New York, New York – part 1

This trip was actually made back in April and while going through my picture files, I realized that it’s been already 5 months since I was there!  I can’t believe how time flies!  As I didn’t have any spectacular meal during the week, I decided to use an archive folder for this Sunday’s post!  Now, CP and I were in the City for 5 days and it was my first time there so naturally I wanted to eat EVERYTHING. Alas, my stomach can only take so much food and that is why I hand picked a few places that I MUST have. Among them was Otto.

I had read about this place forever and I wanted to try it!  I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking:

The “ticket” we got while we waited for our table.  I loved the train schedule board that indicates when your table’s ready.  A much better way for waiting on a table than the vibrating coasters.  Once we were seated, I had the hardest time deciding on what to get as I was not starving, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from sampling everything!

We started off with the Cauliflower “alla Siciliana” antipasti.  I remembered how deliciously seasoned the cauliflowers were and how I thought I could just make a meal out of this!  Along with…

A simple chopped romaine and red onion salad, simply dressed in a peppery vinaigrette.  All of it was light and perfect after a long day of exploring.

For the main course, I ordered the lasagnette with braised pork shoulder in a tomato sauce.  The pasta was cooked al dente, there were huge chunks of pork shoulders, and the sauce helped tie everything together.

CP ordered the rigatoni with escarole and sweet Italian sausage, tossed with a olive oil and garlic.  However, being the ever perspective person that I was, I knew the minute the plate came to CP’s side, he immediately was disappointed.  You see, CP prefers his pasta dishes to come with sauce, usually of the red variety and none other.  Thus, I knew this very well and without even asking if he liked it after his first couple of bites, I suggested that we switch cause I really liked his dish.  I liked both, but I knew that CP would like mine more so I traded.  I didn’t mind since his dish was actually more in tune with my tastes.  It was a win-win situation!

To wrap up the evening, we finished off with an order of gelato: hazelnut stracciatella and the coveted OLIVE OIL!!!  My word, let me tell you…once I tried olive oil gelato, it has officially become my favorite gelato flavor ever.  The nuttiness, sweet, creamy concoction is just frozen perfection!

CP made a good point while on this trip: I don’t ever travel without a food agenda or motivation.  Every move I make while traveling tends to circle around food and this is very true.  I discover a city not only through its landmarks and history, but their food as well.  Food is so deeply ingrain with every culture and given the fact that I grew up with food being always a focal point for celebrations and quality time spent with loved ones…is it such a surprise?

Eat on my friends!

OTTO
One Fifth Ave.
New York City, NY 10003