The NYC Food Bucket List (or Foods New Yorkers Eat Because We Have To or Love To)

Native Creative Concierge™ approved

Delicious Bodega Sandwich (Instagram)

I recently read an article listing 11 foods the writer thought every New Yorker must have at least once in their life. The list included cronuts and ramen burgers.


I'll wait while you roll your eyes as hard as I did.


I decided to compile this list of the foods many New Yorkers eat because it's 3 AM and/or we've been drinking, because it's what we can afford or because they're simply delicious.

Spirited: Brooklyn's Dessert Speakeasy

Spirited is Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

The Big Bad Brooklyn Blackout Cake and The Rosemor dessert-cocktail
paring at Spirited in Brooklyn, NY

The chalkboard out front greeted me with the message: Have your drink and eat it too.



On the corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and Bergen Street stands Spirited, a dessert speakeasy owned by Kimberly Wetherhell. The idea for Spirited dates back to 2010 but it wasn't until 2012 when she baked liquor-infused Thanksgiving pies -- filling 40 orders at $40 a piece -- that she knew the idea was a viable one.



From decision to conception it's taken a year and a half for Spirited to open its doors.Two weeks in and Sprited is full of...well, spirit! "It's like throwing a party every night," says Executive Baketender® Kimberly Wetherell. Her experience in the entertainment industry comes in handy in running a house of cake and cocktails.

 

Executive Baketender® Kimberly Wetherell

Root and Bone, Part Dinner

Bucket of Birds, root & bone, NYC

The opportunity arose to have dinner at Root and Bone. Of the things I had my eye on, I was only able to cross the Bucket of Bird and Macaroni and Cheese off the list. But don't go feeling sorry for me. I still left Root and Bone that evening satisfied with a doggie bag to boot.



We arrived a little before 6:30 on a Friday. Again, it really is like having a meal in someone's kitchen. The hostess greeted us warmly and seated us. Where do we start? Do we order a starter? Our drinks? Put our whole order in at once? Decisions!



This evening we were paired with David. He fielded our questions about the cocktails to start. I had a Lady J Ivory. Yes, I'm a woman of vodka habit. My friend ordered The Twisted Mustache (Russell's 6 Year Bourbon, Swedish Punsch, citrus and ginger). It was the bomb-diggity. Ok, she may not used those words but her expression after she took her first sip said so.

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Root and Bone is Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

Root and Bone Alphabet City

Root and Bone is Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwich at Root and Bone, East Village, NYC

My proclivity for chicken and waffles has been well documented. It even resulted in my being quoted on Eater NY. So when I received emails announcing the opening of Root and Bone in the East Village I planned a visit.

Picture it:

Saturday afternoon. Across Ave B is the usually boisterous brunch crowd. Outside Root and Bone, on East 3rd Street, was dotted with diners waiting to be seated and others waiting for  their take-out orders. I left my name with the host and was told it'd be a 30 minute wait. Not so. My friend arrived about five minutes later and we were called in about five minutes after that.

The set-up is a cross between a home kitchen, a front porch and classroom. They went old school with the chairs. There's even a cubby under the chairs that the host put my bag in when it fell off the back of my chair. It's a very cozy atmosphere. 

Welcome to the Neighborhood, Burger Heights

Burger Heights is Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

Burger Heights now open in Washington Heights, NY providing a great
option for burgers in the neighborhood

On July 2, Burger Heights held a friend and family pre-grand opening event. Burgers and fries were served, fountain drinks flowed (they carry Boylan by the bottle!), wine was passed around (not on the regular menu), all capped off with ice cream and milkshakes (gelato shakes to be exact) for dessert.



Between mouthfuls of unbelievably juicy beef, Led Black of Uptown Collective and I agreed that Burger Heights is a great addition to the neighborhood. New businesses do open in Washington Heights but they tend to be the same, he shared. Personally, I love burgers. Love. However, I do not eat McDonalds beef. The interior of Burger King franchises skeeve me out. That left Twin Donut (not ideal), Pick N Eat ($10 burgers) or diners over 20 blocks away.

4th Annual Mac Off Presented By The Claque

Competitors at the 4th Annual Mac Off presented by the claque

On Sunday, November 17, the claque presented its 4th annual Mac Off, a macaroni and cheese competition. Chefs (amateur, professional and passionate) presented their macaroni and cheese creations at Littlefield in Gowanus, Brooklyn. 

Attendees at The Mac Off tasted each entry (some more than once) and cast their ballots for the best mac-n-cheese dish. No cheese was off limits. And as it turned out, many of the add-ins that were once groundbreaking (bacon) were the more "usual" variations. The mac-n-cheese evolution is upon us.

Bacon Mac & Cheese (homemade bacon, Gruyere, mustard seed, caramelized onion)

Make Destination Bar Your Destination

Destination Bar, East Village, NYC (photo source)

It's an East Village bar that hasn't been overrun by the gentrifiers or the Bridge and Tunnel crew. That right there scored it tons of points.

More points for the signature drinks at less than the $15 to $22 cocktail-standard that plagues New York at the moment. 

Want cocktails for $5? Head to Destination Bar during their happy hour (corner of Avenue A and 13th). All drinks are half off. That was a major reason I decided to have my birthday happy hour there this year.

Sunday at Lelabar

Hungarian Pick Salami, Tasso Ham, Beef Loin, Coppa
from Lelabar

I finally made it to Lelabar.



This visit required the right amount of synchronicity to occur. On Sunday I met up with a friend before he took a road trip. It also happened to be the day before his birthday so quality face time was in order.



The last few times we'd seen each other, we went out for wine. And every time, I kept mentioning a wine bar in the West Village but I couldn't remember where it was. I knew it began with an "L" but that's all I had. This time around when I was off the clock, I was off the clock. My brain just couldn't remember. As we walked west along Houston St my friend pointed out Burger & Barrel as a possible place for us to go for our fix de vino. We both wondered about the New Yorker-to-tourist ratio and kept moving.

This Is How New Yorkers Feel About Each Other?

So there was a survey conducted to find out how New Yorkers feel about each other. In a city of 8+ million people... 414 people participated. 414 people. At least if the study had a 4-figure pool of survey respondents, I'd be less bothered by it. But perhaps when asked to participate in the survey, New Yorkers brushed it off with a "ain't nobody got time for that" since, you know, we're all so rude. 

These 414 people are those who live and/or work in New York. How long have they lived in New York? Do they work in NY but live in [New] Jersey or... Connecticut?

Where To Eat Foods From Around The World In New York City

Photo by Garrett Ziegler (via flickr)

I found this interactive map on Gothamist and was instantly fascinated.


Steven Melendez, a former member of the WNYC Data News Team compiled data of where to find different ethnic cuisines throughout New York City for Gothamist. For those of us from NY or who have visited before, some of the findings are what we expected -- Greek food in Astoria, Brazilian in Midtown Manhattan and Indian and "Middle Eastern" food in Queens.

Dear Mr. Anthony Bourdain

Of all the sidewalks in all the world he showed up on mine.


It was a bright, Thursday afternoon and I was heading back towards Columbus Circle from CBS Broadcast Center. As I passed my old stomping ground, the Time Warner Center, I looked up from my phone and there he stood.


He was there. Nerves bubbled up inside me but I didn't stop walking, I didn't alter the course. I knew I had to say something. Never mind that I was carrying two man grooming products in my hand. He moved his cell phone from his ear just as I got to him.

New York Dollar Pizza

Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

99 Cent Fresh Pizza on 6th Avenue in New York

Recently I've been asked more than once what I think is the best pizza in NY. This past weekend a woman on my Boozy Treats Tour asked as we walked by Lombardi's on Spring St. A man visiting NY with his son from LA inquired a week or so before which pizza was great.


I've done Fornino. I've done Di Fara but must say, I'm a fan of dollar pizza. One reason I gave the woman on my tour was dollar pizza "reminds me of pizza we used to get back in the day." Sometimes I forget that dollar pizza is available again. In this day and age of the $8 or more lunch, there are times when I'm "broke" and wonder what to grab to eat. Then I remember, "Oh snap! I could get dollar pizza!"  Day made.


Here are the three dollar pizza spots that I frequent very often.

The Sandwich Bar - Take Two

The Sandwich Bar is Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

I made a second visit to The Sandwich Bar in Astoria recently. When the manager first told me about the restaurant that presents a "new concept in sandwiches", I was intrigued to say the least. When I expressed my love of meats he said I'd be a fool not to try The Sandwich Bar.

So I did.

Braised Brisket Grilled Cheese, Spicy Mayo, Yellow Cheddar and Provolone

NYC: Boozy Treats Tour 2013

Boozy Treats Tour presented by Native Creative Concierge

Since June, I've been running the Boozy Treats Tour. I take groups of 5 or less through the East Village and the Lower East Side (LES) making stops at local businesses for treats. The connection? They're all made with alcohol!


Things simply made sense for this kind of walking food tour. The East Village and LES both have a history "full of alcohol" -- they're littered with speakeasies and Prohibition-era happenings, organized crime and New York flavor. I launched the Boozy Treats Tour through an offer with Time Out NY. There are still tours available for bookings through September 2013. So far, I've had a mix of New Yorkers and visitors, grad students to chefs alike. It's been fun for me learning new tidbits about the area to share with the Boozy Treats "Tourists" and sharing my personal connection to many places we pass along the way (St. Mark's Hotel, Babeland, Verlaine, Clinton St. Baking Co, inoteca etc).

S'MACdown: S'MAC Mac-n-Cheese Competition

Beginning on May 6, macaroni and cheese lovers, aficionados and self-professed professionals were given the opportunity to share their creations in a S'MACdown sponsored by S'MAC.


Competitors were allowed to create any mac & cheese dish -- no ingredient off limits. 2 out of the 4 finalists choose bacon (the bacon craze doesn't seem to be losing steam just yet).


The live judging event took place on  May 19 at the Murray Hill S'MAC location. The panel of judges included S'MAC owner Sarita Ekya, Barbara Rich, consulting chef for S'MAC, and Tom Birchard, owner of Veselka who tasted and deliberated over the four finalist creations.

Pie Face NYC

Pie Face is Native Creative Concierge™ approved

Due to the fact that I haven't been to Australia yet, the only taste of Down Under I've had thus far is a burger creation at The Sunburnt Cow (another Hurricane Sandy casualty) a few years ago.

I can now add a stacked Philly Cheese Steak pie.

It was free.

But it was not in lieu of compensation for this endorsement. Au contraire. I went to Pie Face to satisfy my curiosity and sweet tooth on a Saturday afternoon and ended up walking out with dinner.

Paradou - Simple, Pratique, Elegant

Paradou is Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

The Meatpacking District of New York packs a wonderful taste of Provence, France in Paradou. I first experienced Paradou early last year during their infamous Unlimited Champagne Cocktail Brunch. Before things got too boisterous, I struck up conversation with one of the waiters who happened to be leaving for Paris in 2 weeks at the time (a sign I surely needed to be there). But don't fret there isn't a high turnover at Paradou; the core staff consisting of Abi, Gwyn (more from him later) and Cornelius still remain. They're the kind to remember what your favorite drink or dish is off the menu and how you like it prepared -- exceptional, attentive (sometimes affectionate), welcoming.

S'Mac - Lip-Smacking Good Mac 'N Cheese

S'Mac is Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

All-American with Slab Bacon and Shittake Mushrooms

A few years ago I wrote the article, "Comfort Cuisine" for NY Resident magazine. One restaurant I covered was S'Mac, a restaurant specializing in macaroni and cheese in a wide range of combinations. At the time I wrote that article, you could only indulge in the goodness at the S'Mac East Village location.

Sweet Chick Chicken and Waffles in Williamsburg

Sweet Chick is Native Creative Concierge™ approved.

Sweet Chick, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

I received the email re: Sweet Chick's opening in Williamsburg. It was touted as "Brooklyn's newest chicken and waffles spot". Although the duck sloppy joes on the menu caught my eye momentarily, I went for the chicken and waffles.


I'm a late-bloomer when it comes to the culinary combination of chicken and waffles. Since finally indulging in  the dish a few years ago, I've done my fair share of catching up. You've read my take on the version at Cafeteria. The Egg Nog Chicken and Waffles at Melba's during the holidays one year. I've had them at Amy Ruth's in Harlem at a friend's birthday brunch. I've eaten Chicken and Waffles at Rustik Tavern. Have yet to try them at the Pink Tea Cup and I didn't get to try them at Gladys Knight & Ron's Chicken and Waffles when I was in Atlanta. I had a satisfying Chicken and Waffles at Williams & Bailey in Williamsburg a few months back, on a whim... crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside whim. My all-time favorite thus far is the Chicken and Waffles at Clinton St. Baking Co. And I most recently had them at Back Forty in my second home, SoHo.


I had to know if Sweet Chick could measure up.

City Crab Lunch Break

City Crab is Native Creative Concierge approved.

Juan mans the raw bar at City Crab in NY

Last Friday's lunch was at City Crab in the Gramercy/Flatiron neighborhood in Manhattan. My friend and I had been there before for drinks during happy hour and for post-brunch drinks on a Saturday (we like drinks). My friend chose City Crab because of Juan, the oyster shucker.