Foodle

To justify the cost of a 3-star Michelin meal, restaurants often turn to luxe ingredients; the ones that can feel contrived, maybe even a little vulgar. Dinner tonight at Addison’s takeover of Demi featured many of these ingredients.

Yet the uni that crowns Addison’s tentpole dish, chawanmushi, is instead an accent, yielding to silky egg custard, bok choy, and celtuce. The A5 wagyu, a Hida breed, makes an appearance, too, its unmistakable custard-like flesh juxtaposed with a dark, appealingly chewier (than expected) crust. There is caviar, but it isn’t the star of the pre-dessert. Rather, it’s a briny counterpoint to yuzu and matcha custard.

Oftentimes, the hallmark of a chef deserving of those accolades is one with a strong point of view — assuming faultless ingredients and execution. Yes, the uni doesn’t have that phantom tang; the paper-thin churro that encases chicken liver shatters in the right places; and the kampachi sashimi has precise amounts of acidity and sweetness. But Addison’s chef, William Bradley, goes further.

He forays into different cultures while grounding it in California. Which means the opening salvos — ‘California’ style salad encased in a pizza roll, that churro — may feel close to its San Diego homebase, while the other dishes venture farther: that sashimi, adorned with kiwis, preserved pear, and perilla flowers (Korea); that chawanmushi (Japan); a mi-cuit seabream in broth flecked with ginger (Southeast Asia); and that tarte tatin (France), adorned with jamon iberico (Spain?). They uniformly deliver bouts of pleasure.

None of these ideas are outrightly novel — caviar in dessert was made famous by Joshua Skenes’ banana pancakes and caviar — but need they be? Sometimes, all you need is voice. Tonight’s dinner spoke loudly, thanks to the (near) two decades Bradley molding Addison into the storied institution it is today, and to Demi for bringing this to the Twin Cities. Less

🍽️ Bellini Osteria Toscana
📍 Located in the former VG Bistro in West Roswell
🍝 Authentic Tuscan Cuisine
🌍 They’ve brought in two chefs from Tuscany to train the staff—now that’s dedication! 🇮🇹

What We Tried:

Beef Tartar Tuscan Style 🥩
House Special Tagliatelle 🍝
Mrs. Grubber’s pick: Granny’s Beef Lasagna 🍲
Menu Highlights:

Offers unique items that stand out from the strong list of Italian spots within 5-10 miles of AtlantaGrubber™ HQ
The Tuscan flair adds a distinctive touch that differentiates it from the rest
⭐ Not in the Top 5, but definitely a Top 10 in AlphaRozCreekSpringsWoody! 📍#BelliniOsteriaToscana #TuscanCuisine #RoswellGA #ItalianFood #FoodieFinds #AtlantaEats #Top10Restaurants #AuthenticTuscan #AtlantaGrubber #RoswellDining #FoodReview #LocalEats #GourmetExperience Less

🎂🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

I had a wonderful birthday eve dinner @thefishhotel last night! We stayed in one of the hilly huts with a private hot tub which was super cute! Dinner was glorious! Didn't take a pic of the main but it was a curried cod Kiev, and was the softest flakiest cod ove ever had! The rest of the meal was beyond delicious. Special shout out to our waitress Edith who was LOVELY. Nothing was too much trouble and she gave us recommendations when needed. She is the epitome of excellent service. 🎂🎂

#itsmybirthday #cotswolds #thefish #birthdaydinner #withgalaxy Less

I’ve always celebrated my birthday (except the years my parents passed away, and once due to an unfortunate turn in matters of the heart).

This year though I wasn’t feeling particularly celebratory. To a large extent it’s because of horror unfolding in Gaza, but I suspect also a general weariness.

So last week, I decided to spend the day doing the things I keep promising myself I’ll do but never get around to doing.

The day started auspiciously: I overslept by 90 minutes.

Lunch was @thetable_colaba; I’ve been curious about their burger which I believe is the most expensive burger in a standalone. I’ll get into a more detailed post later, but I left quite satisfied.

By the time I got home a cake, from the @itcgrandcentral was waiting for me. Thankfully, it was a fruit and not chocolate cake.

In the evening I planned to have a quiet drink at Eau Bar @theoberoimumbai. For the last two years every time I return from my run I’ve promised myself to go there for a drink. I never have.

Though I was recognised shortly after entering the bar, and the senior team came to say hello, things were mostly going according to plan. I had a perfect Negroni, was sent some food and cocktail from the new menu to try, and Larissa Coelho, the lounge singer was singing familiar retro rock.

Unfortunately, a well meaning, over enthusiastic friend informed the singer I was at the bar and it was my birthday and so she sang La Vie En Rose, which was nice.

Then it got embarrassing: the bar team produced a slice of cake with a candle and clapped when I blew it out while Happy Birthday was sung. Not what I had planned for.

And on the way home I got soaked in a sudden downpour. Not the ending I hoped for, but as Longfellow wrote and Ella sang, into each life some rain must fall.
#birthday #birthdaycake Less

There is something about ascending a staircase to reach the dining room of a restaurant. It’s a tone setter, more effective as an appetizer than any bread basket. Each step amplifies anticipation. Even those not inclined to make an entrance are about to make an entrance.

It works best when the restaurant at the top is a luxe room decorated in rich hues of cognac, amber, and oxblood, with a grand bar shaped like a racetrack at the center, tufted nooks with curved banquettes set into the back wall — for eating dinner, and for watching the theater of dinner transpire. This is @lapadronaboston, which opened in May at the Raffles hotel in Boston. Any description of the place must include the word “swank” or it’s a dereliction of duty.

Read the ⭐⭐⭐⭐ review at the link. Less

More proof that Long Island has a spectacular Indian food scene …

My latest at @newsdayfeedme is about @atithihicksville, a vegetarian fast casual outfit with a colorful interior and food that punches above its strip mall setting. The menu is big and caters to South Asian people so read what to get at the link in my bio.

#vegetarian #indianvegetarian #newdelhifood #longislandfood #lieats #bethpage #hicksville Less