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’ve already included Chef Scott Bryan’s pork chop on a previous list when I was lucky enough to taste it regularly when I worked at Apiary, where his food reigned supreme. He has since moved on and his amazing food can now be found uptown at The Milling Room, where many of Apiary’s greatest hits …
SADLY, NITECAP IS NOW CLOSED. A refreshing, easy-drinking cocktail from one of the Lower East Side’s hottest new bars. Thigh Highs is a bubbly blend of rum, passionfruit purée, lime and pineapple juices, sparkling wine, and spices. Works in transporting you to a much warmer place. Price: $14 NITECAP 120 Rivington Street (between Essex and Norfolk Street), …
Rob Newton replaced his refined Southern dining restaurant Seersucker this year with a more casual joint. The standout here is a delectable fried chicken sandwich, moist and crunchy, on a simple potato roll and a dab of mayo. Price: $7 WILMA JEAN 345 Smith Street (at Carroll Street), Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn wilmajean345.com
One of New York’s most iconic restaurants is the historic Keens Steakhouse. They’re known for filets and T-bone steaks, of course, but even more so for their preparation of the rarely seen mutton chop. The mature sheeps yields huge amounts of tender and delicate meat. And don’t be scared of the classic mint jelly accompaniment. …
Kyo Ya SADLY, KYO YA IS NOW CLOSED. Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese seasonal meal. The one at Kyo Ya is constantly changing at the chef and the Greenmarket’s whims. You must make a reservation for the 9, 10, or 11 course meal. But it is certainly worth planning ahead as you can delve into unexpected …
I’ve been raving about the perfect wood-fired Neapolitan pies at Kesté since this blog began (in fact, it was my first review back in 2009). Well, I’m pleased to say 5 years later, they’re still turning out perfectly charred pizzas with a crisp, pillowy crust. The Pizza del Re is one of their best, topped …
One of the most interesting vegetable dishes of the year, the crisp and charred butternut squash are the center of the plate, but it’s what’s around it that makes it sing. A sea salt and black pepper marshmallow is brilliant (closer to fluffernutter in texture) and adds both a sweet and savoriness to the tangy …
In a year of major fried chicken openings, Root & Bone (helmed by two previous Top Chef contestants) took best in show with an unusual brine of sweet tea and a dusting of cayenne and lemon powder that both sweetens and brightens the already succulent meat. Tabasco honey and bourbon maple syrup are provided on …
Bar Primi is a hip, affordable house for great pasta, but don’t ignore their sandwich. In classic Italian-style, house roasted beef is sliced thin and piled high on seeded bun with Italian peppers, melted provolone cheese, and a garden of arugula. It’s a worthy alternative to their excellent pastas. Price: $16 BAR PRIMI 325 Bowery (at …
Lamb is the thing to get at Keur Sokhna, especially the grilled lamb chops served at dinner. Loaded with expertly seasoned, charred meat and topped with sweet mustard-laced onions, the dibi are a must have. And I can’t resist the plantain sides, fried in red palm oil. Price: $12 KEUR SOKHNA 2249 Adam Clayton Powell Junior …
SADLY, APRÉS IS NOW CLOSED. After Apiary closed this year, the owners re-invented the space as a vegetable-driven Aprés. Chef Mazen Mustafa’s dishes were a little too experimental for the neighborhood and it shuttered too soon. But since I was employed there, I did get to tasted his fascinating crudite. A miso custard and mushroom …
Making vegetable dishes that exceed expectations, John Fraser puts an unexpected twist on beets. Crisp and sweet, the beets are enhanced by creamed horseradish and lots of bright flavors like apples and pickled cucumbers. Price: $15 NARCISSA 21 Cooper Square (corner of 5th Street and Bowery), Inside The Standard Hotel East Village (212) 228-3344 narcissarestaurant.com
The Long Island City coffee roaster makes big, bold flavors and their cold brew is no exception. Even better, they serve it with coffee ice cubes. Price: $3.25/$3.75 COFFEED 37-18 Northern Boulevard (at 37th Avenue), Long Island City, Queens coffeednyc.com
Required on all steakhouse menus, M. Wells flips the tyipcal wedge salad on its head. The iceberg lettuce is slightly grilled, topped with the usual blue cheese along with buttermilk dressing and ketchup chips. Wowza! Price: $12 M. WELLS STEAKHOUSE 43-15 Crescent Street (at 43rd Avenue), Long Island City, Queens (718) 786-9060 magasinwells.com
A classic Vietnamese dish taken to the next level way out in Queens. Flounder strips are dusted with turmeric and spices, fried until crisp and placed on a bed of vermicelli, dill and garnished with peanuts. Price: $17 BÚN-KER VIETNAMESE 46-63 Metropolita Avenue (between Woodward Avenue and Onderdonk Avenue, Ridgewood, Queens (718) 386-4282 bunkervietnamese.com
Only available as a lunch-time special, this classic Senegalese dish features cubes of gamey, tender lamb in a rich, distinct peanut butter stew with potatoes, carrots, and onions. Price: $11 KEUR SOKHNA 2249 Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard (between West 132nd and West 133rd Street), West Harlem (212) 368-5005 keursokhnaplus.com
A luscious plate of chicken liver mousse studded with balsamic-soaked raisins, capers, and walnuts. One of the best plates of offal I’ve ever tasted! Price: $15 CHARLIE BIRD 5 King Street (at Sixth Avenue), Soho (212) 235-7133 charliebirdnyc.com
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City I have mixed feelings about the holiday season in New York. At times, my internal grinch comes out and is easily annoyed by the crowds, the consumerism, and the endless urban jingle bells. But at other …
Come back every Wednesday for another funny, informative video documenting my inept food adventures. There’s a podcast sweeping the nation called Serial, a captivating piece of journalism about the real-life murder of a high school girl 15 years ago. Well, I recently embarked on my own journey to uncover the truth behind an egregious crime. …
SADLY, RAKKA CAFE IS NOW CLOSED. Once upon a time, Cafe Rakka was an institution in the East Village. Back in the rough and tumble 80’s and 90’s, its two locations would be the place to grab a quick meal before heading to any one of the nearby music venues. Sadly those days are mostly …