First Course
Spice Market
Cuisine: Asian, Thai
Price Range: Expensive
Meatpacking District
403 West 13th Street
(at 9th Avenue)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 675-2322
www.spicemarketnewyork.com
In middle of the industrial Meatpacking District, the ornate, carved wood and delicate lanterns of Spice Market make diners feel like they’ve entered another world. The massive interior shows its warehouse roots, but embellishments like tall pagodas and curtains help divide it into more intimate spaces. The top floor features a bar roofed and encased in wood lattice work, a dining area situated around a large pagoda, and tables arranged around a grand open staircase the leads to the bottom floor. Guests pass through another pagoda on their descent and enter upon a dimly lit lounge area decorated with vintage luggage and birdcages. Three private dining areas with low bench seating and draped entryways line the back wall.
Ever wanted to know how your fave chefs craft their coveted culinary concoctions? Serious Eats compiled a list of food classes lead by some of Manhattan’s most notable chefs and nutritionists. Save money and fill your tummy with these informative sessions!
Join the Italian Wine Merchants at 108 16th Street on Saturday, January 10th from 1-3 p.m. to learn about wines from the regions of Northern Italy. Red and white wines from the Valle d'Aosta, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Alto-Adige, and Veneto regions will be examined. Call (212) 473-2323 or visit them online for reservations. $85 per person.
Westville
Cuisine: American
Price: Arugula and Parmesan Reggiano salad, $8
West Village
210 West 10th Street
(between Bleecker and W. 4th Street)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 741-7971
www.westvillenyc.com
For super tasty, no-nonsense health food, at totally affordable prices, visit Westville. With a commitment to keeping it predominantly green and relatively cheap, Westville’s slightly cramped tables are packed nightly. For $5, the corn on the cob, with lime cumin butter and cotija cheese, is a delicious steal. The arugula and Parmigian Reggiano salad, with lemon and extra virgin olive oil, and the crab burger, served on a Portuguese muffin with lettuce, tomato, spicy tartar, and fries, are also great meal deals.
Alternate Location:
East Village 173 Avenue A (at 11th Street)
New York, NY 10009 (212) 677-2933
It appears as if the long arm of the Department of Health has reached out and closed down Kefi due primarily to paperwork issues. Although, according to some, Kefi may also have had a little issue with vermin of an unidentified species making this month-old restaurant their home.The restaurant just recently expanded to a bigger location on Columbus Avenue in the Upper West Side.
The restaurant will be closed tonight and for the foreseeable future with no inspection date scheduled as of yet. The restaurant has been sharing details as to what happened (somewhat) and will give a statement shortly. This comes off the heels of the rave reviews it had been receiving recently, so expect an expedited resolution and reopening, if ownership has their way. [Eater]
Angelica Kitchen
Cuisine: Gourmet Vegan
Price Range: Moderate
East Village
300 E. 12th St.
(at 2nd Avenue)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 228-2909
www.angelicakitchen.com
Since its opening in 1976, Angelica Kitchen has been dedicated to serving fresh food. By buying from small, diversified local farms, Angelica is able to ensure that all ingredients hit your plate less than forty eight hours after harvest. Through their commitment to sound business practices, Angelica is also able to offer fair-trade, organic and environmentally responsible products at reasonable prices. Environmental activists can dine without guilt, vegetarians can indulge without fear of meat contamination and food-lovers can feast without feeling like rabbits. The SoCal themed interior and bohemian ambience supplies the perfect setting for dinner dates or lunch with friends.
As the fifth season of Top Chef continues to roll on, there is some news about some former contestants and judges of the popular show. According to Time Out, season five contestant and Centro Vinoteca sous chef Leah Cohen has received a promotion to chef de cuisine. Unfortunately this news serves as a bit of a spoiler for the rest of this season and it also makes her NYC Halloween costume look a little more prophetic.
Calling a restaurant “an over-rated, obnoxious, pompous, unsatisfying, overpriced, and underwhelming restaurant that serves a single, well-prepared dish” is a serious slap in the face. The latest shot taken at Peter Luger comes from Gersh Kuntzman of the Brooklyn Paper, but his displeasure for this restaurant runs much deeper than its food. According to Kuntzman, “being a customer at Peter Luger is like being an extra on a Hollywood movie set. Your presence is necessary, of course, but it[‘s] entirely incidental to the main action.”
Fried Dumpling
Cuisine: Chinese
Price: A dollar a dumpling
Lower East Side
99 Allen Street
(between Delancey and Broome Street)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 941-9975
There may only be three small tables at Fried Dumplings, but with dumplings ringing up at $1 each, it’s worth standing up for. The handmade dumplings are stuffed with either pork or vegetables, and then fried or boiled. Two condiment bottles, one featuring a blend of vinegar and soy sauce, the other a spicy chili sauce, adorn the menial seating area, where two people can fill up for under $10. While there are other yummy selections, including Da Bing, a plump sesame-encrusted “pancake” which is steamed and fried, it is the super affordable bite-sized dumplings that keep people coming back.
This inaugural year, Obama fans will celebrate with a pint...of ice cream! In honor of Obama taking office, Ben & Jerry’s will be renaming their butter pecan ice cream to “Yes Pecan” for the month of January. Even though the recipe will remain the same, we think everything tastes better with puns sprinkled on top.
Additionally, Spike from TopChef will be holding a ‘burger ball’ at his burger joint in Washington DC the day of Obama’s Inauguration. Obamamania fans will be able to dine on mini-burgers, mini-fries, mini-shakes, beer and wine for $99 a person.
