If the chef at Prune lacked palate the chef at Cookshop lacked technique and palate.

 

Since the my kitchen is being renovated, I have no choice but to eat out with the dog. This means lots of outdoor cafes.   Cookshop was on our way home today when we visited the framers in Chelsea.  

 

Like Prune, Cookshop has a team of extremely helpful servers, but it ends there.  The fried clams were greasy the soggy.  When I complained to the server, she explained that it is a very light batter, therefore, should be soft.  Now that is what I called a nancy answer.  If soft clams is the chef’s aim, then why don’t he simply sautee it with a bit of corn meal?  The grilled fava beans were one of the stupidest ideas ever!. Not only does one have to risk being burned by shelling it, one has to battle the layer of salt and hot oil on it.  Then there was the overly paprika-ed devil’s egg.  There were probably enough salt in there to cure the eggs.

 

Having eaten at both Five Points and Cookshop, I failed to see the appeal of either place. But, then again, I don’t see the appeal of food TV and Rachel Ray either, but they are raging successes.  Just goes to show there is a sucker born every minute.