We are pleased to announce a new feature at New York Food Journal. “A Taste” will present single dishes from New York’s food world that we think are noteworthy. We hope to provide some leads on NYC’s restaurant scene and inspire some great meals.
Marea is the flagship restaurant of star chef Michael White. Devoted to Italian seafood, the restaurant really shines in the pasta courses. One of my favorites is spaghetti with crab and sea urchin, in which the sea urchin melts to create a smooth and creamy sauce. Another is this dish of fusilli with octopus and bone marrow.
The dish is truly decadent. The octopus is braised in red Sangiovese wine, tomatoes, garlic, and basil until it has a wonderful texture, devoid of all chewiness, and the sauce takes on an intensified flavor. Bone marrow is then sauteed with garlic and thyme used to emulsify the sauce for richness. The long coils of homemade pasta are cooked perfectly al dente, with more bite than we are used to finding at most New York Italian restaurants. Finally, the whole thing is topped with homemade toasted bread crumbs infused with garlic, chilies, parsley, and olive oil, rounding out the dish with an excellent crunch.
It sure is hard to find a better pasta dish.
Marea
240 Central Park South
Tel. (212) 582-5100
http://www.marea-nyc.com/
was actually just at THE WAVE last night with my parents. Its a very adult contempary restaurant. I wish I was on the Dining Plan though because the prices gave me a minor heartattack. However, our server was awesome.