Originally Posted by
CappuccinoAddict
I had a glorious solo lunch at The Modern a few days ago. I had the six course tasting menu with wine pairing. I felt that the first course, egg yolk with lightly scrambled egg, sturgeon caviar, and toasted brioche with dill and fennel, was better than the egg caviar at Jean-Georges. The foie gras tart with honey and oats, paired with Chateau Suduiraut 1989, was exceptional. I also felt that the scallop course, ever so lightly grilled, served over black trumpet mushroom purée with a citrus-pistachio sauce and button mushroom carpaccio, was one of the best and most memorable scallop dishes I've ever had.
The sommelier, Barbara, was a charming gem. For the sea bass course she had me do a white vs red Burgundy tasting, as she rightly noted that both stood up to the fish. Alain Chavy Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champ Gains 2014, vs Domaine Trapet Gevrey Chambertin 2014. Both wonderful but the Gevrey Chambertin was a stunning example of its kind.
The Modern has now become one of my favorite restaurants.
The dining room at The Modern s excellent. I was a bit skeptical going in because I found the Bar Room to be average at best, but the Dining Room is well worth the meal.
As for myself, I ate at Barrafina (1 Star) in London last night at the SoHo location. Very good food overall, but for my money I have eaten better tapas at non-starred places in NYC. I also was not a fan of them interpreting my request for a glass of wine as a bottle. I’m too nice of a person to make a stink, but drinking an average bottle of Spanish white wasn’t the greatest.
Tonight is Pollen Street Social (1 Star), and I ended up keeping my reservation at Dinner at Heston Blumenthal for Christmas...not a lot of other choices, and I’m interested to see whether the haters are wrong
