Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
Skál, what a strange word, except if you speak old norse where it means "cheers". It also means little bowl, representing the concept of small dishes to share that compose the menu and are even present in the decor.
Skál is where Tabélog organized a meet and greet event for the bloggers who are actively participating in the content of the site. I think it is great as it brings food lovers together. It was also the occasion for their CEO, Kenta, to announce the expansion of the site to other states like California (congrats!!!). There, I had a nice evening talking with Lord of the Fork, Cutie Patroller, The Restaurant Fairy, Lea_K and Johnny Prime. There, food was more photographed than people and they conveniently set all the dishes in an area so we could take our time to take a pic.
So, Skál is a Scandinavian restaurant located in the limit of Chinatown, where Chef Ben Spiegel (who worked at Noma in Copenhagen) crafted an original menu using products locally sourced.
I also spoke with one of the owners, Christophe, a fellow Frenchman, who talked to me, with passion, about the restaurant and their future projects to expand it. I got a tour of the facility and could not miss the large selection of wines in the basement. They propose 27 wines from 12 different countries that they source at small producers all around the world, as well as beers from Iceland that are not that easy to find in the city.
It is a small place with an interesting decor considering the raven (not to mistake for a crow) that sits on top of the bar. It is not that they are fans of Game Of Thrones, but because the raven is the emblem of Iceland.
Food wise, we got a nice sampling of their menu. Here is what they served us:
Well fleet oysters served with a versus and chamomile:
Long Island duck wings with mussels and red seaweed:
Heirloom carrots prepared with burnt honey, buttermilk and dill:
Beef tartare served with fermented ramps, little neck clams and Sorrel:
Salt cod croquettes with a horseradish remoulade:
Smoked mackerel served in an onion with whey and foie gras:
Scandinavian donut with vanilla cream:
This was a very exquisite sampling, some of the dishes being truly original. I wonder if the duck / seaweed and mackerel / foie gras dishes were not a take on surf and turf! If it was: chapeau. If it wasn't: chapeau.
After this event, I am looking forward to go back to Skál.
Thanks to Tabélog and Skál for this wonderful evening!
Enjoy (I did)!
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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!
| * Restaurant Name | |
|---|---|
| Skál | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Chinatown / Scandinavian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 37 Canal St., New York, NY 10002 | |
| * Phone | |
| (212) 777-7518 |
