WINED & DINED

July 4th Happenings Around NYC

Andy — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 18:02:59 +0000

We’re flying out tomorrow for our annual 4th of July visit to my parents’ place in Highlands, North Carolina, a scenic mountain town with lots of great golf and wining and dining. For those sticking around, there’s a lot happenin’ in the city tomorrow. Here are some of your best bets:

Geoffrey Zakarian’s The Lambs Club and The National are offering a great Burger, Fries & Booze deal. Order their Burger and Fries along with your choice of a cocktail or a dessert for $25 dollars. This special will be offered at the restaurants on Monday July 2nd until Sunday July 8th.

John Delucie’s The Lion is offering a July 4th BBQ Special Menu. The Lion’s regular menu will also be offered.

July 4th BBQ Special Menu — $29 One entrée and one side. Hours 1pm -9pm. Choose one Entree: Fried Chicken & Waffles, Grilled BBQ Heritage Pork baby-back ribs, Fresh Maine Lobster Roll, Lion Burger or Spiced Beef Brisket

Choose one Side: Corn on the cob, Scallion black pepper biscuit, Green market coleslaw, Fresh Watermelon & mint

The Highliner in Chelsea will be offering picnic dinners to-go to enjoy while watching the fireworks over the Hudson. Packed to go, the three menu options will be available from noon to 9:00 PM in front of The Highliner, 210 10th avenue, near 22nd street. www.thehighlinernyc.com Signature New England Lobster Roll $20 and comes w/ Lemon Aioli on a Potato Bun, Plantain Chips or Corn on the Cob, Soda or water, Brownie // Roasted Chicken Sandwich $15 and comes w/ avocado, arugula, tomatoes, and basil aioli on ciabatta, Plantain Chips or Corn on the Cob, Soda or water, Brownie // Grilled All-Beef Hot Dog $8 and comes w/ Plantain Chips or Corn on the Cob, Soda or water, Brownie

Brother Jimmy’s Patriotic Special — Wednesday, July 4th ALL DAY and ALL LOCATIONS – $3 for any domestically made beer (can, draft and/or bottle). And $3 Pickleback Shots. Brother Jimmy’s Locations — The Original 1485 2nd Ave, 78th/79th St ~ 212-288-0999 // West Side 428 Amsterdam Ave, 80th/81st St ~ 212-501-7515 // Murray Hill 181 Lexington Ave @ 31st St ~ 212-779-7427 // Union Square 116 East 16th St, Park Ave S/Irving Place ~ 212-673-6465

Annual July 4th Celebration at Empire Hotel Rooftop featuring live music, burlesque, dancing, fireworks, and cocktails under the stars. Doors open at 5:00PM. Admission: $25 Group / $30 Advance / $35 Doors. For Tickets & Info: www.royale-marketing.com/events

Pera Soho Rooftop BBQ Extravaganza – 2 1/2 hours of BBQ, meze, salads, and dessert as well as unlimited watermelon mojitos, red-white-rose wine, beer, tea, etc. Seatings at 1:30 and 4pm ($55 per person) and 8pm seating ($65 per person). Click here for more information

Low Country in the West Village will be offering happy hour all day as well as a 10-piece fried chicken basket with roasted corn and potatoes, corn bread, and a carafe of John Daly for $50.

Iron Horse in the Financial District is hosting a Pig Roast Block Party, with free burgers and hot dogs, and for a small donation, roasted pork plates, with money going to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

Beginning at 12pm and continuing to midnight, rain or shine The Waterfront @ Pier 92 is playing host to a massive Independence Day party – ARRIVAL: An All-Day Rooftop Beach Party creating a party beach resort in the middle of Manhattan. There will be dance music DJs, tanning decks, VIP terraces and air-conditioned cabanas, along with food from some of the city’s food trucks as well as Virgil’s Real Barbecue. All this also comes with a great view of America’s biggest fireworks display Macy’s “Ignite the Night” fireworks show over the Hudson. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Hudson River Park Trust, a partnership between New York State and City charged with the design, construction and operation of the five-mile Hudson River Park. A limited number of tickets at $35 are available now here.

STK Rooftop hosts a “Wet ’n’ Wild Fourth of July” with boozy snowcones, a cotton candy machine and cocktails rimmed with pop rocks. Begins at 12 p.m.

Perilla’s Monday Night Gypsy Brewer Series Continues in July w/ Stillwater Artisanal Ales

Andy — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:15:41 +0000

Perilla’s Monday Night Gypsy Brewer Series continues on July 2nd and every Monday thereafter in July with a tasting menu paired around a selection of our friend Brian Strumke’s Stillwater Artisanal Ales. Like June’s featured brewery, Evil Twin, Stillwater is brewed in various locations around the world. In 2010, Strumke traded one passion for another when he left his career as an international D.J. to bring his homebrew to the masses. Since then, Stillwater has become something of a cult phenom among craft beer fans. We’re also a big fan of Chef/Owner Harold Dieterle and what he’s done at Perilla and Kin Shop. These pairing dinners are a great opportunity to experience top-notch, artisanally-inspired food and beer from two individuals who are taking their respective craft to the next level. $60 per person. Reservations strongly encouraged.

Perilla Restaurant // 9 Jones Street // Phone: 212.929.6868 // View Map

APPETIZERS:

Spelt Cracker, Lemon, Hyssop, Lavender Puree & Malbar Pepper & Seared Diver Sea Scallops
fennel slaw, tomatoes, sucrine, fried okra, summer savory & honeysuckle gastrique
stillwater ‘cellar door’ 6.6% alc.
brewed at dog brewing company, maryland

MAINS:

Slow Braised Creekstone Brisket
coffee-cardamom potato salad, cornbread, cherries, hazelnuts & verjus sauce
stillwater ‘existent’ 7.4% alc.
brewed at dog brewing company, maryland

DESSERTS:

Avocado Puree, Mozzarella, Cantaloupe & Basil Sorbet & Apple and Plum Crisp
oatmeal streusel & buttermilk-lime ice cream
stillwater ‘holland oats’ 6.6% alc.
brewed at bierbrouwerij emelisse, holland

Taco Tuesday’s & Summer Friday’s in Pampano’s Street-Level Botaneria

Andy — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:28:06 +0000

One of our favorite hidden gems in the city is Pampano’s underground Taqueria in the Crystal Pavilion Food Court at 49th and 3rd Ave. It has become a favorite spot for Midtown Lunch’ers seeking authentic tacos. We noticed recently that Pampano restaurant across the street (209 E. 49th b/t 2nd and 3rd Aves) turned its street level bar/lounge into a happenin’ Botaneria featuring a menu of small plates, sangrias, Latin wines and agave spirits. We’ve also just learned that every Tuesday from 5pm-close they are serving up $2 tacos and featuring new specialty tacos each week. Also, every Friday through Labor Day, Happy Hour starts at 3pm in the Botaneria when all Latin cocktails and sangrias are just $6 a piece and Mexican-style tapas are only $5. Buen Provecho!

The 2-Course $38 Dinner in the Café & Wine Lounge at Le Cirque is a Steal

Andy — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:23:48 +0000

Jill and I were looking for a neighborhood spot to have a couple of drinks and bite to eat after seeing Woody Allen’s To Rome with Love this past Friday night (which we really enjoyed, by the way). A slight rain started to fall so we took refuge in Le Cirque’s Café & Wine Lounge for a drink and to figure out our next move. We glimpsed the options on the 2-course $38 menu over our dirty martini and bourbon and decided we were gonna stay put. Sure are glad we did, too. We proceeded to have one of our best meals and deals of 2012. For appetizers, Jill ordered the Daurade Ceviche (would have been $24 a la carte) and I the Tuna Tartare (for an $8 supp). Both were generously portioned and delicious. Jill loved her Daurade Ceviche, a citrus marinated sea bream, fresh and brightly seasoned with some cilantro and nicely spiced with a Peruvian yellow chile pepper (aji amarillo), which I helped myself to at least half of. The Tuna Tartare, the original recipe of 4-star chef Sottha Khunn was equally as good. For our mains, I went with the Lobster Risotto ($10 supp) and Jill the Skate Grenobloise ($24 a la carte). The Lobster Risotto was heavenly and easily one of the top 5 lobster dishes I’ve ever had. Jill’s Skate seemed large enough for two and was perfectly prepared. ”Grenobloise”, by the way, is a very classic French sauce named after the city of Grenoble. It entails brown butter, lemon, capers, croutons, and parsley, and seems like it could be a deliciously ubiquitous preparation for most white fish. All in all, the meal completely shattered our expectations and wasn’t too bad on the wallet either. Everything was beautifully prepared and presented. Prix-fixe’s are typically not our thing since we don’t usually order dessert, but this one is right up our alley. We will be back.

Captain Lawrence Brewery Tour & Road Trip on Saturday, June 30

Andy — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:42:04 +0000

We got your boozy Saturday plans covered. Join Get Real Presents on a craft-beer fueled road trip to Captain Lawrence Brewing Company in Westchester about 45 minutes outside of the city. You’ll get transportation both ways on a luxury liner, complete with food and drinks, a VIP tour of the brewery, where you’ll meet the brewers and other representatives from Captain Lawrence, 2 hours of unlimited sampling in the tasting room, and a round of beers upon returning to the city. Pick up and drop-off at Idle Hands Bar in the East Village. Bus leaves at 5pm and will return around 9pm. Tickets and additional info here.

Louisiana Shrimp Week Kicks Off in NYC on Wednesday, June 27th

Andy — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:00:35 +0000

Twenty-two NYC restaurants are gearing up for Louisiana Shrimp Week which kicks off this Wednesday. The list of participating restaurants is impressive and includes the likes of Atlantic Grill, Fatty ‘Cue, Ditch Plains, Burger & Barrel, Lure Fishbar, Wildwood Barbeque, The Mermaid Inn, David Burke restaurants, and Lexington Brass, among others. Each has created a special Louisiana Shrimp dish and recipe for this program, which is being sponsored by The Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board. We all know the tough times Louisiana fishermen have faced over the past decade with the oil spill and Hurricane Katrina, so let’s all show our support and eat some cajun country shrimp-inspired dishes at some of our favorite NYC spots.

The complete list of restaurants and chefs participating in Louisiana Shrimp Week, along with their mouth-watering recipes includes:

Atlantic Grill East Side – Executive Chef Paul Sale
Salt &Pepper Crispy Louisiana Shrimp, lemon aioli

Atlantic Grill Lincoln Center – Executive Chef Paul Sale
Salt &Pepper Crispy Louisiana Shrimp, lemon aioli

Blue Fin- Executive Chef Paul Sale
Salt &Pepper Crispy Louisiana Shrimp, lemon aioli

Blue Water Grill – Executive Chef Paul Sale
Salt &Pepper Crispy Louisiana Shrimp, lemon aioli

Burger & Barrel – Chef Josh Capon
Tagliatelle with Fresh Louisiana Shrimp

David Burke Kitchen – Chef David Burke
Louisiana Shrimp Boil in a Paint Can –tasso / corn / fingerlings / sweet carrots

David Burke Townhouse – Chef David Burke
Cold Poached Louisiana Shrimp – grilled peaches / asparagus / lemon balm / grains of paradise

Delicatessen – Chef Michael Ferraro
Louisiana Poached Shrimp, ripe avocado, olive oil confit cherry tomato, horseradish broth

Ditch Plains West Village – Chef Marc Murphy
Peel N’ Eat Salt and Pepper Louisiana Shrimp appetizer; Grilled Whole Louisiana Shrimp & Dirty Rice entree

Ditch Plains Upper West Side – Chef Marc Murphy
Peel N’ Eat Salt and Pepper Louisiana Shrimp appetizer; Grilled Whole Louisiana Shrimp & Dirty Rice entree

Fatty Crab Upper West Side – Chef de Cuisine- Chaz Brown
Louisiana Shrimp | Peel & Eat | Malay old bay, lime, lettuces, pickled garlic

Fatty Crab West Village – Chef de Cuisine- Steve Haritopoulos
Banh Beo | Louisiana Shrimp, steamed rice cakes, chicharrones, chili vinegar

Fatty ‘Cue – Chef de Cuisine- Anthony Masters
New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp | Louisiana shrimp, baguette, Worcestershire butter

Fishtail by David Burke – Chef David Burke
Louisiana Shrimp Candied Lemon “Caesar” – grilled romaine / shaved parmesan

Lexington Brass – Chef Chris Leahy
Crispy Louisiana Shrimp Gumbo Empanadas

Lure Fishbar – Chef Josh Capon
Louisiana Shrimp Ceviche

The Mermaid Inn East Village – Chef Michael Cressotti
Fire Roasted Louisiana Prawns ~ with old bay aioli & smoked sea salt

The Mermaid Inn Upper West Side – Chef Michael Cressotti
Fire Roasted Louisiana Prawns ~ with old bay aioli & smoked sea salt

The Mermaid Oster Bar – Chef Michael Cressotti
Fire Roasted Louisiana Prawns ~ with old bay aioli & smoked sea salt

Ocean Grill - Executive Chef Paul Sale
Salt &Pepper Crispy Louisiana Shrimp, lemon aioli

Oceana – Chef Ben Pollinger
Blackened Louisiana Shrimp with Mirliton Salad and Hot Sauce Vinaigrette

Wildwood Barbecue – Executive Chef John Schafer and Pitmaster Big Lou Elrose
BBQ Louisiana Shrimp over Cajun Rice

Alewife NYC & Get Real Presents “Kings Of Funk on 6/21″

Andy — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:10:26 +0000

They had me at 4 kegs of Cantillon on tap! Are you kidding me. This Beer Event on Thursday night at Alewife NYC pretty much speaks for its bad-ass self! 5 of the best brewers in the world, for 1 night only, under one roof for the 1st time EVER! Did I mention kegs of Cantillon will be tapped! Alewife NYC is the 4,000 sq foot temple to craft beer brought to you by Patrick Donagher (the guy who single-handedly created Rattle N Hum) and Daniel Lanigan (the force behind standout craft beer spots like Boston’s Lord Hobo & Alewife Baltimore). This is just the first of many, many ridiculous craft beer events that Alewife NYC will be hosting this year. This event on Thursday is seriously the equivalent of doing a 10-day European beer tour, so a quick trip over the East River to Long Island City should be a no-brainer (5 minutes from Grand Central on the 7-train or take the Water Taxi from 34th St or Brooklyn). Check here for more info and tickets. Did I mention kegs of Cantillon will be tapped!

**Full disclosure — we work with and are investors in Get Real Presents, a craft beer-focused company that hosts beer and food festivals as well as bar and restaurant events in New York City and beyond**

Jean from Cantillon

Yvan from De La Senne

Mark from Bink

Jean from Moeder Lambic

Jeppe from Evil Twin

Pierre Tilquin from Gueuzerie Tilquin

De la Senne — Band of Brothers, Taras Boulba, Stouterik, Zinnebir, Brussels Calling (bottles)
Kerkom — Bink Blond, Bruin, Tripel, Grand Cru
Cantillon — Gueuze, Fou’foune, Rosé, few more kegs TBA, plus many many rare ass bottles
Blaugies — Darbyste, Moneuse, Saison d’Epeautre
Jandrain — IV, V, VI

Tickets for this event are $75 for open bar – $100 for beer dinner and $175 for sitting at head table and enjoying some rare ass beers during the Beer Dinner with the brewers.

Vanity Fair’s 2012 Summer Guide: NYC Edition

Andy — Tue, 29 May 2012 19:12:32 +0000

It’s already starting to feel like summer in NYC, which means it’s the perfect time for Vanity Fair to drop its 2012 Summer Guide. This comprehensive guide will show you and other New Yorkers where to go and what to do over the next few months, including the best outdoor spots to eat and drink, the best outdoor concerts, festivals and events, and the newest and hottest places to see and be seen. Enjoy!

Click here to download the print version of the Summer Guide

Tres Buenas Opciones Para El Cinco de Mayo

Andy — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:50:28 +0000

I’m guessing things are gonna be getting St. Paddy’s day-type sloshy here in the city tomorrow with the Derby and Cinco de Mayo both falling on the same Saturday. Here are our best bets for getting muy borracho:

The Windsor in the West Village (W. 4th St at W. 10th) has become one of our favorite spots to meet up and drink with friends. Not easy to find spots like this that have plenty of TV’s for sports but in an unobtrusive way that doesn’t hamper the cool vibe. They’re whipping up some special dishes and fresh ingredient margaritas for Cinco de Mayo. The Mexicali burger w/ guac, pico de gallo, jack cheese, fried jalapeno & apple wood smoked bacon sounds pretty freakin’ fantastic, as do the spicy cucumber margarita and Mexican mule (blanco tequila, fresh pressed lime, ginger beer & angostura bitters) created by their resident mixologist Ben Scorah.

Teqa in Murray Hill (3rd Ave b/t 30th and 31st) is capping off its week-long celebration of the holiday with live music, two hours of open bar and a prix-fixe menu which includes their tuna on crack (spicy tuna, avocado and cucumber with tortilla chips), a selection of four different tacos, quesadillas, chips, salsa, guacamole, rice & beans, grilled corn and dessert. Seatings at 1PM, 3PM and 5PM are $100 per person and the 8PM seating is $125 per person. For reservations please call 212-212-3223.

Mex Fest at South Street Seaport is a Mexican-themed food truck festival taking place at Pier 16 at the South Street Seaport from 12pm-7pm. Trucks will be pay as you go, and each vendor will be infusing Mexican flavor into one of their regular menu items. Trucks scheduled to attend are Luke’s Lobster, Treats Truck, Kimchi Taco, Coolhaus, Frites’n’Meats, Gorilla Cheese, Schnitzel & Things, Wafels & Dinges, Taim Mobile, Milk Truck, Kelvin Slush, Souvlaki GR, Mexico Blvd, Eddie’s Pizza and Big D’s Grub Truck. A regular ticket for $5 gets you a sombrero and a ticket voucher that can be redeemed for 1 Beer, 1 Margarita, 1 Shot of Tequila, 1 Michelada or 2 Tacos. (Vouchers will cost $8 at the event and are not redeemable for food truck items.) A VIP ticket for $25 gets you a sombrero, 5 ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for the items mentioned above, and a pubcrawls.com Cinco de Mayo All-Access Pass.

Weekend Plans: The Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar at Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market

Andy — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:42:34 +0000

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market celebrates the beginning of summer with the third installation of its Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar on Sunday, April 29, 2012, and every second Sunday of the month through October.

WHO: Red Hook Lobster Truck, Kimchi Taco Truck, Frites and Meats, Kelvin Natural Slush, and Phil’s Steaks. Check out the menus here

WHEN: Sunday, April 29, 2012; 11AM to 5PM

WHERE: Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market
39th Street and 9th Avenue