Archive for December, 2009

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Have a Foodie-Friendly New Year’s Eve!

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Most of the year, New York’s restaurant and nightlife scene is varied enough to accommodate those of all budgets. Inexplicably, however, New Year’s Eve seems to take away most establishments’ charitable sentiments, as skyrocketing prices for fewer perks abound citywide. It’s a problem so frustrating that despite living in such a diverse, fun-loving city, many of us end up throwing up our hands and just staying home on what should be, according to Ryan Seacrest, the “rockin’”-est night of the year. Happily, there are a few deals going on about town that are not only worth their price tag, but also have something to offer for us foodies. Here are a few of our favorites:

If you’ve been a good penny pincher this year…
For $150-175, depending on thie time you choose, Brooklyn Bowl is offering not just a well open bar like some places, but unlimited bowling, a full open bar, and perhaps best of all, unlimited food from their Blue Ribbon outpost’s special New Year’s Eve menu. Considering the buzz the restaurant (and its much-lauded fried chicken) have inspired, they’re sure to have something pretty special to roll out for this occasion.

OK, you’ve saved, but not THAT much…
SoHo’s trendy new Moroccan-themed lounge Moomia will also fill your belly as well as satisfying your champagne cravings. A (relatively) modest $65 entry fee entitles you to unlimited hors d’oeuvres as well as anything you’d care to imbibe.

And of course, for the stout of stomach but not-so-stout of wallet…
Don’t worry, you can still leave the house. Granted, your food selection may be limited to fried things, but sometimes, that’s not a bad thing. Town Tavern’s open bar and unlimited snacks will set you back a measly $10 per hour. Plus, if you’re still going strong after 4 a.m., the inevitable wings and fries will be supplemented by bagels and other breakfast foods. Bagels and beer may sound slightly ridiculous, but come 4 a.m. on January 1, it will be music to your ears…er, mouth.

Posted by: Kim Partrick


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Esperanto: Spreading Holiday Cheer One Bowl at a Time

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Bad weather got you stranded in the city this Christmas? Maybe you’re avoiding the family or getting in one last peaceful evening before the Christmas craziness begins on Friday. Or hey, maybe the whole family wants to save some money and sanity by staying far away from the kitchen on Christmas Eve. Whatever the situation, the East Village’s Esperanto understands. Tomorrow, starting at 7 p.m. and while supplies last, they’ll be dishing out free feijoada to all customers. Feijoada, the national dish of Brazil, is a stew of beef, pork, and beans, sure to warm up your insides!

Stop by early for the 2-for-1 happy hour, or even stay late for Esperanto’s specialty cocktails, which start at just $6 apiece even after happy hour ends. So let’s see here: free food, affordable drink, and zero effort…sounds like the recipe for a fairly fantastic Christmas Eve to me!

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Price: Free
Location: 145 Avenue C (at 9th St.)
Type of Food: Brazilian
Veggie Friendly? Y (feijoada excluded)
www.esperantony.com


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Fake it, Make it: Croissant French Toast with a Holiday Twist

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Croissant French Toast

It’s a rare occasion when I get to breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, but ever since my first trip, one item on their menu has captured my imagination like few other breakfast foods have. The croissant french toast, an uncommon but inspired menu item, is everything that is wonderful about french toast (rich flavor, sweet creaminess), minus what’s not (heavy, rich, starchiness). It’s light, fluffy, sweet breakfast perfection.

Now, it’s not all that hard to find croissant french toast recipes online, and many of them can approximate that wonderful dish (particularly if you serve yours with freshly whipped cream). But I concocted a fun twist on the dish this past weekend that is wonderfully appropriate for the holidays. On a basic level, it substitutes eggnog for the heavy cream you find in most french toast recipes, but there are a few other small alterations as well. The dish is pretty foolproof and a great crowd pleaser. One batch can easily serve 4 people and should only set you back about $6!

Here’s what you’ll need:
2 cups eggnog
1 (liberal) tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
6 day-old croissants, halved lengthwise

Combine the eggnog, cinnamon, and eggs, and whisk together in a shallow bowl. Dip each croissant half in the mixture until just coated. Melt butter on a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the croissants in the butter, but keep a close eye; they’ll go from soggy to nicely toasted pretty quickly.

Serve with freshly whipped cream and cinnamon sugar.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig


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Greenpoint Food Market: Foodtacular Fun

Friday, December 18th, 2009

As much as I wish I could take credit for having invented the term “foodtacular,” it’s actually the name of this weekend’s special edition of the Greenpoint Food Market. If you don’t mind hitching a ride on the G train, you’ll be rewarded with goodies from the likes of Skimkim (Asian-inspired spreads and butters), DP Chutney Collective (chutney, gastriques, peanuts), and Janet’s Rum Cakes (rum cake, duh). The event will also include on-site gift wrapping, food-inspired art, and the musical stylings of Colin Huggins (otherwise known as “piano guy,” i.e. the dude who rolls his piano around the city and frequently plays at Union Square).

If that’s not enough to entice you out on a chilly Saturday, I don’t know what will. The Greenpoint Food Market is open from 12-5pm at Church of the Messiah. To find out about future markets, be sure to check out GFM’s blog.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Price: Free
Location: 129 Russel St. (between Nassau Ave. and Driggs Ave.), Brooklyn
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.greenpointfoodmarket.wordpress.com


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New York Hot Dog and Coffee: They Love Giving It Away, and We Won’t Mind Eating It

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Remember the free burger days of summer at this new West Village Korean-American hybrid? We do, too, with fondness, and we were sad to see them go. Thankfully, they’ve rolled out a new deal for winter to keep our insides warm…with meat!

Starting at 5 p.m. today and running every evening as long as the deal lasts, you get a 2nd hot dog FREE when you order any hot dog on their extensive menu! With more than 10 varieties, ranging from the merely plain to the truly adventurous kimchi bulgogi dog, there’s sure to be one to satisfy any hungry and discerning penny pincher.

No word on how long the deal will last, so hurry over soon!

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Price: $
Location: 245 Bleecker Street (between Carmine and Leroy Sts.)
Type of Food: Korean/American
Veggie Friendly? N
www.nyhotdogcoffee.com


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Smorgas Chef: The Best Meatballs This Side of Red Hook

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Smorgas Chef meatballs

No need to trek out to Ikea to get fantastic Swedish food. Though midtown’s Smorgas Chef looks a little reminiscent of the show floor of everyone’s favorite Scandinavian furniture store, it is decidedly classier. We had no problem finding a table in the cozy dining room in the lobby of Scandinavia House, even at prime lunch time on a Thursday. For $14, you can sample salad or the soup of the day (red cabbage on the day we visited) along with any of a generous list of entrees of the regular menu.

Though I was bummed that the crab cake burger didn’t count for the lunch special, my disappointment quickly faded thanks to the Swedish meatballs, served with chive mashed potatoes, lingonberries, zucchini, carrots, and grädd sauce. I have only good things to say about the wonderfully flavorful meatballs, and I didn’t leave a bite of the rich, creamy mashed potatoes on the plate.

Considering most of the entrees are more than $14 on their own, the lunch special is not bad at all. If you’re looking for a refined lunch away from the hustle of Grand Central, head just four blocks away to this wonderful little enclave in Scandinavia House.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: baby greens, Swedish meatballs & lingonberries
Price: $$
Location: 58 Park Ave. (between 37th St. and 38th St.)
Type of Food: Swedish
Veggie Friendly? N
www.smorgaschef.com


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Il Bastardo: Giving Restaurant Week a Run For Its Money

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Sure, it’s nice to get a semi-swanky $20.07 prix fixe lunch a few weeks out of the year, but did you know that tucked away in Chelsea, there’s a lovely lunch awaiting you for even less? True, Il Bastardo may not be located in prime weekday worker lunch territory, but should you be lucky enough to be able to make it there, three delicious courses can be yours for just (you might want to sit down) $15.

The appetizer choices are pretty standard Italian favorites – you’ve got minestrone soup, Caesar salad, and mussels, among other things. While not entirely life-changing, my Caesar was certainly admirable enough to warrant a clean plate. What’s truly extraordinary about Il Bastardo’s lunch deal is the myriad possibilities for your second course. Between the pastas, the panini, and the secondi plates, there are nearly 25 directions you can take your meal. About half of them carry a small surcharge of $1-3, but really, for three courses, $18 isn’t too heft a price to pay, especially when your main course is, say, trout livornese style or marinated skirt steak. The gnocchi with tomato and mozzarella, my main course, was no more complicated than its name suggests, but the few minutes it spent under the broiler before it came out to me made the cheese perfectly melty and just a little bit bubbly. As a confessed fan of burnt edges, I didn’t mind that this process also resulted in the slight toasting of a few of the gnocchi, but it might not be some people’s cup of tea. The goat cheese ravioli à la vodka and skirt steak with salsa verde were also table-wide favorites. For dessert, there aren’t quite so many choices. In fact, there’s just one: the dessert of the day. On the day of my visit, it was passionfruit sorbet, which proved a light, flavorful, and refreshing punctuation to the meal.

Who knew that for just a bit more than your average Midtown deli lunch, a relaxing, well-prepared three-course meal in a rustic and intimate atmosphere could break up your work day? Well, now you do.

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Order: Caesar salad, gnocchi with tomato and mozzarella, passionfruit sorbet
Price: $$
Location: 191 7th Avenue (between 21st St. and 22nd St.)
Type of Food: Italian
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.ilbastardonyc.com


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Shake Shack: It’s What’s for Lunch

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Whether you’re a burger person or you go crazy for the bird dog, there’s no denying that Shake Shack is one of the best lunches in the ‘hood. If it weren’t for that pesky line…

Starting today, you’ll be able to bypass that horrific wait. That’s right, Shake Shack’s taking phone orders so you can call ahead for lunch. Just phone in your picks and the Shack staff will tell you when to swing by and pick up your lunch. The lines are open starting at 10am, with the first pickup at 11am. Give ‘em a call at 212-889-6600. And be sure to take a stroll past the ridiculous line with your meal. Whatever you’ve ordered, is guaranteed to taste that much sweeter minus the wait.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Price: $
Location: Madison Square Park, near 23rd St. & Madison Ave.
Type of Food: American
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.shakeshacknyc.com


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Ed’s Chowder Bar: Where Everybody Wants to Know Your Name

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Ed's Chowder Bar

It may not be Cheers, but it’s the closest thing I’ve seen. I’ve never met a more genial crowd than the after-work crew at the bar at Ed’s Chowder House. One of my dining companions says she can be found on her stool as many as four nights a week, and it’s no wonder. For the neighborhood and the service, Ed’s Chowder Bar is a downright bargain, and the dishes and drinks are fun, imaginative, and, of course, delicious.

If you’re wondering what’s in the picture, it’s the gorgeous shells lacquered into the bar. If you show up close to Lincoln Center’s curtain time, you might have a hard time getting a good look, but with some patience you’ll find your way to a comfortable seat.

After our lovely drinks — I opted for the elderflower royale — we shared the calamari, a favorite as usual, aided by wonderfully flavorful saffron aioli. Kim elected to try the jumbo lump crab cake with spicy remoulade and house slaw, and it was as good a crab cake as I’ve had. But the real showstopper of the evening came not off the bar menu, but off the appetizer list of the house menu. Based on a recommendation from a fellow diner, I was thrilled to sample the scallop ravioli, accompanied by white wine sauce and herbs. It was a wonderfully sumptuous dish, rich thanks to the creamy sauce which complemented the tender scallops well. I might have licked the plate in a less distinguished establishment.

The bar menu at Ed’s Chowder House is not to be missed, for the fantastic dishes, and for the equally wonderful company. Check out pictures from my fantastic dinner after the jump.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: calamari, scallop ravioli
Price: $$
Location: 44 W. 63rd St. (between Broadway and Columbus Ave.)
Type of Food: Seafood
Veggie Friendly? N
www.chinagrillmgt.com

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Cascabel Taqueria: A Fun and Fresh Take on Mexican Food

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Cascabel Taqueria

It’s a hard truth in New York City that the best, most authentic Mexican food generally costs triple what it might closer to the border. Upper East Side newbie Cascabel is no exception, but it’s a testament to its greatness that I will have no qualms about coughing up the dough next time I’m in the neighborhood.

From the first impression to our last wave goodbye, our experience at Cascabel was pure pleasure. The lucha libre-themed décor was colorful, festive, and welcoming, as was the staff, who offered us a complimentary chipotle-spiced fried tortilla while we awaited our food. This provided the perfect opportunity to sample some house sauces, the tomatillo and the “hottie” both emerging as finger-licking favorites. The former has its classic citrus spiciness and the latter was something utterly new, at least to me, coupling an extremely smoky heat with a hint of sweetness as well. The main event didn’t disappoint, either. I ordered the carnitas (slow roasted pork butt) tacos, which come 2 for $7.50 or 3 for $10. While carnitas can always run the risk of being overly greasy, Cascabel’s is decadent without being overly so. The pickled red onions and roasted chilis that adorn it are equally delectable, creating a perfectly balanced bite of which I couldn’t get enough, even after 3 tacos. My lunch partner tried the cecina poblana, a sandwich layered with roasted pork in a chipotle sauce, Oaxaca cheese, mango, and avocado, among other things, nestled in a brioche bun. While not for the faint of heart, this spicy sandwich packs a hefty flavor in every bite, which is perfectly balanced thanks to the sweetness of its bun.

To top off the meal, we elected to try the churro-style doughnuts which tantalizingly adorn the counter space. As a devoted lover of the gooiest of churros, these babies fulfilled my dessert wishes and then some. You get that delicious cinnamon-sugar flavor and a bit of crunch, but then the insides are so perfectly tender they practically ooze out when you take a bite.

And so, any initial gripes of being able to find the same lunch on the streets of Mexico for far less money were silenced as soon as I took my first bite of Cascabel’s cuisine. I’ll happily fork over a few extra dollars and endure a subway ride to find such a fun, fantastic lunch in my very own city.

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Order: carnitas tacos, churros
Price: $-$$
Location: 1542 2nd Ave. (between 80th St. and 81st St.)
Type of Food: Mexican
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.nyctacos.com


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