Food Adventuring Around NYC
THE PLACE: Most of the coffee shops along Steinway Street in Astoria have puffs of sweet hookah smoke wafting out of the doorway. Mokafé and a few other new Middle Eastern shops (including one up the street with a very similar name) focus more on the drinks and pastries than the flavored tobacco. My friend, …
The Place: Nestled on the other side of the elevated subway in Astoria, this corner coffee shop is a true oasis. The tables were all taken (and there was even a wait) when I stopped by on a weekday morning. Not sure if this is just a beloved local hangout (there were lots of meetings …
THE SPOT: Naya is one of those local chains that I have walked by millions of times. Since I no longer write for Midtown Lunch devoting every single day to finding an affordable mid-day meal, I never really paid much attention to this Lebanese fast casual joint, which has now expanded to nearby states and …
The signs are everywhere, splattered all over the city that you need to try the viral Dubai chocolate. Have you spent your life’s saving to try this chocolate bar? I don’t get it – what’s all the fuss???
THE PLACE: While not as over-the-top with crowds as other similar trendy chef-driven places, Shukette is still a popular night out. With enough planning, reservations are not completely impossible. Even if you end up at the bar, like we did, it’s still pretty comfortable with a casual but energetic vibe. There is also a chef’s …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. SADLY, SPICE BROTHERS IS NOW CLOSED. Falafel hasn’t been quite as successful when given a gourmet spin. It lives very comfortably in the world of street food and fast food and while unique spins on the chickpea fritter are welcomed, high prices usually are not. …
I’ve been sitting on this incredible dish for a few weeks – partly because others have come up that are a bit more seasonal. But I realized this needs to get mentioned before the year is up (you might just find it on my Top Ten) and also I think the symbolism of writing about …
Many consider the best part of Thanksgiving to be the side dishes, which is why I don’t understand why they are often as boring and bland as the turkey itself. Creamed green beans? Gelatinous cranberries? If only we turn to the dips of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine for our Thanksgivings, Novembers would be a …
Unlike Martin Short’s character on Only Murders in the Building, I have never been someone who could make a meal out of dips. It does make sense though – how are dips and bread much different than pizza or a deconstructed sandwich? I get it, but it’s just never seem to be my thing. That …
I remember when this corner was Matty & Weg’s. The storefronts in the neighborhood of Cobble Hill change as fast as any other neighborhood in NYC, but lately, it seems like it has been for the better. Despite heartbreaking closures (like the recently shuttered Esposito’s Pork Store), the residents manage to mostly keep out the …
That corner spot in front of a busy subway station is prime real estate for a quick and fast NYC joint. And Flé Flé Grill lucked out here when they opened in 2018. Set up like a Mediterranean Chipotle, this is quick and cheap and on the healthier side of fast food. I hear good …
It’s not only the presence of the flower most associated with love that won this croissant the Valentine’s Day pick for Dish of the Week. It also happens to come from a hip, new bakery owned by a husband and wife team who put a bit of love in all their baked goods. Librae Bakery …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. My mission, which I chose to accept, has been to find the best falafel in NYC. It’s a fool’s errand, of course, because places keep coming and going. And the term best is terribly subjective. But I hold steady and keep on with the mission. …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City I’ve never been one to value quantity over quality, but I must say when I received the giant two-in-one shawarma sandwich from Al Badawi, I was impressed before I even took a bite. For $15, I ordered the …
My search for the best falafel in New York continues…. Poor Brooklyn Heights. I don’t think it gets nearly enough credit for its food. Everybody thinks of the neighborhood for historic architecture and incredible views, but very few people travel here for a meal. And for the most part I concur. Aside from the exciting …
Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn Heights was one time known as Little Syria for its large Arabic community. A few of the original businesses (like Sahadi’s and Damascus) remain but the community has mostly moved elsewhere. A …
Last week we were concentrating on the food of a tropical island in the Caribbean. This week, we’re heading to another island, but a little less tropical. You may not have heard of Bahrain, but it is a tiny oil rich country bordering Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf. And its National Dish, which we present …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… Wow! Not only are we down another year, but we are putting an entire decade behind us. And now that we are well into the 21st Century, I have been documenting my food adventures around New York officially for 10 years. Whew! So perhaps I am …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… At dinner, the hip new restaurant Lamalo (from the brains behind Breads Bakery) serves an epic appetizer called The Daily Spread, featuring almost a dozen different spreads, pickles, and salads. I had to settle with the lunch version which is called a Middle Eastern …
I’m counting down the 100 best dishes I tasted in 2019… Get used to seeing this restaurant name on this list. The small meal I had at Miss Ada was one of the best of the year. And this lamb appetizer was probably the heartiest thing I tried. Incredibly tender and spiced, braised lamb sat atop …