Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza in NYC, New York
Food and wine are two components that, with good company, contribute in making a meal a great experience. So, when a renown wine maker celebrates 80 years of wine making with a celebrity Chef, you can expect an amazing experience. And it is what I witnessed at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel. I admit that I did not know when I arrived that Chef Todd English would be there and was surprised to see him talking to his staff when I entered in the restaurant. That place is beautiful, spacious, with a bit of a brasserie feel. I also liked the fact that there is lots of light in there, so you can see what you are eating and appreciate the work of the kitchen staff in preparing beautiful and colorful dishes.
Chef Todd English at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza in NYC, New York
Open kitchen at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza in NYC, New York
Dining room at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza in NYC, New York
Table at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza in NYC, New York
Table at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza in NYC, New York
Table at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza in NYC, New York
Before I talk about the food, let's talk about the star of the show: the Cesari Amarone wine. The Cesari company was founded in 1936 by Gerardo Cesari, producing wine in the province of Verona in Italy. More precisely, in the Valpolicella and Lugana viticultural zones.
Cesari Amarone Classico bottles
Cesari Amarone corks
Present at the event was Alessandra Marino, Brand Manager for Cesari, who talked about wine with such passion.
Alessandra Marino, Brand Manager at Cesari
We tried two of Cesari's wines: the Classico and the Reserva. First was the Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2012, their flagship wine that has a long and persistent finish, with a bouquet characterized by cherry and prune aromas.
Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2012
But my favorite was the Cesari Bosan Riserva 2007. This full-bodied wine has a complex bouquet, layered with red cherry and spice aromas. I very often go for Pinot Noir because you can find some of these characteristics, but admit that this was a revelation and for a Frenchman to admit it is a big step...that I am ready to take!
Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella Bosan Riserva 2007
Perfectly paired with the wine was a meal specially prepared by Chef Todd English who gratified us by his presence along the evening, talking about his love for food, but also to please the crowd with it, also showing some true passion for what he is doing.
Chef Todd English
Chef Todd English
We started off the meal with some antipasti. On one side of the table were some salumi:
Salumi at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Ham at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Spicy sausage at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Speck at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
And on the other side, some veggies and cheese:
Vegetables and cheese at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Olives at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Pickled beets at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Eggplant spread at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Artichokes at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Parmigiana at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Then came some fantastic dishes paired with the Cesari Classico:
Fried oysters, served with caviar, mascarpone, lemon and micro cilantro.
Fried oysters at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Fried oyster at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Squid Ink Cavatelli with crab ragu and tobiko (a bit of Japanese twist):
Squid Ink Cavatelli at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Squid Ink Cavatelli at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Roast squash agrodolce with mascarpone and shiitake:
Roast squash agrodolce at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Roast squash agrodolce at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Then we switched to the Cesari Bosan Riserva and got:
Risotto tater tots with beef tartare:
Risotto tater tots with beef tartare at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Risotto tater tots with beef tartare at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Fig and prosciutto pizza:
Fig and prosciutto pizza at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Fig and prosciutto pizza at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Short rib ravioli with a mozzarella fondue:
Short rib ravioli with mozzarella fondue at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Polenta amatriciana, grilled octopus and saffron aioli:
Polenta at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
Polenta at Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel, NYC, New York
This was great dinner and the wine was fantastic. I am glad that I was able to learn about Cesari Amarone and will definitely consider this wine moving forward. As for Todd English Food Hall, this meal made me want to go back for sure!
Enjoy (I did)!
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