bernardin, a friend and I concluded, is one of those restaurants that, despite it’s acclaim and fame, one doesn’t necessarily crave or clamour for. It’s one of those restaurants that, when you are there, you wonder why you haven’t thought of it more fondly, and more often. A meal at […]

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review: reprioritizing life…

Sea Urchin-Caviar, Le Bernardin Le Bernardin, a friend and I concluded, is one of those restaurants that, despite it’s acclaim and fame, one doesn’t necessarily crave or clamour for. It’s one of those restaurants that, when you are there, you wonder why you haven’t thought of it more fondly, and more often. A meal at […]

Continue

review: the wickedly good hour…

“Hush & Wonder” The Violet Hour I am a neophyte to wine. I’m even more green to cocktails. Believe it or not, I took my first (serious) sip of a cocktail about eight months ago. It was at Tailor. It is called The Crumble. It was very enjoyable. It is no longer (as of posting […]

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review: the wickedly good hour…

“Hush & Wonder” The Violet Hour I am a neophyte to wine. I’m even more green to cocktails. Believe it or not, I took my first (serious) sip of a cocktail about eight months ago. It was at Tailor. It is called The Crumble. It was very enjoyable. It is no longer (as of posting […]

Continue

review: eating off the marble pass…

Do you remember that television show “Thirtysomething?” I was like ten years-old when it was in syndication, and I thought it was about old people. Now, I’m one of them. Recently, I crossed that border from being young and irresponsible, to being older and irresponsible: I turned 30. In anticipation of this momentous occasion, I […]

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review: eating off the marble pass…

Do you remember that television show “Thirtysomething?” I was like ten years-old when it was in syndication, and I thought it was about old people. Now, I’m one of them. Recently, I crossed that border from being young and irresponsible, to being older and irresponsible: I turned 30. In anticipation of this momentous occasion, I […]

Continue

best dishes of 2007…

2007 saw a noticeable change in food trends. Our nation’s culinary drivers began to consciously steer us away from fine dining and toward casual fare. This de-emphasis on luxury in favor of the humble meant that caviar and foie gras became out-paced by brussels sprouts and short ribs; the fascination and wonder with molecular gastronomy […]

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best dishes of 2007…

2007 saw a noticeable change in food trends. Our nation’s culinary drivers began to consciously steer us away from fine dining and toward casual fare. This de-emphasis on luxury in favor of the humble meant that caviar and foie gras became out-paced by brussels sprouts and short ribs; the fascination and wonder with molecular gastronomy […]

Continue

review: genuine food, genuine drink…

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink I was pleased to spy Chef Michael Schwartz as my table was seated to dinner recently at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, the trendy new eat place in Miami’s heretofore rather quiet, but apparently up-and-coming, Design District. Michael Schwartz recently garnered a bit of press as […]

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review: genuine food, genuine drink…

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink I was pleased to spy Chef Michael Schwartz as my table was seated to dinner recently at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, the trendy new eat place in Miami’s heretofore rather quiet, but apparently up-and-coming, Design District. Michael Schwartz recently garnered a bit of press as […]

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review: meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Blue Hill at Stone Barns ulterior epicure Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Photographs of this meal can be found on my flickr account.) Moments and reminders of how humans ought to live are, in our world, scarce. Having grown up on the prairie plains of the Midwest amidst fields of corn, wheat and cattle, there […]

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review: meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Blue Hill at Stone Barns ulterior epicure Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Photographs of this meal can be found on my flickr account.) Moments and reminders of how humans ought to live are, in our world, scarce. Having grown up on the prairie plains of the Midwest amidst fields of corn, wheat and cattle, there […]

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review: a tale of two tasting menus

3rd Course: Pan-Seared Dorade Fleur de Sel To see all of the photos from this meal, click here. My recent lunch at the 1 Michelin-starred Fleur de Sel was a tale of two tasting menus.  my guest and I both ordered the five-course lunch prixe fixe.  With the exception of the canape and cheese course, each course […]

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review: a tale of two tasting menus

3rd Course: Pan-Seared Dorade Fleur de Sel To see all of the photos from this meal, click here. My recent lunch at the 1 Michelin-starred Fleur de Sel was a tale of two tasting menus.  my guest and I both ordered the five-course lunch prixe fixe.  With the exception of the canape and cheese course, each course […]

Continue