Merkato 55

Marcus Samuelson is brilliant. We've been attempting to replicate his dishes via the recipes in his cookbook "The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa" for a few months and thought we were doing an OK job, but tonight's meal at his newest NYC restaurant set the bar to a height I had forgotten existed. You may know Marcus as the Ethiopian-born Swedish-raised chef and mastermind behind NYC's acclaimed restaurant Aquavit, and his latest restaurant venture Merkato 55 is nothing less than genius. Seriously, if you live in the area or happen to have a trip planned to NYC in the near future - make reservations. Now.

We started with an assortment of African breads with hummus that was absolutely addictive. Seriously, had they allowed me access to the pastry chef I may have been tempted to comondere his services with the request that he make these delicious buttery spiced flavored breads and the most creamy wonderful hummus I've ever had...amazing. Next on the menu were oysters, and not the typical NYC Meatpacking District "here's an oyster a piece, enjoy" rather they actually split the dish between my husband and I and we each enjoyed three! Again an amazing spice filled dish that left us satisfied and wishing we were born with the talent required to recreate. The meal was topped off with a spicy doro wat and a mustard seed venison kebab dish, and "smiles all around" would be the understatement of the century. Yum, yum, yum, can't wait to go back.

I never take pictures in restaurants and I think my husband was thoroughly embarrassed when I insisted on taking a quick pick of our entrees, but the food was just so good!!