Results tagged “davepasternack”

            

The heat lamps, hot dog bins, and Shake Shack Miraclean grills are all in place, and the long-awaited Citi Field is a go. This weekend’s Mets vs. Red Sox exhibition games will be a trial-by-fire for every swanky new full service stadium club in the place, as well as every lowly hot dog kiosk, popcorn cart, and concession stand. In order to prepare for the crowds, hundreds of foodservice workers are literally stocking the shelves and cooking things around the clock. (Not all concession stands were open during Sunday's dress rehearsal.)

Yesterday’s omnibus stadium food preview made mention of the rumored Untitled Dave Pasternack Seafood Project at Citi Field. It’s long been known that the Esca chef wanted to explore a fish and chips concept, but it wasn’t until recently that the project was actually happening. Today the news comes (via Eater) that the Long Island born chef will open a lobster roll, fish sandwich, and clam chowder station called (what else) Catch of the Day at the Taste of the City food court, the same concessions area where Shake Shack is located. The Mets’ website calls Catch of the Day “a Long Island themed seafood stand;” let’s hope that means Pasternack adds some fried belly clams to the menu a la Nassau County’s Bigelow’s.

This week in the Times, Bruni goes to Esca, calls chef Dave Pasternack a "fish whisperer" (um, OK Frank) and awards the restaurant three stars. "In an era when too many restaurants try to be everything to everyone," he says, "Esca has a specific agenda: show what the sea can yield." The restaurant was previously awarded two stars by William Grimes in 2000.

Fish is one of those spots that we've walked past a million times over the five years it has been open, but somehow have never made it in. We've even made a mental note -- oooh, local seafood joint... looks good...should stop by soon -- but somehow didn't make it. Until last week, when we finally pulled ourselves together to go in and see what Fish was all about. A few things to know about Fish right off the bat: first, owner Edward Taylor also owns Down East, Fish's exclusive seafood distributor. This gives Fish some of the best and freshest seafood around. Second, Fish is a neighborhood joint. Despite the tourist crowd that may wander in on the weekends due to its Bleecker Street location, during the week the place is quiet, low-key, and heavy on the regulars. In fact, a great deal of the menu was influenced by the customers and neighborhood chefs; on it you'll find Kenny's Bleecker Street Burger (beef from Ottomanelli, across the street), and Scallops Dave's Way (Dave Pasternack of Bistro du Vent and Esca).