NYC's Best Summer Soups
Summertime’s perfect for chilled soups. Not only are they the perfect respite from the city’s heat, but tomatoes, zucchini, and the like are all ripe and ready to be made into soup. We still love a classic gazpacho, but we’ve also found some unique newcomers on summer menus this year. Pierre Loti West 258 W. 15th St.(212) 645 5684www.pierrelotiwest.com This cozy Chelsea sister of the Iriving Place wine bar serves a full menu, including Tomato-Strawberry Chilled Soup topped with homemade Turkish cream. Both owner Orhan Cakir and chef Habib Kargin are Turkish, which explains the seamless blending of Mediterranean and French. Gramercy Tavern42 E. 20th St.(212) 477-0777www.gramercytavern.comZucchini is in season and Chef Michael Anthony takes advantage of this with Gramercy Tavern’s Chilled Zucchini Soup with Island Creek Oysters. It’s garnished with squash blossoms- the bright orange edible flowers that...
Read MoreBest of Unique Summer Treats
Summer’s in full swing. There’s a Mister Softee truck on almost every corner, Italian ice carts in front of almost every pizza parlor, and berries at every market. There’s no need to fall into the same vanilla cone or lemon ice habit because there’s too many refreshing, new drinks and desserts this year. Counter105 First Ave., btwn. E. Sixth St. & E. Seventh St.(212) 982-5870www.counternyc.comCounter has one of the city’s largest organic spirits selections, but their new cocktail popsicles are much more interesting. It’s a cocktail on a stick, and the blueberry-lemon thyme flavor infused with Square One organic vodka is a decidedly adult treat. Gramercy Tavern 42 E. 20th St., btwn. Broadway & Park Ave. S.(212) 477-0777www.gramercytavern.comLemonade’s a summertime classic, but it also makes a great mixer. Gramercy Tavern ups the ante with their Pineapple Painkiller, a pineapple-infused...
Read MoreSummer Treats
Considering the economy, this might not be the season for lots of leisure, but summer in the city’s not such a bad thing. You can still delight in lobster rolls and hot dogs and ice cream on sweltering days. Here are my five favorites for each of these three classic summertime eats: HOT DOGS Nathan’s, 1310 Surf Ave., at Stillwell Ave., Coney Island, or Citi Field No other hot dog defines New York like 90-year-old Nathan’s does. Katz’s Delicatessen, 205 E. Houston St., at Ludlow St. The secret to Katz’s killer hot dogs is that they’re thrown on the grill, thus the crusty casing. Gray’s Papaya, 2090 Broadway, at 72nd St. Perfect package – a snappy hot dog with spicy mustard and Gray’s signature papaya drink. Shake Shack, Madison Ave. at 23rd St. If you’re craving a Chicago-style...
Read MoreBest of New York City Ice Creams
Shake Shack Madison Square Park (212) 889-6600 www.shakeshacknyc.com If in a strictly dessert mood, grab the faster B-Line at this famous burger and ice cream destination. For every day of the week, a special flavor is available: go Tuesday and Wednesday this month for raspberry jalapeno or coffee and doughnuts (pictured right,) the latter of which is smooth, peppered with coffee grounds, and loaded with chunks of doughnut just crispy enough to balance the extra creamy custard. Classic vanilla and chocolate, as well as an assortment of toppings, are also available every day. Emack and Bolio’s 389 Amsterdam Ave., at 79th St. (212) 362-2747 www.emackandbolios.com/ This company launched its first outpost in Boston, but every branch somehow feels like your local ice cream store. Here, they offer super premium ice cream with ingenious flavors, rock n’ roll roots, and...
Read MoreThe Inside Scoop
Who would’ve ever imagined that one day you’d be able to watch a music video on your ipod or send mail from your computer or…order gourmet ice cream from a virtual ice cream shop? Forget fishing for M & M’s from the office vending machine, Moobella machines offer made-to-order fresh ice cream, right on the spot. Just pick from one of 12 different flavors – cake batter, banana, & mocha – add one of 5 mix-ins – reeses peanut butter cups, chocolate chips – and you’ve got custom ice cream in 45 seconds flat, $2.50 per serving. Hmm…I wonder if this robotic ice cream man’s got a girlfriend. Who needs Ben & Jerry when I can make designer ice cream myself without lifting a finger – well, maybe just a couple of fingers, but only to type in my...
Read MoreCheck out My Book – Try This
