Some of the top chefs in the neighborhood served small plates, like the chopped fall salad by ‘Cesca above, last night at an event called Landmark Feast. The event, held at the Museum of Natural History, was a fundraiser for Landmark West and Friends of Roosevelt Park, which takes care of the park around the museum. It was a great opportunity to practice a favorite pastime: talking to local chefs while sampling their food.
In short, fall menus are looking gooood in the neighborhood. Here are a few things to look forward to:
Shake Shack
The burger-slingers at Shake Shack on Columbus and 77th Street are considering some exciting new dishes for fall, including the heirloom tomato frozen custard with sweet corn syrup they were dishing out at the Feast. And remember that peanut butter burger monstrosity that caused people to line up 80-deep at Shake Shack a year and a half ago? It’s coming back, says Manager Meredith Doll (above right, scooping custard), “by Christmas.” “It’s so wrong but so right.” We will hold her to that.
Nice Matin
Nice Matin on 79th and Amsterdam and its affiliated restaurants are holding a sausage fest (no, not that kind, sickos!) starting on Oct. 13, featuring homemade venison sausage, seafood sausage, bratwurst, knackwurst and merguez (usually lamb) stuffed into apples, Chef Eric Thomas told us. I can attest to the lamb sausage being awesome.
Gastroarte
In less happy news, renowned Spanish chef Jesus Nunez said that business has suffered quite a bit since he was legally forced to change the name of the restaurant to Gastroarte from Graffit by another restauranter. The strong New York Times review (“cool and beautiful and science-mad”) came out when the place was still called Graffit, so people get confused when they are looking to make a reservation. So repeat it with me, people: Gastroarte, Gastroarte, GASTROARTE! Now go make a reservation. It’s at 141 West 69th Street and the number is 646-692-8762. We can’t afford to lose another great inventive restaurant.
Loi
Compass, the problematic restaurant at 208 West 70th Street, has been rechristened Loi and will reopen under that name in a couple of weeks. The new place will serve a Greek menu put together by well-known chef Maria Loi. At the Feast, Loi served braised lamb in phyllo dough with tzaziki, and it was perhaps the most talked-about delicacy in the room. One of Loi’s employees told me that the restaurant will serve something similar.
Bon appetit!
