New York’s Tastiest Latkes
What’s not to love about potato latkes? At their most basic level, they consist of shredded or mashed potatoes, pan-fried and served with sour cream and applesauce. But lets face it, after eight days of Hanukkah, even something so delicious can tend to get, well, kind of boring. Which is why we’ve rounded up New York’s tastiest – not to mention most unique – latkes, enough to see you through the entire holiday. Because once you’ve enjoyed Toloache’s Zucchini-studded Pancakes with Tomatillo Apple Salsa for dinner and Minetta Tavern’s Poached Egg and Salmon-topped Potato Latkes at brunch, you’ll be able to wholeheartedly affirm our first statement… what’s not to love about latkes?
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The Ultimate Thanksgiving Dining Guide
It’s hard to believe, but no sooner do we stash away our Halloween costumes than it’s time to start thinking about Thanksgiving. Not that you need to worry if you don’t have standing plans to dine on turkey and mashed potatoes at a family member’s house. Letting a great restaurant prepare a holiday feast for you is hardly a cop-out… although you’ll need to hurry if you want a shot at a table…
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Mitchmallows
Marshmallows are something we generally reserve for popping on top of hot chocolate or roasting over an open flame. But the artisanal, homemade squares at Mitchmallow are delicious enough (not to mention interesting enough) to be eaten out of hand. There are over three dozen incredibly diverse, multi-layered creations, from Classic S’more, Creamsicle, Sweet Potato Vanilla and Peanut Butter and Jelly, to Wasabi-Ginger, Tempura, Wine and Cheese and even BLT… tomato with bacon! (That sounds a little scary, doesn’t it?) And for Halloween, there’s Candy Corn and Green...
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La Maison du Chocolat
This Paris-based chocolatier is as posh as any Madison Avenue boutique — although instead of silk scarves and Birkin bags, the glittering glass cases hold finely crafted candies filled with Fennel-infused Ganache, Honeyed Cognac, and Gianduja Praline. At $65, the limited edition Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin concealing Amanda’s (cocoa-covered Almonds) and Rochers Suisses is a bit of a splurge, but sure to make a statement as the centerpiece of an especially elegant Halloween...
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Deliso Confections
Who would have imagined that a former Wall Street stockbroker would go on to make some of the best chocolates in Brooklyn? It’s worth a pilgrimage out to Bay Ridge for a box of Anthony Deliso’s work-of-art and flavorful truffles, made with 100% Belgian chocolate and real fruit purees, top-shelf liquors, freshly ground nuts and all-natural infusions. We especially love the tiny Dark Chocolate Coffee Cups filled with espresso cream, beautifully balanced Sea Salt Caramels, and the boozy Bourbon Pecan Truffles, the nut-studded chocolate shells giving way to a geyser of full-bodied whiskey...
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Neuhaus
Hershey’s, Mars Bars and Milky Ways are great when you’re young. But as you get older, you crave chocolate that, well, actually tastes like chocolate. That’s where this famed Belgian manufacturer comes in. They really know their way around a cocoa bean (the company was founded in 1857), so pay a visit to the New York flagship store for Peruvian Chocolate Praline, silky Pistachio Truffles, buttercream-based Manon Sucre, Dark Chocolate Orange Tablets, or impossibly decadent candy bars, studded with Wild Strawberries, Feuilletine, Speculoos, or crunchy Gianduja and Puffed...
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Sokerbit
Nordic cuisine has become one of the hottest and most pervasive trends on New York’s food scene, so it’s hardly a surprise that the obsession has extended to candy. This seriously modern West Village shop exposes a sweet side of Scandinavia way beyond Swedish Fish, with Lucite trays full of Banana Bubs (banana-caramel foam biscuits), Cocosar (coconut-covered licorice), and perfect for Halloween, 8 oz. jars of teeth-chatteringly sour Gummy...
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Yao’s Dragon Beard Candy
For a truly original treat, prowl the streets of Chinatown in hopes of spotting the elusive Yao’s Dragon Beard Candy cart (it’s most often parked outside of the subway on the corner of Chrystie and Grand). So named because they resemble a mythical dragons beard, the Vendy Award-nominated sweets are made by hand-pulling powdered sugar into gossamer-thin strands, twisting them into a ball and forming a sticky cocoon around a filling of toasted peanuts and coconut. We hunt them down year round, but Halloween is an especially good...
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The Ultimate Guide to Oktoberfest 2013
The end of summer is always bittersweet. But as much as we miss the sun and sand, there’s a lot to love about fall. Think brilliantly colored leaves dotting the trees, pumpkin and apple pie spice-flavored goodies, and a whopping, 16 days of Oktoberfest. Held from September 21st to October 6th this year, the cheerful celebration of Bavarian culture generally includes music from dirndl and lederhosen-clad Oompah Bands, a whole lot of beer drinking, and all the Wurst, Schnitzel and Sauerbraten you can eat. And you don’t even need to be German to get in on the fun and booze. Many of New York’s best restaurants and beer gardens are holding festivities open to all, from the always high-spirited Zum Schneider in Manhattan to the delicious Prime Meats in Brooklyn and the legendary Bohemian Hall and Biergarten in Queens!
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Where to Spend Labor Day Weekend 2013
Labor Day is probably one of the more bittersweet holidays. Yes, it’s part of a sun-filled three-day weekend, but it’s also an inescapable indicator that summer is at its end. That’s why it’s best just to face the inevitable, and try to make the most of what we have left. So here are a few especially celebratory ways to spend this Labor Day — from a seasonal lunch of Soft Shell Crabs and S’mores at Recette in the West Village, to an Oyster and Absinthe party at Maison Premiere in Brooklyn, and even a last minute getaway to La Brisa de Tacombi in the Hamptons!
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Best of – Fourth of July Dining in NYC
Planning for July 4th has gotten a little bit tricky these last few years. Ever since Macy’s moved its annual fireworks display from the East River to the Hudson, it’s difficult to see the show from most points in Manhattan, or for that matter, anywhere in Brooklyn or Queens. But this is New York and we don’t let much get in our way of having a good time. So we’ve compiled a list of ultimate places to eat your way through Independence Day this year — from a rooftop BBQ at Pera Soho to an all-day food fest on Coney Island, and even an out-of-city jaunt to this year’s sleeper, Thirty Acres, in New Jersey.
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The Ultimate Father’s Day Dining Guide
Far be it from us to indulge in gender stereotypes. We know a lot of manly fathers who can appreciate a good pear and goat cheese salad or an elderflower-based cocktail. And yet, there are still plenty of guys who crave nothing more than a shot of bourbon and a hunk of beef with a steak knife driven through the middle. So we’ve covered our bases this year to make sure we satisfy all kinds of dads this Father’s Day. From BBQ at Hill Country to steaks at the legendary Keens Steakhouse and even a beer crawl at Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Queens.
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Where to Celebrate Memorial Day 2013
Memorial Day is the ultimate indicator that summer is just around the bend. (We can almost taste it!) Come this Monday, we all get an extra day off from work. Every local beach and park will officially open, bustling with the flip-flopped and (weather permitting) bathing suit-clad. And most importantly, the smell of barbecue and salty sea creatures will fill the air. So where to eat this celebratory, three day weekend?
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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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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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Ultimate Valentine’s Day Restaurant Guide
Valentine’s Day may be almost a month away, but bars and restaurants throughout the city are already busy planning. So, if you don’t want to get shut out of a reservation (and consequentially, banished to the couch by your significant other) you’d better start planning too.
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Arlington Club
It may be almost 2013, but you can still party like it’s 1929 at Laurent Tourondel’s ritzy steakhouse, Arlington Club. The Great Gatsby-inspired celebration features a prix fixe menu created by the renowned chef himself, and includes a midnight champagne toast and live...
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Jazz Standard
Swing the night away at this world-class jazz club, which will herald in 2013 with a performance by the Grammy Award–winning Mingus Big Band. And don’t worry about eating beforehand…an all-inclusive, $125 ticket also buys a three-course BBQ dinner at Blue Smoke, the award-winning, upstairs...
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