NYCWFF: Lobster And Champagne At Gotham Bar And Grill

In spite of a recent polarizing op-ed from The New York Times titled "Brunch is for Jerks," somehow we doubt that brunch is on its last legs, especially in New York City.

This weekend during the 2014 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, there were hours' worth of brunch to day-drink and play fast and loose with the boundaries of breakfast and lunch, and that's okay with us.

On Saturday, Gotham Bar and Grill hosted a decadent "Claws and Cru" brunch, pairing seasonally-focused lobster entrees from chef Alfred Portale with the perfect Champagnes:

Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Blue Label accompanied canapés including lobster tacos and smoked salmon rillettes with golden trout roe; Maine lobster salad with golden beets, haricot verts, mango, quail egg, lemongrass aioli, and ginger foam was paired with Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Blanc de Blancs 2005; and Portale's "Tail and Claw" — butter-poached lobster with potato puree, sweet corn, sugar snaps, chanterelle mushrooms, and a Champagne-lobster emulsion — was paired with Palmes d'Or Champagne Rosé 2005.

Not once did the dining room's environment feel like "discontent [was simmering]."

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Karen Lo is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @appleplexy.