Loading
Showing posts with label New York City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York City. Show all posts

This Week's Top Restaurant and Food News

Photo by Linnea Covington
Before we head out to begin our pre-Super Bowl drinking, it's time to look back at some of the most popular posts from the last five days. Topping the list was our round-up of 8 unique foodie destinations around the globe; following that was a list of some top-secret dishes at restaurants around the country. Also popular this week was our NY cupcake and wings round-ups and Chicago's most romantic restaurants. In case you missed any of these, check out the entire list below.

  1. The 8 Most Awesome Foodie Getaways Around the World
  2. The 10 Best Off-the-Menu Dishes
  3. New York's 9 Most Iconic Dishes
  4. New York's 8 Best Cupcakes
  5. Best Thing We Ate This Week: Damon Wise's Pork Taco
  6. The Most Expensive Cups of Coffee in the U.S.
  7. The 7 Best Places to Get Super Bowl Wings in NYC
  8. Chicago's Most Romantic Restaurants
  9. DC Survey: What Are Robert Wiedmaier's Favorite New Openings?
  10. Capital Grille Latest Restaurant to Be Sued Over Wage Dispute


Outtake of the Week

"I would give up my first born for a sandwich right now, if I had a first born."

Quote of the Day: Wolfgang Puck on the Celebrity Chef Phenomenon

"The title of celebrity chef is sort of bogus. Do we have celebrity shoemakers, celebrity butchers? The good news about showcasing chefs and the TV shows is they’ve attracted a lot more smart kids to the profession than 30 years ago. On the downside, though, these young chefs all say they want their own restaurant and their own TV show. Very few say, “I want to have the best restaurant in town.”


-Wolfgang Puck quoted in the Wall Street Journal on being one of the first "celebrity chefs." [WSJ]

New York Beer Company Will Price Brews Stock-Market Style


This morning we took a look at some new must-try cocktails, and now we're in the mood for a beer. Well, it's not open quite yet, but when The New York Beer Company debuts in Hell's Kitchen, we'll be able to head over for a brewski or six. The bar, which will be located at West 44th Street, will feature over 100 beer varieties with a focus on craft labels served along with a menu of American dishes and pizzas. That all sounds pretty status quo, but this bar promises to mix things up with an innovative pricing system.

The prices of the bar's offerings will fluctuate based on demand - yep, it's like a sudsy version of the stock market. The manager on duty will be able to trigger a market crash at any time, bringing all of the offerings to their lowest price possible (thankfully, the manager of the real stock exchange cannot do this). Funnily enough, this is not the first NYC watering hole that will use the system - Exchange Bar and Grill on the East Side also features fluctuating prices. The bar, which is is looking for a late-Feburary open date (321 West 41st St.).

Super Bowl Planning Guide: Where To Watch, Where to Eat

This Sunday it's the Giants versus the Patriots. Who's ready? Oh, you don't like football - well, Super Bowl Sunday is a GREAT night to go out to dinner, because restaurants are usually pretty empty. We performed a spot check on some popular eateries to see how many reservations were available. Take a look below - it seems like some usually booked places will be able to squeeze you in while the two teams are facing off.

Beauty and Essex: 7:00, 8:00, 9 PM
Craft: 6:30 and 8:30 PM
Crown: 7:30, 8:00, 8:30 PM
Marea: 6:30 and 9 PM
The Waverly Inn: 6:45 and 9 PM

If you do want to watch the game, that's cool too. Plenty of New York restaurants will be showing the smackdown - see that list here. If you want to go more casual and scarf some wings while you watch, you can get The Ultimate Wingman's picks for best wings in NYC here.

Obsession of the Week: Lazy Bar Hopping

The bar at Resto
This week, after finishing up dinner at meat-palace The Cannibal, we started pondering where our next stop would be. The bartenders overheard our conversation and motioned to a door in the back of the space. We got up, popped right through it and landed at the bar at Resto. Sweet - bar hoppping without having to walk outside is one of the best things that the New York restaurant scene has to offer. This lets you change up the vibe without having to get all bundled up and head back out onto the street, and then you'll have to get all set up at a new place that might be too crowded (or, even worse, too empty). Here are a few suggestions if you want to experience multiple environments without leaving the premises:


The Ace Hotel: Get there early and start at The Breslin with a few cocktails an a plate of charcuterie, when that starts to fill up, head through the hotel lobby and land in a cushy barstool at The John Dory for some oysters and a cocktail or two designed by Sasha Petraske. Bonus: if you are jonesing for a third drink, the cask beer at the lobby bar can really hit the spot.

Bacon Shakes at Jack in the Box; 2012 Will Be a Great Year for Restaurants

Image via Jack and the Box
A Starbucks employee in Fort Belvoir, VA was fired for stealing $3.75 worth of merchandise as revealed by a hidden camera the outpost had installed. Consequently, the 8-months-preggers employee lost her health insurance and more than 200 hours of sick time. Yikes. [Patch]

Burger chain Jack in the Box is now offering a Bacon Milkshake as part of a new ad campaign with the slogan: "If you like bacon so much, why don't you marry it?" [Eater]

The National Restaurant Association predicts that 2012 will be a booming year for the restaurant industry. Recession, what? [HuffPo]

Super Bowl Smackdown: Whoopie Pie vs. NY-Style Cheesecake

Left image via Flickr/antonioo/right image via Flickr/joyosity
For our final Super Bowl-themed regional food smackdown this week, we're comparing New England's beloved whoopie pies with NYC's iconic cheesecake. Which region has the better dessert? Shout out your thoughts on each in the comments.

Vote in Our Philadelphia Restaurants Survey!

Photo: Vic15 via Flickr
The presidential election is still a ways off, but starting today, you can make your voice heard where it really matters (as far as dining is concerned, anyway). Our Philadelphia Restaurants Survey is now open, and we want your opinion! It was quite a year for the food scene in our area, from Center City to the Main Line to the Jersey suburbs, with old favorites going strong and new options continuing to blossom. Did you try Stephen Starr’s new Rittenhouse Italian, Il Pittore, or revisit his original Buddakan? Which Jose Garces eatery holds a special place in your heart? Was this the year you finally made it to Vetri? Which spots do you think are wildly overrated? Think back on your year of dining out, and head here to rate restaurants based on Food, Decor, Service and Cost. Anyone can register (it’s free), and by adding your thoughtful review, you’ll be eligible to receive a free copy of the guide when it comes out. What are you waiting for? Go get voting!

Algonquin to Close Oak Room, New Cupcakes Hit NYC


Another day, another Oak Room bites the dust. The Plaza Hotel recently shuttered its restaurant after experimenting with a champagne brunch series (fist pump!), and now word comes from Midtown's Algonquin Hotel that it's bar and restaurant of the same name won't survive the series of renovations currently underway at the hotel. The space, which has been open for 35 years, will be replaced by an expansion of the Blue Bar, according to Diner's Journal. Apparently, cabaret singers just don't bring in the crowds that they used to. Sigh.

But, don't get too down! Diner's Journal also reports that NYC will get some new cupcakes (and what perfect timing, since we published our Top Cupcake list this week).  Washington DC chain Georgetown Cupcake will set up shop in SoHo on February 11. Who's ready for some sweets??

10 Cocktails to Try Right Now

Drink magic at Monkey Bar 
It's Friday, and you know what that means - cocktail time! We scoured the Big Apple's top restaurants and bars to see what's new and interesting in the world of mixology. We found some kumquats, a lot of fancy bitters, special ice (which may be annoying to some diners) and got plenty tipsy on our journey (life is hard). Click through the below slideshow for a tour of the best new drinks in NYC. Cheers! Oh, and if you're reading this in the afternoon - you know what they say, it's 5 PM somewhere...

The Week in Food TV: Tim and Nina Zagat Judge Rachael vs. Guy Finale; Pee-Wee on Top Chef Texas

Tim and Nina Zagat judge the Rachael vs. Guy finale; Image via Food Network
In case you missed any of these stories (or in case your TiVo is broken), here's a handy run-down of what went down in the food TV world this week. From Pee-Wee Herman on Top Chef Texas to Tim and Nina Zagat judging the finale of Rachael vs. Guy, we were there to document it all. Stay tuned for more tube-related coverage next week.
  1. Top Chef Texas Episode 13: This Is the Best Pancake I've Ever Had
  2. Rachael vs. Guy Finale: It's La-Bomb-Ba!
  3. Top Chef Renewed for 10th Season; Casting Begins on February 21

Watch Our Google+ Hangout with Baratunde Thurston

Join us this afternoon for our first February Hangout, featuring funnyman and The Onion director of digital Baratunde Thurston. We're deeming it "whiskey Friday," and in honor of the Black Grouse Distinctive Bartender Tour, we'll be talking about all things whiskey and spirit related. Stay tuned to our Google+ page around 4 PM to watch - and remember, just because you can't drink at work doesn't mean that you can't enjoy conversation about it...

Fox Renews Kitchen Nightmares for 5th Season; Steak Prices About to Soar

Brownie sundae with whipped foie gras from Ludo/Animal foie dinner; Image via Flickr/KayOne73

Quote of the Day: NY Chef John DeLucie Responds to His Critics

Chef John DeLucie

"I’m an easy target. I cook for celebrities. I didn’t ask for this. I’m so lucky, and if the payment for that is to walk around with a target on my back to the critics then that’s what it is."


-Chef John DeLucie of NYC's Crown responds to his critics who claim that he caters to celeb clientele. [Food Republic].

What's Up With: Restaurant Bathroom Attendants?

The other night we were dining at a restaurant that was super trendy but far from fine dining. We excused ourselves from the table to use the restroom, and upon entering the men's we were greeted by a sight that provokes a complicated and unpleasant series of emotions: a bathroom attendant. Upon encountering an employee dishing out towels and mints in the loo, it is common to experience one of three reactions:

1. Panic/Guilt - You forgot your wallet at the table and are going to have to do the awkward shuffle out the door after washing your hands, as he silently scolds you with his eyes for not dropping a dollar in the basket. Running back to the table and getting your wallet would be tacky, plus you have to go! What to do?!?

Super Bowl Smackdown: Lobster Roll vs. NY-Style Hot Dog

Left image via Flickr/Henry C; right image via Flickr/A (Culinary) Photo Journal
Once again...it's smackdown time! With the Super Bowl coming up this Sunday and the contenders hailing from rival regions NY and New England, we got to thinking about the culinary rivalries between the two areas as well. So each day this week we're highlighting a different food from each region and asking you to weigh in. Today we compare the two regions' favorite foods on a bun - the ever-popular New England lobster roll and the humble yet beloved NY-style hot dog. Shout out your thoughts on each in the comments.

Open Call: Overrated NYC Food Icons?

Are street pretzels actually any good? 
Our post this week about New York's 9 Most Iconic Dishes got us thinking: what Big Apple food icons are totally overrated? For every bagel drool-worthy bagel at Russ & Daughters, there is a lackluster New York pretzel being served by a street vendor (sorry, they just aren't that good). What are some other foods or restaurants that get lots of attention but can't deliver? Does anyone actually like Restaurant Row? The vodka-spiked parties at the restaurants in Brighton Beach may be a blast, but is the food any good? Let us know your nominees for the most overrated icons in the comments.

The Most Expensive Cups of Coffee in the U.S.

Siphon coffee at Blue Bottle; Image via Flickr/jonathan mcintosh
Most of us are used to shelling out as much as $2 for their morning cup o' joe, but at some places, that price will only get you a lump of sugar. While most cafes stick to your basic drip coffee, high-end shops around the country have perfected the art of brewing though various single-cup methods including the pricy Clover coffee maker and the laboratory-style siphon system, also called vacuum or vac pot, which involves various glass bowls, water vapors and suction. Sound complicated? It is, which is why some brews cost as much as $18 per single order. What’s the most expensive cup of coffee you've ever had? Let us know in the comments.

LudoBites 9.0 Pop-Up Will Launch In Hawaii; Landry's Shutters Eight Morton's Locations

The LudoTruck; Image via Flickr/KayOne73
Hawaii will say 'aloha' to the next LudoBites pop-up restaurant from LA-based TV chef, Ludo Lefebvre going down at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai at Historic Ka‘ūpūlehu from March 6-17. Hmm, sounds like a great excuse for a Hawaiian vacation to us. [Yahoo!]

Word broke today that Landry's Inc. will shutter eight locations of Chicago-based chain Morton's after acquiring Morton's Restaurant Group for $116.6Mil. Locations in Brooklyn, Boston, Atlanta and Denver were among the closed outposts. [NRN]