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Ramshackle Glam (Tumblr): Cozy Winter Brunch Spots In NYC

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:47:38 -0400

Ramshackle Glam (Tumblr): Cozy Winter Brunch Spots In NYC:

It’s snowing!

And that means cozy sweaters, Hunter boots, and brunch anywhere you can find a fireplace.

I gave Andrea at BrunchCritic a ring to find out her top picks for Cozy Winter Brunch Spots in NYC, and these were her top five:

Tiny’s (Tribeca): In Tribeca, the land of enormous, loft-like spaces, Tiny’s is an adorable miniature spot with a fireplace to be reckoned with. A perfect place for a romantic date during the chilly months.

The Cupping Room (SoHo, pictured above): Not many places in NYC can say that they’ve been around for over thirty years, but the Cupping Room is one of them. It’s not too tiny - so you can bring some friends - and comes complete with great, jazzy tunes, a fireplace, brick walls, and local art peppered around the dining room.

Le Barricou (Williamsburg): Enter through the swingin’ bar and head towards the dining room in the back. After your meal, linger with your cup of coffee on the couches near the fireplace - it’s a perfect place to spend a lazy, snowy day.

Nook (Hell’s Kitchen): The name says it all. Snuggled into a tiny space on 9th Avenue, Nook’s a place you have to try at least once, if only to cross this quintessentially cute spot off your must-brunch list. And as a bonus, it’s also BYOB.

King’s Carriage House (Upper East Side): This place isn’t your typical brunch spot - it’s a unique, elegant space that’s perfect for the days when you’re feeling a little extra fancy…and yet not looking to lay out too much money. Housed in a slim 3-story townhouse, it has an upscale New England feel and offers an $18.95 prix fixe (2 courses).

Click over to BrunchCritic for more cozy brunch spots to hit up on this snowy weekend.

Original Article

bobbybigwheel: cajunboy: Saturday lunch. If I move to New...

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:46:42 -0400

bobbybigwheel:

cajunboy:

Saturday lunch.

If I move to New Orleans, I’m choosing my apartment based on proximity to Cooter Brown’s.

: Brunch at Sant Ambroeus

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:46:09 -0400

: Brunch at Sant Ambroeus:

caseyculture:

Brunch at Sant Ambroeus

Extra Virgin is one of my favorite brunch spots in the city thanks to the mix of solid food and tremendous people watching. It also happens to be located directly next to Sant Ambroeus, which receives equally fantastic reviews, but for some reason has never piqued my interest over the past couple years.

This past Saturday, I finally cheated on Extra Virgin and had brunch at Sant Ambroeus.

The people watching was just as great and the brunch fare had a tasty Italian twist (i.e. lots of Prosciutto options).

caseyculture: My Mom is in town for a couple days and if...

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:44:41 -0400

caseyculture:

My Mom is in town for a couple days and if there’s anyone who loves New York and my new neighborhood more than me, it’s her. To kick off her visit we:

Brunched at Little Owl (read my previous review)

Dinner at Red Farm (the crispy chicken and soup dumpling are unreal - previous review)

A stop at the Van Leeuwen truck for the most amazing Pistachio ice cream

Ramshackle Glam (Tumblr): Weekend Snapshots

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:43:30 -0400

Ramshackle Glam (Tumblr): Weekend Snapshots:

ramshackleglam:

We started the weekend with a date night, and started that date night at Pizzeria Uno, mostly because we heard that you get a deal on your movie tickets if you eat at Pizzeria Uno first. As it turns out, the deal was for a different movie theater than the one we were planning to go to (we saw The Cabin in the Woods - loved it), but that’s fine, because the end result was that we got to eat Pizza Skins (pizza crust filled with mashed potatoes, bacon, cheese, and sour cream). Which are terrible. And also great.

We stopped in for dinner at the Striped Bass - it’s a great place to have dinner if you’re doing a Tarrytown day trip, because a) it’s so right-on-the-water that you feel almost like you’re in a beach town, and b) it’s about six feet from the train station, so you can hang out on the deck with a beer up until pretty much the second before you’re scheduled to depart.

Ramshackle Glam (Tumblr): Weekend Snapshots

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:39:47 -0400

Ramshackle Glam (Tumblr): Weekend Snapshots:

ramshackleglam:

Tell me that doesn’t look like the best thing on the planet. That’s the brunch pizza at Gina La Fornarina, which I write about…oh, all the time…and it’s what I ate for my birthday brunch on Saturday, post-playground excursion. (If you go, the brunch pizza is no longer on the menu, but they’ll still make it for you if you ask nicely.)

timeoutnewyork: It’s lunchtime, and we want a burger real bad....

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:28:53 -0400

timeoutnewyork:

It’s lunchtime, and we want a burger real bad. If you feel the same way, check out 20 of our favorite NYC burgers: Steak & Shake’s Signature patty, pictured, made the list (and at $3.99, it’s a pretty good bargain).

megburns: Reason #2352353 that I’m jealous of my Chicago...

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:27:15 -0400

megburns:

Reason #2352353 that I’m jealous of my Chicago friends: they get to eat lunch at Hannah’s Bretzel whenever they want.

Have any of you ever eaten there? It’s like the Chipotle of the sandwich world… healthy, fresh, organic. I went in March and I can’t stop crying that there isn’t one around here.

Update: a little birdie told me that they are soon expanding into Seattle, Washington DC, and NYC.

tehvalerie: This is my love letter to Durham. (Taken with...

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:25:30 -0400

tehvalerie:

This is my love letter to Durham. (Taken with Instagram at Only Burger)

suckthislemon: Almost 300g of premium bologna (if that even...

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:24:51 -0400

suckthislemon:

Almost 300g of premium bologna (if that even exists), cheese, lettuce and tomato in a french baguette. That’s the sammich the place is famous for. This one was on the neighbor’s table, not ours. I had to be quick. (photo by me)

thedailywhat: Afternoon Snack: Burger King’s new Bacon...

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:24:09 -0400

thedailywhat:

Afternoon Snack: Burger King’s new Bacon Sundae has 510 calories, 18 grams of fat, and 61 grams of sugar. It’s available at most locations beginning today.

[wentdog]

caseyculture: Best NYC Oyster Special Although oysters are...

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:22:29 -0400

caseyculture:

Best NYC Oyster Special

Although oysters are typically only meant for months with “R”, I love them so much that I forgo the rules and enjoy them year round.

The best New York oyster deal? Easy - Fish.

$8 buys you 1/2 dozen oysters + a glass of wine or PBR.

Anytime. Any day.

A glass of wine or PBR at Fish would already cost $6 or $7, so the 1/2 dozen oysters are essentially an added bonus. This past weekend I went through 25 myself without blinking an eye.

The oysters themselves are fairly large and tasty. They’re certainly not the best oysters, but they are above average and the price can’t be beat.

thedailywhat: Afternoon Snack: Only in America (at Slater’s...

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:21:53 -0400

thedailywhat:

Afternoon Snack: Only in America (at Slater’s 50/50 in California) can you find the all-bacon ‘Merica burger: “100 percent ground bacon plus thick-cut bacon, a sunny-side-up egg, our new ‘bacon island’ dressing, all topped with bacon cheddar cheese.”

[eatlikeaman]

hugeinjapan: Next — elBulli (3 of 3) Gorgonzola balloon...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:31:18 -0500

hugeinjapan:

Next — elBulli (3 of 3)

Gorgonzola balloon (2009)

Foie gras caramel custard (1999)
Guitierrez Colosia ‘Sangre y Trabajadero’ Oloroso, Jerez

Spice plate (1996)
Pommeau de Normandie with white tea, lychee and mandarin

Mint pond (2009)

Chocolate in textures (1997)
Casa de la Ermita Dulce Monastrell, Jumilla 2006

Creme Flute/Puff pastry web (1993/1989)

Chocolate donuts (2010)

Passionfruit marshmallows — The farewell (2004)

Clicking the pictures will enlarge

hugeinjapan: Next — elBulli (2 of 3) Cuttlefish and coconut...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:31:05 -0500

hugeinjapan:

Next — elBulli (2 of 3)

Cuttlefish and coconut ravioli with soy, ginger and mint (1997)
Kanbara Junmai Ginjo Sake, Niigata Prefecture

Savory tomato ice with oregano and almond milk pudding (1992)

Hot crab aspic with mini corn cous-cous (2001)
Domaine Bordatto ‘Basa Juan’ Cidre, Irouleguy 2010

Cauliflower cous-cous with solid aromatic herb sauce (2000)

Suquet of prawns (1988)
Emilio Hidalgo ‘Marques de Rodil’ Especial Palo Cortado, Jerez

Potato tortilla by Marc Singla

Trumpet carpaccio (1989)

Red mullet gaudi (1987)
Fransec Sanchez Bas ‘Montgarnatx” Priorat 2005

Nasturium with eel, bone marrow and cucumber (2007)
Half Acre ‘Sanguis’ Ale, Chicago

Civet of rabbit with hot apple jelly (2000)

Clicking will enlarge the photos and resolve any aspect issues

hugeinjapan: Next — elBulli (1 of 3) Nitro caipirinha with...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:30:44 -0500

hugeinjapan:

Next — elBulli (1 of 3)

Nitro caipirinha with tarragon concentrate (2004)

Hot/cold trout roe tempura (2000)
Jane Ventura ‘Brut Nature’ Cava Reserva, Penedes 2008

Spherical olives (2005)

Coca of avocado pear, anchovies and green onion (1991)

Iberico sandwich (2003)

Golden egg (2001)
Cava with Pineau des Charentes and Farigoule

Black sesame spongecake and miso (2007)

Chicken liquid croquettes (1998)

Smoke foam (1997)
Cava with Pineau, Farigoule, Malaga Moscatel and Reagan’s Orange Bitters

Carrot air with coconut mile (2003)

Clicking any of the photos will enlarge and solve any formatting issues.

caseyculture: I return to Tamarind more often than any other...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:30:25 -0500

caseyculture:

I return to Tamarind more often than any other restaurant in New York City. It’s definitely my favorite Indian and falls within the top ten overall.

Last week, instead of ordering the usual Chicken Tikka Masala, our group of four asked the owner to just send over what he wanted. Our only requirement was that he still include a Chicken Tikka Masala - it’s addictive.

The result? Curry heaven.

foodspotting: In honor of Mardi Gras, check out the dishes we...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:30:06 -0500

foodspotting:

In honor of Mardi Gras, check out the dishes we loved from our trip to New Orleans! Read about gumbo, beignets, muffaletta and more…

My Life: Chowdafest 2012

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:17:49 -0500

My Life: Chowdafest 2012:

hawaiigurlinct:

Saturday was for stuffing my face with 30 different chowders from Fairfield county restaurants at the Annual Chowdafest in Westport. I don’t remember ever hearing about a past Chowdafest but at some point in time I had written a note to myself to check out this February event. And who am I to argue with myself, after all? Turns out, I was not disappointed. Chowdafest 2012 was amazing!

(photo via The Daily Westport)

In a nut shell, 30 or so restaurants donate their time and their soup(s) to serve thousands of hungry fest-gatherers. Chowder loving people pay $6 for a ballot and a spoon in order to sample all the chowders and vote for their favorites. And all of that admission money goes to the Connecticut Food Bank. Pretty awesome… all the way around. But contributing to a good cause is not all you get if you are a winning restaurant. You also get the coveted chowdafest~~trophy~~ football helmet.

While almost all the chowders were extremely good, there were three that stuck out in my mind as the best of the best: Clam Chowder from Rory’s in Darien (already really good straight out of the soup vat but made infinitely better with a dab of sherry offered), and the Crab Chowder and Lobster Bisque, both from Stamford. Clearly I’m going to need to visit Rory’s this weekend to have an entire cup-full. And I’m going to have to start adding soups to my list of reasons to hit up the Crab Shell. I go there a lot during the summer, but it’s usually for the music and the beer.

And because I’m nothing if not service-y, here’s a couple of things I’ve learned to help you enjoy Chowdafest 2013 - because you really should go to it:

Go ~~hungry~~ starving. Each serving was only a couple of tablespoons so I figured a professional stomach like mine was up to the challenge. But those tiny sampler cups are bigger than they look. I had to be rolled out of there when it was all over.

Go early. We got there with 2 hours to spare but already missed out on some that looked like they’d be sure winners in my book – especially an Oyster and Pork Belly Chowder from Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro.

Go with lots of time to spare. We were nervous about getting to try everything before they ran out (see #2) so there was a lot of burned tongues. Or just mine. But still.

If you are lactose intolerant, plan accordingly. This is probably a pretty obvious one to everyone, but I don’t know what I was thinking. I have a pretty mild case of it – pop a pill before eating a bowl of cereal and no party foul. But somehow I didn’t put together that a) chowder has cream in it and b) I would be consuming A LOT of chowder (see #1).

Now don’t let a little thing like being lactose intolerant stop you. I subscribe to the Anthony Bourdain school of thought:

“Good food and good eating are about risk. Every once in a while an oyster, for instance, will make you sick to your stomanch. Does this mean you should stop eating oysters? No way.”

I can’t wait for next year.

: West Village Hideaway: Aria

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:58:12 -0500

: West Village Hideaway: Aria:

caseyculture:

Last night I spent 3+ hours at Aria Wine Bar, perhaps my favorite little whole in the wall in the city.

Darkly lit Aria serves fairly inexpensive wine in full-to-the-brim glasses and a huge variety mix of Venetian small plates and pastas on communal tables and a kitchen island-esque bar, creating a very, very intimate atmosphere. I’d recommend:

Burratta and Prosciutto

Meatballs

Mini Lamb Chops

The illuminated sidewalk view is also a great addition. Now that the weather is finally feeling like winter, Aria may very well be the perfect place to hide away and stay warm.

*Bottom image via Urban Daddy