I had never heard of Blossom before however apparently many vegan and vegetarian friends in the Big Apple love it and so, how could I refuse when they suggested I check it out.
First off, I eat meat — organic and sustainable of course — but I do eat meat. That said, I’m a huge fan of heavy plant-based diets and we eat a lot of salads and vegetables regularly as well. It’s hard to find a great vegan restaurant that delights the taste buds for meat eaters, so it’s nice when you find a gem.
Dining at the Ninth Avenue location of Blossom
Blossom Restaurant with 2 NYC Locations
Introducing Blossom Restaurant, which has a location on Ninth Avenue in Chelsea and on Columbus Avenue in the Upper West Side, the latter being the main location owned by Ronen Seri although apparently the entire franchise is owned by Ronen and Pamela Elizabeth.
So, what did I think as a meat lover? First off, my favorite of the lot was their sweet potato with baked eggplant and a walnut-lentil stuffing. It’s hard to go wrong with sweet potato cooked in anything quite frankly, but this dish was a stand-out.
They have a number of fun specials on their menu, so they swap things out depending on the season. Other fun call outs go to their Risottos and Gnocchis. While they may be a tad on the rich side, they’re heavenly and worth every bite.
We love that they very clearly mark all gluten free, nut free and soy free items on the menu, making it that much easier for those with food allergies.
My friend Noah is a huge fan of this restaurant and raves about the gluten free risotto with roasted butternut squash, eggplant, kale and toasted pumpkin seeds.
We went for a plate of Butternut Squash Gnocchi with spinach, basil, red and yellow tomatoes, beets, chives and roasted pumpkin seeds in a cashew sauce and their Pistachio and Pepper Dusted Tofu (so divine), which they serve in a root veggie crepe, with lemon truffle emulsion (loved this) and a frisee in a red beet vinaigrette. This was a tad lighter than the others as well.
Above, the Butternut Squash Gnocchi at Blossom which is both soy and gluten free
Sweet potato with eggplant, walnut lentil stuffing, coconut peanut curry, grilled collard greens, parsnip chips (YUM!!) and a horseradish creme drizzle
We also opted for a couple of salads so we could get an idea of their ‘green’ offerings. Four were available on our menu the night we were there in late January: Tuscan Kale, Baby Beet, Quinoa and Caesar. We went for kale and beets (below), both of which were exquisite and worth trying.
Tuscan Kale Salad at Blossom, with sliced green apples, roasted cashews and dijon tahini dressing
Baby Beet Salad with mache & pea shoots, walnuts, cashew ricotta and tossed in a spicy mustard vinaigrette
I loved the dark and quaint ambiance in the Chelsea location. I understand the Upper West Side is much larger, so probably a better option if you have family in tow or want to book with a group, whereas the Chelsea location is a bit more intimate and great for a romantic evening out for two or dining with a close friend.
Chelsea location on the left and Upper West Side on the right
Below, you can get an idea of the inside of the Chelsea location.
If you want to go for small bites opposed to full course mains, they also have options like Maitake Mushrooms with Babaganoush and Micro Pea Shoots, or fun starter plates like Crispy Artichokes, Raw Zucchini Rolatini, Cashew Cream Ravioli (I so want to try this next time), Spinach Cappelletti, Cape Cod Cakes made with Hiziki seaweed and tofu, and Trumpet Mushroom Scallops made with creamy polenta and spinach in a porcini (one of my faves) mushroom reduction.
Even less hungry? Then, go for a few of their dishes from Snacks & Sides, which include things like Fried Pickles (yeah, I know…hard to resist right?), Garlic Kale and Butternut Squash, Escarole & Gigante Beans, Israeli Couscous, Spinach and Truffle Mashed Potatoes.
If carbs are not your thing since many of the mains do include potatoes, you can ask for salad or veggie instead of….or just order a couple of salads to share.
If we make it back again, I’d love to try their Rigatoni in Porcini Cream. Heavy I know, but with a nice wine to cut the richness, I’d be in heaven all night. They make this dish with shallots, leeks, broccoli rabe, pistachio gremolata (delish, right?), truffle oil, caramelized fennel and onion jam crostini.
Their wine selection was reasonable with both options by the glass and bottle, ranging from around $44 to $60 on the high end, so nothing on the list will break the bank. We were surprised and thrilled to find such reasonable wine prices and they included wines from Argentina, Italy, Napa and Carmel Valley in California (we know these regions very well) and France. They offered a Sparkling Cava Castellroig Brut NV from Spain and a Cotes Du Rhone Rose from France.
Their whites included Sauvignon Blanc/Sancerre from France, a lighter Fiano Acante from Italy, a Riesling from Austria and a kosher Chardonnay from Judean Hills, Israel. While I’m not kosher, it’s rare to find a kosher offering on such a small menu, so kudos to them for the addition.
A dessert lover? They’ve got you covered as well. Bring on the cream, coconut and chocolate I say.
Two thumbs up!! We would definitely return. This is an easy choice if you’re vegan, but if you are a meat lover, try something a little different next time you’re in the Big Apple — you may just be surprised. For more details, visit their website.
DETAILS:
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
