Tom Colicchio -

by Russell Warnick

Gelatinous Meat Puree

With all the hype surrounding Top Chef’s arrival in DC I thought I would share my experience at Tom Colicchio‘s newly opened Colicchio & Sons, formerly Craft in NY’s Meatpacking District. As a post-theater treat for my birthday, Deej promised me a dinner of my choosing. I went with Colicchio & Sons as I’m a fan of the chef and figured the timing would be right. And how it was.

As some of you might remember from our meal at José Andrés’ Bazaar, Deej isn’t the most accommodating when it comes to food, so we opted to eat from the dining room menu and not the tasting menu. And because we just love harassing picky eaters, Deej will also provide commentary on our dining experience.

Appetizer

Britannia:
The kitchen was very accommodating: they were more than happy to provide one of the tasting menu dishes as an appetizer — scallops with foie gras terrine, honey turnips and puntarelle. A small portion of each, the scallop and foie gras combined on the fork; it was exactly how it should be. Simply delicious.

Deej:
Simply—not so much. The foie gras was foie gross. The texture was like gelatinous meat puree. It reminded me of that Jell-o—like brown stuff at the top of a dog food can. How do you people actually enjoy this stuff? Seriously!?! The scallop was well cooked but not my thing flavor-wise. So I choked down two bites and gave the rest to Britty-boy.

by BS

ES Local: The Top 10 Most Anticipated New NYC Restaurants of 2010

2009, as we all know by now, was more a year for restaurant closings than openings. But with the economy kinda-sorta-maybe turning a corner-ish, here’s hoping that 2010 will be a banner year for eating out once again. With that thought in mind, take a look at the top 10 rumored/confirmed/dreamed up/maybe really happening NYC restaurants we’re crossing our fingers for in 2010.

10. No. 7 Sub

Fort Greene’s inventive No. 7—called one of 2009’s best new restaurants in America by Bon Appetit—is heading to Manhattan, of all places, to debut a more wallet-friendly menu. Rumored to open early this year inside midtown’s Ace Hotel, the take-out-only offshoot will feature a selection of under-$10 sandwiches made on house-baked bread and topped with yummy extras like kimchi pickles and Japanese kewpie mayo. 20 W. 29th St.

9. Three More Shake Shacks!

One day, there will be more Shake Shacks in New York than Starbucks. Until that glorious, heart-stopping moment arrives (we’ll set the over/under at February 2014), those not near existing shacks at Madison Square Park, the UWS, and Shea Stadium can get their burger fix at three new locations: downtown (Prince and Mulberry Streets), midtown (8th Avenue and 44th Street), and UES (86th Street and Lex). In the randomest restaurant news ever, there will also be one in Kuwait.

8. The Sam Talbot Project, Continued

The New York foodie set is certifiably obsessed with this Top Chef reject/pin-up model/chef at Long Island’s seasonal Surf Lodge. But despite being constantly seen all over town and rumored to be making a bid on every space that comes on the market, we’re still waiting for the great Sam Talbot restaurant. Supposedly, and emphasis on supposedly, Sam will be cooking at an as-yet-unnamed over-the-top eatery inside Chinatown’s upcoming Mondrian Hotel. Here’s hoping! 150 Lafayette St.

7. DessertTruck

It’s been a full five months since the truck that started the upscale mobile restaurant trend traded in its wheels and then announced it’s transformation into a permanent LES eatery. Let’s get this thing going, guys! New Yorkers can’t be expected to go without $5 rosemary-caramel goat cheese cheesecake for much longer, can we? 6 Clinton Street.

by tvff

Cheflebrity Smörgåsbord: JOSE!

The latest and greatest news about celebrity chefs, served up buffet style.

– Yep, I’m happy because my boy Jose Garces took home the crown. You’re happy because now I’ll stop going on and on about this. Also, be sure to check out our interview with Garces and the other finalist, Jehangir Mehta.

After the jump…sorry fellas — no Martha v. Rachael Cat Fight, Art Smith tries to bring the cuddly chef thing to the tube and a lesson for all fast food marketers: don’t mess with Fiddy.

in Celebs / TV 1 comments

by tvff

Cheflebrity Smörgåsbord: Lasagna to Go!

The latest and greatest news about celebrity chefs, served up buffet style.

– Apparently, this is not a figment of your twisted imagination: Rachael Ray is selling a suitcase that will transport your lasagna.

– Alton Brown + Multitaskers + Bacon = five kinds of awesome!

After the jump…fresh fruit from a Food Network personality, Garces looks to exact revenge for the defeat of the Phillies and Tom C. goes On the Road.

in Celebs / TV 4 comments

by tvff

Cheflebrity Smörgåsbord: Don’t Bug Rachael Ray!

The latest and greatest news about celebrity chefs, served up buffet style.

– Rachael Ray‘s event at a New York school cafeteria had an unexpected, six-legged special guest!

– Apparently, the sign of a true foodie is your participation in a web-only mini series. Tony Bourdain goes the animated route while Tom Colicchio and Todd English talk style for Diet Coke.

After the jump…more Top Chef news than you can shake a stick at and a story about Jeffrey Steingarten, who you would probably like to beat with that stick.

in Celebs / TV 3 comments

by BS

Top Chef Exit Interview: Episode 4

Things are getting seriously hot in Le Vegas this week. After the jump, our interview with the latest chef-testant asked to pack their knives and leave.

in TV 7 comments

by tvff

Cheflebrity Smörgåsbord: New Toy

In my never-ending battle to make myself even chubbier, I am proud to say that I have a new weapon.

I finally broke out the ice cream maker that’s been sitting on the shelf for a while. This baby is super-simple to use and gives you soft-serve type ice cream in about 40 minutes. And you can pop the output in the freezer to let it set harder. I suppose you can make sorbet with this thing, too, but that would be verging on the healthy, and we don’t want that, do we?

Batch number one was a “control,” as the scientists would say, and I was happy with the process and my ability to not screw it up. I went with a simple french-style (i.e. eggs) vanilla to which I added roasted almonds at the very end.

You and I know that this will not end with a simple vanilla, right? I think it’s about time we made ice cream dangerous!

Look for more of that in the coming weeks…for now, you’ll have to tide yourself over with some smörg.

– Grub Street spots a missed opportunity for Anthony Bourdain during a recent episode of his show. Funny, Bourdain doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who would take a shot at Guy Fieri. </sarcasm>

– Guess who’s back on top: Julia Child! This is fantastic news…now a whole new generation can get into the kitchen and find ways to screw up omelets.

After the jump…Alton Brown in full-geek mode, Tom keeps cashing in and everyone loves Lidia.

in Celebs / Desserts / TV 2 comments