VittlesVamp

Gottino Gone Haywire

Looks like Chef Jody Williams' dispute with her business partner Michael Bull may have come to a head, with Jody looking to sell her share of the West Village gem Gottino -- exiting posthaste with the majority of the original staff in tow.

Let the mayhem ensue.

Yesterday's brunch was a mad house with a limited number of brand new staffers trying to forge ahead. Making matters worse, there wasn't a chef in sight. A valiant waitress picked up the baton (or kitchen tongs as it were) and ran with it, steaming eggs on the cappuccino machine, grilling panini and tossing salads, all-in-all trying to keep the wee Italian ship afloat.

I think I'll give it a few weeks to let them hit their stride -- and hire a chef -- before I venture back. Still, I can't help but wonder where the talented Chef Williams will appear next, with the former Gottino staff at the ready.

Smoke Monster Mac 'n Cheese

It has come at last - the end of Lost.

I am a fan. A serious fan. The type of fan that throws series premiere and series finale parties with Tiki punch, tropical-theme food and more.

The series finale required something extra special from my kitchen...

Mac n' Cheese done Smoke Monster-style, taking my favorite recipe and substituting the usual Gruyere for a Smoked Gouda to give it that smoldering je ne sais quoi that says "evil black cloud out to kill with a vengeance."

Alongside Black Rock Shrimp, Mr. Cluck's Chicken, Dharma Brownies (hippie hash not included) and a mammoth bowl of Oceanic Punch, tonight's feast will hopefully do the series culmination justice.

Let's just hope the producers do it justice too...

The French Knight Of Carroll Gardens

Who is this French knight suddenly holding court in Brooklyn's Carroll Gardens? Could it be the heroic Lancelot in an elementary school production of Camelot at P.S. 58? Sounds adorable, but non.

Our newest Kings County cavalier is none other that Chef Jean-Jacques Bernat of Provence en Boite, a charming Smith Street bistro and patisserie.

Earlier this week the restaurant paid host to a fete in Chef Bernat's honor as he won "Chevalier" status from the esteemed Ordre National du Mérite Agricole. The French Consulate and other dignitaries descended upon the rustic bistro for wine, hors d'oeuvre and revelries. But no one in the chic crowd looked more joyful than Chef Jean-Jacques himself alongside his gracious wife Leslie. They were practically beaming.

And it was at that very moment that my trusty camera decided to fail me. Mon dieu!

Thankfully, I had brought along my own knight in shining armor: my pal Grant. He quickly grabbed his iPhone and took a snapshot of the lovely couple...

So it seems we can never have too many valiant knights in Carroll Gardens.

Family Meal

Is it silly for a regular patron to volunteer to make "family meal" at a local hang? Probably. But I guess I'm inordinately friendly. And, I loved the idea of actually putting my home-based cooking skills to test in a real restaurant kitchen. (There - a bit of selfishness in the mix!)

So, after several weeks of trying to schedule, I finally arrived mid-afternoon at Cobble Hill's Watty & Meg to make family meal for the kitchen and waitstaff. My menu was very simple - Arugula Salad with a Shallot Vinaigrette and an old standby pasta, Penne with Cauliflower, Mint & Pecorino. Even with simplicity on my side though, I found navigating through a professional kitchen to be a challenge.

The stove alone was a fiery monster. I ended up relenting to let a cook slay the beast when it came to lifting a massive boiling pot of pasta to drain it in one fell swoop. (I had visions of losing grip and scalding myself. Guess I'm a delicate flower after all!)

All in all, dinner was a hit. The big winner? Dessert.

Little did I know that restaurant family meals don't usually include a sweet at the end. Still, I'm glad that I baked up two Pecan Pies (pictured above) for the occasion. The staff was ecstatic, as they lapped up every last crumb. Bringing a tear of baker's joy to my eyes, the owner's daughter insisted on having two slices, exclaiming that my pie was "packed with goodness."

I don't think reviews get much better than that.

Regardless, from now on I think I'll leave my cooking and baking endeavors to my own kitchen. Safer that way.

But if the staff at Watty & Meg are really nice to me, maybe I can be convinced to bake up a couple more Pecan Pie beauties in the future...

Rich Grabs His Tastebuds & Heads To Chicago

My friend Rich has always been a little afraid of food. OK. A lot afraid of food. Not that he doesn't eat. It's just his palate is what we might call "unsophisticated." But, with a little VittlesVamp inspiration (OK. Nudging.), Rich decided to explore the wonderful world of being a newbie foodie.

Coincidentally, at the same time he decided to pack up his tastebuds and hightail it out of New York. He up and moved to Chicago and decided that the Windy City was a mighty fine spot to take his palate out for a test-drive - solo.

He was right. So right that he just happened to walk into Avec, well before its chef, Koren Grieveson, won the James Beard Award for "Best Chef: Great Lakes." His big revelation at this hip Chi-town haunt?

Chorizo-stuffed Medjool Dates with Smoked Bacon and Piquillo Pepper-Tomato Sauce.

That's a whole lot of flavor for a fledgling foodie.

I almost wept when Rich dropped me a line to tell me about this irresistible combination of sweet and smoky. Had I tried it before? It was all so new to him.

OMG. Rich doesn't need me anymore. He can find fine eats on his own now. I think my newbie foodie is growing up.

I'm so freakin' proud!

Philly Italian-Style

When I venture to the City of Brotherly Love to pay call on Mama Vamp there is no question that culinary engagement will occur. My last trip though, had a distinct focus -- Italy. Mama Vamp wanted to feel like we'd hit Rome without jumping on a 7 hour flight.

Done!

First stop was 13th Street's Zavino for a lunch consisting of a board of antipasti complete with olives, roasted peppers, salumi, and more, alongside a genius pizza topped with tiny veal meatballs and sharp provolone (pictured above). The service was slow, but friendly. The crisp, ever so slightly charred, bubbly pizza made up for it all, especially when accompanied by a couple of glasses of vino.

Still, that wasn't enough Italiano for Mama Vamp. In a desperate need to replay our glorious introduction to Chef Marc Vetri's Amis, we sidled up to a table once more. This dinner was a bit different, kicking off with a salad of Fava Beans and Peas with Ricotta Salata, followed by a tongue-wagging worthy dish of Fried Lambs Tongue with Salsa Rossa. We couldn't resist the Gnocchi Alla Romana with Oxtail Ragu, but it was the plate of Guinea Hen Leg Saltimbocca with Prosciutto and Sage that drew oohs and aahs...

The meal was every bit as meraviglioso as our last visit, if not more so.

So, did Mama Vamp get her Italian fill? For the moment.

That said, I have a strange feeling that I better save up to take her on that 7 hour flight to Rome soon. And, until then, we have Philadelphia. Thank goodness.