With a slightly fatter wallet this summer from my internship (and a boyfriend who returned from a semester abroad ;D), I finally had the chance to experience New York City’s Restaurant Week. For those unfamiliar with RW…
“Twice a year, in January and June/July, there is a unique opportunity to experience some of New York City’s finest restaurants for a fraction of the usual price. Throughout the city, restaurants participate in “Restaurant Week” where they offer a three-course lunch for $24.07 (& some even offer dinner for $35). Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to try out a restaurant that may usually be out of your budget, or test some new restaurants with a little less financial risk.” – about.com
I went out with a group of college friends to Barbounia, a Mediterranean restaurant, for dinner. Chosen because two of our friends were vegetarian and we wanted a cuisine slightly out of the ordinary, we were surprised to see no vegetarian options on the RW menu (one of them ended up ordering mushroom linguini from the regular menu). As for myself, I started out with the Tuna Carpaccio served with pickled red onion, sumac, and pommegranate moulass. The tuna was quite fresh with a slight tang from the garnishes. Hmhmhm yuumm raw fish.
Despite strong warnings from two table mates, I chose the Long Island Duck Breast as my entree. It came with a carmalized endive on top (which I stupidly thought was the duck meat at first when I started cutting…) along with fennel puree. It wasn’t the best piece of duck that ever entered my mouth, but I can safely say that the meat was not as overcooked and tough as the warnings had caused me to fear.
As for dessert…Kannafeh! Shredded phyllo dough and fresh goat cheese topped with rose water syrup and pistachio. I had an inkling that this would taste good after a slightly similar dish ordered at The Bourgeois Pig. The ice cream on top was a great contrast to the crunchy phyllo dough and the soft, slightly warmed goat cheese.
As for the boyfriend, who joined our delicious food venture, he ordered a different dish than me every time as per tradition so we can sample the most variety whenever we dine out. Appetizer consisted of the Kube Nyhaa, a hand chopped hangar steak tartar with a variety of ingredients mixed in. There used to be a time when I worried about eating raw cow… (until I realized just how deliciously tender meat can be when it is not cooked well-done). I prefered my choice of the tuna carpaccio though.
His main dish was the Lamb Loin Shawarma. I remember trying a piece of meat and finding it quite tender and flavorful. And a good meal rounded off with a Yogurt Panna Cotta dessert.
For those who may be slightly impressed by my memory of all the food names and ingredients, especially after having eaten this meal over a month ago, here’s my dirty secret: Take a photo of the RW menu. Haha.
Meal turned out better than expected, and we were all pretty full by the end. I think my favorite parts of the 3-course meal were the tuna and the sauce from the Long Island Duck Breast. We ended the night with shots of this traditional Greek alcohol that left our stomachs burning.
Barbounia
250 Park Ave S
New York, NY
http://www.barbounia.com/
I've been told that a certain smile breaks across my face whenever the subject of food is brought up, a smile that radiates the purest forms of delight and happiness. Food transcends beyond the smell and taste of what's presented in front of me; it's an experience to be enjoyed, indulged, shared with those I love. Working and living in NYC continually opens culinary doors, from hole-in-the-walls to upscale (even stuffy) dining. I never take any morsel of food for granted, and I'm often THAT girl at the table found licking her plate at the end of the meal.
