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.
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… Some modern restaurants get much acclaim for their tender, juicy chicken. But in the Latin American world, certin old-school rotisseries have mastered the poultry. Malecon up in Washington Heights is one such establishment, where the incredibly moist chicken with crispy browned skin and a …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City Once upon a time it was cupcakes, then this city’s bakeries turned to focusing on pies. Now the big thing seems to be doughnuts. And why not? They’re another satisfying dessert that has been compromised by …
Come back every Wednesday for another funny, informative video documenting my inept food adventures. Because I am not part of the 1%, I don’t get to eat at too many fancy restaurants. But a few times a year, I get lucky (either from a big bonus check or a special event). Earlier this year in …
My search for the best hot dog in New York continues…. SADLY, BEN’S BEST KOSHER DELI IS NOW CLOSED. I haven’t reviewed too many Kosher deli frankfurters, but they are a real part of the New York hot dog scene. There’s no greater dessert to a giant corned beef/pastrami sandwich than a crisp wiener smothered in …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… There are an endless number of hidden food options in Chinatown. Some are literal holes in the wall. others are down a hallway, but Sun Hin Lung Co. is really a window attached to a tofu factory. From the window, you can purchase excellent …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… Peanut butter and noodles might sound like an unlikely combination, but it works perfectly. The springy noodles at Shu Jiao Fu Zhou come with an earthy, slightly sweet peanut butter sauce finished with soy sauce and scallions. When the noodles soak up the tang and …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… Pasta seems so simple, but when you get a perfectly composed plate (no matter how small), you realize you can’t underestimate the difficulty in execution. Meadowsweet has proven they are a serious neighborhood restaurant with excellent food this year. Their homemade pastas rotate seasonally, …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… SADLY, BAR SARDINE IS NOW CLOSED. I rarely discover deviled eggs that are unique or different. I guess a mustard or mayo based yolk filling with paprika and spices is pretty good, so why mess with it too much? I almost always know what …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… I re-visited some Jewish delis this year for the Gothamist article I wrote. On my new journey, I discovered some other dishes outside my typical corned/beef pastrami sandwich. One in particular that I will not forget is the gutbomb known as a Deli Wellington. The …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… Last year, I couldn’t get enough of Maman’s game-changing chocolate chip cookie. This year, I found myself at the trendy French café a bit earlier in the day. So instead of indulging on a cookie at 10am, I became slightly addicted to their housemade …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… I was immediately transported back to Greece when I walked into the quaint little hidden bakery Pi in Soho. This was opened by a chef from Astoria, which is almost the equivalent of saying people got off the boat from Greece to bake these pastries. Their …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… Perhaps the most unique dish I tasted this year was the hard-to-find in New York Korean stew called maesaengi. It reared its head at a new hidden little gem inside Food Gallery 32. Dadam makes all sorts of traditional Korean stews (quite different then the …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… One day I’ll probably do a search for the best matzo ball soup in NYC. And after checking out Peck’s, a specialty food shop focusing on Jewish specialities, I already have a head start. This version is both new and traditional. The richly flavored …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City Yes, it is turkey day and I probably should have found some interesting Thanksgiving related dish to write about today. Something like this or this. But last week I had the pleasure to attend Holiday Spirits …
Come back every Wednesday for another funny, informative video documenting my inept food adventures. NY Craft Cocktail Tour explores the craft cocktail culture of New York from local distilleries to specialty spirit shops to amazing cocktail bars and speakeasies. Last week, I got to board the Hornblower Infinity cruise ship for a taste of the best local …
My search for the best beer in New York continues…. Long Island City Is the place to be if you want to explore the New York craft beer scene. No other neighborhood (at this point) has as large of a concentration of breweries and beer bars. I’m sure the attraction comes from the large industrial …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… In Chinatown, it’s always the places you’re least likely to wander into that are worth wondering into. All the incredibly cheap dishes (nothing was over $4) at Shu Jia Fu Zhou were worth much more than I paid. I even liked the scary sounding …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… I have been completely seduced by Persian food this year. Keep your eyes peeled for a video all about my adventures discovering this aromatic cuisine. My favorite place to eat it is at Taste of Persia where every dish is intoxicating. Always on the …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… Maiden Lane is trying to demystify the stigmas of eating fish from a can or a tin. They have bars just like this one all over Portugal and Spain where you can make a three-course meal from preserved sardines, mussels, and octopus. I love …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… This little stand in the Essex Street Market gives the nearby Russ & Daughters a run for their money. Instead of focusing on this neighborhood’s Jewish history of preserving fish, Nordic Preserves is catering to the city’s Scandinavian community. You can get all your …