Susan Rike invited me and a few other food writers to sample the food at Fiorini. The restaurant has been around since 2006 and is the creation of Restaurateur-Chef Lello Arpaia. This is one of those classic NYC restaurants. The … Continue reading →
- 16 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 4:00pm -

The USDA recently approved Monsanto’s genetically engineered Bt sweet corn which will be sold on the ear in the produce section of grocery stores. This is the agri-giant’s first GMO corn product made available directly to consumers. Natural News claims … Continue reading →
- 18 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 2:00pm -

Mark Post, professor of physiology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, has been growing small strips of muscle tissue from a pig’s stem cells to make test-tube meat. Speaking at the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual … Continue reading →
- 2 days ago, 21 Feb 12, 6:00pm -

In a paper published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers found significant concentrations of arsenic in two infant formulas that contain organic brown rice syrup used as a main ingredient for a sweetener. Arsenic was also found in … Continue reading →
- 2 days ago, 21 Feb 12, 4:00pm -

In a city where one drink can cost you $16, it is a good thing we have food and drink themed holidays. This Margarita Day (Wednesday, February 22), Oficina Latina in Nolita will be offering a $16 3-Margarita deal. You … Continue reading →
- 2 days ago, 21 Feb 12, 2:00pm -

Writing for Natural Society, Mike Barrett reminds readers children in America spend approximately 44.5 hours per week watching television and are exposed to up to 3,055 ads per year. Around 50 percent of the ads are for candy, snacks, sugary … Continue reading →
- 3 days ago, 20 Feb 12, 6:00pm -

Consumer demand for more expensive brand-name food products has plummeted as cash-strapped consumers flock to cheaper off brand items in droves to save money. Consumer Edge Research analyst Rob Dickerson claims General Mills has raised prices by 8.1% over the … Continue reading →
- 3 days ago, 20 Feb 12, 4:00pm -

Bowery: Forcella, at 334 Bowery Street, is practically giving away pizzas tonight: two Margarita pizzas for $2 until 7:30 p.m. [Grub Street]East Village: Having been shuttered for months, the café that inspired Rent is up for rent. Life Café, where Jonathan Larson wrote most of his musical, was also the setting for the song "La Vie Boheme." [EV Grieve, NYDN]Nolita: City Grit supper cub will engage in a bit of non-basketball March madness with a themed dinner on March 1 at 7:30 p.m. Because c…
- 9 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 10:45pm -

Kind of blue.Until recently, 7-Eleven was only known within the confines of Manhattan for its annual Free Slurpee Day, even if New Yorkers were left to wonder where, exactly, they could go to get their free Slurpee. But now the chain is expanding like crazy in New York, and it has no plans to stop until the city is blanketed with taquitos. According to Crain's, we can expect the opening of "20 locations — ranging in size from 1,500 square feet to 3,000 square feet — every year until 201…
- 9 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 10:10pm -

Anella's husband-and-wife owners, Josh Cohen and Blair Papagni, have had a busy couple of years, tending to babies of both the human and restaurant/bar kind. Last year they opened Calyer and St. Vitus in Greenpoint and now the couple forays down to Williamsburg for the first time, with their biggest venture yet, Bellwether, in the sprawling former home of Royal Oak. The space itself, designed by Matt Zalla in a Danish Modern fashion, looks unrecognizably polished. There'll be D.J.'s courtes…
- 10 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 9:45pm -

Skeen, in more productive days.Possibly the city's most notorious stove-hopper, Ryan Skeen has crashed through 5 & Diamond, Allen & Delancey, Fish Tag, and more, all in the course of a few years — and now we learn he's done at Pera Soho after two months. Owner Burak Karacam confirmed the news via a rep, writing: "The Pera organization and Ryan Skeen have chosen to part ways as the result of disparate operational and culinary styles that made a continued association untenable to both parti…
- 11 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 9:05pm -

It's 4 p.m., and that means it's time to play Two for Eight. We just asked ten restaurants the best time they can squeeze a couple in for dinner; you need only make your chosen reservation. (As always, we make the calls but don't guarantee the results.) Today: Meat Specialists.Blue Smoke (Menu)212-447-7733Two for eight? NoBest Available: 8:45 p.m. BLT Steak (Menu)212-752-7470Two for eight? NoBest available: 8:45 p.m. Craft (Menu)212-780-0880Two for eight? NoBest available:…
- 11 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 9:00pm -

The old Quattro Gastronomia Italiana.Good news, lovers of velvet ropes and orderers of $1,000 sushi rolls: The city will soon have another Koi restaurant, according to USA Today's Hotel Check-In blog. The flashy pan-Asian restaurant will replace what remains of Quattro Gastronomia Italiana on the ground floor of the Trump Soho Hotel. Construction has not yet begun, the blog reports, but the new Koi should nevertheless be open by summer.Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, you may remember, w…
- 12 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 7:50pm -

Waiter, there's no shark fin in my soup!A new bill announced yesterday in Albany would effectively make it illegal to sell (or serve) shark fin in New York, reports the Times. Broth made from the gelatinous fins is said to have a subtle flavor; in traditional Chinese culture, servings of shark-fin soup frequently mark auspicious and celebratory moments. Grace Meng, who represents Flushing (and is also the only Asian-American in the Assembly), is one of three representatives to sponsor the b…
- 12 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 7:15pm -

CHOW.com contributor Rebecca Flint Marx is in Miami, chronicling preparations for the massive annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, February 23-26. Over the next few days she'll
- 6 hours ago, 23 Feb 12, 1:10am -

Chowhound rworange nailed it recently for a lot of people disillusioned with the nation's two-year-old food truck boom: "[W]hen the truck becomes the destination it loses its purpose." Ouch! The
- 9 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 10:49pm -

The James Beard Foundation released its 2012 list of restaurant and chef semifinalists yesterday, and across America, food writers scanned the list and asked themselves one question: Did Beard get
- 12 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 8:05pm -

22 recipes for noodle dishes with international flavors. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW
- 1 day ago, 21 Feb 12, 10:42pm -

Dear Helena, Last Saturday I went to a new pizza place and it was packed. The waiter asked if we wanted drinks and we said, "No, just tap water." When
- 1 day ago, 21 Feb 12, 8:42pm -

Charm, family, and tradition have kept Donovan's Pub in Woodside, Queens, a favorite with locals since 1966. Though famous for its burgers, this Irish pub also happens to serve up
- 5 days ago, 18 Feb 12, 1:20am -

Cocktails and finger food for a classy Academy Awards party. BROWSE RECIPE SLIDESHOW
- 5 days ago, 17 Feb 12, 10:37pm -

[This strange photo of the team behind eccentric Williamsburg restaurant and yoga studio Isa comes from the Bon Appetit iPad app and photographer Martin Schoeller] EAST VILLAGE— EV Grieve gets a sad photo of the Holiday Cocktail Lounge getting...
- 9 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 11:00pm -

In alphabetical order: · 5 & Diamond · Allen & Delancey · Cibreo · Fishtag · The General Greene · Irving Mill · Pera Soho · Resto · Sweetiepie · TBD
- 9 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 10:30pm -

· Bar Scene was Good But Business Fell Off at Fatty 'Cue [Mouthfuls] · Ilili's Pretty Damn Good These Days [CH] · Buddakan for a Sweet Sixteen? [CH] · What's on the Menu at Um Segredo These Days [Mouthfuls]
- 9 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 10:18pm -

Here's one of the Zagat-style "reviews" from Gawker's NYPD Guide to Newark's Best Muslim Restaurants, reworked from New York Police Department reports on Muslim businesses in New Jersey city: Newark Fried Chicken, a "medium size fast food restaurant" with "fried...
- 10 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 9:56pm -

Peripatetic chef Ryan Skeen, who keeps getting hired at restaurants in New York City, has parted ways with the two month-old restaurant Pera Soho because of "disparate operational and culinary styles that made a continued association untenable to both...
- 10 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 9:37pm -

Sceney Bryant Park sushi restaurant Koi once sought to expand downtown by taking over the Salvation Army Building in the hopes of becoming yet another addition to the New Bowery. But tension between the restaurant group and the local community...
- 11 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 9:00pm -

In case you were wondering, Dans Le Noir still hasn't opened yet. New York's first ever dining in the dark restaurant was originally slated to make its debut around New Year's Day, then the opening was pushed back to Valentine's...
- 11 hours ago, 22 Feb 12, 8:42pm -

I was mistaken about the owner being from Nam. The really nice friendly waitress who is Chinese?Malaysian is from Nam. There are 3 owners, one is Chinese and i'm not sure but I believe his name is Jeffrey. The other two owners are Filipino . All of the owners are really nice people. This was my third time to Lotus Blue and the food is still very good. The fried rice is great. I have yet to try the special soup. They make a special chicken soup that cooks for many hours, but they only make…
- 24 mins ago, 23 Feb 12, 7:12am -

After getting many replies to my earlier requests for help in finding where to hold a surprise birthday dinner for 16 people on a saturday night that would not be cost prohibitive, I took several of your advice and we had our party at Legend. In short, it was a GREAT decision. The highlights:First, they were very accommodating. We ate downstairs and were set up with 2 tables in a semi-private space. Service was first rate...owner/manager waited on us with 2 servers and we never were lacking…
- 26 mins ago, 23 Feb 12, 7:10am -

I had an excellent lemon tart at Takahachi Bakery in Tribeca. They also have many Japanese pastries, my favorite being Maron (chestnut) pastry
- 31 mins ago, 23 Feb 12, 7:05am -

I love Jung Sik, I eat there quite often. My only recommendation is to ask for chopped kimchi with the kalbi dish. It makes it so much better. Even the chef agrees but afraid the clientele may not have the taste for that. I suggested he serve it on the side so people can decide. I always get it and mix it in.
- 37 mins ago, 23 Feb 12, 6:59am -

I agree on Tia Pol, not too good. Casa Mono I like but some dishes are not really tapas.Boqueria I'd have to say is my favorite. Degustation if they had the original chef back. The last time i went there it was bad, but it used to be excellent. When I was at Tertulia i did not recall any tapas, but maybe because i was more interested in pig and in paella. Flor de Sol has some good tapas dishes especially chorizo and potatoes and chicken villaroy.But it's old style dishes not gourmet type.
- 41 mins ago, 23 Feb 12, 6:55am -

I have fished the Canyons, Butterfish hole etc etc for tuna. I've fished for Striped bass at Montauk Point. and all other fish in New York area. You will never get fish as fresh as when you catch it. Years ago I used to watch the haul-seiners in East Hampton, pull in bass and blue fish in their nets and hold it until they had enough fish to make a worthwhile trip to the fish market. Those fish were a couple of days old before they even made it to the market and sold as fresh fish. If the fi…
- 46 mins ago, 23 Feb 12, 6:50am -

I've never heard of the Mulberry Hotel or Columbus Park, but thank you kathryn for locating these. I agree that a walk to other neighborhoods would be the best thing. The walk to Nolita, Soho, LES is not too far. Perhaps Osteria Morini for a good meal. Or for the special meal walk across Canal to Corton. You say casual/ fun, from your location chow/fun is easier to do.
- 55 mins ago, 23 Feb 12, 6:41am -