Uncategorized | Pinky Finger Up

Taste Talks Brooklyn

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Nate Mack

The end of Summer is near. Time to put away my collection of tiki inspired shirts and break out some my camo and corduroys. Well, not quite yet. There is still an BBQ to two I need to attend. Right around the corner is Taste Talks Brooklyn Festival. Last year the festival was curated by ?love of the The Roots. This year will be just as good with James Beard winner Sean Brock taking over the curating duties. The weekend is full of conferences, round tables and of course food. My personal favorite event of the weekend, would have to be the All Star BBQ. This year chefs on board includes Leah Cohen (Pig&Khao) , Bill Durney (Hometown BBQ) and Matthew Hyland (Emily).

Peoples get your tickets!

http://www.brooklyn.tastetalks.com/tickets

Lucky Rice

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Nate Mack

deviled egg

Tuome Deviled Egg

Here at Pinkyfingerup, we are feeling kind of lucky these days. One of the grandest food festival in the country is right around the corner. The Lucky Rice Festival, spearheaded by globe traveling foodie Danielle Chang, presents the ever so popular Grand Feast. Now,in its seventh year, the event will be in Brooklyn after spending it residency at the Mandarin Oriental in Manhattan.

Once again, the event is sponsored by American Express and Bombay Sapphire Gin. Throughout the evening there will be bites representing some of Asian countries. Some of the eateries confirmed include Chomp Chomp (Singaporean), Maharlika (Filapino) and June Lan Club(Chinese). If your an adventurous eater, this is the event you need to attend. If you have a palate that likes a little zing and spiciness there will be various options for you. One reason why I personally enjoy this event is the many l memories I’ve had. At the Grand Feast was the first time I’ve tasted a cricket from the Black Ant team. Also, hands down had the best tasting deviled egg ever from Tuome. Come explore and leave with a memory that will be grand.

Ticket are still available @luckyrice.ticketfly.com

Pinkyfingerup!

Sushi Seki

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Nate Mack

Omakase is the Japanese tradition of letting a chef choose for you. The word actually means “I will leave it up to you”. It’s always an adventurous experience and will allow the chef to show off his creativity. Pinky Finger Up accepted an invitation to Sushi Seki tucked in Restaurant Row in Hell’s Kitchen. The two-tiered restaurant’s main floor is decked out with a large bar and a communal table. We started the evening with a few holiday inspired cocktails. After getting a tingle from the libations, the next move was to the second floor dining area. Upstairs features an artisanal whisky and sake bar followed by three Tatami rooms for private dining. The coliseum of the evening was sitting at the bar watching the chef perform his magic. Check the pics for all the tasty delights.

Draaaanks

Pure Sake we Drinking

Stocked

At the bar

Sashimi Style

Tuna

Lobster

Fluke

Yellowtail jalapeno

Toro Fat

Taste like Gold. Salmon with Blazed Tomato

Sake

My Uni says

Tempura

Yes

Salmon

Fluke, cilantro, lotus

Eel over fluke

Yes

Octopus

Tuna

Salmon/Quail Egg/Uni

Spicy Hand Roll

Fruit Plate

All Fruits Ripe/Panna Cotta

Lychee

Whiskey

PFU Rating: Ultimate Experience
Sushi Seki
365 W 46th St.
New York, NY 10036
(212) 371-0238

New York Taste…of Mind

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Nate Mack

Took a little time off to get my head right. I thought about whats next for PFU and for me in general. Along my journey, I’ve been faced with haters and folks who try to lay obstacles on my path to greatness. I almost let them get under my skin but I realized how far PFU has grown and the potential. So I decided to celebrate my greatness by attending New York Magazine Taste event. I’ve been going to this event for a very long time and it keeps getting better every year. Some of NYC’s best chef threw down.

– Pinky Finger Up

chicken liver mousse with currants and celery

pesto gnocchi

roasted pork belly with pineapple plantain salsa and manchamantelas sauce

freshly seared wagyu tataki with truffled ponzu

pastrami rib eye bite with fermented slaw

shrimp mushroom and watercress dumpling

austrailian hiramasa with avocado meyer lemon and rhubarb

pollo and mole blanco

vongole soup

bacon caesar roll

sorrel glazed spare ribs with daikon escovitch

hamachi crudo

bisquit fried chicken slider

lobster meatball

karee curry mac n cheese with blue crab

prospect park sour

beets goat milk with caraway

boneless short rib braised carrots mozzarella mustard and fried tuscan kale

goat dumplings peanuts piri piri with corriander salad

fideos burgundy snail and clam ragu cascabel and aioli

miso apple pie ice cream

sticky toffee pudding

beets goat milk punch cocktail

shrimp dumpling garlic sundried tomato paprika

grilled lamb merguez espelette aioli

sticky toffee pudding

salmon quenelle with lemon grass coconut milk and thai basil

charred burdock with pommes puree

sonambula

fluke crudo with concord grapes and pickled shishito peppers

beef brisket sliders

spicy pork balls

pipe rigate

seared nantucket bay scallops on truffle garlic toast

marinated hamachi with crispy quinoa

vanilla parfait coconut dacquise mango coconut sorbet

signature ramen

applejack cobbler

Taste Talks All Star BBQ

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Nate Mack

As we drift into Autumn season, the good folks at Northside delivered their annual Taste Talks festival. This year the festival was curated by The Roots drummer ?uestlove. Filled with panels with talks about the future of food and of course some great food. I happened to attend the All-Star BBQ, which went down like this.

– Pinky Finger Up

DANIEL EDDY Grilled Duck Sausage Plum Jam

PIERRE THIAM CATERING Grilled Island Creek Oysters Smoked Crayfish Mignonette and Cassava Leaves with Paenuts

SHANNON SHAFFER korean bbq beef brisket with asian pear fennel slaw wasabi pearls and puff rice crackers

ROB NEWTON (WILMA JEAN) grilled pork shoulder with rice noodles virginia peanuts cucumbers and herbs

HUGUE DUFOUR Deep Sea Red Crab

RUSSELL JACKSON grilled mussels with gujoung pork fat butter

JUSTIN SMILLIE Grilled Veal Ribs Charred Cherry Tomato Salsa

ROBICELLI’s BAKERY fuji apple pie with miso caramel and vanilla bean tofu cream

MICHAEL PSILAKIS pulled lamb slider

ALEX STUPAK La Hambrguesa Campeona Grilled Short Rib on a Potato Roll Red pepper Chorizo Relish Crispy Gaufrettes Smoked Mayo

CHEF ROBLE Peri Peri Wings Thai Duck Salad

BEN CONNIFF Chili Butter Lobster Tails Grilled Cabbage and Corn Slaw

Uptown Uncorked with Lexus

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Nate Mack

Lexus, Diageo Wines and Uptown Magazine joined forces to put together a nice little soiree. Chefs for the evening was The Cecil’s JJ Johnson and Don Bowie of NoBar in Brooklyn. Yes, the food was on point.

Croissant Bread Pudding with Peach Creme Anglaise

Coconut Pie with Sweet Potato Caramel Sauce

Gulf Shrimp served with Gouda Grits and Cajun Sauce

Chicken Suya with Piquillo Pepper Relish

Duck and Chicken Andouille Sausage Gumbo

Feijoada with Braised Oxtail and Spicy Black Beans

Flatiron Chefs

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Nate Mack

Aiiight…I think it’s time to stop sleeping on The Flatiron District. The neighborhood is filled with so many landmark dining experiences and spots for your drunken pleasure. Pinker Finger Up rolled in Madison Square Park ready to devour some of the best bites at The Celebrate Flatiron Chefs event. This event seems to be on Mother Nature’s bad side when it comes to the weather. As it did last year, the rain came pouring down. Let’s hope maybe they’ve learned their lesson and wont hold the event during the MLB All Star Game.

Check out some bites below.

– Pinky Finger Up

Pressed Lamb Belly Crispy Olive Spiced Yogurt

Strawberries Poached in Elderberry

Chilled Sweet Corn Soup Roasted Pepper Mayo

Pulled Duroc Pork Numpang Spicy Cambodian Slaw

Roasted Beets with Homemade Yogurt Balsamic Vinegar Chervil

Atlantic Salmon Sashimi with Artisan Lettuce Radish Roe

Homemade Cold Tofu with Perilla Jiang Vinaigrette

Sheeps Milk Ricotta Cheese Cake with Blueberries

The Angry Crab Cake Spicy Avocado bound Lump Crab Yuzu Aioli. Curry Candied Cauliflower Salty Almond Butter Balsamic Figs

Olive Oil Cake Basil Cream Roasted Peaches

Shrimp Cocktail Shooters Lamb Boti Kebabs

Seafood vuelve a la vida avocado horseradish

City Harvest Summer in the City

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Nate Mack

Summer in the city is in full swing and before you know it, summer will be gone. On my to do list is to enjoy a few bbq’s, sip on as many Guiness’ as I can, hit the beach, try as many ice cream spots and of course go to the best food tastings in the city. The event that tops the list is City Harvest’s Summer in the City.

Founded in 1982 as the world’s first food rescue organization, City Harvest (cityharvest.org) is dedicated to helping feed the nearly 1.4 million New Yorkers facing hunger. City Harvest will collect 55 million pounds of excess food from restaurants, grocers, bakeries, manufacturers, and farms, and deliver it free of charge to 500 community food programs across the city this year. In addition to helping meet the immediate need for food, City Harvest takes a long-term approach to fighting hunger by partnering with residents, local organizations and businesses through Healthy Neighborhoods programs which increase the availability of affordable fruits and vegetables in low-income communities and provide the nutrition education and resources to maintain a wholesome, food-secure diet.

– Pinky Finger Up

Mini Chicken Biscuit Ht sauce and Honey Butter

Gauc and Chips

Oysters on the Half Shell

Huevo con Huevo Soft Egg with Summer Vegetables and Crispy Shrimp

Pulled Pork Sliders

Bonji Old Fashion Bourbon Black Sugar Bitters and Bonji

Miso Ramen

Behind the Mule George Dickel White dog Katz Rock and Rye Ginger and Lime Raspberry Vinegar

Cherry wood Smoked Baby Back Spiced Pickled Watermelon and Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Paper Ships: Chamomile infused Hennessy Nonino Amaro and Cointreau

Taco with Braised Duck Leg Pipian Mole Black Truffle

Scallop and Shrimp Sausage with Peppers and Toasted Brioche

Mini Lobster Rolls on Potato Brioche

Confit of Pancetta

Blood and Fire : Tequila Hibiscus and Lime

Lamb Shawarma with Hummus Amba

Chicken Doro Wat and Crispy Onions Smoked Berber Spice

Fried Green Tomato with Pepper Jelly

Deviled Eggs with Jalepeno and chicarrones

Summer Squash Chayote Black Bean Puree

Crab Salad with Melon Cucumbr and Basil

Del Pedro Evening Falls Gin Pear Eau de Vie

Snap Peas with Wild Boar Bacon Sunchoke

Harissa Spiced Beet Tartare and Spiced Yogurt

Snap Mallow Pop

45 Day Dry Aged Sliders with D’affinois Cheese

Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Crudo with Green Goddess

Tuna Poke WontonTacos

Tin Cup Whiskey Champagne Syrup Belle Yuzu Juice

Yellowtail Ceviche with Ginger Coconut Sauce

Yellowtail Tiradito with Jalapeño and Lemongrass

Foster Avenue Scotch Bianco Vermouth Honey Melon Pear Eau de Vie

Carrot Soup with Carrot Chips and Pepperoni

Sliced Strip Steak with Blacha Truffle

Carnitas Tacos

Fresh Apricots with House-Cured Duck Prosciutto

Gin Fizz Squares

Cheftopia: The 30th Annual Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals-on-Wheels

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Nate Mack

Pinkyfingerup had a blast at Cheftopia. There was a great assortment of chefs from all over the country. My favorite dishes of the evening were Forgione’s Tongue Taco, Park Avenue Summers Spiced Lamb Rib and SPQR White tuna crudo.

For the landmark anniversary, tonight’s event honored founding chefs Larry Forgione and Jonathan Waxman. Chefs Forgione and Waxman, along with the other culinary stars, will celebrate the past while looking to the future by creating dishes inspired by tomorrow’s food trends.

To support Citymeals-on-Wheels and give a gift, click here.

Coi Chilled spiced yellow squash soup lime nasturtium

Tao yuan Lapsang suchong tea smoked chicken persian cucumbers sesame candied cashews

La fonda bbq chkn empanandas

Patina escabeche of yellow tail

Grand tier restaurant naan taco

Lincoln mallireddus

Sea grill sweet tempura

Stampede 66 salmon ceviche

Morimoto cold ramen

The purple pig pork hot dog

Ox chorizo spiced eggplant

Mark Forgione Tongue Taco fermented chilies wild garlic

Nightingale 9 shan style tofu catfish tea leaves

Barbuto spring salad

Cia oyster corn bread

Boulevard burrata beet polenta winter truffles

Fork restaurant sunflower risotto

Menton seeded foie gras lollipop

Gotham organic heirloom veg ceviche

Clover Club courvoisier cognac lemon raspberry grapefruit orange bitters

The Happiest Hour Belvedere Vodka Campari Grapefruit lemon

Zacapa Rum Sherry pineapple honey coconut water

Kitchen garden panetone strawberry

Cafe boulud poulet aux morilles peas a la francais

Scarpetta pressed duck ground cherries

Morgans wagyu beef asparagus ramp

Nobu hand rolls

Park Avenue Summer Spiced Lamb Ribs Smoked Cherries

Rainbow Room Fried chicken onion butter smoked bacon waffles chipotle mustard maple syrup

Back room bourbon crab succotash

Rock center cafe smoke tongue taleggio fondue

State grill early summer tartine

Stella 34 tomato braised veal meatball

SPQR White Tuna Crudo lettuce charred vegetable sauce

Sea grill gluten free tempura

Telepan carrot pasta brown butter

Nights Out: Taste of the Nation

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Nate Mack

We love the kids here at Pinky Finger Up, so we support any event that help feeds families. Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign does just that. We had the pleasure to join this wonderful charity in their signature event Taste of a Nation. A who’s who of the hottest chefs and bartenders displayed their magic in the former Chase Bank headquarters. Results were a night to remember. Check out some of bites we enjoyed.

– Pinky Finger Up