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Keeping the Spice Alive in MePa

Where: 403 W. 13th Street, [map], New York, NY, United States, 10014
April 14, 2009 at 3:31 PM | by BS | 0 Comments

If we had to pick one neighborhood that we're OK with getting decimated by the great recession, it would have to be Manhattan's Meatpacking District, the former slaughterhouse site turned overpriced, overdressed, overhyped Sex in the City-inspired adult playground. Despite the quaint cobblestone streets and picturesque riverfront setting, the new "MePa" always felt more like a movie set than a real-life neighborhood.

But we walked around the Meatpacking District on a recent weekend evening and it appeared to be very much alive and well, with ultra-fashionable crowds still lined up and shivering in skimpy outfits outside every other restaurant and club. The epicenter of this scene is probably Spice Market—chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's massive eatery/hotspot.

While the scene-y sidewalk café (and celeb-spotting possibilities) are the main draw here, Jean-Georges' Asian street food-inspired dishes also reel in foodies that wouldn't otherwise brave these swanky streets. The tasting menu is actually a pretty good deal, at $48 for five courses of dishes like red curried duck and spiced chicken samosas with cilantro yogurt – and that even includes wine! If you've got the courage to wait an hour-plus for a spot here, the full table is an impressive spread and each dish pops with more flavors than seems possible.

A last glance at a vestige of the old economy? Or a high-flying scene that will somehow make it through? Whether your interests are anthropological or gastronomic, Spice Market is still going strong.

Related Stories:
· Spice Market [Official Site]
· Meatpacking District coverage [Jaunted]
· Restaurant Week Review: French Food and Gourmet Glimpses at JoJo [Jaunted]

[Photo: Giorgio Montersino]

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