An Evening of Delight at Contra
Mr. T and I kicked off our 4th of July weekend with dinner at Contra; one of the newest hot spots serving a prix-fixe only tasting menu. Immediately upon seeing the space and cuisine I thought of Manfred's & Vin; the cozy restaurant we fell in love with during our visit to Copenhagen last year. The idea is much the same- small courses, built around three or so ingredients, that change daily. As with Manfred's & Vin I was completely blown away by the incredible food combinations and creativity by the chefs.
Gem lettuce, milkweed, almond- this crunchy stalk reminded me a Cesar Salad with a salty, nutty tang that was addictive.
Bread & Butter- this was a $3 addition to the regular prix fixe and possibly the best $3 I've ever spent. That luscious creamy butter and warm sourdough bread...YUM
Summer squash, burrata, sorrel- just a bright, vibrant summer dish.
Crab, english peas, potato- this combination surprised both Mr. T and I. We're not exactly fans of english peas but they completely worked here taking the edge off the rich crab and blending beautifully with the crisp potatoes.
Fluke with seaweed and basil- WOW. I can't even explain why this was so delicious but it had me completely rethinking the idea of fluke as just another fish and really elevated it to the next level.
Duck Breast with cabbage and currants- the duck was perfectly cooked with a bright pink belly and a crisp layer of skin and fat on top.
Dessert #1- Cherries, Sour Cream & Tapioca
Dessert- #2 Peaches, Corn, Granita
I usually lean towards chocolate of some sort for my dessert but both of these were so light and refreshing I found myself feeling satisfied and delighted in such a different way than at the end of most long meals.
One of the biggest surprises was the affordable and eclectic wine list. There were so many bottles I had never even heard of before and the staff were incredible giving recommendations. This was one of the best meals I've had this year and at just $65 for the tasting I'm just counting the days until I can return.
138 Orchard Street @Rivington
New York, NY 10002
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