Inside the Langham Hotel in New York City is a beautiful restaurant called Ai Fiori. It has won many awards and I was looking forward to enjoying an elegant dinner.
It all started when a waiter came over with a tray of assorted breads. I love fresh bread.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4076.jpg?resize=660%2C880&ssl=1)
I went for the olive bread and the sun-dried tomato bread. With the added ingredients, this bread was full of flavor. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I was able to eat it straight without adding any olive oil or butter.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4077.jpg?resize=660%2C495&ssl=1)
The Maitre’d’ brought over a welcome appetizer. It was a berry compote with an avocado mouse. The mouse was creamy and paired nicely with the sweet berries. It was a great starter.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4078.jpg?resize=660%2C880&ssl=1)
We ordered a salad to share around the table. It was mixed greens with a vinaigrette. Very simple.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4081.jpg?resize=660%2C495&ssl=1)
I ordered the Vellutata, a lobster soup with Périgord black truffle tarragon. It was very similar to a lobster bisque. It was light and not very filling.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4080.jpg?resize=660%2C495&ssl=1)
We ordered a few pasta dishes as starters to share. The spaghetti was a very cheesy pasta that was tossed with blue crab meat, lemon, and bottarga chilies. The crab meat was a nice, unique addition to a simple spaghetti dish.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4084.jpg?resize=660%2C880&ssl=1)
Up nest was the Trofie Nero. This was a squid ink pasta. The pasta was shocking when it came out because it was jet black. However, there is no funky flavor from the squid ink. The pasta had a liqurian crustacean ragu on top along with sepia scallops and spiced mollica. This pasta was rich and savory. I could not get enough of this dish. It was delicious, and the scallops were tender.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4082.jpg?resize=660%2C880&ssl=1)
The last pasta dish was the Agnolotti, which was a ravioli. The filling of the ravioli was a braised short rib. The filling had great savory flavor with a hint of sweetness. The meat was tender. They covered the ravioli in a parmigiano fondata. This was an extremely rich and creamy cheese sauce. The flavors reminded me of a BBQ mac and cheese.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4083.jpg?resize=660%2C880&ssl=1)
For my dinner I ordered the Capesante. This was pan seared scallops with a black truffle mushroom consommé and trout roe. It was a simple dish with just the right amount of food. The truffles added an earthly taste to the sweet, tender scallops.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4085.jpg?resize=660%2C495&ssl=1)
While enjoying wonderful dinner conversation I ordered a cappuccino. It was perfect to go with the desserts we ordered to share around the table.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4087.jpg?resize=660%2C880&ssl=1)
The first dessert was the Pudding di Riso. This was a vanilla rice pudding, roasted pears, and a maple gelato. This was a unique rice pudding. I really liked the pears in it verses the traditional raisins. The maple gelato was creamy and there was only a subtle taste of maple.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4090.jpg?resize=660%2C880&ssl=1)
The second dessert was the Budino. This was a total coconut dessert. It was a coconut milk pastry topped with coconut almond crumbs and fresh lime pudding in the center. They also served a coconut sorbet on the side. This was my favorite dessert because of all the different uses of coconut. Everything from creamy to crunchy. It felt very tropical.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4089.jpg?resize=660%2C880&ssl=1)
The last dessert was the Tartelletta. This was a small tart filled with ricotta crema and topped with mandarin curd and kumquat. There was a lemon-ginger sorbet on the side. The filling of the tart was creamy and went well with the sorbet when eaten together. It was sweet and tart.
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_4088.jpg?resize=660%2C880&ssl=1)
The meal I had at Ai Fiori was amazing. I really liked that we shared so much around the table. When they open back up after all the Covid-19 social distancing you should check them out.
Visit their website at www.aifiorinyc.com
Enjoy!
T
![](https://i0.wp.com/gatorgirl-outoftheswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Gator-Girl-Logo.jpg?resize=296%2C210&ssl=1)