NYC FOODIE CHINATOWN RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK: GREAT NY NOODLETOWN

Chinatown in New York City is a whole other world. There are so many hidden treasures and restaurants off the beaten path, that only people "in the know" know about. I dine in Chinatowm on a weekly basis, not only for the great authentic cuisine, but for what I think are some of the "best bangs for your buck" in all of NYC. Seriously, I have spent five dollars and have been completely stuffed and satisfied at times!

I have certain favorites, such as Ping's Seafood for Dim Sum, Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles for amazing hand-pulled noodles, and Cong Ly for great and authentic Vietnamese. There are a lot more amazing spots too. 

Two weeks ago I tried Great NY Noodletown, a restaurant I had walked by on Bowery often, but never dined at. Like most Chinatown restaurants, the decor is pretty much non-existent, but the food is the reason you come.

My Chinatown partner and I ordered steamed shrimp dumplings ($4.25), a beef noodle dish (around $6), roast duck on rice ($4), and a side of Chinese vegetables ($3). 

All the food was fine, the best dish was the noodle dish, which was truly delicious and great! Like most of the meals I eat in Chinatown, the best surprise comes at the end, when the bill comes, and you look at the total.

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Great NY Noodletown
28 Bowery (at Bayard)
New York, NY 10013
212-349-0923

NYC FOODIE EVENT OF THE WEEK: "MEAT ME UNDER THE MISTLETOE" AT PORTER HOUSE NEW YORK

Monday night I was invited to attend the first event for the new "Circle of Taste" club at the Time Warner Center titled "Meat Me Under The Mistletoe". The event took place at Chef Michael Lomonaco's beautiful steakhouse Porter House New York. Porter House is Lomonaco's first restaurant since he cooked at Windows On The World, the restaurant that was located on the top floors of the North Tower in the World Trade Center. It was a very pleasant event with some great charcuterie and a standout mini-burger with onion marmalade!

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Sign up now for your chance to win tickets to their next event and get a "taste of the circle"!

www.circleoftaste.com

NYC FOODIE TASTING EVENT OF THE WEEK: NY TASTE

This past Monday I was lucky enough to attend NY Mag's NY TASTE event at Skylight Studios. It was an amazing event with some of the top chefs and restaurants in NYC dishing out some amazing bites. Here is just a taste of what I tasted!

Rouge Tomate's Long Island Duck with Farro, Pomegranate, and Pumpkin Seed and their version of smores

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Eighty One's Slow-Cooked Egg with Crispy Trotters (my favorite dish of the night!)

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Market Table's Roasted-Beet Salad with Hazelnuts, Horseradish Cream, and Goat-Cheese Fritters

SHO Shaun Hergatt's Three-Day Short Rib with Creamy White Polenta (amazing!)

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Marea's Mackerel Crudo with Olivada and Lemon Oil

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La Fonda Del Sol's Fideos de Calamar

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Shang's House-Smoked Salmon with Green-Onion Pancake and Salmon Caviar

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Dovetail's Shrimp Sausage with Sweet-and-Sour Butternut Squash and Grape Gelée

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L'Ecole's Apples with Cinnamon White-Chocolate Cream and Pistachio Paste

​Aldea's Bacalao-Coconut Mousse, Coriander, and Black Olive

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Public's Fried Fanny-Bay Oysters with Shiso, Sansho Pepper, and Wasabi-Yuzu Dipping Sauce (amazing!)

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Bia's Crispy Pork Belly, Daikon Rice Cake, and Pickled Vegetable

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SD26'S Parmigiano Panna Cotta with Crunchy Pancetta, and Balsamic-Vinegar Reduction

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Don't be jealous!

NYC FOODIE UPCOMING EVENT OF THE WEEK: COOK. EAT. DRINK. LIVE.

Hey all you NYC FOODIES check out this upcoming cool foodie event. I will be there Sunday!

Cook. Eat. Drink. Live. 

Try the Wine. Taste the Food. Watch the Talent.

November 6-8, 2009

New York, NY—The Third Annual Cook. Eat. Drink. Live. Festival returns November 6-8th to feature culinary celebrities, tastings, shopping, and more. Presented by CCK Global Events and sponsored by Zagat and the Astor Center, the Festival will take place at Chelsea’s The Tunnel/La Venue.

Cook. Eat. Drink. Live. is a lively, interactive, holiday-themed event that showcases new food products, celebrity chefs, wineries, cocktails, cookbook authors, mixologists, and popular restaurants. In addition to the tastings, guests can do holiday shopping with both purveyors and wineries, as well as have the opportunity to purchase gift certificates to over fifty of New York City’s popular eateries.
more.

What: 2009 Cook. Eat. Drink. Live.

When: November 6-8, 2009. Friday 6-9PM, Saturday 2-6PM, Sunday 2-6PM

Where: The Tunnel/La.Venue, 608 West 28th Street, NY, NY

Agenda: Interactive food festival featuring tastings, chef demos, wineries, cocktails, popular restaurants, and opportunities for early holiday shopping. 

Tickets are $65.00 per day and can be purchased online (www.cookeatdrinklive.com) or by phone: 888-695-0888

NYC FOODIE WORLD SERIES DEAL OF THE WEEK: BAR STUZZICHINI

Hey Foodies and baseball fans- just received this press release: 

"Southern Italian restaurant Bar Stuzzichini now has a TV and will be showing the World Series!

For all seven games, they are offering half priced Peronis (sm, $3 & lg, $4) in the bar area from the first pitch to the end of the game. Even better, the food is amazing too—go for the meatballs, rice balls and artichokes!"

I've been to Bar Stuzzichini a few times, and love their Italian bites. Sounds good to me!

Bar Stuzzichini
928 Broadway (bet 21st and 22nd)
New York, NY 10010
212-780-5100

www.barstuzzichini.com

NYC FOODIE EVENT OF THE WEEK: EPICURIOUS ENTERTAINS NYC

Yesterday afternoon I went to the first day event of "Epicurious Entertains NYC", a five day event hosted by Epicurious.com for foodies and food lovers. 

It is "a one-of-a-kind event with daytime demonstrations and celebrity chef dinners in a homey pop-up space. Epicurious invites you to attend a culinary event like no other this September 30th to October 4th in the city that always eats."

I must say that I was blown away with yesterday's event "The Ultimate NYC Lunch Break". Some of New York's best restaurants and vendors there creating "a power-lunch smorgasbord like no other"! I had EVERY dish and EVERY dish was excellent! Not only was the food great, but the event was well-executed, for I did not have to wait at all for anything. The best part of these day events is that Epicurious is making it accessible for everyone at $20 a ticket--now that is what I call a great bang for your buck! 

Check out my lunch!!

Lobster Roll from The Mermaid Inn

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Beef Slider from Hill Country

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Sausage and Cole Slaw from Dogmatic

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Cuban Sandwich and 'something else tasty' from Cafe Habana

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Taco from Yerba Buena

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Lamb Bacon BLT from Boqueria

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Indian Chicken Wrap from Tabla

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Crostini from 'Ino

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Chicken and Thai Basil Dumpling from Rickshaw Dumpling Bar

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Assorted Treats from the Treats Truck

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NYC FOODIE'S BEST CUPCAKE IN NYC: BUTTER LANE

The fact that there are stores that only sell cupcakes is an interesting thing. Who knew so many people (especially women) would clamor to a place that solely sells muffins with frosting on them, and that there would be a craze in NYC for this one type of food. I personally think cupcakes are overrated. "Sex and the City" put Magnolia Bakery on the map, but their cupcakes are just fair. Crumbs and Buttercup have popped up, but are their cupcakes really that good? My favorite cupcakes used to come from Sugar Sweet Sunshine in the Lower East Side, and they still make some of the best in NYC. But a few months ago I came across the BEST cupcake shop in NYC: Butter Lane.

I discovered Butter Lane after grabbing a Porchetta sandwich at Porchetta on 7th Street in the East Village. I had their peanut butter frosting on banana bread cupcake and was blown away! It was the best cupcake I had ever had. The combination of peanut butter (which I love) and banana was ingenius. 

Then, on a return trip to Butter Lane, there was a special of espresso frosting on banana bread, which again, blew my mind. THIS cupcake was the best cupcake I had ever eaten. The addition of three espresso bean on top, adding a touch of texture, took this muffin with frosting on top to another level, it was delicious and wonderful.

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So, for the best cupcakes in New York City stop by Butter Lane, and get your mind blown, or at least be culinarily pleasured.

Butter Lane
123 East 7th St. (bet. 1st and A)
New York, NY 10009
212-677-2880
www.butterlane.com

NYC FOODIE ANNIVERSARY OF THE WEEK: BRASSERIE TURNS 50!

This just in- Brasserie is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary! They are doing many things to celebrate, including giving away free lunch on September 17th, which the NYC FOODIE already has a reservation for! And they say there's no such thing as a free lunch! Check out the Press Release:


NEW YORK, August 26, 2009: Brasserie first opened in the Seagram Building in 1959 and this September it will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. New York’s first brasserie, it brought a beloved culinary style to the city and sparked a lasting trend in dining here. It was New York’s first to offer 24-hour service in the tradition of brasseries in France. 

This fall Brasserie reaches its 50-year milestone, with events kicking off on Thursday, September 17th when it will present A (Free) Taste of Brasserie. This unbeatable deal – a free lunch! – will be open to all guests who reserve a seat between 11:30 am –2:30 pm. 

“It’s our way of saying merci to our loyal guests and friends, by offering a celebratory free lunch on our 50th anniversary,” says Brasserie Chef Luc Dimnet, who hails from Alsace. “We hope that everyone will join us, whether they remember Brasserie from years past or are regulars today.”

“When we opened Brasserie in 1959, we never thought that we were pioneering such an influential restaurant,” explains Nick Valenti, CEO of Patina Restaurant Group, who has been associated with the restaurant for the past 35 years. “Brasserie established itself as a place in New York where people from all walks of life meet, cross paths and dine side by side, fostering a culture all its own. Its classics like Frisée aux Lardons have become proven favorites that may never go out of style.”

There will be a variety of festivities and special menus that will celebrate Brasserie’s 50th. Please visit www.patinagroup.com/brasserie50th for details, including:

A (Free) Taste of Brasserie – On September 17th, Brasserie’s classics, favorites such as French Onion Soup and Steak Frites, will be offered as part of this three-course anniversary lunch (menu attached). The public can call (212) 751-4840 for reservations. The first one hundred callers not to get a coveted seat on the 17th will instead receive a rain check for a complimentary “$19.59 after 9” dinner.

The Brasserie Burger – Chef Dimnet is bringing back The Brasserie Burger to his menu, made the same way it was back in 1959. Sandwiched on a crusty, sliced baguette spread with garlic butter, the burger’s hand-ground patty is stuffed with a blend of Gruyère and Swiss cheeses and offered à la carte.

“$19.59 After 9” Menu - Paying homage to the late-night tableau of brasserie life, a 3-course prix fixe will launch on September 17th priced at $19.59, from 9 PM until closing, running through the end of 2009 (menu attached).

Vintage Cocktail Menu – Spanning the restaurant’s fifty year history, libation highlights from each decade will be shaken, strained and stirred at Brasserie’s modern bar. The classic Martini from the 1950’s, made authentically with gin and 1/3 dry vermouth, the Kir Royale from the 1970’s and the quintessential ‘90s Cosmopolitan are a few examples. Timeless brasserie favorites including a chilled Lillet cocktail, dry Dubonnet, or potent Absinthe will also be included, ideal to complement any meal (menu attached).

“5 Decades of Brasserie Cuisine” Dinner - A special dinner open to the public on September 30th will offer five memorable courses of archivals from Brasserie’s five decades. La Caille Brillat Savarin, Le Filet de Sole ‘Lucullus’ and Le Crottin de Chavignol are some of the items that time almost forgot, grand and compelling for their charm and unmatched flavor of years past (menu attached). Seats are limited and must be purchased in advance at: www.patinagroup.com/brasserie50th

NYC FOODIE UPCOMING TASTING EVENT

Hey all you Foodies out there, check out this upcoming cool event at Grand Central! I will be there!!

GRAND CENTRAL MARKET® IS PICNIC CENTRAL: 

WIN EXCLUSIVE GOURMET PICNIC BASKET FROM NEW YORK’S TOP FOOD PURVEYORS; TASTING EVENT AND DRAWING ON MONDAY, AUGUST 3RD FROM 3 TO 6 PM

AT GRAND CENTRAL MARKET 

Weeklong Tenant Specials August 3 - 9 

Try some of the finest food in the city at the Grand Central Market’s Picnic Event Monday, August 3, 2009 from 3 pm to 6 pm from vendors including Murray’s Cheese, Corrado Bread & Pastry, Dishes, Li-Lac Chocolate, Murray’s Real Salami, Oren’s Daily Roast, Pescatore Seafood and more. Enter to win one of 12 Grand Central Terminal–branded picnic baskets filled with goodies. Look for the fish bowls by the cash registers at each food vendor in Grand Central Market starting on July 28, 2009 and drop off a business card or raffle slip to win a basket filled with specialty foods perfect for Monday night movies in Bryant Park, a picnic in Central Park, a beach outing, or an indoor feast. 

Preview the Picnic Baskets in Grand Central’s Taxi Stand (Vanderbilt Avenue)

Wednesday, July 29 (3 pm to 7 pm) and Friday, July 31 (3 pm to 6 pm) 

What: Tasting Event and Picnic Basket Raffle Drawing

Where: Grand Central Market, 42nd and Lexington Avenue

When: Monday, August 3, 2009, 3 pm to 6 pm