It’s rare to start a meal with dessert, but if you watched the virtual pastry class last month hosted by world-renowned pastry chef Eunji Lee, you’ve already been introduced to her remarkable trompe l’oeil Baby Banana, which serves as the final act of the seven-course tasting menu at Jungsik, the two-Michelin-starred Korean restaurant in TriBeCa.
That multicourse extravaganza opens with an amuse bouche that features a rotating cast of small bites that might include jumukbap: an orb of sesame rice crowned with Wagyu beef tartare and dressed with gochujang, a savory, sweet, and spicy fermented condiment. Gochujang turns up again in the aïoli that graces crisped octopus. Bluefin tuna belly is partnered with white sturgeon caviar and crispy quinoa. The highest quality wagyu available is featured in the galbi, a block of short rib burnished with a tangy Korean barbecue sauce.
The seven-course menu runs $195 with an optional wine pairing priced at $135. A pared-down four-course version of the menu goes for $145, with an additional $95 for the optional wine pairing.
An inviting outdoor patio is now open in the front of the restaurant. It features 32 seats and canopies, perfect for al fresco dining, rain or shine.
Jungsik, 2 Harrison Street, 212-219-0900, is open Wednesday through Monday from 5 to 8 p.m.
