I’ve only had the distinct pleasure of eating at Animal in L.A. once but considering it was with my little brother who shares my proclivity for over-ordering, it was a seriously gluttonous, and entirely delicious affair. But since I call Brooklyn home, trips to Vinegar Hill House, that welcoming gem on a quiet cobblestoned street where I was first introduced to a little, or rather, large, something called the wattle chop, are a far more frequent occurrence. But this past Wednesday night, the esteemed chefs from both restaurants (Vinnny Dotolo and Jon Shook, and Brian Leth respectively) teamed up in the name of Le Fooding for a Veuve Clicquot-sponsored eating event at Vinegar Hill House. On the menu: an extraordinarily silky zucchini and basil soup garnished with a handful of warm heirloom tomatoes and glug of olive oil, a super-bright and spicy fluke crudo swimming in a fish sauce, a cheddar-crusted hake with homemade tartar sauce that felt like an ode to the humble fried fish sandwich, a terrine of foie gras doused in a densely sweet sausage gravy, and a dessert of fig cake with coffee gelee. Oh and bubbly a plenty. Hard to play favorites but I will admit I was doing the math for a Vitamix in my head while eating that soup… FIORELLA V.
