DELICIOUS DEBUTS

Members of the team of Avra and Tim Pappas are the team behind Anassa Taverna, the newest Greek restaurant in Midtown East.

Anassa's grand opening on Thursday, May 30th let guests take a first look at the impressive two-level interior, which features a large wood-paneled bar as the centerpiece of the first floor. Stairs lead to an upper level with white-cushioned booths, exposed white brick, and a view of the streets below. Traditional Greek worry beads and evil eyes are displayed and available for purchase at the entrance to the restaurant.

LIQUID COURAGE

Lindsay Autry finished third on Season 9 of Top Chef, but there is nothing third rate about this powerhouse touque. Autry collaborated with her Beverage Manager, Micheal Richards, to create a garden-inspired cocktail straight from their impressive Taru Gardens. “The gardens at Sundy House are filled with beautiful, unusual flowers and fruits that make for interesting and deliciously different cocktails,” said Chef Lindsay Autry.

Taru Gardens is a non-profit living species museum and garden located in what used to be the barren parking lot of Sundy House; the Delray Beach restraurant where Autry is Executive Chef. If you don't live close enough to sip on their latest cocktail creation, Grove Street, don't fear: the recipe is here!

CULINARY OCCASIONS

All hail bouillabaisse! Foodies will be busy preparing for a weeklong celebration, Bouillabaisse Week, honoring this delectable dish beginning today, May 31st. Nine restaurants in Manhattan are saluting bouillabaisse by contributing their own unique spins to this paramount fish stew. Hosted by The Tour de France Restaurant Group, this awesome summer kickoff toasts to everything bouillabaisse.

For those of you who have never had the opportunity to try bouillabaisse, you are in for an amazing treat. This spicy fish soup or stew usually incorporates an assortment of fish—shellfish, white fish—and saffron. Each ingredient is added individually to make up this marvelous fishy party. The different types of fish are combined with the boiling broth to make up a succulent revelation. Lowering the heat whenever the pot begins to boil is key. Simmered vegetables sometimes added for flavor include celery, leeks, onions, potatoes and tomatoes. The broth is generally accompanied with rouille—an olive oil mayonnaise made with saffron, garlic, chili peppers and breadcrumbs.

DAILY BITES

In simpler times, juice was straightforward. “I’m having juice” usually meant you were reaching for a carton of Tropicana, and the most complicated decision was between 'Some Pulp' and 'Lots of Pulp.'

Juice has become trendier since then, and more complicated. With juice bars popping up all over the country, customers can grab their favorite carrot-beet-apple-kale-parsley (don’t forget the fresh ginger) concoction on the way to work. It’s not uncommon to have a juice maker at home, or to know someone who swears by the health benefits of a juice cleanse.

DAILY BITES

Plates of steaming, sizzling meatballs smothered under veils of luscious tomato sauce waft past you. Fine beers and wines slowly waterfall into glasses. Where is this heavenly place may you ask? Heaven actually exists on earth—at a destination where the types of meatballs are endless and bountiful.

Specializing in preparing the most delicious balls in the world, The Meatball Shop welcomes all for an ultimate "ballistic" food experience. Completely chic and casual, the shop is a relaxing haven where kicking back and indulging your appetite is encouraged…with limitless meatball possibilities. Native New Yorkers and co-owners Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow wanted to give back to their amazing city through delectable homemade meatballs. The duo could not have put it more perfectly: “Enjoy the menu on your own terms, eat simple, eat sustainable, eat good food with no strings attached.”

CULINARY OCCASIONS

Compared to other neighborhoods in New York, the Times Square area isn't known for quality dining. The area still has plenty of restaurants, which will offer inexpensive samples at the Taste of Times Square Food and Music Festival on Monday, June 3rd.

Over 50 restaurants (find a full list here) will serve their signature dishes at the annual event. Visitors can buy tickets at $1 each to exchange for samples that usually cost between one and six tickets.

LIQUID COURAGE

If you haven’t been let into the cool kid club that is Birchbox (we waited for what felt like forever and a day) or any other mailings clubs for that matter, then Lot18's Tasting Room should be the first on your to do list. These clubs combine the sheer joy of receiving real mail in this digital age while allowing you to preview products, and occasionally services, that may have gone unnoticed in your search for the perfect BB cream, dog toy, or whatever delivered-to-your-door causing instant satisfaction service you’re currently subscribed to. Throw some wine delivered right to your house into the mix and you’ve got a recipe for success.

LIQUID COURAGE

Spice up your nights at this popular city venue, La Biblioteca—a library used strictly for broadening knowledge on tequila and other cocktail delights. This trendy restaurant highlights an impressive archive of 400 bottles, the creations of renowned estates, artisanal manufacturers, and small batch liquor producers. All are invited to savor the different textures and flavors at this exclusive scene. La Biblioteca provides an extraordinary and refined nightlife experience that should not be missed.

DAILY BITES

If you've never been introduced to Nice Matin's croque madame, you probably won't understand her.

'Fifteen dollars for a ham-and-cheese sandwich? Those French snobs are trying to rip me off,' you might think.

But put down your freedom fries and hold your judgments, because the only response to your doubts is non. Pas du tout.

Madame is a little miffed that you called her a sandwich. If you want to get all technical about it, fine—it's true. A croque madame has two pieces of bread with ham and cheese in the middle. But that's where the similarities end.

DAILY BITES

The controversy over genetically-modified foods came to a head this weekend, as protesters in 52 countries rallied against the St. Louis-based GMO giant Monsanto.

Demonstrators in the “March Against Monsanto” have called for legislation making labeling mandatory for all foods containing GMOs. Many also demand further scientific research about the risks of GMOs, or a general ban on genetically-modified foods.

SWEET TOOTH

This is for you if you were the kid who ate cupcakes by licking the frosting off first. Or if you still do, in which case more power (and napkins) to you.

If you think the bottom-most section of the cupcake destroys the cake-to-frosting ratio, which is obviously meant to be equal.

If you find the sugary, artificially-colored "frosting" on grocery store cupcakes personally insulting.

Frosting devotees, sweep all your other commitments aside and prioritize. Priority one: head to Butter Lane and order a frosting shot.