Tag Archives: NYC

Prandially Yours: Baker & Co.

Post Photo Courtesy of https://foursquare.com

Post Photo Courtesy of https://foursquare.com

Prandially Yours:

Baker & Co.

-A Monthly Column By Joshua Wanger, Featuring NYC Restaurant Reviews-

Brunch at this unassuming, casual restaurant on Bleecker Street may not push any culinary boundaries, but the food and atmosphere are delightful. The simple décor is charming, and the food follows suit with typical New York brunch staples that do not reinvent already delicious dishes. Even when full, it never gets too loud, and the friendly wait staff give the space a very homey feel. The restaurant is perfect for small gatherings of friends, birthday celebrations, or even a first date.

Along with the standard New York brunch drinks—mimosas, bellinis, and an interesting and spicy Baker’s Beer Bloody Mary—specialty cocktails add an element of excitement to the meal. The Balsamic combines a somewhat bitter Italian vermouth and a very sweet dessert sherry with apple bitters and coffee to produce a potently sweet drink—perfect for pairing with one of the plainer entrées. The house-made organic granola with Greek yogurt, for instance, is a lovely and healthy option that melds with the flavors of the complex cocktail.

There are no surprises coming from the kitchen, but everything tastes delicious. Catching a whiff of a Creekstone Farm dry-aged burger will make any diner regret ordering otherwise. Diners fond of the classics won’t go astray taking the butternut squash ravioli. Butter and sage and homemade pasta make the world a better place.

Reservations are recommended for groups, as the restaurant is small. If available, the patio is a beautiful, enclosed, greenhouse-like seating area with great lighting. While Baker & Co. isn’t mind-blowing, the food is good, prices are budget friendly (for the area), and locals will enjoy repeat visits with friends.

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Post Photo Courtesy of https://foursquare.com

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#FlashTag: The Meeting

Monologging.org invites you to help create collaborative flash fiction. The following picture-inspired story, needs to be completed by Saturday, September 26th. Every day, different authors around the world will be selected to contribute the next line. Find out how to submit your twist to the evolving plot by visiting the #FlashTag Submission Guidelines… Submit Free!

Photo by Jeffrey F. Barken

Photo by Jeffrey F. Barken

 

 

 

The Meeting

 

 

 

#FlashTag @monologging The Phone rang. “Meet me on the tenth floor fire escape,” the wheezy voice said.

#FlashTag@ I’ve been waiting for this call, (Running) I get to the fire escape. “Come out! Where are you?”

#FlashTag@ The sun had set. No twilight afterglow, only shadows fading in the dark. Across, I saw the red tip of a cigarette.

#FlashTag@ “So you’re here.” An inane comment from my lips, of course. Her cigarette flared orange, red, orange, in response.

#FlashTag@ “Come out of there. Let me see you,” I called. “Why did you come back?”

#FlashTag@Monologging “Isn’t it enough to know I’m back?” My sister said, putting out her cigarette. “You know I can’t be seen in public.”

 

 

 

 

Think you’ve got the next line to the story? Submit your #FlashTag response via Submittable!

Need a little help getting started? Click here to read: #FlashTag Examples

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Prandially Yours: Robert NYC

Prandially Yours

-A New Monthly Column by Joshua Wanger, Featuring NYC Restaurant Reviews-

ROBERT • COLUMBUS CIRCLE, NEW YORK—This unpretentious, fine dining establishment, set at the top of the Museum of Arts and Design, is a visually exciting culinary treat. The impressive dining room features chic blades of light dangling from the ceiling and a wall-sized three-dimensional rendering of a deciduous tree that grows and loses leaves through rapidly shifting seasons. The colorful lighting casts contrasting blues, oranges, and pinks, foreshadowing an exciting menu. Floor-to-ceiling windows comprise one wall, providing clear views up Broadway and into Central Park. Diners curious enough to look up at the mirrored ceiling tiles observe the blur of pedestrians and vehicles circling Gaetano Russo’s statue of Columbus below. As the sun sets, city lights show through the window, presenting a stunning backdrop for a dinner prepared by the very capable Chef Luisa Fernandes.

A fun atmosphere prevails in the dining room. The wait staff are amiable and attentive without being overbearing. The flamboyant character serving this reviewer drew smiles from around the room. On a beautiful Friday evening in the city, the restaurant is filled, but dinner is not rushed. Pushing the wonderful atmosphere to its logical extreme, a jazz pianist and bassist duo riff for the dining room.

Begin your evening with one of Robert’s specialty cocktails. The “Mad Manhattan,” a sweet concoction composed of Woodford Reserve, blood orange vermouth, and an Amarena cherry, is a delightfully rich pairing for a three-course meal.

The amuse-bouche, this evening a carrot–jicama wrap with cucumber cream, was simple. A light, clean flavor, and satisfying crunch distinguishes this appetizer, paving the way for the first course: tomato and mango gazpacho. Bursting with umami and salty-sweetness, this finely seasoned and smoothly puréed, chilled soup works perfectly with the dollop of mango sorbet centered in the dish. Though the portions are large, you will not waste a drop of this soup.

The main entrée, a summery risotto, arrives incredibly hot and perfectly cooked. The chef prepares a generous portion of fresh sweet corn with asparagus mixed into the all’onda rice and topped with shavings of Parmesan, giving the dish a seasonal, savory flavor. Like the gazpacho, the portion is large and filling.
Assuming you can eat another bite, cheesecake topped with passion fruit foam and surrounded by caramel and dots of guava liquid gel round out the meal. The showy foam and gel make a bold presentation but are not too sweet and do not overpower the luscious cheesecake. The clear caramel gently binds the bright, tart fruit and the creamy, rich cheesecake flavors together, lending complexity to the dish. Compliments of the chef, a small glass of bubbly Moscato arrives.

Robert calls for repeat visits. Restaurant goers seeking a casual, yet fine dining experience will delight in the menu and atmosphere. The view is spectacular, prompting some picture taking, but this does not detract from the experience. On the contrary, each flash amplifies the fun, capturing smiles and the friendly atmosphere the staff works hard to cultivate. Call as far in advance as possible to reserve seats by the expansive windows.

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Post Photo Courtesy of: www.tripadvisor.com

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