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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Peachy Picks Home

The word sweet is surrounded by it on both sides, Michael Buble wants to go there, and Dorothy Gale says there's no place like it so Peachy Deegan and her fabulous culinary experts just had to go Home.  This is no ordinary home, it is HOME.  We first featured Home in Tasty Tidbits:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/12/tasty-tidbits-home-restaurant.html


We are pleased to announce it has soundly graduated to Peachy's Picks and this seventeen-year old Farm to Table restaurant is a clear-cut winner.  Of course, Peachy herself is always most interested in the table to stomach part, but since she is she'd have to say this Farm to Table is really clutch in superior cuisine.  This is the first Farm to Table we've done and that means everything is organic and sourced locally from New York State farms.  You know Peachy's going to try to talk them into doing some menu item from exotic Connecticut....Manager Rachel Fingerman quite literally made us feel right at home right from the moment we walked in and knows everything there is to know about Home; she nailed every one of Peachy's myriad of questions.


Aside from loving restaurants, you know there is not much that Peachy loves more than a great cocktail party and we are so pleased that we've met you, Robin Cofer!  It's not who you know, it's Whom You Know and we are proud to know Robin and now also Home.  Located at 20 Cornelia Street, Home says on their card "Fine Wine, Fine Ketchup" and in that they are saying everything is done right here.  In a cozy, intimate atmosphere we did not see one seat open at all all night so be sure to call ahead for reservations.  


Since Peachy Deegan tries to be a pretty good Catholic she started out with the Bubbly Saint, a cocktail that was simply divine.  In fact it might be our 2nd current favorite cocktail (if you have to ask what the 1st is you must not be reading us closely!)  The Bubbly Saint is a smart concoction of sparkling wine from the west coast and St. Germain Elderflower Liquor that is great for everyday celebrating.  At Whom You Know we always have something to celebrate; just wait until you see our next Mover and Shaker!

Peachy began with some amazingly fresh sea scallops in cider brown butter and sage, served with apple slaw.  What a way to dress up some local seafood!  They just melted in her mouth and were delectable!  Executive Chef Carey Cannizzaro not only makes each dish an A-lister on the party circuit, but she does it with care and precision that we noticed.  Additionally, Carey is fabulously cordial and spoke to our panel educating us about every aspect of the Home experience.  We are so happy to see this kind of dedication and joy exuded by an Executive Chef.
For her main course Peachy selected the whole grilled branzino braised with three beans (kidney, cranberry and cannellini) with a salsa verde (you know she'd get something green and Irish in!) and it was so fresh she swears they caught it the minute before she walked in the door.  Rachel filleted it perfectly and we would only caution you as with any fish to be mindful of possible bones. You wouldn't want to ruin a perfect evening at Home by not watching what you are eating.  Perfectly seasoned the branzino is much happier in Peachy's stomach than it ever was swimming and the farm to table and table to stomach definitely works!   Carey is a genius.
Very few restaurants are able to pull off as good of a molten chocolate cake as this one, and with raspberry coulis topping it off, you will not be able to resist and it was a smashing success with a Bailey's on the rocks.  Peachy could go on and on, but you should hear from the culinary panel!


The panel raves:
Who says you can’t go home for dinner?  Thanks to Home Restaurant on Cornelia St. in NYC’s historic Greenwich Village, Home is just a short subway ride away for most New Yorkers.  I had the absolute joy of dining there last evening, and will surely be back for a return visit soon!  Cozy and warm, Home was the perfect escape for a cold winter’s night.   A farm-to-table restaurant,  Home supports many New York farms, although during the winter, they need to expand to other states to provide the freshest ingredients.  Chef Carey Cannizzaro has crafted an excellent seasonal  menu which showcases the superior farm-grown produce and meats.  To start, I had the Mountain Dell Farm Mixed Green Salad, which included sunflower seeds and shaved fennel, and was doused in a tangy mustard thyme vinaigrette.  The greens were incredibly fresh, and the fennel and sunflower seeds added interesting texture and flavor to the salad.  My dinner-mates and I also shared the Maytag Blue Cheese Fondue, which was unbelievably creamy and delicious.  I could have a meal of that alone and be quite satisfied! 

For my main course, I ordered the Warm Farro with roasted pumpkin, spiced hazelnuts, and rosemary vinaigrette, shown above.  Ever since I first laid eyes on the menu, I’d been salivating over this dish, and I was not disappointed.  The farro was cooked perfectly, and the roasted pumpkin was sweet, tender, and absolutely delicious.  The hazelnuts added a great, unexpected yummy crunch, and the rosemary vinaigrette was not overpowering in the slightest.  It was absolutely delectable.  To accompany my meal, I chose the Steelhead Sauvignon Blanc, which paired well both with the salad and the main course.  I barely had room for dessert, but I couldn’t resist trying the butterscotch pudding!  Served in a coffee mug with a dollop of fresh whipped cream, the pudding was creamy and delicious, and the perfect way to end an absolutely delightful meal!  In addition to the fabulous food, the staff at Home also contributed to the experience.  Everyone was welcoming and friendly, and went out of their way to provide excellent service.  Kudos to Chef Carey Cannizzaro and the entire staff at Home for creating a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable dining experience!  I’ll definitely be going “Home” again soon!

Cornelia Street has always been a mainstay for fabulous restaurants; "Home" is the perfect example of a New York restaurant that has earned its stripes for a prime West Village spot.  The majority of all of the menu offerings are indeed from New York State, bonus there are zero hormones in the meat and all meat is organic.  Peachey and I toasted the New Year with the "Bubbly Saint"; just the right  mix of champagne and St Germaine to kick-start the night.  
I started off with the "whole clam chowder"; meaning there were a robust amount of full clams in shell, about 20!  Not only were the full clams an interesting and welcomed twist, but heaping amounts of parsley, succulent chunks of potato, and above average in size/delicious tasting bites of bacon made for the best clam chowder in New York.   
Shown above, for my entree "Cornish Hen stuffed with Coach Farms goat cheese, sweet potato hash": the Hen also proved to be outstanding; the Hen was perfectly roasted and the goat cheese inclusion, really made the dish pop. The sweet potatoes were very flavorful; all paired back nicely with a Steelhead Sauvignon Blanc.  Per Steelhead Wine “This very special wine composed of 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes features delicious flavors of citrus and grapefruit zest with pleasant mineral character very reflective of its renowned Dry Creek Valley terroir.” — Steven Canter

For dessert a surprising combination of fruits: Apple/Apricot Pie, proving to be a notable twist to a traditional apple pie. The pie's crust was soft cooked and light; paired with a dollop of heavy whipped creme was just the right amount of naughty and nice for dessert.  I will definitely go back to this charming spot.; not only to try the other tempting dishes on the menu but also to try the outside garden for brunch or an Early dinner! ALTHOUGH for the true New Yorkers, which the restaurant should and seemingly does attract; garden is open for earing with heat lamps. We would have braved it, had it been a few degrees warmer. 

An inviting west village must.  This small cozy quintessential Greenwich village restaurant is inviting and has all the pleasures of a tasteful and understated dining experience.  Spend a little time at the bar and take-in the timeless ambiance, friendly staff, and downtown décor complete with a tin ceiling and vintage touches.  Enjoy their intimate courtyard seating on a warm evening or afternoon.  On a winter’s night, It doesn’t get much better. get cozy at one of the few tables that make-up this tiny treasure. Highly recommend the chopped salad with chicken sausage (small plate), the Whole Clam Chowder, bacon, red bliss potatoes and grilled sourdough (small plate), Maytag Blue Cheese fondue (small plate) macaroni and cheese (large plate), and a must the chocolate banana bread pudding. The grilled hangar steak was soundly superior, shown above.  Home strives to provide the freshest ingredients from local farms and artisans and accomplishes this at reasonable prices.


Put on your ruby red slippers, click your heels three times, and head to 20 Cornelia Street: you want to go Home!  There's no place like it.
Whom You Know highly recommends Home Restaurant.

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