Marty L.

2 hours ago, DaRiv18 said:

So, at the risk of sounding unadventurous, ever since they stopped offering the Shio Chintan in favor of the Shoya Chintan, . . .   

They still have the Shio Chintan (or did a couple of weeks ago; it's just not on the menu . . . 

2 minutes ago, saxdrop said:

Went last night for a 3-drink tasting (plus champagne). They're currently doing a Fall-centric menu, specifically inspired around a theme of "Leaves." In one case, this was literally interpreted in the food item but its loosely tied in to everything. One drink involved a tincture made from pages (leafs?) of a 100-year-old book. The delivery/presentation of this drink was equally clever, but I don't want to spoil it.

I can report a couple things: (1) the food (in the tasting room) is incredibly inventive in both taste and form. I assume this is Spero's influence being felt. (2) According to our bartender Alex Levy, the patio is closed for now, but they're working on a major renovation that will provide cover and more complete climate control for year-round use.

As with the old Columbia Room - and really all of the Drink Company places - service was thoughtful, attentive but not overbearing, and gracious throughout. Well worth it.

With some trepidation (see Momofuku thread), may I ask:  What are the approximate food and drink prices?

3 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said:

I hope to find great food, regardless of cost.  

Hey, knock yourself out, Eric. Most of us don't have that luxury, and thus greatly appreciate when Don, and others, regularly advise us that one dish or restaurant is not worth the cost.

11 minutes ago, Keithstg said:

And one is free to spend said dollars elswhere, either clutched pearls in hand or with the pearls pawned to pay for chicken.

In an effort to pivot the conversation to something useful (and feel free to move this thread, Don) - both restaurants you mention have leased space in a major city, employ scores of people, and make an effort to serve quality product to an appreciative audience. Seems as though the perception of how this can be done is skewed and increasingly focused on price (as mentioned before) without regard to cost. How would you like to see a restaurant balance cost of goods with cost of cuisine to customer, and what are you as a consumer willing to sacrifice to meet a price point deemed acceptable?

Keith:  I'll say it again:  It is not my purpose to indict Ziebold or Chang, both of whom I admire.  Or to accuse them of price-gauging.  For all I know, they're taking losses on their chickens -- perhaps each requires 17 hours of labor or something. I'm just saying to the readers of this blog that I think the dishes are not remotely worth the cost to the consumer--that there are great chickens elsewhere at a fraction of the price, and that one's 56 or 67 dollars can get you much better food at Kinship and Momofuku themselves.  Aren't such judgments the whole point of this community--to advise one another on where best to spend our restaurant dollars?

5 hours ago, Keithstg said:

Well said. I've tried both the Momofuku chicken as well as the fried chicken at Ma Peche in NY (as well as the Kinship roast chicken), and bothare among the finest fried chicken I have had anywhere - regardless of price.

That's like, your opinion, man. I suspect that the majority of Kinship/ Momofuku diners find the price palatable - can't speak with respect to life-changing as that obviously varies. The great thing about these restaurants is that if something about them makes one uncomfortable or uneasy, be it price, noise level, etc etc etc, one simply need not patronize the establishment. Nothing mind-reeling - it's simple, really.

With all respect, Keithstg, of course it's only my opinion--that's the point of this website--and of course no one has to ever patronize any restaurant or order any dish.  Duh.  The purpose of my post--writing as someone who has great regard for both Eric Ziebold and David Chang, and who has had great meals at both places--is that to say that, IMHO, their chickens might be quite tasty, but that one's scarce food dollars are better spent elsewhere.

9 hours ago, DanielK said:

Yeah, but I want to know what they ordered...

I asked her on twitter; her response:  "loved the Liang pi (cold Xi'an noodles) and the rou jia mo (Xi'an 'hamburgers')"

Those are the two items that appear to be the most consistent.  Otherwise, I've found PG to be hit-or-miss (though I haven't been in a while).  Lately, I've been frequenting Northwest Chinese Food, which also excels in Shaanxi cooking (or something similar--I'm no expert) and is, I think, more consistent. 

17 hours ago, Bart said:

Good God, take a moment from clutching your collective pearls and think about the Kinship roast chicken.  Everyone freaked out that it was $56 and many meltdowns ensued.  Then people actually tried the thing and the raves started rolling in.

I was simply asking if anyone tried it.

And Simul, it's been a couple weeks, don't you have a plane to catch to Bora Bora or some place?

The Kinship chicken is very good--but not life-changing, and not worth $56.

16 minutes ago, Simul Parikh said:

Well you get sauces and moo shu. So it's actually more like $64.

For fried chicken. For fried chicken. For fried chicken. 

God bless the gilded age.

As Vincent Vega might say, I gotta know what a $67 chicken tastes like.

6 hours ago, saxdrop said:

Tyler Cowen hosted a dinner discussion at Panda Gourmet with Chinese cuisine expert Fuschia Dunlop.

About an hourlong discussion: video / transcript

The focus is on how to understand Chinese food culture, its growing nexus with Western culture, and especially Szechuan food. Pretty fascinating - they're joined by journalist Ezra Klein and chef Mark Miller.

And Megan McArdle.  Dunlop is really compelling, and tremendously informative -- thanks for the tip.

20 hours ago, Bart said:

Has anyone ever tried the Fried Chicken Meal here?  From the website:

The Fried Chicken Meal includes two whole fried chickens, one southern style and one Korean style, and it comes with moo shu pancakes, a bounty bowl, ginger scallion sauce, hoisin sauce, and jalapeño garlic sauces. Guests are encouraged to eat as they please, from making wraps with the pancakes to eating the chicken straight-up. The southern style chicken is fried with a buttermilk and old bay batter. The Korean style chicken is triple fried and served with a light spicy glaze.

$135 for your entire party, not including other food and drinks ordered, tax and tip.

Somehow, the idea came up to take my daughter here for her birthday and I'm wondering if it's worth it or even anything special.

$67 a chicken.  The mind reels.

2 hours ago, Bart said:

Same thing happened to me at Central. The head chef showed up and ruined our evening. 

It's kind of funny that this thread is veering toward a collective plea that famous head chefs stay the hell out of the kitchen and leave things to their underlings.  ;-)

Not surprisingly, Julien's is among the best posts ever on DR.  Who wouldn't rather have had just one course of Julien's food at Eat the Rich than even a free meal at the Bijou?

42 minutes ago, notquiteanonymous said:

What if Aaron Silverman and co had the opportunity, and chose, to do Pineapple and Pearls first?  I recall more than a few raised eyebrows at that price, given how informal Rose's is, and now folks certainly seem to think it's justified.  

Everyone I know who has been to P&P has thought otherwise -- advised me that I'm much better off with four or five meals at Rose's/TailUpGoat/Seki/Hazel/etc.

On 10/31/2016 at 11:23 AM, Deac said:

Last year we drove around the country staying in various towns, which is definitely how I recommend visiting Ireland. Sort of like next time I go back to Italy I will skip Rome and probably grab a car and head up to Tuscany.

Deac:  Which towns do you recommend?  We loved Doolin on a recent trip, and want to offer friends some other choices for their trip in a couple of weeks.  Thanks.

when "health and safety laws weren’t as stringent as they are now, and neither was the law protecting employees from sexual harassment."

Sounds like a really charming guy.

46 minutes ago, Gadarene said:

This is absolutely amazing.  Gorsuch may be one of the more tone deaf people around.

Not if the intended audience for his statements are the well-heeled folks, with oodles of disposable income, who assume they will be admitted to the club!

21 minutes ago, Jonathan said:

The same part of the article caught my eye as well Bart. And thank you for thinking of me, Simul.

Lucky for me, I am now living on the North Fork of Long Island, far removed from Kwame, Shaw Bijou, Michelin and Dining Guides. So, God bless everyone involved (and with all the talk of "social experiments" and "curating people") they will need all the blessings they can get.

Hope you and Carly are enjoying your new digs, Jonathan.  Between you guys and Julian, the North Fork is going to become the next great dining destination!  (And the whole trip, with dinners, will cost less than a ticket to the Shaw Bijou.) 

10 hours ago, franch said:

the washingtonian did a first look inside.

one week to go for me!

Sounds charming.  I'm glad that I can't afford ever to step foot in it.  Talk about deplorable.

46 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

Fair enough.

Now I'll play Devil's advocate: I have All Purpose ranked #5 in Shaw right now - are you sure you're criticizing the right person?

To be fair to Don, in the Guide he calls it "very overrated," which ought to be deterrent enough.  Off the top of my head, Haikan, Hazel and Smoked & Stacked should be above it.  
 

12 hours ago, Simul Parikh said:

Not a very detailed review, but honestly, not super impressed with this place.

Next time you're looking for a great, civilized meal in the West Village, try i Sodi (Tuscan without frills).

2 hours ago, dracisk said:

Thank you for mentioning that about the bar at Husk. They don't say anything about food in the bar on their website, so I'll try for a table right when they open for dinner. Hopefully like you I'll get lucky! Presumably they save some spots for walk-ins.

Thanks also for the Leon's recommendation. That sounds like a good possibility. I'm not a huge fan of fried chicken (I like it well enough but don't get very excited about it), but I do like oysters cooked in various ways.

If anyone else has a recommendation for my 3pm-5pm slot on Thursdays I'm all eyes!

For my solo meals my one time in Charleston last year, I thought Husk was fine but nothing special -- FIG was better.  And Martha Lou's was the best, and cheapest, meal I had -- but it requires a car.

4 hours ago, monsterriffs said:

He is a bottomless, black well of human misery, preying on the worst of humanity. I'm just pointing out a coincidence on a dining forum.

DonRockwell.com Hall of Fame.

3 hours ago, TheGut said:

Congrats to everyone at Tail Up Goat on receiving a Michelin Star this morning!!

Very well-deserved!  But bittersweet, too -- and not only because finding a table and parking spot will become that much harder.  Also, tonight's Carly's last night on the wait staff; and the new T-U G star will shine just a bit less brightly when she and Jonathan (Copeland) depart for less balmy clines, right near Julien Shapiro!  Best of luck to both of you!  Let us know where we can find you if we're out that way.

56 minutes ago, franch said:

no stars for Serow/Komi, or Fiola Mare?

Absurd.  Discredits the whole enterprise, thrilled as I am for Tail Up Goat.

According to Jessica Sidman:

TWO STARS:

Inn at Little Washington
Minibar
Pineapple & Pearls

ONE STAR:

Blue Duck Tavern
The Dabney
Fiola
Kinship
Masseria
Plume
Rose’s Luxury
Sushi Taro
Tail Up Goat