Food

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

Brine is a unique casual chicken restaurant in Chelsea at 15th Street and Eighth Avenue. You cannot beat the varieties of chicken styles and the fact that brining the bird makes it naturally tender and juicy. Portions are large and one lunch entree like a half grilled chicken with fries for $18.79 can easily feed two people with big appetites…read more

I don’t have to tell you that Eataly features the “best of the best” of authentic Italian fare to eat on the premises or take home. They have plenty of great gift baskets and wrapped panettone that you cannot find anywhere else in the city! (I plan to purchase several of these for the holidays.) I perused all these great…read more

I adore Fogo De Chao but up until last night the only location that I had visited was the one right across the street from the Museum Of Modern Art in Midtown! I was thrilled to get to attend the VIP opening event/dinner at the newest Fogo location at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, NJ. About 200 guests got the royal…read more

Last night’s event at Macy’s cooking school on the 8th floor was a lot of fun! Katie Lee Biegel and her colleagues made a fabulous “night time breakfast” for about 25 influencers. There were mimosas, frittata, sautéed golden potatoes and the star of the evening, a Caramel Apple French Toast Sandwich made with Wonder Bread. The event also celebrated Wonderbread’s…read more

Philippe By Philippe Chow restos have a few breast cancer awareness initiatives happening this month. I went to the downtown location in the trendy Dream Hotel (355 West 16th Street) to get the full Philippe Chow experience! I actually visited for Philippe Chow’s official breast cancer awareness dinner called Chow For A Change on October 26th and loved every minute…read more

I had a lot of fun learning about all the great, authentic Southern French sweet and savory items at Patisserie Vanessa from Vanessa and her friendly hubby Marc yesterday in Carnegie Hill. This place has had a booming business ever since it opened in April but it was not opened up without a lot of elbow grease—as a matter of…read more

The much-anticipated New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF) of 2023 proved to be a spectacular celebration of culinary delights, with an array of engaging events that left food enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike spellbound. Among the various gatherings that adorned this year's festival, the two-day Grand Tasting event stood out as a true testament to the spirit of gastronomic…read more

Li-Lac Chocolates is a renowned chocolate brand with a rich history dating back to its establishment in Manhattan a century ago—as a matter of fact, it’s the city’s oldest chocolate house and many adorable vintage chocolate molds are used to make standalone chocolates like Easter bunnies and giant pumpkins! Known for their exquisite flavors and high-quality ingredients, Li-Lac Chocolates has…read more

I recently visited the well-reviewed Kellari Taverna on 44th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and was blown away by the authentic Greek fare (most of the attentive staff is Greek as well). You will fall in love not only with the seafood and farm fresh veggie-based cuisine but the unique décor that mixes rustic Greek charm with a “city…read more

The posh yet modern Hortus offers an amazing three course prix fixe dinner for $70/pp that lets each guest pick an appetizer, entree and dessert off their celebrated menu—the best part is that included is a glorious and generous assortment of fresh seafood called the Royal Platter which comes out first! I don’t have to tell you how much fresh…read more

I love Kings Of Kobe not just because I am a maniac for a good steak but because they bring a new vibe to Midtown’s diversified foodie scene. Amazing American Wagyu beef is used for everything from the meatball sliders on up, so you can’t go wrong! The location is just east of the river on West 42nd Street so…read more

NEW YORK, NY -- The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (NYCWFF) is New York City’s premier culinary event. The Festival will celebrate 16 years this October 12-15, 2023, with more than 80+ events and over 500 chefs from around the world. A variety of tastings, seminars, intimate dinners, late-night parties and more…read more

I recently went to the Speakeasy Wine Dinner VIP Preview with Chef Simon Cordes that took place at LOFT 29 (located at 208 West 30th Street, Suite 801). You can book this amazing space and get your own customized dinner helmed by Chef Simon and his team! You and your guests get stunning uptown views that cover from West 30th…read more

I don’t venture across the Hudson River to try new restaurants often (even though I am originally from both Passaic and Bergen counties), but when I heard about Lokal Eatery & Bar from fellow food bloggers, I had to try it! The photos of the tables right along the river with spectacular NYC skyline views that I saw both on…read more

Treadwell Park on the Upper East Side is a casual and fun space that is family friendly and offers classic American comfort food at very reasonable prices. There is a two hour happy hour from 4 to 6 every night and food specials include immense platters of about seven of their most famous items at $30 per person. You really…read more

In 2010, restauranteur Leon Ellis decided to open up Chocolat Restaurant and Bar located on Frederick Douglas and 120th street. There is no doubt that this is a location with an eclectic and diverse crowd that truly represents Harlem. Chocolat serves a delicious array soul food and contemporary American cuisine—with some international favorites thrown in here and there! I noticed…read more

  I recently made my first ever visit to Isle Of Us which has been wowing folks on the Upper East Side for about a year now with high end, restaurant quality healthy dishes at a much better prices—and probably bigger portions. Founded by restaurateur Lisle Richards in collaboration with Chef Matt Aita (Food & Wine Chefs Club, Le Philosophe),…read more

I know that I just reviewed Finestra a couple of weeks ago but I just had to go back ASAP! I visited with a friend going to the Hospital For Special Surgery for a second hip replacement the next day, and I knew that she and her husband would appreciate some authentic Italian food and a relaxing atmosphere before the…read more

I always say that David Burke is possibly the most unique and creative chef out there. I have been to five of his restaurants dating way back when he first got famous for his legendary Upper East Side eatery David Burke And Donatella 20 plus years ago and have loved every one. Sorry to sound like such a fan girl…read more

I have lived in the East 70s for 25 years and I cannot figure out how I never made it to Finestra (conveniently located on the NE corner of 73rd and York Avenue) before! This charming spot gets a big lunchtime and dinner crowd from the people working at nearby businesses as well as all the local hospitals like Lenox…read more

The Fancy Food Show comes once a year to NYC and San Francisco, and it’s a place where legendary specialty food brands meet with possible distributors and stores—but these brands also take on the press and check out the competition. The FFS is also one of the best place to launch new products in the entire food industry. This spectacular…read more

It’s no secret that I love Ocean Prime and that is for three very simple reasons: prime dry aged meat, huge portions and presentations with a real “wow factor”! They are pulling out the stops for Father’s Day with a delicious dinner special and brunch! The dinner special available all Father’s Day weekend long (Friday, June 16 through Monday, June…read more

My recent visit to Caliza on Greenwich Street was a real treat. I had read the all the reviews stating that they have the best guacamole in town but I was really there to put their margarita and wagyu beef tacos to the test plus try a couple of their gorgeous desserts! Caliza is the brainchild of Chef Daniel Mendoza…read more

The Los Angeles Times Coast To Coast tasting event returned for the third year, bringing L.A. and NYC together for a night of legendary eateries. The event featured award winning chefs and restaurants from both cities serving up a couple of their famous dishes for guests to sample. (Portions at each booth were actually quite generous!) Hosted by The LA…read more