L'Artusi:
I first patronized Gabe Thompson's L'Artusi on March 22nd, 2011. 'Twas a splendid occasion indeed. I drank a glass of Villa Sparina Gavi di Gavi , selected the bass as my entree and debated with my dinner companion about the financial efficacy of slow loris breeding. Both the wine and the bass were delicioso, which, of course, is Latin for "fuckin' tasty."
How, might you ask, am I able to recount so vividly an event that took place over a year ago? No, this is not a case of eidetic memory. In fact, quite the opposite--my recall's so horrible I've taken to tattooing important names and dates on my body. Now, I'll never miss the Fourth of July again.
But I digress, I remember the meal for several reasons, the main one being that I tweeted about the experience the following day and just now spent fifteen minutes scrolling back through old posts in order to find it. Also though, it was the first time I'd ever tasted Gavi and I fell in love instantaneously with the Italian white wine. The bass killed it too, but I'm no food critic. Martha Stewart is though, and she too dined there that night.
Like the prodigal son, I made my sophomore return to L'Artusi yesterday and this time I came away with the distinct view that it is bar none my favorite restaurant in NYC! A rebellious utterance, but one I'm willing to stand on the front line and defend. 8 of us convened on the evening of last to partake in the West Village restaurant's prix fixe Summer Cocktail Dinner. It consisted of four courses, each paired with two sensational cocktails from their hot off the press summer menu.
Click "Read more" for menus, pictures and reviews:
How, might you ask, am I able to recount so vividly an event that took place over a year ago? No, this is not a case of eidetic memory. In fact, quite the opposite--my recall's so horrible I've taken to tattooing important names and dates on my body. Now, I'll never miss the Fourth of July again.
But I digress, I remember the meal for several reasons, the main one being that I tweeted about the experience the following day and just now spent fifteen minutes scrolling back through old posts in order to find it. Also though, it was the first time I'd ever tasted Gavi and I fell in love instantaneously with the Italian white wine. The bass killed it too, but I'm no food critic. Martha Stewart is though, and she too dined there that night.
Like the prodigal son, I made my sophomore return to L'Artusi yesterday and this time I came away with the distinct view that it is bar none my favorite restaurant in NYC! A rebellious utterance, but one I'm willing to stand on the front line and defend. 8 of us convened on the evening of last to partake in the West Village restaurant's prix fixe Summer Cocktail Dinner. It consisted of four courses, each paired with two sensational cocktails from their hot off the press summer menu.
Click "Read more" for menus, pictures and reviews:
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| Emerald Fog cocktail. Fresh, crisp, and accentuated by the little rabbit poop ice cubes commonly found in juleps. Do try it. |
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| Dutch East India Punch cocktail |
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| Jorie, one of three L'Artusi bartenders responsible for creating the new cocktail list, does the Boston Shake. |
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| Final pairing: the drink to the left is the Rough Rider--my personal favorite--and the one in the coup is the Scolastico Special. Dessert: olive oil cake I'd give my left nut (why is it always the left?) to eat every day. With the creme fraiche mousse? Are you kidding me? So salty, so sweet, so delectable! |
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| Jorie prepares the Scolastico Speciale tasting. |
COCKTAILS
SPECIALTIES $15
BENEVENTO: Stranahan's Whiskey, Carpano Antica Formula, Strega, Bitters
ULY'S GOLD: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Aperol, Grapefruit, Regan's Orange Bitters
BROOKLYNITE: Appleton Estate Reserve Rum, Lime, Honey Syrup, Angostura Bitters
SEÑORITA BLANCA: Sauza Bianco Tequila, Cocchi Americano, Cardamaro, Orchard Apricot Liqueur, Regan's Orange Bitters
336 KING STREET: Compass Box Great King St. Scotch, Laird's Applejack, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Fernet Branca
L'ALIBI: Moscato Grappa, Hangar One Vodka, Cocchi Americano, Absinthe Rinse
MIA CHELADA: Blonde Ale, Sauza Silver Tequila, Triple Sec, Lime, Ancho Spiced Salt
SEASONAL COCKTAILS $15
EMERALD FOG (similar to a basil Mojito): Flor De Caña White Rum, Bluecoat Gin, Brandy, Basil,Lemon, Lime
PENITENT MAN:Bluecoat Gin, Pale Ale, Meletti, Orchard Apricot Liqueur, Lemon
DOC HOLIDAY: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Brandy, Fernet Branca, Blueberries, Lemon
SCOLASTICO SPECIALE:Rittenhouse Rye, Del Capo Amaro ("likeJagermeister, but with class), Lemon, Strawberry, Egg White
MISSION ROSE: Sauza Bianco Tequila, Mezcal, Agave, Green Chartreuse, Strawberries, Pink Peppercorn
BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR: Pimms, St. Germain, Arrack Batavi (Indonesian rum. Batavia was briefly the capital of India), Lime, Honey
DUTCH EAST INDIA PUNCH: Arrack Batavia, Bols Genever, Pineapple, Lime Demarera
TEN-PAST-TWELVE: Flor De Caña White Rum, Lillet, Sparkling Rose, Lemon, Rosemary
L'ARTUSI CLASSICS $13
L'ARTUSI GIMLET:Vodka or gin, St. Germain, Lime, AperolTEXAS MIMOSA: Sparkling White Lambrusco, Sauza Bianco Tequila, Grapefruit, Grapefruit Bitters
SUMMER COCKTAIL DINNER (DRINKS)
$130 for food and drink
PENITENT MAN (a la Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
MIA CHELADA
BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR
DOCTOR MARIO(A take on the classic Negroni.Here, the barkeeps dug really deep-- "Doctor Mario" because the 16-bit Nintendo video game is also a classic.): Nonino Moscato Grappa, Campari, Bonal
EMERALD FOG
DUTCH EAST INDIA PUNCH
SCOLASTICO SPECIALE
*ROUGH RIDER: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Nux Alpina Walnut Liqueur, Cherry Heering, Coffee, Lemon
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| Penitent Man. One of two ale based beverages on the summer drinking list (so much better than a summer reading list). Hops can be a difficult and sometimes overwhelming flavor note to mask but, here, the apricot liqueur saves the day. Very tasty. |
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| Mia Chelada. Reminiscent of a Diablo Royal Ricky, the blonde ale in this otherwise traditional margarita smooths out the taste of the tequila. |
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| Battle of Trafalgar. Slightly sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. Pimms and St. Germain, together, cannot be smote; like Ace and Gary of The Ambiguously Gay Duo. |
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| Doctor Mario. Not on the traditional menu, but ask for it anyway. |
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(Channeling that saucy state in the evening when the compulsion arises to give perfect strangers awkwardly long embraces while yell-whispering "I respect you" into their hair, I wish to say to Heather, Jorie, Ury and Erin of L'Artusi, thank you for your helpfulness guys. I really respect you!)
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