With this fine afternoon comes the official Bullfrog & Baum press release for your favorite massively delayed restaurant and ours, Tailor. On the plus side, they've now got the powerhouse power of Jennifer Baum on their side. On the negative, the opening date remains highly vague, stated as the very long-shot sounding "summer 2007." The entire release is here now, for your enjoyment and information.
TAILOR
Sam Mason Unveils Tailor, an Innovative New Dining Concept With a Unique Take on the Sweet and Savory
New York, NY – May 2007: Sam Mason, former pastry chef at the legendary WD-50, will sew progressive American cuisine at Tailor (525 Broome Street at Thompson and Sullivan, NYC: phone TBA), a contemporary dining and cocktail parlor to open summer 2007. Tailor’s name is an ode to the skills of a seasoned craftsman, whose creativity, attention to detail and sense of excellence outweigh all. With a menu comprising “Salty” and “Sweet” small plates and unconventional takes on classic cocktails, Mason’s cuisine will honor these qualities, challenging diners’ pre-conceived notions about what a dish, drink or ingredient should be and forever blurring the line between dinner and dessert, food and beverage.
The seasonally inspired and spontaneously revolving menu at Tailor will allow guests to pick and choose from a selection of unique small plates meant for sharing, which Mason hopes will entice diners to experience unusual dishes or to create their own “bespoke” mix-and-match meal. A sampling of the Salty selections include Pork Belly accented with a delicate miso butterscotch and fresh white asparagus; tender Squab topped with coffee foam, orange and tarragon, and Hamachi with lovage streusel, olive oil and tart pink grapefruit.
Mason’s Sweet selections include smooth Beet crème bruleé with quirky tangerine soil and crunchy pistachio; Chocolate cream with fresh squash sorbet and basil meringue, and the exotic Chocolate-saffron parfait with candied hazelnut powder. Mason will also offer a chef’s tasting menu as well an abridged specialty menu in the downstairs bar. Attention will even be paid to the bar snacks, with offerings such as house-made Lemon-Scented Potato Chips and Tailor Made Buffalo Chicken.
An equally integral component of Tailor, the cocktails will be unexpected twists on classic libations, created by bartender Eben Freeman. Signature, hand-crafted offerings with ingredients that mirror the innovative, offbeat Tailor approach will be served, along with a select wine list and “Tailor Made” spirits such as root beer rye, lemon balm rum and pumpernickel raisin scotch. Some of Eben’s creations: the Waylon, with bourbon, house-smoked cola and preserved lemon; the Violet Fizz, comprising gin, lemon, lime, cream, egg whites and crème de violette, and the unusual yet extraordinary Beet Sangria of brandy, triple sec, lime, orange, red wine and shocking red beet juice.
Tailor’s décor is the perfect tribute to the building’s rich history, which dates back to the late 19th century when it began as the home of American Nut & Screw Building. With its charcoal, brown, and apricot color scheme, the space will reflect turn-of-the-century accents with an edgy, modern twist, designed to highlight the underlying industrial construction while simultaneously evoking old clubroom charm. The weathered steal I-beams and columns are contrasted by pin-striped suiting fabric on the walls, glass chandeliers, banquets upholstered with luxury fabrics, and tobacco leather seats throughout. The combination of materials, complete with wide plank floors, brick herringbone motifs, brass and copper fixtures manufactured by hand specifically for Tailor provides a warm and eccentric atmosphere.
Capturing the spirit of old-world New York with urban sensibilities, Tailor is fashioned to become a destination for modern merrymaking and culinary exploration. Every element of Tailor will be touched by Mason and his dynamic team of partners’ creativity and spirit—always with a dash of humor, a little rock and roll and a whole lot of soul.
For more information, visit www.tailornyc.com.
