Scorpio Celebration at DBGB Kitchen and Bar

'Tis the season to celebrate Scorpios!  In honor of the fact that Sherwyn, Jennine, and Mel share a zodiac sign, we all went out for a yummy dinner and catching-up session at DBGB Kitchen and Bar - a downtown Daniel Boulud restaurant.

The first thing one notices upon entering DBGB is the decor: deep, dark wood accentuated by mirrors with artfully scripted menu items.  We sat in the front bar room which provides a nice view of the foot traffic on Bowery.  The back room is cool as well, with cozy banquettes and a view into the kitchen.

The drink menu is extensive, and the food menu has so many amazing choices it took us a while to narrow down our favorites.  Once the food arrived, we pretty much ate family style so we could sample everything.  So feast your eyes on the feast:

 Grilled Escarole 

(AMAZING smokey flavor with a perfect blend of pine nuts and sauce; THIS is the way to make a leafy green!)

West Coast Oysters

Duck Risotto (a special)

(tasty preparation similar to rice balls)

Long Island Duck Duo

(so tender)

Slow Cooked Scottish Salmon

(cooked perfectly)

Lamb (newly added to prix fixe menu)

(amazing curry kick)

Hanger Steak (prix fixe menu)

(spiced and cooked perfectly)

Perhaps the greatest compliment to the chef:  the sauces with every dish were so delectable, DJ requested a basket of bread to soak them all up.  As we chatted, he and Jennine started dipping away from every plate (at one point DJ even put plain ketchup on his bread and declared that it tasted homemade).  Before we knew it, every piece of bread was gone and every plate was wiped clean!  It also became clear that Jennine and DJ make fabulous dining buddies; perhaps we have a future guest blogger in the making.  :)

Then dessert:

 Pumpkin-Yogurt Sundae

'Chocolate Only' Cake

(the layering of mousse and cake along with the crispy garnishes made it a beautifully deconstructed candy bar)

Bourbon-Chocolate Sundae

(emphasis on BOURBON - whew!)

Overall, DBGB Kitchen and Bar provided a wonderful laid-back atmosphere to enjoy some fantastic food.  We would highly recommend it and will definitely return.