THE ART OF TRAVEL
A chef’s guide to the most delectable slice of the Big Apple: Manhattan on a platter.
Five travellers share stories close to their hearts
When I think of a city I think of the scents, the sights, the sounds, the grit, the grime—the hustle and bustle of all of this coming together. What I love most about Manhattan is that in certain restaurants, one can taste the flavour of the city in the food. The sounds of the farmers’ market, the seasonal vegetables, the challenges of weather and overcoming them to deliver delicious food to you, the energy, the fashion, the edgy sense of style, the brusque mannerisms, the art—these are the things that typically spell Manhattan for me. New York City is a city unlike any other when it comes to dining. Where should you eat when you’re in Manhattan? The options are endless. The food often most rarified. It is the city where people come to enjoy cutting edge cuisine. It is where people go to spend money as lavishly as one can imagine. Manhattan is Manhattan, and all other cities seem to be playing catch-up with it and its happenings. And where do Manhattanites eat? We eat in restaurants tested by time, consistency, critics and our taste buds. We appreciate quality. We know value like few other people. It matters little how fancy a place looks; unafraid to spend money, we aren’t fools either. We would much rather pay less and eat better food than lounge amid the luxury interiors of a fancy restaurant and eat rubbish. Here are some restaurants that just about any New Yorker, including me would visit with pride and joy. They have lines of people waiting to dine at their storied tables.
RedFarm
With locations in the West Village and the Upper West Side, RedFarm is an inspired modern Chinese restaurant that redefines this beloved cuisine. The brainchild of Chinese food expert and legendary restaurateur Ed Schoenfeld together with executive chef Joe Ng, RedFarm combines a farm-to-table sensibility with fine-dining ingredients and a dedication to innovation that both surprises and delights its guests. Signature dishes include Katz’s Pastrami Egg Roll, “Pac Man” Shrimp Dumplings, Benton’s Bacon & Egg Fried Rice, Grilled Marinated Creekstone Prime Rib Steak and more. Beverage director Shawn Chen presides over the restaurant’s equally inventive cocktail programme. www.redfarmnyc.com Price for one $75