#lapecorabianca

This was the second restaurant I visited in NYC and I must say I was well received.

Although I am not the greatest chef or even most well known, there are some out there who do know of me and I am genuinely surprised when someone recognizes me.

I walked into La Pecora Bianca one hot September afternoon shortly after moving to the city in nothing but a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt. I was hot, tired and hungry. Little did I know I was about to have one of the better experiences in my dining career. Back in Seattle I was relatively well know in my circle for being a rustic raw cuisine chef. But here in NYC, on the complete opposite side of the country I did not think I’d find anyone who knew me (one of the reasons I moved here) least of all in a modern italian restaurant in midtown. The hostess and bar manager immediately recognized me and chatted with me for a bit about the restaurant industry and what I was doing here in NYC. Now I never expect special treatment when going into a restaurant, in fact as a chef I’d prefer to be treated like everyone else, but on occasion when it is unexpected and not asked for, being treated with honor and respect is a welcome treat.

The food - They sat me at the bar to watch the chefs, I was treated to a glass of wine, a roasted peach, savory creme fraiche and honey desert. The kale salad and some roasted mushrooms.

The roasted peach, creme fraiche and honey was perfect. The balance of savory, sweet, creamy and fruity was a welcomed delight on the hot day and nice refreshment.

I’m not often a fan of kale salads just because I don’t particularly enjoy the bitterness of kale, but this salad was wonderful.  The mix of black kale, delicata squash, honeycrisp apple, pecorino, breadcrumbs and roasted carrots was very lovely. I am a huge fan of roasted carrots.

While I don’t usually go for mushrooms in general, I do not mind them. The roasted mushrooms with pine nuts was very good. It’s not something I would eat often but it was very good nonetheless.

The Service - as I mentioned before, the service was great. The staff was gracious, welcoming and attentive. I very much enjoy sitting at the chef’s counter watching them work. It’s a small taste of being in the kitchen again.  

Cost - While it is a finer dining establishment, La Pecora Bianca is very reasonably priced. Most dishes are under $20 and even the primi’s are not much over that.

Conclusion - I will return, again...and again, and again. The service, food and cost for the dining experience is well within reasonable.