NYC Tastes

Checking out an old NYC classic at The Mercer Kitchen; Jean George's market driven New American spot that opened back in 1998. This place was the hottest ticket in SOHO then and seems to be going strong twenty years later with the downstairs dining room almost completely full on a Wednesday evening. I was in a "classic NYC" state of mind so I ordered the signature Mercer Burger~ grass fed beef patty with pepper jack cheese, sliced avocado, red onion, lettuce, tomato and Russian dressing. First of all this thing was sloppy; the slippery avocado caused the meat to slide off the bun and the dressing on top made things even worse.  However it was so insanely delicious the mess just doesn't matter. I ate the entire thing before I even realized what was happening.      Also delicious were the accompanying French Fries done McDonald's style~ thin, salty and perfectly crisp.  I may have liked these even more than the burger!   ...

To celebrate Father's Day we had brunch at Keith McNally's Cherche Midi.  I've always loved the atmosphere of his restaurants; the NYC breakfast staple Balthazar, the sleek and sexy Minetta Tavern and of course the bright and lively Cherche Midi.  The pastries are wonderful; rich flaky chocolate croissants, eggy canelles and pecan sticky buns served with fresh strawberry jam. My Lobster Scrambled Eggs were also excellent.  They maintained the perfect soft texture with a dollop of creme fraiche mixed in to make them completely indulgent. The Short Rib Burger was also a crowd favorite smothered in bacon marmalade, roasted mushrooms and melted Gruyere cheese.  I actually found the burger a bit too rich but I also prefer the regular burger to the dry aged at Minetta as well.  I swapped out my usual brunch mimosa for La Peche made with Absolut, peach puree and Creme de Peche.  I wish I could have had a few more of these frothy drinks but unfortunately serv...

I never really thought a fried cheeseburger sounded very tasty until I stopped into Korzo Haus. This tiny Slovakian cafe in the East Village is famous for this specialty...one beef patty, topped with cheese then encased in langos bread, fried and cut in half.  The result is a juicy, delicious burger with surprisingly no grease at all.  The bread kept everything evenly cooked and chock full of flavor. The menu is tiny...a handful of toppings for the burgers (including a tasty beet ketchup), goulash and Halusky, basically a bowl of fried Spatzle. It's quirky and fun, not a place for those on a diet but best enjoyed after a couple of beers.  Cheers! Korzo Haus