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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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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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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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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Seasonal Eats: Artichokes
As happy as we are to order artichokes from seasonal restaurant menus, and as excited as we are to see them at Greenmarkets, artichokes rarely seem to wind up in our grocery baskets. That’s because the spiny, edible flowers can be awfully intimidating to deal with at home. Actually the bud of a plant from the thistle family, this ancient Mediterranean vegetable has a complex, largely inedible outer structure. The tender heart is encased by a sheath of sharp hairs, called the choke, which is further surrounded by a tight formation of fleshy, purplish-green petals.
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New York’s Tastiest Chilled Soups
Our coats may still be buried away in the back of our closets, but that’s no reason to abandon characteristically cold weather fare like soup. Think about it — what better way to beat the heat than with a chilled soup made of seasonal fruits and vegetables, like Watermelon Gazpacho topped with Feta Cheese or cold Corn Soup crowned with Crabmeat? Is your mouth watering yet? Check out the creamy Cucumber Vichyssoise at Dovetail, or the sweet and savory Borscht at Joseph Leonard, and it will be. Here are a few other cool soups to savor before summer’s end.
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Dreamy Summer Dishes In New York
There are so many reasons to love summer. Al fresco dining. Outdoor food festivals and markets. Seafood shacks. And best of all, tons of fresh, local produce. Succulent Sweet Corn, tender Yellow Squash and juicy Heirloom Tomatoes are only really available for a fleeting three months, tops. That’s why the city’s best restaurants are taking full advantage of the Greenmarket, like Franny’s Crostini with Fava Beans, Pecorino, Alder’s Foie Gras Terrine with Watermelon and Yuzu, and Ignacio Mattos’ newly opened, Estela and its Raw Scallops with Citrus and Bronze Fennel. Looking for a few more seasonal dishes to celebrate summer with? Right this way… Estela47 E Houston StreetNY 10012(212) 219-7693 Ever since parting ways with Isa in Williamsburg last year, chef Ignacio Mattos has stayed pretty much under the radar. But just in time for summer, he’s re-emerged at Estela,...
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Sizzling BBQ Spots for Summer
There’s really no need to travel cross-country in search of a smoked meat fix this summer. Because from the Brontosaurus Ribs at Mighty Quinn’s in Manhattan to the pepper-rubbed beef at BrisketTown in Brooklyn and caper-brined pastrami at The Strand Smokehouse in Queens, our city is shaping up to become one of the next great hubs of righteous, wood-fired ‘cue!
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New York’s Top Hot Dogs
In case you didn’t know it, July is National Hot Dog Month. And happily, New York has a lot more to celebrate with nowadays than shriveled ballpark franks and dirty water dogs from street carts. In fact, fancified forcemeat is starting to become just as popular at local restaurants as haute cuisine hamburgers, from the Green Papaya and Quail Egg-topped links at DBGB Kitchen & Bar to the fiery curry-injected Phaal Dog at Brick Lane Curry House and even a hot dog made with Foie Gras at Prospect in Fort Greene. Here are just a few other stellar sausages you’ll want to sink your teeth into this summer…
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New York’s Coolest Iced Drinks
It really doesn’t matter how many cold snaps or rain storms there are between Memorial Day and Labor Day because we officially switch over to Iced Coffee and Iced Tea the second that temps rise above 60, and we don’t touch the hot stuff again until well into September. Luckily, there are plenty of places in New York to get a frosty beverage fix this summer that go well beyond the expected chilled coffee and tea. Think everything from fresh, frozen fruit drinks at Kelvin Natural Slush and Italian Iced Chocolate at Eataly to throwback Cherry Lime Rickey’s at Brooklyn Farmacy and citrusy sippers at Del’s Frozen Lemonade…
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The Best Seafood Shacks for Summer
There’s little we associate with summer as much as shellfish… from whole steamed lobsters served with corn on the cob and drawn butter, to toasted rolls piled high with full belly clams, and iced platters lined with freshly shucked raw oysters, cocktail sauce, and lemon wedges. Can’t make it to Nantucket, Newport, or Puget Sound this year? There are plenty of seaworthy spots in New York that are no more than a subway ride away, from The Lobster Place in Chelsea Market to the recently opened Kittery in Brooklyn. So treat yourself to a crustacean staycation this summer, by chowing down at some of the city’s best seafood shacks.
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Summer’s Sweetest Ice Creams
We’re not gonna lie. We tend to splurge on ice cream all year round. And the long, hot days and balmy nights of a New York summer give us even more of a reason to overindulge. How can we not, when the city has such an abundance of fun and unique sweet shops? And we’re not just talking vanilla soft serve, chocolate ice cream sandwiches or strawberry on a sugar cone. Oh no. There are all sorts of ways to get your dairy fix this summer, from the elegant sorbet at Amorino in Greenwich Village, to the unusual black sesame seaweed ice cream at SkyIce in Brooklyn, and the sticky sundaes at Eddie’s Sweet Shop in Queens!
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Last Licks of Summer
Just because Labor Day is around the bend doesn’t mean summer’s over. Not until September 22nd anyway. We say there’s still plenty of time to enjoy all that summer has to offer — watermelon, corn mint, sugar snap peas, and crab. And chefs all over the city are using these fresh, flavorful ingredients to create dishes that capture the essence of the season. There’s the Watermelon Gazpacho at Bell Book and Candle, Locanda Verde’s Burrata with Wood-Fired Peaches and the Tomato Panzanella at Perla. Here’s a few restaurants worthy of a visit for one last bite of summer before it’s officially over… The Frozen Raspberry Parfait with Sweet Pea Sorbet at Dovetail Address: 103 W. 77th St., at Columbus Ave. Phone: (212) 362-3800 Website: dovetailnyc.com Chef John Fraser has won over the hearts of New Yorkers (and the people...
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Seasonal Eats — Cucumbers
You can get a cucumber any time of year these days, but once you try a cucumber in the summer, when they’re meant to be eaten, you’ll have a hard time going back to the ones found in the supermarket. Now is when cucumbers are being harvested, and not the usual ones you see everywhere. This is the time for kirbys, burpless and lemon cucumbers.
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Blueberry Soup Fix
What’s more summery than plump, indigo-stained blueberries practically bursting at the seams with sweetness? Berries of all sorts are the emblematic fruits of summer. And unlike ice cream, you don’t have to feel guilty about loving them! Not to bore you with the details, but blueberries have immeasurable health benefits. They have an extremely low glycemic index, which means they don’t impact our blood sugar levels. Another plus is that they also have tons of antioxidants, which means they improve memory, not to mention they’re full of fiber. In other words, snack away! If you’re looking for a quick blueberry fix, there’s plenty of great options, but they won’t last long. One of our favorites is the Warm Blueberry Crumble at Dressler. This unspeakably good dessert is served with crème fraiche ice cream and a port wine reduction. Or...
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Summer’s Best Corn Dishes
Summer may be winding down, but things are just getting exciting where corn is concerned. We sampled the city to find the best corn dishes in New York, from the Chilled Corn Soup at Blue Hill to the Sweet Corn Panna Cotta at Esca. Right now is the perfect time to get your corn fix, so check out our list to see where you can get the ultimate taste of summer…
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Blackberry Bliss
Blackberries, otherwise known as brambleberries, brumblekites or lawers, are a summertime staple. That’s when they’re at their peak: Juicy, tender, and utterly delectable. But unfortunately for blackberry lovers, they’re famous for their short season and their delicate nature. So if you’re hoping to get your blackberry fix this summer, avoid the grocery store (unless they carry super local berries – these guys don’t ship well) and head to the local farmer’s market instead. That’s where you’ll find the plump, deep purple berries, practically bursting with an earthy fruitiness and a subtle sweetness. Blackberries might not be the easiest berries to track down, but they’re more than worth the effort. Not only do they taste good, but they’re also good for you. They’re packed with antioxidants and vitamins, including vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese. Got a stomach ache? Have some...
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New York’s Best Summer Desserts
Where dessert is concerned, summer might just be our favorite time of year thanks to ingredients, like fresh strawberries, refreshing mint, and tart blueberries. There’s an abundance of stone fruits and berries that are just hitting their peak at this time of year, which means lots of sweet and juicy desserts.
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Best Ice Creams in New York
With summer in full swing, sweets of the frozen sorts are in high demand. While we’d eat ice cream all year round, this is the perfect season to discover new shops, trucks and flavors. Leave it to il laboratorio del gelato to push the flavor envelope with Guinness and wasabi ice cream.
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