For my friend George’s birthday, I flew down to New York and took him and his wife Leesh out for dinner at Babbo. This was one of those damn-the-torpedoes-full-speed-ahead nights where I decided that we should try the traditional tasting menu, complete with the wines to match each dish. Birthdays are sacred after all, and George is a man who enjoys the finer things in life (for example, he eats only fromt he $1.29 menu at Taco Bell and buys only premium pork rinds).
The courses, in order, were:
- Braised beef tongue
- Very fresh tagliatelle in a very nice herb sauce
- Pork shoulder in creamy polenta
- Guinea hen in an amazing pepper sauce (this was George’s and my favourite)
- Goat cheese in a fig compote
- Turrone
- Cakes — Leesh had a pumpkin pastry, George had the apple crumble and I had a flourless chocolate cake. Each one was covered in a matching sauce.
George and Leesh
Me and my guinea hen
Recommended Reading
Some profiles of Babbo’s chef, Mario Batali. The man is a freakin’ genius.
Some reviews of Babbo. You must go sometime.
Susur’s. Not in New York, not Italian, but it’s an amazing Toronto restaurant with a world-renowned chef, Susur Lee. Another must-go place.
What I’m having for dinner tonight. Can’t eat at expensive restaurants all the time. At least not on my salary.