Clearly, when Minetta Tavern was voted best burger, I had to weight in.  After months of trying to get a reservation (4 months to be exact), I finally got a reservation on April 3rd.  Their 2 signature burgers are the black label burger and the Minetta burger.  I got the black label burger because I wanted to taste the meat.  They suggest that if you want cheese to get the Minetta burger.  I have never tasted a juicer burger in my life.  We also ordered the bone marrow…OMG…seriously?? I have a new found obsession with bone marrow.  What better way to finish off a great meal than with chocolate souffle.  This place blew my mind.

Minetta Tavern

113 MacDougal Street
New York, NY 10012-1201
(212) 475-3850

 {Salmon tartare}

 {Sea urchin and raw scallops}

 {Caviar}

 {Egg cream martini}

 {Foie gras}

 {Sole}

 {Duck}

L’Atelier de Joel RobuchonIn a lifetime, there are meals that you will always remember.  The dinner I had at L’Atelier is on that list.  Joel Robuchon is the Godfather of French cuisine.  Every course was unique like my taste buds were awakened as if they had never tasted food before.  Every plate was like a piece of art.  What struck me while dining is how calm the kitchen was during service.  Nobody was freaking out or even sweating.  I intend to visit the New York location.

5 Rue de Montalembert

75007 Paris, France

01 42 22 56 56

I arrived in New York from Paris on my birthday.  My boyfriend surprised me with a fancy dinner at Del Posto.  Del Posto is another creation by Joe Bastianich, Lidia Bastianich and Mario Batali.  The space was grand and elegant.  You get the feeling that people dine here on special occasions.  We had the 5 course tasting with wine pairings.  The best parts of the dinner were the sweets we got before our desserts came out; the butter at the beginning of the meal.  I rarely touch the bread basket but I ate 2 rolls so I could spread the butter, and the little chocolates they gave us when we were leaving.

 {Special butters}

 {Lidia’s lobster salad alla Catalana with Tomato & Celery}

 {Carne cruda with truffled salsa, parmigiano-reggiano & shaved king oyster mushroom}

 {Pumpkin cappellacci with brown butter}

 {Seared duck breast, beer-braised endives, almond & laurelled melons}

 {Young lamb alla romana, garlic yogurt with ceci & swiss chard ragu}

 {Chocolate ricotta tortino, toasted Sicilian pistachios & extra virgin olive oil gelato}

 {Blueberry Pie a la mode}

 

Del Posto
85 10th Avenue
New York, NY 10011
(212) 497-8090

http://www.delposto.com