Don’t remember when but ramen seems to have invaded the NYC dining scene. It wasn’t a thing before Momofuku. I remember a time when Rai Rai Ken seemingly the city’s only option, and I would have to cross the river to Mitsuwa to get a decent bowl. Thanks to David Cheung, all the sudden, NYers are obsessed. Nowadays, there is always a line outside of Ippudo; Momofuku became an empire; everyone is making ramen. The Japanese slurping culture became a trend here, a hip thing to do. Ramen places keep popping up all over the city. Minca, Mr Taka are among my favorites, to name a few. And now the Iron Chef decided he can make ramen too. Well, not exactly that he is “making” ramen. Morimoto team up with Sun noodle (US-based ramen manufacture, factories in NJ, LA & Honolulu) -to deliver his vision of ramen to NYers. Their love child- Momosan open its door on an April Friday evening near Grand Central.
Category: <span>NY Eats</span>
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is compiled from the votes of The Diners Club® World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy. The Academy divide the world into regions, with a chairperson in each region appointed for their knowledge of their part of the restaurant world. These chairs each selected a voting panel, who cast a total of 6,552 votes. Here is the 2016 list released 6/1/2016.
1. Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy)
2. El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain)
3. Eleven Madison Park (New York, USA)
4. Central (Lima, Peru)
5. Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)
6. Mirazur (Menton, France)
7. Mugaritz (Errenteria, Spain)
8. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
9. Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)
10. Asador Etxebarri (Atxondo, Spain)
11. D.O.M. (São Paulo, Brazil)
12. Quintonil(Mexico City, Mexico)
13. Maido (Lima, Peru)
14. The Ledbury (London, U.K.)
15. Alinea (Chicago, USA)
16. Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Spain)
17. Piazza Duomo (Alba, Italy)
18. White Rabbit (Moscow, Russia)
19. L’Arpége (Paris, France)
20. Amber (Hong Kong, China)
21. Arzak (San Sebastian, Spain)
22. The Test Kitchen (Cape Town, South Africa)
23. Gaggan (Bangkok, Thailand)
24. Le Bernardin (New York, USA)
25. Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)
26. The Clove Club (London, U.K.)
27. Saison (San Francisco, USA)
28. Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)
29. Tickets (Barcelona, Spain)
30. Astrid y Gaston (Lima, Peru)
31. Nihonryori RyuGin (Tokyo, Japan)
32. Restaurant Andre (Singapore)
33. Attica (Melbourne, Australia)
34. Restaurant Tim Raue (Berlin, Germany)
35. Vendôme (Bergisch Gladbach, Germany)
36. Borago (Santiago, Chile)
37. Nahm (Bangkok, Thailand)
38. De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands)
39. Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)
40. Relae (Copenhagen, Denmark)
41. Fäviken (Järpen, Sweden)
42. Ultraviolet (Shanghai, China)
43. Biko (Mexico City, Mexico)
44. Estela (New York, USA)
45. Dinner (London, U.K.)
46. Combal Zero (Rivoli, Italy)
47. Schloss Schauenstein (Furstenau, Switzerland)
48. Blue Hill at Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, USA)
49. Quique Dacosta (Dénia, Spain)
50. Septime (Paris, France)
When Chef Matsui came out of retirement and announce he will be opening an outpost in New York, we were excited. The man dedicated his life (40+ years) in making one thing, and one thing only- tempura.
The city’s only tempura omakase restaurant is backed by the Ootoya group. Yes, the affordable and highly successful chained Ootoya in midtown; Tempura Matsui is their first attemp at “fine” dining establishment in NY, and they have been planning for a high end sushi place in mid-town, Sushi Ginza Onodera which just opened last week on 5th Ave (which, by the way is currently the second most expensive sushi place in the city at $400, just behind Masa).
We have the upmost admiration for Chef Matsui, he had been perfecting his craft since he was 17. We longed for the restaurant’s opening, until we took a peak at the price tag. A whopping $200 for the tasting menu. So after drinks, taxes and tips for two, it would be lucky if the bill come less than $500. As much as I love food…. I was not about to drop $500 for deep fried vegetables. So We waited. wait for the review to come out, wait for other people to report back. Then we learned that Chef Matsuri only stayed for a brief period of time and returned to Japan. Then we heard he got cancer. Then sadly, we heard the master had passed away. He was only 65. So a year in, a master chef less, the Michelin starred tempura stable is left manned by Chef Matsuri’s right hand man, Chef Kato. The place is still named after the celebrated Chef, but I am under the impression that it has always been the intention that the tempura counter would be run by Chef Kato.
Michael White, a name that needs no introduction. The award winning, well acclaimed chef and his Altamarea group is an absolute power house in Italy cuisine in town. Between New York and New Jersey, the empire has no fewer than 8 restaurants, from causal pizza place to steak house, to upscale fine dining; Chef White seems to do it all. However, it is super tough to maintain standard and quality when one’s tentacles are stretching into so many places. It was sad when his well appraised Alto shuttered. Convivio also abruptly closed about the same time. Costata in SoHo closed earlier this year due to supposedly “relocation”. With all the closing, there’s new blood starting to boil too though. Rumor has it; a new member to the family is slated to open in late August on Park Ave.
While I wasn’t impressed by Costata or Ai Fiori, I absolutely adore Marea, the mid-town seafood place. I love their appetizers. Their crudos are excellent, pastas are exceptional. But I always stay away from the entrees. And who needs entrée when you have the most amazing, specular bowl of happiness name FUSILLI. Al dente pasta soaked in the bone marrow red wine sauce with the tender, mouthwatering braised octopus. I would lick the plate every time if I wasn’t sitting among the well-dressed upperclassmen. Michael White is truly a magician in craving these hearty earthy goodies. Marea opened in 2009, later in the same year, came Osteria Morini.