Crepes And Corks: Atoboy

I had the pleasure of spending a few days in NYC with my mom and another mother-daughter duo. My mom recommended we try some "ethnic" cuisine on one of our nights. I saw Atoboy listed on the Eater list of hottest restaurants in New York City at the moment, listed as a "modern Korean restaurant". That qualifies as ethnic...right? We were more than pleasantly surprised. The chefs are a husband and wife duo, Junghyun and Ellia Park. Junghyun is the former Chef de Cuisine of Jungsik -

a two Michelin starred Korean restaurant in New York. The restaurant just opened this summer, and has already made the 2017 list of Michelin's Bib Gourmand Selections.

Despite all those qualifications, the atmosphere was refreshing and quite casual. The menu allows diners to select three small dishes for $36-per-person, served with a bowl of rice. Chef Park's idea was to bring Banchan, the side dishes usually served with traditional Korean meals, as the focal point. Being four people at dinner, we each selected our choices from the three categories, and enjoyed them family style. And of course we ordered all three dessert options as well. This was one of the absolute highlights of the trip. I can't recommend Atoboy enough!

Amuse-bouche of salted pumpkin seeds and seaweed crackers

Selections for the first course, starting top right and going clockwise - Beef tartare**, Cobia (white fish, with Korean pear, sesame seed and perilla), Eggplant with Crab, and Leeks** (with Doenjang, Cheddar and Walnut)