A Full Belly

behind the scenes at shake shack

NYC Shake Attack: Behind the Scenes at Shake Shack. Andrea Strong of The Strong Buzz worked at Danny Meyer's Madison Square Park outpost for a day and kept a journal:

10 a.m. The staff arrives. Gary Burkhart, a soft-spoken guy with rosy cheeks, is setting up all the mix-ins for the concretes, warming the caramel sauce and hot fudge, filling whipped cream canisters with heavy cream and powdered sugar, and dumping quarts of milk in the milk machine. Just before 11 a.m., he puts on a neck-to-knee plastic apron that resembles a giant tarp. As I will learn later, the custard station is a merciless war zone of milk, hot fudge, and frozen custard. Protective gear is essential to survive.

I haven't been to the Shake Shack yet this year (a travesty I know, and one I'm working on fixing) but I did go shortly after it first opened in 2004, you can read my review (and see my photos!) from then.

Casa Mono and Bar Jamón

Walking down Irving Place earlier today, I took a few photos of Casa Mono and Bar Jamón, the soon to be opened and newly opened ventures of Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich. Not surprisingly, preliminary reviews have been very positive.

Casa Mono, 52 Irving Place
Bar Jamón, 125 E 17th St., (212) 253-2773

NYTimes on Casa Mono and Bar Jamón:

With BAR JAMÓN, 125 East 17th Street, MARIO BATALI and JOSEPH BASTIANICH have turned their attention to Spain. Diners at tall counter-style tables can choose from a menu of about two dozen tapas, like tender calamari on a toasted baguette, two kinds of Spanish ham (jamón) and anchovies on a bed of chorizo-flavored bread crumbs. Mr. Batali and Mr. Bastianich, both of Babbo and Otto fame, have the chef ANDY NUSSER preparing the dishes next door at CASA MONO, another new spot of theirs that is opening in a week or so at 52 Irving Place. Casa Mono will have a more elaborate menu of small plates, and seats at 20 tables and 2 bars. Unlike Bar Jamón, it will eventually accept reservations.

(A very large and legible version of the menu is here.)

NYMetro on Casa Mono and Bar Jamón.

Gotham Gal had a few bites of things to come at Casa Mono.

Sustenance declares Bar Jamón "tiny but fantastic."

Chowhound reviews of Bar Jamón: (1) and (2)

Gramercy Park Deli and Grille

The Gramercy Park Deli and Grille recently reopened under new management. We're always happy to give our business to the local guy, and have been by a couple of times for sandwiches -- it's your typical neighborhood deli fare. We couldn't help but notice the glaring new banner that went up this weekend, "STOP! COME IN! WE WILL TOSS YOUR SALAD!" That certainly is one way to increase to store traffic.

Bao Noodles

Last night we paid a visit to the just opened Bao Noodles (391 Second Avenue, near 23rd St). It was very much a first week open experience -- inexperienced server, no liquor license yet, appetizer arrived afterour entrees, etc. But that's all to be expected. We had sugarcane shrimp, spicy beef stew and rice noodle soup, and crispy whole snapper with tamarind sauce. Overall, Bao Noodles is a great addition to the neighborhood, and we looking forwarding to visiting again in a few weeks to explore the menu further.

Choice

More on Choice (220 Park Ave. South) at Digital City:

Executive chef Michael Navarro cooks up New American bistro food, tailoring the menu to patrons' personal tastes (hence the name.) Ideally, diners select from both small and larger dishes to create their ideal meal. Navarro has tried hard to anticipate every sort of craving: tuna tartare, a salad of smoked duck with grilled asparagus, risotto, mac 'n' cheese, grilled whole fish -- even mom's potato salad makes his list. For midnight snackers, a late-night menu is served until 4AM.