Aged Martini
I was meeting an old friend for dinner last night in New York and decided to make a reservation at Isabella's, an old haunt for the girls of Sex & the City. Once I thought about the parking situation, I made a new reservation at a Japanese place further up on the Upper West Side. Our plan was to have dinner at 7 but meet for drinks at Aged at 5:30, which had become a sort of ritual over the last couple of years. Lisa settled on a very dirty martini for herself, but I opted for something new: an Aged Martini with Figenza fig vodka, elderflower liqueur, triple sec, pomegranate juice and sparkling wine. It is a much different drink than I ever order but it was light and sweet and a nice change.
The menu, like at Candle 79, is simply a dream for a vegan, anyone who keeps kosher, or those looking for incredible tasty healthy fare.
While we had already savored our cocktails, we were starving! The waiter came by and presented the menus, but first took the opportunity to share the evenings specials.
Spring Rolls
Portobello Mushroom
Each of the appetizers sounded better than the next. Avocado tartare with jicama and cucumber with wild mushroom ceviche and jalapeño dressing...Candle nachos with chili-grilled seitan, tapioca cheese, tomatoes, chili, guacamole, salsa, tofu sour cream, romaine lettuce and corn chips...BBQ grilled whole wheat quesadilla with bbq seitan, sweet potato, bean purée, tapioca cheese, guacamole and salsa... We settled on the spring rolls with pickled cabbage, avocado, carrots, cucumber, apple, cilantro and tempeh wrapped in rice paper served with (not so) spicy peanut dipping sauce and one of the specials, a grilled portobello mushroom with roasted brussel sprouts over a celeraic puree. They were seriously delicious but that mushroom dish was out of this world. Rich and smoky and flavorful ~ really incredible.
Porcini Crusted Tofu
We considered the salads (another friend of mine cannot get enough of the grilled kale salad with haricot verts, beluga lentils, red onion, turnips, avocado, sunflower seeds, spelt berries and chive vinaigrette), overlooked the sandwiches and sides, and turned our attention to entrees we could share. I don't love mole, citrus-y "meat" dishes or picatta, all of which they offer, and wasn't in the mood for risotto or the spaghetti and wheatballs, so we debated between the Southern plate of barbequed seitan, macaroni & cheese, chili, sauteed greens and corn bread or the porcini crusted tofu with a celeriac purée, sautéed shallots, wild mushrooms and string beans, topped with radishes, almonds, mushroom gravy, with which we went. It was fabulous! Also very rich for a healthy dish but so satisfying, and the sauteed shallots and almonds added a nice textural backdrop to the firm tofu and the puree. That puree...I could go back just for that! If you find yourself on NYC's West Side, or can get there, go make a reservation here ~ and don't cancel!
