Buvette

Since reading about Buvette in my Martha Stewart Living magazine a couple of months ago, I'd been very interested in going to this West Village gastroteque. Kevin and I found time before a recent Yankee game to eat there on a 95 degree afternoon and deemed it fantastic date spot. Truly, it is drop-dead cute.

Next time, more wine. The wine list came in an adorable booklet, and the pricing was very reasonable.

The menu and wine list:
(pop-ups!)

Interior and decor. Love the potted plants on the windowsill.

The main event.

tomates

pulpo

prosciutto di parma tartine

watermelon infused white wine topped with sparkling

Made Nice

 

New video from Made Nice, the group that runs Eleven Madison Park and NoMad. The majority of dishes we tried at these two restaurants were very impressive, but right now all I want is some more of that EMP granola.

Lady Butcher

How awesome is this?

Restaurants with "WOAH" Moment Dishes

Torrisi - Garlic Bread
Marlow & Sons - Bouillabaisse, Escarole, The Creeper
brushstroke - Chawanmushi
Public - Foie
Parm - Salami and Egg Toast
Bohemian - Miso Black Cod
Szechuan Gourmet - Fish
Spotted Pig - Gnudi
Traif - Foie, Bacon Doughnuts
Roberta's - Axl Rosenberg
Alinea - Tomato 
Ko - Just about everything

The New wd~50

Pho Gras

Continuing the trend of posting slideshows of new tasting menus, here are 20 pictures of Wylie Dufresne's completely revamped tasting menu now being served at wd~50.

For our second Christmas together, I took Mary here and she cites the tasting menu as one of the transcending experiences in her culinary life. I was less impressed, but still get giddy when I think about everything bagel ice cream. That's all moot now as their new $155 12-course dinner consists of completely new creations, and although I see no point in creating faux rice from salsify, Pho Gras looks absolutely banging.

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2012/06/everything-from-wd-50s-new-tasting-menu-wylie-dufresne-nyc.html

Blanca

Roberta's Neopolitan-style pizza is good. Really good. Their tasting menu is supposed to be even better.. if you can get in. For a long time, this much-hyped, uber-expensive meal was only served two nights a week at 6 PM. In order to deal with the intense demand for a seat (I was on the wait list for over five months before getting a call), Roberta's has opened Blanca right next door.

After questionable experiences at just-opened restaurants, I'm going to let this one get things settled before I actively try to secure a few seats. However if this Flickr slideshow of every single plate on the 20+ course offering is any indication, the meal looks beautiful and very promising.

Is it good enough to justify charging as much as NYC's restaurant behemoths? Time will tell.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmoranmoya/sets/72157630025032751/
courtesy of Jose Moran Moya

Backyard Brooklyn