While standing on the sidewalk outside of 529 Hudson Street in the West Village the last thought that crosses your mind is that you’re about to walk into a modern Chinese restaurant. The 1828 townhouse that’s parlor-level space now holds Ed Schoenfeld’s RedFarm, has a rustic, farmhouse feel. Not your immediate vision of a modern Chinese restaurant but somehow the farm-look works. Ed Schoenfeld, a food expert responsible for Chinatown Brasserie, Pig Heaven, and other Asian restaurants throughout the city, grew up Jewish in Brooklyn but always gravitated toward Chinese cuisine. Schoenfeld is living proof that food can easily cross all boundaries no matter your culinary and cultural upbringing.
Can you believe that there is such a thing as National Paella Day? The flavorful Spanish rice dish, which originated in Valencia, is being celebrated today, Wednesday, March 27th at Barraca in the West Village and at Spanish eateries all over the country. To celebrate the national day of all things paella, Barraca’s paella gurus Executive Chef Jesus Nunez and owner Hector Sanz will offer a free plate of paella with the purchase of any drink like their Tequila & Moras made with Blanco Tequila, orujo, blackberry, and rosemary syrup or any of Barraca's house-infused sangrias such as the Sangria Valencia made from rosé, Oleo saccharum “citrus oil,” grapefruit juice, vodka, and ginger. Prepared in a giant paella pan, large enough to feed up to 60 people, guests will sample the delicious Paella de Tierra tonight from 5-7pm. The Paella de Tierra is a savory blend of chicken, rabbit, pork belly, and fava beans complete with Spanish staple ingredients like saffron, sofrito, bomba rice, all cooked in a rich, flavorful stock. Check out the “Paella Manifesto” on the Barraca menu for a step-by-step guide to how traditional paella is, and should be prepared, in restaurants and at home.
Upon first glance, 139 West 10th Street blends in with the century-old brownstones on this quiet, tree-lined West Village Street. On closer inspection though, you see the small white and black stencil sign above the door. This wooden sign tells you that this is not just another brownstone apartment building but rather De Santos, an inviting and warm restaurant with a deep connection to the arts throughout its history and in the present day. De Santos is co-owned by Alex González, the drummer of the hugely popular Mexican rock band Maná, Luis Miguel Amuito, and Sebastian Gonella. The owners all also have their own links to the world of art and music making 139 West 10th Street an appealing location for their Contemporary American restaurant.
Fans of Dirty Bird To-Go can breathe happy now that the West Village eatery has opened its second location in Tribeca. This larger location offers up fried and rotisserie chicken in three different ways - dipped in buttermilk and fried, slow-roasted, and fried chicken tenders. All the chicken is sustainable, free-range and locally sourced for the best quality meat. Chef Justin Crooks of North End Grill heads up the premises with additional signature menu items such as mac n cheese, sauteed garlic kale and plenty of daily specials. Specialty drinks such as The Dirty Palmer (lemonade, peach supreme iced tea), La Colombe coffee and more are all available at the new location.
West Village staple Barrio 47 launched their Farm to Shaker Series this past Monday to great success. Every Monday, mixologist Miguel Aranda (of Apotheke) will visit the bar to craft a new cocktail with the freshest ingredients from a local farm, shaken or stirred to perfection. The cocktails will sell for $14 each. The first to be debuted was the Strawberry & Fennel cocktail. For a look at what the future has to offer, check out the cocktails lined up next in the series:
Strawberry & Fennel: Fennel infused vodka, muddled strawberries and fennel, lime, and cane sugar
Lavender Margarita: Lavender infused tequila, Combier liquor, fresh agave, lime and orange
The Ride of Passion: Fresh pineapple infused mezcal, pink peppercorn and chipotle with a spicy pink Himalayan salt rim
West Village restaurant Barrio 47 is not just your run-of-the-mill eatery. Enter into the dimly lit, exposed brick restaurant and choose from a seat at the bar, a private table, or a communal table and get ready to feast like a king. The Mediterranean cuisine has a Spanish, French, and Italian influence served up by Chef Miguel A. Rosado from the outstanding red wood fire brick oven for all to see. Brothers Alex and Roman Volland head up this eight month old Village staple, who have had plenty of experience in the food world. Growing up in Paris, the brothers come from a family of foodies (their mother owned a restaurant), and have embarked on numerous projects at bars and restaurants around NYC. It is clear that they brought their old hat experience to Barrio 47, where the atmosphere it top notch, with food and drinks to match.
Vegetarian’s Paradise 2 is in a prime spot on West 4th Street in Manhattan, a high-traffic area situated close to the subway, as well as many bars, cafes, theaters, shops and other restaurants. This downtown restaurant is frequented mostly by couples and friends in their 20s and 30s, along with NYU students. It offers a friendly, yet sophisticated, atmosphere that is inviting, youthful, and not stuffy. VP2 is a popular spot in the Greenwich Village area, and is quite reasonably priced for a sit-down place.
Carlos Suarez of BOBO opened up Rosemary's in the West Village last Friday with executive chef Wade Moses (Eataly, Babbo). The restaurant, named for Suarez's mama, is inspired by her home in Lucca, Italy. The menu will feature produce from the rooftop farm, which was designed by Dekar to evoke an elegant Tuscan home. Seasonal Italian dishes from the menu include fresh pastas and a selection of focacce. Rosemary's will also offer take-out in the form of focacce, salads, panini, charcuterie, cheese, and roasted meats and the venue will be open for dinner, with breakfast, lunch, and take-out coming soon. The new joint features an impressive Italian wine list with 40 bottles, all priced at $40, as well as a reserve wine list and a broad selection of wines by the glass, including Prosecco on tap (awesome!).
Saturday night, NYC saw the return rebirth of Pink Elephant, originally perched on w 27th st., now relocated to the West Village.
The reinvented night club dangles some clear changes from its original design such as a larger dance floor and a focus more so on cocktails rather than bottle service.
Pink Elephant version 2012 includes the "infinity room," a maze-like mixology bar, and cabaret lounge that’ll function as an event space while the smaller 200 person capacity allows owners David Sarner and Robert Montwaid to be more selective of their guests.
Look out for the return of Pink Elephant in the West Village this May. Owners David Sarner and Robert Montwaird have shared that the new digs will be a much quieter experience offering high-end cocktails and live music. Formerly located in Chelsea, and famous for laser shows and bottle service, the previous incarnation closed in 2009 after the landlord filed for bankruptcy. The change in atmosphere isn’t the only news, Sarner and Montwaid are opening locations in Dubai and Los Vegas in the near future. For those interesting in being apart of the rebirth, bottle servers are now being hired.