Erik Ox

Perhaps Nadya is being too modest or is close to see it, but Bis has my favorite steak tartare in the city. I also recently had Circle Bistro's version and it was definitely up to par. Be sure to skip the tableside preparation at Les Halles. I tried it during the Beaujolet fest last month and it was surprisingly (at least to me) terrible. This was before the wine started to free flow, so I'm pretty sure it was no good. For any tartare fans seeking a different experience, I highly recommend finding out when Poste is serving the salmon tartare and getting there post-haste. The tartare is served in 3 individual "ice cream cones" with creme fraiche and perhaps some other little things that escape me now. Total gluttony. Last week the lamb tartare, lamb spring rolls and a 1/2 bottle of Mark West pinot did quite the trick at Firefly in advance of the annual trip to see "The Messiah" at the Ken Cen. Mmmmm...raw meats...

Nectar, how do I miss Thee? Let me count the ways... Tuna with pine nuts and microbasil; Scallops and Chorizo (with some curry thrown in?); Foie with caramelized bananas (or sometimes pineapple); Creme brulee (with that addictive secret ingredient); and my fave, the almost too rich, chocolate torte Jarad and Jamie were kind enough to close house and allow us to take over the place for our rehearsal dinner last year. Still talked about in the family as one of the Best. Meals. Ever. Sigh.... *edited for spelling

It's the end of the star sytem as we know it. And I feel fine.