A Few Fall Roundups

This New York Magazine"best of hot chocolate" list is actually from last year, but the weather inspired me.



Gridskipper covers the best sweet potato fries (the blue smoke ones are irresistable)

And according to Grub Street the Brooklyn Brewery celebrates autum with two seasonal beers: Oktoberfest and Post Road Pumpkin Ale

The Pizza Express

Slice reports that this past weekend Scott Wiener, described as a true pizza lover, led a tour of New York’s best pizza purveyors. The tour included Franny’s, L&B Spumoni Gardens, Lenny’s, Luzzo’s, Patsy’s, Ray’s (apparently its the original and its on Spring st.), and Grimaldi’s. Damn, that’s a lot of pizza. But, that's a bus I'd like to get on!

If you’re not familiar with Slice, it’s a blog devoted to all things pizza, in particular New York City pies.

Philly Cheesesteak Paradox

The Underground gourmet ponders how Waitrose Food Illustrated magazine could name the invention of the sandwich by John (4th Earl of Sandwich) Montagu as the #2 greatest moment in food and the Philly cheesesteak as the #2 least glorious moment in food history. To clarify things they name the Philly cheesesteak the sandwich of the week and set out to right the purpoted wrong (I wouldn't know since I can't eat cheese on mine, but they're pretty darned good without). Their shortlist of filling philly cheesesteak spots? Shorty’s on Ninth Avenue, 99 miles to philly, Carl’s Steaks, Wogie’s, and Philly Slim’s. Philadelphia, of course, has a few good cheesesteak joints too, including the aforementioned Pat’s, Geno’s, and Jim’s.

Even More Halloween

DOG PARADE: It's the 17th Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade! Please note that the pups won't be out on Saturday, as scheduled, but Sunday (due to the impending weather). Prepare to ooh and ahh over the costumed canines, or bring your own dog -- but you better have a good costume, check out these from last year!
Sunday // Tompkins Square Park dog park // Free
via Gothamist

New York Post has a quick roundup of haunted spots in the city

NYCVisit rounds up all the halloween activities in the city

Newsletter Halloweens

Some more Halloween activities per the newsletters:
Manhattan User's Guide Halloween Coverage

Flavorpill Halloween Activites-
Brooklyn Chainsaw Massacre feat. Jazzy Jay and DJ Funk
Campfire Ghost Stories
Zombie Prom
Lee Burridge Halloween Bash
The Living and the Dead film
Ghost: Overture
The Onion Hall-o-ween
Zappa plays Zappa
Antibalas Halloween Party
Ghostly/DFA Haloween Bash

Dining on the Down Low

Underground dining clubs are all the rage, receiving attention from the community of home cooks as well as the press. Typically you buy a place at a dinner announced in advance that is held in someone’s apartment. Off-duty chefs or aspiring chefs then whip up a multi-course meal often using market and local ingredients. My friends Igor & Elizabeth recently raved about a dinner they attended hosted by the bite club. Apparently the trend has even hit college campuses. While its unclear if these clubs are legal, commercial cooking endeavors don't want to miss out either. Bon Apetit is jumping on the bandwagon with the limited appearance of their Supper Club & Café. The supper club will host a few private dinners while the café will be open for 2 weeks (through Nov.2) featuring under $10 lunches planned by famous chefs.

NY Post coverage and their definitive black book of underground dining clubs.

a peak inside the bite club

Back to Borscht

If you haven't heard the famed 2nd Ave Deli is returning and its going to be right in my neighborhood! (though no longer on 2nd ave) I remember wonderful meals celebrating jewish and other holidays with my family at this great New York Deli. Perhaps rumors of New York Delis' death were greatly exaggerated. In any case, the New York Times wasn't the only one sad to see it go and happy to see it come back. Ed Levine. Gothamist. Eater. NY1. NY Sun. NY Mag.
And don't forget the 2nd Ave Deli Cookbook.

Inspired, Ed Levine follows up with an article on the best New York Jewish Delis.

A Few Cheap Meals

Gothamist highlights a price fix meal at the Sunburnt Cow (I didn't even know they served food). The Sunburnt Cow is featuring a nightly "counter meal", consisting of 3-courses for $16. Amazing! Get seated in their rock cavern in the back for some extra mood. I've only been to this spot for drinks and music, often consisting of a dj paired with a live drummer. I will definitely be checking out the dinner now though.

My mom highlights a pre-theater price fix at Trattoria Dopo Teatro which she apparently found clicking on one of my advertisers. Trattoria Dopo Teatro has apparently just received Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence for its wine collection. Special wine flights in honor of the award here. The pre-theater 4-course meal is a shockingly low $22.50. see the menu here. If you decide to order off the price fix, here is a 10% off coupon.

And with the closing of Charlie Palmer's always affordable Kitchen 22, try his restaurant Metrazur, located in Grand Central (great for out of town friends) offers a Saturday World Wine Menu from 5pm-10pm. for $44 per person you get a 3-course meal and bottle of wine for every 2 guests.

Please feel free to comment below if you know of some other good and cheap price fix deals!

Halloween Posting I

Perhaps its a little early, but I'm starting to get in the mood for Halloween. So here's the first installment of fun NYC Halloween activities.

The 34th annual Village Halloween Parade will be taking place October 31, at 7pm. If you're in costume, line-up is on 6th Ave, south of Spring St and North of Canal between 6:30 and 8:30 (you must enter from the East and South, the west side is cut off)

Also, don't forget the more family friendly Costume Cultural Society's annual "Tompkins Scare Park" on Saturday October 28th.



And some fun halloween activities at the Bronx Zoo during Boo At the Zoo October 20-21 & 27-28

Citysearch rounds up some possibly haunted New York City spots

Until then, here are a few local Haunted Houses that may be fun...
Blood Manor (27th between 10th and 11th) (thx CJ) Discount tix here if you're not a member of goldstar events, click here and sign up, its free.
Nightmare: Ghost Stories Haunted House (Suffolk and Rivington) Discount tix here. Gothamist review here.
and this spooky art installation, A Psychic Vacuum I previously posted about.

Little Spaces

Time Out New York just published its Home Design Issue. The article focuses on the constraints of New York City living (i.e. space). The article has some good tips from designers and has a section where 3 architects render layouts for the same 300-sq-foot apartment. amazing.

In Dining

Frank Bruni finds worthwhile entrees under $20

New and improved Mmomofuku Noodle Bar opening next week

Artisanal offering half off all wines by the glass after 10pm (Grub Street)

Esquire creates a list of best new restaurants in 2007 and only 3 dubiously chosen ones make it from New York. Grub Street is Outraged. Esquire responds.

Beacon, the midtown restaurant that specializes in cooking everything by open fire, has installed a chef's kitchen counter that functions for a weekly chef hosted dinner party, a lunchtime no-reservations burger bar and on other nights a tapas bar (Strong Buzz)

Free Radio City Tickets

Basically you buy $30 of B&G Products like pickles or taco shells at your local grocery, send in the form with your receipts and top preferences for tickets and they'll send you two free Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets. Pretty sweet if you ask me. Pretty Pretty Sweet. (thanks go out to my mom for clicking on one of my advertisers and thus finding out about this deal)

Take Your Flavorpill and Call Me In the Morning

This week’s Flavorpill newsletter just hit. If you’re not already a subscriber, flavorpill sends a weekly letter highlighting alternative cultural events going on in the city. Its often a great way to hear about fun off-beat activities. Highlights of this week’s highlights are Brooklyn Vegetarian Week, BAM’s Silent Film Festival, and their own monthly “One Step Beyond Party” which I have written about before. This week they feature some Trance/house music superstars including Josh Wink.

Skating in the City

The weather is starting to get colder, but it still doesn't feel like skating weather just yet. Perhaps that's why there was no line at the Rockefeller Center Rink yesterday. The Rink opened for the season last week and to my knowledge is the first of the city's rinks to open. The tree will not be lit until November 28th, but its a great time to enjoy some skating before the long lines and cold.
Wollman Rink in Central Park opens on October 20th
The Pond at Bryant Park opens October 26th
Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers is open year-round
Lasker Ice Skating Rink further north in Central Park opens October 20th

New York Time's full run down on the city's skating rinks

Spa Week

Girly Carrie tells me its Spa Week next week. Citysearch highlights some of the best deals.

Another Way to Enjoy Cheese

The Joy of Cheese will be hosting 3 cheese tastings in October covering strategies for pairing cheese with Autumn wines. Primarily this means fruitier and sweeter wines paired with "more aggressive cheeses". Tastings will take place October 16, 18, and 23 at 10 Degrees, the wine and spirits bar at 121 St. Mark's Place. Tastings go from 7-8:30 and are $30 with wine sold by the glass. To reserve a space email thejoyofcheese@yahoo.com

The Best Grilled Cheese In New York

Gridskipper covers the best grilled cheese in New York, and it just so happens to coincide with Ed Levine's bi-coastal coverage here. Digging back a bit further, Grub Street placed these eight as their favorites and Associated Content lists these five as their favorites. General consensus seems to say that Artisanal and Bouchon Bakery create the best, while 'wichcraft and Joe Jr.'s also have repeat listings. Its not surprising that Artisanal who have their very own dedicated cheese cave make a mean grilled cheese and Bouchon Bakery is Thomas (Per Se) Keller, so what do you expect???

Me, I'm more partial to making my grilled cheese at home with love than ordering it out, so here are a few variations from epicurious.

The Favorites go as follows:
Gridskipper
Artisanal
Bouchon Bakery
Comfort Diner
Eisenberg Sandwich Shop
Picket Fences
‘wichcraft

Ed Levine
Artisanal
Bouchon Bakery

Grub StreetBouchon Bakery
Joe Jr.’s
‘ino
Tillman’s
‘wichcraft
The Green Table
Artisanal
Little Giant

Associated Content
Googies Italian Diner
Joe Jr.’s Restaurant
Murray’s Cheese
‘wichcraft

Zagats Say Dining in NY is Cheap

In other Zagat related news, Nina and Tim Zagat, cofounders of the restaurant survey, had the following commentary that appeared in today's Wall Street Journal claiming that NYC dining prices are actually cheap. I've copied it here in case you don't have a subscription.

Where the Dollar's Still King

By NINA ZAGAT AND TIM ZAGATOctober 10, 2007; Page A20

New York, New York, it's a helluva town -- prices go up and they never come down. Once again, inflation is skyrocketing in New York City. Witness the sharp price jumps over the past several years in real estate (monthly residential rents rose a record 8.3% in the last year alone, despite a nationwide downturn), hotel rooms (at the new Plaza, rates start at $775 a night), cab and commuting fares, Broadway shows (tickets for "Young Frankenstein," the new Mel Brooks musical, top out at $450 for some performances), museum admissions ($20 at Museum of Modern Art) and even movie tickets (the Ziegfeld charged $25 for a reserved seat for "Dreamgirls" last year).

You might think that the same is true for restaurants. But when we look at the numbers from our 2008 New York Restaurant Survey, dining out appears to be one of New York's last remaining affordable pleasures. Prices are holding steady at everyday restaurants, real deals (à la $24 lunches) can be found all over town, and more neighborhoods now offer a bounty of restaurants that give good quality at reasonable prices. Overall, the rate of inflation in New York City dining costs has been risen just 0.97% since 9/11 -- barely a third of the Consumer Price Index.

The New York restaurant industry is riding a bull market, fueled in part by the rise of the "brand name" chef -- call it chef culture. Even as restaurant rents hit the $75,000-a-month stratosphere, these top chefs and their partners are opening new venues all over town. With the new trend toward less formal dining, they may not be shelling out as much for expensive china and crystal stemware, but their costs are high: They want to cook with the best organic or seasonal ingredients, hire cutting-edge designers for eye-grabbing décor, and nab a spot in the hottest neighborhoods.

As a result, there has been a high rate of inflation at these best-in-class venues. Since 9/11, the average meal cost at the restaurants on our 20 Most Expensive list has jumped to $143.06 from $84.85 -- 11.6% a year. The arrival of super expensive restaurants like Masa ($485) and Per Se ($301) contributed to this sea change, but even without these newcomers, inflation at top-of-the-line places is roughly 5%.

Among all New York restaurants, however, the average cost of a meal has risen only three cents since last year's survey -- to $39.46 from $39.43, a barely perceptible 0.1% This is thanks to a slew of inexpensive newcomers that keep the cost average steady. New York might be the most expensive city in America for dining out, but for average meal cost it's far behind Paris ($71.51), Tokyo ($73.11) and London ($78.57).

Nearly 60% of our survey participants say they spent more per meal this year than last year. How can this be if the average cost of a meal hasn't gone up? We think it's because more and more diners want a taste of the new chef culture. They have the interest, the funds and the inquisitive palates to expand their restaurant experiences.

Steve Hanson, CEO of B.R. Guest Restaurants, owner of 14 popular New York City venues, told us recently that his patrons are not only spending more money these days, they're also spending it differently: They're more adventurous, interested in trying new foods and sampling smaller plates. With more money to burn, and more culinary smarts, they've created a demand for high-end dining that, in turn, leads to higher prices.

Still, everyone loves a bargain, and if you know where to look, it's not hard to find good inexpensive meals here. Our new survey includes 697 restaurants serving dinners for less than $30, and lists of restaurants that are highly rated for food offering family-style and "all-you-can-eat" menus.

A number of top restaurants offer relatively affordable prix fixe lunch and dinner menus, and the popular biannual Restaurant Weeks, which we helped to create in 1992, allow diners to sample some of the city's finest at greatly reduced prices. The truly budget-minded can grab a top-of-the-line sandwich or burger at food stands overseen by restaurant mavens like Tom Colicchio ('wichcraft) and Danny Meyer (Shake Shack) or choose from a universe of ethnic meals just about anywhere.

If you're an art lover, you can plunk down your $20 at MoMA to see Picasso's masterpiece, "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," or you can troll the artists' studios in Williamsburg for free views of unheralded gems. The same is true about the cost of eating out in the Big Apple: It's all about how you slice it.

Even More Ratings Madness

Grub Street notes Zagat has bestowed its New York City restaurant ratings . Ed Levine discusses the Zagat ratings and “Michelin’s madness”. And the circle is complete as Grub Street discusses Ed Levine’s view and their own. In Metromix, Jean-Luc Naret, who runs the Michelin guide responds.

Gothamist also chimes in with some interesting facts.

Shaolin: Temple of Zen

Cool Hunting reports on Justin Guariglia's new book, Shaolin: Temple of Zen, depicting intimate and authentic photos of the Shaolin monks.

In celebration of the book's release there will be a special event this Friday, 12 October 2007, at the Rubin Museum of Art which will include a demonstration by Shaolin monk Shi de Chao of the 31st generation (pictured below), a book signing and a slide show. Visit Aperture for more information on the event and to purchase the book for $28. See more images here.

Shaolin: Temple of Zen
Book release and demonstration: 12 October 2007, 6pm
Rubin Museum of Art
150 West 17th Street
New York, NY map
tel. +1 212 620-5000

New Year's Ball Gets High Tech

Perhaps this is a little early, but news is news. This year's New Year's eve ball has been improved using 9,576 LEDs that render 16 million colors, display video and save energy. Forget a plasma tv I think I want one of these now. Maybe if they leave out the Waterford crystals the $1.1 million price tag will drop a bit. More about the history of the ball here.

The Michelin Stars Are In

Frank Bruni reports on his blog that New York City's Michelin stars are in for this year... His blog post from Diner's Journal (below). Eater coverage here. Further Bruni musings here.

Michelin has just announced its third annual New York City restaurant ratings. Jean Georges, Le Bernardin and Per Se remained the city’s only restaurants with three Michelin stars. (Alain Ducasse at the Essex House was among them the first year, before it closed.)

Gordon Ramsay at the London joined Bouley, Daniel, Del Posto and Masa among the two stars restaurants, along with Picholine, which had previously had one star.

The new one-star retaurants are Anthos, Blue Hill, Dressler, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Gilt and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon. JoJo retrieved a star it had lost last year. In perhaps the the biggest surprise, Craft lost its one star, along with Fiamma, La Goulue and Lever House.

The following also got one star: Annisa, Aureole, A Voce, Babbo, Café Boulud, Café Gray, Country, Cru, Danube, Dévi, Etats-Unis, Fleur de Sel, Gotham Bar & Grill, Gramercy Tavern, Jewel Bako, Kurumazushi, The Modern, Oceana, Perry St., Peter Luger, Saul, Spotted Pig, Sushi of Gari, Veritas, Vong, Wallsé, wd~50.

Cheezycake yourself version

Following up on my last cheesecake posting, if you feel like trying to make the cheesecake yourself, epicurious has a slideshow (with recipes) of 20 variations.

Shacktoberfest!

The Shake Shack’s Shacktoberfest is back! Friday Oct. 5th-14th. There will be a special menu featuring a selection of brats and sausages, Bavarian-inspired concretes and German-style beers.

Gothamist reported that beers would be $4 each including brews from artisanal American breweries such as Brooklyn Brewery Oktoberfest, Otter Creek Oktoberfest, Weyerbacher Autumnfest, Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale and Victory Prima Pils. Gothamist coverage

Eater has more details: Live music with accordionist Al Zimmermann playing, from 1:00 – 2:30 PM and 5:30 – 7:30 PM on Friday, 10/5, to toast the beginning of the celebration. (though I don’t know if that’s a selling point or not).

A selection of Usinger’s brats and sausages – Andouille with red pepper relish, Stuttgarter Knackwurst with cranberry horseradish relish and Italian sausage with pumpkin mostarda.

Custard Calendar here including the special Oktoberfest concrete blends.

I love my Amex Card

This may seem sponsored but I assure you its not. American Express offers deals year-round including some that you just need to use your card for and others you need to print out a coupon for. This year at the US Open we received free radios to listen to the match live for buying the tickets via Amex. Other deals include 15% off Sunday through wednesday at one of my favorite lounges and late-night dining spots POP Burger, 6 free bagels with the purchase of a dozen at Einstein Bros. Bagels, Airfare discounts, 15% off your purchase of $75 or more at the Virgin Megastore and scores of other deals.

Amex also just launched their Urban Adventures site that offers a lot of NYC discounts (shout out to Kate who worked on the site) AND New York Dish which essentially works like a cross between citysearch and a social networking site, with deals, reviews, and suggestions.

Upcoming Events

Open House New York comes this weekend opening the city's architectural treasures to the public, including some that are forbidden the rest of the time (such as the highline, though I believe that tour has already filled up). Flavorpill breakdown here. Gothamist coverage here. If you miss the event and are a lunatic criminal check out some urban exploration resources to make your own forbidden place adventure and go places you're not supposed to go.



The New Yorker Festival, also this weekend, "brings together some of the brightest and most inventive minds, across disciplines and from around the wall." The opening page has announced Parkour New York: David Belle (founder of parkour) talks with Alec Wilkinson. Parkour is the extremely (practically ninja) style of getting from point A to B as efficiently and quickly as humanly possible. Other talks include Fiona Apple, Susan Orlean, Yo La Tengo, Jonathan Safran Foer, Ian McEwan, Steve Martin, and Werner Herzog. As the festival puts it, "this year's participants include an urban planner who is making cities safe for bicyclists, the woman who outfitted Carrie Bradshaw, the creator of "Hellboy," and a man who can leap over anything in his path." Check the schedule here.

Thank you

Thank you all for your support. My blog is now financially self-sufficient! i.e. I hit the $8.00 mark which is what it cost to reserve this domain name for a year.

The Best Street Meat Not Meat At All

This year's Vendy Award for New York's best street food went to "Dosa Man" Thiru Kumar, who serves up all-vegan Stri-Lankan style crepes at Washington Square South. He won despite Grub Street's Odds on the event. Kumar came in second the last two years (last year to Samiul Haque Noor, from Sammy’s Halal). Other finalists this year included Veronica Julien of Veronica’s Kitchen (Trinidadian/Jamaican cuisine at Front and Pine Street), Muhammed Rahman from Kwik Meal (Bengali-spiced Middle Eastern food at 46th St and 6th Ave), Super Taco (96th St and Broadway), and Farez (Freddy) Zeideia, the King of Falafel and Shawarma (Middle-eastern style street food, 30th St and Broadway, Astoria).
Read Gothamist's full run down of the event here. NY Daily News review here. Times coverage here. And Ed Levine claims he's still full from the event and thinks it should go national next year.
T-shirts available here.

No You're not Crazy

The taxi cab logos did change.


The New logos are in honor of the 100th anniversary of the yellow cab.
via Gothamist

Mmm the Cheezycake

Ed Levine updates his Best of Cheesecake New York Times article on his Serious Eats blog. Levine's love and respect for cheesecake are strong I can pratically taste them.

Cheesecake is one of those quintessential New York foodstuffs that in some circles is thought of as unsophisticated. Certainly its name does not roll off the tongue like tiramisù, or tarte Tatin. But cheesecake at its best is a perfect sweet—a smooth, creamy confection with only a hint of tart.

If that quote doesn't get you on a race to retry his tasting tour, you must be lactose intolerant.

I'm embarrassed to say I've tried only one of these (Mona Lisa's in brooklyn and while I recall the other pastries being delicious I can't remember the cheesecake). All I know is if these all beat out Junior's, they must be AMAZING and I assure you the rest will be sampled as soon as humanly possible.

Here's Levine's Junior's-free list:

Eileen's Special Cheesecake

17 Cleveland Place (at Kenmare Street), SoHo; 212-966-5585

Mona Lisa Pastry

1476 86th Street (15th Avenue), Bay Ridge, Brooklyn; 718-837-9053

Monteleone's-Cammereri's

355 Court Street (President Street), Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; 718-852-5600

Monte's Venetian Room

451 Carroll Street (between Nevins Street and Third Avenue), Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; 718-624-8984

Porter House New York

10 Columbus Circle, New York, Time Warner Center; 212-823-9500

Two Little Red Hen's

1652 Second Avenue (between 85th and 86th Streets); 212-452-0476

Yura & Company

1292 Madison Avenue (92rd Street); 212-860-1598