Food

The chic yet unpretentious Monterey at 37 East 50th Street (close to the Lotte Palace Hotel) offers a unique dining experience blending traditional steakhouse favorites with contemporary American cuisine. The ambiance is upscale and welcoming, making it perfect for both casual outings and special occasions. They specialize in prime dry-aged steaks, roast prime rib (served from a beautiful white rolling…read more

The opening of Melba’s in the Grand Central Dining Concourse was a very big deal. Many celebs and dignitaries were on hand to for the event including singer Rhonda Ross Kendricks, talk show host Sherrie Shepherd and Bronx Borough Council President Vanessa L. Gibson. There were three blessings of the new restaurant before big ribbon cutting actually got underway (one…read more

It can be unnerving to plan a Valentine’s Day dinner even though you’re just making plans for two! There is always the anxiety of making this date perfectly romantic with elevated food and champagne! Here is a few great mix and match ideas but I’m having them all as part of my Galentine’s Day celebration! You can have everything here…read more

From December 20, 2024 through the end of March 2025, the fabulous Mezze on The River at 375 South End Avenue will be transformed into a curated four course Waterfront Dining Experience in collaboration with Moët & Chandon Champagne. I had a look at the menu for this special, highly romantic experience called Moët On The Hudson and almost passed…read more

Holiday time is one of the few times of the year you can indulge in decadent treats and not feel guilty (just hide your scale under your bed for a few weeks)! Here are a few food discoveries of mine that I now cannot live without no matter what time of the year it is! I have been a huge…read more

These are my favorite luxury food gifts in the $36 to $250 range and they are ideal for serving to guests during your holiday feast, using as gifts or stashing away for yourself for some private snacking time. I believe in a “pair and a spare”—buy one for each one of the aforementioned holiday activities, LOL. You have all of…read more

The new Serendipity that was recently opened in the Edition Hotel at 157 West 47th Street is making a big splash and has the same type of charm as the 70-year-old original location on East 60th Street. The Andy Warhol themed wallpaper and bright pink walls just perk you up the minute you walk inside. Pictured above are items that…read more

Red Horse by David Burke at Bernards Inn in the rustic yet posh town of Bernardsville, NJ, offers a sophisticated dining experience blending Modern American steakhouse fare with Italian classics with a twist. Adding to its allure is the fact that it's across the street from the Bernardsville train station where you can get a train directly to Penn Station…read more

I made a return visit to Il Gradino at 62nd and Lexington last night after a couple of years and I wonder why I did not go back there sooner! They have one of the most accommodating staffs in town who literally will make you any Italian dish that you want and tailor dishes to dietary needs. Portions are huge…read more

Some of the participating brands at ChainFest (which features classic fast food elevated by famous chefs) were Krispy Kreme, Panda Express, KFC and Red Lobster. The folks from Tums had a booth that featured a Harlem style chopped cheese sandwich by General Ock that was more like a Jamaican patty and simply exquisite. It comes as no surprise that two…read more

If you love Mediterranean fusion food, you will love Frena. Actually some recipes are true to the "classics" but some are a fusion that you would never expect--like Frena's classic Middle Eastern "Frena Bread" stuffed with chocolate and reinvented as the dessert item Chocolate Calzone. First of all, when you walk in you will notice the huge windows circling the…read more

I was lucky enough to get invited to the VIP preview for the new Serendipity 3 at 157 West 47th Street and to say that I indulged would be an understatement. But I was as dazzled by the gorgeous Warhol inspired art and decor as I was by the food) This is the stunning back room which features the counter…read more

If you have a chance, visit the brand new location of Happy Tuna at 380 Lexington on the NW corner of 41st and Lexington. They have some of the most unique walk up counter service in the city (where you can score Lychee cocktails as well as exotic soda like Sanzo Yuzu), world class sushi and high end patisserie items…read more

The Summer Fancy Food Show is always a feast for attendees, who generally are people from fancy food brands, their buyers and press. There are so many samples available to try that one can get full after just visiting trek or three tables out of the hundred exhibiting! The Spanish Pavilion was the area that was heavily advertised this year…read more

Memphis is one the US' ultimate foodie cities although it tends to only get "play" for its authentic local BBQ items which includes classic pork ribs done both with homemade sauce and with dry rub, as well as leaner cuts of brisket. There is a really elevated food scene that is worth investing your hard-earned dollars into and in all…read more

Team SmokeMasters BBQ was named Grand Champion during the first three-day SmokeSlam barbecue contest on Saturday, May 18th at Tom Lee Park in Memphis. I came not to meet the winners but to taste as much BBQ as possible in a four or five hour time frame. If there was a Grand Champion award for Largest Appetite For BBQ at SmokeSlam,…read more

I have got to say that Loews Regency has really "got it going on" for Mother's Day...not that there are not really great happenings everyday! There is great new grub and grub The Regency Bar & Grill all the time and everyone loves the chic lobby lounge. (This lounge is so comfortable that it has people in it nearly all…read more

Baldor is one of the top suppliers of provisions to restaurants across Manhattan and you probably often see their trucks unloading in front of your favorite eateries! The Baldor Bite show brings together the company's network of top chefs, farmers and food brands and hundreds of them converge on Basketball City to mix and mingle and give out plenty of…read more

I was lucky enough to try the price fixe lunch menu at STK and was blown away! Above you can see the Amazon prime cheese beef sliders known as the LIL' BRGRs that I had as a starter and which you can purchase on their own for only $6. That makes them NYC's cheapest luxury burgers and they really can…read more

The new lunch menu at AperiBar by the Charlie Palmer Collective just started on Tuesday, April 16 and will be offered Tuesdays through Thursdays from Noon to 2 p.m for an undisclosed amount of time. Diners can expect: All new Lunch Prix Fixe offering antipasti, secondi and dolci, with choice of two courses for $29 or three courses for $35 Antipasti…read more

There are so many innovative dessert and savory food options for Easter 2024! I enjoy a good dinner spread and dessert table followed by an Easter morning candy blast. Here are some of my top picks that will work for even the most serious foodies as well as fussy kids! I comes as no surprise that I pretty much love…read more

I don't have to tell you that Chef David Burke puts as much effort into the "wow factor" as he does into selecting the ingredients and preparing his legendary Modern American fare. Dishes like Clothesline Bacon where diners cut pieces of thick artisanal bacon with scissors and Lollipop Tree where the colorful cake pops come in every flavor from cheesecake…read more

You will be pleasantly surprised by the unique atmosphere of Panda Harlem, a restaurant of the notable Dream Hospitality Group. The prices are super reasonable, the space is ultra chic and the portions are generous. Did I fail to mention that cocktails are in the $9 to $14 price point for the most part? You will get your money’s worth…read more

I had never been to a Sugar Factory location before last week and I am glad that I got to experience their ultra fun Valentine’s Day menu—officially called “Love Is In The Air”—which includes classics like filet mignon and prime rib but also has wild and wacky choices! These inventive menu items include red drinks served in red mailboxes (with…read more

I don’t hide it—I think that Patisserie Vanessa is the best bakery/cafe combo on the Upper East Side and at least in the Top 5 of the entire New York tristate area! Owners Vanessa (full name Magali Vanessa Silengo) and hubby Marc know what they are doing. After ten years of being in the retail baking trade (providing desserts for…read more

The Pierre Hotel has so many great choices for celebrating the holidays in style and I can tell you firsthand that they never disappoint. The history is amazing, too—totally unrelated to food, this is where Joni Mitchell penned “Woodstock” in 1969, the site of the biggest American jewel heist ever back at the beginning of 1972, where David Bowie stayed…read more