This year marks the fifth year of the annual New Taste of the Upper West Side, the largest neighborhood dining event in NYC. Just nearing my second anniversary as an UWS'ider, I jumped at this opportunity to rub elbows with other hyper-local foodies and to sample the neighborhood's most outstanding eats. Last night kicked things off with a refined, vegetarian feast at Dovetail. The dinner was inspired by Chef John Fraser's Monday night dinners, which go beyond "meatless" to craft dishes where vegetables are truly the star, rather than the supporting cast.
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My favorite bites of the evening were the delicate, green chic peas in Brown's asparagus dish, the creamy cheese/wild nettle fusion in Robbin's risotto, and the textural contrast of the crunchy greens adorning Dieterle's spring truffle raviolo. But I truly felt all the chefs did a remarkable job, working under Top Chef challenge-like constraints (sharing an unfamiliar kitchen with an unfamiliar crew and co-chefs). I'm looking forward to seeing what they have planned for Friday's "Comfort Classics" and Saturday's "Best of the West."
Proceeds to benefit the Columbus Avenue BID’s streetscape beautification projects, as well as the Greenhouse Classroom and Citymeals-on-Wheels. To learn more, visit: New Taste of the Upper West Side.