Saturday, May 24, 2008

Momofuku Ko - Open Reservation

Some NYC restaurants are popular, and not because their meals are always great. It’s because they’re hard to get --- IN. Momofuku Ko, reservation by internet only; 10am the 7th day reservation opening release; 2, 4, or 6 persons only. How much more difficult can it be? I just wanted to taste the food. I’ve been trying for the past month; 4 weeks; 31 days; everyday; 10am it’s fully booked. How can it be? It’s exactly 10am. Out of the blue on a Saturday afternoon i checked once again. Open reservation ...tonight...9pm...4 person table only. Of course i had to make the reservation even though i don’t know who the 3rd and 4th person would be. J would always venture to eat almost anything with me but who could the #3 and #4 be... D + C, the adventurous couple. I was so concerned to be on schedule. I could not believe that i FORGOT my camera.
The 14 course meal with wine pairing was amazing. You need to be very adventurous to eat a Menu-less fix price meal. Starting with a Mini-chive english muffin, followed with a fluke fish sashimi, another fish sashimi, then a pea soup with crawfish; berkshire belly pork; poached egg on onion and chips; snail ravioli topped with spring vegetables and ricotta sauce; grill trout with
pink pickled radish, bacon puree, and almond..... The highlight -- Shaved frozen foie gras with lychee, riesling gelee, and pine nut brittle. This is not the end yet, there are at least 5 more dishes. By the 10th dish i was so full that I could not sit but stand. The meal was so ‘intense’ as my friend D described it. All the dishes were amazing but i don’t know when my stomach will be ready for another 14 course meal.

East Village - 163 1st Ave @ E10 St., New York