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[Pigging by Wilfrid: May 31, 2011]
Whatever the vicissitudes of the international interests of D. Boulud and Partners, their profile in New York City remains unblemished. Here comes another surefire winner.
Smart but not formal, classy but not unduly pricey, hard by Lincoln Center - and a little close to Picholine for Terrance Brennan's comfort, Boulud Sud is a polished addition to the portfolio.
The temperature may have suddenly jumped, but beef and red wine still seemed a good idea.
The Baudana barolo with ten years in the bottle is drinking quite beautifully. You can still find the 2001 for about fifty dollars.
[Pigging by Wilfrid: May 29, 2011]
This was a cheese I tracked down and tried when I first started getting serious about cheese - some thirty years ago (lord!), when a cheese like this wasn't so easy to find.
Partly nostalgia, then, which prompts me to enjoy this even more than Rocquefort - by and standards a finer cheese. I like the saltiness of bleu d'Auvergne. This piece from Ninth Avenue Vintner's.
[Pigging by Wilfrid: May 26, 2011]
Hester Street Fair, every Saturday on the Lower East Side, is hardly an extravaganza. It's a tight hub of arts and craft stalls, not so cheap, selling "artisanal" jewelry, kids' clothes, interesting coasters made from found pictures and maps...and so on.
In the back, some familiar food vendors. Luke's Lobster, An Choi, Sonrisa. We tried two pulled pork sandwiches from Daisy Duke's BBQ (not Daisy May's, note). One wet, one dry. Although the sauce on the wet one wasn't cloying, the dry had flavor enough. Six dollars each, ten for two if you're lucky.
[Pigging by Wilfrid: May 22, 2011]
Among the many things in life requiring no review are the wines of López de Heredia. This bodega has been turning out top-flight Riojas with huge aging potential for well over a century.
The only thing to do is drink them, and I had an opportunity to taste several vintages at a dinner organized by the Upper West Side wine bar and restaurant, The Tangled Vine.
[Pigging by Wilfrid: May 24, 2011]
I have used Guayoyo on First Avenue a few times recently for a casual lunch. The focus of the menu is Venezualan, and there's a slight inclination toward small plates. A big inclination toward arepas.
I guess it makes a change from Mancora (Peruvian) two blocks up. It's certainly more accessible than Caracas, the arepa veteran also nearby.
[Pigging by Wilfrid: May 23, 2011]
On a stretch of MacDougall Street lined with unremarkable, mid-priced restaurants - Salt, Hundred Acres, Twelve Chairs - one quiet, tranquil space awaits your custom.
How would you know that peaceful Rouge et Blanc is currently serving some of the most intriguing food in town?
[Pigging by Wilfrid: May 21, 2011]
This is good stuff. Mont St. Francis: washed-rind raw goat's milk from a herd at Capriole Farm in Southern Indiana. Highly aromatic, smooth-textured, definitely on the funky side but with nice acidity. I think this is a less aged version as the rind is not as deeply colored as usual. But it was certainly ready to eat. Cheese from Saxelby's in Essex Street Market with baguette from Pain d'Avignon in the same location.
Saxelby's take: "For any of you city folks who’ve been craving a romp through farm country, here’s your chance! This raw milk, washed-rind cheese is the perfect balance of sweet goaty goodness and brash pungent barnyard."
