ABC Kitchen- Bonus!

ABC's kitchen dining area

I learned  about New York City's (NYC) ABC Kitchen from my pal M.  I think of  M as the consummate food enthusiast. She introduced to me to NYC's Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), the James Beard Foundation and has visited numerous venues throughout NYC. Ironically,  I met M at a dinner featuring Ktima Pavlidis wine hosted by Zaytinya.  Yes, M travels for food! I knew it was time to visit ABC Kitchen when a woman at an event I was attending talked at length about ABC Kitchen; when I mentioned that I would be in NYC for a meeting she me  urged to go to ABC Kitchen and made me promise to try the kabocha squash toast and the ice cream sandwich.

The Amtrak train arrived 25 minutes later than scheduled. This delay consumed the travel time I had factored to arrive at ABC Kitchen early, if not on time. After hurriedly disembarking the train and grabbing a taxi, I called in a panic to request that my reservation not be cancelled and OpenTable informed that I 'no showed' (watch for a future blog post about reserving tables). The woman I spoke with on the phone reassured me that as long as I was enroute to the restaurant everything would be fine. The taxi driver drove a little faster.


the mirror in ABC's kitchen

The taxi came to an abrupt stop and the driver announced that we were at my destination. I paid, collected my belongings and stepped onto the street. I didn't see the restaurant!  As I neared the sidewalk I noticed the  ABC Kitchen image on a door. I reached for the door and hurried in. Cat greeted me at the reception station. She was aware of my arrival from the train station and restated that my reservation was intact.  Cat informed me that the last seating for lunch is at 3pm (I was under the impression that the restaurant stopped serving lunch at 3pm). I was offered a choice of sitting at
the bar or in the dining room; I opted to sit at the sit at the sun filled bar. Cat  gave me a run down on the menu. and then took me on a mini tour of the restaurant. My anxiety evaporated. During the tour I found out that Cat has been with restaurant two years. She started as barista and loves working for the organization. Cat returned me to the bar where Jess, the bartender was patiently waiting for me. Cat's final words before walking away were 'don't you love the mirror?'.

Jess gave me a few minutes to study the menu. I chose: kabocha  toast, carrot salad, and raviolo.

Kabocha toast: chiffonade of basil, kabocha is savory cooked with onion,  pepper. Topped with touch of sea salt salt.  It was very good.

kabocha toat

Next was the raviolo Cat and the bartender, Jess recommended it: colorful, a hint of heat because of the red serrano pepper slices. You must like egg for this dish because once you cut into the raviolo the egg runs out.  



ravioli

I tried theCarrot salad: great colors. Nicely plated. Fresh avocado, sesame seeds,   roasted carrots are full of flavor. Delicious!

carrot salad

 

Hudson baby

There's a good drink menu option. Juices and sodas made in house. I ordered  ABC Kitchen's  Basil lime soda first. Good combination. like it.  There are lots of options on bar menu: tequilas, gins, vodkas, bourbon on hand: Maker's Nark McKenzie (rye and standard), Hudson Baby, Berkshire Mountain Rum and Berkshire bourbon from Massachusetts.  I tried Hudson Baby bourbon. It's from a NY distillery. It has an a orange, cinnamon,  and clove nose. It was smooth with just a touch of  spice.  The bartender told me name Hudson Baby's name is a reference to the bourbon being aged in 'baby' barrels.  I tried it with ABC Kitchen's ginger lime soda - good!
 
I was too full to try dessert.

The staff is so laid back. Everyone is dressed in casual attire.  The bathroom is clean and has  somewhat almost industrial appearance. ABC Kitchen  is family friendly. Easy to pass ABC kitchen.

Nearby Subway Stops. 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R at 14th St.-Union Sq.  Parking garages are nearby. Reservations are available via OpenTable.

When I informed M of my visit she asked me if I knew that Chef Dan Kluger, ABC Kitchen's chef was a 2014 James Beard Award Finalist  for Best Chef: New York City (Five Boroughs). Bonus!

Be well,
Technicolor girl