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Air’s Champagne Parlor is All About the Bubbly
Beer, wine and even cider bars abound in NYC, but Air’s Champagne Parlor is one of the few area drinkeries devoted to bubbly. To be fair, the Riddling Widow briefly preceded it, but owner Ariel Arce was actually beverage director during its tenure, as well as Birds & Bubbles before that, and Chicago’s Pops for Champagne (not to mention Grant Achatz’s exclusive, original The Office) before that. Meaning her reputation as queen of Cuvèe absolutely proceeds her.
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Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest 2017
If you’re already mourning the loss of summer, Oktoberfest is a reliable way to get you over the hump. Essentially spanning the duration of fall (kicking off on September 16th this year & extending all the way to October 31st, allowing revelers to seamlessly transition to Halloween), the 16 to 18-day festival is a giddy saturnalia of German culture…
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Spotlight on the Finalists for the 2017 Vendy Awards
As a fun challenge to the James Beard Awards, the Vendy ceremony — now in its 13th year — is dedicated to honoring the very best in street food. So here’s who’s in the running during the September 16th event at Governors Island; from an artisanal twinkie baker to an upstart french toast sandwich maker, to a Chinese meat skewer purveyor, whose been tapped for the Vendy Cup…
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Devin Tavern
Devin Tavern 363 Greenwich St. (btwn. Harrison & Franklin Sts.) (212)334-7337 The Menu CODE.TV at Devin Tavern (with Restaurant Girl) Savory NY video TYPE: Rustic American/Continental VIBE: Tavern elegance OCCASION: After-work drinks, a business dinner, or date DON’T MISS DISH: Sweet corn souffle with lobster bisque DON’T BOTHER DISH: Tribeca clam chowder DRINK SPECIALTY: Old fashioned cocktails and homemade liqueurs PRICE: $40 & up HOURS: Lunch, Monday through Friday, 12 PM – 3 PM; Dinner, Monday through Thursday, 5:30...
Read MoreTour
102 8th Ave., at 15th St. (212)242-7773 Tour’s menu CODE.TV Video (with Restaurant Girl) TYPE: Global fusion cuisine VIBE: Basement lounge sleek OCCASION: Get your social amusement fix GO WITH: Trendy insomniacs DON’T MISS DISH: Wild mushroom risotto DON’T BOTHER DISH: Chicken spring rolls PRICE: $40 & up HOURS: Lunch & dinner, Monday – Friday, 11 AM – 6 AM; Saturday & Sunday, 9 AM – 6 AM. Special brunch menu on Saturday & Sunday. RESERVATIONS: Brunch reservations are recommended....
Read MoreTrestle on Tenth
Trestle on Tenth 242 Tenth Ave., at 24th St. (212)645-5659 The Menu Savory NY video TYPE: Contemporary American, heavy on the Swiss influences VIBE: Noveau tavern OCCASION: Post-gallery opening dinner GO WITH: An artsy crowd or friends DON’T MISS DISH: Pork shoulder crepinette DON’T BOTHER DISH: Stuffed veal breast PRICE: $35 & up HOURS: Dinner, Tuesday-Thursday, 5:30 PM-10:30 PM; Friday & Saturday, 5:30 PM-11 PM; Sunday, 5:30- 10 PM. Closed Mondays. RESERVATIONS: Recommended, but there are walk-in tables. INSIDE SCOOP:...
Read MoreCooking with Cheese: Fondue it
Contributing writer: Cheese Girl aka Nadia If you love melted cheese, fondue can be heaven on earth and nearly foolproof for even the most cooking-challenged. A fondue can be a great way to hold a farewell bash for the cheese bits and pieces that have overstayed their welcome in your fridge. And seeing that cheese and wine can be perfectly paired, cooking with different grape varietals can lead to endless fondue recipes and even an interesting dinner party. WHAT’S...
Read MoreTequila
Contributing Writer: Booze Boy Remember that morning in college when you woke up sprawled out on your bed, face down, head throbbing, one arm twisted around your bedpost? Do you remember what caused that hangover from hell? Chances are it was tequila-related, probably some dangerous combination of Pepe Lopez, Aristocrat or Cuervo Gold tequilas. It was largely due to the fact that the tequila you were drinking was only 51 percent agave, the bare minimum required by Mexican law...
Read MoreGin Lane
355 West 14th Street at Ninth Ave. (212)691-0555 www.ginlanenyc.com Savory NY video TYPE: Continental/Raw bar VIBE: 30’s supper club OCCASION: Let them lure you to linger over dinner or stumble in for a late-night bite GO WITH: A date or a posse of prepsters DON’T MISS DISH: The French fry tasting DON’T BOTHER DISH: Heirloom tomato salad PRICE: $40 & up HOURS: Dinner & drinks, Monday-Saturday, 5 PM-4 AM, the main dining room stops food service at 12...
Read MoreRobuchon's L'Atelier
57 East 57th Street nr. Park Ave.(212)350-6658 After opening in Paris, Vegas & Tokyo, New York finally gets a L’Atelier of its own. Having received three consecutive Michelin stars (which is like receiving three Oscars), Joel Robuchon was considered the "chef of the century", praised for his peerless French fare. You might ask what took him so damn long to get here, but that would be like looking a gift horse in the mouth. Besides, after almost retiring permanently...
Read MoreKrunch Pizza
Krunch Pizza980 Second Avenue, btwn. 51st & 52nd Aves.(212)207-4122 TYPE: Pizza/Italian trattoriaVIBE: A fashionable pizza joint OCCASION: Take-out, delivery, grab a quick biteGO WITH: A friend, wife, an ultra-casual mealDON’T MISS DISH: Krunch Gamberi (shrimp pizza) DON’T BOTHER DISH: Krunch Zucca (zucchini pizza) PRICE: $2-3 for a square, $16-22 for a pie, salads average $8. HOURS: Dinner & drinks, Sunday – Wednesday 11AM-12AM, Thursday, 11AM-2AM, Friday & Saturday, 11 AM – 4 AM.INSIDE SCOOP: They even serve beer &...
Read MoreCooking with Cheese
Contributing Writer: Nadia aka Cheese GirlCheese can make a mediocre meal memorable, revive a lifeless salad or flavor a bland soup. Does your apple pie need a little zing? Try grating some sharp cheddar into the crust dough. Your guests will never know what hit them. Cooking with the curds is ease, just follow a few rules of thumb I eat by: Best melting cheesesNot all cheeses melt equally. Cheeses born to melt are typically made from cow’s milk. ...
Read MoreDrink Pink
I met a Wine Girl who’s been around the grapevine & happily volunteered to coax us through the wine list. Without further ado: What’s the perfect summer wine for a picnic, bbq, or outdoor fine dining? Ranging in sweetness and seriousness, there’s a ROSE to fit any fare and satisfy even the most sophisticated palate. And rose isn’t just for ladies – real men aren’t afraid to drink pink. What is a rose? Rose wine generally comes from black-skinned...
Read MoreLollipop Lounge
27 East 61 Street btwn. Park & Lexington Aves. (212)752-8900 TYPE: Thai Vietnamese tapas VIBE: Adults-only candyland OCCASION: A furtive affair or commitment-free dinner date GO WITH: Party types DON’T MISS DISH: Yellowfin tuna lollipops DON’T BOTHER DISH: Beef lollipops PRICE: $30 & up (bottles are big bucks) HOURS: Dinner & drinks, Monday-Friday, 5 PM-3:30 AM, food service stops at 12 AM. RESERVATIONS: Recommended, especially when it comes to bottle service INSIDE SCOOP: Get your hands on a lollipop...
Read MoreJaponais
111 East 18th Street btwn. Park Avenue South & Irving Place (212)260-2020 Savory NY video TYPE: Contemporary Japanese & sushi VIBE: Feng shui sleek OCCASION: Entertaining GO WITH: A date, birthday party, or power lunch – the possibilities are endless DON’T MISS DISH: Wagyu brisket ravioli DON’T BOTHER DISH: Tuna tuna salmon roll PRICE: $50 & up HOURS: Dinner, Sunday-Thursday, 5 PM-11:00 PM, Friday & Saturday, 5 PM-11:30 PM. The lounge (no food served after 11) stays open Sunday-Wednesday...
Read MoreCheese Girl: Wine & Cheese Pairing
Eating a great cheese can be a palate-altering experience that can become even more blissful when paired with a great wine. But finding the perfect pairing’s not as easy as you may think. Sure, there are plenty of cheeses and wines that get along, but I can help you find those marriages made in heaven. A great pairing happens when both the cheese and wine taste better together than they did on their own. Maybe you started with a...
Read MoreBooze Boy on Scotch
It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with food, but even a Restaurant Girl gets thirsty and I’m quite fond of liquor. Luckily, I met a boy who knows his way around the bottle – let’s call him Booze Boy. He’s stopped by to share the wisdom of his scotch drinking ways: Have you ever heard someone walk up to a bartender and order their scotch “neat”? Hey, maybe you’ve even been that person. Did you ever notice that...
Read MoreRewind
137 Essex St., btwn. Stanton & Rivington Sts.(212)779-7923 TYPE: Asian-influenced ItalianVIBE: Supper club(by) OCCASION: Lounging on the LES GO WITH: A table service crowdDON’T MISS DISH: Butternut Squash and Asiago Cheese Ravioli DON’T BOTHER DISH: Sweet & sour tuna with berry puree PRICE: $30 HOURS: Dinner, Tuesday – Sat., 5 PM-11:30 PM, Sunday, 11 AM-4 PM. Open every night for cocktails and bottle service until 4 AM. INSIDE SCOOP: At 11:30, food service ceases to make way for the...
Read MoreThe Fancy Food Show
Some people dream of winning the lottery, world peace, or moving to a desert island. Me – I dream of food. My dreams came true at this week’s Fancy Food Show, a culinary utopia of free samples & digestible inventions. Over 100,000 exhibitors flocked to NYC from all over the world – Italy, Australia, Spain, and even Iceland (who knew they cornered the market on?)- to let us sample their goods. From coffee to tea, all things fair trade...
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...
Read MoreBondi Road
153 Rivington St. (btwn. Suffolk & Clinton Sts.) (212)253-5311 Bondi Road website TYPE: Seafood shack VIBE: Surfer chic OCCASION: Endless summer GO WITH: Friends or make a couple at the bar DON’T MISS DISH: Rock shrimp cocktail & Tasmanian ocean trout DON’T BOTHER DISH: Lobster lettuce wraps PRICE: $30 (the current tasting menu) HOURS: Dinner, Monday-Thursday, 6 PM-2 AM, Friday-Sunday, 6 PM-4 AM. INSIDE SCOOP: All the fish is flown in from down under twice a week RESTAURANT GIRL...
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