Tucked away on Hudson Street, Piora acts like a secret garden of sorts. I’m not just referring to the beautiful landscaping tucked away behind a glass window in the back area of intimate restaurant. Whimsical dishes and a well-known chef, plus a recent two-star review by Pete Wells should pack the house, yet this West Village newbie seems relatively unknown to most. While a reservation … Continue reading Piora
The Upper West Side is often deemed a culinary waste. A few good restaurants scattered into the mix of extremely mediocre ones. For brunch, I generally find myself making the short trek up to the W. 80s or taking a necessary subway trip elsewhere. On this particular Saturday, I went against my best judgment and decided to try Luce, an Italian spot with white table … Continue reading Luce
Eggplant parmesan always tops my list of favorite foods. The oozing mozzarella cheese, silky cooked eggplant and sweet, savory tomato sauce meld together to create an irresistible dish. I’m always looking to find a simpler, healthier way to enjoy my favorite dish regularly. Cue: grilled eggplant parm stacks. This dish came about after a decent amount of experimenting to create the perfect, easy dish. Buy a few simple ingredients, … Continue reading Grilled Eggplant Parm Stacks
The hottest implant from Boston quickly gained serious praise, celebrity sightings and attractive crowds. Snagging a reservation at Toro requires advanced planning and flexibility with time, since this West Village tapas bar has been generating buzz since opening day. Fans of the Boston location complain about the significantly higher prices in New York, which owners blame on rent. The tapas are equally delicious and innovative, … Continue reading Toro
My mom and I had the wonderful pleasure of attending New York Taste 2013 benefiting City Harvest. We both had never attended a food festival and really didn’t know what to expect. As it turns out, these kind of events, especially this one run by New York Magazine, are absolutely incredible and exceed all expectations. First of all, everything is included, open bar, limitless portions … Continue reading New York Taste
Cooking with friends easily tops my list of favorite activities. Everyone contributes, sips wine and enjoys the fruits of our hard labor. Taco night topped the list of things to make after a beautiful fall day of hiking. I opted to modify a Tyler Florence’s Carne Asada recipe, since you usually can’t go wrong with his ‘ultimate’ dishes. First step involved marinating and prepping the … Continue reading Carne Asada Tacos
Beer lovers rejoice at Top Hops, a craft-brew shop and tasting bar on the Lower East Side. The establishment doubles as a store and bar hang out creating a warm and vibrant atmosphere that’s really all about the suds. Ted Kenny, a former Anhuser-Bush sales executive, left corporate America to open the shop of his dreams. Over twenty rotating drafts flow in pint size glasses … Continue reading Top Hops Beer Shop
Picture This: fashion forecasting coordinator and political nerd out for brunch, standing at the bar waiting for their table to be set up. Michael Kors whizzes past wearing dark sunglasses, a black jacket and light jeans, snagging our table and forcing us to wait a few minutes longer. Just as we begin to make our way towards the host stand to inquire about our now … Continue reading Cafe Cluny
The Political Foodie 