Our final evening in NYC we booked The Jazz Standard at Battery Park City, it’s been an old favourite of ours for the last few years. We saw Fred Hersch and Rene Marie. Ordinarily we like to see lively shows, with or without vocals, but unfortunately on this night the songs were melancholy and not to our taste. The vocalist Rene Marie sang beautifully, but the songs were just too sad. And to add to it, the club had the A/C turned on at such a frigid temperaturs so I was F R E E Z I N G. We talked to three different people about it without success. We almost left.
We ordered some Crispy Chili Crusted Calamari with Charred Red Pepper Mayo ($12.95) because I don’t like to drink on an empty stomach and they had no healthy snacks. Sadly, they were rubbery and over cooked; the charred red pepper mayo made them palatable (sorry Katherine, Rufus’ Food and Spirits Guide). The connected restaurant Blue Smoke is supposed to have delicious BBQ, but we’ve never tried it.
Our dinner reservations were at 9:30; normally I’m not a huge fan of eating this late but what the heck, we’re on VAYCAY!
We chose Morandi, a very popular Italian trattoria to have our final dinner in this amazing city and it’s packed! On their website they say that there is a celebrity guest every night. They actually checked our reservation…at 9:30! We are seated at a great table by the patio. It’s not quite warm enough to sit outside (although there are people sitting out there). The place has a warm homey décor; good lighting and just lively enough that I could talk at a normal level.
We ordered three appi’s because neither of us were starving. We shared the Polipetti e sedano which was grilled octopus with celery & black olives ($16); it was tender, perfectly done and delicious (JTs first octopus).
And then JT ordered the Calamari alla griglia which was grilled squid with peppers, capers & olives ($14) it was a healthy portion, nicely done and quite tasty. Not overly seasoned, very tasty indeed.
I ordered the Burrata e pachini which was burrata cheese with roasted cherry tomatoes “on the vine” ($17). Now before this year, I had not heard of burrata cheese, but then I saw it on Barbara Bamber Just a Smidgin site and was intrigued. When I saw it on this menu I had to try it.
Reader alert, OMG!!! This is really, undoubtedly even better than bufalo Mozzarella! Yes, I said it: E V E N ; ; B E T T E R. There, I said it. Perfectly creamy and delicately flavoured. I’d go back to NYC just to have THIS again. I’m hooked (I’m singing Jason Mraz’s I’m yours in my head, and by ‘yours’ I mean burrata’s).
Overall rating of Morandi (in my opinion): Decor 4/5, service 4:5, food 4/5, Value 4/5, Noise: 3/5 (1 being very noisy, and 5 being very quiet). We paid for our meal in full.
All right. This time I don’t want what JT is having, but I’m with Charles on the bread — it’s getting to be lunch time here, what with all of the hill-walking and swimming…
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Hrm, I never heard of this burrata before Smidge mentioned it on her site a while back, and now I see it gets thumbs up from you too. Don’t think I’ve seen it before here either – though Sissi says she can buy it so it must be available – I’ll have to look harder.
That bread looks fantastic too!
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I’m sensing an octapus theme here! I just had Burrata cheese at a friend’s place a couple weeks ago. Isn’t it amazing???
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One of the best soft cheeses I’ve ever had Barb. I shall have to see if I can buy it for home.
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Okay, now you’re going to have me on a search for this cheese! It looks and sounds heavenly. Mmmmmm!
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It’s quite an experience and I do recommend it. Apparently it’s not cheap, but then again, what is?
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Eva, I don’t like mozzarella di buffala (I hate the smell and don’t find the taste so special), but I adooooore burrata. It’s one of the most addictive food products I know (whenever I buy it I have to stop myself from eating the whole package on my own, in 5 minutes). I can imagine how you felt tasting it for the first time because I still remember mine (it was during a cocktail, where burrata was the only strange thing on the trays: not very practical as finger food; I think I have had a kilo of it with generous splashes of olive oil…). I am happy you have had a nice end of this evening which didn’t have a good start.
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Thanks Sissi, it is indeed a delicious cheese. I wonder if the mozzarella di buffala that you have had has a specific odor due to what the buffalo eats? Ours here in Canada is very similar to the burrata, just a little more elastic. I shall remember that cheese experience for a very long, long time!
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Last week dined at a restaurant and I was freeeezing even though I had on a sweater. Fail to understand why establishments keep their places so cold.
Glad you enjoyed your meal at Morandi What do you eat the burrata cheese with? Bread, crackers? pardon my ignorant;
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Hi Norma, it’s such a waste of energy, it annoys me too, especially when the leave their doors wide open!
The burrata is eaten with the roasted vine tomatoes and drizzled olive oil, you could probably eat it with crostini or fresh bread, but I was holding back the carbs.
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A shame that the first restaurant’s entertainment was anything but. Odd that they would choose this playlist when people are dining. So glad your 2nd choice, Morandi”s, proved so much better. I’m running behind today and wish I had read this entry earlier, before I left for “my” Italian store. They’ve so many cheeses that I’d be surprised if they didn’t carry burrata. That’s OK. It will just give me a reason to return there next week. 🙂
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Hi John, I think you will love this cheese, not sure if it’s a new invention or not. Glad to have inspired a trip to your Italian store next week.
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I’ve been away from blogging for a bit.. and was delighted to see this link-up:) I’ve been mulling over when to come back and it was so nice to read your post today.. it’s the people here I miss the most, I think, one of the unexpected gifts of blogging. I love that cheese.. it replaces buffalo mozzarella in many of my recipes now. xoxo Smidge
ps last name is Bamber.. but I have to say Banter suits me better since I love to chat xo have a wonderful day! I’ll be back soon!
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My sincere apologies about your name Barbara, I corrected it as soon as I saw your lovely comment.
Welcome back, you were missed.
Eva
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I do love the look of the buffalo mozzarella dish. What a shame about the music. Why do artists choose to play such sad songs. Surely when people go out they are looking to be brightened up, not dragged down. It’s the same with The Sydney Theatre Company where Cate Blanchett is the patron or sponsor or whatever. They put on these plays that no one wants to see because they are so depressing and why would you want to pay $300 to be spiraled into depression! It’s like it’s beneath them to put on a lowly comedy. But comedies put bums on seats! And some lively, uplifting music would have added so much to your evening. What a shame! xx
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That cheese was indeed incredible, Charlie, I do hope you have a chance to try it. I agree with you, and it’s a shame about the plays too; I won’t even watch a sad movie, puts me in such a rut; too many real sad things these days, I don’t really need a tear jerk-er to put me in a mood.
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I would be putty in their hands, everything looks so perfect 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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It was a very nice place, CCU.
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