Weekly Chef And Menu Report: The Week Of January 27, 2013
Every week, we take a look at some new chefs and menus that have appeared across the country. Here's this week's roundup:
Magnolia Bakery introduces cupcakes inspired by the Super Bowl and the Oscars. The super bowl menu includes chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream, sprinkles, and football decons for $3.50 each and football-shaped devil's food whoopee pies filled with buttercream for $3.50 each. The Oscars menu includes a black tie chocolate or vanilla cupcake topped with a swirl of vanilla bean meringue buttercream and chocolate buttercream and a sprinkle of edible gold glitter for $3.50. Its "Best Picture" cupcake comes in vanilla or chocolate and is topped with vanilla buttercream and edible images with each of the Best Picture nominees.
Two of Chicago's most notable chefs, Takashi Yagihashi and Tony Mantuano are teaming up for one night to offer a special seven-course tasting dinner at Takashi, according to a press release. For a twist, the two chefs will be preparing each other's cuisine. The event costs $105 for the seven-course dinner and an optional wine pairing for $60.
Just in time for World Nutella Day on Feb. 5, Gemma at The Bowery Hotel is serving its Calzone di Nutella, a flakey calzone dusted with sweet powdered sugar and stuffed with Nutella and creamy ricotta, available for $15, according to a press release.
For those watching the Super Bowl, Bottomzup Bar & Grill offers a game day menu with food and drinks representing the teams. Super Bowl-inspired foods include Seattle staples like salmon rosemary burgers and pork belly pancakes, Denver dishes like bison sliders and ham toast, and crab rolls with wasabi tobiko, representing both team's cities.
On Valentine's Day Patsy's Italian Restaurant is offering a Valentine's Day Aphrodisiac Menu, which includes arugala salad with shaved parmesan cheese and basil vinaigrette, baked clams, and "Patsy's Passion" cocktail made with vodka, Prosecco, Chambord, and Crème de Cacao to name a few items. These specials cost $65 per person and will be available from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
La Brochette, an upscale kosher steakhouse and sushi house, will be celebrating Valentine's Day with a special Valentine's Day five-course tasting menu, according to a press release. The tasting menu consists of French onion soup, a specialty sushi roll and foie gras appetizer, a choice between lamb chops or Chilean sea bass, and a selection of desserts, paired with either a glass of wine or champagne. The Valentine's Day menu will be available on Feb. 13 as Valentine's Day falls on Shabbat.
Also for Valentine's Day, Madison & Vine at The Library Hotel offers a special three-course menu which includes a choice of appetizers, such as the Blue Point oysters, a choice of main course, such as the roasted duck breast with herbed mushroom risotto, and a choice of dessert, such as mixed sorbet and fresh berries. The special menu is available starting at 5 p.m. and costs $75 per person.
Red Rooster Harlem is launching Midnight Brunch, featuring a midnight brunch menu and cocktails and live entertainment, according to a press release. Menu highlights include a black bean and sweet potato taco or Caribbean chicken taco with napa-pineapple slaw, ancho, and charred scallion sour cream; hot wings with rooster hot sauce, buttermilk blue cheese, and pickled cucumber; and grilled skewers of short rib and chicken thigh with teriyaki sauce. And featured cocktails include "Starr Punch" with Starr African Rum, Don Q Coconut Rum, and Blackbeard Spiced Rum and "Obamatini" with crushed pepper infused aquivit, pineapple, lime, and grapefruit bitters.
We're always looking for tips about new chefs and seasonal menus, so if you think there are any that we missed, let us know!