FOOD FASHIONISTA - OFFICIAL SITE

Buddakan NYC w/the Next Iron Chef & Chefs

 

Housed in a massive 16,000 square foot space in the ultra gentrified Meatpacking District, Buddakan is part of the Stephen Starr (i.e. Morimoto, Tangerine) Philly based restaurant group. Sharing walls with the Chelsea Market, Buddakan is an obvious choice for cocktails or dinner with friends who want a hip and happening New York experience. It has a bit of a Tao (Las Vegas) like feel with it's expansive club like space, high ceilings and dim lighting but the nouveau decor of Buddakan with it's copious chandeliers, colossal communal table and separated dining spaces- including a chic book filled library make it uniquely distinctive. 

As self described Modern Asian Cuisine, Buddakan is definitely more on the Chinese fusion side (Taro Puff Lollipops minced pork, sweet & sour sauce, Szechuan Crusted Ribeye turnip fries, hong kong steak sauce) than let's say Japanese, Korean, or Thai. With a list of menu items ranging from Dim Sum, to hot and cold appetizers, starches, seafoods, and proteins, Buddakan has it all covered for those looking for a vegetarian, carniverous, or carb loaded feast.

The simply categorized menu at Buddakan is best shared family style which allows sampling a number of various dishes. You can turn a meal at Buddakan into your own dining experience by choosing to share small plates and appetizers or opting for a more traditional meal with starters, starches and mains.

Since my frequent dining companions are restaurant professionals, chefs, and people who just plain love and live to eat, it isn't uncommon to find a table covered with plates of food. This occasion was no different. There were some hits and misses, but a few stand out dishes included the Steamed Sea Bass Roll with cabbage, ginger, and sizzling scallion oil and the Scallion Pancakes with braised beef short rib, and shaved green apple.

Being a fan of prosecco, I appreciated the specialty cocktail menu which included three prosecco specials including the refreshing Ginton (gin, elderflower, ginger, lemon, prosecco) the Charm (passion fruit liqueur, apple, fresh berries, prosecco) or Fate (elderflower, pineapple, prosecco). The eight dessert options include a Hong Kong Ice Cream Sandwich with an almond cookie, soy milk fan and strawberry sorbet and a Coconut Crème Brûlée with white chocolate genoise, and lemongrass ice cream.

New York is a city full of restaurants, lounges and bars. Buddakan is proof that you never know what is awaiting you behind those unassuming concrete walls.

Budakkan's Shaken Beef Tartare

Chefs Seamus Mullen & Jose Garces

Scallion Pancakes with braised beef short rib, and shaved green apple

Amanda Freitag, Mika Takeuchi, Dominique Crenn

Buddakan's Edamame Dumplings

 

Seamus Mullen, Jose Garces, Roberto Trevino

 

Chef Alex Guarnaschelli of Alex's Day Off

Malted chocolate ganache, milk caramel, coffee ice cream

Aida Mollenkamp, Seamus Mullen

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bombe honey caramel, peanut butter ice cream

 

Mika Takeuchi & Chef Jose Garces

 

Vanilla Tea Doughnuts w/ vanilla ice cream

Bruce Seidel, Amanda Freitag

Buddakan NYC

75 9th Avenue, New York NY 10011

Phone (212) 989-6699

Tsunami Sushi Bar - San Francisco

Tsunami - Mission Bay's decorative collection of sake bottles

Tsunami's Sushi - Art on a plate

JoJo the Mixologist at Tsunami Sushi

  

Whether you are looking for a hip stylish date spot, or a dinner out with friends, Tsunami Sushi has two locations in San Francisco to serve you. The original locale is in the Panhandle while the more recently opened location is right in the heart of Mission Bay. With attention to design details and an extensive list of sakes, single malts and cocktails, Tsunami is a visually stimulating spot to nosh on contemporary Japanese cuisine and the best in Spirits. Another plus is an open to midnight closing time Mondays- Saturdays.

Tsunami Sushi Mission Bay
301 King Street #B
(Corner of 4th St & Berry St)
San Francisco, CA, 94158

Urban Spoon for Blackberry...Finally!!!

If you have a Blackberry and you'd like some help deciding where to eat (or if you're jealous of friends playing with Urbanspoon on the iPhone) we have a solution for you.

Urbanspoon's Blackberry app is a kind of restaurant slot machine. Just hit the space bar (or shake the phone if you have a Storm) and the wheels will spin, until they settle on a good nearby restaurant for you. You can also lock down the neighborhood, cuisine and price you are interested in. Keep spinning until you get a restaurant you want to try.

Urbanspoon on Blackberry also lets you search and browse restaurants, and uses your current location to identify the nearest restaurants to you.

Email the app to your Blackberry

Or download the right app for your phone below.

• Storm
• Bold, Javelin or Tour
• Curve 4.3 or newer
• Curve 4.2

We don't have an app for older devices, or for the Pearl, but you can always find Urbanspoon on your Blackberry through the web at urbanspoon.com/m

If you have an iPhone, you can get the Urbanspoon app here.

Food for Thought - dine out for a good cause 11/11 - San Francisco

 

Food for Thought is an annual “dine-out” event that raises funds to benefit Mission Graduates, a nonprofit organization that increases the number of youth from San Francisco’s Mission District who are prepared for and complete a college education.

Food for Thought’s participating restaurants all do business in the Mission District and commit to contributing a portion of their sales on November 11 to help pave the pathway to college for young people who live in their community. 

Mission Graduates commits to filling seats and increasing revenue at partner restaurants that night, shining light on these partners through an extensive promotional campaign, and giving restaurant owners an easy way to impact their community while introducing their food to brand new audiences.

Dine out at these participating restaurants on Wednesday, November 11th and 25-100% of your total bill will be donated to benefit Mission Graduates. Make your reservation today!!

Everyone wins!

Participating Restaurants

Andalu

Bar Bambino

Bissap Baobab

CODA

Conduit

Destino

Dolores Park Cafe

Farina Focaccia and Cucina Italiana

Foreign Cinema

Front Porch

La Provence

Little Baobab

Little Star Valencia

Maverick

Mission Beach Cafe

Panchitas #2

Pisco

Ramblas Tapas

Range

Regalito Rosticeria

Slow Club

Specchio

Spork

Sun Rise Restaurant

Usulutan Restaurant

Foie Gras Martini at Andre's Restaurant - Las Vegas

Foie Gras Martini at Andre's in Monte Carlo Hotel, Las Vegas

Today my palate was satiated with a glass of pear infused cognac followed by a one of a kind Foie Gras Martini. Yes, you heard it right, the words foie gras and martini in the same drink description. The unexpected sweet and savory cocktail was made even better as it was toasted and shared with Las Vegas' original acclaimed French celebrated chef Andre' Rochat. The Michelin-starred chef's restaurant in the Monte Carlo had recently received a face lift with an updated, modern, yet elegant design.

Next time you are in Las Vegas, skip the usual apple martini and head over to the newly renovated Andre's Restaurant and indulge in decadence with an unconventional Foie Gras Martini. The intimate, romantic space is a crowning spot to escape and be transported to old world charm with impeccable service.

Foie Gras Martini consists of the following ingredients:

-Roasted Foie Gras

-Whole Vanilla Bean

-Honey

-Andre's Signature Vodka

-Garnished with macerated Oregon Huckleberries

Andre's

3770 Las Vegas Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89109 USA

(702) 798-7151

Dinner Hours:

Tuesday through Sunday

5:30 pm to Closing