Whisky Dinner @ David Burke’s Primehouse

Talisker

Singleton

Amuse Bouche

Last week Wednesday, before I went to California and before my family was visiting, Chuck and I met up with Alpana Singh and her husband Charles Blackstone at a wine tasting she was hosting at Osteria Via Stato. Afterwards she had made dinner arrangements for us at David Burke’s Primehouse and also invited Martin Duffy, a whisky expert.

Butter

Popover

Marty made special arrangements to bring his own high-end whiskys to dinner and spent a lot of time describing each one and educating us about whisky and scotch, how it’s made, how it tastes, the smell, where it comes from, it’s history, etc. I know some of the others at dinner knew more about whisky, but for me it was really a learning experience. I think whisky will have to be an acquired taste for me and I should probably keep at it, but I like trying new things and learning all about whisky that night was really fun for me.

Cold Seafood

Onion Ring Tower

I must also talk about David Burke’s Primehouse. It was divine. I don’t eat very much steak at all, but I thought it was fantastic. I loved the decor, the lighting, the tables, and of course the food. The service was pretty great, but because we had special arrangements, I can’t really speak for how it is on a regular night. I mean, David Burke himself came out to our table to say hello. Awesome.

Bone-In Filet

Caol Ila

Glenkinchie

One thing I really liked about Primehouse even before I set foot in the restaurant was the fact that the restaurant is named after a bull on a ranch in Kentucky that sires all of the cows who are then butchered to make the steaks used in David Burke’s restaurants. The bull’s name is Prime (and he has his own website here). It’s kind of morbid to think about, but I was really digging the fact that David Burke is so into his ingredients and that involved in knowing where they come from. Also, an interesting fact we learned that night: If Prime were to die today, there’s enough of him (his sperm?) in storage that they could continue making steaks with his lineage for about 50 years.

Lagavulin

Chocolate Mousse

Lollipop Tree

Here’s what it comes down to – David Burke’s Primehouse is pricey, but I thought it was really worth it. If you’re in Chicago and have a special occasion coming up and you love steak, why not try it out instead of the normal go-tos like Morton’s and Gibson’s?

Read Chuck’s post about our dinner on Chicagoist.

Cookies

Cake

Out of Towners


Saturday, June 21, 2003. Rachelle waiting in Penn Station in New York for Lorna’s train to arrive from Niagra Falls, NY.


Kelly waiting for Lorna’s train to arrive. We were waiting at the wrong gate for about 20 minutes.


Luckily, Kelly spotted Lorna in the station. Lorna is Kelly’s British friend from college and is on a year-long trip. She started out in Canada, is making her way across the United States, then is off to Figi, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. So jealous!


Sunday, June 22, 2003. It was a long day of travel for Lorna and Kelly so we stayed in Saturday night. On Sunday, we got yummy bagels and cream cheese from Bagels on the Square on 6th Avenue in the West Village.


If we had a band our band name would be “The Reds”.


Subway art in the Chambers Street stop on the ACE subway line.


World Trade Center site.


World Trade Center site.


World Trade Center site.


World Trade Center site.


Old cemetary near the World Trade Center site.


Old cemetary near the World Trade Center site.


After looking for “trainers” for Lorna at Century 21 we decide to have afternoon tea at Starbucks. Except it wasn’t tea it was coffee, and it wasn’t at the right time. Kelly enjoys a nice Starbucks frozen treat.


So does Rachelle.


Lorna and Kelly.


At the gates of heaven!


I was so excited to go to the chocolate exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History.


Kelly & I eat David Burke’s Gourmet Pops (gourmet frozen chocolate-covered cheesecake pops) after viewing the chocolate exhibit.


This is a coffin in the shape of a cocoa bean. This is how I’d like to be buried!


Chocolate.. yummmmmmmmmmmm.


Jeannette, Kelly, Lorna, Rachelle at Kobma Thai.


Our first dessert after dinner was at Magnolia Bakery where we all split a few cupcakes. Here you can see a baker frosting some cupcakes. Our second desert was ice cream from Cones.


Monday, June 23, 2003. Monday night and Tuesday night Lorna is staying in a Youth Hostel in Chelsea. We had to stop by in the morning to check in. Kelly and I waited in the “garden” while Lorna got everything sorted out.


Kelly in the garden of the hostel.


Waiting in the garden.


Kelly & Rachelle & the Empire State Building.


The Post Office. It was a beautiful day so I waited outside while Lorna mailed some things home.


The Post Office.


I tease Kelly about taking photos of “nothing” but then I love to take photos like this!


Looking north from the post office.


Looking south from the post office.


Straight across the street is Madison Square Garden.


We grabbed lunch.. some sandwiches and wraps, a knish to share, and a black & white cookie and headed over to Central Park.


Trying to take a photo of ourselves didn’t quite work.


Try again!!


And again!


One more try!


Finally!


Navy Terrace & Bethesda Fountain


Bethesda Fountain in Navy Terrace.


Bethesda Fountain.


Poor dog… so hot out!


Ducks in Bethesda Fountain.


Horse & carriage in Central Park.

Kelly & Lorna were in town this weekend. So much fun. Kelly is from around the DC area and Lorna from around London. Lorna is a friend of Kelly’s from college who is traveling around the world this year. She started in Canada and is making her way across America, east to west. After California, she’ll be island hopping in Fiji. Then it’s on to New Zealand, Australia and finally South Africa. I’m so jealous! Good luck, Lorna!