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.
Food & Pixels Posts
It is usually packed around at this cute little cafe, a hidden gem in the chaos of Chinatown and little Italy. On a sunny Spring afternoon, it would be so nice to grab the bench chairs outdoor. But the day I stopped by, the outdoor seats are not set up yet. I stepped into the airy room with exposed brick wall painted over in white. It is dreamy, with clouds and starry lights hanging over head.
Danny Bowien- A Korean guy cooking (Americanized) Chinese food; a 2013 James Beard rising star Award winner. How does a long hair Asian dude take over down all the Italian chefs and won the pesto world champion (2008)? We are very curious.
We wanted to go to Danny Bowein’s place for quite sometime now. He made his fame in the west coast. After his move to this side of the continent, we now have Mission Chinese and Mission Cantina, both in Lower East Side.
So on a Thursday, we went for tacos. I should have done more reading before I went, apparently Mission Cantina had changed their menu to mostly burrito…. The only taco available on the day was fish taco. All those great cumin lamb taco, pork shoulder taco and mushroom tacos I’ve read so much about were “retired”, so was the chicken wings… Our server told us their menu frequently changes, and the items I mentioned were “winter season”. Disappointed but we still have high expectations about the sole taco on the menu. To be honest, there weren’t a lot of choices.
1st ave is filled with great eateries. Among countless neighborhood gems, SenYa is one of them. The place opened in march 2015, I must have passed by it more than a few thousand times and not notice. It is a small store front. Outside, plain and simple; inside, it is deep but narrow. We came across this place by word of mouth. Before our visit, I was a little skeptical. I fear that it is one of those California roll take out places. But we are so happy we did. Here is what we have—