Craft--Manhattan

212.780.0880

So the ol' wifey wife is a huge top chef fan.  I've always found the only inspiring thing about the show was the hot co-host's body, but since it is one of the only shows that she likes that I can tolerate I admit to having seen my fair share.  Craft's Tom Colicchio I always found kind of douchey--in that the name of the show should really be called top cook as there's no contest for scheduling, food costs, hiring right, or any of the other managerial responsibilities of what a real chef may do.  He's always kind of a dick, and walks around with his chef jacket on in the kitchen scenes, and I've always thought he was pretentious and unnecessarily critical.  Don't get me wrong, I know this guy has chops, serious food award winning chops, but Bill Laimbeer was good at basketball and he still was a cockhead.  Okay, with that said I went to Craft ready to take this guy down, ready to nitpick to death just to satisfy my overwhelming insecurities when it comes to being in the presence of celebrities, nay celebrity chefs, wait, celebrity chefs that I am convinced are kind of douchey.

And I am disappointed to say Craft delivered.  Ever aspect save one (see below) of this dining experience was executed flawlessly.  We went for an anniversary dinner, and had everything for two.  Simple arugula salad.  Perfect.  Sirloin for two. Perfect.  Hemmingway daiquiri.  Perfect.  Service.  Perfect.  Ambiance.  Elegant yet not pretentious  Music....wait a minute!  They were playing a pandora station (I got this from the waiter who had worked their ten years and told me everything I ever thought about Colicchio was wrong) that Colicchio designed.   It was a bunch of recognizable alt bands, but the one that really stuck out was the Pixies.  Who the fuck plays Pixies as background music!  Eat a dick Tommy Boy, I knew I'd get you.