In Manhattan: Flinders Lane @FLINDERSLANENYC Spring 2018 by Chris McPherson and Chris Rendell - STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT THE AUSTRALIANS ARE THERE!
Executive Chef and Owner Chris Rendell of Flinders Lane
Pretty in Pink: Dragonfruit from Thailand!
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and we know Chris and Chris and you know there is no better name! The team of Chris's are owners of Flinders Lane, by far the star of their East Village neighborhood. They were last featured in Winter 2017:
They were first featured in early 2015:
and they also earned a spot in Peachy's Picks in 2015:
Of course their press page is just stunning:
And better yet they are now in Connecticut! Stamford!
We began with Kale salad. If you think you don't like Kale, clearly you have not had this salad. It's well-cut, fresh and a good sized portion enhanced by white anchovies that are not overly salty-just perfect, pecorino, radish and refreshing lemon dressing which is essence of lemon, not some overly manufactured inferiority of dressing like you will find at their competitors.
Ta da! Check out these gorgeous BBQ prawns. Sourced from the Gulf of Mexico, they are ready to swim into your stomach this spring. Note that Chris Rendell, executive chef and owner, creates dishes to look exactly this attractive and no pictures are ever edited. Their competition should be intimidated.
Flinders Lane excels at Seafood in particular, and the periperi sauce that graces this shrimp/prawn (Peachy is American and has a hard time with the noun prawn and prefers shrimp because she is a shrimp if you really know her!) is absolutely terrific. If you are Australian you know Nando's which is the inspiration behind this periperi sauce of red pepper, vinegar and tomato that is just smashing. The shrimp is precisely singed to a pretty pink that is also pretty delicious. Warm cocktail sauce also comes to the party. This was a special when we visited.
Meet Diver Scallops, a favorite! Few venues anywhere do scallops as well as Flinders Lane. Day Boat Scallops revel in exotic delicacies of hijiki, baby arugula and chili-cashew relish.
You're not going to find better Australian wine anywhere in North America, unless of course you go to their Stamford, Connecticut location which is high on our "to-do" list. Sommelier/Manager Alan Bickerman suggested winners as always, and owner Chris McPherson historically has nailed it on every wine presentation. We love their personalized glasses also and everyone should do this.
A regular on the menu, Roasted Salmon is extraordinary at Flinders Lane, and the presentation is so beautiful you hate to disrupt it. But you will, because it is so tasty. It is exactly medium rare as you wish and it is sourced from New Zealand. Spinach puree, radishes and pickled mushrooms round out the party on a plate and a special you can't miss is the roasted Australian Lamb rack:
Peachy absolutely hates lamb and won't eat it anywhere else. However, she loves this lamb. From Victoria in Australia's Western Plains, the lamb is just decadent in its harissa moroccan red pepper sauce and middle eastern cucumber mint yogurt. On the bone, the lamb is superlative and you must try it if it is a special when you visit.
Do not miss the phenomenal Crispy Brussel Sprouts with Chili-Caramel dressing which really is a top-level enhancement. Nine and a half years doing this we meet few dishes that we have no idea of what they are. Do you know what this is? We didn't:
It is your new favorite fruit, Dragonfruit. Even if you don't watch Game of Thrones, you will love it and you will want to be Mother of Dragonfruit dessert. It is the best dessert we've had recently and it is joined by grapefruit, orange, lime syrup and mint. Perfection!
Chris Rendell and Peachy Deegan
Flinders Lane is among our favorites and it is Highly Recommended.
Obviously Peachy still Picks it as it lords over all competition for blocks in the East Village.
