Yao’s Dragon Beard Candy
For a truly original treat, prowl the streets of Chinatown in hopes of spotting the elusive Yao’s Dragon Beard Candy cart (it’s most often parked outside of the subway on the corner of Chrystie and Grand). So named because they resemble a mythical dragons beard, the Vendy Award-nominated sweets are made by hand-pulling powdered sugar into gossamer-thin strands, twisting them into a ball and forming a sticky cocoon around a filling of toasted peanuts and coconut. We hunt them down year round, but Halloween is an especially good...
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The Ultimate Guide to New York’s Cider Week 2013
Scheduled from October 18th through the 27th this year, NY Cider Week celebrates America’s oldest libation (it’s true) with farm feasts, parties, tastings, classes and more. And with multiple events scheduled throughout each borough — from a Goat and Cider Dinner at L’Apicio in the East Village to an all-day “Cider Takeover” at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg and a Five-Course Cider Pairing at The Queens Kickshaw in Astoria, there’s really no excuse not to join in the fun!
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Our Favorite New Fall Cocktails
Okay, so summer is a season better known for its cocktails (the likes of mojitos and daiquiris), but the flavors of fall lend themselves equally well to standout libations, like cinnamon-scented Negronis, maple syrup sweetened Sazeracs, or Brandy infused with fragrant pears or apples.
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Our Favorite New Fall Dishes
The fun thing about fall is that it’s kind of the best of both worlds. The weather is warm enough to go apple picking without a jacket, yet still cool enough to cuddle up in front of a fireplace come nighttime. And the same thing goes for food. You’ll find the last vestiges of summer produce on menus, integrated seamlessly into heartier dishes alongside the likes of apples, pumpkins, and squash. Here are a few standout plates that we think strike the perfect “start of autumn” balance…
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Spotlight on Madison Square Eats
Twice a year, Madison Square Park transforms into Madison Square Eats, an outdoor, European- style culinary pop-up market that’s quickly become one of the city’s favorite al fresco dining destinations. Now in its fifth year, the fall market is being held from September 27 to October 25th, and is open from 11am to 9pm to satisfy any and all food cravings.
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The Ultimate Guide to Oktoberfest 2013
The end of summer is always bittersweet. But as much as we miss the sun and sand, there’s a lot to love about fall. Think brilliantly colored leaves dotting the trees, pumpkin and apple pie spice-flavored goodies, and a whopping, 16 days of Oktoberfest. Held from September 21st to October 6th this year, the cheerful celebration of Bavarian culture generally includes music from dirndl and lederhosen-clad Oompah Bands, a whole lot of beer drinking, and all the Wurst, Schnitzel and Sauerbraten you can eat. And you don’t even need to be German to get in on the fun and booze. Many of New York’s best restaurants and beer gardens are holding festivities open to all, from the always high-spirited Zum Schneider in Manhattan to the delicious Prime Meats in Brooklyn and the legendary Bohemian Hall and Biergarten in Queens!
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New York’s Best Seasonal Prix Fixes
New York City’s Greenmarkets are awfully tempting this time of year; an impossibly colorful cornucopia of yellow squash, crisp greens, blood red tomatoes and deep purple plums. But what are you going to do with baby artichokes and dinosaur kale when you spend half your time stuck at the office? Luckily, we live in a phenomenal food city, where those same fruits and veggies serve as inspiration for seasonal (and surprisingly affordable) menus at restaurants all over the city. Here are just a few places guaranteed to please the time-strapped locavore, from Mas La Grillade and Northern Spy Food Co. in Manhattan to Applewood, Rose Water and iCi in Brooklyn.
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The Best End-of-Summer Dishes
Now that we’ve all begrudgingly entered back into our regular work and school routines, the leisurely days of summer already seem like a thing of the past. But there’s one thing we’re just not willing to let go of quite yet, and that’s luscious, warm weather produce. So until we start seeing apples, kale and pumpkin taking over restaurant menus, we plan on eating every last end-of-summer dish we can find, like the Heirloom Tomato Panzanella at The Cleveland in Nolita, the Scallops and Sweet Corn at Piora in the West Village, and the Fig and Ribiola-topped Crostini at Red Gravy in Brooklyn!
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The Best New Bites at the Chelsea Market
Located in the old Nabisco factory, Chelsea Market is a glittering wonderland for gourmands (it should be, considering the landmarked building also houses the Food Network). But even if you can’t score a visit upstairs to hang with Alton Brown and Rachael Ray, a trip down the lower concourse is more than enough to keep your tastebuds occupied.
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Fall Restaurant Preview 2013
If you thought this summer’s roster of new restaurant openings was particularly exciting (and it surprisingly was), then get ready for fall. Because autumn is the time when chefs roll out their biggest, flashiest projects, and this year is no exception. From Amanda Freitag’s return to the dining scene at the old Empire Diner space to John Fraser’s upcoming eatery at The Standard hotel, and the long-awaited debut of Brooklyn Fare Manhattan, it’s already shaping up to be one of the busiest, most exhilarating seasons yet!
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Q & A with Betony’s Executive Chef Bryce Shuman
Three stars from The New York Times? Not bad for a chef no one heard of before, that is until he stepped into the kitchen at Betony this spring. He, along with Eamon Rockey, transformed what was once a doomed restaurant space, which briefly opened as a Russian brasserie called Pushkin’s into a midtown dining destination with sophisticated seasonal cooking sans the pretense that often comes with it.
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Seasonal Eats: Figs
When it comes to fruit, what could more impossibly exotic, unreservedly luscious, and yes, even as downright sexy as a fig? Native to the Middle East and western Asia — although currently just as popular, if not more so, in the Mediterranean — the intensely sweet and juicy fig has been around since ancient times (you know, that whole Garden of Eden thing). In fact, it was one of the very first plants cultivated by humans, predating barley, legumes, and even wheat!
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Where to Spend Labor Day Weekend 2013
Labor Day is probably one of the more bittersweet holidays. Yes, it’s part of a sun-filled three-day weekend, but it’s also an inescapable indicator that summer is at its end. That’s why it’s best just to face the inevitable, and try to make the most of what we have left. So here are a few especially celebratory ways to spend this Labor Day — from a seasonal lunch of Soft Shell Crabs and S’mores at Recette in the West Village, to an Oyster and Absinthe party at Maison Premiere in Brooklyn, and even a last minute getaway to La Brisa de Tacombi in the Hamptons!
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New York’s Tastiest Summer Tomato Dishes
For the better part of the year, tomatoes can be sadly lackluster and often tasteless. But come summer, these colorful orbs reach their peak, bursting with sweet, bright flavor. Delicious either raw or cooked, and found in varieties like Brandywine or striking Green Zebra, oblong Plum or tiny Cherry, the summertime fruit is incredibly versatile. Take the savory Tomato and Zucchini Bread Pudding at The Harrison, the Mussels and Heirloom Tomatoes in Lobster Broth at RedFarm, and the surprising and refreshing Strawberry-Tomato Sorbet at Oddfellows, each showcasing tomatoes equally well as part of an appetizer, entrée or even dessert…
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The Best New Restaurants of Summer 2013
Summer tends to be slow season for buzzy restaurant debuts, but New York sure had a bumper crop of notable openings this year. Here are a few of our favorite new additions to the dining scene, from Michael White’s Costata in SoHo to Paul Liebrandt’s The Elm in Brooklyn and even Bunker, a Vietnamese eatery from an Eleven Madison Park alum in Queens!
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New York’s Tastiest Summer Cocktails
There’s no other word for it… summertime cocktails are just so fun. From frosty Margaritas and fragrant Mojitos to fruity Sangrias and spicy Micheladas, each makes you feel like you’re relaxing on a tropical island somewhere — even if you’re merely sipping from a plastic cup on the stoop of your brownstone, or on a crowded restaurant patio along a city street. Since New York’s cocktail scene is only getting better and better, there’s no reason to limit yourself to the usual suspects this season. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the most unique summer cocktails, from the Ouest Daisy at Lafayette to the Big Daddy Kane at Tribeca Canvas and more!
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Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho
Sad about summer drawing to a close? If there’s one silver lining to the season’s inevitable end, it’s this — vine-ripe tomatoes are at their glorious, juicy peak. So make the most of intriguing heirloom varieties like smoky Black Pear, smooth Yellow Valencia, meaty Brandywine and tart Green Zebra by combining them in a scrumptious cold Gazpacho, just bursting with summer freshness and flavor!
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Where to Eat at New York’s Top Transportation Centers
Whether or not you choose to take the LIRR to Fire Island, a plane to Puerto Rico or just the PATH to Jersey City, you’re still destined to spend at least a few hungry hours in NY’s transportation centers. That’s why we’ve rounded up the precious few dining bright spots, from the glittering Oyster Bar at Grand Central to Alex Raij’s brand new Spanish tapas spot, Piquillo, at JFK.
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Our Favorite Fried Dishes for Summer
Have you ever noticed how many foods seriously weaken your resolve to eat healthfully each summer? Ice cream. BBQ. And oh yeah, deep-fried everything. I mean, how can we be expected to rock sundresses, bikinis and itty-bitty short shorts when Belly Clams and Fried Chicken so perfectly complement the season? Resistance is especially futile when you consider divinely crunchy bites, like the Stuffed Zucchini Flowers at Charlie Bird and the Le Grand Aioli (a mixed plate of crispy goodness) at Marlow and Sons.
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The Coolest Popsicles in New York
The sweltering summer heat has everyone craving some sort of frozen treats. (I don’t know about you, but it’s pretty much all we’re thinking about.) Remember how excited you used to get about The Good Humor Man’s Strawberry Shortcake Pops and Chocolate-Dipped Vanilla Ice Cream Pops? Well, that’s child’s play compared to the new wave of frozen sweets, made with everything from fresh herbs to seasonal fruits and artisanal ice creams. Lest we forget our favorite, alcohol-spiked popsicles – a cocktail & dessert in one!
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