EATS
It seems "The City That Never Sleeps" finally got a few hours of rest last night but awoke today with a sudden urge to brunch. In the wake of Hurricane (Tropical Storm) Irene, we have a list of all New York City venues that re-opened their doors today, currently taking orders for brunch, lunch, and dinner.
13th Step - 149 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003
5 Napkin Burger - 630 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10036 *Opening by 5pm
5 Napkin Burger - 2315 Broadway, New York, NY 10024 *Opening by 5pm
Asellina - 420 Park Ave South, New York, NY 10016
I’m tired, I have the worst case of man flu ever recorded. My feet hurt, I’ve lost feeling in most other extremities, and the worst bit is – I did it all to myself.
Let’s start from the beginning. Ten days ago, I was having a touristy day in NYC. A good friend from home was in town, and we decided to be geeky and check out the Statue of Liberty. I had, ironically and rather stupidly, worn an old t-shirt that said ‘the city that never sleeps’. I think my social pariah status was up there with people who wear ‘mind the gap’ t-shirts in London. Along our journey, we came to discussing whether New York really is the city that never sleeps. Since I’ve only been living here a short while, and she was only visiting, we had no real answer to the proposed question.
Luke's Lobster
Cuisine: Seafood
Price Range: Inexpensive
East Village
93 E. 7th Street
(between 1st and 2nd Avenue)
New York, NY
(212) 387-8487
There are only a few places in this country that command an almost dream-like state. Maine on a foggy morning, with the sun cresting out of the Atlantic, the foothills and lakes undisturbed by man lying before you, is surely one of them.
If lucky enough to find yourself in the serene towns and forests of the northern state, there is truly only one thing to do that will define the experience, and that is grab a 2 lb. lobster, (smaller means younger, which means better) a cracker, and feast.
Unfortunately not everyone has the chance to venture so far for a meal, so it is with delight that I bring news of a newly opened Maine-inspired lobster restaurant in New York. Luke’s Lobster just opened at 93 E. 7th street, straddled by the two Caracas store fronts, and it’s serving up the freshest lobster, crab, and shrimp rolls delivered straight from Maine fishing harbors. Luke Holden, the proprietor of this modest seafood eatery, gets his meat directly from his father, owner of the Portland Shellfish, Inc.
Luke’s is dishing out 4 oz. lobster rolls for $14, 2 oz. rolls for $8, and shrimp and crab rolls for $7 and $8, respectively. Another childhood favorite, empress crab claw, is on the menu for a dollar a piece.
Holden, only 25, started this business as side project to his day job as a financier. After finding some backing, and having the unique position of being able to call upon family to deliver recently caught Maine shellfish, the lobster shack was born.
Promising the freshest seafood possible, and at a price lower than most other restaurants selling lobster rolls, Luke’s may become a staple of those looking for a little piece of Maine in the Big Apple.
Hours:
Sunday thru Wednesday: 11 am - Midnight
Thursday: 11 am - 1 am
Friday and Saturday: 11 am - 2 am
Anyone who’s watched Top Chef has most likely seen one hopeful chef or another try out some spherification trick to impress the judges. The process of spherification takes liquids and forms them into self encased bubbles that hold the juices inside. Think of those gel bath beads that pop open when you squish them- same idea, but replace bath gel with something like vinaigrette. The practice has always struck me as far too advanced to pull off with no culinary training, but Luxirare.com’s recent post shows that it’s easier than you might think.
Tiffin Wallah
Cuisine: Indian, Vegetarian/Vegan
Price: Inexpensive
Murray Hill
127 East 28th Street
(between Park and Lexington Avenue)
New York, NY 10016
(212) 685-7301
www.tiffinwallah.us
Upon entering Tiffin Wallah, which means light lunch in old English, patrons reach a tall stack of metal tiffins, which are multi-compartment lunch boxes. Feast on the $7 lunch buffet or order from the long list of tiffins, which features an assortment of vegetarian dishes served with coconut chutney and samber. We recommend the samosa, potato and green pea turnovers, the batata vada, potato fritters with a sweet and spicy sauce, and the behl puri, consisting of puffed rice, crispy noodles, fresh tomato, onion, tamarind, and cilantro, all for only $3.50 each.
The first rule of Cardinal Club is: you do not talk about Cardinal Club. Just kidding, but it is pretty exclusive. Here’s how this covert form of dining works:
You must gain admittance from a friend, or a friend of a friend who has been to this private east village dinner garden. This clandestine outdoor area belongs to the gardens of couple and NYU graduates Simon and Paula (no, not from American Idol). Both are 27, and had the entrepreneurial concept of using their gourmet cooking skills and beautiful ambiance outside their bohemian flat towards a small and very intimate business. Once they approve of you and your guest(s), you will receive a text message telling you a time and address of which to show up at their humble abode. Upon arrival you will be greeted with your own personal chef and server - A real perfect place to take your date without screaming over the loud music/other public conversation.
It's finally summertime, which means less clothes and more skin. Trying to stay fit and eating healthy can be hard, especially for the busy lives of New Yorkers, but now things will be getting easier with the new health craze, dairy-free ice cream.
The New York Daily News reports, “They contain nutritious ingredients like whole grains, blueberries and nut milk, and while not exactly low in calories, they're light, refreshing and guilt-free.”
That’s correct; there is ice cream out there that is good for you! Many Americans enjoy ice cream and the main issue for a healthier ice cream is that consumers don’t want anything taken away from it. They want the cool, creamy, sweet loveliness--nothing less.
Magdy’s Cheesesteak Cart
Midtown
NE corner of 46th and Park
New York, NY 10012
If you want a true cheesesteak you must journey to the hero’s Philadelphian mecca? This is an age-old debate that’s not likely to be settled anytime soon. However, the constant line of people streaming to Magdy’s Steak Cart, anchored for the time being at a midtown street corner on Park Ave, is one convincing argument for the successful-globalization-of-the-cheesesteak side. At $4 a sandwich, the cart’s specialty is cheap and tasty if not superior quality. Thinly sliced meat, grilled onions, and melted slices of American cheese stuffed into a puffy subway roll provides a delicious grab-and-go lunch that will save you a trip to Philly.
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