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 pizza in New York continues…. Earlier this year, the Neapolitan Express pizza truck shot onto the street claiming to serve authentic Neapolitan pizza. I found their pizza tasty and all, but it was missing a key component for authentic Neapolitan pies: a wood oven. Granted a mobile wood oven is …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. Whenever I learn somebody has moved to Astoria, I start rattling off a list of food recommendations. The list might be slightly longer in this neighborhood than others because I spent more than a decade of my life here. Always high on my list is …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City As lucky as we are in New York with the wide variety of international food options, there are a few cuisines that are mysteriously absent. For instance, why don’t we have a Kenyan restaurant? Also, there …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City So I’m cheating just a little bit here. I’ve not technically eaten at Brushstroke, but I’ve eaten in Brushstroke. Let me explain: I got to taste this incredible dish at Ichimura, the hidden sushi spot inside …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. The hippest new food trend in New York is taking two seemingly unrelated dishes and smashing them together. It’s more than just fusion food – it’s crazy culinary experimentation. When these are successful, the food establishment in question often ends up with a line out …
A great way to try lots of local (and not so local) craft beers in one place is to attend the Village Voice’s annual Brooklyn Pour event. This is year number three and the line-up is as exciting as ever. One again, the over 100 beer selections focus on mostly NY-based beers. Almost all the …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City I miss Queens so much. Since moving away from Astoria over a year ago, my culinary adventures have not been nearly as diverse, authentic, or adventurous. While I try to visit the borough regularly, I miss …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. You can’t find a New Yorker alive today who remembers a time when this city didn’t have pizza, bagels, and hot dogs on every corner. But there are plenty of people who remember the days before falafel. Today, it’s a pretty ubiquitous and iconic New …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City SADLY, FRITZL’S LUNCH BOX IS NOW CLOSED. When I first arrived in New York, all of my friends were moving to cheap apartments in this artsy, gritty neighborhood of Brooklyn called Williamsburg. Well, we all know how …
SADLY, BROOKLYN PIGGIES IS NOW CLOSED. When I was little and dragged to some event where I had to wear a suit and tie, I found salvation in the passed appetizers. And my favorite of all those were the pigs in a blanket. It was amazing that the hot dog could be improved upon, but …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City When I was younger, my favorite day of the year was the night of the Academy Awards. I even got more excited about the Oscars than I did for my own birthday. All day long, at …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. SADLY, SOOMSOOM IS NOW CLOSED. Over the last few years, a string of Israeli-style fast food joints have popped up all over the city, but especially in Midtown. These places are clean and modern and serve hearty vegetarian food (fried eggplant, hard boiled eggs with potato, …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City SADLY, NETA IS NOW CLOSED. As soon as we sat down at Neta, we were disappointed. This reservation was weeks in the making and it was mostly so we could try the much buzzed about uni risotto. …
My search for the best pizza in New York continues…. In my hit music video Empire Plates of Mine, I make a joke about Staten Island. I say “Never been, but Staten Island’s gotta have some decent food.” Gothamist gave me some criticism for being oblivious to Staten Island’s food scene. The truth is I …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City SADLY, INDESSERT IS NOW CLOSED. I’ve never understood the idea of soup for dessert. Especially in the middle of August. But the Chinese know better, since they have a dish called “tong sui” which translates to “sugar …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City I’m not a fan of sequels in general, but I certainly wouldn’t dream of watching a follow-up to a film before viewing the original. Could you imagine how confused one would be by Electric Boogaloo without …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. As I continue to do the research, the truth sets in. This falafel search could take me eons. Neighborhoods in the far out reaches of Queens and Brooklyn are home to many Middle Eastern families and that means there are a wide array of restaurants …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City Food should be delicious and filling, no doubt, but I get most excited when food is playful and surprising. And if a dish can be all those things at once, then it’s something I’ll be thinking …
Who knew I had a future career in the music industry? I’ve finally dropped my first music video where I take a little inspiration from Jay-Z and Alicia Keys by proclaiming New York City as the greatest food city in the world. I teamed up with the lovely ladies from MVPleez for a musical culinary …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. SADLY, HOOMOOS ASLI IS NOW CLOSED. Unless you’re from a Middle Eastern country, you shouldn’t pronounce the word for chickpea puree as “hoomoos” with the long “oo” sound. In this country, we say “hummus.” But the Israeli-Yemeni café, Hoomoos Asli, on the border of Soho and Nolita …