Contra - A Gem in LES

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I first met Jeremiah Stone back in September at a pig roast in Williamsburg. Night had fallen and I was devouring a chorizo caramel ice cream from Oddfellows when Michelle introduced us to her friend, Jeremy, was opening up a restaurant called Contra in early October on the LES.

He was amped about the progress; with 2 weeks left before opening,  the decor and furniture were installed and the 5-course, $55 prix-fixe menu of New American cuisine were in the final stages of development.

Last week, Michelle called in a reservation for what turned out to be an enjoyable experience for our group. The five of us sat comfortably at 2 veneered wooden tables near the bar. By the time we ordered the extra bread and cheese course, the restaurant was humming along, filled with patrons eager to try the food.

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Chez Jose: who needs meat?

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I am a carnivore and proud of it.

For as long as I can remember, consuming meat has always engaged all five senses for me: the longing gaze at the fried chicken fresh out the fryer, the oil bubbles still twerking on the golden-brown skin, the gamey scent of the medium-rare lambchops filling the air as they come out of the oven, the sharp sizzle of the marbled ribeye as it cannonballs into the pool of butter that lies in the welcoming cast-iron pan, the oily pork juice that dribbles down the chin after that initial bite of the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), and the moment when the perfectly-cooked duck breast, glazed with pomegranate reduction, becomes one with the crispy skin; savory, sweet, and acidic.

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Bassanova Ramen vs. Ippudo

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“ps- I'm taking you to the best ramen place in the city this week- Bassanova on Mott (canal). it is blog worthy.”

I was curious to try this ramen for 2 reasons.

Reason 1:  This email came from Julia, a coworker who is your average picky eater. Her idea of chinese food is chicken lo mein, fried rice, and General Tso’s. 

Reason 2:  The chef, Keizo Shimamoto, has recently been in the news for his buzzworthy Ramen Burger which had a very long line during its Smorgasburg debut. After apprenticing with ramen masters, including Ivan Orkin, Keizo opened the original Bassanova in Tokyo to acclaim.

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The Only Chef's Table That Matters

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3/17/12

Damn it.

I cursed to myself as I stared at the clock on the N express. 7:15pm.

My 7:45pm reservation tonight was at Brooklyn’s only 3 Michelin star restaurant called Chef’s Table - Brooklyn Fare. Connected to a grocery store, 50 gleaming copper pots hung above an immaculate stainless steel seating area that holds 18 highly coveted seats for a 3 hour, 25-course prix-fixe adventure that sets you back $225.

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