Remember this date and put it in your calendar. September third is my girlfriend's birthday. As a part of her birthday gift we decided that celebrating with some of New York's finest dining should be the order for the day. Jenn and I typically like to keep things simple, so we decided to eat at the bar on the Tavern side of Gramercy Tavern and save the dining hall menu for another day.

I had eaten at Gramercy Tavern a handful of times and have always been completely happy with the Tavern side. The Tavern Menu has plenty to offer, but is definitely not the full Dining Hall Menu. Regardless, both Jenn and I savored every last taste.

We both started with the Heirloom Tomato Salad with

Pickled Cherries and that only rang in at $12. It wasn't over salted which can tend to happen with a tomato salad, but was completely fresh and delicious. I personally would have never thought to match the pickled cherries with this salad and was delightfully surprised by them. They complimented each other in a perfect way that allows you to enjoy a little something sweet at the beginning of the meal.

I followed up my Heirloom Tomatoes with an $18.00 Meatball. I figured if it is an $18.00 Meatball it must be amazing. I chose wisely as the Fontina, Potato Purée and Red Wine Onions almost made my taste buds explode from a foodgasm. It is true that since a child few things I have loved more than mashed Potatoes. Mixing this love with one giant meatball was the perfect mixture of foods to pass my glory filled eyes and in to my unfilled stomach. Reflecting on it induces the yearning for a prompt Gramercy Tavern return. Possibly the world's perfect food coma resides within the walls of this place and I haven't even told you about the labor of perfection Jenn had.

I almost mugged her for it and ran out the door in to the cold lonely night, regretting abandoning my love for Smoked Pork. It would have been the happiest sad moment of my life as I salted the delicious pork with my tears. Alas, her stomach shrank from a recent

illness and she couldn't finish the whole thing and she volunteered a few bites of culinary pork bliss. Thank the culinary gods for her willingness to share because I wouldn't have wanted to go on living without having tasted the Gramercy Tavern Smoked Pork Shoulder. The Cornbread and Bacon Broth (Yea, Bacon Broth) alone were truly a work of art. They provided the perfect cornbread to sop up all that delicious pig soaked pork. I'm not sure anything on this earth exists better than pig soaked pork.

After filling our bellies with these two amazing meals we had little room and the belief that there was no where to go but down, so we ordered the Sorbet for dessert to cleanse the fond memories of amazing entrees from our taste buds and celebrated Jenn's Birthday late in to the night never having forgotten for one second the culinary journey we had just conquered (misty tear drop.)

Gramercy Tavern, I dare say our paths shall cross again and until then I'll still be Tramping.

Cheers Food Tramps and Happy Dining!