Back then it was frozen strawberries for the table, and we were much more focused on the drink and the conversation than on the great food.  Actually, it’s possible that we all ordered the same thing.  Most likely it was the Ensalada De Jicama or something similar (with grilled chicken, please) (what were we thinking!). 

Fast forward three and a half years.  Andy, my boyfriend at the time, was excited to introduce his parents to my mom.  My sister and her boyfriend were also going to be in attendance.  Location?  Let’s see… somewhere easy for those coming in from Grand Central and somewhere fun… maybe margaritas?  Zarela!  Perfect – we love that place.  And it was that night, after one too many of those infamous, potent frozen drinks, that we were asked to keep our voices down by an uptight couple at the next table, that my mother left with Andy’s father’s coat, that everyone left with hangovers in their near future, that I would end up locking myself out of my own apartment, and that we’d all have gotten along famously over a delicious dinner.

Fast forward another five years to this past Saturday night.  Andy and I were sitting at the bar the day before Zarela would close its 23-year-old doors for good.  Margaritas still in our hands and our favorite Zarela dishes in front of us – Ostiones Fritos (crispy, wonderfully juicy fried oysters served with jalapeno aioli and pickled onions), Cochinita Pibil (Yucatan-style pork shoulder marinated with achiote and sour oranges– huge hunks of pork served with red onion, habanero chili, corn tortillas), Arroz Con Crema (creamy, decadent rice baked with sour cream, white cheddar cheese, poblanos and corn), and, of course the famous fresh duo or Red and Green Salsas with fresh, salty tortilla chips.  It was a good way to go out.

We took our last photos of the brightly colored hanging flags and the neon sign.  We questioned whether we should order another round while knowing that the answer would always be yes.  We met the last new friends we would ever meet around that tiled bar – including an interesting fellow food blogger with a unique tilt to his writing and a woman with an online dating website based on astrology.  In my mind, Zarela closing is the end of an era… even if the owner plans to open up again somewhere downtown in only a few months.  I am sure the food will be good and the margaritas strong, but it just won’t be the same thing.

FRIDAY

Charcuterie & Wine at Home:  We started off the weekend innocently enough with some charcuterie at home before we headed to Fuerza Bruta for some high-energy entertainment in Union Square. 

Menu: Our favorite stinky cheese – Epoisses, Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery Double-Cream Cremont, Grafton Village Vermont Cheddar layered with Minnesota Blue, Prosciutto, Salami, Sopressata, Spanish Olives, Red Pepper Hummus, Pita, and Rosemary Ciabatta. 

Highlights:  Double-Cream Cremont, Epoisses with Rosemary Ciabatta.

Lotus of Siam: After some intense running, dancing and swimming paired with cardboard boxes crashing over heads at Fuerza Bruta, we made our way in the snow from Union Square to Lotus of Siam (24 5th Ave b/t 9th St & Cooper Sq).  We were a bit apprehensive after hearing of the abrupt departure of the original Vegas owners, but we hoped there were no shake-ups in the kitchen.  The place was packed but we were on time for our reservation and were seated right away. Still slightly full from all that meat, bread and cheese we had consumed earlier, we powered on nonetheless. 

Menu: Pik Khai Yut Sai (boneless chicken wings stuffed with minced chicken & vegetables, deep fried), Tom Kha Hed (spicy coconut milk soup with oyster, maitake & shimegi), Kanh Khiao Wan (green curry paste, coconut milk, bamboo shoot, thai basil with chicken), Khao Soi Shortrib (northern thai egg noodle with braised shortrib, coconut and curry sauce, red onion, pickled mustard greens & roasted chili oil condiments), Whole Fried Snapper (pad kra-pao, fried with spicy thai basil sauce), Dessert (sweet sticky rice with Thai custard).

Highlights:  The whole fried snapper was definitely the standout.  Also, the wine list and sommeliers are excellent. Be sure to ask about the “off-menu” wines by the glass, which arise from what’s remaining when someone orders a half-bottle.  All in all, it was a great meal (with a couple of misses) and, at least for now, the departure of the original owners does not appear to be affecting the food quality.  

SATURDAY

Golden Unicorn:  Our friend (and guest writer) Kristi heard we were headed to Chinatown for dim sum after our visit to the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side.  She said we had to check out Golden Unicorn (18 E Broadway b/t Catherine St & Market St) for dim sum.  I have been to a number of dim sum houses in Chinatown but this was my first visit to the Golden Unicorn – traditional cart-style dim sum served on two floors above street level.  There’s usually a long wait, but we were fortunate to be seated within 10 minutes. Kristi told me to keep an eye out for the duck carving station and boy was I glad I did.  Best bite of the day. 

Menu: Fried Sticky Pork Dumplings, Steamed Vegetable Dumplings. Steamed Pork Siu Mai, Spinach, Fish Dumplings, Barbeque Pork Buns, Pan Fried Pork Dumplings, Fried Whole Shrimps, Steamed Chiu Chow Dumplings, Steamed Green Leek Dumplings, Steamed Shrimp Dumplings, Shrimp Noodles, Baked Egg Custard, Sliced Peking Duck in Bun with crispy skin, scallions and sweet bean sauce.

Highlights: Peking duck bun sandwich – by far!!! 

Thien Huong Banh Mi: After dim sum, we decided to walk off all that food. We only made it a couple of blocks when we saw someone holding a crispy baguette overflowing with what appeared to be daikon, cilantro, and roasted pork.  Banh Mi baby!  We had to ask where he got it, and he pointed around the block – said we couldn’t miss it.  It was impossible to resist. When we turned the block in search of an authentic banh mi stand, none were to be found.  Instead, we saw what appeared to be a fast food joint, Thien Huong (11 Chatham Sq) serving, you guessed it… banh mi.  We skeptically went inside, gazed up at the fluorescent menu and ordered one to go – a barbeque chicken banh mi.  For $4 the sandwich was HUGE and unbelievably delicious.  The contrasting flavors and textures… the hot spicy chicken… the crispy fresh baguette.  Best surprise of the day!

Menu/Highlight:  Barbeque chicken banh mi (for $4)!

Fried Dumpling:  Because we hadn’t had enough dumplings already, we made our way to the tiny store-front at 106 Mosco Street for 5 fried dumplings for $1 and some sweat and sour soup (also $1).  $1 for 5 crispy, doughy, steaming hot, fried, pork/scallion filled, stuck together, dripping, messy, delicious, dumplings.  I love this city.  There is nothing better than waiting for your dumpling order as you watch the masterful dumpling-makers stuffing those little bad boys with meat (from a somewhat daunting pile of pork filling) and popping them on large floured planks to be dropped in the cooker.

Menu: 5 traditional pork-fried dumplings, 5 steamed veggie dumplings, 1 hot and sour soup.

Highlight: I didn’t try Andy’s mom’s veggie dumplings, but nothing could beat the 20 cent originals. 

Ka Wah for Egg Custard Tart: Then it was time to do some more walking, but we couldn’t get out of Chinatown without getting Andy’s mom one of her all-time Chinatown fave treats – the egg custard tart.  

Menu/Highlight: They serve these addictive custard tarts in both egg and egg white form. They come hot right out of the oven and the flaky deliciousness is hard to resist.

Alleva of Little Italy: We finally made it out of Chinatown, but it wasn’t long until our next stop — Alleva Dairy in Little Italy (188 Grand St). We love this place for their outstanding fresh mozzarella and rice balls and prosciutto balls.

Menu/Highlight:  The prosciutto ricotta ball may be one of the best bites we had all day! They’ll heat ‘em up for you and you can take them to go.

Rattle N’ Hum:  Finally, we walked for a while without food interruption. And while not a food stop (although it would have been had we not just stuffed ourselves in Chinatown) we tasted some awesome beers, so this had to make the list.  Charles, Andy and I finally got out of the cold and visited our friends at Rattle for some good company and craft beers.

Menu: Smuttynose Finest Kind IPA (Jill), Founders Porter (Andy), Captain Lawrence Liquid Gold (Charles), Brooklyn Detonation Ale (Andy), Victory Prima Pils (Charles), Sixpoint Bengali Tiger (Jill).

Highlights:  I am a huge hop-head and love my IPAs, but the Founders Porter was awesome. 

Ai Fiori:  After such a long day of eating and drinking, we rallied to make it to Ai Fiori for a 7 pm reservation.  God knows how. After the recent buzz over the  butter poached lobster dish, we had to give it a try.  I originally was hoping to hit up a place with a more relaxed, downtown vibe – loud, fun, casual, etc.  Ai Fiori was probably the polar opposite, but the food and service were excellent and I was happy to finally give it a try.  Chef Michael White was in the house that night which was an added plus.  We all opted for the 4-course $79 prix fixe. 

Menu: Mare E Monte (diver scallops, celery root, burgundy black truffles, bone marrow, thyme), Granchio (blue crab, avocado, grapefruit, tarragon, crispy farinata), Uovo (poached egg, big chunks of lobster, fried sweetbreads, and foam on top), Trofie Nero (Squid ink pasta, ligurian crustacean ragout, seppia, scallops, spiced mollica), Tortelli with ricotta & mascarpone, boschetto cheese, red wine glaze), Seared Filet of Beef with crisp pomme dauphine, saffron onion and bordelaise,  Sogliola w/ wild holland Dover sole, salsify, beurre noisette (hazelnut butter), lemon and parsley and Branzino Nero w/ black bass alla plancha, mussels, chorizo, piquillo peppers, saffron. The Uovo is pictured here.

Highlights: The Uovo was ethereal according to Andy. The pastas are what Chef White is perhaps best known for and the Gnocchetti and Squid Ink Pasta were terrific. As for the entrees, the butter poached lobster was definitely the stand-out of the bunch!

SUNDAY

Minetta Tavern:  Ah, Minetta… we just can’t stay away.  This time we headed there for brunch.  We got there around 11:15 am, so no brunch cocktails were in our future (they start serving alcohol at noon).  We settled in with some teas and coffees and enjoyed the perfect cozy atmosphere on such a brisk winter morning. 

Menu: Shirred Eggs and Black Truffles with Baguette Soldiers (Jill), Latkes with Poached Eggs, Smoked Salmon and Dill Hollandaise (Andy), Black Label Burger (Charles – nice, bold move there at 11:15), Green Market Omelette with Pomme Frites (Donna), Thick Cut Bacon, Duck Hash.

Highlights: Now, the black label burger just can’t be in the running for obvious reasons, so out of the brunch dishes…  Shirred eggs with those delicate floating black truffle shavings topped on crispy baguette with a side of hearty duck hash AND a thick cut bacon slice.  I may be biased, but this combination was the best thing on the table besides that black label burger. 

Donuts at the Donut Plant: Andy’s parents are fanatical about Krispy Kreme donuts…so much so that they wait until the “hot” light comes on when picking up a box at the store back in Atlanta. From what I hear, there’s nothing quite like a hot, melt-in-your-mouth Krispy Kreme donut. We decided to stop by to see how Andy’s parents think NYC’s Donut Plant compares. It was off to a bad start when the person at the counter said they don’t do hot, or even warm, donuts. Their explanation is that it’s too difficult to top the donuts when they are hot. After that, Donut Plant never stood a chance. While good, they insist that hot Krispy Kreme donuts blow these Donut Plant ones out of the water. 

Menu/Highlight: Andy said the tres leches donut is delicious, but that it would be even better if served warm or hot.

And so the marathon food weekend drew to a close. It was another epic eating weekend with Andy’s parents, and one we won’t soon forget.

Gramercy: Molly’s Pub and Shebeen (287 3^rd Ave btw 22^nd and 23^rd).  $11 will get you a meaty 10 ounce burger (an extra $1 for cheese) served with lettuce, tomatoes, pickle and onions and your choice of French fries, potato salad, mashed potatoes, or onion rings.  The burger is juicy and huge – the bottom of the bun will dissolve as you cut into this bad boy.  One of the best under-the-radar burgers in NYC! Onion rings are great too.  

Chelsea:  The Half King (505 West 23^rd Street at 10^th Ave.).  The Half King sirloin burger will run you $12 (plus an extra $2 for cheese)…  we’re getting up there.  Thankfully, it comes with lettuce, tomato, onion, a half sour pickle and fries.

Flatiron: Shake Shack – the original (Madison Square Park- Mad. Ave and East 23^rd).  The classic shack burger (American cheese, lettuce, tomato) runs $4.75 for a single and $7.25 for a double.  A plain burger comes in at $3.74 for a single and $5.75 for a double, but how could you wait in line all that time and not go for the ultimate double patty with special sauce? Good news for the original Madison Square Park location — a recent study by A Hamburger Today finds that the original location has the best burger…and shorter lines now thanks to all the new locations around the city.

Midtown East:  Stags Head (252 East 51^st at 2^nd Ave.).  Now this one may be a surprise to many.  We were told the $7.25 9.95 burger (served on a whole wheat bun and with fries) is made with a Pat LaFrieda meat blend.  Regardless of what meat is used, it’s awesome and a great deal, plus it comes with choice of cajun fries, regular fries or a generous side salad.  Every weekeday from 11am – 4pm, you can get a Stag’s Head burger + fries + a beer for just $10! NB: On weekends during brunch, you can get the Brunch Burger (bacon, egg and cheese) for $12.95…and it comes with a beer, mimosa or bloody mary and fries. We, of course, love the original P.J. Clarke’s but at over $10 for a cheeseburger and over $5 for a side of fries, it didn’t win out in the budget category. 

Murray Hill/Kips Bay: Waterfront Ale House (540 2^nd Avenue at 30^th).  The half pound ground sirloin burger will cost you $11.95 and is served with pickle, lettuce, tomato, onion and waffle fries!  Add $1 for a topping – cheese, bacon, chili, Cajun spices, or fried onions.  It’s as hearty as a burger could be and they also have “wild burger” specials daily – think bison, venison, etc.     

Midtown West: Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien (119 West 56^th Street btw 6^th and 7^th Ave.).  A hamburger will cost you $6.89 in this hidden (but very well known) hotel gem.  The cheeseburger runs $7.35 (and comes with lettuce, tomato, onion, sliced pickles, mustard, ketchup, mayo). 

Midtown South: Black Shack Burger (320 Lexington Ave). A fast burger concept akin to Five Guys, but with beer! The standard burger is just 5 bucks and comes with onions, pickles and ketchup. Add 50 cents for cheese and 75 cents for bacon. While not necessarily a destination burger per se, Black Shack is a great lunch or delivery option for those in Murray Hill and lower Midtown East.

Hell’s Kitchen: Island Burger & Shakes (766 9th Ave). This tiny hole in the wall serves up some of the best burgers, chicken sandwiches and shakes in the area, all for a pretty unbeatable price. They’re all about the creative burger here. Their classic burgers, like the Patty Melt and Black & Blue, are great and start at $8, but their more unique selections are the real winners. Try the Princess Grace (ham, boursin cheese, and grilled mushrooms, onions and peppers on a ciabatta roll) or the Tijuana (with bacon, guacamole, jack cheese and onion) – you won’t be disappointed. Also, we hear they’re now serving french fries (used to be just chips). 

Upper East Side: J.G. Melon (1291 3^rd Avenue at 74^th).  J.G. Melon’s hamburger is $8.50, cheeseburger is $8.75, but the number one choice at this UES burger haven is the bacon cheeseburger for $9.50.  The bacon is always crisp (cooked under a broiler) and the burgers are always juicy and delicious. 

Upper West Side: Five Napkin Burger (2315 B’way at 84^th).  The Original 5 Napkin Burger is a juicy 10 ounces of fresh ground chuck with caramelized onions, gruyere cheese, rosemary aioli and comes with fries.  It’s $13.95.   

West Village: Corner Bistro (331 West 4^th Street at Jane).  $5.75 for a hamburger, $6 for a cheeseburger and $6.75 for a bistro burger (cheese and bacon).  It’s an institution for a reason.  The $2.50 McSorley mugs don’t hurt either.

East Village:  Royale (157 Avenue C at 10^th).  $6.50 will get you the Royale (with lettuce, tomato, onion & pickle).  Add $1 for cheese and $2 for bacon and cheese.  We seem to always end up here after some pints of strong ale at East Village Tavern across the street. 

Lower East Side:  Spitzer’s Corner (101 Rivington Street at Ludlow).  The $10 Hickory Burger is awesome – BBQ onions, lettuce, pickled baby vegetables, and hickory sauce.  Add $1 for a fried egg or cheddar.  And awesome beers to boot.  We know how great DBGB’s burgers are but a bit pricey for our purposes.

Soho:  The Ear Inn (326 Spring Street).  The Ear Inn, which proclaims itself to be the oldest working bar in NYC, can definitely make a burger.  The $8.50 eight ounce sirloin burger is served on a sesame roll and comes with a small salad, home fries, lettuce, tomato and raw onion.  For an extra dollar each you can add bacon, mushrooms, sautéed onions, chili, avocado and/or cheese.

Tribeca:  Reade Street Pub & Kitchen (135 Reade Street nr. Hudson).  The Reade Street Pub was a go-to spot for lots of my friends back in school.  The 10 ounce “Big Reade” burger will run you $8.95 – two 5 ounce patties with American cheese, smoked onion, sweet chipotle sauce, lettuce and tomato.  And, all burgers come with hand cut fries.  When you add on a pint of Reade Street ale, you can’t go wrong. 

Financial District: Harry’s Café & Steak (1 Hanover Square).  The classic Harry’s sirloin burger will cost you $13.50 and comes with hand cut French fries.  We are dying to try the Greek style lamb burger that comes with tzatziki (it’s $14.50, but hey… we are in the financial district). 

Brooklyn:  DuMont Burger (314 Bedford Ave.).  The DuMont burger comes in at $12.50 – a burger with Boston bibb lettuce, tomato, red onion and homemade pickles served on grilled brioche with a side of fries, onion rings or green salad.  For a cheeseburger add $1.50.  You can also get a mini burger for $9.50.  We love this burger, but as we’re not Brooklyn experts, please let us know what other great budget burgers we’re missing in the borough.

1. Warm up By a Fire: Not too many of us have fireplaces in our NYC apartments. The Blind Tiger (281 Bleecker St) has a little of everything we love: amazing craft beer, ridiculously good, steaming hot chili, a great West Village location and most importantly, a cozy fireplace. Need we say more? Ok, their wings are pretty darn good, too.

2. Enjoy a Leisurely Lunch: For many New Yorkers, a typical weekday lunch involves grabbing a quick bite from the local deli and eating at your desk. Use the snowstorm to break out of the mold and enjoy a nice, leisurely lunch instead. We say head to The Breslin in the Ace Hotel (16 W. 29th St) where you can enjoy an amazing lamb burger, terrine or steak n’ eggs to go with their fantastic cocktails. When done, mozy on over to the lobby bar in the hotel or to the John Dory next door for a drink or three.

3. Start a Mug Club:  There’s something about a snow day that begs you to sit at a bar and drink lots of good beer. If you’re gonna be throwing back a few anyways, then why not embark on a mug club, like the one at our favorite beer bar Rattle N Hum (14 E. 33rd St). To enter this exclusive club, you have 30 days to check off 40 different styles of beer. Once accomplished you will receive your own personalized mug and a buck off every draft for the rest of the year. See if you can finish before the snow melts. And while you’re at it, make sure you try one of Rattle’s meat and cheese platters featuring Murrays’ Cheese.

4. Enter in Some Friendly Skee-Ball and Darts Competition: Nothing passes the time better than some fun bar games and no bar in the city has a better array of games than Ace Bar in the East Village (531 E. 5th St). Grab some friends for some pool, darts, skee-ball and pinball action. It’s like your best friend’s basement from growing up, but with a full bar.

5. Boozy Brunches are for Weekends; Boozy Lunches are for Snow Days: Here’s a boozy lunch deal that’s too good to pass up. Sho Shaun Hergatt (40 Broad St in Financial District) is offering unlimited wine with their a la carte or prix-fixe lunch menu ($27 or $33) for an extra $10…that’s it! We could do some serious damage there on a snow day. Or head to Agave (140 7th Ave) in the West Village where the $12.95 lunch prix-fixe comes with a fruit-infused margarita tasting.

6. Warm Up with Some Wine:  On a cold, snowy night there is nothing better than a nice, full-bodied glass of wine to warm you up.  We like Terroir (413 E. 12th St) in the East Village for their great by-the-glass selection and crisp hot risotto balls.  We also like Lelabar (422 Hudson St) in the West Village for their friendly staff and awesome three cheese pressed sandwich with white truffle oil.

7. Snag a Hard to Get Table:  While everyone else is snowed in, why not try for a sought after table or seat at the bar at one of New York’s most popular eateries.  We like snagging some seats at the Minetta Tavern bar (113 Macdougal) and warming up with a glass of Bordeaux and roasted bone marrow (or black label burger).  Another idea is to brave the elements for a table at Torrisi Italian Specialties (250 Mulberry) for an Italian-American feast.

 A highlight of our favorite December tastes: 

- Sam’s Serious Eggnog at Waterfront Ale House

- Cote de Boeuf at Minetta Tavern

- Crack Pie from Momofuku Milk Bar

- KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) at Mono + Mono

- Spicy Duck Laab Salad at Kin Shop

- Taboush Chicken Pita Pitza at Balade

- Lamb burger at The Breslin

- White truffle burger at Burger & Barrel

- The BEST Falafel sandwich from Taim food truck

- Raw Bar at Sidecar at P.J. Clarke’s

- Epoisses cheese from Murray’s

- Prosciutto from Eataly

- Toasted Garlic and Onion Knishes from Yonah Schimmel’s (morning after holiday parties)

- All you can drink bellinis for brunch at Parlor (with a nice steak salad for $25)

- Shake Shack burger after some holiday shopping

- French onion soup and venison chili nachos at Waterfront Ale House

- Margaritas at Zarela (with complimentary chips and salsa)  

-  Tons of excellent bites on vacation at Excellence Playa Mujeres (best Indian food in Mexico at Basmati Restaurant!)

Now, I had heard and read a ton about this burger and thought why pay $45 for a white truffle burger. If you’re going to splurge for shavings of the heavenly white truffle, you should have it over a delicate pasta where that awesome truffle essence will shine.  I thought a rich meaty Pat La Frieda patty would mask the true truffle flavor. I was wrong.

The B&B trick is that not only do you have the ultimate truffle experience – the white truffle shavings – you also have a burger spread of homemade truffle aioli to kick the flavor up a notch. They also serve the truffle aioli (topped by a single shaving of truffle) on the side of the burger. We shared our decadent truffle burger along with a Bash Style Burger (caramelized onions and bacon jam, pickles, American cheese). The Bash burger – poor thing – never had a chance at grabbing our attention next to King Truffle. Here’s a look at the Bash burger.

The truffle burger was cooked perfectly medium rare and was served with two crispy onion rings on top.  We chose classic fries on the side as to not overpower that truffle aioli that we used as dipping sauce.  It was remarkably, even overwhelmingly, good, and the truffle flavor was not masked by the meat.  I didn’t go nuts for the truffle aioli on the side – could have had more of a truffle kick – but the burger was fungi heaven.  The only thing that would have made it better would have been if they shaved the truffle tableside. Look at those beautiful white truffle shavings!

This seasonal burger will only be around for white truffle season (possibly a few more weeks according to our server), so indulge why you can.  Skip the gift certificates and take your foodie loved ones out for a burger gift this holiday season. 

Better than Minetta?  Now, many have asked me how this compares to the Minetta Black Label Burger, which I often obsess over. Of course, the two are incomparable. When white truffle season is over, and I am in the mood to splurge on a serious burger, I am still heading to Minetta Lane, but in the meantime, you can find me on Houston trying to justify spending nearly 50 bucks on a sandwich. It makes the magic meat of the $26 black label burger (with its exclusive Pat La Frieda blend of dry-aged beef and caramelized onions) sound like a steal. 

Bargain Burger?  When still overindulging but not overspending this holiday season, I’ll be at Molly’s Shebeen for their $11 ten ounce cheeseburger (served with tomatoes, pickle, onions and your choice of French fries, potato salad, mashed potatoes or onion rings). It’s my kind of burger – fat with juices that just seep through the bun. It’s a perfect holiday spot (with an old-school, cozy Irish pub decor and a sawdust covered floor), and it’s only a block away from Rolf’s German Restaurant (basically a restaurant turned Christmas tree where you can grab a stein or some mulled wine for dessert).

Tapas 24 is one of Michelin-starred Chef Carles Abellan’s five “Projectes 24” in Barcelona.  Abellan, formerly of El Bulli, spent a decade working with Ferran Adrià before returning to Barcelona to build his own empire.  Tapas 24 does not take reservations (hence the line), and although it has a number of international customers (i.e. tourists), there were plenty of locals in the queue as well.

As we slowly but steadily descended the staircase, we peered to the restaurant below and excitedly pointed to all the mouthwatering dishes coming out of the open kitchen, like this Stewed Bull’s Tail.

We were eventually escorted to the bar waiting area where we happily ordered our first round of cava – off to a good start.  After a couple more glasses, our table was ready. 

The restaurant is made up of high tables and long counters with stools.  Our two-top was in a prime location right in front of the bar and kitchen entrance.  We ordered a couple of glasses of house red and eagerly listened to our waiter describe the specials of the day.  We knew not to miss a couple of the dishes (the Bikini Commerç 24 and the McFoie Burger), but we took our waiter’s suggestions on a couple of other dishes (a very, very good idea).   

• Pa Amb Tomàquet (Tomato Bread):  This is a Catalan classic of toasted bread rubbed with a giant ripe tomato and seasoned with olive oil and salt.  We had tasted our first tomato bread earlier in the day, but this toast was without question superior.  The tomato was so sweet and fresh and was balanced nicely with the salt.  The toast was crusty and not too bready, but the standout was the earthy, fragrant olive oil that was generously poured on top.

• Fig, Anchovy, Goat Cheese, Foie Gras, Honey:  I am not the biggest anchovy fan, but even I appreciated the combination of the salty fish with the sweet fig, decadent foie gras and creamy goat cheese.  It was light (unlike anything else we ordered) but packed a punch of flavor.  Andy was a bigger fan of this dish than I was, but I appreciated the balance of flavors and textures.

• The Bikini Commerç 24:  This was my favorite tapas of the night (and possibly of the trip!).  It is really astonishingly simple.  It’s basically a crustless grilled cheese sandwich cut in triangular wedges with jamon ibérico and black truffle.  It was absolutely divine.  The fine white melted cheese and flavorful ham with the shavings of black truffle make this easily the best grilled cheese sandwich on the planet.  I would return to the restaurant (and even to Barcelona) for another bite of the bikini.

• Assorted Wild Mushrooms with Egg Yolk:  Wow.  Boy, were we lucky our waiter had told us about this dish.  The earthy rich mushrooms were decadent on their own, but then you pierce the perfectly placed yolk at the center of the plate and the silky yolk runs through the weave of mushrooms creating a truly memorable dish.  We both LOVED the unami flavor of the wild mushrooms with the velvety layering of egg yolk.

• McFoie Burger:  This was another dish we had read about.  The beef and foie gras patty was gamey and rich and the bread was grilled thin – like a mini burger panini.  It came with a mayo-based foie gras creamy dipping sauce which only added to the indulgent nature of the already rich, meaty sandwich.  I did love this burger (but would later be wowed by another foie gras burger at Hotel 1898 which would take first place in my Barcelona burger book). 

• Chicken Wings:  Our waiter suggested our last two savory courses.  He said we must try the chicken wings.  Chicken wings?  Really?  He said they were boneless and not to be missed.  Boneless chicken wings?  Okay.  And they arrived… They looked very much like standard chicken wings (bones and all), but when we took our first bite, we knew they were no ordinary wings.  They had a delicious Asian-soy based glaze, perfectly crisped skin and they were in fact boneless.  You could pop one of these bad boys in your mouth like a chicken tender.  It was a fun, different, and delicious take on the traditional chicken wing.  Move over Bon Chon.

• Lamb Skewer:  When our last dish arrived it really didn’t look special – a skewer of meat – but it did taste extraordinary.  It wasn’t my top dish of the night, but the lamb was cooked perfectly and the seasoning was excellent.  There was a salty, spicy, minty drizzle of some sort over the skewered meat which took it to another level.  After everything else I had tasted, I should have known better than to be disappointed at first glance.

• Xocolata Pa, Oli I Sal (Chocolate Mousse):  And for the birthday dessert (accompanied by a candle and festive Spanish waiters singing a Spanish ‘happy birthday’ song) was the signature Abellan dessert which we would also taste at Commerç 24 the following day.  Three amazingly rich scoops of chocolate mousse in a fragrant olive oil, sprinkled with sea salt and accompanied by savory crostini.  This is my kind of dessert, and I rarely have a sweet tooth.  The sea salt and olive oil mixed with the sweet chocolate was absolutely divine.  This dish alone could make me a dessert person, well… a dessert, olive oil, sea salt type of person.  It was a fine end to a truly exceptional meal.

At the touch of midnight, as the waiters were in full song and as the flickering candle in the chocolate mousse sat in front of Andy, we raised our glasses.  A toast of cava to birthday number thirty-five and to a meal that we will never forget.

Now although we usually try to find good value wines at around $30 or under for our weekly wine picks, we couldn’t help ourselves to go (ever so slightly) over the budget in picking this week’s wine, Channing Daughters 2008 Meditazione.  Wow! This is truly one of the most interesting, complex, funky and fun white wines that I have ever had!  When you take a sip, you realize that this wine is something very special and very different.  It is a skin-fermented Meditazione – a white blend inspired by the “Vino da Meditazione” wines in the Friuli region of Northeast Italy.  It’s a part of the growing “orange wine” movement, with winemakers in places like Loire (France), Brda (Slovenia), Friuli (Italy), and Umbria (Italy) crafting wines that hearken back to an earlier era, when white wine was typically macerated with its skins during fermentation. Don’t just take our word for how good this wine is. We read that Paul Grieco (of Hearth and Terroir) described Channing Daughters Meditazione as “the greatest white wine in America” and we discovered the 2006 vintage on French Laundry’s and Per Se’s wine list (and even on the Spotted Pig’s list!).  I think that pretty much sums up the awesomeness of this wine – you’ve got to get it.

Wined & Dined’s Quick Tasting Notes

Wine: Channing Daughters Meditazione      

Vintage: 2008

Varietal(s): 27% Sauvignon Blanc, 27% Chardonnay, 16% Tocai Friulano, 16% Muscat Ottonel, and 14% Pinot Grigio

Region: Bridgehampton, Long Island

Alcohol: 12%

Price: $40

Color/Appearance: Golden orange – deep rich color

Nose/Aroma: Honeysuckle, vanilla, citrus liquor, spicy peach (very aromatic)        

Mouth/Flavors: Dried apricot, bright green apple, white nectarine, honey, toasted nuts, light spice.  It’s got a nice minerality, crisp citrus notes and a medium body.  Hugely complex, challenging, and all together awesome.

Conclusion:  This wine is really up there for one of my favorite whites – ever.  I think $40 is a steal when you think of its greatness in comparison to so many bottles of red that we expect to buy for the same price without flinching.   Even though this wonderland of a white is certainly a food wine (think game meat, rich stinky cheeses, seared duck breast, fall seasonal vegetables), I could easily drink it as an aperitif instead of a glass of Lillet.  The crazy complexity comes from the hand-harvested grapes (grown in Bridgehampton- prime real estate there!) being fermented on their skins for 10 days and then raised in 63% new and 37% old/neutral French and Slovenian oak puncheons, hogsheads and barriques for 18 months.  It’s refreshing to find something that is local, so different than what I am used to and just so good.  Remember not to kill its complexity by serving it too chilled.  It would be a shame not to taste and enjoy every note and layer of this gem.