Page 6 of Aftertaste

APERITIFS The Konstantin Duhovny Culinary Experience

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT! Can everybody hear me? Can y’all see me?

Let’s just do a little mic check. If you’re here for the Konstantin Duhovny Culinary Experience, you’re in the right place. Anyone in the wrong place?

Okay, nah. That’s Food we got a tight schedule.

Let’s kick it!

My name’s Frankie, but I’ll answer to Kosh, Shaun, Shaunessey, Key, Shy, and, of course, Tall, Dark, and Handsome—I see you, ladies!—and I’ll be your guide today. Like the name implies, this here’s all about the culinary stylings of Mr. Konstantin Duhovny—Kostya to his mom, Bones to his buddies, KD for short.

Now if you’re on this tour, I’m guessing you know a little something about what our guy’s food can do, and you’re itching to try it for yourself, see if all the rumors are true. Well, I’ll tell you right now: they’re just the tip.

Bones is the real deal—feeds folks body and soul!—and we’ll be making our way through his past together, retracing some footsteps, watching his evolution as a chef before we head on over to our grand finale—opening night at his brand-new digs downtown, reservations im-poss-i-ble to get. ’Less you’re with me.

Now, I used to work in the restaurant biz—not just in the dining room, but in the actual kitchens, right where the fire is—so I’ll get you real up close and personal with what goes down on the line. Matter of fact, I did a stint at Bones’s own spot in Hell’s Kitchen—we’ll hop on over there in just a bit—and that means you’re gonna get to hear some stories not one other food tour’s got on the menu.

We’re about a block away now—anybody got a guess where we’re headed?

Alright! Get it, girl! Somebody’s been doing her homework.

Here’s a little history for the rest of you. The Library of Spirits’s been around since ’02; started out as a mixology school, training up bartenders for the city’s best watering holes. Really raising the bar. (Sorry, man. I had to!) It’s a tiny little spot—six, maybe seven stools—and it’s a speakeasy, so don’t wake the neighbors. We get in through this indie bookstore right here. They got one of them trick shelves in back; I’ll give y’all a chance to see if you can figure out which book gets you in.

Now our guy didn’t make it to The Library till 2016, and he wasn’t here to shake or stir. He was up in the back dishwashing, going nowhere fast till this one night, when he mixed a drink that changed everything.

Y’all ready? Get excited. Let’s head on in.