The charming outdoor space at Table D'Hote
The superb whitebait of Table D'Hote
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One of the most exciting things happened in Manhattan last summer-Table D'Hote added outdoor seating! Seats are highly coveted at this venue on 92nd street close to Madison that is led by Mover and Shaker Bill Knapp, and seat additions are most welcome news. We could not be more thrilled to present Table D'Hote as our latest newcomer to Peachy Dines Al Fresco. Winter is coming, Manhattan, and if it's anything like last winter you want to spend as many days as possible enjoying the glorious weather in beautiful outdoor spaces as you can.
We simply love it at Table D'Hote.
We last featured it in 2013:
and we first featured it in 2012:
The clean, pristine venue transports you to a countryside type of serenity, and as the outdoor space is on the highly civilized block of 92nd close to Madison, between Madison and Park, know that you are in a gorgeous neighborhood tree-lined street, not a congested avenue with a lot of commercial traffic. The only fumes you might inhale come from the warm welcoming enticing smell of fresh bread that comes to the table with quality butter.
You know a place is really fantastic if we are even mentioning the bread.
The bread becomes busier when you assign it to the task of mopping up every last glorious drop of Bouchot Mussels with saffron rouille. We love the mussels here and you absolutely must try them.
The octopus we know is top-notch and grilled to perfection. Presented beautifully as well, the octopus boasted a nice char and was perfectly tender: not too chewy. It was joined by lemon confit and fennel salad and there was a nice citrus balance to the fennel.
Chef Billy also treated us to a divine item that Peachy Deegan actually had never tried before: whitebait! Our sophisticated panelist who has attended culinary school said this special appetizer reminded her of her childhood in France. The whitebait were flash fried to perfection and Peachy cannot wait until her next whitebait experience. These were fascinating and delicious!
The menu at Table D'Hote is short and sweet and has a lot of depth to each item. The Chatham Cod, above, is a tremendously succulent choice for an entree and is joined by a colorful combination of braised summer squash and tomato, garnished with lemon thyme. It screamed summer with enthusiasm to our tastebuds!
We also tried the Duck Confit, a classic French dish that is enormously flavorful at Table D'Hote. Resting on a bed of white beans accentuated by our beloved friend, bacon, this bird tastes so amazing you will nearly quack.
A deep satisfying glass of Cabernet for Peachy and a Martini for our panelist, a time-honored Martini.
And would you believe there is something Peachy for dessert!
Bien sur, mes amies!
Please meet the Peach and Blueberry Tart:
The majestic sweetness of the creme fraiche semi-freddo added glory to the summer fruit at its peak of perfection, and the warm spices added here enhanced the experience. We also tried the Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake with rhubarb scone, strawberries and creme chantilly. The scone was just right and not too soggy.
Led by Executive Chef and Owner Bill Knapp, Table D'Hote is among the most elite and coveted culinary destinations of Manhattan's prestigious Upper East side. Reminiscent of a French countryside in ambiance paired with locally sourced ingredients that entice guests to return again and again, Table D'Hote is truly an undiscovered gem to those that have not yet started to frequent this venue. Bill graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in 1994 and has worked at several established restaurants in New York City including The "21" Club, Patroon, and Bryant Park Grill, before making his way to Danny Meyers and Tom Colicchio's famed Gramercy Tavern. In the fall of 2003, Bill accepted the position of Chef de Cuisine at Tom Colicchio's Craft Restaurant and later joined the team at Taste Catering on New York's West Side. After a few years, he was sought after to take the position as Executive Banquet Chef at The Loeb Central Park Boathouse. All of this culinary expertise evolved through each of these experiences truly shines at Table D'Hote, Bill's own creation today, coming up on its one-year anniversary. On September 9th, 2011, Bill re-opened Table d'Hote in New York City, at 44 East 92nd Street, a well-respected establishment opened and operated since 1978 by two fabulous people, Vivek Bandhu and Lauri Gibson. Whether you are indulging in the crabcakes, grass-fed steak or the decadent desserts (the blueberry peach tarte is divine!), Table D'Hote boasts a menu that includes the finest delights to please everyone. By executing great dishes with a seasonally inspired menu and maintaining a subtle ambiance, Bill impresses all that travel from near and far with his extensive diverse New York experience, creative approaches, desire, and passion to sourcing only the best ingredients available to culminate in a truly unparalleled dining experience.
