December 10, 2009
sugar Sweet sunshine, home to NYC’s best banana pudding and some of its finest cupcakes is open at the Union Square Holiday Market until Dec. 24. You’ll find the sliver of a stall on the west side of Union Square between East 14th & East 15th street, near the Gandhi statue. Special iced sugar cookies ($0.75) join a roster of shop favorites including cake in a cup ($4), pumpkin eggnog pudding ($4), chocolate bomb ($4), brownies ($3), a wide selection of cupcakes ($2) (go for the Ooey Gooey, chocolate almond buttercream frosting atop chocolate cake), and naturally banana pudding ($4). But act quickly, because the good stuff goes fast. Read on for a map of the Union Square Holiday Market & sugar Sweet sunshine info.
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December 8, 2009
Momofuku Milk Bar’s Cinnamon Bun Pie is a high class, low cost slice of NYC’s dessert elite. Cinnabon is a low class symbol of NYC’s contribution to obesity. In the end they both serve the same purpose, satisfying a sinful desire for cinnamon and decadent frosting. But as discriminating foodies, we must ask, which is better? Read on for the final verdict…
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December 4, 2009
Free food alert! This one complements of Ketel One Vodka who in the spirit of “celebrating the season responsibly,” (because THAT’S HOW THEY DO in Meatpacking!) brought Michael Pislakis on board to dole out free food from the “Ketel One Canteen.” NYC Food Guy stopped by last night and discovered Psiklalis is offering three pre-prepared specialties: a surprisingly juicy and flavorful lamb burger (my favorite) topped with a creamy roasted red pepper feta sauce (ask for extra), a char-grilled chicken shish kebab pita topped with fennel and onion salad and Tzatiki sauce (eat this one quickly, the pita suffers in the cold) and a caponata and couscous wrap (too healthy for this guy). The canteen will be open from 12AM to 2AM Friday & Saturday on the corner of Gansevoort & 9th Avenue (Google Map) so now there’s really no excuse for not going to the Meatpacking District this weekend.
Photo Credits: Michael Psilakis from Harlan Turkell & Kefi Burger from A Hamburger Today
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December 2, 2009
Just two weeks after its East Village opening, La Lucha, the new Mexico City style taqueria/Lucha Libre boutique, will debut its brunch menu (below, click to enlarge) this Saturday. Brunch will run from 11AM to 4pm Saturday and Sunday and the regular menu will be in effect all day. The brunch dish NYC Food Guy is looking forward to most: Chilaquiles, crispy tortillas cooked with simmered tomatillo salsa, queso fresco, onions, and sour cream. You can add chicken for $1. Hello La Lucha, goodbye hangover.
Related: NYC Food Guy’s review of La Lucha
La Lucha 147 Avenue A b/t 9th & 10th Street New York, NY 10009
212-260-0235 Weekday hours vary, call to confirm
Brunch Sat. & Sun. 11AM – 4PM
Closes most nights between 1AM & 1:30AM
Currently BYOB but a wine & beer license is expected soon
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November 30, 2009
If you love traveling to New York and want to get a little more out of it, take Carlos Beraza’s lead and open a restaurant. That’s what the Mexico City native did, along with two friends, when they opened La Lucha two weeks ago on Avenue A between 9th and 10th Street. Their business card says “La Lucha – Sacalo Del Ring,” which loosely translates to “taking the fight out of the ring,” and that’s just what they accomplish. La Lucha offers New Yorkers a real taste of downtown Mexico City, specifically the no frills taquerias where Mexicans excitedly eat and drink prior to attending Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) matches. And it’s more than just kitsch, because aside from a strict no burrito policy, and a menu named after famed luchadores and Lucha Libre moves, La Lucha is also a boutique for everything Lucha Libre. I had the pleasure of experiencing this unique marriage of pop culture and street food the night they opened, and after a tiny taste, I can’t wait to get back…
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November 25, 2009
The owners of Spanish tapas restaurants Sala Bowery & Sala One Nine have focused their attention stateside with the opening of Rye House, a modern bar offering craft beers, house-made rye whiskey, well-crafted cocktails and a menu of casual American fare centered around NYC’s first homage to the legendary meat, cheese, french fry, and cole slaw-stuffed sandwiches at Primanti Bros. Restaurant in Pittsburgh, Pennslyvania. Unfortunately, the two split links of smokey andouille sausage inside Rye House’s admiringly-named “Pittsburgh” sandwich ($10) provide the only detectable flavor amidst bland house-made cole slaw, hearty yet under-seasoned hand cut French fries and melted mild provolone cheese inside two slices of surprisingly delicious toasted Pullman loaf.
In attempting to “clean up” the real Primanti Bros. sandwich, Rye House abandoned the standard issue tomato and with it acidity that could really enhance the sandwich. An upgrade to a more flavorful cheese and adjustments to the cole slaw’s mayo base would also improve what has the potential to be a great NYC sandwich. Rye House has been open for less than one month and I look forward to returning to give the “Pittsburgh” another try.
Read on for the full menu plus NYC Food Guy’s take on some other items…
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November 23, 2009
Often overlooked Murray Hill grease pit Ziggiz, former home to NYC Food Guy’s favorite fries, has officially boarded up and gone out of business. Not a surprising turn of events considering Ziggiz signed their own death warrant back in June, shortening hours of operation to 10PM, thereby eradicating the core of their business: late night munchie-seekers stumbling in after a night of debauchery. Ziggiz served the neighborhood well but now we bid farewell to a place that never realized its full potential. Thanks for the grease and good times.
If you’re still looking for some serious French fries and late-night eats check out these posts:
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November 23, 2009
Just when you thought the burger frenzy had calmed, Bill’s Bar & Burger hits the scene about a month ago garnering Shake Shake comparisons and “best” burger praise from A Hamburger Today, Ed Levine at Serious Eats, Josh Ozersky (RIP Feedbag), and Rob and Robin at NYMag. Bill’s, the brainchild of Stephen Hanson (B.R. Guest), employs the “smashing” technique (adored at Shake Shack and originally proliferated by Midwest fast food chain Steak n’ Shake) resulting in a griddled burger that’s supposed to offer a crispy, salt-crusted exterior surrounding a juicy, meaty interior. Hanson, according to Ed Levine, claims to have been honing this process for over a year. Unfortunately, the best laid plans often go awry. I had the displeasure of finding this out not just once, but twice (any place getting this much praise deserved a second look). Read on to find out why…
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November 16, 2009
You didn’t think NYC Food Guy could stay away for this long, did you? I didn’t either, but here we are, more than four months since the last review. A complete change of schedule at my day job gave me a life beyond eating for the first time in three years and unfortunately the blog suffered. Big time. But I’m back for good, so let’s get to the real reason you’re here: My first taste of Szechuan cuisine, Cantonese Chinese food’s bolder, spicier cousin, at newcomer Lan Sheng Szechuan Restaurant on 39th street b/t 5th & 6th Ave. Three people, thirteen dishes and one fiery eating adventure.
For this meal, my friend Steve invited me to a press dinner during Lan Sheng’s opening weeks. His friend Robert, a writer and respected Chinese food expert would lead our meal through a constant stream of the chef’s finest dishes. Since it was so early in the restaurant’s existence, I omitted prices since they may have changed. Certain aspects of the dishes, particularly regarding presentation, may have changed as well. If you’re confused, feel free to email me: lawrence@nycfoodguy.com
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July 13, 2009
There’s finally a reason to remain in Midtown when the clock strikes 5PM on weekdays (and starting at 12PM weekends): the new “Southwest Porch” at 40th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan’s Bryant Park. The venture combines Southwest Airlines, who’s celebrating their first flights out of LaGuardia, with a menu from Tom Colicchio and his two partners in the ‘wichcraft sandwich shops.
Sandwiches (2 for $9), cheese, cured meats, and cookies are all served on small plates intended for sharing while the drink menu features 3 mixology-quality cocktails ($9 each), a “Southwest Summer Ale” specially brewed by Blue Point beer, two beers from Six Point ($7/beer), and 2 types each of red and white wine ($8/glass).
Surprising value and the backyard chic setting (pillowed Adirondack chairs, porch swings and couches) make it easy to forget you’re a block from Times Square. Read on for food reviews and all the info on being a part of the summer fun at “The Southwest Porch.”
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