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6-course mobile gourmet meal served aboard NYC subway car
Pop-up shops, hotels, and restaurants are all the rage, and dining cars are standard on most long-distance trains but what do you call a pop-up restaurant on a subway car? Earlier this month, a 6-course mobile gourmet meal was served on board a New York City subway car by supper club A Razor, A Shiny Knife with participation from "culinary collective" and Gadling favorite Studiofeast. Diners rode from Manhattan's 8th Avenue station on a Brooklyn-bound L train, feasting on caviar, fois gras, and filet mignon, all in under an hour. Courses from several supper clubs were prepared and plated before getting on the train, and perfectly timed to be served by waiters boarding at specific stops. A maître d'hôtel oversaw the luncheon, refilling water glasses (no alcohol allowed as per the MTA) and helping to stabilize makeshift "tables" tied to subway poles with twine.
The full menu posted on Studiofeast's website included:
- Hamchi Crudo, Bone Marrow, Trout Roe, Laproaig, Sweet Lime
- Foie en Brioche, Port Wine, Raisin,
- Ramp, Black Garlic, Cippolini, Morel, Thyme
- Petit Filet Mignon, Pomme Puree, Asparagus
- Pepper Jam, St Andre
- Chocolate & Gold Leaf Panna Cotta, Raspberry
The twelve lucky foodies (including two "walk up" visitors from Argentina pulled in to cover no-shows) were treated to the gourmet meal which cost an estimated $1,600, ending with gold-leaf-dusted panna cotta. The subway authorities were not satisfied customers, though no one was arrested or fined for the stunt. "Subway trains are for riding, not for holding parties," said Charles F. Seaton from the MTA.
Event organizers have yet to announce their next meal-on-the-go, but the video hints at another unlikely location: San Francisco's Alcatraz. Hoping for your own moveable feast? The Dinner in the Sky team is available for rent around the world.
Filed under: Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, North America, United States, Video
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 5)
Broshinsky May 10th 2011 2:02PM
What a great idea...awesome (and I hate using the word because its overplayed). Imagine in NYC a dining car..... You have a pass to enter (pre-paid) and at every other stop there is food coming in and on the off stops, there is emply plates going out. The MTA should pick up on this idea and run with it. It might help cut some costs and actually turn a profit if it is done correctly.
Sounds like a great way to ride home and mingle.
Magnifique!
Broshinsky May 10th 2011 2:00PM
Can we get Metro North to do this New Haven to Grand Central? Start in New Haven....stop in Milford(apps), Bridgeport(salads/2nd course), Norwalk (3rd Course), stamford (main entree) with a final dessert pickup in Rye.
The same can be done on the Long Island Line
Couple this idea with a Broadway show... on the same ticket.... I could see this as a BIG hit for Metro North. Not an every night thing..but maybe fri and sat night on the 5:22pm train arrives at GCT at 7pm. Enough time to get to the show.
Maybe I should present the idea to the powers that be?
Kenneth Larson May 10th 2011 2:05PM
Americans are overweight and fat and experts tell them to lose weight (look at the former Arkansas governor). But too much food is being shoved at us all the time and it is hard to not eat. I lost 8 pounds but much of it came back because too much food is being prepared for Americans to eat while other people around the world don't have enough to eat.
Sandy May 10th 2011 2:05PM
Wish someone would do that on People Mover in Detroit---We have some awesome restaurants that could get involved!! It could turn into a fundraising event for the city. Great idea!
JIM SELF May 10th 2011 2:06PM
THIS WAS SPECTACULAR! GAWD I LOVE NEW YORK!
william e rauh May 10th 2011 3:15PM
Subway cars are not for mugging, and murdwer but it does not stop it from happening and that does not seem to bother 'the authorities (a joke there) as much as this dinner
Cynthia belovin May 10th 2011 2:44PM
BRAVO,*****
Sean May 10th 2011 3:03PM
Excelllent. I want to be in on the next one!!! I think we can all tolerate a little civil disobedience once in a while for something positive. Don't get bent out of shape because you are jealous that your were not invited. I think these types of things prove and re-inforce creativity and imagination. Bully for you guys, Bully!!!!
Tammy May 10th 2011 3:22PM
I think the MTA guy complained because he didn't get in on any of the food action. Because as long as they didn't cause any damage or harm in any way, who should care?
Gary W May 11th 2011 1:05AM
I am going to presume that the "officials" are "upset" due to the fact that THEY weren't invited to participate...AWWWWWW poor NYCity Big shots...with all the luxury they normally experience...they can do with this...Hip Hip Hooorah
Kenny Nash May 10th 2011 3:02PM
What a great concept. This at first lookd as if it were going to be about as exciting as watching ice melt at 33*. I was impressed.
Kenny Nash
youtube KENNY NASH "DESIRE"
wvcorgi May 10th 2011 3:23PM
Ramps? They served ramps at a gourmet meal in New York? Hahaha! I'll bet those people didn't know they were eating the "King of Stink"!
Carolyn May 10th 2011 3:32PM
Fish eggs and bones?? Yuck, I can have that everytime we go camping!
Karen May 10th 2011 4:40PM
Stacy, listen, you must be a hipster if you are saying they are not arrogant. Stop being in denial about them. and the way they dress, btw, is very much like 60s hippies used to dress, ok, so nothing new there. Its a combo of thrift store clothes with American Apparel $60 leggings and $150 Metro card belts, PUH-LEEZE and they can afford to live in high rentals and luxury condos yet they have no jobs.
I like the way they dress, but it's their arrogant, phony, trying to be uber cool attitude, trying to act poor and "down", meanwhile lots of them are "trust" fund kids from other states, copying anything and everything from 60s and 70s culture including style, music, vegans, organic food eaters, etc., etc. yet they will NEVER be as cool or real or compassionate as they people who are now baby boomers, who they try to be like.
alex smith May 10th 2011 4:52PM
The L train? This was not free and was once again an example of these grungies and or whatever the Brooklyn Hipsters call themselves attitude towards other people. I hope it wasn't during rush hour but why bother to cater to normal folks and their needs. I live in a "bohemian" type building overrun by them they are crude,crass and full of the world owes me a living.
Rachel May 10th 2011 5:02PM
I like how he has a copy of "The Great Gatsby" in his pocket. It's perfect for this. ^-^
bill May 10th 2011 5:20PM
Genious!
Steve May 10th 2011 5:42PM
DROP DEAD MTA!!! HOW DARE YOU SAY, ""Subway trains are for riding, not for holding parties," said Charles F. Seaton from the MTA."
$2.25 FOR A RIDE THAT SHOULD COST NO MORE THAN $1.00 IS OUTRAGEOUS! THAT'S NOT TO SAY HOW MUCH COMMUTER TRAINS COST. OUTRAGEOUS AND THE MTA NEEDS TO BE WIPED OFF THE MAP.
IMAGINE GOING FROM YONKERS TO MIDTOWN AT OVER $170/MONTH! OUTRAGEOUS!!
WANT TO SAVE MONEY? STOP PAYING OUT HIGH SALARIES TO MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES! ANY TRAIN ENGINEER MAKING OVER $1000/WEEK IS WELL OVERPAID. AND IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT, GET A JOB ELSEWHERE.
WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH?
Lainer May 11th 2011 10:45AM
I think the subway is filthy, and I certainly wouldn't want to eat food while on the subway. Ewww! MRSA? Anyone?
MARILYN 'K' May 10th 2011 6:25PM
Amazing, absolutely AMAZING. GREAT JOB, GREATER TIMING. I WAS
FASCINATED BY HOW THIS WELL-THOUGHT-OUT ADVENTURE SUCCEEDED. WHAT FUN, WHAT GREAT MINDS, WHAT PLEASANT
PERSONALTIES!!!! BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO!!!! DO IT AGAIN, PLEASE.