It’s Friday! Hooray!
Here, have a laugh. You could probably use one.
:)
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 Read more »
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 our latest UPDATE on Gwen Butler ***
**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 Me – The Sequel to PX This – Coming in the Spring of 2011 **
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…
= "personne extraordinaire"