Why I love Manhattan -- Dinner at MoMA

So, go figure -- people aren't so freaked out about flying anymore. I know this because I've spent all day battling the other several thousand San Franciscans trying to get to JFK.

Regardless, you have to love a city where it's a no-brainer to find a 10pm reservation. Which, seriously, get easier when your clients are west coasters who don't have much of an appetite before then.

Which is how I found myself at a really excellent dinner at the Bar at The Modern tonight. ("at the Modern" refers to "at the MoMA)

The Modern sets up their bar menu in three sections -- small appetizer plates and "half entree portions" (yea, I'm not entirely sure of the difference, either). Cocktails are sexy -- my updated version of a Dark & Stormy had tamarind in it, giving it a nice kick and appetite-wheting savouriness.

We ordered an assortment of items from all three menus, served as a couple of coursed. The Charred Octopus ($12) was really exceptional -- chickpeas and basil were a bright flavor counterpoint to the octopus, and those were really cooked perfectly. Steak Tartare with a perfect quail egg ($14) was alxo beautifully executed with bread as good as Acme's and lusciously unctuous beef.

The outstanding dish in the second course was the Gnocchi with Sage, Mushrooms & Sweetbreads ($17); I am a complete believer that the water here really changes the composition of nearly any dough as I truly haven't had gnocchi this ethereal since the last time I was on the East coast.

The Beignets with Maple Ice Cream, Mango Marmalade & Caramel ($9) were also extraordinary, though I was bummed by the fact that the "tea and coffee guy" had left so I couldn't get a cup of Vanilla Rooibos tea. Ah, well, another glass of Albert Mann Rieslingi from Alsace did nicely.

There's no question that even a casually elegant dinner with clients is more expensive here, but at least at these prices, our great dinner was a foregone conclusion!

The Bar at The Modern
9 W. 53rd Street, New York
212.333.1220

Tags: Food, Food & Drink, Wine, Manhattan, New York, San Francisco, MoMa, Tom Colicchio

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