LUKE'S LOBSTER
Spring markets are popping up all over the city now that the weather finally feels more like spring. Even the rain predicted for the rest of the week confirms that April showers were late this year but those May flowers will be here before we know it. Market places a great way to spend a weekend morning or a great idea for lunch where you’ll truly find something for everyone’s tastes. Shoppers can find an array of anything and everything at their local street market from vintage clothing to farm fresh produce and endless stalls of delicious foods. Here are four NYC Spring Markets, where foods are at the forefront of market goodies that have just opened for the season or open this upcoming weekend.
On March 13th, The Village Voice's fifth annual "Choice Eats" tasting event, will take place. Today they have announced the final participants, bringing the number up to 83 restaurants, a record breaker. The final partakers include: Bowery Diner, Egg, David's Brisket House, El Almacen, Calyer, Grandaisy Bakery, Kutsher's Tribeca and Resto.
This year "Choice Eats" will also feature DJ Sets by Andy Rourke, the former bass guitarist of The Smiths, an alternative rock band from the 80s.
Ty-lor Boring, of Bravo's Top Chef Texas, will also make a celebrity appearance by hosting a demo for those who have VIP tickets.
New Yorkers are used to being pretty fresh. And even if we're miles from the ocean, we're still rolling pretty deep in quality seafood. These are our Top 5 picks for the choicest seafood you'll find without a snorkel.
The John Dory Oyster Bar- April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman (The Spotted Pig) are the brains and bellies behind this seemingly old-school seafood spot. Decked in black tile, you can shuck to your heart's content (the restaurant serves until 4am) or grab a glass of one of the wines on tap. Located inside the Ace Hotel, you might want to relax in the lobby or grab a cup of just-next-door Stumptown Coffee on your way out. If you're really feeling a seafood feast, book the basement-located Chef's Tasting Table for a party of 12. 1196 Broadway (29th Street) 212. 792.9000.
It's hard to say with conviction just exactly where the lobster roll originated- was it Maine in the 1970's at the road side favorite, Red's Eats? Or was Connecticut the first state to propel this seafood creation into food history, all the way back in 1930? Either way, the lobster roll, typically served on top of a split hot dog bun that has been buttered and grilled, is a classic and can be found in most New England towns where lobster fishing is prevalent. Hot or cold, dressed in mayonaise or butter, and served with chips or fries, New York City is trying it's hand at this seafood sandwich as well, and here are our favorite places to sample the famed lobster roll.
This weekend we attended the Brewers’ PicNYC event at Governor’s Island. The large picnic area was packed with hundreds of hungry foodies ready to sample some of the city’s finest food trucks and artisan beers. Despite the mile-long lines and apparent lack of organization, the event turned out to be a really good time. Of the trucks on display, some of the favorites were The Bistro Truck, Cup Cake Stop, Gorilla Cheese NYC, Kimchi Taco, and Luke’s Lobster. The Bistro Truck was serving up Moroccan fare that didn’t disappoint with yummy Chicken Pastilla (chicken, eggs, and almonds wrapped in phylo dough) and our personal favorite of the day, the Bistro Lamb Burger. Gorilla Cheese NYC was giving out samples of their traditional grilled cheese, which was complete with a perfectly crunchy, buttery toast on the outside and melty cheesy goodness on the inside. Even in the blistering heat, we loved the spicy rice cakes served up by the Kimchi Taco truck, which were chewy and hot and unlike anything we’ve ever tasted before. The lobster and crab rolls from Luke’s Lobster were as fresh as if we were in Maine. We ended this culinary extravaganza with one red velvet cupcake, which was moist and dense and topped with perfectly creamy frosting.
Usually, when you think of a traditional lobster dinner, you think big bucks, but certainly bucks well spent. Occasions such as your anniversary give you a good excuse to splurge, but in this economy, sometimes less is more.
Enter Luke’s Lobster.
If you’re looking for candlelight, soft music and table linens, keep moving.
But for those of you who can see the romance in just about anywhere at anytime, take a seat at this welcoming spot and enjoy an array of seafood, the natural aphrodisiac.
Hundreds of hungry food lovers gathered at the 69th Armory to sample the city’s finest fare at the Village Voice’s 4th annual Choice Eats event. Joonbug was lucky enough to attend this veritable food rave. Food enthusiasts and the restaurants they love came together and, in a matter of minutes, we were in a food coma. Here are some of the evening’s highlights.
- We met Cathy Erway, food blogger and author of The Art of Eating In. We sampled her wild dandelion pesto with crostini. And get this. She has just picked the dandelions herself fresh that day!
- Eddie Huang (BaoHaus) created his own version of kung pao chicken, laced with tons of lemongrass.
- Bark Hot Dogs from Brooklyn was featuring their signature Bark Dog, made in-house using pork shoulder, pork shank and beef shoulder.
- The sexy duo behind The Meatball Shop, Daniel Holzman & Michael Chernow, created a mini Reuben meatball served with sauerkraut and thousand island dressing.
- Luke’s Lobster… There was a huge line to get a taste of the buttery and juicy lobster rolls. We’ll just hit one of the three locations to get our lobster fix.
- For pork lovers, there was a tomato-y pork ragu brought to you by Porchetta. The fabulous Sara Jenkins was on hand and gave Joonbug the secret to her famous roast pork. “The recipe is on the website,” she said. Click here for “the secret.”
I guess with the weather heating up, so are the openings for restaurants. Without further ado, here they are:
Anfora - Located on 34 8th ave, West Village, this wine bar restaurant recently opened. Along with a carefully selected wine list, the restaurant serves snacks, salads, and various types of paninis all at around $10.
Luke's Lobster - Want fresh and affordable lobster rolls? Look no further, come out and try Luke's Lobster at 93 East 7th Street, New York. With other Maine-style dishes, you're sure to enjoy the fresh seafood selections available.
I am proud of where I live, and having lived there for a grand total of six weeks, I feel it is my privilege, nay, my responsibility, to report some comings and goings that are occurring. This is not a gossip piece, so much as a ‘heads up.’ In the heart of the East Village, where trendy just gets trendier, there is more to be excited about.
I never realized when I first moved in to my new apartment, just what kind of neighborhood I was getting myself involved with, and now that I’ve been living there a grand total of six weeks, I feel a veritable local, and am assuming the responsibility of showing off that I live in a cooler part of the city than you. That, and I want to draw attention to some new developments happening on 7th Street.
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
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