I met Wolfgang Weber, owner of spume, for lunch yesterday at a place I found on Menupages. He wanted to meet near the Empire State Building, so I obliged. I was so glad -- this place on E. 37th Street was lovely and very reasonably priced. A real find.
Zereoue is the brainchild of a former NFL running back Amos Zereoue, a native of the Ivory Coast, and the food reflects both France and West Africa in delicious ways.
The space is lovely and the subject of some discussion in the mainstream media. The staff was welcoming and most attentive, no doubt because we wre the only two people here for lunch. The hostess said, "You're lucky. It's very busy at dinner." I sure hope so, because the food was wonderful. For lunch I had a sensational 2-course prix fixe ($17!!) consisting of an omelette aux fines herbes that was worthy of Paris and then a huge curry chicken salad that we both ate and couldn't begin to finish. The flavors were lively and the food was both colorful and different enough to command attention.
New Yorkers, go to this place. The price is right and so is the food -- a marvellous blend of two traditions.
13 E. 37th St. (between 5th and Madison)
212-679-9355
www.zereoue.com
no wine w/ lunch?
Posted by: Fredric Koeppel | August 15, 2008 at 10:31 AM
No, amazing as that seems. Wolfgang had been tasting all AM and needed to go back and taste all PM -- Piemonte all week.
I am on antibiotics for bronchitis and didn't feel like sleeping at the table.
And Wolfgang saw a carton of Beringers emerge from the basement.
Posted by: Strappo | August 15, 2008 at 10:52 AM