Join us for a night filled with the city’s best food, wine & spirits!

All The Tastes Of New York is pleased to announce its First Annual Food and Wine Festival. Spend an evening tasting the culinary delights from some of the city’s rich culinary landscape, of more than forty restaurants and wineries.

On October 17th, All The Tastes of New York is bringing all the flavors of the city under one roof. This memorable experience will be held at The Metropolitan Pavilion, which will be transformed into a culinary exploration destination.

Tantalize your taste buds with the latest trends the culinary world has to offer. It is your chance to sample the latest mouth-watering dishes featured on popular restaurant menus.

The finest wines and spirits from the most elite wineries and notable brands will be pouring their best creations. Guests will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to sample award-winning wines and current cocktail trends while sampling delicious eats and treats!

New York is known for it’s caliber of restaurants and as a culinary destination. It is also notorious for it’s vast variety of cuisines. The city is one of the few in the world where you can enjoy an authentic Greek meal and then walk next door to enjoy the newest Asian-fusion restaurant. Every flavor you desire is found in New York. Six of the world’s best restaurants and chefs reside in the city, repeatedly topping the world’s best of lists and drawing visitors around the globe to their tables each year. Imagine all those delectable dishes available to you in one palate pleasing evening! This is exactly what you will experience at the First Annual Food and Wine Festival.

Don’t miss this fabulous affair! Our First Annual Food and Wine Festival will showcase the best the city has to offer and is guaranteed to excite every palate.

Celebrate and indulge in all New York City has to offer. Eat, drink, and enjoy!

To purchase tickets, please visit www.allthetastesofnewyork.com for updates.

Tickets will go on sale soon!!

All The Tastes of New York
First Annual Food and Wine Festival
Metropolitan Pavilion, North Pavilion
110 W 19th Street, New York, New York
October 17th 2013
6 PM to 9 PM

For many on Long Island, this past weekend was filled with tastings of the world’s great wines. A Taste of Flight Wine Expo took off Friday and Saturday at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. The museum was filled with wine enthusiasts as they discovered the history of aviation and their new favorite wine.

Thousand of wine connoisseurs gathered with their glasses for a sip of each variety. The wineries offered something for every pallet including a few select reserve bottles. Global Wines, Winebow and Vision Wine Brands brought international wines from Argentina to Australia.  Local Long Island wineries were also well represented with Raphael Winery and Parducci Wines showcasing their favorite bottles.

Delicious locally-made traditional food pairings of cheese and bread were served along side the wines. Tom Cat Barkery served  their Cranberry Raisin Walnut Bread and The Big Cheese offered a nice variety of New York state cheeses. Many lined up for dessert at Brix Chocolate and Mickey’s Pastry Shop. Brix Chocolate had a chocolate to match each wine at the event.  

Smooth jazz filled the air as the vocalist of the Jazz Trio crooned out classic favorites. It set the perfect tone for strolling the museum with a glass of red in hand.

This was the first year for A Taste of Flight. Judging from the accolades from the guests, the event will definitely be back next spring.

tasteflightli.com

Luxury Yacht Charters

We are excited to announce that All The Tastes of New York is now offering Luxury Yacht Charters.

Cruise up the Hudson River, around NYC or the Long Island Sound. Each charter is designed around your specifications and offered for either a full or half day. Enjoy time on the water with a fully catered food and cocktail/wine menu to suit your needs. We also have a variety of water sports available in the warmer months. All charters depart from Chelsea Piers.

Come relax and enjoy on a luxurious nautical experience. 

Top Tapas

When I first walked into Boqueria, I noticed two things right away: 1) The dining area was well-lit and featured people eating at communal tables and 2) It smelled amazing. Due to the kitchen being open to the dining area, the diners on the floor are privy to the bouquet of aromas that belie Boqueria’s delicious tapas. Having recently opened a new location in Soho, Boqueria brands itself as a restaurant that serves authentic, well-made Spanish-style tapas. Perfect for large groups or a date, this restaurant boasts an atmosphere that is equal parts intimate and frantic. On a busy night, Boqueria can get packed with up to an hour long wait, driving desperate customers to vie for a seat at one of the communal tables. The wine list has about 20 different wines by the glass, all separated according to the most prominent flavor profile, (very useful for those of us who describe a particular wine as “tasting like sticks and dirt” when we actually mean “earthy”.) The regular dinner menu has two main categories: “tapas” and “meat and cheese”. The meat and cheese section features exclusively Spanish imported cheese and meats such as the Garrotxa cheese from Catalunya or the Sobrasada, a soft pork sausage from the island of Mallorca, flavored with pimentón.

The tapas menus is what’s really dazzling at Boqueria. Although the menu is largely in Spanish and can be a bit difficult to navigate, (I frantically searched for the word, “cava” amidst unfamiliar terminology under “sparkling whites”), the very friendly servers at Boqueria are more than happy to assist you. For something simple yet satisfying, the Pan con Tomate features a thick cut of bread with a fresh blend of tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic. Just as satisfying but richer is the Cojonuda, fried quail eggs and chorizo on toast. Boqueria makes an unbeatable Tortilla Española that’s warrants a dinner reservation all on its own. Boqueria’s tortilla has all the attributes of the traditional tapa, an omelet with confit potatoes and onions, but it’s light, soft, and impossibly flavorful. For 19 dollars a person, you can also sample the Paella de Mariscos, or seafood paella. Unlike some places that serve paella using day-old rice and the ingredients sitting on top of the dish, Boqueria blends their paella using saffron, salsa verde, monkfish, squid, clams, mussels, and sepia. It arrives at the table looking like a veritable feast but, depending on who you’re with, it goes quickly.

Because Boqueria cooks on the plancha, you can sometimes leave with the scent of the evening’s dinner still lingering on your clothes. But with food this good, it’s nice to be able to hold on to its memory until the next time you drop off the dry cleaning.

Boqueria Flatiron location is 53 West 19th Street. It’s open Thursday through Saturday from 12 PM to 12 AM and Sunday through Wednesday from 12 PM to 11 PM. You can make a reservation by calling (212)255-4160.

By Ashley Pharaoh

Ready, Set, Cupcakes!

It’s hard to say what exactly makes Ivy Bakery and Lounge so charming. It could be the Christmas lights strung haphazardly against the brick walls or the large table housing baked goods on top and vintage board games like Battleship, Boggle, and Jenga beneath. Or it could be the sweet playlist full of catchy 50’s tunes like Earth Angel, Mr. Postman, or a swinging number by the Crystals. Ivy Bakery has the feel of a kitchen - tchotchkes are scattered about to create an intimate space that’s perfect for an afternoon chat over brownies or a pastry-fueled game of Risk in the late evening. On this particular day, the bakery was busy preparing for its third annual cupcake-eating contest. Cute gift bags were lined up on the floor and the display cases were being filled at an alarming rate. Perhaps the most impressive element at Ivy Bakery that day was Daniellan, the owner. Although she was obviously busy getting ready for their big day, she still had time to help me choose my desserts and talk a little bit about the bakery. “I hope people still come out despite the rain,” she said, barely a hint of worry in her tone. “We’ve been open for twelve years now, but this is our first year at this location.”

Daniellan bakes much of the goods herself, including the flourless peanut butter cookie, which is made of only three ingredients: eggs, sugar, and peanut butter. It tastes wonderfully homemade and is crumbly on the outside with a dense, melt-in-your-mouth inside. For those who were participating in the cupcake-eating contest that day, Daniellan baked her classic chocolate cupcake. The chocolate whipped topping is buttery and the cake itself has the tinge of bitterness that all chocolate desserts should have but so rarely do. Ivy Bakery also serves unique items like the Tres Leches Cup. Departing a bit from the traditional Mexican dessert layered with dulce de leche, Ivy Bakery’s version focuses more on the actual cake, which is moist and almost pudding-like, topped with a dollop of fresh whip. The most popular item on the menu, the buttermilk pie, has a lovely custard filling and a light, soft crust. The bakery also offers nostalgic beverages like orange creams and floats in addition to organic coffees and teas.

Facebook had been abuzz for days in anticipation of the day’s contest which was from 2 PM to 2 AM. Daniellan mentioned that in other years, lines of eager participants have stretched down the block and on to the street. As I left that day, the clouds lifted and the sun came out, revealing a few cupcake enthusiasts curiously eyeing the sign advertising the contest. But I’m sure Daniellan already knew that a little rain wasn’t enough to scare off the hungry competitors.

Ivy Bakery and Lounge is located at 138 West Houston Street. It’s open from 9 AM  - 11 PM Sunday through Thursday and from 9 AM - 2 AM Friday through Saturday.  You can place custom orders by calling (347) 598 - 3452.

By Ashley Pharaoh

Hidden Cellar in the Village

In the West Village on 8th Street, nestled amongst shoe stores and head shops, is a sweet, intimate wine bar perfect for first dates and casual get-togethers. Now if we could only find it…

Lacking any signage whatsoever, 8th Street Winecellar can be a bit tough to locate. Situated between MacDougal St. and 5th Ave., this venue is marked only by the short flight of steps leading into it, unless you’re lucky enough to stop by during happy hour (4-7 PM), in which case there’s always a sign hanging outside boasting the $18 bottle special and $5 glasses of the day.On a busy night, this tiny cellar can get packed with up to an hour-long wait. It’s worth it if there’s a possibility of participating in happy hour at the bar in the meantime, but be prepared to stand around for awhile since most customers get settled at their tables and like to luxuriate for as long as possible. It’s easy to see why - the place is cozy and candlelit with warm mahogany walls and a small, and inviting dining area . Finishing touches like the smooth, easy surface of the bar and the “wine shrine” in the back of the room all lend to an atmosphere that is equal parts relaxed and classic.

The wine list is designed to be approachable and easy to navigate, offering bottles that are all under $100 and ranging from traditional French bordeaux to New World picks from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. For those who’d like some dinner with their wine, the kitchen offers up dishes like bacon and figs, an appetizer-like meal of dried figs, pancetta-style bacon, and mascarpone, drizzled with a balsamic reduction. A perfect blend of salty and sweet, this treat pairs well with the cellar’s full-bodied Cotes Du Rhone by the glass. For lighter fare, the tuna sliders make for a satisfying gingery bite with a side of crunch in the pickled cucumber salad.

Owners Jonny Cohen and Michael Lagnese try to keep 8th Street Winecellar’s libations seasonal. The summer list tends to favor lighter reds and crisp, mineral whites while the dinner options include locally sourced dishes like the sweet corn quesadilla and the tomato-basil bruschette.

At times quiet and relaxed and at others, loud and crowded, 8th Street’s vibe changes on a nightly basis, adapting to suit the mood of the patrons. The personable staff is well-equipped to handle any situation and does so with a fun blend of humor and professionalism. Like any successful wine bar, 8th Street Winecellar knows what’s important to its customers - an excellent staff, a comfortable atmosphere, and (of course) plenty of great wine.

8th Street Winecellar is located at 28 W 8th St. and is open from 4 PM - 2 AM everyday. Dinner is served until 11 PM Sunday - Thursday until 11 PM and Saturday and Sunday until 12 AM before switching over to the Late Night Menu for the rest of the evening. The cellar also serves Happy Hour everyday from 4 PM - 7 PM (I also happen to know that sometimes, they stay open past 2 AM depending on what the crowd is like that night.) You can’t make reservations, but you can call with any questions at 212-260-9463.

By Ashley Pharaoh

Hearty Brunching at Perla

It was only recently that I sought out (read: woke up in time for) the lunch menu at Perla, which has been available Friday through Sunday for about a month now. Under the watchful eye of owner Gabe Stulman, Perla has already established itself as a village fine dining hot spot. Its fabulous dinner menu offers an array of Italian-inspired dishes with a creative twist, and I expected the lunch fare to be no different.

I kicked my meal off with a healthy dose of Vitamin A and ordered a bloody mary. Perla has two of them on their menu, and I opted for the cleverly named “Beetlejuice”. This cocktail differs a bit from the traditional brunchtime staple by ditching the usual tomato juice and worcestershire in favor of pickled beet juice and soy sauce. The drink arrived looking a purple-y shade of red, garnished with cherry tomatoes and green beans. (I began to feel worrisome, as I’m always skeptical of extra servings of vegetables.) After gingerly taking a sip, I decided that this was the best damn bloody mary I’ve ever had in New York - the perfect blend of savory and spicy with the soy sauce lending a unique, salty flavor to the cocktail.

I ordered the beef cheek sandwich, which is served open faced with sunnyside-up eggs and porcini mustard. Although messy and a tad salty for my taste, the beef cheek was wonderfully tender, while the mustard gave the dish an earthy element that complimented its big flavor. The crispy branzino sandwich was even better. I was relieved that I didn’t have to filet my own fish, which I attempted the last time I came to Perla and ordered the whole roasted branzino off the dinner menu. (Chef Michael Toscano was extremely gracious and coached me through the whole process even though I’d already had half a bottle of wine and was struggling to figure out whether or not to cut off the head first.) The piccata aioli with pickled peppers served as a fancy tartar sauce and gave the familiar fried fish sandwich a little extra bite.

Finally, I was ready for something sweet, so the lovely wine director, Jen Sgobbo, brought out an order of foie gras pancakes with peaches and maple syrup. As a new believer in the powers of foie gras, I was delighted when Jen told us that they not only use foie in the actual batter, but the pat of butter on top is also made with foie gras. These hotcakes were mind-blowing and delivered a powerful combination of sweet, peachy jamminess and a dense, nutty chew. I’m sure they’ll become a brunchtime favorite. Although there’s always a price to pay at fine dining restaurants (even at lunchtime), you can rest assured that at Perla, you’re getting a seriously well-crafted meal with excellent service. My server, Megan, sported pigtails, a skirt, and the classic homegrown hospitality that has become synonymous with Little Wisco, Stulman’s restaurant group. If you’re ever in the neighborhood on a weekend, be sure to check this place out—there’s usually a seat and a smile waiting at the bar.

Perla is located at 24 Minetta Lane, New York, NY 10014 and is open for dinner Sunday - Wednesday from 4:30 pm to 11 pm and Thursday - Saturday from 4:30 pm to midnight. They open for lunch Friday - Sunday from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. You can call ahead to make reservations at 212-933-1824.

By Ashley Pharaoh

thatluciegirl:

Considering how much of the stuff I inhale a day, this cereal bar is all kinds of amazing.

foodieconnoisseur:

The 2012 Olympics is the global event of the summer as we cheer on the world’s best athletes. Most importantly though it is a chance to highlight each country, it’s culture, and allow the world to come together and celebrate in unity.

I found this photo today of “National Flags Made From Food”. While my first thought seeing this was how relevant it is to the Olympics and of course how delicious all the flags look, I also felt this photo emulates how the Olympics celebrates the uniqueness of every country. Each flag is not just made from any food it is made up of food that is prominent to that country and it’s culture. All the flags in this photo have been brought to life in a new and edible way.

Now when it comes to which one I would want to eat the most, that’s a tough decision. I’m thinking because of my sweet tooth I would choose the British flag made of scones, clotted cream, and jam. How appropriate since the 2012 Olympics are in London.

Which of these flags looks the most delicious to you?

lickystickypickywe:

Papa Johns founder and CEO warns that pizza prices will rise under Obamacare, wants it repealed ( and basically wants you to vote for Romney)

f0o0od:

Healthy Blackened Salmon Tacos