This is without a doubt, one of the most ingenious ideas to get New Yorker’s eating and considering real estate at the same time. The James Beard House in partnership with Stonehenge residential hosted residents, the public as well as James Beard house members to its first ever “Moveable Feast” event. Apartment hopping, eating, drinking and meeting some of NYC’s top chefs.
I fashioned it to a scavenger hunt, except the treasure in question was a multitude of tastes, treats and drinks and even celebrity spotting (Tyra Banks was there, trying to look incognito – no such luck). I was happy to be there, as a member and resident of the Olivia, a Stonehenge residential in midtown. The staff at Stonehenge has a knack for making you feel like family and this event was the cherry on top.
Apartment A (Sushi Samba – Corporate Chef Fernando Navas)
A refreshing flute of champagne in hand, I proceeded to the first apartment, room quiet, a musician playing a Ryuteki, a traditional japanese flute and rooms turned into make shift serving stations with wine and food.
I had more than on helping of the Plum-Sake Cured Foie Gras, ridiculously delicious, literally melts in your mouth. Second sampling was Hiramasa Crudo with Heirloom Tomato, Yuzu and Olive oil – tart with a tender texture.
Apartment B (Blue Smoke Battery Park City – Chef de Cuisine Jeffery Held)
Mississippi Delta Tamales with Smoked Berkshire Pork and Roasted Chilli Sauce; not the best use of chilli sauce I must say. I was hoping it would be spicier, the smoky taste as well as the semi-sweet flavours, combined with the succulent pork saved the dish. Washed it down with a glass of beer, Stella Artois, solid!
Apartment C (Chef/Partner Luis Gonzalez – Bourgeois Pig)
Two glasses of red wine later (as memory serves it was an elegant full bodied Sangiovese, can’t recall name) I waddled into a dimly lit two bedroom apartment with a killer view. Cheese and seafood fondue set up in ceramic bowls with an assortment of grilled vegetables and bread, for everyone to dip and taste.
Il San Marino – Plymouth Gin With Lemon Juice, Galliano, Austrain Pear Liquer and Chamapagne – wicked! Talk about packing a punch, it does that and then some – a cocktail for warriors not the faint-hearted (as evidenced by my quick descent into questionable dancing moves after two drinks).
Lovely James Beard House patrons in attendance & doing the feed each other dance - cute.
Apartment D : (JBird cocktails – Chef Ricky Garayua)
Pork Sliders with cider slaw and drippings – Quail egg has never looked so good draped over juicy shredded pork with a well executed slaw on a bun. Flavourful, succulent and a compliment to the JBird cocktails – merci beaucoup very muscly, mixologists Jason Littrell and Marshall Altier.
Apartment E (Chef Luz Martinez, Pampano ; Chef Nicholas Kayser, Zengo)
Loving the edge that comes with drinking and eating so much that it almost feels like I am navigating through a maze; I forged ahead with the strength and stamina, that can only be attributed to super human powers. Albondigas – Beef and Pork meatballs with Tomato – Chipotle sauce, a divine meatball that was too perfect for words. Second dish, Empanada Vegetariano with Oaxaca cheese and Mango Curry Salsa. I didn’t get to snag a picture of the empanadas but I can tell you, they tasted great, crunchy yet soft.
RP Lounge (Pastry Chef Zac Young; Flex Mussels)
Miniature peanut butter cupcakes that make you swoon. Again, missed photo op – they were gone in a flash, that good ladies and gentlemen.
A grand night, with friends in attendance, meeting new people as well as getting well deserved drinks and thrills after a long work day. The Moveable Feast is here to stay folks, look out for future dates here. The city that never sleeps, always has something to offer its equally insomniac residents.
