In my non-stop food adventure in New York last weekend, one of my absolute favorite stops was a long, leisurely lunch at Mario Batali’s Casa Mono. If you didn’t think he was already king of New York with all his restaurants scattered around, after eating at Casa Mono you will be convinced. I have been wanting to go here for years, but always heard the wait for a table was horrific. They take reservations so planning ahead is key. It didn’t seem all that busy the day we went at 1:30pm on a Friday, but for dinner you will definitely need a reservation.

 

 

 

Spanish tapas are among my favorite meals. I also love dim sum and sushi.  What these foods all have in common is that you get a series of several small plates. There will be absolutely no food envy. Everyone shares everything and going with four people is perfect so you can try a lot of items.

 

The server told us about 8-12 items was good for a four-top. We, of course, all picked about three or four things and we ended on 11 total items. We were, sadly, unable to finish so I think the next time a couple less dishes would be smarter.

 

The house cava- appropriately named, Cava Mono next to some fabulous Balenciaga Sunglasses.

 

Here’s what we had.  They brought it out in three separate courses. I thought the dish combinations they brought out were perfect. We happened to polish off a bottle of Cava Mono with every course.  Do the math.

 

 

yummy frissee salad with little crumbled orange almonds that added nice texture 

 

fine dining fish sticks 

 

best fried calamari I have had in ages 

 

First Course:

Ensalada Mono with Manchego

Bacalao Croquetas with Orange Alioli 

Calamares Fritos

 

Duck egg with mojama.  i love saying that word.  it also came with shaved black truffles 

 

 

There are juicy clams hiding under this nest of noodles (fideo) 

 

Pork and beans- Spanish Tapas style  

piggy of us to order 2 kinds of croquetas. oink.

Second Course:

Pig’s Feet Croquetas with Green Tomatoes

Duck Egg with Mojama (dried tuna loin)

Pork Belly Fabada with Horseradish

Fideos with Chorizo and Clams  (fideo=noodles)

 

A spring special on the current menu: soft shell crab and meyer lemon, match made in Catalan heaven

 

minty ‘chokes - this gives me ideas for the home kitchen…

 

stacked meat. an all time favorite though a tad overcooked.

 

Chorizo, bacon in the Spanish taste world, flavored these mussels along with yet some more cava. yum. 

 

Third Course:

Skirt Steak with Onion Mermelada

Mussels with Cava and Chorizo

Soft Shell Crab with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette

Artichokes with Mint

 

Dessert: Crema Catalana con Buñuelos (Burnt Vanilla Custard)

with batter fried sugar coated fresh bay leaves.

 

Beautiful fresh bay leaves that were batter dipped and fried, then coated with sugar as a garnish. tasted like a hot, fresh churro. Don’t eat the leaf.

 

Among my favorite dishes were the mussels, the artichokes, the calamares, and the croquetas. Oh and the softshell crab. Did I leave anything out? The only dish I will say anything bad about was the skirt steak. It was a bit over cooked to my liking. My experience with beef in restaurants of this caliber is, if they don’t ask how you want it cooked, it comes rosey or medium rare. This was unfortunately not the case.

 

We worked off our food intake by taking the train up to Barney’s where we happened to spy Grace Coddington of Vogue Magazine on the ground floor. She’s pretty hard to miss with the milk white complexion and fire red hair. We proceeded to the shoe department and all left with a pair of fabulous designer shoes. Of course this re-telling is much quicker than our actual decision making process.

 

This day was pure perfection for me. All things so very wallFlour: good food, good company, good design, good shopping. 

 

Good times.