Spotlight on the Finalists for the 2017 Vendy Awards
…ells itself, this artisanal Twinkie maker has invaded not just the Queens Night Market, but Instagram, thanks to cakes flavored with ube, pandan coconut and jackfruit, and even imbued with booze; think Maple Bacon Rum and Salted Bananas Foster. Moon Man: Hoping to bring attention to kue pancong, a coconut pancake thatâs disappearing from the streets of Indonesia, Nigel Sielegar and Wenny Purnomo are lovingly showcasing the dessert at the Queenâs…
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Julieta Ballesteros Adds Spice to the West Village with Tavo
Julieta Ballesteros is one of the most accomplished Mexican chefs in NYC, having helped open Mexicana Mama back in 1998, and gone on to launch Crema, Los Feliz and La Loteria besides. Â But while sheâs considered a master of flavors from her hometown of Monterrey, sheâs also known for infusing globally-inspired influences throughout her cooking, as with her 2012 project, China Latina. Her newest West Village establishment, Tavo (slang for a cool,…
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The City’s Best Cinco de Mayo Celebrations
Tacombi at Fonda Nolita What immediately springs to mind when you think of Cinco de Mayo?  Probably pitchers of sangria, frosty, salt-rimmed margaritas, baskets of chips and salsa, and all the tacos you can eat.  But technically, the holiday commemorates the Mexican armyâs 1862 victory over France, at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Considered a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo has since evolved into a…
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Where to Eat During Rosh Hashanah 2015
…freshly-rolled, boiled and baked bagels from Robertaâs alum, Melissa Weller, as well as house-smoked salmon and cream cheese made from scratch. Â Unsurprisingly, the lines have been impossibly long at the Soho storefront, which is why youâd be much better off placing an online order for the High Holidays, at least 48 hours in advance. Â In addition to bagels and lox, youâll also find tuna and whitefish salads available, as well as challah, honey c…
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Chinatown Pork Bun Run
…top and filling of of barbecued pork, none of that shredded to oblivion filling that sticks to your teeth. At 80 cents per bun, they are also one of the best deals in the city to date. 456 Shanghai Cuisine Address: 69 Mott St. btwn. Canal and Bayard Sts. Phone:( 212)964-0003 Nom Wah Tea Parlor Address: 13 Doyers St., near Bowery Phone: (212)962-6047 Website: www.nomwah.com Mei Li Wah Bakery Address: 64 Bayard St., btwn. Elizabeth and Mott Sts…
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Food Trends to Watch for in 2015
…otting menus â from piquillo peppers, chorizo and marcona almonds, to paella, patatas bravas and migas. Au Courant Cookies: Cupcakes and donuts have already had their time to shine, but it looks like bakeries and restaurants might just give center stage to cookies this year. Â Dominique Ansel already wowed with his ingenious Milk and Cookie Shots, and the Girl Scouts are about to take their act online, so donât be surprised if you see refine…
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It’s Easy Eating Gluten Free at Oovina
Many of us have resolved to temper our carb dependence lately, which largely translates to a staunch avoidance of gluten. Â Easy enough to do, nowadays, considering how many diet-savvy restaurants have quickly fallen into line. Â But for diners whose issues are more than waistline-related, eating out remains a tricky proposition â navigating gluten-bearing roadblocks on a menu, that are way less obvious than bowls of pasta or stir-fries laden with…
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Afternoon Tea 2.0 at The Plaza
So letâs get this out of the way first â The Palm Court at The Plaza is expensive. Â But whatâs the point in stressing about prices at The Plaza? Â It is, practically by definition, a destination for indulgence. Â And the Afternoon Tea Service, just reinstituted after a long period of renovation, is the ultimate in pinky-lifting luxury, so if you go, resist the urge to worry unduly about the bill to come. Iron Chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Za…
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Inday Brings Fast-Casual Indian Fare to the NoMad District
…ith 18-foot ceilings, pendant lamps, sleek wooden tables and a profusion of potted ferns. The mix-and-match menu concept is highly familiar; youâll work your way down the line in a series of steps, selecting âMainsâ and âProteinsâ in a variety of combinations.  If a grain bowl is what youâre after, youâll want to hone in on one of the bases listed under âWarmâ (either a mix of wild and brown basmati rice, a toss of red quinoa, orange lentils and…
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Swedish Pastry 101
Kanelbullar (Swedish Cinammon Bun) Itâs that time of year. Days are darker, the air colder, New Yorkers surlier. Perhaps we could learn a thing or two about thriving in harsh weather from Northern Europe, namely Sweden, whose citizens rely on two crucial survival tools to endure their long winters: Coffee and pastries. Â In fact, the Swedes take their coffee culture so seriously that they even have a verb for it, fika, an all-encompassing term f…
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Our Favorite Al Fresco Dining Spots
…Â Youâll find a smaller, lighter menu on offer in the space during lunch, featuring Mini Lobster Rolls and Fried Chicken Waldorf Salad. Â And itâs also a late night destination for cocktails, especially frozen drinks like Dark and Stormyâs, made with dark rum and ginger-flavored Kelvin Slush. Read More The River CafĂŠ 1 Water St Brooklyn,New York 11201 (718) 522-5200 After undergoing massive renovations in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the bubbly…
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Dish Spotting: The French Onion Soup Burger at Little Prince
Chef at his familyâs restaurant Le Rivage, which has wooed Hells Kitchen with garlicky Escargots and buttery Sole Meuniere since 1982, Paul Denamiel is essentially French food royalty.  So it only made sense that the scion should open his own charming bistro called Little Prince, which fits cozily into the conventional â but no less enchanting â tropes of a classic French bistro. There are pressed tin ceilings, a gracious wooden bar, and r…
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Double Down on Dessert During Sweet September, Benefiting Citymeals on Wheels
Eating sweets is hardly a hardship, but this month, weâre giving you carte blanche to overdo it on dessert. Â Thatâs because, from September 1st â 30th, participating New York restaurants and bakeries will donate $1 to Citymeals on Wheels â which helps deliver food to the homebound elderly â every time you buy one of their designated Sweet September desserts. Â So get ready for a serious sugar rush, because you can make a delicious difference by s…
Read More5th Annual Great Chefs Dinner
This Sunday, August 9th, chefs from the East End of Long Island, will be cooking in honor of Jeff Salaway and the Jeff Salaway Foundation. Toni Ross of Nick & Toniâs and Jon Snow of Hayground camp will be hosting the all-night affair of cocktails, a silent auction, and a seated dinner prepared by Eric Ripert and Nick & Toniâs Joseph Realmuto among others, like Miche Bacher of Sacred Sweets and produce from the Hayground…
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Gourmet Gossip: February 2017
In this great dining city of ours, barely a day passes without news of an exciting restaurant opening, a devastating closing, a shocking chef shuffle, or a groundbreaking, must-try dish. Thatâs why weâre keeping you apprised of the industryâs most noteworthy bits and bites â from the announcement of this yearâs James Beard Award noms, to Manhattanâs eagerly awaited Golden Girls cafĂŠ. Boring Beards: Semifinalists for this yearâs James Beard Awar…
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Restaurant Girl Road Trip: Where to Eat In & Around Bar Harbor Maine
Who says you need to fly to some exotic, overseas locale this summer? Â They donât call Maine âVacationlandâ for nothing, and for New Yorkers, itâs only a few hours a way by car, and even less by plane. Â So if you really want to experience the very best that Maine has to offer â from clamming on the coast to hiking in the mountains â youâll book your next trip to the Bar Harbor & Acadia area, and follow our guide to the letter for…
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What I’m Loving: Governor
…n, good bread and butter is always a great start to any evening. Â (Carbs and fat be damned!) Â I ordered a drink called the âCool Hunt Club,â a very zen blend of cucumber juice, vodka, gooseberries and lime that reminded me of something you might order at a spa if they served alcohol. Â And thereâs another called âThe Underpass,â a terrific and herbaceous dark libation with dark rum, grapefruit zest, bitters and agav…
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What to Eat at Rockaway Beach this Season
…Peruvian eatery, Panca. Â His French-Brazilian bistro serves pasteis (sweet and savory stuffed pastries), bobo de camarao (shrimp stew) and traditional feijoada (pork, black beans and greens), as well as body-conscious fare like green juices and acai bowls. Brothers: While thereâs no denying the appeal of boardwalk burger-slingers like Rippers, the fare at newcomer Brothers is far more conducive to maintaining that bikini body; with options such a…
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Holiday Breakfast The Russian Tea Room
No one would argue that The Russian Tea Room is one of the coolest spots in town nowadays.  Especially when you consider the rising popularity of ultra casual, local-seasonal restaurants, the 85-year-old institution seems almost archaic in its unchanging menu and lavishness.  That being said, itâs probably hard to find a New Yorker that hasnât at least dreamt about taking over a booth in the corner of The Russian Tea Room, ordering up rounds of…
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