NYC Tastes

It was another crazy and amazing year that seemed to go by way too quickly as always.  Things got off to a great start with the return of  Founders CBS  one of my favorite beers of all time.  I really didn't think this would ever be brewed again so I spent the first two months drinking it as much as humanly possible.  Fried Chicken Sandwiches became all the rage; Fuku , Delaney BBQ and the Brooklyn Shake Shack continue to have epic lines for these crispy creations.  The Blue Hill pop up WastED  was also a huge highlight of the year.  It was amazing to see the community of chefs, farmers and retailers come together to shine light on the extreme waste of food in the industry and celebrate these "leftovers" by incorporating them into incredible new dishes.  And as a personal success it only took me two full years but I finally got a  Cronut !   Of course as time passes the culinary landscape must change and...

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'...