Sunday, June 15, 2014

New Taste of the Upper West Side: Best of the West 2014

Dovetail: Roasted Beet Salad with strawberries, watercress, black rice

On May 31st, I attended this year's New Taste of the Upper West Side Best of the West, under the tent at Columbus Avenue between W. 76th-W.77th Streets. The evening celebrated 40 of the Upper West Side's most talented chefs and restaurants, hosted by Jill Martin, NY Knicks broadcaster and TODAY Show contributor.

Best of the West honoree was world-renowned chef and owner Daniel Boulud of Daniel, Café Boulud, db Bistro Moderne, DBGB Kitchen and Bar, Boulud Sud and Epicerie Boulud. Attendees also enjoyed music by the Silver Arrow Band, amazing food and enticing cocktails. 

The VIP hour is definitely worth getting access to, for getting a head start to chefs, food and drinks, and to make sure you get to taste everything you want to. I also recommend that you don't wait too long before sampling any of the desserts. Many of the desserts disappeared before I got a chance to try them, especially from Alice's Tea Cup and and ice cream sandwiches from Magnolia Bakery. 

Check out my favorite mouth-watering dishes, including Dovetail's Roasted Beet Salad, Tessa's Razor Clam Escabéche Piperade and Gabriel's Ocean Trout Crudo. I was happy to see a larger selection of wines including Terra Andina Sparkling Moscato and Bottega Liquid Metals. 




Caffè Storico: Watermelon Gazpacho, Ricotta Tortellini and Pickled Radish



16 Handles: Sweet Sriracha - Salted Caramel and Fudge Brownie Fro-Yo Twist + Sriracha Salt


The Loeb Central Park Boathouse




Gabriel's: Ocean Trout Crudo - Spicy green tomato, pickled rhubarb, cantaloupe, radish




Cafe Tallulah: Tuna Tartare - Avocodo purée, cucumber & radish salad, red chili aioli, pickled jalapeño


Calle Ocho: Sweet Corn Arepas served with house-cured salmon, topped with salmon caviar and finished with house-made crema nata






Ed's Chowder House: Skuna Bay Salmon Burger - Pepper relish, garlic aioli, watercress






Kefi: Lamb Burger Slider with whipped spicy feta




Jean-Georges




Nick & Toni's Cafe: Polpette - Berkshire Pork meatballs, whipped ricotta, tomato jam


Alice's Tea Cup: Lavender Earl Grey Buttercream on Chocolate Cupcakes, Red Velvet Cupcakes, Vegan Coconut Almond Cookies, Pumpkin Scones with Caramel Glaze



Bar Boulud: Chilled Veal Porchetta



Boulud Sud: Grilled Beef Kofte - Pine nuts, tahini, scallion salad




Andanada: Salpicon de Cangrejo: Crab salad with cucumber, potatoes and tomato




Magnolia Bakery: Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwiches


Magnolia Bakery: Devil's Food Strawberry Swirl Ice Cream Sandwiches


Magnolia Bakery: Oatmeal Raisin Blueberry Swirl Ice Cream Sandwiches


Magnolia Bakery: Banana Pudding


Magnolia Bakery: Mini Coconut Cream Pies


Bottega Liquid Metals: Rose Gold, Platinum Moscato and Venetian Gold 


Atlantic Grill: Copper River Salmon, Daikon Sprouts, Caramel Soy, Lemon Grass, Thai Chili


Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto: Selection of Salumi


Loi: Htapodaki on a Spoon - Grilled octopus with red wine, macerated onions, capers, almonds, fresh herbs & ladolemono


Henry's: Braised Short Ribs - Spring asparagus, button mushroom, pearl onion and Rosemary Mashed Potato


Sartori Cheese: SarVecchio Parmesan, Extra Aged Goat, MontAmore, Balsamic Bella Vitano, Espresso Bella Vitano, and Rosemary & Olive Oil Asiago




Café du Soleil: Chilled Corn Soup with diced shrimp


Café du Soleil: Water Chestnuts wrapped in bacon with maple bourbon sauce 


Nice Matin: Mediterranean Salmon






Sysco Metro NY: Chopped Duck Liver - Strawberry-rhubarb glaze, tangerine cress


Sysco Metro NY: Yuzu Zabaglione - Asian fruit compote, toasted coconut




Cafe Luxembourg: Cucumber and Green Grape Gazpacho with crab, almonds and charred salsa verde




Tessa: Razor Clam Escabéche Piperade - Toasted almonds, espelette pepper


Candle Cafe West: Poblano-Wild Mushroom Taco with pickled jalapeño, almond cheese and avocado sauce


Porter House New York: Chilled Thai Beef Salad with chilies, watermelon and peanuts


Daniel Boulud signing copies of his book, Daniel: My French Cuisine




Jacques Torres Chocolate: Chocolate Drizzles Berries

- Kim Weling

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