Bergdorf Goodman's Asian Crab Cake Salad

Kristy (Woodson) Harvey and I had lunch at Bergdorf Goodman yesterday. We attended a book signing the evening before in the 7th floor dining area and couldn't get enough of the space, so we headed back first thing the following day for lunch. The fact that it was cold and raining also nudged us along in the "where to eat lunch?" decision-making process. If you haven't been to the Bergdorf restaurant and you're a lady, you have time on your hands and you don't mind spending a pretty penny for a leisurely, elegant, sophisticated lunch.....ding ding ding! this is the spot for you. The chairs, the tables, the china with the Bergdorf seal, the upholstered walls, the light fixtures and the million dollar view of the park are enough to make a girl squeal. And if you have to wait before being seated....there's a conveniently located wedding boutique on the 7th floor to peruse. It's a great place to be a girl.

For lunch I ordered a bottle of sparkling water (I couldn't slum it, it's Bergdorf's after all!) and the Asian Crab Cake Salad. It was beautiful. On top of 2 jumbo lump crab cakes was a slaw of sorts. Ingredients as follows:

chopped mango
toasted cashews
bean sprouts
julienned red pepper
water chestnuts
chinese long beans
yuzu dressing

*Key Ingredient: I couldn't pick one out*

Everything went so well together and there wasn't any 1 flavor that dominated the rest. Not necessarily a bad thing. The crab cake was excellent and tasted exactly like a crab cake should. Meaty, crispy, spicy, juicy. I think they used a spicy mayo in it to match the Asian flavors of the slaw/salad on top. The slaw was light and refreshing-perfect for lunch. I left feeling satisfied-not full-which is how a lady who lunches at Bergdorf should feel!

The best part of the meal was the surprise vanilla macaroon we each got with the check.

Q-Tip: 3 o'clock is the new 5 o'clock

When the weather is this nice who needs to wait til 5 o'clock for a cocktail? Unless you're at the office. But if not, go out, seize the day and order a tall Tequila Sunrise. Early bird gets the (tequila) worm! It's 3 o'clock somewhere.

Cafe Gitane Avocado on Toast

Mom and I breakfasted at Cafe Gitane (definition: Gypsy Lady) 2 out of the 3 mornings she was here which should tip you off onto how great this place is. We both ordered the Avocado on Toast with our cappuccinos. My expectations were greatly exceeded. At first I was a little wary that this wouldn't be an adequate breakfast order--with a full day of walking, biking, and talking in front of me I needed something hearty and filling. Judging on the way this looks on a menu I didn't think it'd fit the bill. It did.

Ingredients:

thick cut of homemade grain bread
olive oil
smeared thick layer of avocado
generous squirt of lemon juice
red pepper flakes

*Key Ingredient: lemon and red pepper flakes*

The lemon and red pepper flakes elevated this simple dish from so-so to chi-chi. From drab to dramatic. There was more flavor in one bite of this than in any eggs benedict or egg scramble breakfast order I've ever had. Also key to its success was the bread. The crust was perfectly crusty--not hard--enough to stand up to the creamy avocado.

Aquagrill Periwinkles

Carter, Mom and I headed to Aquagrill to kick of my mom's visit to the Big Apple on Monday. We--SAT AT THE BAR--ordered tons of oysters I couldn't name to you right now, tuna tartare and tried for the first time periwinkles. If you haven't had them before, they are teeny tiny little conch shells that house little tiny curly cue buggers. Kind of like escargot except much MUCH harder to get out. My mom called half of the periwinkles in our bowl 'vacants'--left the building without paying rent. Duds.

I had the most patience of the 3 of us in digging out the little guys and found them to be OK. Snails much more satisfying. Too much work for too little-about as filling as a blueberry. What did help their case was a side of aioli which added richness and flavor.

First time for everything.

Q-Tip: Order Sparkling Water with Wine

My mom and I ordered a bottle of sparkling water with our Spanish wine at Bar Jamon the other night and found that it was a nice way to stay hydrated between glasses. In my opinion, sparkling water is the more sophisticated, fancier choice of H20--when I drink it I feel like I'm indulging myself in a cocktail whereas gulping tap water that's been sloshed in my glass from behind the bar only serves to remind me of an impending hangover.

Never Blu

Tonite I went to my favorite restaurant in Durham. It is called Blu Seafood and Bar. It may not be the best restaurant, but it is definitely my fav.

I have a rule where I only order food at restaurants that I cannot make better than they can, which is why I love eating seafood. A restaurant's ability to procure and serve an abundance of fresh seafood is far greater than the home cook. Such is true for all cuisine, but especially for the fruits of the sea. One of my favorite ocean delights are oysters.

And on Tuesday nights at Blu they have half priced oysters. They always have a variety of gulf coast and cool waters. Tonite I had half a dozen Apalachicola and half a dozen Blue Points. There is a reason that cold water oysters cost twice the price of gulf coast. The briny flavor far outweighs the half fresh water taste of the gulf coast. I love oysters in general, but cool water is the way to go. Tonite both selections were delicious, but as always, I preferred the blue points.

Another great thing about Blu is the fact that they have 5$ appetizers from 5 to 7, if you eat at the bar. After my oysters I had the beef carpaccio. It was covered in arugula, Parmesan and capers. Out of this world. My roomate had the mussels, which come in a spicy chile and lime broth, amazing when sopped up with their buttery bread. He also had the oysters Rockefeller. They were fantastic, but the cheese, bacon and pesto completely muted the flavor the oysters. He loved them, as did I, but if I am going to eat oysters I want to taste oysters, which is why I only eat them raw.

As is always the case, Blu was a great meal. It is perfect for cocktails and appetizers after work, or for a real meal. Along with their every day menu, there is a fresh catch of the day and a whole fish of the day, so you can never get tired of the selection.

With my meal tonite I had a few cucumber martinis. Blu is where I discovered this delicacy, which I have spoken about before. I have had many recreations, and even attempted them in my own home, but cucumber martinis made by Megan at Blu are by far my favorite drink.

-Jonathan

The Smoker

Inspired by Andi's trip to one of my favorite lunch spots, I went on a 'work lunch' to Sandwhich. It has been months since I've visited Sandwhich, partly because I am much busier at my new job and partly because I moved from Chapel Hill to Durham, but it, along with Neal's Deli in Carrboro are the best places to get a sandwich in Orange County.

I had The Smoker
-House-smoked, slow-roasted Niman Ranch beef
-Harissa, a North African hot sauce
-And mustard slaw
-All on sourdough.

It was like a Reuben with a twang of heat and smoke. I loved it, as I do anything with slaw on it.

-Jonathan