Mother’s Day Dining Guide 2014
How do we even begin to show our mothers how much they really mean to us? Well, while we can’t express our undying gratitude solely through bottomless Bellinis and Mimosas, or even Toasted Meringue Yarts with passion fruit custard and vanilla gelato (check out the holiday menu at Ai Fiori!) it certainly doesn’t hurt. That’s why we’ve rounded up Mother’s Day celebrations at a few especially luxe restaurants, bound to make your number 1 lady feel extra special, like a lavish afternoon tea at the Palm Court at The Plaza, or a sumptuous brunch at the recently relaunched Tavern on the Green…
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Seasonal Eats: Ramps
Of all of the edible delicacies the spring season is known for — peas, asparagus, fiddlehead ferns, rhubarb, lamb and soft shell crab — ramps are undoubtedly the most lusted after. Sometimes referred to as a wild leek, the tender ramp, tasting like a cross between onions and garlic, is native to North America, with a burgundy-tinted bulb that resembles a scallion, and flat, broad, light green leaves…
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Where to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Historically speaking, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican militia’s victory over the French army during The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It’s retained its significance in the city of Puebla to this day, but has also evolved to become more of a celebration of Mexican pride and culture throughout the U.S. Which means that, yes, Cinco de Mayo is indeed an excellent excuse to overindulge on tacos, guacamole, tequila shots and margaritas — and from Los Americanos in Tribeca to Mission Cantina on the Lower East Side and Habana Outpost in Brooklyn, here are a few terrific places to do just that…
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Spring Dishes on the Rise
It’s no wonder most chefs will tell you that spring is their favorite time of the year. That’s because verdantly green produce, like Ramps, Peas, and Fiddlehead ferns are green delicacies, made even more appealing by the fact that their seasons last only a fleeting, few weeks. So you can bet we’re taking advantage of our favorite restaurants warm weather dishes, like Asparagus with Quail Eggs at Juni, Stinging Nettle Ravioli at Betony, Rhubarb Kataifi at Beautique and much, much more…
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Our Favorite Spring Lamb Dishes
While rabbit is making a strong play for the protein du jour, there’s no meat as intrinsically associated with spring (especially during Easter) as lamb. And nowadays, it’s appearing on restaurant menus in a number of intriguing guises, so there’s no need to settle for the expected pair of chops or mint jelly-smeared loin. That’s why we’ve rounded up New York’s best new lamb dishes…
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An Edible Celebration of Cherry Blossom Season
One of the most glorious signs of spring is undoubtedly the blooming of the cherry blossoms. And some of New York’s best restaurants are celebrating with a host of fun food and drink specials, like 15 East, Brushstroke, Cherry and Boqueria. Which means that you should too…
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Vietnamese-Chinese-French Fusion at Bushwick’s Falansai
We celebrated cider four months ago, and now it’s time to pay homage to that other fermented beverage, which is well on its way to becoming just as universally respected as wine. Beer! New York City Beer Week is back for its sixth year, promoting local breweries and beers. If you’re still drinking Corona and Coors light, this is the week to expand your horizons and drink local…
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Ultimate Easter Dining Guide 2014
Easter’s right around the corner, which means it’s time to make your holiday brunch and dinner reservations now. Who doesn’t love an excuse to pig out? We’ve got everything from a Scandinavian feast at Aquavit to a Lebanese spread at Ilili or roof-to-table at Rosemary’s. We have all that and more right this way…
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Spotlight on Smorgasburg 2014
Although an indoor version of Smorgasburg operates in the colder months, the all-food flea market is best experienced in the open air along the Williamsburg waterfront each Saturday, or in Brooklyn Bridge Park on Sundays. Well, it just reopened this weekend with over 20 awesome, new vendors. Here are a few that we’ve definitely got our eye on…
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Ultimate Passover Dining Guide 2014
If you’ve grown up Jewish like we have, you know that most major events and holidays — both joyous and non — are thankfully commemorated with food. And Passover’s no different. Not sure how to cull a craveable meal from a box of matzoh at home? Then eat out! Check out the terrific restaurants featured in our Passover dining guide, including Telepan, Balaboosta and more…
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Our Favorite “In-Between-Season” Eats
It may officially be spring, but the weather doesn’t necessarily reflect that right off the bat. Take this weekend, when it was 60 degrees and sunny one day, and 40 degrees and windy the next. And restaurant menus are similarly in flux, with root vegetables and heavy sauces often appearing alongside bright, fresh asparagus and tender fava beans. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of our favorite in-between-season eats…
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Whiskey Stones from Broadway Panhandler
Any true liquor connoisseur will tell you that the worst thing you could do to a glass of Chivas Regal is water it down with a fistful of melting ice cubes, making these Whiskey Stones the perfect gift for anyone that insists on ordering their spirits on the rocks. Just pop them in the freezer and drop them in your drink – it will stay well chilled (and undiluted) for 30 minutes or more. We’ll raise a glass to...
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Macaron Day: New York’s Best Macarons
Spring officially arrives today, March 20th. (It does seem warmer, so we can thank god for that!) And what better way to celebrate the start of the new season than with a citywide macaron crawl? After all, it is Macaron Day. Whether you’ve never tasted a macaron in your life or are a devotee of the colorful, round meringue-based treats, now is your chance to try some of the very best macarons New York has to offer. All you need to do is show up at one of the 15 bakeries, offering free samples of their pastel pastries throughout the day and claim your macaron…
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Dessert Spotting: Emily’s Terrific S’more Calzone
There aren’t too many new trails left to blaze in New York when it comes to pizza. We have legendary, old-school pizzaiolos turning out exemplary, Neapolitan-style rounds and perfect, pillowy Sicilian squares, grungy, corner parlors offering sloppy and satisfying $2 slices, and everything in between. So what’s a newcomer to our incomparable, expansive pizza scene do to stand out?
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Last Licks of Winter Soups
As much as we can’t wait for the weather to get warm and stay warm, we’ve already found ourselves getting sentimental over foods we’ll no longer be able to really enjoy once it’s spring. And soups, of which there’s an especially delicious, seemingly endless variety of in New York, totally top that list. So here are a few fantastic bowls you’ll definitely want to try while it’s still officially winter, like the creamy Chowder at The Clam in the West Village, the comforting Matzoh Ball Soup at the Empire Diner in Chelsea, and the classic Onion Gratinee at Little Prince in NoHo…
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Sunset Park’s Awesome Latin American Eats
Since Brooklyn is a borough largely settled by immigrants, you’d be hard pressed to find a neighborhood that doesn’t boast a pocket of exotic, affordable, and seriously delicious eats. And Sunset Park is especially rich in multicultural influence; you’ll find a bustling Chinatown (currently the largest in New York) centralized along 8th avenue from 42nd to 68th street, and a vibrant Hispanic population west of 5th avenue. We’re focusing on the culinary imprint made by Sunset Park’s Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican and Ecuadorian communities, so here’s where to find a few of Brooklyn’s best tacos, cemitas, huaraches and more.,,
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Fatty ‘Cue
Fatty ‘Cue has a smoker and they’re not afraid to use it. Whether they’re cooking scallops, chicken, or beef brisket, almost everything on the menu is touched by the smoker. Even one of the cocktails gets the smoke bath treatment: the “Smokin’ Bone.”
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New York’s Best Breakfast Sandwiches
We’ve all been lectured — ad nauseam — that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And it’s true. But considering that at least five days a week, our mornings involve one too many taps of the snooze button and then dashing out of the house in various states of undress, it’s also the toughest meal to set aside time for. That’s where early-rising restaurants like The Smile in Noho and Whirlybird in Williamsburg come in. Because honestly, waiting a few minutes on line for ham and gruyere-topped English muffins or egg and chorizo-stuffed tacos takes no more effort than popping in a toaster waffle, and are a heck of a lot more satisfying and tasty. Here are a few of our other favorite breakfast sandwiches in New York right now…
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