Inside FR.OG |
French KissedFR.OG (France Origine) Opens on Spring Street Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Admit it: lots of good things come from France. There’s Champagne. Cognac, of course. And especially Ludivine Sagnier (from Swimming Pool, oui?). But let’s face it, French food sets the standard around the globe. Owners Philip Kirsh and Chef Didier Virot of the newly opened FR.OG know just that. Melding the cuisines of Morocco, Vietnam, Lebanon and France, their new SoHo hotspot showcases the finest array of French fusion fare in NYC. A dramatic departure from the duo’s first restaurant, AIX Brasserie, FR.OG takes Chef Virot’s acclaimed innovative French cuisine to another level. Signature dishes include Nem Ran of pork or shrimp, Monkfish in Tajine with mixed asparagus and zucchini, and the almost-dessert-like Grouper roasted with almond and honey. Drinks almost steal the show with enticing combinations: try “The Cloud”, lemongrass infused Cruzan rum, coconut and Vietnamese herbs. The menu’s wide palate of spice and flavor come together in an equally eclectic décor. Bold pinks, blues, and oranges add splashes of color to the Mediterranean influenced design, especially in the white glass and marble bar with electric pink leather stools and vibrant lit shelving. But the two-floor interior’s showpiece is the staircase lined with mosaic mirror and Baccarat crystal pendants. Avante garde, bold flavor and design, pulled together deliciously. What else would you expect from the French?
|