A Fork And A Suitcase

I can't say that I was surprised by my lunch experience at KEI, I have done my research and knew to expect something special.  What I did not anticipate was the remarkably high level of the overall experience, the fine tuned service, the presentation and taste of the food, and the interesting combinations of flavors.  Simply put, the lunch was perfection.  KEI, is a wonderful restaurant serving beautifully crafted French cuisine with a touch of Japan, the birthplace of the chef, Kei Kobayashi. The decor is sophisticated but understated, with shades of white, gray and beige.     How stunning are these utensils?  Speaking of utensils and other nice things at KEI, I loved their pepper mill so much; I got a set for my husband.  The waiter was kind enough to share the name of the manufacturer. Now, when it comes to the menu, there isn't one.  One gets to choose a five or eight course meal. The descriptions...

It has been a couple of weeks since I returned from Paris so I felt overdue for a French fix.  There are plenty of great French restaurants in NYC but I was tempted by the great choices on the menu at Vaucluse, a lovely brasserie on the Upper East Side.  Sophisticated, and elegant decor provides a pleasant setting.      This is the Restaurant Week menu. The regular lunch menu is only $36, and offers plenty of delicious choices.  I treated myself to a snazzy elderlflower fizz drink, which was really refreshing on a stifling hot day. My friend and I decided to get different dishes and share. This was the salmon rillettes - whipped smoked and fresh salmon, lemon creme fraiche, and toasted baguette.  This was so delicious and light, I actually looked up how to make this when I got home.  There were plenty of great recipes online, and most were quite simple.  Our second appetizer was the Poireaux - gril...

In my quest to expand my repertoire during this Restaurant Week, I booked a table at the Red Rooster in Harlem.  Restaurant Week is a perfect opportunity to try new places, and get a sampling of their  dishes at just $29 for lunch.  This restaurant has been on our list for some time now, and I finally decided to just book it.  It is in Harlem so not quite in the middle of it all, but it is fairly easy to get to via the subway or bus. Red Rooster is the creation of Marcus Samuelsson, Ethiopian-born and Swedish-raised chef/restaurateur, who says that he developed his love of food and cooking from his adoptive grandmother Helga from Sweden.  I just thought of the "Inga from Sweden" scene from Trading Places. Anyway.... Red Rooster has been around and thriving quite nicely in Harlem for about seven years now.  Reservations are really recommended, especially for the Sunday Gospel Brunch.  There are musical performances almost every day of the week....