ABC Kitchen’s Kasha & Bowties
Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s been singing the praises of obscure grains since the mid-90’s and now they’re not so obscure anymore. In fact, they’re collectively the “it” ingredient this fall. At ABC Kitchen, Vongerichten and his executive chef, Dan Kluger, deliver a cheeky spin on a Jewish dish called kasha varnishkes, with veal, oats and bowtie pasta. He swaps out veal for moist, mini veal meatballs delicious on their own and even better mingled with bowties and kasha grains. Want more grains? Sample one of their whole wheat...
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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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New York's Best Feasts of Seven Fishes
When most people think of Christmas, they imagine sugar cookies, egg nog and baked ham. But there’s another tradition you might want to celebrate if you’re a fan of seafood dubbed the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Any tradition involving fresh fish and the Italian kitchen is worth investigating. A tradition rooted in Southern Italy, the Feast of the Seven Fishes – also known as La Vigilia – is celebrated on Christmas Eve to commemorate the wait for the birth of Jesus. In food terms, it’s a Christmas Eve seafood throwdown with seven different seafood dishes, but chefs stateside are known to cook up much more. With all the great Italian chefs in New York , just imagine the possibilities and the serious spreads of frutti di mare. In fact, more than a few restaurants offer prix fixe menus...
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New York's Finest Hot Chocolates
With the chilly winter moving in, it’s officially hot chocolate season again–and New York never disappoints. Some local restaurants and shops are taking things to a whole new level this year with everything from hot giandiuja chocolate at Otto to salted caramel hot chocolate at Scratchbread or even rum-spiked cocoa at L.A. Burdick. From your standard classic cocoa to the more exotic renditions involving spices, liqueur, and homemade marshmallows or fluff, there are some notable hot spots to check out this year to warm up. Grom 233 Bleecker St., at Carmine St. (212)206-1738 www.grom.it/eng Sure, they’re known for their gelatos, but that doesn’t mean they’re not serious about their hot chocolate. Oh, they are. Grom’s hot chocolate, made with no milk or water is one of our absolute favorites. A melted mixture of pure Bolivian and Venezuelan chocolate adds to the richness of...
Read MoreBest Northern European Eats
Right about this frigid time of year every year, it gets hard to motivate out of the house. Really, the only thing inspires me to brave the outdoors is hearty, warming foods, so this season I’ve turned to Northern Europe — experts at cold fronts and frigid winters, these cuisines really know how to get people through frigid winters. There are some very compelling dishes and new restaurants, like Vandaag or Edi & The Wolf, to go out for dinner. Vandaag Address: 103 Second Ave., at 7th St Phone: (212) 253-0470 If you haven’t been to this Dutch newcomer in the East Village, you’ll want to put it on the top of your to-try list in 2011. The setting is cozy, yet elegant, and the food is excellent. So are the cocktails, which are thoughtfully imagined by Katie Stipe,...
Read MoreLast Licks of Winter's Best Dishes
Spring officially kicked off on Saturday, but it often takes a couple weeks for restaurants to switch modes and menus. Which means that there’s still time to savor hearty stews, braised meats, and bistro classics. We recommend you get your last licks of winter before spring vegetables replace root vegetables at the Greenmarket. Sure, some dishes are menu fixtures, but we’d rather devote springtime to the short-lived season of asparagus and ramps while we can. Bar Boulud and DB Bistro Moderne 1900 Broadway, between 63rd and 64th Streets 55 West 44th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues Phone: (212) 595-0303 Last Licks: Coq Au Vin or Braised Oxtail Consomme with Root Vegetables The French have always had a way with hearty, bistro classics, like cassoulet and tarte tatin. And nobody does French better than Daniel Boulud. Cafe...
Read MoreDining Out on Xmas
Dining Out on Xmas Eve: Scarpetta355 West 14th Street (at 9th Ave)(212) 691-0555Scott Conant puts his stamp on Christmas Eve with his “Feast of the Seven Fishes”. How many courses? Seven of course. Southern Italian specialties include a duo of crudo, roasted scallops, black maccheroni alla Chitarra, and roasted black cod. If you’re not quite up for the feast, the regular menu is also available. If you’re taking the a la carte route, it would be a shame to miss out on his trademark spaghetti with tomato and basil or the roasted capretto. Buddakan75 Ninth Ave. (at 16th St.)(212) 989-6699It’s been a strange year to say the least. So if you’re feeling like straying from tradition in style, Buddakan’s a great option. This is haute Chinese served in a glossy brasserie located in the heart of the Meatpacking District....
Read MoreBest of – Christmas Sweets
Momofuku Milk Bar207 2nd Ave (Corner of 13th St.)No Phone www.momofuku.comYou’d think David Chang would stumble or lose steam, but it doesn’t happen at Momomofuku Milk Bar. I mean really, what can’t this chef do well? Apparently, he knows his sweets as well as his bo ssam. Momofuku Milk’s baking some seriously good custards, soft serves and milkshakes. A Chang X-mas also means a towering chocolate chip cake (pictured right) — a giant mass of white cake, chocolate crumbs, coffee buttercream, and passion fruit curd. And the pies here are just as decadent and impressive — we’re preoccupied with the pumpkin blondie pie. Imagine a cashew crust, topped with a thick blondie batter and a layer of spiced pumpkin. Race you there. Butter Lane 123 East 7th St.(btwn. 1st Ave & Ave A)(212) 677-2880www.butterlane.comThis new bake shop is becoming...
Read MoreChristmas Dining Out
A New York City Christmas not only guarantees festive hordes of shoppers and tourists, but also chestnuts and hearty holiday feasts. For those who can’t possibly squeeze everyone into their pint-sized apartments, restaurants kindly open their doors and kitchens on Christmas Eve and Day. Whether you celebrate with suckling pig or Chinese, there’s a charming cornucopia of options. Chinatown Brasserie – Chinese restaurants have been keeping the “open on Christmas day” policy long before it was fashionable. Try tweaking this year’s tradition and head to this sleek Noho Chinese. Authentic dim sum is prepared with a greenmarket-fresh outlook – chop suey this is not. 380 Lafayette Street, (212) 533-7000 Bouley – A lavish holiday spread of modern French cuisine awaits at this bastion of fine dining. Indulge in a $130 six-course menu and have your way with their unmatched...
Read MoreGET IT WHILE IT’S HOT!
Forget about love, hot chocolate is in the air every February at The City Bakery and time is running out! Whether you’re looking to make a big commitment or just sample the goods, run don’t walk to the Hot Chocolate Festival for a shot or cup of the hottest chocolate in town. If you’re looking to slip into something more comfortable, sip the banana peel hot chocolate on Saturday, February 26. But if you’re looking to fulfill your darkest desire, slip in on Sunday, February 27 for expresso hot chocolate. Whatever you’re craving, The City Bakery will be sure to satiate your sweet tooth. I promise you won’t be disappointed. It might just be better than sex. Until we eat again,...
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