I kicked off summer restaurant week this year with my first visit to Aldea, the small, elegant, Portugese-inspired restaurant of Chef George Mendes. George, who was recently a contestant on Top Chef Masters Season 3, opened Aldea in 2009. Only two years later he was awarded the coveted "Best New Chef" title from Food & Wine magazine.
Chef Mendes knew from a very early age that he wanted to become a chef. He now sources fresh ingredients that are in season and builds a daily-changing menu at Aldea to showcase them. Over the past three years Aldea has been named one of the most cutting edge restaurants in New York City today. It this reputation which caused me to come in this afternoon.
While walking down 17th street the blue and white "Aldea" sign gives you a soothing welcome. Once upon entering through the clear door the hostess greeted me and asked me where I'd prefer to sit. To my surprise Aldea has an open kitchen, and now knowing that information, had no hesitation in saying I would love to sit at the dining counter overlooking it. As she lead me to my seat I walked past Chef Mendes himself leaning over the bar making some phone calls. It's always a good sign when you have the presence of the chef in the restaurant.
At first glance the restaurant evokes a feeling of warmth. The blue and white color scheme stretches into the restaurant from front to back, and is said to be designed after the Iberian coastline. Images of air, water, land, clouds, and wind bring you on the same journey Chef Mendes embarked on as a young man through that very coastline. On this visit I also noticed that not many people were embarking on that journey.
