Sunday, December 5th, 2010—Bar 329
Day 329—Saturday, December 4th, 2010
Craft
Live, from New York, it’s Cheeseburger Saturday Night! Starring Craft Restaurant and the ready for prime beef player, Marty Wombacher. Ladies and gentlemen...Craft!
Okay, last Thursday I met the head bartender at Craft restaurant and he invited me to bring the bar crawl by. Since it's only about three blocks from where I live, I thought it would be a handy place to spend Cheeseburger Saturday Night. Goddamn, it's getting cold out here.
I had no idea that Panty and Mini Dog were in jail, but I agree, free them immediately!
And here we are, I told you it was close by.
These two lovely ladies greeted me at the door. From left: Reine and Rosa. They pointed me in the direction of the bar.
Which is right here. Wow, it's crowded for 6pm on a Saturday night, but I spy one empty seat.
And here's Sean, on the other side of the bar tonight!
Fabricio is the other bartender on duty for this evening.
Karen and Mike were seated next to me. They were in town for the weekend from Boston.
There's tables opposite the bar to dine at.
A giant Christmas tree stands in the dining room, but I'm walking into bars not dining rooms, so let me get back to my environment.
Aaahhh, that's more like it!
A shot of the lit up bottles behind the bar.
Sean's a master mixologist, so I told him to pick the cocktails for the evening.
The first one is called "The Firefly" because it involves...FIRE!
I believe this is an orange peel Sean is grilling.
Sean adds some finishing touches to the drink.
And Karen took a picture of me drinking it. Delicious and loaded with booze!
And Sean wastes no time in starting drink number two.
This one's called, "The Venetian." I'm not sure why it's called that, maybe because if you drink too many you'll get blind drunk? (Rimshot.) (Sorry about that, I just couldn't help myself.)
These drinks are all Sean's inventions by the way.
And here it is, "The Venetian." It tastes even better than it looks.
Mike and Karen have left and these two ladies have taken their spot at the bar. Let's say hi to them.
Hello! It's Rebecca and Patty. Rebecca is looking for an apartment in Manhattan and it turns out her friend Patty lives about two blocks from me. Howdy, neighbor!
For my dinner drink, Sean suggested this beer. Who am I to say no? Bring it on!
The beer was great. It had a smoky taste to it and I told Sean it was kind of like drinking a cook-out.
Speaking of cook-outs, dinner is served! I know it's Cheeseburger Saturday Night, but sadly there's not a cheeseburger on the menu. Happily though, there is beef short ribs. I also got an order of gnocchi. They were both delicious and this shitty photo doesn't do the food justice. I need Clacky back to take the food shots!
Burp!
But dinner isn't over yet, Sean brought me some ice-cream on the house!
As well as this chocolate and mini tarts. Looks like I'll be waddling home.
And Sean sets to work on one more drink for the road, a "Ramos Gin Fizz."
Shake...
Shake...
Shake!
The well-shook drink is poured into a tall glass.
And Sean serves it up.
And it's...delicious! Thanks to Sean for making the night a great one on the old bar crawl! Goodnight, everybody!
Review
Since I’m a bar reviewer and not a restaurant reviewer I thought it would be unfair for me to review Craft. Plus it’s a good excuse to slack on this Sunday afternoon, so here’s a review of Craft by Adam Platt from New York Magazine. The place is a critics pick by New York magazine and they rate it four stars. After having eaten there, I wholeheartedly agree!
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Tom Colicchio is a fanatic for the integrity of fresh ingredients and simplicity in cooking, and this much-discussed, much-imitated restaurant is the extreme, almost priestly expression of his views. You may not like the conceit of building your meal one spare ingredient at a time (many food aristocrats actively hate it), but there’s no denying the quality of Colicchio’s sweet day-boat scallops or bluefoot mushrooms lovingly foraged in the piney forests of Oregon. Craft gets four stars for its huge influence on the way restaurant meals are conceived, presented, and eaten in this new Greenmarket era, and also for Jennifer McCoy’s impeccable desserts—toffee-steamed pudding bombed with fresh-made rum-raisin ice cream—which are the best in town. — Adam Platt
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Craft
43 E. 19th St. (Near Park Ave. South)
212-780-0880
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Okay, Al mentioned Warren Zevon in a comment, so what better excuse to throw up a Warren Zevon song? This song has one of my favorite Warren Zevon lines in it: "And if California slides into the ocean, like the mystics and statistics say it will, I predict this motel will be standing, until I pay my bill." Genius!
19 Comments
Reader Comments (19)
Goddamn, those are some tasty looking drinks! Nice to see you have a cocktail night for a change. And I agree that Panty and Mini Dog need to be free! LOL!
Sean seems to put a lot of 'Craft'smanship into everything he serves, and I just bet you waddled out of there....either that or Sean and the girls had to roll you up to your doorstep. Craft has a high end look to it...how were the prices?
@Jaws: It is a high end place, but the prices weren't too bad. I still have enough dough for tonight's bar! You can check out the prices and the menu at their website.
I love those "shake" shots! I'm glad you got such a fantastic dining experience, but I am so jealous I didn't get to come along! I looked at the menu last week when you met Sean & Co. on the Crawl and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it ever since. Clacky photos or not, that food (and those drinks) look tasty! TO CRAFT!
P.S. Good luck on the apartment hunt, Rebecca!
When panties and mini dogs are free, only trouble follows. Sean looks very nice all dressed up. Glad to see he can be trusted with fire. Free ice cream is always welcome, and the chocolate and tarts looked very yummy.
@Biff: Don't worry, we'll hit this place on your next visit. TO CRAFT!
@kari: "When panties and mini dogs are free, only trouble follows." Ha ha ha! How true!
@Everyone: "Boris's" Secret Weapon Show is on till 4pm on Woody Radio, check it out here: http://www.woodyradio.com/
FREE Mini Dog and Panty! Woo Hoo!
Cool looking place.
You could make a "Flip Book" with Sean's Shaking and Pouring Prowess.
Not many "Cheeseburger" nights left now!
You're on the Home Stretch Brother!
A fine job as always!
@"Boris:" Thanks, Daddio! I'm listening to your Secret Weapon Show right now! Great show and tunes! Everyone check it out here: http://www.woodyradio.com/
"The Firefly" looked like an excellent drink as did those short ribs. YUM.
Im late posting because I went to Naples today,,,Florida not Italy,,,,Ok,,,,Sean can make a mean cocktail and anyone notice his perfect hair? not a strand was shaken loose,,,,now we need Werewolf's of London,,,,"his hair was perfect",,,,Warren Zevon,,,,RIP.
@365: I'd be happy to be 365 Food Photographer but the food has to be as good as this EVERY night!!
Good call. Great stop. I love making gnocci. It's a bit of work but well worth it. Free Dessert! is it because you're a charismatic enigma or just looking for a free dessert?
Free Dog and Panty!!! Free them NOW!!
To Sean!!
Sean is King. He's the type of guy you'd invite to a booze a' thon.
@Clacky: I agree: TO SEAN!
wow....where does one start?....well hell's bells jaws if it looks upscale smells upscale and has a menu that adds up to upscale it's upscale oh yeah was that you doing text koroke last nite?...jesus a place that did not have a fuckin' cheeseburger...god they could have sumthing called a le royle with cheese or cheese with imagination or sumthing added a $20 or $30 tag on it and moved on...sean's drinks (after a few) might have made up for it...KOC
rr
To all that said nice things!! Thank you and I'd be more than happy to treat you to a BOOZE'A'THON!!! Or maybe a few well made cocktails at my bar. To Marty, Thank you for stopping by. I was wondering if you were gonna. When I told you we didn't have any burgers you seemed kinda skeptical. I offered a cheese course after the Bodacious short ribs. Kinda like a cheese burger but not at all... All pieces were there, i guess. Anyway. Thanks for coming in. It was truly my pleasure. I dine and drink vicariously through my guests. And I left FULL and with a good BUZZ that night. To all who want some nice cocktails... Come by and visit. Im there every day but Wednesday and Thursday. Hope to see you soon.
PS: I have a few more FIRE drinks up my sleeve. AND THEY TASTE GOOD!!!!!
-SEAN
AND BY THE WAY.... YOU WANT CHEESE WITH IMAGINATION... STOP BY AND ASK ME FOR IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS... Its pretty cool i promise.
@Sean...Like I said before, mate, you are the King! I'm pretty sure we passed Craft on our NY Voyage but didn't make it in because of the other million options available to us. Now that I'm back home in OZ you're winning fans globally! Maybe Marty could pass on your email and we can talk food and booze. 2 of my favourite things.
sean...no offense man...ask anyone whatever i posted was just another failed attempt of being a wise ass and most likely success at just being an ass...KOC
rr
@Sean: Thanks for the hospitality and great night, a good time was had by all and the drinks and food were wonderful!
@raginrr: No worries and keep on commenting!
None taken at all I meant it all in good spirit! Our cheese program is pretty dope! Come check it out. Hope to see you all soon.