Weekend cooking should begin with a classic bagel sandwich for morning. Pictured here is an everything bagel from the Purple House Bakery whose Montreal style bagels are superb. With a schmear of cream cheese topped with a fried egg , local tomato slices and smoked Nova from Acme Smoke House in Brooklyn (Harbor Fish carries it), the weekend food spree at home has begun.
But fine-dining eating-out fatigue can inflict pain occasionally. It’s one reason why I’m cooking more at home than going out to eat. But there was an exception a while back when we finally got a table at Union at the haute-hipster Press Hotel. Union is one of those under-hyped restaurants when it shouldn’t be because chef Joshua Berry is a terrific cook. His larder is chock full of locally sourced ingredients that he utilizes in creative takes on American bistro cooking.
Consider a starter course like the charcuterie board of house-cured meats such as jambon de maison, house smoked beef brisket and braised pork rillettes; or tempeh bathed in a glistening sweet-salty hoisin glaze; or an ingenious dish of sprouting cauliflower with house made lamb bacon and cloth bound cheddar or his take on southern fried buttermilk chicken with pickled cauliflower and spoonbread timbale.
I would have done a formal review of the restaurant, but on the night we were there I didn’t intend to.
My photos were haphazard and couldn’t’ report faithfully on the many dishes we tried since I wasn’t taking notes. Suffice it to say, you should go before summer arrives and becomes packed with visitors. Even now advance planning is advised to get a reservation.