Archive for February, 2010

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Fake it, Make it: Hot Cocoa Brownies

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Snowed in on this nasty, blizzardy Friday? What better way to warm yourself up than with warm, gooey hot cocoa brownies? They’re not tricky - you can even use a box mix if that’s how you roll - but they’re sure to be a crowd pleaser.

I prefer baking from scratch, so I used a brownie recipe I have that involves cocoa powder. You can find a perfectly good recipe on the side of any cocoa powder can, but I’ll list mine here for convenience.

Here’s what you’ll need:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
1 bag mini marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour baking pan.

Stir together butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Add eggs and beat well. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredient mix to the egg mixture and beat until blended. Add chocolate chips if desired. Spread batter evenly in pan.

Bake the brownies for roughly 20 minutes, until almost baked through. Distribute marshmallows evenly across top and bake for another 2-5 minutes until brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. Cool completely and sprinkle with decorative sugar, if desired. Should make roughly 16 brownies.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig


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Martini Week: We’re on a Liquid Diet

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

I love a good martini bar as much as the next girl, but boy if those delicious concoctions don’t set you back more than a few bucks. Rather than resort to happy hours and syrupy substitutes, hold on a little while longer. The celebration of all things imbibable is coming to Manhattan next week.

Martini Week is sponsored by Tasting Table and Thrillist and will run from March 1 to March 14. Some of our favorite bars and restaurants will be offering custom cocktails and old favorites for a flat rate of $10. Intriguing options range from the Smoked Goose, a mix of Grey Goose, house-made smoked paprika syrup, and lime juice at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel’s upscale Peacock Alley to a sweet treat called the Green Angel martini, a combination of Grey Goose La Poire flavored vodka, pistachio sweet milk syrup, and apple juice, garnished with crushed pistachio and mint, served at downtown venue Madam Geneva.

Of course, you can also get classics like Braeburn’s dirty martini and Aspen Social’s Vesper. I’ll take one of each Shaken, not stirred of course.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Price: $
www.tastingtable.com


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K! Pizzacones: Affordable, Portable, and Fun!

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

OK, we can’t really attest to that last adjective yet, as we’ve yet to visit the newly-opened spot near Herald Square, but a pizza cone does sound like a mighty fun way to break up a work day! The restaurant, which opened on Monday, serves cones made of pizza crust, with the “toppings” as the fillings. You can have it plain with just cheese, or add a variety of traditional and non-traditional pizza toppings at 50 cents for one or $1 for two or more. Cones come in two sizes: K! ($4.90) and the larger K!! ($5.90). Cones can even be your breakfast, should you choose to fill them with scrambled eggs, or your dessert, with such fillings available as banana flambe, chocolate, or mixed berries.

We hear the line can get long with curious customers, but such an inexpensive novelty might, we hope, be worth the wait.

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Price: $
Location: 325 Fifth Avenue (between 32nd & 33rd Sts.)
Type of Food: Pizza (well, sort of.)
Veggie Friendly? Y


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Food +30: Ponder Your Food and Eat it Too

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Any avid follower of the New York restaurant scene will tell you that the only thing constant around here is change. Since I’ve come to New York, I’ve seen the rise of the food truck, the proliferation of the Danny Meyer empire, and blossoming of the local and seasonal movements.

What’s harder to describe is what’s coming up next for New York foodies. That’s where the Brooklyn Future Meetup Group comes in. The express purpose of this organization is to discuss what the world will look like in 30 years, specifically focusing on trends in technology. Tonight at 7pm, they’re taking on food, with speakers to include chef Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern, Anson Mills founder Glenn Roberts, and Food52 co-founder Amanda Hesser.

If all that talk of food makes you hungry, you’re in luck. After the panel there will be demos by mixologists and chefs, as well as tastings from local producers, and “cameos” from popular food vendors. Tickets are $12 and spots are going fast, so be sure to visit the Brooklyn Future Group’s Meetup page ASAP. If you can’t make it to teh even tonight, you can check out the recap on their blog.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Price: $$
Location: 92nd Y Tribeca, 200 Hudson St. (and Canal St.)
www.y30.it


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Cabrito: Because Tacos Definitely Surpass Popcorn as Movie Food

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Earlier this month, we alerted you to Co.’s new monthly movie night. Starting tonight, though, Cabrito’s doing them one better by hosting their cinematic gathering each and every week. And this is certainly a deal worth coming back for. Monday may not traditionally be date night, but Cabrito’s new event might just make you reconsider.

For the duration of the movie, which starts at 9 p.m., all the tacos you can eat and all the Dos Equis you can drink are yours for just $25 (plus tax and tip, of course). And Cabrito’s tacos are no joke, as we’ve had the pleasure to discover more than once. Pork belly, anyone? How about chorizo? Or, for the truly adventurous, there’s lengua with tomatillo. Heck, during a 2-hour movie, you’ll have time to try them all. This week, they’re showing “Anchorman” with “Spinal Tap” and “Office Space” up next. Come to think of it, “Office Space” with unlimited beer and fantastic tacos may just be the best cure for The Mondays ever concocted.

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Price: $$$
Location: 50 Carmine Street (between Bleecker St. and Bedford St.)
Type of Food: Mexican
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.cabritonyc.com


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AsiaDog: A Hot Doggie Treat

Friday, February 19th, 2010

AsiaDog

The hot dog may be a cornerstone of New York cuisine, but we’ve come so far from the corner cart. Case in point: Brooklyn Flea fixture AsiaDog.

Start by selecting your frank base - beef, organic beef, chicken, or veggie dog - and that’s the easy part. There are eight preset topping options you can choose from, ranging from the Ginny (kimchi and seaweed flakes) to the Sidney (relish with mango, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, crushed peanuts, and fish sauce). There’s even a banh mi look-alike, the Vinh, with aioli, pate, cucmber, pickled carrot and daikon, cilantro, and jalapeno. I opted for the Wangding, topped with perennial favorite Chinese BBQ pork belly, plus onions. It was rich, decadent, and the perfect late afternoon snack for a freezing day.

Besides the Brooklyn Flea, you can find the AsiaDog crew hanging around various Bell House events. Their hot dog masterpieces are not to be missed.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: wangding dog
Price: $
Location: 1 Hanson Pl., Brooklyn
Type of Food: Asian, hot dogs
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.asiadognyc.com


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Yushi Bento Bar: Midtown Lunch with Flair

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Yushi

Its motto may be “deliciously zen,” but Japanese tapas joint Yushi is truly much yummier than it is relaxing. That being said, if you’re sick of the Midtown doldrums of weekday lunch options, a few extra dollars spent at Yushi can catapult you from the ho-hum to oh-boy. First off, there’s a great variety of options available - whether you’re feeling inclined toward a hot entree like chicken teriyaki, a nice cold salad, or an inventive maki roll, Yushi’s got you covered. On the sushi front, you’ve got your pick between individual rolls and bento boxes filled with a variety of maki rolls and sashimi. As you can see in the picture, the individual rolls are adorably wrapped in plastic that conveniently serves as a plate once they’re unrolled.
 
On my own visit, I sampled the spicy salmon roll, the salmon rocket roll, the California crab roll, and the Peking duck roll. Yes, a duck sushi roll. This one was probably the best of the four, stuffed with an ample serving of duck and served with a tasty garlic sauce. Certainly unlike any sushi I’d ever had, I found myself dejected after the roll was gone. Less successful was the salmon rocket roll, which we found somewhat bland and in need of one of Yushi’s many dipping sauces in order to salvage it. The spicy salmon roll was far superior - though it wasn’t quite as spicy as a heat lover like myself might have wished, the salmon and its accompaniments were still quite flavorful. It was also rare and refreshing to eat a spicy salmon roll whose salmon was actually recognizable as such rather than mashed to a pulp and mixed with a questionable “spicy” sauce. The California crab roll was also a hit. Delicious even without any sauce, it lives up to its name: that’s real crab, folks, not the tasteless imitation all too often found in California rolls.
 
If you’ve still got room, Yushi also offers pint-sized servings of chocolate pudding or coconut panna cotta. I can only vouch for the panna cotta, but chances are both of these delights serve as scrumptious little endings to an above-average Midtown lunch.
 
Posted by: Kim Partrick
Order: Peking duck roll, spicy salmon roll, coconut panna cotta
Price: $-$$
Location: 245 Park Avenue (on 47th St. between Park and Lexington Aves.)
Type of Food: Japanese
Veggie Friendly? Y

www.yushi.com


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Amorina Pizza: How Sweet (and Savory and Spicy) It Is

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Amorina diavola pizza

For months before I moved to Brooklyn, I couldn’t wait to try Amorina Pizza. Friends who lived in the neighborhood would rave about its delicious topping combinations, friendly atmosphere, and perfect pizza crust. So naturally, my first night in the neighborhood, I had to try it. And I’ve been going back ever since.

Amorina gorgonzola frutta pizza

With pizzas ranging from the more familiar Diavola (my personal fave, at top), featuring sun-dried tomato pesto, spicy salami, fresh mozzarella, and peperoncino, to the adventurous Gorgonzola e Frutta (pictured above), topped with Gorgonzola, figs, pears, and honey, you’re guaranteed a unique and delicious dinner. Did I mention that none of these designer pies will set you back more than $13? If you’re spending some time around Grand Army Plaza or Prospect Heights, Amorina is not to be missed.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: Diavola pizza
Price: $$
Location: 624 Vanderbilt Ave. (at Prospect Pl.), Brooklyn
Type of Food: pizza
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.amorinapizza.com


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Don Pepe’s: Tortas with Tenacity

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Don Pepe's

It may not look like much - in fact, it looks much like any other deli-grocery - but the unassuming exterior belies the sandwich heaven that lies within. Earlier this weekend, I was browsing Serious Eats and happily happened upon a post proclaiming this Sunset Park sandwichery’s “Torta de Salchicha” their Hot Dog of the Week. A hot dog torta? That might be just crazy enough to work. And a short jaunt from my apartment? Clearly a must-try.

Nestled in the back of the non-descript Puebla Minimarket, Don Pepe’s offers nearly 30 different tortas, most of which feature more than one type of meat and all of which would certainly be worth a try. After an agonizing inner deliberation, I finally settled upon the Poblana ($5.99), a cecina (salted beef) torta also topped with queso blanco and, confusingly, “pork cheese,” as well as the toppings that come on all of Don Pepe’s tortas (refried beans, avocado, onion, tomato, and pickled jalapeno). I could hardly fit my mouth around the sandwich, but once I did, hooooo boy! It was a salty, spicy, fatty, flavorful affair that is both one of the most decadent and freshest sandwiches I’ve ever encountered (and I’ve encountered my share of sandwiches). I’m still no clearer on what exactly constitutes a “pork cheese,” but what I can tell you is that it looks like a sheet of fatty bacon and tastes like a salty, porky cheese. And, of course, that it’s delicious. If you’re a hot dog lover, you’ll probably opt for the aforementioned Torta de Salchicha, which is split hot dogs along with all the standard fixin’s. Other one-of-a-kind creations include the Hawaiian (spicy pork, ham, cheese, and pineapple) and the “torta de la casa” with spicy beef, carnitas, and tocino (fried pork fat or skin).
I must warn you, though - one lunch at Don Pepe’s comes at a high risk of addiction!

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Order: La Poblana torta
Price: $
Location: 3908 5th Avenue (between 39th St. and 40th St.), Brooklyn
Type of Food: Mexican
Veggie Friendly? N


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Cherin Sushi: Bring-Your-Own Bliss

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Cherin Sushi

Good BYOB places are few and far between in the city, but it’s worth the hunt for a gem like Cherin Sushi. Unlike most sushi places, no roll is more than $10, even the fancy chef’s special rolls. Now, the rolls are a little on the small side, but that’s not because they skimped on the good stuff. No, there’s just less rice there, and more of everything else.

The rolls are separated into two categories: chef’s special rolls and chef’s other than crabmeat rolls. I came to Cherin having already snacked at happy hour, so I only had room to try one. I went with the Gillian roll, which is tuna, shrimp, and avocado on top of crunch and real crabmeat. I can’t wait to go back and try more on the jam-packed rolls. Cherin is a short walk from Trader Joe’s wine store and there’s only a $10 per person minimum. You do the math.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: edamame, Gillian roll
Price: $
Location: 306 E. 6th St. (between 1st Ave. and 2nd Ave.)
Type of Food: sushi
Veggie Friendly? Y


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