Chef Rae Kramer Recipes – Il Fiorista, NYC, NY, USA

Il Fiorista

I became acquainted with this charming, light-filled restaurant and Chef Rae Kramer’s cuisine when I attended a special Italian wine luncheon provided by Ottella wines on Thursday, December 8, 2022, where there was a lovely pairing of 4 of their wines complemented by Chef Rae’s inspired cuisine. After experiencing lunch at the restaurant, I came to expect the unexpected in a good way. One of the surprises that I found especially creative and delicious was the lemon fritti that garnished the Roasted Carrot dish with oil-cured olive, labneh, carrot top, urfa, and sumac. For the lemon fritti, she had thinly sliced a lemon on a mandolin then dipped it in a tempura batter and fried it until delicately golden brown and seasoned it with a light sprinkling of salt. The citrus and salt was a delightful combination that paired especially well with the roasted carrot and creamy labneh.

As a gardener who plants a plethora of edible flowers to use in my culinary and cocktail recipes, as well as for their beauty and to add to the ambience of my backyard gardens, I was attracted to Il Fiorista where the restaurant has a floral focus that is apparent from Chef Rae Kramer’s menus to the exquisite floral arrangements placed throughout the restaurant. Il Fiorista also has a floral boutique and is an education center with floral workshops for those that want to learn more about the gracious art of floral design. Located near the Garden District of New York, this restaurant not only caught my eye, but my palate as well.

Chef Rae Kramer

Speaking with Chef Rae Kramer after the luncheon I was excited to learn that every culinary and cocktail has a floral or herbal component that go well beyond the ordinary. As examples of the creative ingredients used in their cocktails, Thorn in My Side incorporates bergamot, rose, and basil seed; for Cheeky Damson there is the addition of chamomile, and for Butterfly Kiss they use a butterfly pea syrup, ingredients that are not what you would normally find on cocktail menus, and those are only a few examples of their well-crafted cocktails on the menu.

Their culinary menu clearly shows Chef Rae’s deft hand at creating inspired dishes with a little something extra to make them stand out and have diners take notice. As examples, Lotus Root Crisps have pine pollen, Crispy Potatoes have a marigold buttermilk vinaigrette, and their Glazed Short Rib has anise hyssop as one of the ingredients.

Leave it to Chef Rae to even incorporate floral elements for their Burger with provolone, chamomile aioli, and hibiscus caramelized onions, with the possibility of adding maitake mushrooms. She shared that the restaurant’s mission is to source local ingredients from farmer friends, organic, wherever possible, and purchase that they purchase their provolone and ground beef from Lancaster Farm Fresh CSA Co-op.

Chef Rae Kramer attended The Art Institutes International-Kansas City where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts/Chef Training. She honed her culinary craft working at restaurants in Kansas City before moving to cook in New York in 2016. She joined Il Fiorista three years ago as a Sous Chef and was promoted to Executive Chef in 2021 where she has clearly earned her toque. When not dreaming up inspired recipes for Il Fiorista, after spending long hours in the kitchen, you can find Chef Rae in the gym where she likes to box, something she has been doing for the past 5 years!

Chef Rae Kramer graciously shares her recipe for Hibiscus Caramelized Onions to provide a delectable taste of the restaurant and to inspire you to make a reservation the next time you find yourself in New York City.

Executive Chef Rae Kramer – Il Fiorista – Hibiscus Caramelized Onions

Ingredients:

Method: Julienne the white onions. In a large rondeau (wide, shallow pan), add butter, garlic, and hibiscus and bring to temperature. Start adding a third of the onions, season with salt, and cook over medium high heat. Cook down until you have room in the pan to add another third of the onions, and continue cooking, until you have added all of the onions. Cook down until translucent. Now add the Fino Sherry and honey. Cook down for 2-3 hours over medium low heat. When finished cooking, season with salt. Cool down and put away until ready to use.

Until next time, Bon Appetit!

To read about my dining experience at Il Fiorista, please read Ottella Wine Luncheon at Il Fiorista, NYC, NY, USA in the Restaurants section.

Il Fiorista Information

"Il Fiorista is many things – all of them centered around the beautiful benefits of flowers. Our NoMad location is home to a restaurant, floral boutique, and education center that celebrate the various ways in which flowers can be incorporated into our lives. At Il Fiorista, we’re exploring the befits of flowers beyond the aesthetic. We believe that they can elevate a dish, positively impact health and wellness, and bring people together.

Il Fiorista Hours: Dinner: Tuesday through Thursday from 5:00 pm until 10:00 pm, Friday and Saturday from 5:00 pm until 11:00 pm, for Brunch: Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am until 2:30 pm, and for Happy Hour: Tuesday through Saturday from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. The restaurant is closed on Monday.

For more information on the restaurant, to make a reservation, or learn more about their floral boutique or classes or please visit the website: www.ilfioristanyc.com.

Il Fiorista
17 West 26^th Street (between 5^th and 6^th Avenues)
New York, New York 10010
Telephone: +1-646-490-8240
Email: info@ilfioristanyc.com
Website: www.ilfioristanyc.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ilfioristanewyork
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/ilfioristanyc

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