Total Decadence: Harvest in the Square

So tonight I went to a food/wine tasting event called Harvest in the Square, which benefits Union Square. For Non-New Yorkers, let me say that Union Square — besides being a huge central point in my old neighborhood (where I still own an apartment) — has been a focal point for a lot of recent happenings in NYC. After September 11, it became a hub for people to express and share their grief about the tragic events. During the recent Republican National Convention, it became a focal point for protestors and unconventional art exhibitions.

Anyway, it was obviously a night of uninhibited munching for me, but I did feel like my eating had changed. First of all, I completely passed up things I didn’t find extremely interesting. Second, I didn’t feel compelled to eat every bite of every thing. Third, I only at the parts of things that I really liked and felt were worth the calories. Needless to say, I’m right back on program tomorrow.

Ok, without further ado, let me re-hash my spectacular night of debauchery:

  • Gotham Bar and Grill: Warm Summer Corn Custard with Roasted Chanterelles & Cool White Corn Soup. Lovely texture and flavor.
  • Union Square Cafe: Olive Oil-Poached Fresh Tuna Salad with Beans, Potatoes, Celery, Fennel and Arugula. Paired with Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Dry Riesling 2003. Solid, tasty tuna and delicious, complex Riesling. The Riesling was really the highlight of the night, wine-wise.
  • Amuse: Niman Ranch Pulled Pork Sandwich on New York State White Cheddar Bun with Bread and Butter Pickles. At first, I just ate the moist, rich pulled pork, thinking the bread was nothing special. But a couple of bites of the bun convinced me of its worthiness — white cheddar really permeated this bread.
  • Strip House: Confit Beef Brisket with Sweet Corn Tomato Salad & Red Wine Sauce. The brisket was lovely and tender, but the highlight of this for me was the sweet corn tomato salad. The corn kernels were delightfully al dente, and released such intense flavors.
  • SushiSamba: Buttercup Squash Mousse layered with Spice Cake Pomegranate Reduction. The buttercup squash tasted so delightfully of fall, but the spice cake and pomegranate really took this one over the top. I never thought of SushiSamba as a dessert place, but they really pulled this one off.

    P.S. I guess the glorification of such un-dietetic goodies isn’t exactly in the spirit of a health/fitness/diet blog, but here’s my philosophy: you’ve gotta enjoy food. Most of the time, for me, it’s going nuts over the texture and flavor of a perfectly ripe tomato (with luscious fleur de sel and freshly ground pepper). Or maybe it’s the amazingly rich flavor of sauteed mushrooms and onions (cooked in my nonstick pan with no oil or butter). But, occasionally, it’s OK to indulge… or at least I hope so.

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