Ai Fiori

I love Michael White. I've been to two of his three restaurants and have enjoyed both experiences immensely. I was lucky enough to try Ai Fiori this past Friday and it was amazing. Definitely one of the best meals I've had in NYC. Ai Fiori is located on the second floor of the Setai Fifth Avenue and is such a beautiful restaurant. From the grand spiral staircase you have to climb to get there to the paintings and place settings, Ai Fiori oozes elegance. It's clearly a nice restaurant but in no shape or form, stuffy. Service was friendly and helpful without being annoying. I enjoyed every moment of my long dinner and only reluctantly left because I was falling asleep (food coma + wine.)

parsnip soup amuse bouche. i was quite amused.

uovo: slow poached egg, lobster, sweetbread, nuage layon. i couldn't really see what i was eating but it was foamy and delicious

mare e monte: diver scallops, celery root, black truffles, bone marrow, thyme. beautiful presentation.

gnochetti: saffron gnocchi, crab, sea urchin. i've realized pasta and sea urchin is one of my favorite ways to eat sea urchin. the pasta was also super fresh

agnolotti: braised veal parcels, butternut squash, black truffle sugo. the butternut squash makes this dish. it was served as a cream sauce underneath the pasta and complemented the veal perfectly

agnello: rack of lamb en crepinette, swiss chard crochetta, sariette. i thought this dish was brilliant. two lamb chops stuffed with lamb breast and wrapped in fat. DELICIOUS.

chocolate budino. basically a chocolate ganache with cherry yogurt sauce, crunchy nuggets of some type, a crispy chocolate disk all topped with vanilla gelato. i couldn't get enough!

cheese plate. self explanatory. served with kumquat confit, spiced walnuts and seasoned honey

 Michael White, you had me at Marea but now you've gone and introduced me to the magnificence of Ai Fiori. How will I ever choose my favorite restaurant?? I'm smitten and confused...and hungry all over again just thinking about the two. Both vying for my heart and stomach. Who will win?? Only many more tastings will tell.