Food

When you walk into Mollusca, you pick up all the vibes of the Meatpacking District that it is located in. It is arty, open and you can even sit at a table in the front window that I would call "half inside and half outside." There are velvet chairs and banquettes, industrial lighting and dark walls but at the same…read more

If you want an out of the ordinary dining experience, I strongly recommend that you visit the only one-month-old El Cartel at 613 Ninth Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets. It's a fun and colorful eatery with painted exposed brick walls an all glass front entrance so you can people watch. There is plenty of great Colombian music adding to…read more

The View Restaurant & Lounge at the Marriott Marquis in the heart of Times Square has a truly one-of-a-kind dining experience every Thursday, Friday and Saturday for an limited time only. It is a captivating and immersive dining experience as an animated French Chef prepares a four-course meal right at your table! With Le Petit Chef as your guide, guests…read more

There is only one event at the Javits Center each summer that is my only MUST ATTEND event--that is the Fancy Food Show which is presented in NYC each summer and in San Francisco each winter. This year it came back to the Javits from June 12-14 and had an especially big crowd since it was canceled two years in…read more

You won't believe your eyes when you first reach the Royalton Rooftop in the Royalton Park Avenue Hotel on the SW corner of 29th Street and Park Avenue South. Guests get a truly unique city view that cannot be found anywhere else in the Nomad neighborhood. There is a terrace on each side of the lounge and you get to…read more

I was so thrilled to be able to visit David Burke Tavern last week. The legendary chef (who first became a superstar in his field back in 2003 with ultra successful David Burke & Donatella) seems to believe in the motto "go big or go home." The creative presentations of classic Modern American dishes are something that you will never…read more

You might already be a fan of Mosaic Foods and have been one of the happy customers who have ordered your vegetarian and vegan meals from there since it first started three years ago. This brand is the forerunner of high end yet reasonably priced frozen vegan meals that can be heated in a flash. Not only that, but recipes…read more

It goes without saying that some NYC neighborhoods just have tons of character but it's especially the ones that still have most of their original low rise buildings from 100 years ago that really feel romantic and cozy. Now take this setting, add in a fabulous corner storefront resto with some of the city's best Argentinian fare and you've got…read more

Redeye Grill is a jewel in the crown of the Fireman Hospitality Group but I probably do not have to tell you that! This Modern American brasserie style resto has served solid fare that ranges from great steaks to the freshest seafood for decades now. (It is probably best known for its award winning fish dishes more than anything else…read more

Have a mom who's a foodie and a "bevvie" (beverage lover)? I've picked out a few items that you might like to surprise Mom with. You can mix 'n match them and they are all quite unique (especially the beverage pick)! I have also thrown in Persona Nutrition for the super health oriented Mom so that her daily regime of…read more

I have been to UN Plaza Grill a few times in the past for press events including high end fragrance launches but I never got to sit down for a real meal at this classy kosher eatery until recently. To say I was pleasantly surprised was an understatement. My foodie pal Gail and I enjoyed several of the menu's staples…read more

I recently decided to create the perfect Sunday afternoon by visiting a few Bronx Little Italy establishments--all within a two minute walk from each other on the legendary Arthur Avenue! Each has something different to offer but all have one thing in common--they serve authentic Southern Italian food items! My secret is to take things from local stores and bakeries…read more

I recently headed over to Ichiran for the first time and I have to say that it was something new and completely different in Japanese dining. It has a great location very close to the N/R train at 49th and Broadway and it is getting to be so popular that they had to set up stanchions outside that are there…read more

I have been a longtime fan of Lady M and there is no cake I would rather eat on Valentine's Day than one of their many kinds of 20-layer Mille Crepes cakes. But wait, they also have a phenomenal Strawberry Shortcake that will really have you reeling! I am going to have some of that on Valentine's Day with a…read more

I was so excited to get invited to visit Madam Ji which has some of the greatest New York Restaurant Week deals for both lunch and dinner as we go to press (but just so you know they always have an awesome $14.95 lunch deal that is arguably the most generous deal in any Indian eatery in all of NYC)!…read more

Sei Less recently opened in the old Jimmy's 38 space on West 38th Street and it has an unusual vibe--it successfully mixes dimly lit Asian themed decor with a comfortable yet chic after work lounge. In the center of the main dining room is a super long bar that seemed to be really hopping during my visit. Although Sei Less…read more

I recently visited the Chateau de Chantilly Cafe in Chantilly, VA upon the recommendation of a friend who said it was "super cute" and had the "biggest amount of pastries you will ever see in one place"! Upon entering this vibrant loft-like space, I immediately agreed with her remarks! All sorts of pastry counters and cases are arranged neatly in…read more

Sapphire Cuisines Of India at 2014 Broadway is a bit of an Upper West Side legend. At Sapphire's previous location near the Time Warner Center (which they left in 2019), they became famous for having the best Indian lunch buffet in the city. Their new location is quaint and cozy and is inside a well-kept prewar building but there is…read more

These are my top food picks for Holiday 2021. They make great gifts but also are well worth investing in for your own personal use! I am throwing in my favorite vitamin and supplement company at the end because it is always important to get supplemental nutrition (especially when you are binge eating sugars and fats around the holidays)! Omaha…read more

Authentic deli food has become a lost art--especially in Manhattan when only 25 years ago, there was an old school delicatessen type resto every three blocks. PJ Bernstein is a survivor, thanks to keeping their quality consistent for decades, being in the center of the Upper East Side in terms of location, friendly service a family atmosphere. Oops, I almost…read more

If you must invest in one foodie event for the year, I strongly recommend going to at least one of the two days of the annual Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine And Food Festival Presented By Capital One on Saturday (10/16) and Sunday (10/17). No where else can you try such a diversity of cuisines and…read more

I was thrilled to be able to visit Tasca at 505 Columbus Avenue between 84th and 85th Streets on the Upper West Side recently when I heard that it blends traditional Spanish cuisine with the Latin flavors of the Caribbean--and then puts a Modern American twist on everything. I kind of consider this place a "one stop shop" for the…read more

I had a rockin’ good time at the American Express Gold Card Pop-Up Diner which was in Williamsburg for three unforgettable days. Co-presented by reservation app Resy, the Amex Pop-Up Diner took place at 15 River Street in an empty lot directly across from the legendary Domino Park. While the oldies blasted, 75 privileged Gold Card members lucky enough to…read more

If you think that all the Cheesecake Factor has to offer is a huge variety of cheesecake, well, it has so much more! After visiting The Cheesecake Factory in my original hometown of Wayne, NJ, I have decided that it is an ultimate comfort food destination. Just because it is a chain restaurant, don’t disqualify it for authentic rib-sticking food…read more

I was excited to be invited to a “Christmas In July” virtual wine tasting featuring Mollie Battenhouse, MW, National Director of Wine Education at Jackson Family Wines (a legendary name in wines). Battenhouse walked us through the highly anticipated Spire Collection for holiday gift giving. As it says on www.spirecollection.com’s home page, “The Spire Collection is the pinnacle of the…read more

Omaha Steaks has always been a Father’s Day favorite brand. And OS is not just about fine steaks these days—there are numerous seafood and vegetarian dishes that are “heat and eat” but they taste fresh from the sea or farm. Private Reserve Strip Steak with Steakhouse Fries I recently tried the Private Reserve Strip Steaks which are particularly stellar. They…read more