Live from “The Modern” at MoMA

NYC’s Michelin Two Star in the Middle of the Museum of Modern Art with Sancerre Wine Recommendations

Oct 18, 2022

The Modern restaurant at MoMA, courtesy of moma.org

We are live this week from The Modern at MoMA--New York’s Museum of Modern Art--where chef Thomas Allan has created refined, contemporary cooking in a setting overlooking MoMA’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. The Modern holds two Michelin stars, four James Beard Awards, and the Grand Award from Wine Spectator. We’ll be sharing our views of the dinner Tasting Menu, a splurge at $250 per person.

What an additional treat we had today at MoMa. Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” has traveled to MoMA for an exhibition, an unexpected joy. The painting can be found in the area 503 (Picasso, Rousseau, and the Paris Avant-Guard).

About the Chef

Chef de Cuisine of The Modern, Thomas Allan, was born in England and raised in Canada. He started as a line cook, then made his way to the International Culinary Center, NYC, where he received his Grand Diplome. With a background in working at Le Meurice, Paris, and Eleven Madison Park, NYC, he became Chef de Cuisine in 2014, gaining a second Michelin star, then became Executive Chef at The Modern in 2020

The Tasting Menu

Dinner at The Modern was a highlight of our brief NYC adventure. The current Tasting Menu included Crispy Shiso and Tuna; Roasted Lobster with Egg on Egg on Egg served with Caviar and a Crispy Brioche Stick; Cauliflower Mushrooms and Wild Spinach; Scallop with Tomatoes; Rye and Black Truffles; Dry Aged Duck with Blood Orange and Basil; and a Chocolate, Crunchy Almonds and Rum, with Black Sesame and Chocolate. The lobster and chocolate dessert were our favorites, but each of the seven courses were individually unique, delicious, and elegantly presented.

I chose a Franck & Aurélien, Domaine Bailly-Reverdy Sancerre wine to accompany the first seafood courses. This delightful French wine is crisp, savory, and is so versatile, pairing well with unusual spices and ingredients in the seven courses. Below are some other Sancerre Recommendations.

Holiday Gift Subscription to WW

Wines at The Modern

The Modern’s wine list includes 3000 international selections featuring some emerging producers like End of Nowhere Chenin Blanc, Amador, California; and organically farmed Craven Wines Stellenbosch Pinot Gris, South Africa; as well as classics such as Chateau Margaux, France; and Opus One, Napa Valley. This wine program received the Grand Award from Wine Spectator.

Select Current Exhibits at MOMA

Always surprising, always avant-guard, always timely. MoMA did not disappoint. The following are some of the most interesting exhibits we visited:

Picasso, Rousseau, and the Paris Avant-Garde, 503

Our Selves, Photographs by Women Artists from Helen Kornblum, 516

Divided States of American, 415

Search Engines, 209

Two Recommendations for Other Restaurants with Award-Winning Wine Lists:

The French Laundry, Napa Valley. This Thomas Keller restaurant was awarded Three Stars by Michelin. Head Sommelier Andrew Adelson leads the wine program, and the restaurant has won the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 2007. The Tasting Menu is $350 per person. Be sure to allot time for its nine courses. As always, secure reservations as far in advance as you can. Our nine-course tasting took over three hours.

Pappas Brothers, Dallas – be sure to ask for Master Sommelier/Wine Director Barbara Werley for her recommendations. See my previous article “First Woman Master Sommelier in Texas, 4thin the US: Barbara Werley” for PrimeWomen Magazine. The wine program has been awarded the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 2010. The Dry-Aged prime beef is not to be missed here.