December 16, 2009
You guys, let’s be honest: in our heart of hearts, don’t we all just want the Don Drapers of our lives to take us out to LUTECE? Lutece opened in 1961 to great acclaim, so it’s no wonder Don and Roger try to go there so often. It was founded by early celeb chef Andre Soltner who remained head chef and owner until closing. From their now defunct website: “The restaurant offers a variety of settings including Le Jardin, which is the main dining room, and two unique private rooms on the second floor of a townhouse appointed with hand-gilded suede walls and crystal chandeliers to create the perfect intimate setting for guest’s enjoyment.” Sample Menu (so delish):AppetizersPheasant Soup & Poached Quenellewith green lentils, endive & arugulaCaviar Soupwith Madeleine Island bay scallops, cauliflower mousseline & poached quail eggChestnuts & Porcini Mushroomscooked en cocotte with grilled pancetta & roasted chicken jusArtichoke Saladwith ruby red grapefruit vinaigrette, thai basilBrittany Langoustineswatercress civet, gold beets & shaved winter black truffleYukon Gold Potato & Winter Black Truffle PiesabayonEntreesPan Seared Lacquered Monkfishwith nicoise olive sauce, baby bok choy, chick pea puree & lemon confitRoasted Turbot on the Bonewith ginger & parmesan, tarbais beans with fresh tomato concasse & arugulaSauteed Black Sea Basswith baby spinach, vanilla jusSauteed Lobsterwith sauteed foie gras wrapped in a chard leaf,braised savoy cabbage, grapes & fennelSauteed Partridgepoached foie gras wrapped in a chard leaf,braised savoy cabbage, grapes & fennelRoasted Farm Raised Chickenpommes macaires, black truffle jus It had three main dining rooms, called Le Jardin, Le Petit Salon, and Le Grand Salon. The Drapers and such did not eat in Le Jardin, because there didn’t seem to be any green and yellow accents. In the 60s, Julia Child called Lutece the greatest restaurant in the United States. Here’s the NY Times article on its closing which discusses how Lutece always got most of its business from business lunches and dinners. • footnote - by Natasha Simons

You guys, let’s be honest: in our heart of hearts, don’t we all just want the Don Drapers of our lives to take us out to LUTECE?

Lutece opened in 1961 to great acclaim, so it’s no wonder Don and Roger try to go there so often. It was founded by early celeb chef Andre Soltner who remained head chef and owner until closing. From their now defunct website: “The restaurant offers a variety of settings including Le Jardin, which is the main dining room, and two unique private rooms on the second floor of a townhouse appointed with hand-gilded suede walls and crystal chandeliers to create the perfect intimate setting for guest’s enjoyment.”


Sample Menu (so delish):

Appetizers
Pheasant Soup & Poached Quenelle
with green lentils, endive & arugula

Caviar Soup
with Madeleine Island bay scallops, cauliflower mousseline & poached quail egg

Chestnuts & Porcini Mushrooms
cooked en cocotte with grilled pancetta & roasted chicken jus

Artichoke Salad
with ruby red grapefruit vinaigrette, thai basil

Brittany Langoustines
watercress civet, gold beets & shaved winter black truffle

Yukon Gold Potato & Winter Black Truffle Pie
sabayon

Entrees
Pan Seared Lacquered Monkfish
with nicoise olive sauce, baby bok choy, chick pea puree & lemon confit

Roasted Turbot on the Bone
with ginger & parmesan, tarbais beans with fresh tomato concasse & arugula

Sauteed Black Sea Bass
with baby spinach, vanilla jus

Sauteed Lobster
with sauteed foie gras wrapped in a chard leaf,
braised savoy cabbage, grapes & fennel

Sauteed Partridge
poached foie gras wrapped in a chard leaf,
braised savoy cabbage, grapes & fennel

Roasted Farm Raised Chicken
pommes macaires, black truffle jus



It had three main dining rooms, called Le Jardin, Le Petit Salon, and Le Grand Salon. The Drapers and such did not eat in Le Jardin, because there didn’t seem to be any green and yellow accents.

In the 60s, Julia Child called Lutece the greatest restaurant in the United States.

Here’s the NY Times article on its closing which discusses how Lutece always got most of its business from business lunches and dinners.

• footnote - by Natasha Simons

9:43pm
(No. OF NOTES: 22)