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.
My search for the best ice cream in New York continues …. I have no explanation, it doesn’t make any sense, but ice cream has been the least represented dish on this site of late. I’ve searched for many iconic dishes here in the city and re-visited them all many times. It’s not uncommon to …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… I’ve been wanting to go to The Islands restaurant for their homecooked Jamaican food since pretty early in my New York foodie career. I finally made it out here for lunch one day when they were not seating people but doing take-out orders. That didn’t …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… I really only came out to Karam because I heard the falafel was pretty good. But I should have read the signs and immediately ordered their chicken schwarma sandwich because that’s the thing that makes this Bay Ridge joint a true destination. Succulent pieces …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… This was the year of the heart for me. I’ve enjoyed veal heart in a few different ways and while at one time I might have been hesitant to eat it, now I’m a seasoned pro. The Peruvians do it all the time. They’re …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2015… I’m not a sports guy, so when I find myself at a sporting event, I immediately do research to find the best possible food option at the stadium. It’s not always easy. At Yankee Stadium, there are a handful of decent options (among the usual …
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 …