I was meeting a New Orleans friend to discuss the 15,000+ cookbooks that I donated to the Southern Food & Beverage Research Center, as it has become the repository for Les Dames d’Escoffier International Collection. The purpose of the Collection is to create a place where all of the books and papers written by members of LDEI, AKA Dames, can be deposited and maintained as a coherent collection.

I booked us at Electric Lemon on the 24th floor of the Equinox Hotel, as it’s a quiet, elegant location to enjoy lunch and have a conversation. We each sipped their Albariño, etxea, Rorick Heritage Vineyard, Sierra Foothills, California 2018 ($21) as I learned the library’s opening is scheduled for early October.

To start, we shared their deviled crab ($24). As each of us took one bite, we caught each other’s glance as our eyes widened at the fresh taste of the seafood in creamy ginger dressing with crunchy celery sprinkled with ginger crumbs. Not to be missed.


We then split their roasted Japanese eggplant ($17), presented as rounds of the veggie topped with a garlic yogurt sprinkled with sumac and topped with fresh cilantro and mint on a plate drizzled with seasoned honey.

I also recommend their grilled carrot Banh Mi ($20) with fresh cilantro, pickled daikon and a few jalapeño slices. That sandwich comes with a simply dressed side salad.


With how delicious the rest of the meal was, we had to have dessert selecting the “Yuzu” ($16) with
poached oranges, crunchy meringue and yuzu lemon sorbet.


After lunch, we headed to their unique outdoor space, where I’d recommend going for a meal or a drink. The views — and space — are spectacular.

Make a special trip to dine at Electric Lemon. Yes, that good.

And if you find yourself near New Orleans after this October, visit Nunez Community College and the SoFAB (Southern Food and Beverage) Research Center, where the collection and various papers of mine — and other Dames — are housed.

Electric Lemon
Hudson Yards
33 Hudson Yards
New York, NY 10001
212-812-9202
electriclemonnyc.com