Try as I might to avoid Coupledoom, at times I find myself suffering from the nasty side effects of a long-term relationship. These include—but are not limited to—large, unsightly butt imprints in my couch cushions, overdoses of Chinese take-out and a hefty cable bill from renting too many movies On Demand. Not one to be held down, I often make it my mission to ensure that being one half of a pair doesn’t leave my favorite sex-kitten stilettos lying in my closet collecting dust.
When I recently set out to plan a date night for my other half and me, I wanted to find the perfect middleground between nights spent on the couch watching bad TV and nights that end with me stumbling past the doorman at 4 a.m. with a bag of McDonalds in hand. After polling my crew of NYC foodies and scouring the Internet, I decided that dinner would be at the new East Village eatery Degustation. Next to buying my first pair of Choos, this was perhaps the best decision I have made in my entire adult life.
Degustation is tiny. It seats only 19 patrons at a time around an open kitchen where Chef Wesley Genovart and his crew of three to four sous chefs work their magic. Reservations are a must, and I recommend arriving a little early. However, even if you are forced to wait a while, it is worth it—and, odds are, the owner will hook you up with a glass or two of one of the spot’s spectacular wines.
Once you take your seat, the server (yep, Degustation only has one) greets you. In what should be chaos, she manages to maintain an air of complete and utter relaxation, expertly guiding diners through each dish, its particular nuances and an uncannily perfect personalized wine selection. Each and every selection on Degustation’s tasting menu is like a small piece of performance art borne of Genovart’s serene touch. The small servings dance a lively waltz upon entering the mouth. My faves: the potato croquetas and the absolutely divine lamb loin. By the time the ahort rib-stuffed squid hits the table, you will truly think you’ve died and gone to heaven. I, for one, have vowed to return again and again until I work my way through the entire menu. For those trying to save a few bones for drinks later in the evening, Degustation offers a ridiculously reasonable prix fixe of five courses plus dessert that runs $50 and easily satisfies two people.
More than two hours passed as we sat and enjoyed our meal. When it was time to leave, I felt as relaxed as if I had just had a hot stone massage. Yes, it’s that good. To continue this perfect night, we tipsily tippy-toed a few blocks over to Veniero’s Bakery for dessert. Veniero’s is famous for rich desserts, coffee cocktails and a late-night crowd. Those who arrive past 11 p.m. will likely encounter a long line, but it moves quickly. And, once you dig in to your first forkful of chocolate chip cheesecake, the rest of the world melts away.
Another 45 minutes and a few clanks from our Irish Coffees, my boyfriend and I left Veniero’s. I don’t know if it was the wine or the food that left us so giddy, but we practically skipped all the way home. Perhaps it was just the sheer joy that comes with one of those perfect NYC nights. Either way, somewhere shortly after midnight we floated off to dreamland listening to the sounds of the city, happy that we had neither spent another night indoors nor let an entire evening pass us by in a haze of loud music and vodka. Sometimes it just doesn’t get any better than good wine, a great meal and a slice of old fashioned New York Cheesecake.
Degustation
239 E 5th St
New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 979-1012
Venieros
342 E 11th St
New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 674-7070
Degustation Image taken by Noah Kalina from Eater.com
1 comment:
Great article!!!!
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