This just in- Brasserie is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary! They are doing many things to celebrate, including giving away free lunch on September 17th, which the NYC FOODIE already has a reservation for! And they say there's no such thing as a free lunch! Check out the Press Release:
NEW YORK, August 26, 2009: Brasserie first opened in the Seagram Building in 1959 and this September it will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. New York’s first brasserie, it brought a beloved culinary style to the city and sparked a lasting trend in dining here. It was New York’s first to offer 24-hour service in the tradition of brasseries in France.
This fall Brasserie reaches its 50-year milestone, with events kicking off on Thursday, September 17th when it will present A (Free) Taste of Brasserie. This unbeatable deal – a free lunch! – will be open to all guests who reserve a seat between 11:30 am –2:30 pm.
“It’s our way of saying merci to our loyal guests and friends, by offering a celebratory free lunch on our 50th anniversary,” says Brasserie Chef Luc Dimnet, who hails from Alsace. “We hope that everyone will join us, whether they remember Brasserie from years past or are regulars today.”
“When we opened Brasserie in 1959, we never thought that we were pioneering such an influential restaurant,” explains Nick Valenti, CEO of Patina Restaurant Group, who has been associated with the restaurant for the past 35 years. “Brasserie established itself as a place in New York where people from all walks of life meet, cross paths and dine side by side, fostering a culture all its own. Its classics like Frisée aux Lardons have become proven favorites that may never go out of style.”
There will be a variety of festivities and special menus that will celebrate Brasserie’s 50th. Please visit www.patinagroup.com/brasserie50th for details, including:
A (Free) Taste of Brasserie – On September 17th, Brasserie’s classics, favorites such as French Onion Soup and Steak Frites, will be offered as part of this three-course anniversary lunch (menu attached). The public can call (212) 751-4840 for reservations. The first one hundred callers not to get a coveted seat on the 17th will instead receive a rain check for a complimentary “$19.59 after 9” dinner.
The Brasserie Burger – Chef Dimnet is bringing back The Brasserie Burger to his menu, made the same way it was back in 1959. Sandwiched on a crusty, sliced baguette spread with garlic butter, the burger’s hand-ground patty is stuffed with a blend of Gruyère and Swiss cheeses and offered à la carte.
“$19.59 After 9” Menu - Paying homage to the late-night tableau of brasserie life, a 3-course prix fixe will launch on September 17th priced at $19.59, from 9 PM until closing, running through the end of 2009 (menu attached).
Vintage Cocktail Menu – Spanning the restaurant’s fifty year history, libation highlights from each decade will be shaken, strained and stirred at Brasserie’s modern bar. The classic Martini from the 1950’s, made authentically with gin and 1/3 dry vermouth, the Kir Royale from the 1970’s and the quintessential ‘90s Cosmopolitan are a few examples. Timeless brasserie favorites including a chilled Lillet cocktail, dry Dubonnet, or potent Absinthe will also be included, ideal to complement any meal (menu attached).
“5 Decades of Brasserie Cuisine” Dinner - A special dinner open to the public on September 30th will offer five memorable courses of archivals from Brasserie’s five decades. La Caille Brillat Savarin, Le Filet de Sole ‘Lucullus’ and Le Crottin de Chavignol are some of the items that time almost forgot, grand and compelling for their charm and unmatched flavor of years past (menu attached). Seats are limited and must be purchased in advance at: www.patinagroup.com/brasserie50th