My friend who works for the Port Authority suggesting dining at the two Michelin Star SHO Shaun Hergatt restaurant after visiting the 9/11 Memorial as they offer an incredible prix fixe bargain of a 2-course lunch for $29,  3 courses only 33. The restaurant is named for its Austrian chef.  By the way, if you want to visit the 9/11 memorial keep in mind you need to make a reservation at www.911memorial.org/

Shaun’s preparations are Asian influenced, modern French and definitely constructed food. As we were perusing the menu and sipping our champagne (complements of the chef, who I had met at a recent Rendang Cook-off), we nibbled their crusty dense whole wheat bread with delicious French sweet butter and a gummy spinach and potato dish, the only disappointment of the meal.

I sipped a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine de Bel Air, Pouilly Fume, Loire France while enjoying the Cauliflower Espuma with creamy quenelle-like Peekytoe crab drizzled with chive oil (although the menu state tarragon) topped with crispy cauliflower chips.

My friend sampled the slow poached egg from update New York, in a truffle froth and red sorrel, topped with fennel fronds. Both unusually tasty

For my entree, I had the tender day boat cod from Chatham MA in a basil oil creme over broccolini, a couple slices of chorizo on a potato terrine slice, plate garnished with espelette pepper and African basil leaves, while my friend indulges in his perfectly cooked hanger stake in a Bordeaux red wine jus, over celery root puree, over diced market veggies (rutabaga, celery root, pearl onion, squash) garnished with Brussels sprouts leaves.

No dessert, as we chose to only sample the 2-course meal.

SHO is worth a trip to the heart of the financial district for some elegantly served, outstanding food.

– bonnie

SHO Shaun Hergatt
40 Broad St (in the Setai Hotel)
New York, NY 10004
(212) 809-3993
shoshaunhergatt.com
SHO Shaun Hergatt on Urbanspoon