Food

I just discovered MacKenzie Limited this past Christmas while Googling “complete holiday dinners.” I went on their site and found both classic meal combos as well as unusual items that their chefs developed and have become “signature dishes.” Because of being so impressed by the MacKenzie Limited site, I wanted to try some of their goodies for Easter. The fact…read more

If you want to get any kind of food any time of day (especially if you live close to or visit the Sutton Place area), I can’t recommend anyplace more reliable than Sutton Cafe. Situated at 56th and First Avenue, this 30-year-old eatery has a relaxed vibe thanks to the fact that the staff treats everyone like old friends, the…read more

I just went to METRO Marché at 30 West 57th Street for the first time and was dazzled by the menu choices and the freshness of everything served! This is a place that really caters to the daytime crowd as it closes at 6 PM on Monday through Friday and at 4 PM on weekends. Many local shoppers, workers and…read more

This year, I wanted to focus on a couple of serve at home Valentine’s Day meal options that give you mega luxurious choices that won’t cost and arm and a leg like eating out will! You might notice that there is no such thing as a Valentine’s Day prix fixe dinner that is less that $80 per head in these…read more

If you love a classic Southern Italian restaurant with a bit of modern flair and presentation—along with a romantic dimly lit interior—then Savelli will become your go-to place. Everything is ultra fresh and vegetables, meats and cheeses are created with products from local farms, sometimes on the same day. Savelli is truly a standout among the many unique storefront restaurants…read more

Not too many cigar bars operate in New York City and I personally can only think of three or four. Merchants Cigar Bar at 62nd and First Avenue is special not just because of its fine selection of alcohol and cigars (with a bartender who is an expert on both) but because of its elevated Modern American menu. Everything is…read more

I recently visited Brine, which is a new casual chicken eatery in Chelsea at 106 Eighth Avenue…and was really “wowed”! I had only heard of brining turkey before but these guys brine chicken for a solid 24 hours, let it rest to a certain temperature and then fire grill it! It comes out so juicy that you might not even…read more

I think that I have discovered New York’s best corned beef—had it yesterday at the Brooklyn Deli Times Square (1501 Broadway) as part of a classic Reuben on a potato roll. The pastrami’s not too shabby either but the corned beef is in a league of its own. Interestingly enough, there is a pizza bar behind glass as well as…read more

I was lucky enough to get invited to the grand opening of the seventh location of the renowned Dim Sum Palace and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon. There was plenty of fanfare including fabulous lion dancing that started in front of this cozy but large eastern Chinatown location and moving through the crowd…read more

I was thrilled to be invited to experience the newly opened Osteria Accademia on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Osteria Accademia is a classy and sophisticated small Italian restaurant with Mediterranean overtones that is perfect for intimate dinners with loved ones and friends. It’s library-like vibe is really something different in terms of atmosphere and you can see that the guests…read more

I recently visited the one-year-old Latin American restaurant Comodo in the Freehold Hotel at 23 Lexington between 23rd and 24th Streets. Upon walking in for the first time, I was impressed by the 1920’s vibe of the decor, dark lighting and cozy booths. I quickly noticed the rollicking scene by the large wooden bar in the center of the dining…read more

Legasea Bar & Grill in the Moxy Times Square has the perfect atmosphere for an entertaining dining experience--but that is to be expected from the legendary Tao Group Hospitality. I recently went to Legasea and liked that it had a casual vibe with high end yet simple cuisine. There is truly something for all tastes here! The menu is a…read more

Every year I go to NYCWFF and basically just attend the Grand Tasting, which lets guests sample cuisines both common and exotic. This year I attended three events and had a blast at all of them. All of the NYCWFF Tasting events have a party atmosphere and the bigger ones are outdoors. The most commonly used locations for their larger…read more

Pavé at 20 West 46th Street in midtown--partially brought to you from the folks at the fabulous and funky Hawaiian eatery Noreetah in the East Village--is causing a sensation by serving high end quick breakfast and lunch options at super reasonable prices (sandwiches are generous in size and run $7 to $12, for instance). They just opened on 9/21 but…read more

How "sweet" is this?! Lady M Confections, creator of the world-famous Mille Crêpes, recently announced they will be donating 100% of proceeds from their Pink Éclairs sales throughout the month of October to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for Breast Cancer Research. Lady M’s Pink Éclairs ($6 each) are a classic choux pastry filled with strawberry custard cream and topped…read more

The opening party for the Tin Building was a truly unique experience! It started out with a ribbon cutting, a drum corps and dancing troupe dressed up in chef's garb, confetti, 1920s cars and some circus performers. Inside this giant foodie marketplace created by Jean-Georges Vongerichten are counters of fare from raw seafood to burgers to Mexican food to "old…read more

It goes without saying that Taste Of Upper West Side is the best way to sample all the great cuisine ‘n cocktails that this classic Manhattan neighborhood has to offer! There is unlimited food from 60 plus eateries not to mention an open bar–and you’ll definitely be able to get your hands on exclusive signature cocktails and try wines from…read more

I have to say that I have not had much Gastropub experience but I have had enough to know that Side Door--conveniently located at 151 East 57th between Third and Lexington--has an insane variety of cuisines that puts them light years ahead in this grub genre. German specialities like weinerschnitzel, Polish/Ukrainian legends like pierogies, American BBQ classics like rib stickin'…read more

Il Gradino, a new 66-seat Southern Italian eatery started by Diego Argudo the beloved former captain at the legendary Scalintella, is filled to the brim starting every night about 6:30 and that is for a few different reasons. The first reason is that the food is prepared to order, meaning that the staff gladly takes your preferences into consideration and…read more

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Yale Immersive Dining Experience presented by the Mediterranean Diet Roundtable and La Molisana pasta held at Yale's main and very gorgeous dining hall, Schwarzman Center. Press and food service business professionals gathered together for 90 minutes of making fresh pasta with some of La Molisana and Schwarzman Center chefs. I found…read more

Wow, if you are an appreciator of fine authentic Southern Italian fare from around both Puglia and Naples, Masseria Dei Vini on Ninth Avenue between 57th and 58th Street might just be your dream restaurant--but don't go in without checking out Masseria Caffè immediately north or it first! They have the finest selection of homemade bombolini, cannoli, eclairs, ricotta cheesecake…read more

The minute you walk into Cathédrale in the Moxy Hotel on East 11th Street (directly across from Webster Hall), your eyes will be wide open and the stunning scents emanating from the open kitchen will have you salivating. Think about having the finest fare from Italy, France and Spain in a huge dining room with the highest of ceilings and…read more

You might want to save the dates of 7/27 and 8/24 since the Hawaiian-Asian rooftop restaurant El Ta’Koy at The Dominick Hotel in SoHo is offering their highly anticipated Summer Luaus on those nights! I do not have to tell you that luaus are hard to come by in The Big Apple and El Ta'Koy does theirs right! For only…read more

I was excited to try NYY Steakhouse not only because I have heard great things about their Yankee Stadium location but because I was anxious to see the new Hard Rock Hotel in Midtown. The steakhouse, like the hotel, was created in a sophisticated style with high ceilings and modern fixtures but it is not intimidating. It is still in…read more

I love the Brooklyn Diner because it has made West 57th Street near Carnegie Hall a great place! I actually would rather be having an egg cream and burger inside Brooklyn Diner than to be inside Carnegie Hall attending a violin concerto but hey, some people do both in one evening! I love the fun atmosphere due to the retro…read more