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Thursday, March 20, 2008

La Sirene Redux

To celebrate the reasonable score of 600 on the GMAT, 312 boyfriend took me out to one of favorites La Sirene on Broome. It had been a while since we had visited Chef Didier and he was as vivacious as ever. Fleeting around the small space, acting as host, waiter and chef. It is inspiring to see what can be done in such a small space by a dedicated and talented chef.

We started out with the special Octopus Salad which was marinated in olive oil, tomatoes and saffron. The octopus had the satisfying chew but was by no means tough and the saffron complimented the Mediterranean influence in the dish. We let that influence the rest of the meal, sharing our plates like tapas.

I gambled on a rich stew of monkfish with mushroom, red wine and bacon. It was so satisfying on the chilly night. Many fishes could have been overwhelmed by such a thick and hearty sauce, but the monkfish is not called the poor man's lobster for no reason. It held up well, retaining it's texture and fish flavor against the salt and smoke of the bacon. My only wish was that there were more potatoes in the stew so that I could have eaten more of the delicious sauce!

Octavio had a whole stuffed black sea bass. We have had the stuffed fish at La Sirene and it is always satisfying. Crammed full of thyme and pan roasted, served with the sides du jour the whole fish was excellent.

Using us as guinea pigs, Chef Didier presented us with a new dessert. Frequent readers know that I have a soft spot for sweets and love to bake, so this was a welcome treat! He touted it as having an Americanized flavor with maple syrup, but I think that if it were truly American it would have been sweeter and suffered for it. Apples and blueberries baked in a modified crepe dough with a hint of the maple served with home made raspberry sorbet, the clafouti was a perfect finisher, not to sweet, not to tart. Finishing the meal with espressos from the new machine, we left La Sirene happy and full!

This week Frank Bruni gave La Sirene one star! Congratulations, La Sirene! Here's to hoping that we can still get reservations for 312 square feet! Bruni Really captured the atmosphere of the cozy (NYC code for small) yet vibrant bistro. Read the NY Times review.

1 comment:

DRAKE said...

Great review of a place I keep meaning to try and have been invited to last week but declined. DAMN!