So this weekend we went to the Taste of Tribeca Event. For $35 (a friend got a discount through work - tickets were normally $40), we got to taste six dishes from various high end restaurants in Tribeca.
We tried:
Chanterelle: Rhubarb Consomme over Honey & Yogurt Creme (my friend thought this was better than I did - he raved about it)
Edwards: Chili Hot Dogs (its a hot dog)
Scalini Fedeli: Porcini Mushroom Ravioli w/Truffle Cream Sauce (I never got to try this but heard it was the best thing out there)
Dylan Prime: Prime Rib & Rock Shrimp (the Prime Rib was like salty roast beef, but the Rock Shrimp was great)
Acapella: Mushroom Ravioli (damn good)
Bubbys: BBQ Brisket Sandwiches (this was the most filling dish)
Duane Park Patisserie: Magic Cupcakes (meh, I think all cupcakes are overrated)
Cercle Rouge: Chicken Wings w/ Blue Cheese (this in my opinion, was the best dish - they take off one of the bones and roll down the wing, then deep fry it. It was awesome.)
Then we got sauced at the wine tasting at Tribeca Wine Merchants. They served a wine out of this special vacuum sealed cylindrical box (NOT FRANZIA!) that was actually a suprisingly good chardonnay. The rest of the wines were not that great.
The little puppy who wouldn’t let go of its owner was the highlight of the day. I want a bulldog.
Last night I went to SAPA, a gorgeous French/Southeast Asian restaurant located on 24th and Broadway. The food was good but not as spectacular as the decor. The waitresses were equally beautiful. For appetizers, we had the Roasted Beet and Grapefruit Salad with goat cheese and toasted filberts, as well as the Peking Duck Salad. The duck was not as delicate as I had hoped, but the salad it came with was quite good. For entrees, we had the Cod Roasted in Parchment with porcini mushrooms, and the Lamb Porterhouse. The cod was light and also pretty good. I thought the Lamb was a bit overcooked (they never asked how it should be prepared) and I was turned off by the char on the outside. Also, the cut that was given, which was sort of two t-bones, was unwieldy. I suppose the thing that struck me the most was that none of the dishes we had seemed very characteristic of French/Southeast Asian cuisine. The wine we had, however, was terrific: a Pinot Gris - Big Fire 2004 from Willamette Valley, Oregon. Another saving grace: there was a waiter who would come around periodically with the most delicious chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven (he served them off the baking tray). We thought that was fantastic and I hope other restaurants follow suit with similar little “treats.” Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for dessert, but based on the cookies, I’ll bet they would have been the best part. As for service, the waitress was great, but there was an long gap between our appetizers and our entrees. Though that can’t be blamed on the waitress, it was a bit annoying.
The damage? about $85 per person.
Tomorrow, we are going to the Taste of Tribeca. Featured restaurants include Landmarc, Nobu, Megu, 66, Chanterelle, Bouley, and more. I can’t wait!
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