The Farewell begins...
I'm not too sure what I am going to do once Rupa leaves for India. She's one of my closest friends, an amazing person and inspiration on so many levels and importantly, my foodie soulmate. I find that we have similar tastes in many things, but above all that we enjoy a wonderful meal with good friends and good wine above most other pleasures in life. I mean, really, what are those?
I've been somewhat on her back to go to nice restaurants (and to take me with her) but in the past few weeks, she has been just so busy that she hasn't been able to do that with all of her heart and soul. But the few times we have been able to jump in with gusto, we've done ourselves justice.
Last Friday six of us went to Alta, Rupa's favorite restaurant in the city. It's a beautiful place, in a small, humble brownstone on W 10 st, the perfect place to sit in the back room behind the kitchen and watch the rain pour down with the aura of the streetlamps pouring in and the chatter of other tables closeby.All the furniture is so earthy and solid, real man's dining tables and chairs and everything is candlelit. It's a wonderful place, even without all the food. But add that in, and it's heaven.
We ordered four bottles of wine- Case de la Ermita (Jumilla) and then it's older sister, Petit Verdot, both of which were mouthfilling and comforting.
The tapas kept coming and I pretended not to notice that there was chorizo in some of the dishes, as amazing as they were. Recall, I'm in my anti-meat phase. The tuna tartare with chorizo, macademia nuts and avocado was spectacular. The cauliflower with chorizo, manilla clams and mushrooms were out of this world. Brocolli rabe with pecorino cheese and hunks of roasted garlic. Brussel sprouts with fuji apples, creme fraiche and pistachios (my personal fave). Deep-fried smelts with salt and pepper and fresh lemon. Fried goat cheese balls with lavender honey. Gnocchi...I can't remember the specifics, but I remember them being melt in your mouth lovely, accompanied by a full tomato sauce. Potatoes with a creamy spicy mayo sauce, roasted with chili powder dusted on top. A strawberry-rhubarb tart with fresh phyllo dough. Chocolate fondue with pistachio biscotti. Parmigiano-reggiano cheese with balsamic. Fantastic. So good. I was happy. And sad. It was bittersweet. And emotional. This is going to be harder than I thought, namely because I hadn't prepared myself for it. And now it's almost here.
I've been somewhat on her back to go to nice restaurants (and to take me with her) but in the past few weeks, she has been just so busy that she hasn't been able to do that with all of her heart and soul. But the few times we have been able to jump in with gusto, we've done ourselves justice.
Last Friday six of us went to Alta, Rupa's favorite restaurant in the city. It's a beautiful place, in a small, humble brownstone on W 10 st, the perfect place to sit in the back room behind the kitchen and watch the rain pour down with the aura of the streetlamps pouring in and the chatter of other tables closeby.All the furniture is so earthy and solid, real man's dining tables and chairs and everything is candlelit. It's a wonderful place, even without all the food. But add that in, and it's heaven.
We ordered four bottles of wine- Case de la Ermita (Jumilla) and then it's older sister, Petit Verdot, both of which were mouthfilling and comforting.
The tapas kept coming and I pretended not to notice that there was chorizo in some of the dishes, as amazing as they were. Recall, I'm in my anti-meat phase. The tuna tartare with chorizo, macademia nuts and avocado was spectacular. The cauliflower with chorizo, manilla clams and mushrooms were out of this world. Brocolli rabe with pecorino cheese and hunks of roasted garlic. Brussel sprouts with fuji apples, creme fraiche and pistachios (my personal fave). Deep-fried smelts with salt and pepper and fresh lemon. Fried goat cheese balls with lavender honey. Gnocchi...I can't remember the specifics, but I remember them being melt in your mouth lovely, accompanied by a full tomato sauce. Potatoes with a creamy spicy mayo sauce, roasted with chili powder dusted on top. A strawberry-rhubarb tart with fresh phyllo dough. Chocolate fondue with pistachio biscotti. Parmigiano-reggiano cheese with balsamic. Fantastic. So good. I was happy. And sad. It was bittersweet. And emotional. This is going to be harder than I thought, namely because I hadn't prepared myself for it. And now it's almost here.
posted by Fat Sister | 4:46 PM
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