NYC Tastes

It was another crazy and amazing year that seemed to go by way too quickly as always.  Things got off to a great start with the return of  Founders CBS  one of my favorite beers of all time.  I really didn't think this would ever be brewed again so I spent the first two months drinking it as much as humanly possible.  Fried Chicken Sandwiches became all the rage; Fuku , Delaney BBQ and the Brooklyn Shake Shack continue to have epic lines for these crispy creations.  The Blue Hill pop up WastED  was also a huge highlight of the year.  It was amazing to see the community of chefs, farmers and retailers come together to shine light on the extreme waste of food in the industry and celebrate these "leftovers" by incorporating them into incredible new dishes.  And as a personal success it only took me two full years but I finally got a  Cronut !   Of course as time passes the culinary landscape must change and...

The Tribeca Film Festival is closing out this weekend with a special screening of one of the greatest gangster movie's of all time.  Goodfellas will be celebrating its' 25th Anniversary. Didn't get your invite to the big cast and crew reunion party?  Well you can still celebrate just steps away from the festival at 2West inside the Ritz Carlton Battery Park.   Chef Philip Medora has created a special menu inspired by this classic Scorsese film with dishes like "Tommy DeVito's" Cheese and Salumi platter with fig jam & quince marmalade  and the  "Henry Hills" Fried Calamari served extra crispy with banana peppers and spicy marinara. There's also the delicious "Billy Batts" Grilled Flat Bread with caramelized onions, sweet Italian sausage and grilled sweet peppers... ...but to be truly gangster order the "Jimmy Two Times"; Veal, Pork and Beef Meatballs with shaved pecorino and marble rye garlic bread.   ...