|
|
| Do You Fondue?
|
| Made for dipping, nibbling, and sharing, fondue just may be the
perfect Valentine's dish. Here are six spots where you two (or few)
can get your fix—whether your taste runs to the cheese, chocolate,
beef or even seafood variety.
|
| |
| BY KATE APPLETON |
| |
 |
| Cheese fondue
and a sampling of side dishes at Artisanal. |
| |
|
ARTISANAL
2 Park Ave., at 32nd St., 212-725-8585
Chef Terrance Brennan's brasserie-cum-fromagerie
stands as one of the city's top destinations for all things cheese,
with roughly 200 types in house. Settle down on one of their many
banquettes and take your pick of the staple cheese fondues in petite
(1-3 persons) and grande (4-6 persons) selections—or try
their chocolate fondue à deux.
• Cheeses: Classic Swiss; "Artisanal Blend"
of beauford, cow's milk, and sauvignon blanc; stilton and sauternes;
and a fondue du jour. Petite, $24. Grande, $40.
• Side dishes:
Air-dried beef, fingerling potatoes, kielbasa, crudites, beef tip,
and apples, each for an additional cost.
• Chocolate fondue served with homemade marshmallows,
madeleines, other confections, and fruit. $22.
|
| |
 FONDUE
303 E. 80th St., between First and Second Aves., 212-772-2390;
fonduelounge.com
With an all-fondue menu and minimal, Moroccan-inspired decor—teeny
mosaic-tiled tables, satin cushions, a few candles and gauzy drapes—this
inconspicuous spot practically oozes romance.
This Valentine's Day, Fondue ups the ante with scattered rose petals
and a prix fixe menu meant for two.
• Cheeses: Brie and grated parmigiano-reggiano;
gruyere, Swiss, grana padano and grated parmigiano-reggiano; smoked
gouda. Each served with a choice of vegetables and bread.
• Chocolates: a swirl of chocolate
and caramel; Belgian chocolate; caramel. Served with fruit sprinkled
with powdered sugar or with marshmallows, graham crackers, and rice
crispy treats.
• $90 prix fixe per couple for
a cheese fondue, a chocolate fondue, and red or white wine. A la carte
service only at the bar.
|
| |
|
 DIP
416 Third Ave., between 29th and 30th Sts., 212- 481-1712; dipcafe.com
Part lounge, part pool bar, part restaurant, DIP may have an identity
complex, but it does dish out delicious fondues, plus various dips
and small plates. On Valentine's Day, the inviting and dimly lit
downstairs area hosts a prix fixe dinner that guarantees each table
a choice of fondue—from white cheddar to "vanilla champagne"—plus
a helping of chocolate covered strawberries with dessert. Meanwhile,
a party in the upstairs lounge, outfitted with couches and a pool
table, will be catering to that other half: singles.
• Cheeses:
White Vermont cheddar; emmanthaler and gruyere; "Tex-Mex"
Monterrey pepperjack cheese. All served with vegetables, a baguette
and walnut-raisin bread. Tex-Mex also comes with grilled chicken.
• Chocolates:
Belgian milk chocolate; semi-sweet Belgian chocolate mixed with
peanut butter; Champagne and vanilla bean ice cream. Served
with fresh fruits, brownie bites, pirouette cookies and marshmallows
• $60 per person
prix fixe menu with three items, a fondue, and a wine bottle. Seatings
at 6 p.m. and at 9 p.m.
|
| |
|
 PUNCH
& JUDY
26 Clinton St., between Houston and Stanton Sts., 212-982-1116
The Lower East Side's best and coziest wine bar, Punch & Judy
is bathed in an amber glow and decked out with deep, dark red couches
to compliment all that vin rouge. Their chocolate
fondue, a decadent dessert staple, will be part of a special Valentine's
prix fixe for two.
• Chocolate
fondue served with fresh fruits and chunks of cake.
• $90
prix fixe per couple includes champagne, a carafe of wine, and four
courses, with chocolate fondue for dessert.
|
| |
|
 DYLAN
PRIME
62 Laight St., at Greenwich St., 212-334-4783; dylanprime.com
Yes, it's a steakhouse, but Dylan Prime is also home to noteworthy
cheese fondues. Served on a lazy susan, the fondue is intended as
a starter for hungry groups of 4 to 6 persons, looking for something
to nibble while picking out entrees and appetizers. Though there
are no fondues just for two, the romantic
restaurant and lounge's floor-to-ceiling windows, wine bottle displays,
and candlelight are certainly couple-friendly. And while we can't
make any promises, we hear that a chocolate dessert fondue may be
added in time for Valentine's.
• Cheeses: A mix of Pierre
Robert, gruyere, white cheddar, gorgonzola, and taleggio. Served
with apples, french onions, and bread. Cheese
fondue, $16. With beef on the side, $23.
|
| |
 MONT
BLANC
306 W. 48th St., at Eighth Ave., 212-582-9648, montblancrestaurant.com
Swiss and Austrian fare—including five types of fondue for two—make
up the menu at this reliable Theater District
old-timer. Here, patrons are mainly middle-aged and the dining setup
is traditional: red and white tablecloths, mini clusters of coordinating
flowers, and rustic touches. There's no Valentine's menu, but you
can treat yourselves to the raclette, a cheese dish which arrives
with a melt-it-yourself grill.
• Cheeses: A blend
of imported gruyere, ementhauler, brie, and Swiss cheeses, $39;
raclette $40.
• Seafood:
Shrimp, scallops, salmon, and tilapia. $42.
• Beef: filet
mignon. $49.
• Each served
with salad and potatoes.
• Chocolate
fondue served with fruits and pound cake. $16. |
| |
| |
| |
| Updated January 27, 2005 |
| |
|
|
