Jean-Georges (Central Park West)

Our first meal after getting into Manhattan was at Jean-Georges. We were close by and had heard so much about the discounted lunch menu that we had to see what the fuss was about. In general, we liked it but were not especially wowed by the food or restaurant in general. I don't know what the crowd is usually like, but it was much too "power lunch" for our taste. A lot of socialites sipping expensive champagne and sitting around in St. John suits, men in power suits talking business, servers with an affected air of formality. It's just too stuffy. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood to be "proper," having just flown a particularly grueling red eye. Thankfully, the food was good.

Fresh root beer. Yes, I was surprised that it's green! It tasted mostly of anise, almost like a non-alcoholic absinthe. Cool and interesting, but not for everyone!

Corn fritter (amazing! Loved it), cucumber soup (with jalepeno--ick), and a fig with mozarella (wish the fig had been the same size as the cheese).

I will have to ask J what he ate. I really can't remember, but I loved the smear of herb paste up the side. So beautiful.

One of the most delicious things I ate my entire time in Manhatten. Foie gras terrine on a brioche toast, sealed in caramelized sugar. The sauces are a reduced balsamic vinegar and something fruity (maybe strawberry jam).

Sooooo good! Even the micro basil went well, which I would not have expected. I could have eaten three of these and a plate of corn fritters as my lunch instead of wasting my time with anything else. I know, so unfair to call the other food at JG a waste of time.

Skate wing. Nicely done, creamy sauce. J said this was his favorite out of his courses.

Garlic soup and deep fried frogs' legs. Very tasty, and my second favorite dish after the foie gras. Of course I wish there were more legs, but I was also impressed by the depth of garlic flavor in this. Fun note: I was given a finger bowl filled with rose blossoms after this dish.

Sweetbreads with citrus slices. The only place we'd ever had sweetbreads before was Galatoire's in New Orleans, and this version was far superior. I, however, had even better sweetbreads later in my trip at Momofuku Noodle Bar.

Quail l'Orange with Asian pear cubes. Quail is always good, and this was crispy on the outside but could actually have been more cooked on the inside. I love rare meat, but when poultry is slightly chewy it's not for me. I'm not saying it was dangerously undercooked, just not to my taste. And I need to remember I don't usually like fruit with my entrees, even if it sounds like it should be awesome.

Petit fours are served even if you don't have any more room for dessert or coffee, which we didn't. This cart, especially, was something new and fun for us. A marshmallow cart! A guy comes around with a glass jar of long marshmallow strips, and cuts off cubes of them with scissors: vanilla, strawberry, and mint.

The marshmallows cut into cubes, along with some chocolates. I remember a vanilla creme filling, dark chocolate ganache, and lavendar infused ganache.

Mini macaroons, well-executed but not exceptional. These were tiny, about the size of a dime in dimeter. Chocolate, saffron, and vanilla.