Big City, Little Kitchen

Or not.  It’s going on one week since the gas in our apartment building was turned off due to leaks.  Come to find out, our building has been riddled with gas leaks for years; a lovely consequence of living in a 90-year-old building in Manhattan.  So, while biding my time until the gas is restored, I’ve been enjoying meals at my favorite restaurants.  Most recently, Sal and I had a late dinner at Barmarche on Spring Street.  Highlights included the salmon tartare, bright- and clean-tasting, and served with plantain chips; and the bistro salad, a pile of endive, gorgonzola crumbles, and pear slices (I never leave Barmarche without having ordered this dish–it’s a meal in itself).  Most impressive, however, was Sal’s entree of shredded pork:  served on a silky puree of sweet potatoes and a pillow of similarly shredded radicchio, the pork itself has a satisfyingly crisp texture, and is topped with a red wine sauce.  The desserts are all appealing, in a comfort-good sort of way; toothsome churros with caramel dipping sauce were the piece de resistance.  I say, when in doubt, order the fried dough (particularly when it comes rolled in cinnamon sugar)!