Checking out the Fig & Olive

Miss Tea got to visit Fig & Olive last week (4/15/09) - FINALLY!!! Lala raved about the food and told Miss Tea to check it out. With Benjamin in tow, Miss Tea sat at the bar and checked out the scene. Upon arrival, it was completely dead, then literally started bustling with midtown suits outta nowhere...thank goodness Miss Tea dressed up!

We went to the Fig & Olive on Fifth Avenue (close to Gilt at the New York Palace). In the front of the area is the bar with seating in the back and on the second floor. The design was mostly white and minimal, yet stylish. Think William Sonoma style with fig and olive features. Olive oil bottles filled the walls and concoctions were placed on top of the glass barrier of the oyster bar. You couldn't help but look at the food in front of everyone and get that Mediterranean vibe.

Miss Tea and Benjamin sipped on the Rueda-Castelo de Median, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 while tasting the Spanish Croquetas (looked like regular crab cakes to me) and Fig Gorgonzola Tartlet (melted gorgonzola, prosciutto, fig, walnut arugula, tomaro, on a fine puff pastry...are tiy salivating yet?!). Sommelier FO guy (read: FigOlive guy) was incredibly courteous (not to mention adorable - think Colin Hanks) and allowed Benjamin to sample some suggested wine. A foodie himself, Bejamin very much loved checking out Fig & Olive, and we had a nice chat catching up.

As Miss Tea sat near the prep station, she got to see a lot of the serving dishes and jsut could not help taking pictures. Sommelier FO guy said that picture-taking was a no-no (huh?!) and Miss Tea replied, "Well, could I take a picture of you instead?" Yea, that was a definite no. Weak.

Fau joined Miss Tea as Benjamin was leaving and we enjoyed a Cheese plate of fromage de Chevre, Gorgonzola Dolce, Rochetta, Manchego, Taleggio, Fig & Olive Tapenade and Marcona Almonds...too bad Miss Tea had to share, because she really would've eaten everything and not be dainty about it. Later, pubLiZity joined us. Our friendly Sommelier FO guy pulled out a seat for her "because she's cute" but Miss Tea and to give him a sturdy eye and say "Hey! That's my sister!" Whatever awkward teasing went on between Miss Tea and Sommelier FO was all in good fun, putting Miss Tea at ease. And Ms. pubLiZity loved her Yello Fin Tuna Carpaccio and our conversation went on.

Out of the blue, Sommelier FO guy served us a Tuna Carpaccio over sliced cucumbers, on the house! A welcomed surprised indeed!

At the end, we got the bill which was a lot lower than Miss Tea expected.....hmmm, did my awkward flirting work? Miss Tea will go back and find out. ;o)

Fig & Olive Fifth Avenue

10 East 52nd StreetNew York, NY 10022

Between Fifth & Madison Ave.

Tel. (212) 319 8035
http://www.figandolive.com/