Celebrity and cultural staple The Standard Hotel's The Standard Grill, had a new resident this week. In honor of New Orleans' storied Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras celebrations, known as such because it's the last day that worshippers can eat whatever they want before the beginning of Lent where, traditionally, many forgo their favorite foods, The Standard Grill welcomed Chef Dominick Lee and his team from the highly acclaimed Alligator Pear, a New Orleans mainstay.
As Chef Lee prepares to open the Alligator Pear in the Big Apple, he took to the Standard Grill to introduce New Yorkers to his style of homestyle New Orleans cooking. Working alongside the Standard Grills' chef Paul Hargrove, both chefs curated a menu that blends the traditional flavors of New Orleans with the techniques that guests at the Grill have come to know and love. Their collaborative menu included New Orleans-inspired dishes such as char-broiled oysters, shaved catfish, gumbo and bananas foster along with other signature NOLA dishes. The collaboration offered an intimate look at the intricacies and bold flavor profiles that are pivotal to New Orleans-Creole cuisine.
New Yorkers have a lot to be excited for given Chef Lee’s background and accolades from The Art Institute of Houston where he was granted the inaugural “Underbelly Scholarship Award” as well as being nominated as a 2019 Rising Star Chef by CultureMap Houston and a 2019 Rising Star Chef by Eater Houston. He spent the last two years in Europe studying Creole cuisine derivatives to continue evolving the cuisine that he was raised with. Mix that with a pop-up residence at one of New York's most iconic restaurants and venues, The Standard Grill, and we expect Alligator Pear will quickly become a new NYC staple once it opens this spring.
When we spoke with the chefs about their collaboration, Chef Hargrove shared, “Dominick and I briefly worked together right before COVID lockdown, as that was cut short it’s exciting for me to get to collaborate with someone so talented. We have fun together in the kitchen.“ Chef Lee is also excited about the expansion of Alligator Pear and told us, “As a transplant, my memories of the city of New Orleans and its food means home to me, straight up soul soothing food. Unapologetically packed full of flavor, fat and comfort. When I think of eating in Louisiana it’s impossible not to smile. Food, drink, music and people having a good time with friends. My emotional connection to home has always been kind of split. New York has always called to me, leaving Louisiana and the things that are important (friends, family, culture, food, the Saints) was tough, however, New York and New Orleans to me are sister cities, they both intensely feel like home.”
While the pop-up ends on February 23rd, you can still enjoy the amazing cuisine by Chef Hargrove at the Standard for lunch, brunch and dinner as well as look forward to the Alligator Pear opening in the coming months.
Photography by: courtesy of the Standard Grill
