New Restaurants on the Radar: Jacques Torres Ice Cream, Sel de Mer, Mesa Coyoacan

The new Jacques Torres DUMBO ice cream parlor, which also sells desperately-needed cupcakes. Tien Mao/Gothamist

Jacques Torres Ice Cream: Unbroken by Hershey's cease and desist order, chocolate maker Jacques Torres has expanded his ice cream operation, making it even harder for some of us to squeeze into that Speedo. His new DUMBO ice cream shop (just blocks from Gothamist's offices—thanks a lot Jacques) is located next to the original Jacques Torres Chocolate he opened nine years ago. The shop sells an assortment of 12 to 15 ice cream flavors, three to four sorbet flavors and a frozen yogurt. We're told that each flavor is made with all natural ingredients custom blended with Torres's own unique proprietary starter mixes, "never a prefabricated starter as is common among most ice cream makers." You can get it in a cone, a pint, a cup, or made-to-order sandwiches. There's also cotton candy, milkshakes, cupcakes and other assorted treats, and some ice cream varieties are now being sold at the two Manhattan Jacques Torres Chocolate locations. 62 Water Street, Brooklyn

Sel de Mer: Located in the old Odara's/Najeeb's space, this new seafood restaurant is a labor of love for chef-owner Jeff Slagg, who renovated the place himself and even built a new bar. He tells NY Mag his menu is
"a Mediterranean-meets-Long Island kind of thing," and says he "wanted [the bar] to look like an old dock." Options include a Mussels Roquefort with blue cheese, cream, baby bib lettuce, white wine and pancetta ($14); a T-bone with roasted garlic haricots verts, mashed potatoes w/ sour cream and bacon ($25); fish-cake sliders ($12); and beer battered fish and chips ($15). Here's the full menu and a photo tour of the little East Williamsburg newcomer, which is still waiting on the liquor license. 374 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn; (718) 387-4181

Mesa Coyoacan: And right next door to Sel de Mer is this new traditional Mexican restaurant from Ivan Garcia, the former chef de cuisine at Mercadito. Located on the ground floor of the glassy "Fish Tank" building, the restaurant's menu features Garcia's "grandma's recipes" and house-made tortillas. According to Free Williamsburg, the traditional is complemented with contemporary flourishes, like Berkshire pork in the carnitas tacos and grass fed beef for the carne asada. Tacos are 3 for $9, and there's a variety of ceviches, sopas, tamales, and entrees like pork-and-fruit-stuffed poblanos topped with walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds. And Always Hungry NY has a nice slideshow on the food, recommending the Grilled Cactus, Esquites, Vuelve a La Vida, Tacos de Carne Asada, Enchiladas Verdes, and Mixiotes de Carnero (Spiced Lamb in Banana Leaves). 372 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn; (718) 782-8171

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By John Del Signore in Food on June 2, 2009 5:47 PM

Comments [rss]

Jill@AllThingsDelicious

I reviewed Sel de Mer here: http://www.thedishsdish.com/blog/2009/06/sel-de-mer/

Global Wombat

I only frequent Jacques' place on Amsterdam maybe once a year due to its insane prices, but got-damn dat's sum good chocolit. It has forever ruined Hershey bars for me.

Manitoba

Remember when Pulp Fiction came out, and everyone was jking about the scene with the $5 milkshake? "$5 milkshake!" we'd exclaim, "How crazy is that? Who would buy that crap?!?" Sadly, $5 is not much of milkshake these days. Heck - Johnny Rockets' milkshake is probably $5+, and the Shake Shack is easily that much and frankly, not that great.

If Pulp Fiction were made today, could you imagine the monologue that would ensue surrounding the price of cupcakes these days? I remember when $1 was a fancy freakin' cupcake. Then, you'd see the $2 cupcake. But, 4 bucks?? Seriously? A cupcake is basically 60% flour, 35% sugar and butter (optional as oil is often used), and 4% egg and 1% other crap.

Here's a suggestion: Buy a 2-lb bag of of flour, a bag of sugar, a stick of butter, some eggs, and a bar of baking chocolate. Mix it all together and eat it straight. I guarantee it's basically the same crap, and you will have eaten the equivalent of 40 cupcakes for the price of 2-3. Send me a check for the difference.