Food Adventuring Around NYC
Brian Hoffman is a classically trained actor who is now a full-time tour guide, blogger, and food obsessive. He leads food and drink tours around New York City, which not only introduce tour-goers to delicious food, but gives them a historical context. He has written food articles for Gothamist and Midtown Lunch in addition to overseeing this blog and a few food video series, including Eat This, Locals Know, and Around the World in One City. His latest series is an international cooking show with his son which can be found on this site.
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City SADLY, BŪMU IS NOW CLOSED. People get squeamish about such silly things when it comes to food. And if they refuse to try it, they are missing out on some amazing flavors. When I tell people I …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… I thought rusk was something created by this Japanese bakery, but after some research it turns out it is a thing that I somehow missed my whole life until this year. Uncle Tetsu, which is a cheesecake phenomenon in Japan, bakes full sized cakes …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… This fantastic pastry was a total impulse buy. I didn’t plan to have dessert after the incredible (and decadent) lamb pie at the new Australian import Bourke Street Bakery. But the creme brûlée looked too good to resist. A perfectly bruléed shell broke into a …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… I have no idea why an Italian bakery in the Bronx (home of the Yankees) decided to make an iconic pastry named for a nearby city with a rival baseball team. But it’s true, Conti’s Pastry Shoppe makes one killer Boston Cream Pie. A …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… One of my favorite meals this year was at Miss Ada, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Fort Greene that’s been open for two years and still going strong. In fact, all three dishes I tried have made their way onto this list. That says a …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… Corn dogs are tough to find in the city – they are definitely an American food but mostly found at street fairs. But a playful take on a corn dog exists in a very unlikely place: a Korean restaurant in Brooklyn. The Seafood “Corn Dog” …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… Cantonese rice rolls have become somewhat of a recent craze in the NYC food scene. And they are really good and interesting. But what doesn’t get as much press are the curry fish balls that are often served inside or on the side. The …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… There’s nothing like a freshly fried hot donut. Now when you put a unique spin on it by making the dough out of gluten less mochi (rice cake), it gets even better. I’ve had this type of donut before but never as special as …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… This crispy rice salad showcases all of Northern Thai foods amazing flavors and textures. Spicy, sour, salty, and funky with lots of crunch and a soft bite of sausage. Crispy rice and peanuts add one sort of crunch while bracing ginger spears and a …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City Many people know about and make pilgrimages to the storied Chinatown in Flushing. It’s certainly a must-visit. But often overlooked are all the other concentrated immigrant communities that are a few neighborhoods closer (to Manhattan) than …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… Sadly sometimes a restaurant closes before I get to write about their amazing food. That was sort of the case with Nargis Cafe and their signature dish. The Uzbeki restaurant still has their original location in Sheepshead Bay, but I tried it at their …
My search for the best beer in New York continues…. Walk into any craft beer shop in the tri-state area and you would most definitely see a number of beer cans from Evil Twin. They became ubiquitous over the last few years. And amazingly, I had barely tasted any of their beers. When in the …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… If you can’t get into the hot Thai spot Wayla, you can now try their flavors in bowl form upstairs for lunch. The choices change daily but expect full flavored meats and vegetables like ground chicken larb, sweet chili salmon, or stir-fried beans and tofu all served with …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City Fieldtrip, the new fast casual bowl concept in Harlem, has a menu full of rice bowls. But instead of just choosing between brown and white rice and then customizing your toppings, these are much more well-curated. …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. I’ve seen falafel come in all shapes and sizes. One was shaped like a log, others were bright green or fiery orange, one was even shaped around a hard boiled egg. But I had never seen ones that looked like the ones served at Zyara NY.
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City Sweet tea spots with bubble tea, sugars, and all sorts of milk have become ubiquitous all over the city. I’ve been to a handful and enjoyed them in moderation. But I have not been able to keep …
My search for the best beer in New York continues…. I don’t usually do impulse buys, but I was seduced by one of the ingredients in KCBC’s beer from this past summer. It was a triple collaboration with two British breweries: Anarchy and Hackney. The Pink Panthalope featured another playful cartoon on the can but the …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City Regionality is only something I’ve recently discovered in international food. Growing up, Chinese food didn’t mean anything but Americanized sweet greasy fried chicken and pork. Similarly, other cuisines from Italian to Mexican to Thai usually fit …
My search for the best cheesecake in New York continues…. I won’t be coming up to Arthur Avenue as often as I used to. Our wonderful food tour will be moving to private only tours. Meaning we won’t run it regularly for the public. So on the last few public tours I have, I’ve been …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City To save money, I have gotten into the habit of brewing my own coffee and bringing it into the city with me. But every once in a while, I like to splurge on a coffee in order …