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.
Come back every Wednesday for another funny, informative video documenting my inept food adventures. My very first review on this site (back in 2009) was for a brand new Neapolitan pizzeria called Kesté. I had never tasted pizza like that and I have written about their pillowy, charred, wood-fired pizzas over and over again. They …
My search for the best hot dog in New York continues…. Hot dogs are intrinsically linked to the New York street food scene. The classic New York food cart is indeed one that sells “dirty water dogs.” But more immediately, both have undergone gourmet transformations that have forced the prices of both to rise. Neither …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City This website is dedicated to the foods of New York (hence the name). But I spent the last few weeks outside of the city (outside of the country, in fact) in the Iberian Peninsula. And just …
SADLY, TRINI PAKI BOYS IS NOW CLOSED. Forget hot dogs. Halal food is probably the most ubiquitous food from food carts today. And that is because of an influx of Muslim immigrants into the city over the last few decades. The first halal vendor in Midtown is still going strong and serving the best chicken …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. SADLY, GAZALA PLACE IS NOW CLOSED. Gazala Place in Hell’s Kitchen (and its bigger, newer location on the Upper West Side) is the only place in New York to get Druze cuisine. The Druze are a religious people that live throughout the Middle East and have …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City Indian food is generally thought of as healthy. All those vegetables, herbs, and spices are actually good for you. But how then do you explain a dish called butter chicken?
SADLY, DIRCK THE NORSEMAN IS NOW CLOSED. Throwing back to the old days, Dirck the Norseman (which is named for the first European settler in the north Brooklyn area) is a brewpub serving up hearty tavern food with fresh, housemade brews.
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City SADLY, EL COLMADO IS NOW CLOSED. I’m taking a much needed vacation this week to Portugal and Spain. Having never been to the Iberian peninsula, I’m super excited. This means a chance to try lots of …
My search for the best pizza in New York continues…. The legend of Ray’s Pizza is not as iconic as it used to be in New York. The city’s food scene is so well-versed in pizza styles that Ray’s rarely enters the conversation anymore. The saga took a blow in 2011 when the truly original …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City My parents were in town recently. And that means I rack my brain for good food stops that will also be appropriate for their conservative palates. Desserts are always an easy home run with them, so …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City The guys at Cout Street Grocers have a way with turkey. The usually bland and dry meat is always treated with respect at the three locations. Their most out-of-the-way outpost is near the dock in the …
While most halal carts in this city are owned by Egyptian, Pakistani, or Bangledeshi immigrants, Halal Gyro Express stands out from the crowd with their Afghan flavors. The owner Ali has almost 10 years experience working on a food cart and draws long lines at lunchtime because of their extraordinary lamb chops and chicken tikka.
My search for the best cheesecake in New York continues…. The cakes at Lady M are impeccable. They’re beautifully designed and have an irresistible light, heavenly quality. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of their Mille Crêpes and would rate it as one of the best desserts in the city. I had heard …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City SADLY, GLADY’S IS NOW CLOSED. Michael Jacober is an extraordinary chef. He launched my favorite grilled cheese sandwich truck (Morris) and opened a New American restaurant called Glady’s in the quickly gentrifying neighborhood of Crown Heights. But …
My search for the best beer in New York continues…. When I list the number of new breweries in the city, people are always shocked to hear that Queens holds the highest number: 8 currently in operation. There is so much love and excitement for beer in the borough that Queens even has its own …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City SADLY, BAR SARDINE IS NOW CLOSED. *This burger is now available at Fairfax. When Gabe Stulman’s little restaurant on West 10th Street was called Chez Sardine and focused on Japanese pub food, I tasted the Miso-Maple Salmon …
Not only is Big Alice creating some of the most unique and inventive beer in the city, but you can subscribe to their CSB (Community Supported Brewery). That means every two months you get two half growlers full of their seasonal beer. It’s always a surprise and always unlike anything you’ve ever tasted. If you’re …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. You can pretty much stuff whatever you want inside a falafel. And some places do. I’ve seen such unconventional fillings like sundried tomatoes, olives, and spinach. It seems these tend to be popular at Israeli falafel joints. And I love it because I can usually …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City I’ve been drowning in cocktails lately. For the last few months, much of my time has been spent creating a brand new tour for Urban Adventures. The topic? Craft cocktails in New York – past and …
Back in the 1980’s, New York City has put a cap on the number of permits available to street vendors. This has caused a very expensive black market and has forced many new immigrants to operate illegally. The Street Vendor Project is working on a new campaign to eliminate the cap and allow more fair …