Best Thing I Ate – North End Grill’s Bacon & Oysters
If you’re one of those people who “never eats above 14th Street” or “never travels below Canal Street,” you’re missing out on some seriously good eating these days. One of the best new arrivals is North End Grill in Battery Park City. There’s a lot to love about Danny Meyer’s newest venture, a modern American bar and grill. For starters, there’s a killer scotch selection with flights and flasks, and a raw bar. The restaurant itself is handsomely outfitted in black and white trimmings with a marble-topped eating counter facing an open kitchen and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the surrounding neighborhood. The most compelling draw is what’s coming from the kitchen. Floyd Cardoz, who helmed the kitchen at Tabla (and won Top Chef Masters Season 3), is back in action and better than ever. In Floyd’s hands, the American grill takes...
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Suddenly Chic -Passover Dining Out
Once upon a time, Passover was a dreaded holiday, devoid of bread, rice, cake, cookies and all things yeast. But times have changed and New York’s best restaurants and chefs are finding inspiration in the holiday and, more importantly, its food traditions. With the sudden popularity of Jewish deli cooking, there’s a whole new world of reinvented classics, the likes of wild halibut gefilte fish and chopped duck and chicken liver. But it doesn’t stop there. There’s brisket tacos at Rosa Mexicana, smoked trout potato latke at Telepan, and jalapeno matzo ball soup at Toloache .Whether you celebrate or not, you’ll want to get in on the inspired Seder dinners New York’s best restaurants are offering this year. Here’s a few of our favorites… Balaboosta – Gefilte Wannabe Address: 214 Mulberry St. Phone: (212) 966-7366 Website: balaboostanyc.com With its Israeli-influenced Middle...
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New York’s Best PB & J Dishes
In case you haven’t noticed, we have a serious peanut butter obsession, so we’re pretty excited to milk National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day for all its worth. This Monday, April 2nd, celebrates that iconic, brown bagged lunch most of us grew up on, but in New York, the humble sandwich has undergone a major makeover. Afterall, we’ve got bragging rights to the some of the most innovative chefs in the country. Take April Bloomfield for example. In her hands, the classic PB & J gets stuffed with bananas, dunked in bourbon and deep fried at the Breslin. Then, there’s killer PB&J doughnuts at the Doughnut Plant, peanut butter and jelly macarons at Bosie Tea Parlor to peanut butter & jelly pancakes at Lavo. Not to mention an entire restaurant exclusively devoted to peanut butter endeavors in the West...
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Easter Sweets
To us, holidays are opportunities to feast festively. Sure, seeing family is great (blah, blah blah), but the real joy of Easter is the chance to eat sweets you only get to have once a year. Who doesn’t love a bright yellow marshmallow peep or a Cadbury creme egg? And that’s just what’s available at your corner Duane Reade. Just imagine how creative chocolatiers and bakeries have gotten this season. We’ve heard rumors of peep pudding at Sugar Sweet Sunshine as well as black sesame eggs and green tea bunnies at Kyotofu. There’s a killer Easter basket with candy peas, carrots and a laughing bunny at Dean & Deluca and lots more. Here’s a few of our favorite finds for Easter. Bisous Ciao 101 Stanton St, btwn Orchard & Ludlow Sts. 212.260.3463www.bisousciao.com The owner of this shop took her...
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New York’s Top Curries
Lately, we’ve been on a serious curry kick. And with all of the new Thai and Southeast Asian restaurants that have opened recently, it’s an exciting habit to pick up. There’s an arsenal of curries that doesn’t begin with Indian and end with Thai. Far from it. There’s Japanese Vietnamese, Malaysian and Korean curries, too. We’ve pulled together a list of our favorites, from milder options like the Berkshire pork cutlet curry at Curry-Ya to a spicy lamb vindaloo at Brick Lane Curry House. Here’s the rest of our picks. Junoon Address: 27 West 24th St., near Broadway Phone: (212) 490-2900 Website: junoonnyc.com& Restaurants like Tamarind and Devi proved that Indian cuisine can hold its own in the world of fine dining. Last year, Junoon took it to another level with a serious wine list, stunning dining room and...
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Trendwatch: Suddenly Sexy Salmon
For years, salmon got a bad rap as being, well, boring and mostly farm-raised. But with the rise of wild salmon and recent popularity of Jewish-American deli cuisine, we’ve noticed that salmon has come into fashion. Especially cured and smoked salmon, and not just at Russ & Daughters or just Jewish delis. There’s a killer salmon trio at Kutsher’s, standout Danish gravlax smørrebrød at Vandaag, smoked salmon sashimi at Alta and even vodka-cured salmon at Cafe Boulud. And there’s plenty more where that came from. Here’s a few of our favorites… Acme Address: 9 Great Jones St., near Lafayette St. Phone: (212) 203-2121 Website: acmenyc.com Nordic food is having its moment in New York right now and it’s about time. Perhaps the most exciting spot to sample it right now is Acme, where Noma’s co-founder Mads Refslund fortuitously turned...
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Where To Celebrate Mardi Gras
Seeing that Valentine’s Day is officially over and Mardi Gras is less than a week away, we thought we’d better start planning. Afterall, this holiday is about so much more than just beads and booze. In fact, Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday,” the last night of feasting your heart out before Lent. Whether you promise to give up your favorite foods for Lent or not, there’s plenty of reasons to celebrate the Louisiana cuisine that goes hand and hand with Mardi Gras. It’s southern comfort food meets Creole favorites mixed with a Cajun flair, from jambalaya at Bourbon Street Grill to po’boys at Cheeky’s. Sip on a few classic New Orleans libations at Maison Premiere or slice into a traditional King’s Cake at Silver Moon Bakery. After all, it’s Fat Tuesday, and we’re up for the challenge....
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In Fashion – Our Favorite Layer Cakes
With all the talk about cupcakes, pies and mini desserts of all sorts, we got to thinking about classics that have come back in style and we couldn’t help but notice how layered cake has made its way back into the spotlight recently. Just think of Parm’s newly famous layered ice cream cake or Billy’s Bakery’s criminally good ice box cake. What we found were some pretty inspired and delicious takes on this old fashion cake, including Baked’s caramel apple layer cake. Here’s a few of our favorite discoveries… Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery Address: 126 Rivington St, btwn Essex & Norfolk Sts. Phone: (212) 995-1960 Website: www.sugarsweetsunshine.com This East Village bakery crafts a variety of terrific baked goods, but people often overlook the standout selection of layer cakes. They’re so serious about their layer cakes that they make them...
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Edible Valentine's Day Gifts
Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. In our opinion, it’s not Valentine’s Day or a noteworthy holiday, for that matter, without the ritual sweets. Besides, February 14th isn’t just for lovers. It’s for anyone who loves a good excuse to eat! Forget roses and jewelry, there’s a number of Valentine’s Day edibles, from handmade marshmallows at Three Tarts to Kyotofu’s heart-shaped miso chocolate brownies. Look out cupid, we’re skipping straight to the sweet stuff. Kee’s Chocolates Address: 80 Thompson Street (multiple locations) Phone: (212) 334-3284 Nothing says February 14th quite like chocolate. For the chocolate lover who’s seen it all, there’s a selection of truly unique chocolates from this jewel box-size chocolate shop. Owner Kee Ling Tong handcrafts her chocolates daily with a variety of exotic flavors and fillings, like fennel, cognac, honey kumquat, elderflower, pepper,...
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Valentine’s Day Dining
The holiday many love to hate is fast approaching. If you’re single, Valentine’s Day can be depressing. If you’re coupled, it can be a lot of pressure to buy roses at inflated prices or fancy chocolates. And, of course, you have to pick the perfect restaurant with a pricey prix fixe menu, a romantic setting, and aphrodisiacs of the oyster and fig sorts. Instead of giving into a “sucker’s night out” meal, we found a few great options we could actually get excited about. Valentine’s Day could be an excuse to sample sexy Austrian food at Edi & The Wolf or take a couple’s cooking class at DeGustibus. Here’s a few of our favorite options… Millesime 92 Madison Ave btwn 28th & 29th St 212.889.7100 www.millesimerestaurant.com Millesime has a reputation for being one of the most romantic date spots in...
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Best of Bone Marrow & The City
Bone marrow is one dish that leans heavily towards the decadent end of the culinary spectrum and deliciously so. This winter, we’ve noticed quite a few unctous appearances in restaurants around the city, some prepared classically, others with a new twist. Miso-glazed bone marrow with orange and olive marmalade? That’s one we never had before Saxon + Parole recently opened. There’s everything from spoonable bone marrow at Prune to bone marrow tacos at Belcourt. Yes, bone marrow tacos. Here’s a few of our favorite discoveries… Prune – Roasted Bone Marrow Address: 54 East First. Street, btwn First & Second Aves. Phone: (212)677-6221 Website: www.prunerestaurant.com There are several reasons to stop in this teeny, East Village eatery, especially brunch, but there’s an even better reason come dinnertime. Gabriel Hamilton thankfully doesn’t know the meaning of restraint: Order the roasted marrow...
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The Best Thing I Ate This Week – Mas La Grillade’s Oysters
I have to admit I was never a huge fan of West Village darling, Mas Farmhouse. Don’t get me wrong: The setting’s great, undeniably cozy and romantic, but I was never bowled over by the food. So when the owner and chef, Galen Zamarra, opened Mas (La Grillade), I didn’t pay much attention. That was a mistake. Zamarra’s newest venture sits on a no man’s land stretch of Seventh Avenue South near Little Branch cocktail bar. Step inside and you find yourself in a two-story dining room with an elegant glass facade and a second-story skylight. Really, the most distinguished thing about Mas (La Grillade) is not the decor, but the potent fragrance of all different woods burning over the grill. It sets the tone for the menu, composed of simply grilled ingredients that run the gamut from lamb...
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New York’s Hottest Winter Cocktails
We’re not suggesting you forgo your daily cup (or three) of coffee, but winter is the perfect time to add a warm libation to your list of go-to beverages. From the Hot Buttered Mezcal at Daniel Boulud’s Bar Pleiades to Peels‘ outstanding “Ichabod’s Old Fashioned,” made with homemade pumpkin bitters & maple syrup, here’s a few of the hottest winter cocktails this season… Peels Restaurant Address: 235 Bowery New York, NY 10003 Phone: (646) 602-7015 Website: http://peelsnyc.com/ Peels specializes in southern comfort foods, like fresh baked biscuits and gravy, but we’re just as excited to discover a soothing hot cocktail to settle into after work hours. The cocktail chefs here have come up with a terrific spiced apple cider, dubbed “The Switchel”, composed of dark rum, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, ginger, and molasses. If that’s not your calling...
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New York’s Top Noodles
Noodles mean different things to different people. For some, a deep bowl of ramen topped with a hard-boiled egg and pork belly comes to mind. For others, it’s a bowl of homemade fettuccine in brown butter sauce. Whether you like your noodles hand-pulled or knife-cut, hot or cold, wheat, rice or buckwheat, there’s oodles of fantastic noodle dishes to discover this winter. (Though you want to stick with the warm versions until spring rolls back around.) From Zabb Elee’s Thai spicy and sour Thai noodle soup to Viennese spaetzle at Café Sabarsky, to soba done right at Cocoron, noodles are our latest wintertime delight. Zabb Elee – Spicy-Sour Noodle Soup Address: 75 2nd Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets Phone: (212) 505-9533 Website: zabbelee.com “Authentic” pad thai? Yawn. Menus touting great pad thai seem to pile up like junk...
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Best Thing I Ate This Week – Yakitori Totto's Salmon Siokara
There are certain restaurants you wish you could keep to yourself. It’s entirely selfish, but who wants to show up at one of their favorite spots only to find a longer line that usual and have no one to blame but themself? (Well, It’s true.) While I have mentioned Yakitori Totto in passing as one of my stand-by’s, I’ve never really shined the spotlight on it in fear I’d regret it. So I thought I’d start the New Year off right by sharing my devotion to this killer yakitori joint in midtown. A bit of a hidden treasure, Yakitori Totto is a second floor walk-up with a small, street level sign with an image of a rooster on it. Climb the stairs and you’ll feel like you’ve entered into a pub straight out of Tokyo. There’s usually a wait...
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Best of – NYC’s Healthful Haute Cooking
The holidays have officially come and gone, and as much as we love all of the festivities and food, we’re ready to come up for air. Just because we need a break from the holiday excess doesn’t mean we plan on staying in – and you shouldn’t have to either! There are plenty of ways to make the most of New York’s dining scene, while still sticking to healthful New Year’s resolutions. There’s a host of talented chefs all over town, serving imaginative dishes that will fill you up without filling you out. (We couldn’t resist the pun.) You can still sample newcomers, like the Meatpacking’s new, tri-level seafood spot, Catch or Japanese home cooking at Family Recipe on the Lower East Side. There’s the all-vegetable menu at Le Verdure in Eataly or buckwheat noodles and much more. Here’s...
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Our Favorite Comfort Foods 2012
Though it’s undoubtedly milder, winter is officially here, and with it comes cravings for comfort foods. Who doesn’t want to escape the cold outdoors and cozy up to a warm bowl of ramen, gooey grilled cheese or buttery biscuits.? We strongly suggest the flaky, fresh from the oven biscuits from Brooklyn Star or the shepherd’s pie empanadas at Sons of Essex. This year, there’s an impressive and hearty, new and old batch of creature comforts to get you through the winter months. Little Muenster Address: 100 Stanton St., btwn. Ludlow & Orchard Sts. Phone: (212) 203-7197 Website: littlemuenster.com Their slogan may be “super fancy grilled cheese,” but it’s more like super gooey, yummy, melted goodness. Little Muenster just opened its doors this fall, bringing a serious selection of grilled cheese to the New York dining scene. Forget plain old...
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Our Favorite Christmas Treats
The holidays are about presents and family, but we’re most excited about the food. We don’t care if it’s Hannukah latkes, gingerbread houses, or Christmas buche de noel. For the best in holiday traditions, we’ve gathered a standout line-up of must-have treats this season. For starters, there’s old favorites, like Balthazar Bakery where they raise the bar on fruitcake or fresh-baked pannetone at Grandaisy spackled with rum-soaked raisins. We discovered mince pies at Brooklyn’s DUB Pies and even peppermint cornflake cookies from Momofuku Milk Bar. Ready, set, celebrate the holidays! Duane Park Patisserie Address: 179 Duane St., btw. Greenwich & Staple Sts. Phone: (212) 274-8447 Website: www.duaneparkpatisserie.com Rumor has it Christmas pudding can be traced back to Medieval times, when the Church decreed that pudding should be made on the 25th Sunday after Trinity with 13 ingredients to represent...
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Best of Christmas Day Dining Out
Christmas is just over a week away, and if the idea of whipping up a holiday feast in a New York kitchen has you feeling overwhelmed, you may want to keep reading. We’ve checked out what’s for dinner (and brunch, too) at the some of the city’s finest restaurants and compiled a list of our favorites. From braised Christmas goose at Wallse to a Chinese feast Fatty Crab-style, it’s just a reservation away. Lyon Address: 118 Greenwich Ave., btwn Horatio & Jane Sts. Phone: (212) 242-5966 Website: www.lyonnyc.com This year, this charming, West Village spot is hosting brunch and dinner. Take your pick. After you’ve worked up an appetite opening presents, consider brunch at Lyon for the “Double Pink: Salmon & Champagne,” a salmon en croute stuffed with spinach and aromatic rice, served with a beurre blanc sauce, and...
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