Spring Cocktails on the Rise
Dishes like Boeuf Bourguignon and Brussels Sprouts don’t really have a place on lightened-up, springtime menus. And neither do heady, malty spirits, like Port or Brandy, or comfort cocktails, like Rum Punch or a Tom & Jerry. That’s why bars and restaurants are making sure their cocktails are every bit as seasonal as the food they accompany, from the sugar snap pea-topped “Green Giant” at Clover Club in Brooklyn to the blood orange and rhubarb-accented “Spiritual America” at Nolita’s Pearl and Ash. So put down your wintry Manhattan and try one of these warm-weather libations this spring!
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Best New Vendors Smorgasburg 2013
A tongue-in-cheek reference to the Scandinavian Smörgåsbord, an extensive buffet that features a variety of hot and cold dishes, Smorgasburg more than lives up to its name. Brooklyn’s mammoth, all-food flea market features up to 100 independent vendors, specializing in everything from Deep-Fried Anchovies and Filipino Spring Rolls, to dairy-free Ice Cream and artisanal Pigs in a Blanket. With competition so fierce, it’s more important than ever for upstart artisans to bring their “A” game. And, from what we tasted at Smorgasburg last Saturday, these elite new vendors are already rising to the head of the class.
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Best In-Between Seasons Eats
It’s a funny thing about the first few weeks of spring. No sooner do we start to get excited about longer, warmer days and farmers markets full of green, leafy vegetables, then the weather takes a turn, and we go right back to craving soups and stews for those still-too-chilly afternoons, and even colder nights. So until we can officially forgo beans for sweet peas, steak for shellfish, and cremini mushrooms for morels, we’re happily taking advantage of these “in-between season” eats.
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Spring Dishes on the Rise
As Sohui Kim, chef and owner of The Good Fork in Red Hook eloquently put it, “Spring is when I can stop pretending to be excited about cooking with root vegetables.” It’s still a bit early in the season (ramp mania has yet to hit its peak), but plenty of restaurants are already showcasing glimpses of spring’s bounty from the Greenmarket. We scouted out a vibrant Spring Pea Soup at Market Table, Spring Garlic Risotto at Craft, and Strawberries and Rhubarb sweetening Foie Gras at Prospect in Fort Greene…
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Best Lamb Dishes for Spring
Chicken is by far America’s most popular protein and becoming trendier every day. And, of course, from Bacon to Belly, nothing is hipper than Pork. But with the Easter holiday upon us, and the weather just beginning to warm, the meat du jour is Lamb. There’s nothing more iconic than a Leg of Lamb as the centerpiece of an Easter table, or a surer sign of Spring than seeing juicy loins and chops appear on restaurants menus throughout the city. The Lamb Dinner for Two at Dovetail is a particularly delicious homage to the season, along with the Sicilian Lamb Sugo at Elizabeth Falkner’s new pizza joint, Krescendo, and the Indian-inspired lamb chops at Junoon. Looking for other ways to get a taste of Lamb, both during the holiday season and beyond? Here are the Lamb Dishes we’re loving this Spring…...
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The Best Matzoh Ball Soups In New York
Some grandmothers pass down recipes for Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes, while others make the best Lasagna, Arroz con Pollo, or Sweet Potato Pie. For good little Jewish boys and girls, though, nothing says grandma like a steaming bowl of Matzoh Ball Soup. And the upcoming Passover holiday makes those childhood memories even sweeter.
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The Best Spots for Easter Brunch
Having a leisurely brunch on Sunday is practically a way of life in New York. What better way to unwind after a long work week (or recover from a Saturday night-indcued hangover) than with stacks of buttery pancakes, tripped out Bloody Mary’s, fancy bacon and farm eggs, and unlimited Bellinis or Mimosas? But Easter Sunday takes brunch to a whole other level. It calls for extra special, extra creative fare often involving ham, lamb, and plenty of sweets. Not to mention all of the terrific ethnic food you can feast on come Sunday morning. There’s everything from a Scandinavian Smörgåsbord at Aquavit to Southern eats the likes of biscuits and grits at Seersucker, and even a rollicking Jazz brunch at the classy Astor Room in Queens. Aquavit65 E 55th StreetMidtown East,New York 10022(212) 307-7311This Michelin-starred, seasonal Nordic restaurant in Midtown is...
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Best of Dining Out During Passover
When you’re Jewish, it can be hard to get psyched about potato latkes during Hanukkah when it seems like everyone else is feasting on Egg Nog, Christmas cookies and juicy roasts. And it’s not really any easier to swallow dry Matzoh and potato kugel during Passover when Easter celebrants get to enjoy ham, lamb, chocolate bunnies, and those beloved marshmallow peeps. But the Passover Seder doesn’t need to be something you just resign to dutifully. In fact, at a few great restaurants around the city, it’s one of the most eagerly anticipated meals of the year. You can enjoy a lavish spread of classic comfort foods at Kutsher’s Tribeca, like Friday Night Roast Chicken, Mrs. K’s Matzoh Ball Soup, and Schmaltz Mashed Potatoes. Or why not spend a “Progressive Passover” at JoeDoe, enjoying “Elijah’s Cup” cocktails and squares of...
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Best Wild Game Dishes in NY
Right about this time of year, we begin to tire of the same old roast chicken, pork chops, and grilled strip steaks. We eaters often forget there’s a whole other world of meat of the elk, venison and ostrich sorts. Well, a few, local restaurants are taking a walk on the wild side when it comes to their proteins, stocking their kitchens with pheasant, quail, and even kangaroo. Of course, rich cuts of meat like these are particularly well suited to cold weather dishes, so be sure to grab a taste before spring kicks in. Henry’s End’s Herb-Crusted Elk Chops and Casa Mono’s Quail with Toasted Quince are both excellent places to start, but these other delicious wild game dishes are worth hunting out, too!
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Where to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
You know that saying, “Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day?” Well, we’re taking it to heart this year, scoping the city for the best places to grab a pint, or feast on hearty plates of Irish Stew, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Fish and Chips, and Bangers and Mash.
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The Tastiest Cemitas in New York
When it comes to sandwiches, we tend to think, well, more is more. We’re talking about All-American Submarines, piled high with cold cuts, mayo and extra cheese, or sloppy Italian Heroes, heavy with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and juicy meatballs. But as far as gloriously outsized sandwiches are concerned, the Mexican Cemita just may top them all.
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Where to Eat Out During “Dine in Brooklyn”
Manhattan’s “Restaurant Week” may be over, but there’s still plenty of opportunity for frugal foodies to get in on the fun. That’s because “Dine in Brooklyn” is just around the corner. From March 11th to March 21st, over 200 area restaurants will be offering three-course dinners for just $28, three-course lunches for $20.13, and even some “two for the price of one” brunches. Sounds like a pretty good deal, right?
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Best Comfort Foods for 2013
Every cuisine has its own “comfort foods” — dishes that whisk eaters back to childhood. They can be rich and gooey a la mac & cheese or steamy and delicate, like Vietnamese Pho. You might not think about eating another culture’s staples when you’re feeling nostalgic or just plain freezing, but you could discover a new favorite comfort food. It should make a bad day turn into a good one, and make cold weather feel downright cozy.
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Best Beer Dishes in NYC
It’s New York City Beer Week, which means that for the next few days, we’ll all have brew on the brain. But why limit your consumption to just drinking it straight out of a glass? Especially since so many restaurants are using beer as a base for supremely tasty, soul satisfying dishes. We’re talking about the Beer-Infused Alsatian Country Soup at The Modern in midtown, the Beer-Battered Pickles at Taproom No. 307 in Murray Hill, and the Beer-Brined Pork Chop at Benchmark in Brooklyn. And you know what’s even better? They all taste great accompanied by an icy cold pint of beer! Here are a few more of our favorites… Prune's Ginger Beer Roasted Pumpkin54 E 1st StreetEast Village,New York 10003(212) 677-6221There isn’t really beer in the unique, Roasted Pumpkin entree at this excellent, East Village eatery. At least not...
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The Best Hot Chocolate in NYC
Now matter how grown up you get, you just never seem to grow out of hot chocolate. It’s one of the perks of winter weather, coming in from out of the cold, and cozying up to a warm mug of hot chocolate, preferably with a homemade marshmallow on top. City Bakery in Union Square definitely seems to share our sentiment.
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Where To Celebrate Mardi Gras in NYC
What with Valentine’s Day, Super Bowl Sunday, and Groundhog Day (for those of you that celebrate), it’s easy to forget that other, fun February festivity… Mardi Gras. French for Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras traditionally refers to the practice of eating rich, fatty foods before Lent. In modern times, it’s more closely associated with parades, bead throwing, debauchery, and general gastronomic excess.
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The Ultimate in Chocolate for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day compels us to take a moment during the doldrums of February to show that special someone or crush that we really care. But it also happens to be a celebration of something equally important. Chocolate. And we’re not just talking about those cheesy, heart-shaped boxes of candy peddled at every Duane Reade or corner store (although we do have a certain fondness for them, too). Forget flowers…
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Best of New York’s Chicken Wings
It always happens to us: Right around Super Bowl Sunday, we start to get cravings for all sorts of comfort-cum-sports bar foods, from chili to wings. Except lately, we’ve noticed wings have become more than just a dive bar staple. We certainly didn’t expect to find them being served as a special at Andrew Carmellini’s The Dutch, or glazed in agave and a chile spice blend at Alta, a tapas joint in the West Village. Shall we dare call fried chicken wings a trend?
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Best Of Super Bowl Eats
Even if we don’t necessarily love football, we love the opportunity to indulge in support of our peers that do love it. After all, the Super Bowl is the second biggest eating day of the year, only superseded by Thanksgiving. Why should this eating-related holiday only be for football fans? We’re not just thinking about nachos, although a properly executed nacho platter warrants real recognition. In New York City, we can pair our football with all sorts of foods, from Italian to real deal barbeque.
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Zenkichi
There’s nothing that adds more to the romance of Valentine’s Day than a sexy atmosphere. While it might be just a restaurant, dining at Zenkichi, a sexy izakaya in Brooklyn, is a Bond-like experience. You’ll happen on a corner with an unmarked building in Williamsburg. Slip inside and down the stairs and suddenly you’re in Japan (well almost). There’s rocks on the floor, bamboo trim, and trickling water in the background to set the mood. Oh, and each booth has a privacy curtains. Every time the server enters they have to ring a bell. Sound sexy? Damn right. Start with a seasonal sake from their impressive selection and an order of the Salmon with its own Roe, Lamb Chop Tataki with ginger onion soy sauce and Sweet Duck Salad with soft egg and baby greens. For dessert,...
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