FROM foie gras yogurt to deepfried mayonnaise, we went on a culinary crusade to find out which eateries are serving up New York's craziest dishes.
THE PLACE: The London NYC, 151 West 54th St., 866-690-2029
THE CHEF: Gordon Ramsay
THE DISH: Mosaic of Fruits de Mer with saffron potatoes, tomato consommé and Osetra caviar
WHAT IT IS: A fusion of two classics, fish bouillabaisse and the French terrine, topped with caviar and consommé, results in a wonderful paté feel with a light seafood flavor.
THE INSPIRATION: Ramsay's challenge is to create dishes that balance sweet, sour and salty flavors with a level of richness that doesn't kill the palate. "I'm here to work my bollocks off," says the Brit.
THE PLACE: wd-50, 50 Clinton St., 212-477-2900
THE CHEF: Wylie Dufresne
THE DISH: Beef tongue with fried mayonnaise and onion streusel
WHAT IT IS: This isn't your father's steak sammy. The beef-tongue sandwich is a veritable symphony for the taste buds, with tomato molasses, romaine leaf triangles and cubes of deep-fried mayonnaise.
THE INSPIRATION: A simple dish made innovative. "I wanted to modernize a tongue sandwich - which was my father's favorite, so this was my homage to him."