NYC Tastes

2017 was a very strange year in the world of food.  It started out incredibly boring, with fast casual restaurants and big Japanese chains taking over the city.  And has ended unsteady and downright disturbing, with allegations of sexual harassment exploding in what seems to be every facet of the food industry and country as a whole.  I honestly feel more uncertain as a person than I ever have before.  Which is probably why I've leaned towards comfort food this year with big bowls of ramen, spicy chili oil wontons and other hearty, homey dishes dominating much of my time dining out. Union Square Cafe reopened at the end of 2016 and has been my go-to place for spicy, carrot studded Candele Pasta while their sister cafe Daily Provisions actually took the spot for best new restaurant of 2017. This may seem like an odd choice but it had everything I needed this year; incredible crullers for breakfast, inventive sandwiches for lunch and a quiet, relaxing environment...

The birthday celebration continued Monday night at Atoboy, a Korean inspired small plate restaurant from Chef Junghyun.  I actually took Mr. T to Chef Junghyun's first restaurant Jungsik  for his birthday about 5 years ago and we absolutely loved it.  Atoboy is like Jungsik's more casual, affordable younger sister offering a 3 course tasting menu for just $39.  Guests choose one plate from each section of the menu and share family style. Scallops~ jicima, sea urchin and gim ($15 supplement for fresh uni) Beef Tartare~ lardo, yeolmoo kimchi and myungran Corn~ taleggio, bacon and doenjang Sunchoke~ oyster mushroom, black truffle and orange Chicken~ spicy peanut butter and garlic Pork Jowl~ barley, ssamjang and cipollini onion Seaweed Rice ($2 extra) Standout dishes of the meal were the Sunchoke, Scallop with sea urchin and Pork Jowl.  The Sunchoke was simple in composition but the citrus from the ora...