Morso NYC

I was invited to a press dinner at Morso a couple of weeks ago.  I immediately checked out the website and was pleased to see so many dishes I couldn’t wait to try.  As I walked down the stretch of 59^th street between 1^st Avenue and York, I saw a bright awning and then through the glass several pops of color – I had arrived.  Upon entering, I am greeted by a cheerful hostess. To my right I spy a long communal table that seems to be a private dining area. To the left is the main dining room.  It is well lit, and two walls are covered with 50s style pop art. I loved it!

We sat at one of the round tables that seats 4 or 5. The restaurant gives off a cool modern vibe in an effortless way.  The tasting menu looked fantastic and as soon as the first dish arrived, I started falling in love.  The Gorgonzola Fritter Salad was eye catching.

The aroma was also quite appealing.  I cut into a crispy shell and cheesy middle then took a bite.  I was slightly embarrassed at my audible moan. I just didn’t expect to enjoy it so much – after all, I generally am not a fan of too many cheeses.  The combination of gorgonzola, roasted pears, spiced walnuts and the apple cider vinaigrette was perfect.  The dish was light and I did not leave a bite on the plate.  When the Farro salad arrived, I thought I would have the same experience. 

It just didn’t do it for me. It was very hearty and grainy. The combination of roasted almonds, dried apricots, eggplant and Portobello mushrooms definitely screamed Mediterranean.  I took a few bites and my palette just didn’t appreciate the combination.  If you’re looking for a healthy and hearty starter, this is definitely your best choice. Our next dish was the Spaghetti Carbonara.

It is usually served with guanciale, but they made mine sans pork.  I almost melted eating this dish.  The pasta was al dente and the mix of eggs, pecorino and onions was incredible.  I was especially pleased because the dish was not especially creamy. It was just the right amount of creaminess built into the dish and it did not require any additional liquid.  I finished my entire plate and honestly wanted to ask for more. When I first scanned the menu, I must say the Capesante caught my eye. So imagine how delighted I was when it was on our tasting menu.

The sautéed scallops served on black rice gave me goosebumps.  The scallops were some of the best I’ve ever tasted. Perfectly caramelized on the outside and melt in your mouth good on the inside.  The black rice was an interesting accompaniment but it worked.  The limoncello sauce was subtle but definitely present.  Next up the Agnello. I debated about whether or not I would try this dish. After all, I haven’t eaten lamb in over a decade.  I decided to give it a shot.

I mean a dish that beautiful can’t be so bad, right? It definitely had Mediterranean flare since it was served with crispy eggplant & lamb roll, white beans and mint sauce.  There were also little lamb sausages in the sauce.  I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  The beans were exquisite and the sauce brought everything together quite nicely.  The hint of spiciness left on my tongue after every bite was the best part.  After a short break to let our stomachs rest, we were treated to a dessert trio.  At an Italian restaurant Tiramisu is always expected.

This was different than any I’ve tried. Perhaps the blood orange sauce was the difference. The tiramisu was light and not too rich. I couldn’t resist the Chocolate Cake.

It was served with Vanilla gelato which would have been a great dessert on its own.  The dessert I least expected to enjoy turned out to be my favorite.

Pistachio Cake didn’t look like much when it came out but WOW it sure did pack a punch of flavor. I think I ate more than my share.  As I was eating, I kept thinking about all the other items I saw on the menu that I wanted to try.  I decided I had to come back…and I did.  At the end of that week, we celebrated my brother’s birthday at Morso. Our server that night was a bit chatty and overly explanatory, but I tend to be impatient so I won’t hold it against him.  The chef’s amuse that night didn’t photograph well but tasted delightful.

Beets with gorgonzola cheese and a limoncello sauce.  The beets were fresh and the contrasted quite nicely with the cheese.   Mama Bear ordered the pasta special of the day.  Our server described it as quill pasta in a yellow tomato sauce.

She loved the dish! I thought it tasted incredible. I’ve never had yellow tomato sauce, but this was amazing. The pasta was also delicious.  The birthday man ordered the Gnocchi Verdi.

I had been eying this dish since I first looked at the menu.  Gnocchi is one of my favorite dishes.  This was even better because it was spinach and in chicken and rabbit ragout.  Oh la la. Spinach gnocchi?! By far the best gnocchi I’ve ever had.  The rabbit and chicken combination was also spectacular.  I could eat this dish every day and never get tired of it. Y-squared ordered the Anatra.

What a beaut! Spiced duck breast with farro, dried cranberries, roasted pears and sweet and sour pomegranate sauce. The duck was sensational.  The crispy skin on the medium well duck breast was well seasoned and reminded me why I love duck so much.  I also had a chance to sample the Pheasant which was the Caccia (game of the day). 

Oh man! I had no idea pheasant could taste so good. It was served with gnocchi and small pieces of house made lamb sausage.  I was really impressed with how many ingredients were on the plate, but it still managed to come together well.  Everyone’s entrée was fabulous.  I enjoyed it so much I almost forgot to eat my own food.  I ordered the Caccuicco, a fish stew.

This was eye catching and definitely the kind of dish I would love.  Tons of seafood in a tomato sauce.  The seafood was great, but the sauce tasted a little thin. It needed a little more body and a pinch of salt.  The desserts were a great pick up.  They brought out a beautiful Tiramisu decorated with raspberries and a candle.

The Panna Cotta was fabulous as was the Cheesecake.  

All the desserts managed to be rich and flavorful but not overwhelming.  

Since they brought these out without us asking for them, I’m not quite sure whether or not they have a dessert menu. It may just be daily specials, which worked out quite well on two occasions!

Morso truly is fabulous. It is a restaurant with sophisticated dishes with fresh ingredients.  The décor is warm and inviting. The staff was very friendly on both occasions and I look forward to returning soon.

Hungry yet?

A Very Good Friday

On Friday April 2, after booking a week in advance for our 10pm reservation, Mr. G and I ventured out to Colicchio & Sons.  It opened in mid-January to rave-ish reviews.  While I don’t watch Top Chef, Mr. G does and after this meal, boy was I glad that he does!

We walked in at 10pm looking quite dapper.  I wore my navy blue strapless dress with pleating at the bust. He in crisp jeans, nice coralish tan shirt with matching shoes.

We were asked if we wanted to wait at the bar, which seemed like a good idea at the time.  We walked over to the bar and sat on two stools at the middle of the bar.  We waited about 4 minutes and not a single bartender turned toward us.  The taps are conveniently located at eye level and there is a lamp between the two of them so there’s no chance of catching a bartender’s eye.  Mr. G finally got one to give us a menu and take our order.  At 10:15, a waitress came to take our drinks and escort us to our table in the main dining room. 

If our dinner were a few hours earlier, we would have had a perfect view of the sunset.  The dining room had incredibly high ceilings and an old school painting of the Meatpacking/Chelsea area.  There were also several paintings of roosters which I found to be very bizarre. 

We get to the table and almost immediately the waiter brings pull-apart bread served in the same pan it was baked in!  It was melt in your mouth good!  It had a little bit of butter and sea salt on top and was incredibly soft.

After clearing the bread and taking our order, the waiter returns with the amuse Panna Cotta with lobster.  Creamy sweet cheese with a tiny piece of lobster and a sweet yet savory sauce.  Perfect way to start

A short while later, our appetizers arrived Spice-Roasted Lobster with Cabbage & Lobster Bordelaise and Butter-Poached Oysters with Celery Root "Tagliatelle" & American Caviar.  The lobster was enough for 2 people and we probably would have been fine if we just got that, but I was happy we got the oysters too.  The cabbage looked a lot more like bok choy which was well placed in the bordelaise.  It absorbed the sauce quite well and was very juicy.  The oysters were buttery and quite heavenly.  The celery root was finely shredded and looked like noodles.  The crunchiness played well with the soft texture of the oysters and caviar. 

After waiting just enough time for the appetizer to fade away, but not long enough that you’re newly hungry, the main course Spice-Roasted Lola Duck with Cabbage, Chanterelles & Kumquat Chutney and Roasted Rabbit with Braised Fennel & Olives

You’ll notice a “spice-roasted” theme.  It wasn’t intentional but boy was it delicious ;-) The duck was very tender.  I asked them to cook it medium rare because pink meat makes me nervous.  The kumquat chutney was really good and I must admit everything tasted even better when chased with champagne J It was literally like a party in my mouth.  I had no choice but to try Mr. G’s rabbit.  It was my first time eating rabbit and I have to say it tastes pretty much just like chicken.  However, the sauce was pure deliciousness.

After such a wonderful meal, we were stuffed but could not pass up dessert.  Instead of selecting something adventurous from the amazing dessert menu, we went with the Ice Cream Trio vanilla, caramel, creamsicle.  Very very good.   The creamsicle puts you back to the days of chasing the ice cream truck with a dollar hoping you catch it and they haven’t run out of what you want.  

My only regret is that I was so captivated by the food that I forgot to take pictures!  Otherwise, this was truly a meal fit for a king (and his queen).  Thanks Mr. G!

Out of 10

Décor 8 (what was up with the roosters?!)

Food 10!!

Drinks 8

BONUS: We went to Union Square Ballroom for a birthday party.  Talib Kweli was a guest DJ and he performed Get By!

P.S. While we didn’t ascribe any special significance to the day, I noted that a year earlier on the first Friday of April, Mr. G and I went to the Nuyorican Poets Café.  While technically that was just another case of 2 friends hanging out, it was definitely the first time I felt sparks.  A year later, here we are J