Spotted Pig

We are finally nearing the end of my meals in New York this summer. It was a terribly indulgent span of months, and I basically had an extended vacation in my favorite city. It's amazing to think of the number of restaurants and dishes that I still want to try. I never finished eating my way through Prune's entire brunch menu. I'd love to go to Corton one day. And though I've had drinks at Spotted Pig and distinctly remember rolling my eyes at a man with devil horns (it was Halloween) who told me his condo was in Murray Hill, I had never previously sat down to sample some of the restaurant's fare.

We started with some Devils on Horseback. The lighting is decidedly dim in Spotted Pig, so I got to enjoy the fatty richness of the bacon-wrapped dates, but I didn't see the grease it was swimming in.



Deviled eggs that would make the Bastard Consultant's stomach churn. He has a childlike and irrational aversion to hard-boiled eggs and because of a difficult youth, can only associate them with the smell of foot. Someone's mother didn't know about Julia Child's suggestions on how to cook perfect hard-boiled eggs: put eggs in cold water, bring to boil, turn off heat, let sit covered for 17 minutes, transfer to ice bath for 2 minutes, put eggs back in boiling water for 10 seconds, shell. (Actually, I'm lazy: I let them boil for 1-2 minutes, then let them sit covered for about 11-13 minutes, then shell.)

Poached duck egg with Beans and Bottarga. Who am I going to find to eat these things with me in Chicago? Actually, my friend Sam from Abby & Sam's Kitchen, would totally eat with me. If only I could extract the blessed time from the crazed schedule that is currently my life. Just the thought of cracking open that duck egg and having the yolk ooze into the warm beans and salty bottarga is making me wish I was tucked away in that seat at Spotted Pig again.

Yes, yes, I'm a sucker for fries. I love them. More than chips. More than ice cream, which I actually have no strong feelings about generally. I don't know if I can say that I love them more than bubbly, but I am on an eternal quest for a plate of beautifully fried skinny fries.

Spotted Pig, 314 W. 11th St. (@ Greenwich), New York, NY