Chef Nick Curtin - Compose - Recommendations - Find. Eat. Drink.
Chef Nick Curtin, Compose, Executive Chef, New York, NY, Where to eat in New York, Manhattan, Cocktails in New York, Best restaurants in New York, East Village, Chef Recommendations,
Restaurants - New york, NY
DRINKS - New york, NY
TORRISI ITALIAN SPECIALTIES
They do really cool spins on some amazing dishes. I went there twice in a week after first going there. I had a skate dish that tasted like sour cream and onion potato chips and a chicken dish, I think they called it Diablo Chicken, that tasted like the best barbecue chicken.
Nolita
Italian
It’s my neighborhood joint. What they’re doing over there right now is pretty fantastic. It’s always a pleasure to go see those guys, watch them work and try some of their food, which is always fun and different.
East Village
Korean / Global / Eclectic
MILK AND HONEY
134 Eldridge Street, New York, NY 10002
I’m a big fan.
Lower East Side
Cocktails
For tequila and mezcal-based cocktails. They have little snacks that you can get that are killer, like little tacos and things like that.
East Village
Tequila / Mexican
VANDAAG
It’s great place for cocktails. I had this incredible Bloody Mary variation, called the Danish Mary, that was horseradish-infused aquavit and had so many awesome savory qualities.
East Village
Dutch
Wild Food Purveyor
ANISE HYSSOP
I’ve really been enjoying anise hyssop, also commonly known as licorice mint. It has a beautiful licorice flavor and a mild mint flavor and I’ve been doing an infusion with it to create a little bit of a broth for a fruit crudo. The light herbal flavors really compliment the fresh leanness of the crudo dish.
Herb
I started my career at La Laiterie, which is a little wonderful place that I always love going back to every time I’m in Providence. They do some really killer food and Matt Jennings is just an inspiring chef. It’s very bistro-style, but they do some fun stuff.
East Side
American / French
BASIL HAYDEN
www.smallbatch.com/basilhaydens
Available at these retailers.
I’ve always been a fan.
Liquor
Kentucky Bourbon
ZARAGOZA
215 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
T: 212.780.9204
A little taco stand that nobody really knows about, which makes it special, but at the same time it has to be shared. A young man runs the place and he and his mom cook amazing tostadas and tortillas and things like stewed goat, chorizo and potatoes, all these things that they churn out late into the night. After a long week in the kitchen, it’s great to get together with your cook friends and they have an expansive beer collection and are always playing mariachi music. Humble, but killer.
East Village
Latin American
VANDAAG
It’s really a delightful place to eat. They have an amazing cocktail program. Chef Phillip Kirschen-Clark is incredibly talented and has a wonderful background.
East Village
Dutch
Their bacon is incredible. They have some amazing cuts of meat and probably the best chicken that I’ve had in New York.
Chelsea
Butcher
UNION SQUARE GREEN MARKET
Union Square West from 15 to 17 Streets
New York, NY 10003
Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Always a wonderful place to go and so much inspiring product there. Sweet Mountain Berry, Berried Treasure, Two Guys from Woodbridge, Max Creek Hatchery are all so great about communicating with us about what they have, what is coming and what is going to make each of our dishes be the best they can possibly be.
Union Square
Farmers Market
We get several different finishing salts from them. They have a Murray Darling Finishing Salt that we love to use, Iburi Jio Cherry Smoked Salt, which adds a really nice delicate salinity and beautiful smoke. They also have Kelp Salt, where they dehydrate kelp and blend it way, way down. It’s add like an ocean snap.
West Village
Specialty Foods
A & H GOURMET & SEAFOOD MARKET
We get raw Jamón Iberico (Fermin) from them. They also have an aged white balsamic vinegar. It’s just killer and they have wonderful Spanish charcuterie.
Bethesda
Specialty Foods
Compose’s Chefs
March 24, 2011
WHO
Compose is a cocktail lounge / contemporary American restaurant in New York.
WHY
Twice a night, they create a ten-course tasting menu around an open-kitchen horseshoe bar, allowing for intimate engagement and dialogue between staff and guests.
Food Purveyors - New YOrk, NY
Food Purveyors - Maryland
Restaurants - Providence, RI
Herbs
Spirits
BROOKLYN GIN
Available at these retailers.
The flavor is really solid, it’s a really great gin and it mixes well with cocktails.
Liquor
Gin
EAGLE RARE
Available at these retailers.
It’s fantastic.
Liquor
Kentucky Bourbon
NOAH’S MILL
Available at these retailers
Really, really awesome.
Liquor
Kentucky Bourbon
RON BOTRAN RUM
Available at these retailers.
They have Reserva and Solera. Somebody brought it in recently and I go home and just sip that stuff straight. It’s fantastic. It’s like gold on your tongue. It’s a wonderful rum and the price points are awesome. It’s pretty approachable, so I never feel like I’m breaking the bank drinking a bottle of it.
Liquor
Guatemalan Rum
Tribeca - New York, NY
Photographs courtesy of Compose
NOBLE SYRUPS
Available from Mikuni Wild Harvest.
We use it in varying capacities. It’s got this level of complexity. It’s a bourbon-aged maple syrup, it’s not overt. But it’s got this nice depth to it. It goes beyond your standard maple syrup. We put a little bit in our cocktails and I’m using it in a cauliflower puree.
Maple Syrup
Products
