Day 11, 2016: L'Amico (Chelsea, NYC)

Exterior

The ovens

DAY 11: OCTOBER 11th, 2016

LOCATION: L'Amico (Eventi Hotel, 849 6th Ave, New York, NY 10001)

GUEST(S): Robin Rothman, Chris Simpson

ORDER: 2 slices of Soppressata Piccante (tomato, mozzarella, sicilian oregano), 1 White Mushroom (truffle paste, fontina, taleggio, sage), 1 slice of Esposito's Sausage (panna, shishito, fennel pollen)

REVIEW: 
An exquisite visit. World-renowned for his BLT empire, Chef Laurent Tourondel's L'Amico serves "simply prepared dishes" with "precise technique." Fortunately for residents of Chelsea or patrons of the Hotel Eventi, one of those dishes is pizza! Despite only offering four pies on the rotating seasonal menus, there is a separate oven specifically dedicated to pizza preparation. And these pies are anything but ordinary - in fact a plain or Margherita isn't even an option. Instead, the recipes call for meticulously placed high quality toppings, creamy imported cheeses, superior meats, and freshly cut vegetables. All are baked in a wood-fired oven at over 900°F. Evidence of the heat can be seen in the charring around the hand-sculpted crust and tasted on the occasional bitter bite. The attention to detail the chefs pay to every ingredient of every dish might come at a price but the flavor packed into each morsel makes it more than worth it. On a nice day, sit outside. A reservation is highly recommended to assure you a spot in the trendy, warmly-lit dining area. L'Amico is far beyond a pizzeria, but if the rest of the food is anything like their pizza, I'm saving up for my next visit!

PHOTOS:

White Mushroom pie

Esposito's Sausage pie

Soppressata Piccante

Slice of Soppressata Piccante

The wood-fired charred crust

A passion fruit dessert that looks like a pokemon and tastes like heaven

MISCELLANEOUS:

Chris and Robin

1. Robin Rothman and I went to Kol Nidre services for the beginning of Yom Kippur. This marks the beginning of the fast that lasts from sundown to sundown.

2. Chris Simpson just returned from the Vancouver Comedy Festival where his improv team named Pyros performed.  They will also be performing at this week's New York Musical Improv Festival (NYMIF).  Tickets are still available for that show!

http://www.magnettheater.com/secure/nymif_submitinfo.php?classid=6679

Ask him about their pre-show ritual.

Adam Twitchell and Chris Simpson

3. While we were eating, Adam Twitchell walked by.  He's great.

RATING:

 4.05/5

• VALUE:
   4/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   7/10


• SERVICE:
  
•  3/3

17/21 = .810 x 5 = 4.05