First Course New York

Spice Up Your Valentine's Day with Aphrodisiac Tea

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:41:42 -0500

DAVIDsTEA, the tea shop that originated in Montreal, Canada and recently opened two shops in New York on the Upper East Side and West Village, is continuing to expand their loose-leaf tea collection by creating a special one for Valentine's day. DAVIDsTEA uses ingredients from all over the world to make exclusive blends that have interesting flavor combinations.

They are offering two "Love Elixirs" for Valentine's day as well as a Sweetheart Collection. Their "Love Elixirs" combine ancient aphrodisiacs from around the world to get him or her in the mood for love.

The Love Elixir for Him has vitality enhancers to get your man going. It is an herbal blend with muira puma, which is meant to increase your desire for love. It also includes hibiscus, damiana leaf, and wild yam root. Schizandra berries are also part of the mix. They are not only an aphrodisiac but this berry will also increase brain function, give a boost of energy and is typically used for medicinal purposes for longevity.

The Love Elixir for Her is a black tea that combines what every woman wants, cocoa nibs and dried strawberries. It is combined with sarsaparilla, to increase stamina, and damiana leaf, to boost sexual potency.

The Sweetheart Collection is a mix of five loose-leaf seasonal teas meant for the cold weather. Hot Lips is a green tea with cinnamon and pink peppercorns. Snuggle up with your loved one on the couch with Love Tea #7, a blend of black tea, cocoa nibs, dried strawberries and rose petals.

For more information or to order these teas, please Click Here to visit their website.

The Taste of Love: Valentine's Day Restaurant Picks

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:17:00 -0500

Getting ready to celebrate Valentine's Day with that special someone? Any idea where you want to dine? You have come to the right place. With so many restaurants in New York City, sometimes it is difficult to take a chance on a new place to dine because you are looking to make this one count. Surprise your loved one and take them to a place that will blow last year's choice out of the water.

Eleven Madison

11 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10010 (212) 889-0905

Have you been saving for this special day? If you are prepared to splurge, your money will be well spent at this 4-star gem located in Gramercy. Chef Daniel Humm has prepared a six course tasting menu for $350 per person. It is super pricey but if your goal is to impress your significant other, this is certainly the place.

First Course

Cauliflower, Taboule Salad with Olives and Orange

Second Course

Foie Gras Torchon with Maple Syrup, Apples and Spice Bread

Third Course

Poached Lobster with Green Tea and Carrots

Fourth Course

Poached Sole with Black Truffles and Celery

Fifth Course

Roasted Beef Rib Eye with Wood Sorrel

Dessert

Chocolate Snow with Bergamont and Olio Verde

Annisa

13 Barrow Street New York, NY 10014 (212) 741-6699

Six courses too much? What about five? Chef Anita Lo's restaurant, Annisa, located on Barrow Street is serving a five course tasting menu for $110 per person with an option to have a wine paired with each course for an additional $42 per person. Start with the Widow's Hole Oysters with black caviar, beets and horseradish or opt for the Wagyu Tayaki, served black and blue with Korean red chili, shiso and land caviar. You can also choose to have the Chicken with Foie Gras served with savoy cabbage and brussels sprouts or the Veal Cheeks and Sweetbread with polenta and mushrooms. Is dessert your favorite part? Have the Chocolate and Blood Orange Parfait or get romantic and share the White Chocolate Fondue for two.

Recette

328 West 12th Street New York, NY 10012 (212) 410-3000

Recette is also offering a five course tasting for $125 per person with a wine pairing which has not been priced yet. This urban American restaurant has a elegant yet casual decor to make less serious couples feel comfortable. The menu is innovative and simultaneously simple but delicious. Take a look at their tasting menu listed below.

First Course

Big Eye Tuna, Oyster, Parsnip Purée, Caviar, Bonito Broth

Second Course

Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Cuttlefish, Black Truffle, Winter Root Vegetables

Third Course

Roasted Sable Fish, Lobster Fricasse, Wild Mushroom, Lobster Emulsion

Fourth Course

Sous Vide Beef Tenderloin, Onion Rings, Creamed Spinach, Sauce Perigourdine

Dessert

Passion Fruit Bavarian, Milk Chocolate Cremeux, Blood Orange Gelée, Hazelnuts

Locanda Verde

377 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10013
(212) 925-3797

Not into tasting menus? Would you like more options for dinner? You should probably check out Locanda Verde in Tribeca. On the day meant for celebrating love also celebrate life while you choose delicious food items from their a la carte menu which offers small crostini plates, antipasti, pasta dishes and entrees. Some of our favorite dishes include the Blue Crab Crostini and the Steak Tartara Piedmontese. At this place, you can never go wrong with one of their house-made pastas. Click Here to check out the full menu.

Ai Fiori

400 5th Avenue New York, NY 10018 (212) 613-8660

How much more romantic can you get? With a name that means "amongst the flowers" in Italian, Chef Michael White's restaurant, Ai Fiori located in the Setai Hotel, is the place to dine on Valentine's Day. For $150 per person you get a six course tasting menu that includes pasta, fish dishes and meat options leaving dessert to chef's discretion. Add a wine pairing for an additional $110 per person.

First Course

Branzino -striped bass crudo, American sturgeon caviar, meyer lemon

Torchon- foie gras au naturel, bosc pear, almond zabaglione, toasted brioche

Second Course

Spaghetti- blue crab, lemon, bottarga, chilies

Risotto al Tartufo Nero- black truffle, riso acquarello

Third Course

Astice- butter poached nova scotia lobster, root vegetable fondant, château chalon sauce

Ippoglosso- line caught atlantic halibut, lentils du pays, black trumpets, lardo, salsify

Fourth Course

Vitello- amish veal chop “au four”, saltimbocca, new potatoes

Anatra- pan roasted duck, foie gras, chestnuts, radicchio, juniper

Pre-Dessert

Dessert

Asiate

80 Columbus Circle #35 New York, NY 10023 (212) 805-8881

Want a place with a view? The Asiate not only has great food but it also has a romantic atmosphere with a great view of New York City. This restaurant, located in the Mandarin Hotel is offering a five course chef's tasting menu during their first seating for $150 per person and a six course tasting menu for $250 during their second seating. A champagne pairing is also available for $100 per person. The menu is listed below, second seating receives both fourth course options.

First Course

Green Market Fruits, Vegetables, Spices of Winter

Lieb Family Cellars, Blanc de Blancs, Brut, North Fork of Long Island 2007

Second Course

Sashimi- Meyer Lemon, Marscapone, Caviar

Marc Hebrart, Rosé, Brut, Premier Cru, à Mareuil-sur-Ay, France NV

Third Course

Risotto- White Chocolate, Cauliflower, Langoustine

Taittinger, Brut, "Cuvée Prestige," Reims, France NV

Fourth Course

(Please Select One)

Sea Bass- Red Miso, Chinese Celery, Consommé

Laurent Perrier, Rosé, Brut, Tours-Sur-Marne NV

Beef Strip Loin

Beef Strip Loin- Smoked Potato, Green Peppercorn

Dom Pérignon, Brut, Épernay, France 1999

Dessert Duo

Chocolate Chiboust, Fresh Strawberries

Mascarpone Ice Cream, Raspberry Granité, Caramel Tuile

Coppo, Brachetto d'Acqui, "Passione," Piedmont, Italy 2007

Behind the Plate with Chef Bernie Matz

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:30:00 -0500

I arrived at the modest restaurant on Alton Road crammed between a Starbucks and a sushi place. Bernie's L.A. Cafe is pretty plain with the exception of colorful signage on the window, and a bright red tile wall, but edible treasures await for all who venture inside.

Bernie arrived wearing a casual gray t-shirt and immediately greeted me with a smile and a handshake. After a brief anecdote about Castro's Cuban takeover, his parents emigrating to Miami and his subsequent upbringing in a Cuban-Catholic neighborhood, we started to talk about his passion-turned-business. Matz said he's been cooking since he was a kid. His metaphorical bread and butter used to be a media company, which he says went downhill after 9/11. So, after that he went to culinary school. And hated it.

Fast forward to 2010, when Bernie's LA Cafe opens and becomes his second successful restaurant in South Beach; the first being the Cafe at Books and Books with prime location on Lincoln Road. Despite its huge success, Bernie says the Cafe at Books & Books happened by accident. Bookshop owner, Mitchell Kaplan, sampled his cooking one day and insisted Bernie start a restaurant on his property. They joined forces and the Cafe was opened in 2005.

Although there are plenty of meat dishes on the menu, Bernie recommends eating Vegan as often as you can. (No doubt his mother, Vegan for several decades, might have had some influence.) And try to stay away from processed "meats." (With the exception of Bernie's vegetarian chicken. It's the best meat substitute I've ever eaten. Ever.) Fresh, whole natural foods are simply the way to go.

Cooking isn't just a business for Bernie. In fact, he wishes it wasn't a business at all, rather, a hobby. (I wish my hobbies were half as successful as his.) "Food should be an artform," he muses. "People aren’t just seeing or smelling your art, they’re consuming your art.”

What's his secret to delicious, healthy food-art? It's not something he does, it's what he doesn't do. In Matz's menus and recipes, you will find no butter or cream, no frozen, canned or processed food, no dry herbs, and no preservatives. Then, it's just a matter of making the plates look pretty - which they do quite well here at Bernie's and Books & Books. For locals, both places are welcomed oases from the surrounding overpriced, tourist-targeted eateries that dish out heavy, fatty "authentic" Latin food like it's going out of style. And you know how stylish people want to be in South Beach.

If you want to try your hand at cooking Bernie's SoFlo cuisine, you can purchase up a copy of his 'fresh & healthy family style' cookbook Bernie's Kitchen online or at either of his restaurants. It even comes with a DVD if you'd rather watch Bernie in action.

The Café at Books & Books
933 Lincoln Rd
Miami Beach, FL 33109
(305) 695-8898

Bernie's LA Cafe
1570 Alton Rd
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 535-8003

bernieslacafe.com

Whitehall: Indulge in a Gin Cocktail or a Great Meal

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:03:00 -0500

The owners of Highlands, a contemporary Scottish gastropub, and Mary Queen of Scots have done it again, and this time with Gin. Whitehall, located on Greenwich Avenue in the West Village, is a Restaurant/Bar that is trying to capture the quintessence of modern British cuisine while crafting cocktails celebrating the complex, and beautiful aromatic flavors of an underrated spirit, gin.

The dim lit restaurant sweeps you off the streets of New York City, and brings you to London where the structure and decor of the restaurant have been influenced by the city's green gardens and train stations, according to Whitehall's website. The modern light bulbs produce a romantic, intimate yet comfortable atmosphere, making it the perfect place to have a first date or dine with your closest friends.

The cocktails were incredible, and most of them were a perfect balance of tart and sweet. The Sloe Gin Fizz was exquisite and by far the best one. The velvety consistency just slides back so easily and it tastes like a treat. The Aviation cocktail made with gin, maraschino liqueur, creme de violette and lemon is the cocktail for you if you like things bitter sweet. They have mastered an all-time favorite, the Negroni by perfectly blending equal parts gin, campari and carpano (sweet vermouth). They even add a special touch of grapefruit bitters which really perfected this classic cocktail.

What were our favorites? Everything! We started with the fish fritters served with aioli that were being offered as a special snack while we waited for the rest of our party to arrive. Soft and hot rolls served with a salted butter are made in house and baked to perfection.

For starters the Pan Roasted Squid, with housemade spicy pork sausage, fingerling potatoes and relish, was incredible. All the flavors were nicely layered and hit the palate in a way that automatically transported you to a happy moment in time. The Oysters Kilpatrick with smoked bacon and worcestershire dressing featured our favorite flavor combination- spicy, bacon, smokey and sweet. The pressed Duck Terrine with homemade mustard and bread was very tasty. For this dish, it would not be much without the kick from the mustard. The Whitehall Salad is light and sweet with Ouray cheese and topped with a poached egg. The sliced pears and pear vinaigrette are tossed in with the greens creating a simple but delicious salad to go alongside the other starters.

For mains, the Grilled Lamb Sirloin is a must-have. Garlic Rosemary potatoes are put on the side with cos lettuce that has been lightly tossed in a dressing. Underneath the lamb, sits a mushed pea fritter and peas. The mint sauce adds a nice fresh flavor to the dish. It is first braised to make it tender then grilled, making this meat dish extremely tender and probably ranking as one of our favorites. The Roasted Chicken was paired with celery hearts, celeriac puree and a tarragon and watercress vinaigrette. The chicken was cooked to a tee and had the nice flavor of goat's cheese butter added to it. More into fish? The Grilled Mackeral was a lighter entree option, but still was able to compete with the other mains. The potato salad with pickled red onion and lemon mustard dressing really completed the dish, and brought out all the wonderful qualities that mackerel has to offer.

Too full for dessert? Whitehall is not the place to turn down sweets to avoid the extra calories. Their Spiced Carrot Torte is topped with a scoop of toasted coconut sherbet and rum-raisin sauce. The icing is divine and pouring the whiskey hot fudge from their Bitter Chocolate Fondant dessert all over the cake, does wonders for the soul. The fondant is warm and delicious and has a scoop of earl grey-maple ice cream on the side. The Honey Crisp Apple Charlotte (for two) is what everyone recommends, we will have to go back to try it.

The service at Whitehall is spot on. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and ready to promote the new establishment. The server outfits are adorable, with a unisex apron that criss-crosses in the back and plaid shirts. Our server, Lynn, gave great recommendations and never missed a beat with the timing of our meal. We recommend dining during the week because the weekends can be hectic. However their brunch menu, which is offered on Saturday and Sunday days, sounds like it would be worth dealing with a crowded establishment. The difficult part of this scenario would be choosing between the Whiskey French Toast with spiced mulled quince topped with whipped cream and maple syrup and the Banana and Brown Sugar Porridge.

19 Greenwich Avenue (West 10th Street); (212) 675-7261; whitehall-nyc.com

Double the Fun in Feb at Sushisamba

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:42:00 -0500

Japanese SAMBAHour launched on February 1st and is a Japanese inspired happy hour at both Sushisamba locations. The happy hour, which is available on weekdays, takes place from 4-7pm, and features Japanese entertainment and workshops. Enjoy delectable bites such as kuromitsu glazed pork belly buns and spicy scallop gunkan, as well as a selection of Japanese beers and sakes.

But that's not all that's going on this month at the well-known resto. On February 18th, Sushisamba will be hosting a special Carnaval to mark Rio de Janeiro's most noted celebration. Enjoy live performances by shimmering samba dancers, dance to batucada drummers, and pick dishes off of their regular a la carte menu. The celebration will commence at 9pm and (sadly) end at 1am. Both locations will broadcast a live feed of the celebration in Brazil and will be serving up their tasty Carnaval Cocktail ($12, leblon, domaine de canton, fresh kiwi, champagne). There will also be yummy carnval food specials!

Shimmy your way to Sushisamba this month and partake in all of their lively festivities inspired by countries around the world!

Pork Cheek Tacos at Mercadito for Share Our Strength

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:30:00 -0500

Stop by Mercadito this month and try Chef David Blonsky's smoked pork cheek taco as part of Chef Patricio Sandoval's Tacos for Strength campaign.

“It’s the taco lovechild of the best of Mexican and barbeque flavors," says Chef Blonsky, of Bull & Bear and Public House. More complex than many of the other tacos on Mercadito's menu, tender pork cheek is nestled in a housemade corn tortilla and topped with salsa verde and crispy shallots, queso fresco and espelette pepper. An order of four tacos is $16.50 at dinner and a lunch order of three is $12.50. Five percent of the proceeds from these tacos will go to Share Our Strength, dedicated to ending childhood hunger.

Here's the recipe for you ambitious home cooks, but I'll just swing by Mercadito to satisfy my taco craving:

Smoked Pork Cheek Tacos with Salsa Verde Pistou:

Ingredients:

5 pounds Pork cheeks, cleaned

2 each Carrots, peeled and rough chopped

2 each Spanish onion, peeled and rough chopped

6 stalks Celery, rough chopped

5 sprigs Thyme

3 each Bay leaves, fresh

1 sprig Rosemary

¼ bunch Parsley

3 tbs. Smoked paprika, dolce

½ cup Mezcal

2 quarts Pork demi glace, made in house

Hickory wood

Apple wood

Espelette pepper to garnish

Queso fresco, grated for garnish

Salsa verde pistou

Directions:

1. Smoke pork cheeks at 200 degrees with 3 parts hickory to 1 part apple wood. Allow to cool.

2. Heat a large sauté pot with oil, sear the pork cheeks, remove and set aside. In the same pot, caramelize the onions, carrots and celery. Add pork cheeks and deglaze with mezcal, add in herbs, season with salt and pepper and cover with pork demi. Cover pot with aluminum foil and place in 350 degree oven for 3 hours, or until pork cheeks are fork tender.

3. Remove pork cheeks and then strain the sauce. Place pork cheeks back in sauce and cool down together.

4. Slice pork cheeks and griddle to add a nice crust, place back in braising liquid and keep warm.

5. Place meat in tortillas, spoon some of the braising liquid on top then add salsa verde pistou and garnish with crispy shallots, queso fresco and sprinkle the esplette pepper on top.

Salsa Verde Pistou

Ingredients:

½ cup Bread crumbs

2 tbs Red wine vinegar

1 cup chopped parsley

½ cup Olive oil

1 tbs. Capers

1 tbs. Pine nuts

10 each Pitted olives

2 each Anchovies

1 each Cloves of garlic

1 each Hard boiled egg yolk

Directions:

1. Stir together breadcrumb and vinegar in a bowl.

2. In food processor, mix parsley, oil, capers, pine nuts, olives, anchovies, garlic and egg yolk until smooth.

3. Stir mixture into breadcrumb and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Delectable Donuts of NYC

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:54:00 -0500

ATTENTION ALL DONUT LOVERS: Here is a list of must-haves in the donut department. From glazed to jelly to Boston creme, we know where to get the best deep fried dough in the city!

Dough

305 Franklin Avenue Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn

347 533 7544

There is nothing like having one of their Nutella cream-filled donuts when they are hot and fresh. No wonder this place made it on the top of our list, Dough plays around with creative flavors like hibiscus, dulce de leche with toasted almonds and chocolate with cacao nibs. In the mood to try something different, enjoy a Foie Gras and Jelly filled donut at Bed Stuy's Do or Dine, which uses Dough's classic jelly donut and adds delicious duck liver. Worth every calorie!

Doughnut Plant

379 Grand Street New York, New York

212 505 3700

This place is one of the reasons a diet can be a waste of time. With selections of various yeast and cake donuts, The Doughnut Plant definitely is the best donut shop in Manhattan. Valrhona chocolate and peanut butter and jelly are just some of their yeast donut flavors but the Cake ones are where it's at. Tres leches, blackout, and vanilla bean glazed/blackberry jelly are all incredible. Don't forget about the creme brulee, absolutely phenomenal!

Peter Pan Bakery

727 Manhattan Ave Greenpoint, Brooklyn

718 389 3676

This place truly represents the way a classic donut should be. It is not as fancy as the others but this Bakery is definitely affordable. The red velvet donut is incredible and if you are a softy for donut holes, this is the place to get them. The toasted coconut and chocolate cake donuts are both worth trying. Coffee is good and cheap.

Mike's Donuts

6822 5th Avenue Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

718 745 6980

These little gems are definitely worth traveling for. These old-fashioned donuts are fried to golden perfection. Classics like Boston Creme, Glazed and Jelly are represented in the right light at this establishment. Get a bakers dozen for $6, a great value and it goes great with a good cup of joe.

Alpha Donuts

45-16 Queens Blvd. Sunnyside, Queens

718 937 4121

The best donut this borough has to offer. These donuts are big and tasty with just the right amount of fluff. This is the perfect place to go and waste away your lazy weekend days with a glazed donut and a good book. If you are looking for a delicious old-school donut, ride the 7 train to Sunnyside and give it a shot.

Booze, Brunch, and Bites at Huckleberry Bar

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:26:00 -0500

I always like a one stop shop and Huckleberry Bar, in the part of Williamsburg that has not yet been entirely consumed by gentrification and uber-emo trenders, is a gem. With a comfortable charm that feels both new and old, every walk is welcomed. And my walk was steadied by their selection of focused yet thoughtful food and drink. Thus my two visits, an evening and the subsequent sensible brunch, yielded fabulous edible finds for any time the clock tells - even for a slim wallet.

Opened in 2007 by team Andy Boggs and Stephanie Schneider, they were no strangers to the restaurant industry having worked for big brand name Danny Meyer (Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, etc.). Andy was determined to open a great bar in under-the-radar Brooklyn that left the oft-found pretension of Manhattan on that island. "Fancy without the fussy," he said, adding that being hospitality-driven is what sets this spot apart - and he is right. You will not find a smug eye-roll from the bartender if you mispronounce Cynar (chi-nar), an artichoke-based bitter; or if you disregard the thoughtful drink list and order a vodka-soda. The cocktails (spearheaded by Stephanie) run the gamut from seasonal to classics to unconventional concoctions. If you don't know what you want, you can order an expertly crafted bartender's choice, varied with any spirit of your choosing and a dash of creativity.

On my first visit I opted for the "Brooklyn" ($11), which classic "Manhattan" drinkers would appreciate. As a Bourbon girl, I was intrigued by their medley of Rye whiskey, dry vermouth, house-made bitters, and a touch of Maraschino liqueur. That requisite orange tang still made an impact in the form of a large citrus peel, and the chilled liquid was a lovely rendition on tradition.

Brunch booze made their marks as well, first with a bubbly "Botanical Garden" ($11) with gin, sweet vermouth and Prosecco, cleverly offset by bitters and zesty lemon. Nothing better than a sparkling start to the required brunch egg dish: this one a hearty bake of savory "Lamb Merguez" sausage ($9) stewed in a smokey tomato-harissa sauce. Nestling two soft, yolky eggs, with plush bread for the soaking, the depth of flavor and smooth texture only leaves you wanting more.

As a supplement, I cocktail capped my meal with "William Miller" ($11) another whiskey choice (surprised?), but this time a salty bacon-infused Bourbon with my name written all over it. Simply finished with more whiskey liqueur Drambuie (Scotch variety) and orange bitters, this drink is straight to the point - and to the head.

The citrus undertones would pair perfectly with my evening bar bites of Bacon-Wrapped Dates ($6) and Sweet Potato Salad ($7). The former was that satisfying sweet and salty palate pair stuffed with creamy gouda for that mild mouth-melt. Also complex on the tongue was the salad's soft sweet potato chunks accentuated by even sweeter dried cherries, but balanced by piquant arugula and crunchy pumpkin seeds.

This was just the beginning of Huckleberry intrigue, with a menu (conceived by Chef Seth Johnson) that has a manifold of titillating pickings and an extensive drink list that will take many visits to tastefully touch. With sandwiches, toasts, charcuterie and sweets, I already have my eye on the Rabbit Terrine, the warm Nutella & Ricotta press, and the "Hop Scotch Morning" (chai-infused Scotch, espresso, milk and coconut cream) that will certainly wake you up! If you haven't already, get hip to this non-hipster anomaly.

All photos by Rebecca Kritzer

Foodie Approved: Gourmet Super Bowl Parties for Food Lovers

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:05:00 -0500

We understand that for some of you foodies out there with a love for football, Super Bowl Sunday poses a dilemma on where to watch the game. Well, you have come to the right place for the solution. Here are some places that you can dine-in or take-out food during the game while satisfying your taste buds.

Restaurant Marc Forgione

134 Reade Street 10013 212 941 9401

Iron Chef, Marc Forgione, will be turning his two-star restaurant into a casual bar by bringing in flat screens to watch the game on this Sunday. The menu will include a burger, spicy chicken wings, suckling pig sliders with $5 Miller High Life beers to wash them down. A DJ will also be part of this scene to get the party started.

Riverpark

450 East 29th Street 10016 212 729 9790

Riverpark is hosting a fancy Super Bowl party which includes access to their open bar and buffet for $100 per person. They will be providing football favorites like nachos and wings. In addition, they will also be serving food that will honor each team's hometown ranging from Italian sandwiches to a raw bar.

Maialino

2 Lexington Ave 10010 212 777 2410

Looking to avoid a crowded bar/restaurant on Sunday? Host your own soiree and order in. Nothing gets the party started like a pigskin pig roast from one of Danny Meyer's joints. Maialino is offering their "Pigskin Classic to take out on the day of the game. Half and Whole pigs will be available to pre-order for $180 and $300. Place your order, these pigs are flying and they're limited.

La Birreria at Eataly

200 Fifth Ave. 10010 646 398 5100

Get the party started at Eataly where they are hosting a five-hour Super Bowl party for $100 per person starting at 5:30 p.m. This deal will include unlimited beer and artisanal food items like crispy pork skins, braised pork shoulder sandwiches and chicken wings. Come join the scene and watch the game on one of their 8 flat screen TVs.

NYC's Tastiest French Fries

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:40:00 -0500

Pommes Frites

123 2nd Avenue New York, NY 10003

These Belgian fries are freshly cut and fried (twice) to a golden crisp, then garnished and paired with your choice of sauce. Forget about ketchup to go with these authentic fries, you get to choose from various mustards, mayos and curries. Perfectly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside

Five Leaves

18 Bedford Avenue Greenpoint, NY 11222

Here, the fries are good, and the truffle fries --even better. This place packs in a crowd and is especially popular during brunch. Expect to wait, but as for the fries, the wait is well worth it.

Moo Burger

240 Court Street Cobble Hill, NY 11201

These medium sized skin-still-on fries are crisp and fried to perfection. Without fail they are delivered to the table fresh and HOT, in little fryer baskets. Nice touch Moo Burger! Let's not forget to mention their awesome sweet potato fries served with a Maple syrup dipping sauce. Moo fries topped with chili and cheese and zucchini fries are both served here as well.

BZ Grill

2702 Astoria Blvd. Queens, NY 11102

It's the slow cooked pork gyros that bring you in this establishment, but by far the greek fries that make you stay. These fries have the perfect crunch and flavoring. What more can you ask for on top of your fries then the aromatic flavor of oregano and salty goodness of feta cheese melted on top.

5. The Breslin

16 West 29th St. New York, NY 10001

Get their lamb burger and enjoy these fries. These steak fries are piled high and cooked not once, not twice but three times to yield a wonderful bite with a perfectly mashed potato interior. April Bloomfield, we really like your style.