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the design of the Jade Cooking suite at 21c museum hotel ' s lockbox restaurant contributes an open conversation with the way that the chefs work .
Marble floors , wainscoting and decorative plaster details are the backdrop for the contemporary furnishings and art that occupy the dining room . In fact , art is the backdrop for the 88-room boutique concept , so having a restaurant that compliments the hotel design only serves to create a more immersive experience .
To date , the restaurant is doing at least two turns on weekends and no fewer than 100-plus covers a day with an average food check of US $ 34 . Food costs stood at 32 % to 33 % in March , which Searle says are due to come down considerably after the banquet and catering business ramps up at the hotel that opened in February .
Menu highlights include a squid ink macaroni served with rock shrimp , Castelvetrano olives and a spicy tomato broth ; cornmeal gnocchi with lamb neck ragu , green chili and buttermilk ; oven-roasted market fish , rotating with seasonal availability , served “ on the half shell ” – roasted scale-side down – with a spicy chili butter and smoky , charred citrus ; the “ Cast Iron Hog Chop ” features farm-raised pork , served with roasted broccoli , pecans and squash mustard .
The cocktail program highlights Kentucky ’ s native spirit with a broad selection of more than 60 fine bourbons and ryes .
EquipmEnt crushEs
“ Not only does a pressure cooker drastically reduce cooking times and intensify flavors , but it can also transform textures and expand the possibilities for ingredients . For example , cooking pine nuts gives them a bean-like texture , which allows them to substitute in recipes for beans ; octopus acquires an unmatchable texture and tenderness , without the mealiness or overcooking that results from traditional preparation methods ; and seeds such as basil ( quick-cooking ) or sesame ( longer-cooking ) can turn gelatinous and acquire a texture similar to salmon roe .”
– Chef Danny BortniCk , viCe presiDent of restaurant ConCept Development , Kimpton Hotels & RestauRants
42 hotelsmag . com May 2016