Rouge Tomate
10 East 60th Street, NY, NY, 10022
646-237-8977
http://rougetomatenyc.com/home
I happened upon the Rouge Tomate by chance- strolling around my new neighborhood! I was surprisingly intrigued by the menu posted outside what looked like a typical midtown restaurant. The claims of organic, local, and biodynamic intrigued me- and so starts my love affair with the Rouge Tomate!
To add more interest, I learned a Registered Dietitian participates in menu planning and ingredient lists! To quote the inside of their menu, “Rouge Tomate’s nutritional approach is based on a charter called SPE®, which stands for Sanitas Per Escam (Health Through Food), and was developed through the collaboration of chefs and dieticians working together. They use only local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients in the kitchen and prepare them with the goal of capturing their essential flavors while maintaining nutritional integrity”.
The menu was full of selections, which I appreciate, because it allows for portion control. Pasta dishes came with two size selections, ½ portion and full portion. There were toast starters, appetizers for the table, vegetables, fish, pasta, poultry and meat, and desserts. The menu also offered a seasonal tasting menu that came with an optional choice to add a wine pairing, cocktail pairing, or juice pairing.
I enjoyed sharing three toasts with different spreads while enjoying a tamarind-cardamom tequila cocktail. The toasts were followed with appetizers: of three small falafels- baked not fried, with home made yogurt riata and dried apricot chutney. I shared the Heirloom watermelon salad and Brussel sprouts as the vegetable dish, and finally I chose the Long Island Duck as my entrée. All dishes were colorful, flavorful, and fantastic!!
Did you think I would leave without dessert??? Think again! I chose the petite ice cream sandwiches which included 3 miniature ice cream sandwiches, one of which was my absolute favorite- two mini blueberry-oatmeal cookies with coconut icecream in the middle- it was heaven!!
Would I go back to this place?- In a heartbeat!
What I liked most- The dishes were so flavorful, fresh, and truly satisfying. I liked that a vegetarian or carnivore could appreciate a great meal here. Also, there are great non-alcoholic drink options.
What would I change?- I would have wanted the interior and design to reflect the philosophy of the kitchen. I was not a fan of the brightly lit screen panels of trees-so not natural looking! But then again, some people may like that!
