April is Pastry Month
In honor of the largely unsung artists who create the divinely sweet endings to many of our perfect meals, we are celebrating some of the city’s finest pastry chefs throughout the month of April. Many often work as diligently in the kitchen as the executive chefs, yet receive far less acclaim for their labors. These confectionary experts will be featured in our weekly “Behind the Kitchen Doors” interviews. We will also showcase their recipes in each Friday “Dining Out” feature. Chefs on the recognition roster include Karen De Masco from Craft, Vera Tong from Dovetail and Richard Leach of Park Avenue Spring. Also, look for detailed roundups throughout the month on everything from New York’s Best Cookies to the City’s Finest Classic Desserts. Until we eat again, Restaurant Girl **Don’t forget to subscribe for Restaurant Girl’s Weekly...
Read MoreHamptons Restaurant Week
Taking a cue from New York’s longstanding restaurant week, the Hamptons are offering a tempting version of their own, showcasing a burgeoning restaurant scene. Nearly 70 restaurants will participate in this year’s Sixth Annual Hampton’s Restaurant Week including venerable stalwarts such as Della Femina, 1770 House, and Nick & Toni’s, as well as newcomers, such as Matto (pictured right), Muse, and Wei Fun. Along with a surprisingly affordable three-course prix-fixe menu for $21.95, the Hampton’s Restaurant Week also boasts specially priced vintages from Long Island’s North Fork wine country, which is gaining a national reputation for premium wine production. The Hampton’s Restaurant Week begins Sunday, March 30 – a bit too early for a frolic on the beach, but perfect for an early spring preview of this luxurious seaside retreat. For more information, visit www.hamptonsrestaurantweek.com Until we eat again,...
Read MoreRaising the Bar on Organic Food – Free Foods NYC
You have to admire chef Matthew Kenney’s unbridled enthusiasm for opening restaurants. Though Heirloom and Blue/Green Organic Juice Cafe were both unsuccessful, Kenney seems to be making a comeback at Free Foods NYC. With business partner Peter Schatzberg, Kenney has launched this organic answer to fast food – a quickly burgeoning trend in NYC. Though this eatery is located in the heart of midtown, the space feels more like a Vermont country store. Shelves are lined with organic sodas and wicker barrels are stocked with organic chocolates and chips. While the container (pictured right) may look like plastic, it’s made entirely out of 100% sustainable, corn-based material. Thus, I was quite skeptical that the food would transcend any “tastes good for healthy food” expectations. Well, it does. In fact, the spice-rubbed filet mignon is excellent. Juicy slivers of filet get...
Read MoreChubo Closes Its Doors
A Lower East Side favorite, Chubo officially shut its doors this past Friday, February 29th. This LES eclectic Frenche We’ve been informed that chef/owner Claude Chassagne is already looking for a new location in the West Village. A Japanese cooking school plans to take over the space come summer. Until we eat again,Restaurant Girl**Don’t forget to subscribe for Restaurant Girl’s...
Read MoreGreenwich SteakNBurger Opens in Tribeca
Owner Stephen LoCastro has transformed what was formerly Tribeca Studio Deli into Greenwich SteakNBurger. Don’t be deceived by the name as LoCastro (Tre Scalini) to implement an American bistro menu with an impressive selection of gourmet burgers (ten to be exact) and homemade sauces. Highlights include a New Zealand lamb burger with smoked onions, Maryland crab burger, and Sicilian veal burger with sweet potato gnocchi. There’s also a sizeable bistro menu with a signature “NY steak tartar burger” appetizer, grilled skirt steak with coffee barbecue sauce as well as grilled salmon with balsamic reduction. The 70-seat space is outfitted with cherry hardwood floors, iron chandeliers and Morroccan benches. Come spring, Greenwich SteakNBurger will also offer al fresco sidewalk seating. Address: 369 Greenwich St., corner of Franklin St. Hours: Mon-Sat, 11a.m.-11p.m., Sun, 11.a.m.-9p.m. Phone: (212)625-1010 Until we eat again, Restaurant...
Read More2008 South Beach Wine & Food Festival
In keeping with a seven-year tradition, swarms of foodies descended on South Beach for the 2008 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food festival this past weekend. Rachel Ray, Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay and Giada DeLaurentis were on hand for the four-day long celebration. Vegetarians need not have attended this year’s “Burger Bash” where guests dined on 17 unique renditions. Though Radius of Boston officially beat out the competition, other noteworthy competitors included chef Laurent Tourondel (BLT) as well as chef Tim Love (Love Shack), who served up a flavorful patty topped with homemade pickles, bacon and the chef’s signature “love” sauce. The gluttony persisted the following evening at the “BubbleQ” with champagne and barbecue, prepared by Patrick Neely (Neely’s Bar-B-Que), Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill), and Kenny Callaghan (Blue Smoke) – to name only a few. Though it had...
Read MoreCity Bakery’s Hot-Chocolate Festival
On February 1st, City Bakery launches a month-long celebration of hot chocolate in all of its glorious variations. Though this Flatiron shop is praised year-round for its rich melted chocolate topped off with a homemade marshmallow, the 16th annual festival offers a rotating roster of additional flavors, from Caramel or Banana Peel to the Chili Pepper or even Beer varieties. Maury Rubin, owner of the City Bakery and Birdbath, admits he’s partial to the bourbon hot chocolate, even issuing this rather curious and passionate statement: “The bourbon [hot chocolate] tastes like what a vintage Jaguar looks like going very fast.” Alrighty then. More importantly, we’ve received confirmation that there is indeed bourbon in this warm elixir, which begs the question: Will City Bakery be carding diners at the register? Flavors can be ordered by the 4-ounce shot or the...
Read MoreSouth Gate Readies – Now Taking Reservations
Chef Kerry Heffernan’s (Eleven Madison Park, Mondrian) much-anticipated South Gate is readying for its mid-February debut. Perhaps the flashiest thing to happen to Central Park South, the mirror-decked front bar with exposed glass bar shelves overlooks the park. Formerly Cafe Botanica, South Gate will be a swanky showcase for Heffernan’s American fusion cuisine. A sneak peek at the menu reveals fanciful appetizers, featuring seared foie gras with pears, muscat and pear wafers as well as fatty albacore with eucalyptus, lemon zest and crisp garlic. As for entrees, they’ll include a roasted rack of monkfish with warm romano bean salad, and chianti vinaigrette and pork with cider, star anise, yellow leeks and kohlrabi bacon puree. With the recent opening of Bar Boulud and Dovetail, dining uptown is getting more exciting by the minute. Address: 154 Central Park South btwn. 6th...
Read MoreGrown Up Jell-O Shots
Though chef-owner John Fraser seems to be bucking the trend toward uber-casual dining at his new UWS American, Dovetail, his amuse-bouche is an unexpectedly playful gesture. A haute spin on a Jell-O shot, a spoonful of vodka gelee arrives topped with salmon roe, fried capers and a dab of sour cream. It’s the perfect ice breaker and nearly frisky teaser of the meal to come. It’s too soon to tell whether the UWS neighborhood will appreciate Fraser’s sense of humor, but it reflects the constantly evolving tradition of the amuse-bouche: originated in France, it literally translates to “mouth amusement.” While it can often be a tool of showmanship, even a Frenchman like chef Laurent Tourondel takes a whimsical approach at BLT Market, which I formally reviewed toward the end of last year. It may inhabit the Ritz-Carlton, but that...
Read MoreAstor Center Launch
A unique hub devoted to all things food and wine, Astor Center officially opens its doors Monday, January 14th. It’s one thing to sit in Gramercy Tavern’s dining room and marvel over what Michael Anthony does behind kitchen doors, but now the gastronomically-obsessed can learn from the chef himself over a five-course dinner with other experts on sustainable and Greenmarket affairs. Astor Center offers a bounty of classes from top sommeliers, mixologists and chefs from around the country on everything from scotch & chocolate pairing to pig parts with Zak Pelaccio and Josh Ozersky, Cutlets in the flesh. Spotted Pig fanatics can even learn the secret to April Bloomfield’s burger from the woman herself. www.astorcenternyc.com Address: 399 Lafayette St., at 4th St. Phone: (212)674-7501 Until we eat again, Restaurant Girl **Don’t forget to subscribe for Restaurant Girl’s Weekly...
Read MoreCafe Notte – Wifi meets Wine
What was formerly DTUT has been radically transformed into this sleek wifi cafe meets wine bar on the Upper East Side. Owners Steven Salsberg and Nikola Camaj (who also owns Erminia on the UES) have partnered up to launch this “socially and environmentally” correct lounge this Monday, January 14th. Cafe Notte’s casual menu will feature organic coffees as well as greenmarket and artisanally-bent fare, including a harvest salad, handmade granola, salmon carpaccio and housemade mozzarella. There will also be a lengthy selection of wines, charcuterie and cheeses available throughout the day. An interesting venture to say the least, it’s anyone’s guess how the neighborhood will take to emailing over swiss cheese fondue and a bottle of Merlot. Address: 1626 Second Ave., btwn 84th & 85th Sts. Phone: (212)288-5203 Hours: 7 days a week, 7 a.m.-2p.m. Until we eat again,...
Read MoreThe Revival of dona
After investing considerable time and money into transforming Bellini into dona, co-owners Donatella Arpaia and Michael Psilakis lost their midtown lease and were forced to close after only nine months. Though it was a devastating loss, the two have seized the opportunity to reinvent the restaurant as a casual, Greek-inflected Italian with significantly pared-down prices. While they haven’t officially settled on the name – they’re toying with mia dona and casa dona – its new home will be 206 East 58th Street between 2nd & 3rd Avenues. “I wanted to stay midtown. That’s my clientele,” Arpaia tells us. “The new location feels homey, like a rustic townhouse. It has a library, living room, and lounge.” While dona has shed its yellow & white color palette for earth tones, Arpaia has kept the zebra-striped carpet to decorate the floors in...
Read MoreSneak Peek at Padre E Figlio
Father and son team Mario and Antonio Cerra are gearing up for a January opening of their Italian steakhouse, Padre E Figlio (Italian for father and son.) Having just sold ten-year-old Da Antonio (pictured right,) the two plan to expand upon Da Antonio’s Neapolitan-bent menu with a large selection of high-end Italian meats, including a Piemontese porterhouse and rib eye. Chef Alberto Argudo, who cooked at both Da Antonio as well as Il Mulino, will be running Padre E Figlio’s kitchen. With no shortage of steakhouses in Manhattan, Argudo will not only be grilling traditional steer, but also exotic meats such as wild boar in a limoncello reduction and filet mignon of ostrich. There will also be homemade lobster ravioli, pappardelle and gnocchetti Napoletani. Designer Peter Sibilia has eclectically outfitted the new, 150-seat space with rooster chandeliers, a glass-enclosed...
Read MoreFirst Look: Crave on 42nd
Top Chef alum Dave Martin (pictured right) opened the doors to his first restaurant, Crave on 42nd. Upon dispatching a regular correspondent to the opening event, we’ve learned that Martin himself has personally painted the brightly colored squares that adorn the walls. The specials are cutely written, as if with lipstick, on a large mirror facing the entrance. Not to be confused with the east side ceviche bar Crave, Martin will be serving "upscale American comfort food." On the kitchen agenda: Dave’s black truffle mac n’ cheese and the hanging tenderloin martini- steak with carrot puree served cocktail style in a martini glass. Though Martin did not reign victorious on Top Chef, there are new aspirations that diners and fans will be making the trek to the western wilderness of 12th Avenue. Time will certainly tell… Crave on 42ndAddress:...
Read MoreGusto Updates
Chef Amanda Freitag has officially served her last meal at West Village Italian, Gusto (pictured right). After representing Gusto at Monday evening’s traditional “Feast of the Seven Fishes” dinner at James Beard House, Freitag has left to gear up for her new position as the executive chef at The Harrison. Chef Anne Burrell will divide her time between Centro Vinoteca and Gusto. In a game of musical chefs, Larry Baldwin will man Centro’s kitchen as the Chef de Cuisine while Burrell pulls double duty at both spots. Gusto’s menu will remain intact through the New Year and will serve its traditions “Feast of Seven Fishes” dinner on December 24th. In early 2008, expect both a menu and extensive decor overhaul as owner Sasha Muniak plans to unveil a new interior, working with Centro Vinoteca and Jean Georges designer Thomas...
Read MoreGiardino D’oro
Flames Steakhouse has just morphed into Giardino D’oro, an Italian eatery in the Financial District. Nick Vuli, who was both the owner and chef at Flames, partnered up with Benny Jakupaj, to undertake the restaurant’s transformation. Owners site Wall Street woes and tightened expense accounts for the recent decline in Flames’ lunchtime business and thus, the transition to affordable Italian. Outdated wallpaper has been replaced by gold-tinted Venetian plaster and rugs have been torn out in favor of cherrywood floors. This traditional Northern Italian features eggplant rollatini, veal chop Valdostana sauced with wild mushrooms and cognac, homemade agnoletti and four-cheese stuffed ravioli. While not on the newly issued menu, Vuli still offers its signature, dry-aged in house steaks on an off the menu request basis: expect porterhouse, rib eye and New York strip steaks. Address: 5 Gold St., at Maiden...
Read MoreFrederick’s Midtown Becomes Jour Et Nuit
The Frederick’s midtown outpost has transformed itself (once again) into Jour Et Nuit, a modern French-American bistro. In hopes of resurrecting the defunct Soho Jour Et Nuit, owner Frederick Lesort has teamed up with twin brothers Derek and Daniel Koch to install the latest incarnation this subterranean space has seen. Having worked at Le Bilbouqet for numerous years, the Koch brothers have amassed a loyal and predominately European clientele they hope will follow them to their new venture. Once a private supper club, Jour Et Nuit has a more democratic door policy and a decorative face lift. The space has been newly appointed with cherry wood floors, blue velvet banquettes and cream colored walls. There’s also a lengthy standing room only bar to lure the after-work banker crowd. The menu features the French classics: croque monsieur, moules frites, steak...
Read MoreLa Bocca di Bacco
As new restaurants continue to trickle onto Hell’s Kitchen dining scene, Roberto Passon (Cipriani, Italy) gets in on the action with casual Italian, La Bocca di Bacco. Right around the corner from his eponymous Venetian-inspired restaurant, chef Roberto Passon has officially opened a wine bar with Northern Italian tapas, crostinis, salads and pastas. La Bocca di Bacco’s menu features octopus carpaccio with pistachio lemon dressing, goose breast crostini and chestnut lasagnette (none of the plates will exceed $20). The wine list highlights over 40 wines by the glass. Phone: 828 Ninth Ave., btwn. 54th & 55th Sts. Address: (212)265-8828 Open for business Until we eat again, Restaurant Girl **Don’t forget to subscribe for Restaurant Girl’s weekly...
Read MoreKellari’s Parea Bistro Has Gone Green
What was formerly Parea, Cleveland chef Michael Symon’s brief New York stint, will become a rustic Greek eatery on Saturday, November 15th. Owner Stavros Aktipis (Kellari Taverna) has taken over the Gramercy space to install Kellari’s Parea Bistro, the first casual spinoff of this midtown Greek flagship and his first “green” eatery. Aktipis has done away with Parea’s sleek decor and oddly-shaped communal table, transforming it into a bistro with reclaimed wood floors, wine barrels, leather seating, and a wood-burning pizza oven. Chef Gregory Zapantis will oversee the organic menu, printed on recycled paper. The contemporary rustic cuisine will feature fire-roasted sweetbreads, eggplant with feta ice cream, skewered filet mignon, and Greek pizzas. Entree highlights include 24-hour marinated lamb, grilled mediterranean bass with wild greens, and slowly baked rooster. Yes, rooster. Address: 36 East 20th St., btwn. Park &...
Read MoreFirst Look at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill
No matter what culinary genre they’re tapping into, Bruce & Eric Bromberg (Blue Ribbon restaurants) seem to have a knack for drawing crowds and maintaining a devoted clientele. At Blue Ribbon Brasserie, the two manage to deliver a just as first-rate steak tartare as they do a comforting Matzoh ball soup. While many often falter and overreach when mixing cuisines, the Bromberg Bros. have built a lucrative empire off the formula. At Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, they’ve integrated their two Sullivan Street concepts at 6 Columbus Hotel, just a few steps from the Time Warner Center. Though this incarnation has sadly left the signature steak tartare and cheese fondue behind, there’s a sizeable Japanese-centered menu with a generous raw fish selection in addition to cooked meats and seafood. Seeing as there was a forty-five minute wait at...
Read MoreCheck out My Book – Try This
