The Irene Adventure

So the best thing ever happened this summer, NYC Restaurant week was extended this year from July 25 to September 5! Why is this the best thing ever? Well because I was going to be abroad for the original dates of restaurant week, and this had given me the opportunity to come back home and experience some of NYC's finest. I also was extremely lucky, because Hurrican Irene hit the next day. SO, being the poor college student that I am, I was able to choose just 1 place to go to (for lunch) and my final decision  (which really wasn't a decision at all mainly due to my love for Mr. Tom Colicchio) was Colicchio's & Sons Tap Room. The restaurant week menu (at least for lunch) was a smaller version of the extensive lunch menu already in existence. The menu does change with seasonal ingredients, so the summer version is slightly different than the current menu on the website. 

 

I think one of the best parts about this restaurant, besides the food (of course), is the location. It's located in Chelsea at 85 Tenth Avenue, which is down the block from the meat packing district. It offers so many other opportunities to explore such a great part of NYC, especially one that is not overrun by tourists. Before or after your meal you can explore the famous Chelsea Market and the NYC Highline (photo). Chelsea Market is not only home to The Food Network, but has amazing local restaurants and shops inside, such as 9th St Espresso or the world famous Morimoto. The NYC Highline is a converted elevated train track into a national park. It offers amazing views and new perspectives of the city, with so many innovative architectural designs throughout! 

My friend and I decided to share everything, 
best decision ever. In the end we were able to sample 7 delicious dishes and 3 different beers, taking risks that we wouldn't normally take. When you go, ask your server about the tap selection, its so vast (and almost overwhelming) but they are extremely knowledgeable. After telling him what I do enjoy in a beer, he was able to select one for me that was really quite perfect, especially for such a lovely afternoon. It was a Belgian Pale Ale (just don't ask me how to pronounce or spell it).

So on to the food! To start with we had: Beef Tartar with and Roasted Bone Marrow with Truffle Vinaigrette & Drunk Onions. The main course was: TC Burger with Drunk Onions, Pecorino & 
Chips (Photo #1) and Pork Belly with Anson Mills Polenta & Broccoli Rabe (Photo #2). And for dessert we were treated to Italian Zeppole with Olive Oil Ice Cream, a Blackberry Tart and Ice Cream Sandwiches with peanut butter and cream (Photo #3). All of these things were absolutely delicious, my favorites were the tartar, bone marrow and the pork belly (I was too full by the end to really enjoy dessert). 

I had never had a tartar or bone marrow and my experience was just amazing. The bone marrow was more fatty and mushy than I was 
expecting, but the combination with the crosstini, provided a great texture and really made it enjoyable. The tartar had such an amazing flavor that I was surprised especially since it is a cold dish. I thought it would have really had the strong meat flavor, and I was completely wrong, it had this wonderful light flavor of all the other ingredients. I would love to have either of those again and hopefully soon. I do have to say that the Olive Oil Ice Cream, sounded just so exotic that I was eger to try it, and was dissapointed it was just a strange combination.

So, if you are in NYC and want an amazing afternoon adventure, go join Top Chef's Head Judge at Colicchio & Sons Tap Room, start with the bone marrow move on to the pork belly, and then take a walk on the NYC Highline to work those calories off!

Adventure On! 

-Amanda