Gallagher's Dragonfly, by way of Asia and Babylon
Executive chef Michael Wilson plates entrees in the kitchen at Monsoon Asian Kitchen and Lounge in Babylon. (Mar.27, 2012) Credit: Doug Young
Tomorrow marks the opening of Dragonfly, the Manhattan restaurant owned by Cornelius Gallagher who, from 2009 until about a month ago, was the corporate executive chef of the Bohlsen Restaurant Group (Tellers and Verace in Islip, H2O in Smithtown, Prime in Huntington, Monsoon in Babylon) and, before that, cooked in Manahttan at Oceana, Peacock Alley, Daniel and Lespinasse.
At Dragonfly, according to its website, "Gallagher draws influence from his travels throughout Asia to feature his take on global street food and traditional dishes using market-driven ingredients and bold flavors."
Long island has also been the beneficiary of the chef's travels. In 2010, Gallagher, who lives in Garden City Park, traveled to Asia with his then-employers, Michael and Kurt Bohlsen. One result of that trip was Babylon’s Monsoon Asian Kitchen and Lounge, which opened in February and whose menu Gallagher developed in partnership with the restaurant’s chef, Michael Wilson. A number of items on Dragonfly’s menu — yellowtail sashimi, red snapper ceviche, Bibb letttuce wraps, Korean chicken wings, shrimp with yellow curry, miso Chinese broccoli among them — are also on Monsoon’s.
Dragonfly is at 1463 Third Ave., Manhattan, 212-203-5518.
