Kin Shop with a Top Chef

Why is it taking me so long to write this? I started this last week and I’m still working on it. Not to mention my Macbook is dead and it’s snowstorming outside so I can’t go get it fixed. #$%^ Anyways taking a break from work [busy day] to finish this up and post it before everyone leaves from work.

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I swear our host was Seth Rogan…. I got there earlier than Z and waited by the door…

I swear just like that but with a little more facial hair… except, altho the light was dim, the host was super ginger… :] But yeah, he looked like him and sounded like him and even had almost the same awesome laugh as Seth. Not the same kind of Seth Rogan charm [but close] if I was an obsessive Seth Rogan fan I probably would’ve tried to bone him right then and there.. thankfully I wasn’t and I patiently waited for my date to arrive.

We’ve been in food depression. Deep deep food depression. So much so that, in fact, we were supposed to be eating a delicious 5-course meal at Public tonight but instead we decided that it was too “close to home” from our previous two dinners [which, food-wise left us wanting]…. and opted for some Asian. Somehow we both craved Asian and decided on the Thai inspired Kin Shop

Vinegar and Hot Spices

We started off with some beers… because… wine and curry? Meh, doesn’t really sound super tasty to me…

Full Sail Session Premium Lager

Z had a pour fail hahahaha and it exploded everywhere… it’s okay, still tasty… but look how cute it’s little bump is :] *Everyone go awwwwww*

Uncommon Brewers, Siamese Twin Ale, California

Belgian Style Double / Amber / Infused Lemongrass & Kaffir Lime / Smooth

The latter, the Siamese Twin Ale was a little too sweet for my liking but had great lime flavors….. but I mainly stuck with the first one… :]

We said around, I talked about our host being Seth Rogan for awhile and I searched around for the famed Top Chef chef/owner. We ordered [a lot] and then waited for it to come.. and come it did – and all at once…..

First up? The MAIN dish we came here for:

[Backstory: Z sent me a magazine article about Kin Shop and with a HUGE picture of their sexy "special" bone marrow.... we knew then and there that we HAD to come to Kin and we HAD to get the marrow.. The End.]

Roasted Bone Marrow

Crisp Taro Root, Radish Sprouts, Roti & Yellow Bean Sauce

It lived up to our expectations and more….. it was the most complicated exquisite and yet delicious and still SIMPLY BONE MARROW dish ever.  A nice creamy asuce with some sprouts to add freshness and crunch….  and little melt-in-your-mouth taro crisps… the bone marrow was melty and so liquidy I was sucking it out - LITERALLY… sucking the juice outta the bone ;D No other non-pervy way to put it.

Their Roti Canai is crisp, greasy and to die for:

Squid Ink & Hot Sesame Oil Soup

Squid, Ground Brisket & Snake Beans

This was delicious!!!! It looks like black sesame soup or just black ink but it was full of flavor – just a hint of heat/spice and perfectly cooked tender squid rings with ground brisket inside them.  The beans were still crunchy and perfectly cooked…. yum yum yum, I drank a lot of this :]

Hand Cut Beef Tartar

Chili Jam, Rice Crackers, Quail Egg & Mushroom Soy Sauce

The beef was a little underseasoned but perfectly handcut, chunky, fresh and well… fresh :] Can’t beat fresh raw beef… I wasn’t too fond of the rice crackers, neither was Z, he liked the beef with the sauce, I on the other hand just sprinkled some of the hot spices on my bites.

A Dirty Dirty Extra Dirty Martini for Z :]

Tasted it, tasted like yummy olives :] I don’t usually like classic dirty martinis but this was good

Gamay, Terres Dorees, FRV 100, 2009

Bleh. I hated it, sooo sweet – not what I wanted at ALL.. I stuck to my Session beer….

Red: Roasted Duck Breast

Crispy Roti, Green Mango, Fresh Herbs & Tamarind Water

Fatty, nicely cooked *rare* duck but there was nothing really special about it. The sauce didn’t stand out either… just tasted like fatty rare duck. Definitely needed the basil and mint that came with it… I was disappointed and only had like 2 or 3 pieces….

Jungle: Bamboo Shoots

Pickled Green Peppercorns, Romanesco Cauliflower, Bitter Melon & Wood Ear Mushrooms

Looks like a small portion but the flavor was NOT lacking.. .full of different textures and nice heat [altho not overly spicy like usual Jungle Curries I get, this was great!!!... and perfect for the unfamiliar] Fresh bamboo and bitter melon drew me into this dish – they were cubed, and the bitter melon was really subtle but this was delicious. Jungle curry is pretty healthy too :]

Sour Yellow: Steamed Rabbit Leg

Multi-Grain Rice, Eggplant Chutney & Thai Basil

My favorite curry of the night. I LOOOOVE rabbit and once again this bunny did NOT disappoint. I could suck and pick at it all day. The meat was fall off the bone tender and it was the first time I’ve had a sour yellow curry before. It was really tasty. I’m not a HUGE fan of coconutty curries but this I liked :] It was mild enough to go with the delicate flavors of the rabbit as well… just a tiny hint of tang at the end.

Massaman: Braised Goat

Fried Shallots, Purple Yams, Mustard Greens & Toasted Coconut

Pretty sure this was Z’s favorite curry of the night..this was delicious. So nice and goaty but not too gamey. The meat was SOOOO tender and fatty it like, LITERALLY, melted in my mouth upon entering.

And before I show you my picture with the first Top Chef winner ever.. Chef Harold Dietierle and before anyone asks me, I’ll say it first, I DON’T KNOW WHY IT LOOKS LIKE I’M GRABBING MY CROTCH!!!….

He’s definitely shorter in person than I imagined, but then again I’m a giant….:] He was super nice and I rambled and bumbled along [like I always do when I get excited over meeting a chef] And we actually had a decent tiny little convo. *squeal*

It was exciting and the waiter thought I was nervous but I was just excited…

“He doesn’t bite that hard”

Since the dessert menu consisted of just ice creams and sorbets we decided to hit up Eataly for some snacks and gelato….. [btw Kin Shop, please serve some sticky mango rice<3 Kthanx!]

So sad because they’re not really ugly. Besides, with heirlooms, the uglier the yummier….

AND OMFG… PINTS OF DUCK FAT <3

I am so happy <3 I wanted to make love to the duck fat…. 

After wandering all thru Eataly Z and I got us some cheeses… mangalista fatty meats… [NOM! Greasy lips] some fresh pastas [NOM!], Butter, Gelato annnnd….

FIGGY BREAD!!!

ANNND a fresh Sea Urchin… nothing like fresh Uni to end the drunken night with :] We bought a bottle of Prosecco and after I danced around in the snow storm like a little snow hippie we had fresh uni…[after I freaked out looking for his eye and it MOVED on me....]

Prettttyyy <3