Wanderlust | St. Louis

Amy and I squeezed in tons of things during my brief, three-day visit to the Midwest, so I wanted to make a little guide of where we ate and drank, what we saw, and what we did together in St. Louis.


Amy made appointments for us at Blown Away, a little blow dry-only salon in St. Louis. Its hairdryers are suspended in the air, with the cords plugged to the ceiling for easy of drying for the stylists. Here are our perfect coiffs upon leaving the salon!


Later that night, we hopped on over to Chef Gerard Craft's Pastaria (see review here) in Clayton for some crazy awesome risotto balls and fantastic housemade pastas.


Amy and I met up with her best friend Mel and her brother David at The Muny, the nation's older and largest outdoor musical theatre (largest meaning having the most amount of seats), to see Disney's Mary Poppins: The Musical. After 10-15 minutes into the show, there was a huge downpour of rain, causing the show to postpone until nearly 11 PM (when it was safe for the cast to return to stage without risk of slipping on a wet stage). However, by then, we had already bailed after being drenched in makeshift ponchos and tiny umbrellas to return back to Mel's apartment to watch Two Weeks' Notice. It was an honest effort, and the night ended up being really fun anyhow! :P

The next morning, we found our way to downtown St. Louis for brunch {1,2} at Rooster, where there was {4} a half hour wait already before 11:30 AM!


By the time we got our table (actually a lot quicker than the time estimate), we were starving, {5} so we toasted with peach bellinis and had homemade sourdough toast (ha-ha) with butter and fresh strawberry jam. Loved the thick slices! For our main course, Amy had the {8} goat cheese #2 with mushrooms, fresh spinach, and tomato jam, while I had the {6} bacon #2 with Vermont cheddar, caramelized onions, and a spicy mayonnaise.We also shared {7} a side of breakfast potatoes. An utterly and completely solid brunch -- I don't think I've had a breakfast crepe this good. Definitely worth the wait!




After brunch, we headed over to {1-2,4} the Gateway Arch to how the wait was for the next ride up to the top of the Arch. The next available Journey to the Top up wasn't for another two hours, so we made sure to buy tickets for the next trip up and walked around for a bit before heading over to the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis for a little afternoon respite.


Quick panoramic shot of the Gateway Arch!


Underneath the Arch!


{1,4,7} The Four Seasons St. Louis was about a 10-15 minute walk from the Arch. As with any Four Seasons Hotel, the interiors were serene yet modern, providing us the perfect in between spot to cool down from the summer heat. {3,5} We had great refreshing drinks at Cielo Bar -- {6} Amy had a good ol' mojito while I had a cocktail that had pineapple juice and ginger beer in it I believe. We really enjoyed this nice break, especially {8} with the fabulous view of the Arch right out the window.

{1} We returned back to the tourist concourse at the base of the Gateway Arch. We still had some time to spare so we walked through the Museum of Westward Expansion right inside, which delved into the history of the American expansion into the Midwest and how Louis and Clark ties into it all.


{2} Getting to the top took about a half hour (waiting in line, queuing up, walking through to the little pod entryway, riding a little pod for five to the top, etc.), but when we finally got up there, {3,5} boy, was the view gorgeous! We could see City Hall and Busch Stadium where the St. Louis Cardinals play. {4} I even got a photo of myself with the landmark sign inside the Arch indicating we were 630 feet above the ground!


Before heading back to Amy's apartment, we made sure to stop at Jilly's Cupcake Bar. I had the {2}24-Karat Carrot Cake cupcake filled with vanilla whipped cream and topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting, toasted coconut, white chocolate shavings, and 24-karat gold dust. Amy had the {3}Twisted Pink Velvet cupcake filled with caramel and topped with cream cheese, caramel buttercream, and a pecan praline. The cake of the cupcake was quite moist and soft, while the toppings and filling are on the sweeter side. As they're quite big, they're best for sharing flavors among a group of friends -- that way you can try many flavors without filling up!


The colorful bakery window of Jilly's.

{1} Later that evening, I joined Amy and Mel for a cooking class at Kitchen Conservatory entitled Grills Gone Wild, where the entire menu focused on how to best grill indoors. {2} Kitchen Conservatory is a premier kitchen store that has a selection of more than 6,000 essential and useful cooking products in its store as well as {4} offers cooking classes of all genres and cuisines in the two auxiliary kitchens at the back of the store.


The evening's cooking demo began with {3}some mango mojitos, {5} a lemon herb dip with crudité, as well as {6,7} preparation for our salad and dessert. It was great we came to class hungry, both for food and knowledge. We certainly learned tons with our three-hour session at Kitchen Conservatory -- e.g., how to properly zest a lemon efficiently, how to grill fruit, how to make do with what's available, etc.


{1} The salad ended up turning into grilled hearts of romaine salad with blue cheese dressing and bacon, but I substituted the blue cheese for olive oil and balsamic vinegar (still delicious!). For our main course, we watched our instructor poach potatoes in butter (so much butter but OMG so good!) for the side dish, while simultaneously grilling a generously sized cut of salmon (with the pretty criss-cross charred exterior!). The resulting dish was grilled salmon with tangy horseradish-cucumber sauce along with a side of butter-poached and roasted potatoes. Dessert used the grilled peach sundaes with homemade vanilla bean ice cream, toasted pecans, and grade B maple syrup. Absolute perfection!

{1,5} After class, I wanted to be sure we hit up Taste by Niche before I was to head back to NYC, another spot run by Chef Gerard Craft. I first heard of Taste by Niche listed as part of Bon Appetit's Top 10 Cocktail Bars in America, so I knew we had to check it out.


While there was an {1} inside seating area with bar, we decided to sit outside after arriving around 11 PM. It was the perfect decision as these musicians like to play live jazz on Laclede Avenue Amy had the {2}Curious Flowers Hendrick's gin, Fruitlab hibiscus, Mathilde cassis, lemon, house orange marmalade, Angostura, and Gruet brut. This drink was truly delicious, with a nectar-like consistency and finishing with a light herbaceous, fruity groove. I had the {3} Nude Bomb with Plantation 5-Year rum, Rhum JM, St. Germain, Don's Mix, grapefruit, coconut water, and tiki bitters, which channeled sitting under a straw umbrella on a tropical island. Wish we could've tried more drinks here, so there's always next time!

{1} The next morning, Amy and I met my old college roommate, Dave, for brunch at Half & Half.


Half & Half has a pretty intense coffee selection -- three varieties potentially available in four different brewing methods! Amy got Finca Salaca from Costa Rica roasted by Kaldi's Coffee prepared in a cold brew method. Very concentrated, but very smooth! As for the main courses, {3} I had the salmon hash with potatoes, chives, sunny-side up eggs, and hollandaise. {4} Dave had the eggs benedict with poached eggs, hollandaise, spinach, and ham over english muffins and a side of potatoes. {5} Amy had the Brussels sprout and cheddar omelet with mixed greens. Although the service was unacceptably slow that morning (even after waiting 30-45 minutes for a table), the food was pretty decent and hit the spot for my brunch craving.

Later that afternoon, {1} Amy and I headed to Whole Foods to pick up the necessary ingredients for our homemade feast that evening that Amy and Mel planned to feature in their local St. Louis cooking blog, It Takes Two, with me as a guest chef!


On the menu: {2} white bean dip with homemade pita chips, a recipe from Food Network's Giada De Laurentiis; {4} tomato and watermelon gazpacho, a recipe from Food Network magazine; {3} an amazing stone fruit sangria, a recipe from Everyday Food; the boldest tomato-beet salad, a recipe from Everyday Food; a modified recipe of roasted salmon with a citrus sauce from Rachael Ray magazine with a recipe for a side of double-mint barley tabbouleh; {5,6} a modified recipe of peach and raspberry crisp (sans raspberries) served with vanilla bean ice cream by Food Network's Ina Garten.


Check out Mel's blog write-up on "Fresh Perspectives" over at It Takes Two!

Thanks again to Amy for being the best hostess -- what a great visit to St. Louis!

Price point: $35 for a blowout at Blown Away; $7.75-8.95 for each breakfast crepe at Rooster, $6 for each cocktail, $1.75 for each side, $2.50 for homemade toast; $10 cocktails at Cielo Bar; $10 per person for a Journey to the Top of the Gateway Arch; $5 per cupcake at Jilly's Cupcake Bar; $10 for each original cocktails at Taste by Niche; $8-11.50 per main course at Half & Half;

--August 2-4, 2013

*Blown Away
8815 Ladue Road
St. Louis, MO 63124
http://www.blownawaystl.com

*Pastaria
7734 Forsyth Boulevard
Clayton, MO 63105
http://www.pastariastl.com

*The Muny
1 Theatre Drive
St. Louis, MO 63112
http://www.muny.org

*Rooster
1104 Locust Street
St. Louis, MO 63101
http://www.roosterstl.com

*Gateway Arch
100 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63102
http://www.gatewayarch.org

*Cielo Bar
Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
999 North 2nd Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
http://www.fourseasons.com/stlouis/dining/lounges/cielo_bar
http://www.cielostlouis.com

*Kitchen Conservatory
8021 Clayton Road
St. Louis, MO 63117
http://www.kitchenconservatory.com

*Taste by Niche
4584 Laclede Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
http://www.tastebarstl.com

Half & Half
8133 Maryland Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63105
http://www.halfandhalfstl.com

Whole Foods Market
1160 Town and Country Crossing Drive
Town and Country, MO 63017
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/townandcountry

Brunch | Isola Trattoria & Crudo Bar

Last month, Jess had a little brunch get-together with her sisters and a few of her closest friends to celebrate her birthday this year at Isola Trattoria & Crudo Bar located inside The Mondrian Hotel in SoHo.


There are two entrances to the restaurant -- above is the restaurant's own entrance from the street, covered in the loveliest of ivy on an intricate iron gate.


The other entrance is through the lobby of The Mondrian Hotel, leading into the restaurant's bright and gorgeous greenhouse dining room.


Jess actually went on a dinner date at Isola with a charming guy, and she loved its romantic and lovely atmosphere that she thought it'd be the perfect spot for a late Saturday birthday brunch. Her hunch really hit it out of the ballpark! The light, even on that rainy Saturday, produced the most beautiful shots.


No brunch wouldn't be complete with brunch cocktails like the limosa mimosa (arancello and prosecco), bellimi bellini (white peach limoncello and prosecco), and bloody caprese (Absolut vodka, Tanqueray malacca, tomato juice, balsamic vinegar, caperberries, and grated Parmesan). All perfect to toast with and all delicious to sip and taste.


Jess and the girls toasting to her birthday with brunch cocktails.


The brunch spread was perfection.


Jamie and Jill got the lemon ricotta pancakes with macerated berries and candied Sicilian pistachios. These came highly recommended by our server. I didn't get to have a bite myself (mental note for the next brunch visit here), but from what Jamie and Jill reported, they were absolutely fantastic -- fluffy, lightly savory, and refreshing (gotta love lemon zest on anything!). There was a tad bit of sweetness from the syrup and tartness from the berries, and the Sicilian pistachios were a nice touch. Definitely getting these next time!


Jess and Jen both had eggs al forno with roasted tomato, Tuscan kale, guanciale, and herbed breadcrumbs. Though it looked really heavy and thick, this dish was quite the opposite. It wasn't too much sauce -- just the right amount to add some dimension of flavor to the eggs (and for enjoying the thick slice of toasted bread that came with it with the dipping/sweeping of sauce). The savory and meaty guanciale gave the dish a very eggs-and-bacon type composition with an Italian twist. Definitely recommended if you're in the mood for something a little heartier and warm.


Marcus had the smoked salmon with chive cream cheese, sesame bagel, red onion, and capers. This was a very dainty yet delicious dish, so good for those looking for a lighter option. Can't go wrong with chive cream cheese!


I tried the porchetta hash with potatoes, kale, roasted red peppers, leeks, and two poached eggs, which was really, really great. It wasn't at all salty with the porchetta cooked to a tender temperature. The potatoes in the hash were well-browned while the veggies gave the hash some flavorful texture. Add some runny poached eggs on top, and you have one solid brunchin' ahead of you.


The girls at the bar alcove located inside the bar/library opening to the lobby of The Mondrian Hotel (also part of Isola, too, I think). Look at all those multi-colored blue bindings!


My favorite trio of sisters in the trellised walkway of The Mondrian Hotel. Happy Birthday to Jess!! :)

Findings: We all loved Isola Trattoria and its bright and energetic ambiance as well as its idyllic décor and energetic DJ-curated music during late brunching hour (around 2:30 PM). The atmosphere was made even more lovely with the stellar offering of Italian-inspired brunch fare and cocktails -- everything we had the pleasure of ordering was absolutely delicious with all of us leaving satisfied and content. The prices weren't too steep, and given the quality of service, atmosphere, and of course, cuisine, this will easily make a much frequented brunch spot for me. Perfect for locals and out-of-towners alike, for weekend brunch or an intimate celebration, Isola is simply captivating in all aspects of the meal, so I urge you to head over there before too much word gets out of this oasis of a restaurant.

Price point: $12-13 for each brunch cocktail, $15-19 for each colazione (breakfast) dish.

--May 18, 2013

Isola Trattoria & Crudo Bar
9 Crosby Street
New York, NY 10013
http://www.isolanyc.com

Wanderlust | Washington DC

Over our anniversary weekend this year, Marcus and I took a trip down to Washington D.C. to explore its food and drink scene, and boy, did we come back with many winners. We had a fantastic time getting to know the Capital City, so here's a summary of what we ate, what we drank and sipped, and what we saw -- essentially a little guide of sorts for those wondering what's good in the District.


Upon our arrival, we got these amazing burgers and hand-cut fries at Good Stuff Eatery (see review here), over on Capitol Hill as our late lunch. Good Stuff had some of the most unique condiments I've ever seen offered at a burger joint. I even dare say that I like this burger better than New York's Shake Shack.


As we were already in the Capitol Hill area, Marcus and I did our touristy bidding and saw the United States Capitol Building, up close and personal. That dome is certainly a sight for sore eyes!

It started to rain that afternoon, so we didn't get to walk around all too much, so we just relaxed at our Airbnb space until it was time for our late dinner at Brasserie Beck.


Brasserie Beck (see review here) proved to be a whimsical microcosm of a Parisian brasserie in the heart of DC. The restaurant put us under some captivating spell, whether by way of its refreshing cocktails, its scintillating selection of Belgian beers, or its meticulously prepared fare. Though a little on the pricier side, I say the premium was for the heartwarming experience.


The next morning, we got our caffeine fix at the highly regarded Peregrine Espresso (see review here). Come here if you're a coffee aficionado -- it offers many micro-brews of its single-origin coffees. Also, the mocha lattés here are kickass.

For lunch, we were going to go to Hank's Oyster Bar, but we had so much shellfish at Brasserie Beck that we wanted something a little different. So we opted for Kushi Izakaya & Sushi.


{5} Marcus had the bara chirashi don with diced pieces of sashimi over rice, while I had the {6} ocean's oyako don -- the "Parent and Child" rice bowl with sashimi grade salmon and salmon roe along with a quail egg. For a lunch set that comes with soup and salad, it was a pretty good deal for some decent sushi. The robata grill wasn't really fired up for lunch, so we didn't get to try the "izakaya" part of Kushi, so we're curious to try that for dinner next time we're in town!


After lunch, we found ourselves in the neighborhood of Adams Morgan, checking out the local watering hole of Tryst Coffeehouse & Bar (see review here). Really nice vibe going here -- plus the biscotti aren't anything to dismiss.


That evening, Marcus and I made our way to Birch & Barley for a relaxed anniversary dinner. Some solid dishes on Chef Kyle Bailey's menu (OMG at the sweetbreads) -- and from what I hear, the ridiculously long list of artisanal beers (555 in total!) isn't anything to huff at. Sad we didn't get to sample anything (you'll see why below), but again, a future trip to DC isn't lookin' too shabby! :P


Following dinner at Birch & Barley, we attended an intimate, two-hour cocktail tasting at The Columbia Room (see review here), a "hidden" bar inside The Passenger. The two-hour tasting walked through three different cocktails with some small food pairings and was unlike any cocktail experience I've ever had. The Columbia Room is undoubtedly a must if you're in town for the evening -- the super knowledgeable yet very approachable barstaff are exceptional crafters of spirited beverages. You will have your socks knocked off for sure.


That Sunday morning, we made our last stop for a cup o' joe in DC at Chinatown Coffee Co. (see review here), where you can find a great cup of coffee as well as a well-rounded chai latté. Pastries are nice as well.


Before our brunch, we took a stroll past 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, home to The White House.


Marcus and I met up with Krystal and Angela for a late brunch at Founding Farmers. Unfortunately, we thought the brunch here was a bit overrated -- the dishes we tried weren't all that outstanding. The saving graces were the homemade sodas and anything from the beverage menu, really.


I had a late afternoon pick-me-up before heading back to New York City at {1} Pitango Gelato, which had framed flavors on the wall, including gelatos sorbets. Some notable varieties include bacio (chocolate hazelnut with hazelnuts and chocolate chips), pistachio di Bronte (made using pistachios cultivated on the slopes of Mount Etna, an active volcano, which has different characteristics than the common pistachio;, having a longer shape and an intense flavor that cannot be imitated), black tea, créme fraîche, and quince. I wanted to try them all, but I resorted to the orange dark chocolate sorbet (easier on my semi-lactose intolerance), which embodied what an orange Milano would be in churned form. So, so, so good.

Other Recommendations from Past Visits

• Hello Cupcake (see review here): Decent cupcakes -- though I prefer the next two over this one.
• *Sprinkles Cupcakes (see review here): Red velvet and dark chocolate are my favorites!
• *baked & wired (see review here): Definitely try the chai cupcake if you can!
• *Oyamel (see review here): Great for a lively dinner.
• *Firefly (see review here): A brunch must -- order the challah French toast.

Price point: $13-15 for each lunch set at Kushi Izakaya & Sushi, $4.99 for a small gelato/sorbet (up to two flavors) at Pitango Gelato.

--April 19-21 2013

*Good Stuff Eatery (Capitol Hill)
303 Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast
Washington, DC 20003
http://www.goodstuffeatery.com

The United States Capitol (Building)
Capitol Hill
http://www.visitthecapitol.gov

*Brasserie Beck
1101 K Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20005
http://www.beckdc.com

*Peregrine Espresso
1718 14th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20009
http://www.peregrineespresso.com

Kushi Izakaya & Sushi
465 K Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001
http://www.eatkushi.com

*Tryst Coffee House Bar & Lounge
2459 18th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20009
http://www.trystdc.com

*Birch & Barley
1337 14th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20005
http://www.birchandbarley.com

*The Columbia Room
The Passenger
1021 7th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001
http://www.passengerdc.com/columbia

*Chinatown Coffee Co.
475 H Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001
http://www.chinatowncoffee.com

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20500
http://www.whitehouse.gov

Founding Farmers (DC)
1924 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20006
http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com

*Pitango Gelato
413 7th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20004
http://www.pitangogelato.com

Brunch | Maison Premiere

Lisa and I had tried going to Maison Premiere, a humble little restaurant tucked away on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, for brunch back in August, but the restaurant had an unexpected delayed opening due to a staff meeting that morning, which we couldn't make due to a previously scheduled engagement. We were really bummed out that we couldn't dine here that day (we had some serious oyster cravings on the noggin), but it turned out that Maison Premiere had just welcomed Chef Jason Stafford-Hill, a new chef (resulting in a hefty menu rehaul from just raw bar to something more comprehensive including small dinner plates) and was preparing the restaurant and staff for the new change. So a few Sundays ago, after nearly six months of Sundays gone by, we finally got our crap together and made it to {1,7} brunch at Maison Premiere.
 

Essentially, Maison Premiere prides itself as being an oyster house and cocktail den "reflective of the staple establishments in New York, Paris, and New Orleans." And in no way does this spot deliver anything less than that. {5,6} The walls painted in sort of a period acid-wash is calming and relaxing  for its patrons, and the dark woods of the furniture and banquettes provide a comfortable contrast to the time warping interior design that makes you almost think for a second that you're in a French brasserie, existentially in New York, Paris, and New Orleans all at once. It is a nice escape from the bustling noise and crowds with which the city crawls. {2} There's a covered courtyard located in the rear with lots of gorgeous natural light pouring in, and {4} a bar at the center of the restaurant which houses the raw bar of oysters and crudo as well as all of the restaurant's spirits (including a generous catalog of absinthes).

Chef Stafford-Hill had worked in the well-renowned kitchens of AdourAlain Ducasse, Bobo, Craft, and Gramercy Tavern before taking reign at Maison Premiere, where he has continued the restaurant's focus maritime fare by adding his own "array of warm and cold small plates" to the existing raw bar offerings.


To start brunch off right, I enjoyed a glass of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.

Just to preface what is about to come, I would just like to say that Lisa and I are crazy. Like really crazy, when it comes to our seafood (more specifically, sushi, sea urchin, and oysters) -- with absolutely no restraint or sugar coating, I can only be like this with her and no one else. Given the list of twenty-four completely different oysters on the menu, there was more variety than we've ever come across with these little slurp-worthy bivalves. Luckily, there was a kind of "oyster omakase" available -- the oyster selection comprised of chef's choice of twelve, i.e., six different varieties with two of each. With one look exchanged between the two of us, we wanted to take this to the next level. Why not order two oyster selections and specify that we wanted twelve varieties with two of each so we could both sample and enjoy simultaneously? We proposed our plan to our waiter, and he was game -- a dozen oysters in variety, twenty-four in total, shared between each of us. Our order came out a grand plateau -- a tiered tower of gleaming shells on generous beds of ice. It was very stunning. Stunning, indeed.

Our waiter explained to us how to match what was on the tower with what had been chosen for us on the list -- ultimately an upward spiral, going clockwise. He also let us have a copy of the list with the ones we had properly marked (so helpful!). I've numbered them in the photograph above for visual guidance. Here's a run-through our little bivalvic adventure at Maison Premiere (* = like; ** = love):


(one) **Cape May Salt from Cape Shore, NJ: We were off to a great start -- absolutely loved this one! A nice size (a little petite) with a perfect sweet finish.
(two) *Cedar Island from Point Judith Pond, RI: Also another hit with us! A little bit of hogwash and a spritz of fresh lemon juice goes a long way -- this wasn't very briny and slurped down easily.
(three) Ninigret Cup from Ninigret Pond, RI: A lot brinier, but still decent.
(four) Moonstone from Point Judith Pond, RI: Very chunky.
(five) *Standish from Barnstable, MA: Thumbs up from Lisa for its subtle peppery taste.
(six) **Malpeque from Malpeque Bay, PEI: LOVED!
(seven) Gooseberry from Malpeque Bay, PEI: A no-go for us -- a lot of fishiness and very briny.
(eight) Kachemak from Kachemak Bay, AK: Nope. Too fishy, and considering how meaty it was, it didn't have much flavor.
(nine) *Fanny Bay from Baynes Sound, BC: Great balance of flavor -- very delicate yet palatable finish.
(ten) Kusshi from Deep Bay, BC: Didn't like this one because it was a little too peppery for our liking.

Once we hit ten, we started counting how many oysters we had left, and confusion struck: there appeared to be six left (i.e., three varieties remaining) when we were supposed to only have four (as we had only ordered two dozen, i.e., twelve varieties with two each). I was concerned that my notes on each oyster were mismatched against the list now that we had thirteen varieties. Thankfully our waiter cleared it up for us (we had in fact been going in the right order), and the raw bar had given us an extra bonus one to enjoy (thanks again, Maison Premiere!). Phew -- that was a close one!

(eleven) **Golden Mantle from Cortes Island, BC: A huge hit!
(twelve) Evening Cove from Vancouver Island, BC: Not bad -- just okay, nothing special.
(thirteen) *Spring Creek from Barnstable, MA: Another delicious one -- always great to end an oyster flight with one that was enjoyable as this!

Included on our tower of oysters were the other raw items we requested for -- the razor clam and the sea urchin. The razor clams were from Long Island and were served with celery root and apple. They were the balancing complements to the raw cubes of razor clam without taking away from its taste and texture but rather highlighting with subtle yet beautiful flavors. Even Chef Stafford-Hill has said that he does "more with garnishes than some chefs would" but also notes that "it's restrained as it's still all about the amazing seafood" that they're getting weekly.


A photograph of the damage incurred after our flight of twelve oysters each. Eek!


 For sea urchin fanatics such as ourselves, it's almost an unspoken rule that we have to order sea urchien or uni if we see it on a menu. It would be blasphemous otherwise. So that's what we did here. Marinated with pineapple, the crudo of sea urchin was from California. While I found the golden lobes of sea urchin to be very buttery and plump (just as it should be!) with a bit of sweet tartness from the pineapple, Lisa found the pineapple marinade to be overwhelming, taking away from the natural flavors and velvety texture from it. Perhaps it's because Lisa is more of a purist when it comes to uni, while I don't mind a little twist every now and then. Guess you win some, and you lose some.

You'd think after having all those oysters and the additional crudo that we'd be full, but not at all for us. Full speed ahead for brunch grub!


I had the smoked salmon rillette with soft-poached eggs, celery root, and capers. Rillettes have a similar preparation of meat as a pâté. The protein (can be meat or fish) is cubed or chopped, salted heavily and cured, and cooked slowly in fat until it is tender enough to be easily shredded and the cooled with just enough fat to form a paste (though for fish, it's not actually cooked in fat but rather blended with fat to form the characteristic paste consistency). It can be used as a spread or served at room temperature, all of which can be stored in crocks for several months.While usually enjoyed with toasted bread, I actually enjoyed this small block of smoked salmon rillette with my two perfectly poached eggs and the fresh and tender rounds of celery root. It was very interesting to experience that I'd normally have as a brunch dish (smoked salmon, eggs, and capers, etc.) in a completely different form. Although the smoked salmon was a little saltier than I would've liked, the eggs helped tone it way down. Plus, look at how pretty it was!


Lisa, of course, had the eggs and black truffle baked in cocotte with Parmesan mousse and mâche. Considering the stark whiteness of the baked eggs, I was expecting the entire thing to be really heavy so much so that it'd be drowning in Parmesan and cream. Although it was quite rich (the winning combination of Parmesan, black truffles, and eggs will do that to you), it was the right amount of creaminess with just a hint of Parmesan, letting the thinly shaved truffles reign over in flavor. The cocotte was also the perfect portion for brunch -- Lisa didn't leave totally stuffed, especially with all of the oysters we swigged down so quickly earlier.


Compliments of the kitchen, we also were served a curried cauliflower salad which was very delightful and fresh.

Findings: Maison Premiere was everything I thought it'd be and more. I love it here, and if it were feasible, I would want to come back every single weekend. The trek to Williamsburg (though it's really not that far, haha) is moot, especially for exploring the two dozen or so varieties of oysters, which is exactly what Lisa and I dubbed as our mission that late morning. The half-shelled bivalves were not only iridescent, but for the most part, distinctly flavorful and unbelievably fresh. Quality is by no means compromised at Maison Premiere -- after all, the restaurant does pride itself with this caliber of seafood. I hear the menu changes frequently, week-to-week, which is just testament to this commitment to sourcing the best ingredients and seafood available. Chef Jared Stafford-Hill has worked in his magic into the heart of Maison Premiere's menu, and you can taste it in the well-crafted brunch dishes and the other crudo offerings -- we were nearly blown away with the razor clam and me with the sea urchin.

Cannot wait to come back to sample a bunch of new varieties of oysters and crudo in the spring. I know it'll be more crowded when the weather warms up, but either way, I'm definitely willing to show up as soon as it opens at 11 on the weekends so I can happily slurp down all the oysters without having to wait too long. But then again, the wait would be well worth it.

Price point: $30 for each oyster selection (chef's choice of twelve), $13-14 for each crudo, $4 for each glass of fresh-squeezed juice, $14-18 for each egg dish.

--January 13, 2013

Maison Premiere
298 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
http://www.maisonpremiere.com

Brunch | Tipsy Parson

Last Sunday, I had a reunion brunch at Tipsy Parson with Ariana and Mimi (who was back in town from medical school!) over in Chelsea. 

Opened in 2009, Tipsy Parson serves "belly-filling goodness" with a menu influences by the Southern flavors of South Carolina and comfort food in general. Its brunch reservation policy is pretty fair -- it offers reservations via OpenTable from 10 AM to 11:30 AM, and after 11:30, it has a first come, first served policy in place.

Upon entering, there were window benches on both sides of the entrance-way, making for a super cozy ambiance. However, what really caught my eye was the wall paper along the walls -- trompe l'oeil bookshelves with bold, multi-colored spines. Love it!


The front of the restaurant had a bar and some smaller tables which led into the back dining room which had a communal table at the center and banquette seating at the sides.


The walls were sprinkled with kitschy plates of all shapes, sizes, and designs.


Ariana and Mimi both enjoyed a Grafton cheddar burger with an eight-ounce house ground organic patty (i.e., a blend of beef and pork) topped with red onion, bibb lettuce, potato bun, a fried pickle, and shoestring fries. The burger was quite juicy, and the Grafton cheddar gave it a sharp and melty flavor to it. The highlight of this dish for Ariana and Mimi was the fried pickle.


I opted for the barbecue pulled pork spoonbread with Berkshire pork butt (on the right), corn spoonbread (on the left), and fried eggs (on top). Very much shouting Southern comfort here with this combination of cornmeal, barbecue, and pulled pork -- all of which was quite savory and melted away on my palate. While the pulled pork was very tender and bursting with flavor, the amount of barbecue sauce, at times, was just a tad overwhelming, but mixing it with the fried egg whites and the spoonbread made it less so.

Findings: I love Tipsy Parson and its low-brunch scene. The quaint, playfully yet tastefully kitschy décor adds a bit of whimsy to your dining experience. I haven't had a chance to explore the potential of Southern cuisine in New York City, but I will have to say that Tipsy Parson is cooking up some confidence in that realm. The prices are quite reasonable for brunch, and its reservation policy is fair all around (half reservations, half first come/first served) for ritual brunch goers and first timers. I know I'll be back very soon!

Price point: $15-16 for each entrée, $13 for each cocktail.

--December 30, 2012

Tipsy Parson
156 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10011
http://www.tipsyparson.com