Bohemian

http://www.playearth.jp/


Trolling the various food blogs/message boards a couple months ago, I stumbled upon stories Bohemian, an exclusive, members only restaurant self-dubbed as "a secret hide-out for grown ups." With a focus on Japanese, French, and Nouveau American cuisine, Chef Kiyo Shinoki has created a masterpiece of culinary delights. 

But first, you have to get in. The key to entry is the coveted Bohemian phone number, which can be obtained by either being referred by another member or writing an email to ny-info@playearth.jp with a brief introduction and why you should be welcomed to join. If you're lucky, you'll get a response with an invite (it works, I promise!). You're also allowed to visit the original location in the Nishiazabu district of Tokyo, if you're ever in the neighborhood. I know, the first reaction is that this is just some pretentious marketing ploy, but restaurant researcher Rachel Bleiweiss-Sande said it best: “Bohemian is basically saying that if you’re crafty enough to figure it out, then you get in. On the surface it seems elitist, but underneath it is actually pretty democratic because the people who really want to go and eat the food are going to find the number.”


Behind a kind of creepy metal building front and a gourmet Japanese butcher shop, you find a long hallway (called "Basquiat Road," the artist died in his loft at this address) which leads you to an unassuming door with small name plaque and a doorbell. Once your reservation is confirmed, you're welcomed into a living room-esque space (formerly owned by Andy Warhol!). The room is the epitome of elegance and Zen simplicity, from the tatami mats of the bar to the rock garden to the central skylight that facilitates the art of "tsukimi sake" (midnight drinking)." 

The entrance

Simple elegance

The tatami mat bar

Even the place settings were perfect!

Everything about the restaurant is carefully thought out and supremely achieved. From the moment you sit down and are offered a hot heavenly lemon scented towel, you know that you are in for a treat. The service is impeccable and extremely helpful, ready to recommend options with extreme expertise. Liana, Katie, and I opted for the $55/person 6 course tasting menu, with the addition of 2 courses. Enough of my babbling, here's the food.

Grand Blanc
White White, Grand Marnier, Fresh Orange Juice, Homemade Pomegranate Syrup, Orange Bitters
I couldn't resist ordering the drink named after my old town.

Course #1: Farmers Fresh Vegetable Fondue
A variety of crudities (carrots, daikon, heirloom tomatoes, sweet potatoes, bell peppers) served with a fantastic "fondue" sauce made with anchovies, butter, and cream cheese. I'm surprised we didn't lick the bowl.

Course #2: Today's Assorted Sashimi
This dish was one of the two extras we ordered and I'm so glad we did. The shrimp tasted like no other shrimp I've ever tried. The two tunas and a fish that none of us could pronounce rounded up the dish and wowed us into silence. Buttery and sweet, each bite was better than the last.

Course #3: Uni Croquette
Mushroom cream croquette topped with sea urchin
Wow. This was earthy, creamy, and magical. I love uni, but this was probably the best quality I've tasted. And the croquette was perfectly cooked, crispy and crunchy on the outside yet melted in your mouth.

Course #4: Washu-Beef Short Rib Sashimi
We all grabbed a piece of the most tender, tasty, epic beef ever tasted before the picture could even be taken (hence the blank spots). This was the best addition we could have ever picked to enhance the tasting menu. WOW WOW WOW. Even the pickled cauliflower served alongside was perfect.

Course #5: Herve Katz's Assorted Cold Cuts
A lovely middle course, these meats were amazing. If only every sandwich could be made with these!

Thincumber
Shiso Leaf Infused Rum, Cointreau, Fresh Lemon Juice, Pickled Plum Juice, Garnished with Cucumbers 

Course #6: Pan Roasted Branzini with organic vegetables
This whole thing looks as impressive as it tasted. The fish, which crumbled off the bones, was perfectly tender and moist. The vegetables (a mix of baby potatoes, asparagus, brussel sprouts, snap peas, and kalamata olives) were the icing on the cake with charred smoky pieces of the branzini skin mixed in, making a fantastic, well rounded dish.

Bayleaf Spumoni
Bayleaf infused Campari, Fresh Grapefruit Juice, Brooklyn Q Tonic, Aromatic Bitters

Course #7 (option 1): Bohemian's Washu-Beef Mini Burger
The seventh course had 2 choices, of which Liana and I picked this fabulous burger. The extremely high quality beef was better than any overly hyped place in the city, cooked to a perfect medium rare. Everything about this little burger (I wouldn't call it "mini," as it was a good sized slider) was magnificent!

Course #7 (option 2): Ikura Caviar Rice Bowl
Katie opted for the second choice, which was this beautiful presentation. The caviar was superb and the rice was reminiscent of Master Yasuda's perfectly sticky and flavorful style. The pickles were served with a tasty and indescribable gelee. 

Course #8: Almond Pannacotta with Black Tapioca
This refreshing and smooth dessert was the exact ending needed. With a consistency of a liquidy flan, it tasted like the best biscotti you've ever had.

Three hours later, stuffed and satisfied, the three of us finished the meal. I honestly would put this in the top five for best dining experiences ever. Each and everything was executed perfectly and I cannot wait to get back and try the rest of the menu.


I've already got reservations made for my brother's birthday on Saturday. 

The Worlds Best Restaurants 2012

The World's 50 Best Restaurants

http://www.theworlds50best.com/

Restaurant Magazine (sponsored by S. Pellegrino and & Acqua Panna) have just released their list of the World's Best 50 Restaurants (full list below or go to the link above to get more details). I am sad to say I have only gone to a handful of these... I guess I know what I'll be aiming for for 2012.

The list is created from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 800 international leaders in the restaurant industry, each selected for their expert opinion of the international restaurant scene. The Academy comprises 27 separate regions around the world. Each region has its own panel of 31 members including a chairperson to head it up. The panel is made up of food critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly regarded ‘gastronomes’ each of whom has seven votes. Of the seven votes, at least three of which must be used to recognize restaurants outside of their region. At least 10 panelists from each region change each year.

The Voting Rules:

• Voting is strictly confidential before the awards announcement
• Panelists vote for 4 restaurants within their region and 3 outside of their region
• Voters must have eaten in the restaurants they nominate in the last 18 months
• Voters are not permitted to vote for restaurants they own or have an interest in
• Nominations must be made for the restaurant, not for the restaurateur or the chef
• Panelists submit their 7 choices in order of preference (this information is used to decide on positions in the event of a tie)

Other than this there are “no rules”.

Thomas Keller, the 2012 S.Pellegrino Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, earned two spots on the list this year with Per Se at No. 6 and The French Laundry at No. 43. Six other restaurants from the United States were also crowned this year: Alinea in Chicago, Illinois; Daniel, Le Bernardin, Momofuku Ssäm Bar and Eleven Madison Park in New York; and Manresa in Los Gatos, California.

Leave a comment if you've ever been to any of these or if you think something should/shouldn't be on the list!

These are the world's 50 best restaurants:

1) Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)
2) El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain)
3) Mugaritz (Errenteria, Spain)
4) D.O.M. (São Paulo, Brazil)
5) Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy)
6) Per Se (New York)
7) Alinea (Chicago, Illinois)
8) Arzak (San Sebastián, Spain)
9) Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (London, England)
10) Eleven Madison Park (New York)
11) Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)
12) L'Atelier Saint-Germain de Joël Robuchon (Paris, France)
13) The Fat Duck (Bray, England)
14) The Ledbury (London, England)
15) Le Chateaubriand (Paris, France)
16) L'Arpege (Paris, France)
17) Pierre Gagnaire (Paris, France)
18) L'Astrance (Paris, France)
19) Le Bernardin (New York)
20) Frantzén/Lindeberg (Stockholm, Sweden)
21) Oud Sluis (Sluis, Netherlands)
22) Aqua (Wolfsburg, Germany)
23) Vendôme (Bergisch Gladbach, Germany)
24) Mirazur (Menton, France)
25) Daniel (New York)
26) Iggy's (Singapore)
27) Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
28) Nihonryori RyuGin (Tokyo, Japan)
29) Quay Restaurant (Sydney, Australia)
30) Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)
31) Asador Etxebarri (Atxondo-Bizkaia, Spain)
32) Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)
33) De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands)
34) Fäviken Magasinet (Järpen, Sweden)
35) Astrid y Gastón (Lima, Perú)
36) Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)
37) Momofuku Ssäm Bar (New York)
38) Biko (Mexico City, Mexico)
39) Waku Ghin (Singapore)
40) Quique Dacosta (Denia, Spain)
41) Mathias Dahlgren (Stockholm, Sweden)
42) Hof van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium)
43) The French Laundry (Yountville, California)
44) Amber (Hong Kong, China)
45) Vila Joya (Albufeira, Portugal)
46) Il Canto (Siena, Italy)
47) Bras (Laguiole, France)
48) Manresa (Los Gatos, California)
49) Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)
50) Nahm (Bangkok, Thailand)

Penelope

Penelope

http://www.penelopenyc.com/

159 Lexington Ave

New York, NY 10016

It's Friday night and I am at home, writing this drivel. Yes, this is what old, boring folk do. One awesome dinner with the bestie, a nice bottle of white wine, and a couple of HBO shows, it's time to turn in for the night. After an endless and tiresome work week, we decided that a comfort meal at Penelope in my neighborhood was exactly what the doctor ordered. Always spot on, there's no wonder this place has at least an hour wait any weekend morning. Now to the food. 


Special thanks to Christie for the photography. Also for looking like a dork with me and taking pictures of the food.

Warm Spinach Artichoke Dip

Christie showing off the artichokie goodness.

Grilled Three Cheese (swiss, fontina, and white american cheese) with artichoke, tomato and pesto

Olive Garden Sucks... but damn, those Breadsticks are amazing. Here's how to avoid the place and do it yourself!



Homemade Olive Garden Breadsticks recipe (makes 10-12)

adapted from chef in training and full bellies

Ingredients
Dough:
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 package active dry yeast
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
Topping:
1 stick unsalted butter (or 1/2 cup margarine)
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons salt
Directions
In a large bowl, dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water and allow to sit for 10 minutes, covered. Mixture should be frothy.
In separate bowl, combine the flour and salt. First, add in the yeast mixture. Then, add melted butter. Mix with paddle attachment of stand mixer or wooden spoon until fully combined.
Knead dough for a few minutes just until dough is smooth, but do not overknead. Grease or parchment paper-line a cookie sheet. Pull off pieces of dough and roll out into strips.
Cover the dough and let sit in a warm place for 45 minutes to an hour.
Bake at 400 degrees for 12-14 minutes, longer if you like them crispy on the outside.
In the microwave, combine the topping ingredients. After 6 or 7 minutes, brush the bread sticks with half of the butter mixture.
Continue to bake, then right after you take the breadsticks out of the oven, brush the tops with the rest of the butter topping. Let cool for a minutes or so, and eat.