Back to work! (Zink American Kitchen, Roberto Passon, Mexicana Mama and The Hideaway)
Many people don't realize this, but my job in the financial services industry is just for fun. I make so much money off of this blog that money is no longer an object for me. But just because I'm Bruce Wayne level rich, it doesn't mean I'm a fool! I work at the bank for the free checking privileges. So I apologize for not writing in a few weeks, but now I'm back with some mini-reviews. Just to prove to you how worldly and sophisticated I am, one review is even from out of state!
ZINK AMERICAN KITCHEN - 201 North Tryon Charlotte, NC 28202
704.444.9001 tel
http://www.harpersinc.com/zink.html
Zink American Kitchen is part of the ultra exclusive Harper's Restaurant Group and I believe it just may be the crown jewel of that mini-empire! This has to Charlotte dining at its finest, both in terms of the food and the clientel. I walked in and the place was packed - and the crowd was easy on the eyes, if you know what I mean! HIGH-FIVE! Fortunately, I'm on the shorter side, so I was able to deftly navigate through the sea of people to the staircase that led to the private party that I was hosting on the second level. I don't feel like writing too much more about this place, so let me get right to the food. We asked for finger food - hor 'devours - and they provided. Now, some people's recollection of that evening is that all we had to eat were roasted carrots. Those people probably own competing restaurants in Charlotte and just want to disparage the place. I'm here to tell you we were offered crabcakes, cuban slider burgers, sushi, roasted vegetables, goat cheese bruchetta, pasta salad and cured meats with cheese. I didn't touch the sushi and crabcakes. I wasnt about to eat sushi at a bar in Charlotte, NC. I didn't eat the crabcakes either because I remember what frozen fish sticks taste like from my childhood and didnt need a reminder. I had a piece of proscuitto and thought "Wow, this is what that poisoned Russian spy must have felt like." I ate the pasta just because I'm a masochist, and was surprised to find that it wasn't bad...not bad in the sense that I was starving and didn't want to go to bed hungry. On to other things....
COST: $2300 with tax, tip, drinks for 30-35 people.
ROBERTO PASSON
741 Ninth Ave. NYC
212-582-5599
http://www.robertopasson.com/
There are many places to have Italian food in NYC. Too many if you ask me. I'm starting to think that Batali should just be given a license that only allows him to open Italian restaurants in NYC (although, I will have to have another dinner at Del Posto...third time HAS to be the charm). Anyway, we ate here the other night and had such high hopes. The staff at the door is friendly enough but when we asked to have a pre-dinner drink at the bar, we were told that the bar in the back isn't for patrons. Apparently, as I came to see throughout the night, it is not a full bar and the staff mostly hangs back there. Again, I don't feel like writing too much on this place but I will say that my pumpkin filled ravioli was undercooked and the filling was too firm and tasted like it might have been from a can. We ordered the salt and pistachio crusted lamb chops. The manager tried his best to carve, but he just butchered (not the good kind of butchering...I didn't mean to insult butchers around the world). He was well intentioned but it didnt work. My starter of artichokes and sauce was bland and my apple tart was awful. I think the inside of my tart was made of soap. This is my second Italian experience in this vicinity of Ninth Ave and I found out that the same parent company owns both places!
COST: $122 with tax and tip
MEXICANA MAMA 47 E 12th St
New York, NY 10003
This place doesnt have a website and I almost missed it when trying to find it, but I recommend a visit. The place was dead empty at 6pm but the bartender was nice as we had our pre-dinner cocktail at the bar. All of the food was very good. Straight forward Mexican. The bathroom was the only weird part. It is downstairs and you have to look a bit to find it. We started with quesadillas with chorizo and totada de ave. Both were full of flavor and prepared very well. I went a few weeks back and dont remember exactly, but I do remember that they use a nice creamy sauce on many things and everything is seasoned well. My nogada (stuffed pepper) was hot and sweet. The sweetness from the mexican cream sauce and the nuts went well with the hotness from the pepper. The skirt steak was tender and seasoned well. The Doraditos dessert wasnt as good as my Tres Leches dessert. The Tres Leches was almost overly sweet, but it grew on you and I just kept wanting more. By time we were done with dinner, the place was full . I wouldn't mind going back to this place.
COST: $130 with tax and tip
THE HIDEAWAY 85 Duane St (Cross Street: Between Greenwich Street and Hudson Street) New York, NY 10013 (866) 414-9250
http://www.thehideawaynyc.com/
A hidden little gem, downtown, west-side, I really enjoyed this place. I was going here to have brunch, which may just be my favorite meal. The place is small and has a cozy, neighborhood feel. I just read that Tribeca has some of the most expensive real estate in the city, so I guess unless you are a weirdo like me who goes out of the way to eat, the place probably doesn't get overly crowded by riff-raff from the other parts of the city or from Zink. We started with drinks - Mimosa and Bloody Mary. The Bloody Mary was spicy and strong. I wish I could have the
bartender make me one of these everyday before I go to my 'just for kicks' job at the bank. We ordered smoked trout with egg, biscuits with jam, bacon and choclate chunk french toast. The french toast wasn't as fully cooked as I would have liked, but it was okay. The biscuits were awesome. Not light a flaky, but firmer and sweet and the jam just perfectly completed them. The bacon was thick and perfect and the trout with egg was also very good. The trout was just the right amount of fishy taste with a balance of saltiness - great. I would go back here for brunch again. Some things took a bit long to arrive, but I think it was worth it.
COST: $77 with tax and tip
