As one sagacious oenophile put it best: "OK, the sommelier will shut up now and the girl will take over… *SQUEEE! HELLO KITTY WINE!*"
[ Side note to resident sommelier and "Cellar Notes" correspondent, Aris Francisco: Please don't hit me. ]
:)
Just a reminder from your favorite "cocktail architect," Yusef Austin of Elitelixirs. Enjoy!
:)
New Spring Cocktails from Elitelixirs:
The Caledonia & The Exotique
White Mischief & Orange Glory
Flames of Paradise (all by Yusef Austin)
Oreno – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese – 2006 Tuscany
Cost: $80-$85/bottle
A dark opaque purple wine, moderately full-bodied with rather elevated acidity and tannins. Granted, it is young (recently released, that is). Its nose is already revealing— with great black cherries, black raspberries, violets, cedar, graphite, and a touch of vanilla bean. In the mouth, it’s quite layered and velvety, loaded with black fruit and dark tannins. It should rest at least 5 to 7 years, but there is plenty of fruit to support its evolution into something rather special. Despite its youth, I still enjoyed the wine very much; its nose was quite inviting. A solid example of a Super Tuscan at its finest.
Rating: 94
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Where am I? And how am I supposed to get home?
Please rate the Bar:
It’s… boisterous. Also, it’s apparently Chignon & Spectacles Day, and nobody told me.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
N/A on the cocktails. Wine list is fine— [read: cheap]. Beer, too.
(The busted, old, milk jug "carafes" are… different.)
Please rate the Dining Room:
Not bad. Kind of cramped, but it is a small space. I hear LES’ers have that whole neo-hippie love-your-neighbor thing going on anyway, so they probably love it. Also, it’s loud. But, better to hear the music than the pots clanking, I guess.
Please rate the BOH:
N/A; technically, it’s in the FOH. And it’s— not bad. I guess?
[As a proud former BOH'er, all I can say is: I'm dying to see the "letter grade" on this bad boy!]
How was the staff?
Fine. Friendlyish. Adept— for people who take your menu and ring your doodles into the POS system.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Spicy Pork Meatballs with Parmesan Cream Sauce : Good. The sauce is nice.
Beef Meatballs with Tomato Sauce : Good. Generous portion of grated parmesan, which eventually melts into the sauce making it all nice and gooey. Tasty.
Beef Meatball Slider with Spicy Meat Sauce : Good. Not very spicy, though.
Chicken Meatball Slider with Mushroom/Gravy Sauce : Good. The sauce is nice.
Sauteed Swiss Chard "Green of the Day" : Eew. I have never seen poor vegetables so tortured in my whole life. This is the Abu Ghraib of vegetables. If you lived in the suburbs, this is the stuff you’d be cleaning out of your roof gutters. Moral of the story: Don’t order vegetables in a meatball shop. [To their credit, they did take it off the check without my even asking.]
Roasted Honey Carrots : Better. But, the carrots are so disfigured, they look and taste more like yams, actually.
What did you like?
Umm, my photos came out pretty nice, didn’t they?
What did you dislike?
The walk over. Had I realized I needed a travel visa and a GPS (thanks, iPhone!) for this, I probably would not have come.
What was your last impression?
They’re very busy, so good for them!
Would you come back?
Would I travel to Jupiter for a meatball? Sorry, no.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you, and good on ya.
"i can’t believe that bitch gets more press than i, by maybe-being-me" —abbe diaz, 8/24/07
Well! Hey, Abbe— you wish, Miss Thing! Looks like Ms. Butler has some lessons for you in the art of Media Hype & Hoopla Hustling.
"…the notorious Gwen Butler, after an incident that occurred after service Wednesday night. ‘She assaulted me,’ Skeen tells us. We’ve heard the chef was punched in the face…"
Wow! That’s hott. No wait— that’s better than hott. Hell, that’s gansta.
Anywho, just wanted to say, "Hi, Snax!" Lookin’ good, mami. Mrreeoowwr!
Thanks for making the food blogs fun again! We haven’t read anything this LOL inducing since… well… this.
Luv ya!
Your adoring fans at PX This.
**See also (earlier):
• SYMPATHY 4 THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY
• Chef Roman à Clef: "I’m not Abbe"
• Is our mystery roman à clef writer Boston’s $2.45 Million Dollar Bartender?
• "I’ll punch somebody if it gets me in Page Six. Just kidding…"
• "Think of it – you would be so badass…"
** For more on this story, read PX This, Too – Coming in the Summer of 2010 **
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Nice. Very cute…
Please rate the Bar:
Good, especially considering it’s not a really a "bar," per se— more like bar seats at a diner counter (albeit a chic, adorable diner). The lounge tables are comfortable though— best for couples.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
Beer and wine only. Brief list, but thoughtful. Reasonably priced, but not exactly a bargain.
Please rate the Dining Room:
Perfect for the space and concept; a smart use of spare square footage. Inviting and cozy. Chic but casual. Somebody really had their thinking cap on…
Please rate the BOH:
Amazing. Is this the smartest, most sagacious, little restaurant ever built? Could be. (I’d have to know what they spent on construction to be sure.)
How was the staff?
OK. Proficient and adept, but in that very casual downtown laissez-faire kind of way. One person in particular was excellent, however. While all his colleagues were declaring, "I’m off. I’m not working now" (yes, right in front of the customers— us), this guy somehow managed to wait tables, pour wine, serve "to go" desserts over the counter, be a superb barista (yes, I watched him make coffee and expertly steam milk) and be affable and charming all at the same time. Plus, evidently he’s (at least) bilingual.
I’d tell you his name— but I’m keeping it for my headhunter file instead, suckers.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Flatbread with hummus : Very nice. Personally I might have preferred the bread be a little toastier, but then that would have detracted from its pliable suppleness. And the hummus was fresh, simple and delicious. Perfect.
Cow "Pig" in a Blanket : Oh my lord. If there’s a heaven for poor little cow-pigs, this is it.
Chicken Pot Pie : Whoa. Clear off that counter, I’m moving in. I’ll sleep right here.
Braised Short Rib : WTF?! I thought this was supposed to be a dessert shop.
Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Jam : If your mother had fed you brussel sprouts like this, you would never have had to hide them in your napkin and feed them to the dog. You’d almost be vegetarian today.
I know, shoot me; I’m too full for dessert : Sorry, Pichet! But, there’s always next time…
What did you like?
Everything.
What did you dislike?
Well, nobody likes to hear, "I’m off." Come on guys, not even TGIFriday’s would let you get away with that. Believe me, I know.
What was your last impression?
I’m really glad I tried it.
Would you come back?
Yes. I’m craving that cow-pig right now. Cozy up in that blanket, baby— Daddy’s coming.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thanks, you will.
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
well it certainly looks like a "real" restaurant ?
Please rate the Bar:
good. spacious, clean, comfortable. and the bartenders seem very good too— but okay, in all honesty, we did get "made" as soon as we walked through the door, so you know how that is.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
fine. brief, but eclectic enough. purposeful— in a way. umm… a decidedly "west village/soho" way actually, is what i’m kinda tempted to say. but of course, this isn’t exactly the west village or soho. but i guess that’s besides the point anyways. right?
Please rate the Dining Room:
nice. purposeful— in a way. umm… a decidedly "west village/soho" way actually, is what i’m kinda tempted to say. but of course, this isn’t exactly the west village or soho. but i guess that’s besides the point anyways. right?
Please rate the BOH:
better than i expected. oh who am i kidding— much better than i’d expected, especially considering i’ve been hearing some pretty awful things; one person even went so far as to call it "inedible." and i also heard another party on a different night waited a lifetime for food but still left unfed and starving.
but we didn’t experience any of those things. everyone (and everything) is quite professional as a matter of fact, so i guess whatever happened during Kenmare’s brief hiatus is evidently all for the best.
How was the staff?
great! it’s everybody you already know, so what’s not to love about that?
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
i tried damned near every appetizer on the menu, two side dishes, the rice pudding "arancini," and the dulce de leche layer cake. and everything was very good. even the The Little Owl meatball slider— which, for some reason, in my experience, wasn’t as good at theLittleOwl, but is perfectly satisfactory here.
the food is simple (the desserts are bit more elaborate) but well-prepared. fresh and clean, without a lot of fancy fuss or overbearing sauces/spices. the lobster&shrimp spagehtti "fra diavolo" was my favorite of all. the sardine fillet was also quite appealing, although i’m not so sure why there’s all this fascination with cauliflower on this menu (to each his own i guess). oh and the pickled cucumbers and radishes are really delicious.
i did, however, intentionally steer clear of the "inedible" tuna carpaccio— and when i saw it land in front of a customer two seats over, i’m kinda glad i did. i’m just sayin.
What did you like?
i guess everything, but especially the staff. i hope everybody appreciates the effort even a fraction as much as i do. and the bathroom wall tiles are so beautiful.
What did you dislike?
wellll uhh ugh… truth be told— i’m maybe not quite feelin Kenmare’s umm PR tactics? if this is really truly supposed to be a "real" restaurant, then God bless them and best of luck. i hope they keep it real, because the Beatrice/Waverly wannabee shit is just sooo tired already. and no, i’m not just saying that because i "can’t get in," jackasses. i’m saying that because the SHIT IS FUCKING TIRED. i swear i have never before heard of a restaurant more universally reviled before the first "official" dinner has even landed on a fucking plate. and in this city, that’s really saying a lot.
so i guess what i’m sayin is: i hope i didn’t just waste all this time and energy lauding a restaurant that turns out eventually to not even be a fucking restaurant. christ.
What was your last impression?
oh yah. i guess: see above.
Would you come back?
oh fucking hell. i don’t know. if i "can get in" i guess ?
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
thank you. it was lovely. really truly, we enjoyed it very much.
sigh— but what can i say. except: welcome to PX This, sweetie. we’re not like The New York Post; we’re too sexy for your hype.
**See also (earlier):
• Kenmare (née Civetta) – UPDATE
• Civetta Closing – "New Concept" to Come
• MORE on Sevigny & Khan…
Jerry Rosembert – Le Projet Nouvelle Haiti
"… I really wish I could have captured more of Jerry’s graffiti. Pretty much all the graffiti here is political, and mostly all but his is text, election related. Aba means ‘down with,’ often with Preval after. The rest is vote for so-and-so or the number corresponding to the candidates number on the slate or ballot. With an 80-90% illiteracy rate, most vote by number…
Haiti needs a hand up, not a handout."
** With very special thanks to F&B superstar, Lelaine Lau.
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
wow holy cow. if it weren’t for the bar being in the same place (and holy shit, look— it’s maurice-bitton!) i would never have recognized the former Smith.
Please rate the Bar:
ha ha ha ha ha aha haa. nah. let’s just say: i’d do it differently.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
oh shit— i was so busy reminiscing, i totally forgot to look at a wine list. the cocktails list looks okay though. kinda funky. fine for this location, i’m sure. oh but $14 for this tiny little Belvedere? that’s seems pretty steep, especially for this location.
as for the bartender, i mean— don’t get me wrong, she seems sweet enough. but i would bet she’s never worked behind a bar in her life before this.
Please rate the Dining Room:
cute. cuter than Smith anyways. [ha ha aha haa "is this place finished yet?" --- eric-goode, 2002]
personally i think it’s a wee bit dark, but it’s likely better for them— evidently, this is a "late night" joint.
Please rate the BOH:
i didn’t eat much, but what i did try was impressive. really! the menu is solid, creative, and likeable. better than i expected. it’s too bad i already had dinner this evening; i’d gladly have ordered more.
How was the staff?
pretty good. very casual, but friendly. they "fit" the place, i guess.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
chicken wings (bar menu) : very good— and i’m a wing fanatic. unique, delicious, and perfectly cooked. loved the honey-something dipping sauce. see? that’s what i mean— impressive.
sliders (bar menu) : also very good. fresh, tasty. simple but great presentation. the BOH really knows what they’re doing, and it shows.
What did you like?
the food was great.
What did you dislike?
the bar could be… umm "tighter."
What was your last impression?
sigh. fuckin brian-mcnally. what a shame. what a waste.
Would you come back?
it’s a bit out of the way for me, so it’s hard to promise. but i’d really like to.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
thank you— and i hope so, too.
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Oh, boy. The uh… "bar" tables are a nice idea?
Please rate the Bar:
N/A. But the bar… uh "thing" is definitely… different.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
All Spanish wines (cocktails are N/A)— at an affordable price point. But, the wine list could use some work; e.g. knowing what varietal I’m ordering would be nice. Oh well, at least the waiter knows.
Please rate the Dining Room:
Not bad. Spacious. Comfortable enough, I suppose.
Please rate the BOH:
As succinctly as possible: I’m not impressed.
There’s a lot more I could say, but quite frankly, why should I? For a "chain" that has 200+ outposts worldwide, you’d think they know what they’re doing, right? Why should I waste my energy?
How was the staff?
Good. Amiable, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Croquetas : Not bad. A little trite, but tasty enough.
Roasted pepper salad : Funny. Call me crazy, but I was expecting piquillo peppers, and these are red bell peppers. Personally, I don’t get it.
Fried calamari : I think they’re not so good, but my friend doesn’t hate them. A little rubbery. And the execution is pretty way off.
Pa amb tomaquet : Umm. No.
Sardine/pepper tapa : Really? Do people love pre-prep this much in the rest of the world? ‘Cos… y’know, maybe it’s me.
Jamon/cheese tapa : Really? Do people love pre-prep this much in the rest of the world? ‘Cos… y’know, maybe it’s me.
"Burger" tapa : Sigh. Check, please.
What did you like?
The glassware. Nice Riedel burgundy imitation. Beautiful, but sturdy.
What did you dislike?
For the most part, the food.
What was your last impression?
Well, somehow, Cendrillon managed to make it here for years and years and years, so— I guess there’s hope!
Would you come back?
Not quite my cup of tea; I’m afraid not. Sorry.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you and best of luck.
• Thursday, March 18, 2010. 2:30 PM – Everybody having lunch at Bar Pitti, enjoying the gorgeous day.
• Thursday, March 18, 2010. 11:30PM – Everybody at "The Boom Boom," enjoying the gorgeous night.
What are you doing here?! GO OUTSIDE.
:)
Bogle Chardonnay 2006 – California
Cost: $10/bottle
Nice light gold in color, with a sweet, oaky nose intermixed with honey, pear, and peach. Consistent flavors pack this full-bodied and chewy chardonnay that should match quite nicely with Read more…
Coming to Madison Square Garden – June 25, 2010
Aack! Reserve your PX Package today!
:)
**See also (earlier): "…HOW DID I FORGET U KNOW MAXWELL…?!!!"
We’ve always been leery of the boring, idiotic world of Josh Ozersky (and the numerous incarnations of his online bullshit), but a video segment from The Soup was difficult to resist. As you might expect, Ozersky— a "clueless, overbloated, publicist-indentured, sycophant[ic]" blogger— was in fact pilloried by No Reservations (and subsequently, The Soup), a cringe-inducing event publicized by Ozersky’s food blogger peers and former colleagues. (All of Ozersky’s blog entries read like interminable clueless, overbloated, publicist-indentured, sycophantic pontifications tapped out by the jittery, chubby fingers of a man who can’t wait to get his hands on his next donut-bacon-cheeseburger). We include it here entirely for purposes of education: Remember, if you’re a trite, pathetic, snooze-inducing dweebshit, don’t go on national television.
** See also:
• NEWSFLASH: Josh Ozersky is Unethical (and/or "Dumb")
• “…had Josh Ozersky not made such a glaring jackass of his ignorant self prior….”
*********************************************
For more on this subject, read PX This Too – The Sequel to PX This – Coming Soon in the Autumn of 2010
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of lucks[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
oh wow look at this place… ha haa ehee heee fuckin koreans.
Please rate the Bar:
n/a. no bar. but they do serve beer/wine in the dining room though.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
the wines by the glass are bleah kinda a joke (albeit inexpensive), maybe skip em. decent beer selection though, at good prices too— a giant pitcher of draught (stella artois, e.g.) is twenty bucks. if you’re feeling adventurous, they have shochu. and they even have prosecco and sparkling rosé.
Please rate the Dining Room:
funky! the seats at the communal counters are hydraulic so that’s pretty neat. there are flat screens showing music videos. and framed shape-shifting photographs on the walls. i mean— yah maaan: fuckin koreans.
Please rate the BOH:
not bad, especially for their first week. a little slow on the timing, but they made up for it by offering a round of drinks even before we started to get impatient. i’m sure they’ll settle in eventually.
How was the staff?
good. friendly, accommodating. perhaps just a tad discomboobled, but again, it is their first week, and from what i gather, the volume they’re doing must be overwhelming. no major missteps, but they do need to work some kinks out of their delivery/runner system. overall, i’d say they’re fine.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
drumsticks with hot&sweet sauce : my favorite. reeeally spicy though. if you like kimchee, this is the one for you.
drumsticks with soy&garlic sauce : milder, but garlicky. the crispiness of the coating and all that jazz does live up to their reputation. koreans loooves them some fried chicken all right, so they are not messin around here.
wings with both aforementioned sauces, plus the honey glaze sauce : normally i’m a wing fanatic, but this time i’d have to say the drumsticks are better. the wings are very small— on the one hand that’s sorta disappointing, but on the other hand, if they’re this small because they’re organic and not pumped all up with steroids and hormones and whatnot, then how can one complain? so yah, just a warning: they’re small (so maybe the breading/sauce does somewhat overpower the chicken).
grilled chicken sandwich : good. fresh ingredients, tasty. interesting bread even (why’s it green, i have no idea— but i’m sure there’s a valid reason).
sal sal chicken strips : eh. not so great. the drumsticks and wings are better. and all the dipping sauces kinda taste the same (they’re all rather cloyingly sweet).
croquettes : they’re supposed to be "chicken and bell peppers wrapped in mashed potatoes" but all you really taste are mashed potatoes. so if you like mashed potatoes, i guess they’re okay. otherwise, not so much.
coleslaw : pretty good. the sprinkle of bell peppers is a cute touch.
What did you like?
umm… i guess i’d say the drumsticks in the very spicy sauce.
What did you dislike?
the chicken strips could have been much better. too much coating for a such a narrow strip, and the chicken was too dry.
What was your last impression?
for most people, a platter of drumsticks and a pitcher of beer is probably the way to go. (relatively) fast, easy, inexpensive, and good. congratulations: now you’re a Kyochon expert.
Would you come back?
somehow i have a feeling my korean best buddy and my chinese chicken wing loving homegirl are gonna make me come back here, even if i didn’t want to.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
thanks, it was dope.
= "personne extraordinaire"