2016.
Interested in dining your way through the New Year?
Check in and devour my restaurant reviews every Tuesday.
I review the trendy, hot new eating establishments as well the tried and sure, focusing on New York, Los Angeles, Paris and new, yet to be determined, destinations.
Today, join me at Houseman, a new restaurant in Hudson Square in the SoHo section of Manhattan.
Houseman showcases a daily changing American menu highlighting seasonal produce served in cozy surroundings.
Inspired by the word husmanskost, “everyday food” in Swedish, Houseman is both a neighborhood and destination restaurant.
Chef/owner Ned Baldwin came to cooking after a career as a builder and a visual artist. He earned his chops spending four years at the outstanding NYC restaurant, Prune.
Chef Adam Baumgart spent time at Le Bernardin and Seasonal, in addition to working as a baker at Prune, Amy’s Bread and Clearflour in Boston.
Our server was a lovely woman who was working her last week at Houseman and then dashing off to San Diego to reunite with a childhood sweetheart.
Her guidance was impeccable.
Courtny and David started with a round of Markers Mark with Maple ($13) and a Makers straight up ($10).
I selected Szigeti, an Austrian bubbly ($11).
Our first course consisted of sweet turnips, speck, fried prunes, almonds and rosemary ($13). The turnips were sweet and the mingling of everyday, beautifully prepared ingredients rendered the dish delicious.
Roasted squash with feta, pistachios, chili, pickled currants and accented with lime juice was sensational…all the ingredients so fresh and the squash prepared perfectly ($13).
David chose Littleneck clams in a wonderful broth with fried celery, chills and parsley ($16).
To accompany the clams, we ordered Fingerling potatoes with dill, leeks and crispy pancetta…yummy ($13).
Courtny and I shared the special…a tender, fall off the bone beef shank with lucious bone marrow. It was ample and delectable ($36).
I really enjoyed Houseman.
The food is fresh, the food combinations unique, the atmosphere relaxed and comfortable.
This is a great addition to the NYC restaurant scene as well as being reasonably priced for high quality ingredients.
It is everyday food superbly prepared.
