tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post2212814332944312704..comments2024-03-28T03:19:12.374-04:00Comments on Midwestern Masticatory Musings: Vetri, Philadelphia PAuhockeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517253579812259226noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post-88861281261483018182010-10-18T10:41:27.102-04:002010-10-18T10:41:27.102-04:00No offense taken. I just wanted to set the record ...No offense taken. I just wanted to set the record straight, lest you think I've been skating through financial bliss on free meals. (I wish...) :)<br /><br />You and I differ on Daniel, though I'm glad to hear that you liked it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post-24549220262283117892010-10-18T08:23:03.039-04:002010-10-18T08:23:03.039-04:00No offense intended, there is an excellent chance ...No offense intended, there is an excellent chance I will visit CB on my NYC trip in February based on my enjoyment of Daniel and your reviews. As always, your blog acts as a guidepost on many of my trips and I rarely find your commentary anything less than excellent.uhockeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05517253579812259226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post-38270009129136089322010-10-18T01:02:08.723-04:002010-10-18T01:02:08.723-04:00Just to be clear, this year, I have only been comp...Just to be clear, this year, I have only been comped meals at The French Laundry and the recent Bocuse d'Or event in New Orleans, where I was invited as a guest. I left a generous tip at The French Laundry and made a signifant donation to the Bocuse d'Or in return. At no meal do I walk away not having paid something. I always disclose relationship with chefs, and any comped dishes or drinks that appear. I should emphasize that, while my two dinners at Cafe Boulud this year have been excellent (especially the first one), there was an awful lot of coincidental personal meaning in some of the dishes that came out that first night that made it especially pleasing to me. I stated as much in that review. I think Gavin's cooking is precise, yet soulful.ulterior epicurehttp://www.ulteriorepicure.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post-74422641653818921862010-09-28T06:02:39.656-04:002010-09-28T06:02:39.656-04:00UEs raves on that place are tempered for me - he i...UEs raves on that place are tempered for me - he is an excellent blogger whose opinions I value (and whose money I wish I had) but he fully admits to knowing the chef in that case. I've never seen a review of CB that glowing. The man seems to be getting comped more and more these days and while he remains objective, such treatment always changes things a bit.<br /><br />I want so do some of the NY Pizza establishments on my next visit - pizza is always hard to do solo, though, and my local friends are far from "foodies."<br /><br />Other "musts" will be Lincoln, Corton, and Bouley. Potential others are Del Posto, EMP under the new format, and wd-50.<br /><br />Send me your e-mail (see the Osteria post) for that budnio recipe.uhockeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05517253579812259226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post-78203652105858228662010-09-27T22:55:06.450-04:002010-09-27T22:55:06.450-04:00Well, it's at a place on the UES (and now the ...Well, it's at a place on the UES (and now the EV) called Flex Mussels. The doughnuts are really excellent, though not better than those represented at the Modern Bar Room, Alto, Sullivan Street Bakery, Bouchon, etc. What's nice about these is that you can choose from a myriad of fillings (which they are very generous with!) like PB&J, marshmallow, salted caramel, lemon, wild blueberry, praline, chocolate, and the like. <br /><br />The fried chocolate cream cheese whoopie pie is a bit over the top, but hits a very fond childhood sweet spot! <br /><br />That being said, my next meal destination might be Cafe Boulud, especially after seeing ulterior's raves about it! What are you considering for February??Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04646625928484456798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post-8873318016838274232010-09-27T21:40:37.650-04:002010-09-27T21:40:37.650-04:00What is this magical place? Sounds like someplace...What is this magical place? Sounds like someplace I need to see in February!uhockeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05517253579812259226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post-4299244216375110282010-09-27T21:36:28.413-04:002010-09-27T21:36:28.413-04:00Thanks for the recommendations!
I'm going to ...Thanks for the recommendations!<br /><br />I'm going to get myself to Vetri as soon as I possibly can. It's probably worth a special trip, especially since it's so close to New York. <br /><br />I had a dinner tonight with my sister on the UES at a place I'd never heard of, but the pastry chef is on Top Chef: Just Desserts. We had some pretty ridiculous bomboloni that, at least from reading your blog, seem to be right up your alley. Just to give you an idea: the tasting of four bomboloni we chose were praline, PB&J, strawberry shortcake, and wild blueberry. Really top notch. And a chocolate cream cheese deep fried whoopie pie. Yes, you heard correctly!Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04646625928484456798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post-15585741573296453722010-09-27T06:06:37.356-04:002010-09-27T06:06:37.356-04:00The Spinach Gnocchi is the best tasting pasta I...The Spinach Gnocchi is the best tasting pasta I've ever had and the Almond Tortelinni was darn good too. Scarpetta's foie ravioli and A Voce's Uni/Crab dish are top contenders, as are Batali's Pumpkin Lune and Foie Gras Ravioli.uhockeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05517253579812259226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post-92151686939022452152010-09-26T23:14:27.012-04:002010-09-26T23:14:27.012-04:00How do you think it compares pasta-wise to Alto? ...How do you think it compares pasta-wise to Alto? I have been to Scarpetta a few times (and loved it, especially the squid ink uni pasta) and went to Alto recently (also loved it) and am just curious how these all stack up. I generally stick to the pastas at these places, though the Astice at Alto was to die for.<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />www.jessicaleeviolin.com<br />jess-jots.blogspot.comJessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04646625928484456798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post-26960041158479758352010-09-12T18:47:18.727-04:002010-09-12T18:47:18.727-04:00It is hard to say - it is the first Italian restau...It is hard to say - it is the first Italian restaurant where I actually had a legitimate tasting menu. <br /><br />Price-wise, it compares favorably to Babbo, Osteria Mozza, Valentino, and Alto. <br />Setting-wise, it is rivaled only by All Angelo' which has since closed its doors. <br />Secondi-wise, it is absolutely on par with Babbo and slightly less impressive than the Michael White places. <br />Pasta-wise, it is on par with Scarpetta.<br />Dessert-wise, it did not impress like Batali's places but did better than White's.<br /><br />Overall, if I had $200 to dine at any Italian restaurant in the US, I'd probably go back to Vetri and order per my own tastes.....I'd love to do an "extended" tasting if they offered it.uhockeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05517253579812259226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2919945694966683911.post-58030621522826168212010-09-12T18:30:49.050-04:002010-09-12T18:30:49.050-04:00Would you recommend this over any other Italian re...Would you recommend this over any other Italian restaurants that you've been to?<br /><br />ThanksSandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08274155373373514200noreply@blogger.com