Recently, the gang brunched at Blue Smoke, a Danny Meyer restaurant specializing in barbecue from all the popular BBQ nexuses of the nation, including Texas (yeehaw !), North Carolina, Kansas City and Memphis.
We ordered a slew of appetizers including spicy cheesy fries with crispy but tender fries topped with a cheesy goo in addition to homemade barbecue chips, heavily dusted with paprika and scarlet spices, served with a creamy blue cheese and bacon dip as well as a healthy side of macaroni and cheese.
For entrees, some students ordered dishes from the brunch menu in addition to the regular lunch menu, with large plates of eggs benedict, ribs, sausage, brisket, pulled pork and roast chicken filling our shiny, wooden tables. I ate the eggs benedict, which consisted of slices of smoked pork belly, poached eggs and Texas toast.
It was satisfying, as any perfectly poached egg would be, and the buttery Texas toast was a nice touch, but the dish was not particularly distinctive, even with thick slices of smoky pork belly.
Dessert was a highlight of the meal for most. Large ice cream sundaes arrived at the table, thick slices of banana cream, and mini bundt lemonade cakes with thick blueberry sauce. I enjoyed the bright citrusy flavors of the lemonade cake, but it was a bit plain compared to the stellar, fresh banana cream pie, which was less of a cream pie and more like delicious chunks of sweet bananas topped with a heavy layer of whipped cream. It was quite delightful.
After gorging ourselves on America's greatest cuisine, we were treated to a guided tour from the head chef smoker of their ovens as well as their woodburning furnace. It was a fun way to learn how they continuously smoke racks of ribs for 18 hours, and learn about the types of wood they used in the furnace to create their signature smoke flavor.
Upon leaving, I saw a member of the kitchen staff carrying a huge tray of fried chicken which looked pretty stellar. I might have to return to see what that's all about. Aaaand eat a fat slice of banana cream pie !
Blue Smoke
116 E 27th St
New York, NY
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