Shariq’s Département

Vong, the Michelin-starred Asian food mainstay of Jean Georges’ vast and forever growing restaurant empire, was wonderful as always last week.  Mains remained exemplary, combining proteins with fantastic Asian flavors.  My duck entree with bok choy (picture 1), P.’s black bass (picture 2), A.’s chicken (picture 3) and M.’s cod (picture 4) all elicited sighs of rapture and deep satisfaction.

But I have to retain my highest praise for the most innocuous-sounding item on the menu, a starter of watercress salad with dressing.  I chose it because I know what a great nutritional superstar watercress is: watercress contains four times the calcium of milk.  This plant contains as much vitamin C as the same size of orange, and more iron than spinach.  A full cup is only 4 calories.  Ok - so, nutrition aside, the salad blew me away.  It was actually mixed with tangy onions (picture 5) and was so delicious that I couldn’t stop eating and only jealously allowed others to taste.  Please try it - you won’t be disappointed.