From NYC Recession Diary: “Just wanted to let you know about the buy one get one pasta deal at Lasagna Ristorante (785 9th Ave b/t 52nd and 53rd). They emailed me about it and I wanted to spread the word because i think it’s a fab deal! The link to the deal is here with all the [...]

In addition to it being my birthday week, here are a few other “weeks” worth celebrating. Matsuri is celebrating it’s 6-Year Anniversary all week long (10/19-10/26) with complimentary Takara sake, Yugure drink specials from 5:30-8pm and the launch of Chef Tadashi Ono’s fall Hot Pot menu straight outta his new cookbook “Japanese Hot Pots.” We [...]

Café Noir is throwing an open party on Monday, October 19th to celebrate the signing of its 10-year lease extension at 32 Grand Street (212-431-7910). Café Noir will blow it out with open bar, drink specials all night, live music and Café Noir’s favorite DJs will spin sets, including Sid ‘L Vaga, Lion Dub and DJ [...]

Is there a better food block in the city right now than East 7th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A? We think not. It’s not even close. You could live on this block and never have to leave it. Just peer down East 7th St. towards Ave. A any day of the week and you’ll see [...]

On Saturdays in October (17th, 21st and 31st) Chef Shanna Pacifico will be leading a Porchetta Class and Feast at Back Forty for preparing whole suckling pig porchetta style. First, from 4-6pm you’ll learn how to source, butcher, stuff, tie and roast the pig. Then you’ll sit down for a porcine feast with lots of beer [...]

’21′ Club is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its opening. They’re offering a complimentary cocktail or glass of wine for you and your guests when reserving your table for lunch or dinner exclusively through their website October 1 - November 30, 2009. Click here to reserve and your party will receive a welcoming cocktail or glass of wine. Also, ’21′ [...]

Now, while we couldn’t imagine living anywhere but NYC, we all know how nice it can be to get out of the city at times, even if for a quick weekend getaway. So, we’ve decided to feature some of our favorite “gastronomic getaways.” You don’t have to go far to find some world-class culinary destinations, and [...]

The words “truffles” and “deal” are rarely uttered in the same sentence. But we got word last week that Upper East Italian resto Sandro’s (306 E. 81st St) is offering 20% off the entire check (including alcohol) 10pm-11:30pm Monday through Saturday. Coinciding with this 20% off special, Sandro’s has just received its first truffles of [...]

As Jill and I walked past the second-story T.G.I. Friday’s on Lex near 56th St, we wondered what people actually go there. Then, we watched as a couple came down the stairs with rolling suitcases and our question was answered. Now we can all hit up TGI Friday’s in tourist costumes. From 9 p.m. to close on [...]

Wined & Dined turns 1 tomorrow! We can’t believe how quickly the past year has flown by. We’re gonna celebrate with some serious ’wining & dining’ down in Meatpacking this weekend at the NYC Wine & Food Festival — Meatpacking Uncorked! tonight, a Grand Tasting session tomorrow, the Bourdain-Bruni talk, and more. We’re also planning to hit [...]

With all the NYC Wine & Food Festival hoopla, don’t forget that the Madison Sq. Mark’t opens today in Madison Sq. Park from 11am-8pm. It will run every day until November 1st. Be sure to check out the Food Square where you can pick up lunch from pop-ups of Cabrito, Fatty Crab, Hill Country, Suzette, Viking Danish Cuisine and Wafels & [...]

Stephen Hanson’s new burger-and-beer joint in the former Hog Pit space (22 9th Ave.) is slated to open mid-month. We’re following Bill’s Burger & Bar on Twitter @billsnyc and may have found a pic of their burger prototype (left). We’re trying to confirm if it’s a prelude of what’s to come. If so, it looks damn delicious [...]

After closing in late August for a little interior makeover, Café Boulud has re-opened its doors revealing refreshed new contemporary interiors. Sometime next week, Café Boulud will also be revealing its new adjacent cocktail spot, Bar Pleiades, flush with two new 14-seat private dining rooms. Chef Gavin Kaysen has come out of hibernation and remains behind the stove where he will [...]

Take a break from the NYC Wine & Food Festival this weekend and grab brunch at our favorite West Village wine bar. Lelabar (422 Hudson @ Leroy St.; 212-206-0594) will be offering brunch on both Saturday and Sunday starting at noon. The menu’s still being tweeked, but here’s a peek at some of the brunch [...]

We decided to try out some Castlebank Old Vines Zinfandel after we saw it on sale for just under $13 a bottle on WinesTilSoldOut.  We know that the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma produces some great zins, so we were psyched to give a good value zin a try. The grapes were handpicked from 25 to [...]