momofuku ko

sometimes i try to think of creative titles for my posts, but i think it's better to go straightforward with this one. i FINALLY got a reservation at ko (note, it was sunday of labor day weekeend). i was overwhelmed with excitement, but i made one mistake: i went out too late the night beforehand and was properly hungover and tired that day.

that said, the meal was really quite amazing. because i was hungover, i fully admit, my memory is not perfectly clear. but here's the general gist: inventive, creative, interesting and uncomfortable.

our first course, which i remember fondly, was a mini-english muffin topped with whipped pork fat and side of chicharron (pork rind). we did the premium wine tasting, and this was accompanied by a rose champagne. the english muffin... i could eat that every day of my life. it was moist and buttery, without, obviously, the butter. the chicharron was slightly stale. i've had non-stale pork rinds before so that was disappointing.

our next course was a long island fluke sashimi in some sort of poppy-seed buttermilk sauce. the fluke was amazing, but it does happen to be one of my favorite fish raw.

now it all gets jumbled for me, so i'll just list out for you what we had:
-sliced matsutake mushrooms in a bacon dashi broth - paired with a jinmai sake -- this was unbelievable, so many flavors exploded in your mouth!
-poached chicken egg, with caviar and pickled onions - i don't like egg, so this was just 'eh' to me.
-sweet corn ravioli - 3 little pillows - great flavor, but a little sweet.
-pan-seared halibut - perfectly undercooked, quite good.
-2 styles of duck - breast with crispy skin and the leg, cooked sous-vide.
-foie gras torchon (i asked if it was sawdust!) - i thought this was just WOW, but i love foie gras, with lychees and pine nut brittle. it melted in my mouth.
-kiwi sorbet as a palate cleanser
-yellow cake ice cream with peanut butter shavings and strawberries - paired with ximienez 1927 sherry -- a dessert i never would've thought i liked, but absolutely loved.

really, everything was very good, but i thought it would be more mind-blowing, and i was expecting more pork fat!! i'd like to go again (if i can ever get another reservation!), now that i know it's not mind-blowing, but interesting and delicious. also, fall and winter bring more hearty, savory foods, which is more my style.

my least favorite part was the seating. my butt HURT and legs were sore after the meal. the music was a little loud (they adjusted multiple times), and the AC was blowing intensely from under me. i was cold. the server/hostess - the one who poured our wines and took our dishes, was absolutely adorable and informative... and fun. she helped round out the meal. the chefs were not chatty at all. maybe it's just me?

momofuku ko
163 First Ave btwn 10/11th Sts
New York, NY 10003
no phone - reservations online only.