Blue Elm

For Joy's birthday, we had dinner at a new restaurant, Blue Elm. The sign outside is so nondescript, I almost walked past it. Inside is a beautiful and cozy interior. Great place for groups and dates. The chef's background is Senegalese and his food is a fusion of his roots with French training and Asian influences. Personally I didn't quite get that fusion. I think I was looking for more Senegalese influence. Still a good meal overall.

Heirloom tomato, micro-green leaves, chayote, lime zest, extra virgin olive oil....I <3 heirloom tomatoes. I'm sad the season is over.

Pan-seared scallops, fava beans, morel mushrooms and sweet-corn puree with a strawberry and balsalmic reduction. Just your typical scallop dish. They were cooked well which is always a plus.

Halibut, pumpkin biscuits, Savoy cabbage, lima beans, with a tomato-saffron broth. I thought this dish was pretty good. The halibut was quite yummy. Weird that it's plated so off center.

Soft shell crabs, mushrooms, asparagus, sweet corn, and brown butter aioli, with a jus vert sauce. I love the way this dish looks....I'm obsessed with the dotted sauce look.


Portabello mushrooms, crabmeat and micro-amaranth with a beet sauce. I was excited to try this dish but it just tasted mushy. I like the bright pink beet sauce.

Dessert was a giant cookie cake from Mrs. Fields. Reminds me of the SATC episode with Miranda and the doctor! The kitchen was gracious enough to cut it up for us and even spruced it up with some raspberry sauce!

Overall I enjoyed my meal here but wasn't really wowed. None of the dishes really seemed that new or innovative. I'd give it another try after it's been open awhile and has worked out some of the opening kinks.




Restaurants mentioned:
Blue Elm
198 Orchard St.
New York, NY 10002