My affection for New York is profound. Due to business obligations, I’ve had the privilege to reside in the city for a short term. I have taken this opportunity to explore its rich gastronomical landscape. The cosmopolitan lifestyle the city promotes truly captivates me. The city reflects an amalgamation of cultures, traditions, tastes, viewpoints, aesthetics, noises, religions, and passions. You can embrace and express your true self, at least within the boundaries of this urban landscape, without fear of unsolicited judgments or hushed commentary.
Every time I travel to New York, I am impacted by the unwavering spirit of positivity and encouragement. In my routine life, I consistently attempt to mirror this same spirit. The city exudes an aura that there’s always a solution for every issue. People here encourage higher goals and celebrate accomplishments. New Yorkers always anticipate a better day ahead. This resilient optimism resonates brightly within the demanding hospitality industry, even if it seems to be standing on unstable footing.
The city houses a few longstanding friends of mine, who are there for me anytime I need them, to catch up or to provide pointers for the city.
Among these friends is Michael Brogan, an acquaintance of mine. He has a staggering resume, having worked at multiple highly-acclaimed restaurants, be it in Dublin or New York. He played the role of the chef during my honeymoon at David Chang’s celebrated restaurant, Momofuku Ko, which had been his place of work for nearly a decade.
Brogan’s intimate knowledge of the area is astonishing. He’s just as capable as any map when it comes to navigating Manhattan. I don’t recall having any disappointing dining experiences with him or following his recommendations. Therefore, on one particular night, I was in search of a dining spot for dinner with my mother and sister-in-law. We were utterly exhausted from the whirlwind tour led by my energetic mother and the festivities from the celebration last night.
I glance over at the map, and shoot a message to Brogan: “In the Nolita district, in search of authentic Italian pasta, moderately priced, casual ambiance, any suggestions?” Not even two minutes later, Brogan offers three options, all within a brisk 20-minute walk from our hotel.
Our first two choices were fully occupied, but we managed to secure a spot at the third one. As we entered through a narrow alley, a cheery face welcomed us and guided us to our seats. The room was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It resembled a cross between Hogwarts and a rain forest, enlightened with thousands of tiny, dancing candles. Grand wooden tables, reminiscent of a gothic era, inhabiting the room along with a visible kitchen holding a roaring wood-fired oven at the far end.
Our dining experience was outstanding, an amalgamation of simple yet hearty Italian culinary skills accentuated with the smokiness of woodfire and the perfect balance of seasoning.
This week’s recipe selection is inspired by our experience at Nolita. The first recipe has been developed around the main dish we had that night. Rosetta pasta, an intriguing process that involves enveloping meat or veggies in large soft sheets of pasta, later slicing them to mimic the shape of a rose. The pasta is then generously draped with a cheesy sauce, sprinkled with veggies and fired in an oven, optional wood-fire for enhanced flavors. In this case, I’ve chosen to go with short rib of beef and Parmesan.
The second recipe is a more contemporary “Italian” delicacy comprising of pork mince engulfed in a rich tomato sauce. Interestingly, a dash of vodka is quite a trend in this preparation, many suggesting it brings out the sweetness of the tomatoes in the sauce. I’m not entirely sold on this idea, but one thing’s for sure, it’s absolutely delicious and easy to replicate at home.
Recipe: Oven-baked rosetta pasta with beef short rib, Parmesan and root vegetables.