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...

Ahhhhh the wonderful Nomad Hotel. One of the few places in this city that has absolutely everything.  A gorgeous dining room and stunning bar, impeccable service and food so delicious I dream about it on a regular basis. I try to order something new each visit but sometimes I just want my favorites. A warm herbal flatbread to begin studded with potato, onion and caraway seeds. The amazing Carrot Tartare with micro greens, quail egg and rye crisps.  One of the first veggie dishes to blow my mind at Humm's Eleven Madison years ago... ...and their decadent Chicken Burger stuffed with foie gras and black truffle mayonnaise alongside a skillet of thin, crispy fries.  The Nomad 1170 Broadway and 28th Street New York, NY 10001

Monday was such an awesome day.  I got a text from my brother Mike saying he was stuck at LaGuardia Airport. Since I already had the day off from work I suggested we meet up for lunch so he cabbed it into the city and headed to The Nomad for their new $29 two course lunch menu.  Meals at The Nomad always begin with a beautiful fresh baked loaf of bread that fills the room with the sweet aroma of rosemary, dill and yeast. This bread has the perfect texture, crispy on top but chewy in the middle with sliced potatoes and rye seeds scattering the outside.  It would be have been easy to demolish this entire thing and ask for more but somehow we showed some restraint until the appetizers arrived. The same Carrot Tartare from the Nomad Bar makes an appearance on the menu here; plated simply with winter greens and rye chips.  This is easily one of my favorite dishes in the city right now and my brother agreed.  There's just something about that nut...

New things open in my neighborhood almost every day but I haven't felt this air of excitement since The Nomad proper opened a few years back.  Located around the corner from the hotel, the Nomad Bar has a bit more of a tavern feel with sunlight streaming in through the front windows and comfy booths along the side of the bar for dining. Even with the cozier feel the bar exudes the same sophisticated Nomad charm as the original with a huge window over the bar reflecting the upstairs dining area and a long mahogany bar that's just sexy as hell. The menu is split into two parts; one side appetizers including a trio of Tartare's in carrot, beef and tuna and the other side entrees ranging from a Hot Dog with bacon and black truffle to the classic Nomad Chicken, reinvented as a Chicken Pot Pie. I ordered the Burger listed as Dry Aged Beef with Cheddar, Red Onion and Pickles. I thought the bar was sexy as hell but let me tell you that this b...

There's only a few more hours to celebrate so here's a couple ideas to keep the holiday spirit alive: Sip an Eggnog at The Nomad The white frothy head is so thick it sits like a big marshmallow cloud on top a nutty concoction of bourbon, rum, cognac and scotch before getting finished off with a dusting of fresh cinnamon.  It's a little boozy, a little sweet...it's everything an eggnog should be. Enjoy this at the long bar up front or head to the back room for a true holiday experience in the library.  Take a Trip to Lanterns Keep This tiny bar tucked into the back of The Iroquois Hotel is a bit of a Midtown secret.  It has an old school speakeasy feel and boasts a number of classic cocktails along with a few creative twists on some old favorites.   We visited last week and while the fireplace was barely at a flicker, the cozy low light spot still exuded a special holiday charm. The Daisy de Santiago was quite charming as well made from...

As I looked back on the past year I was seriously humbled by the amount of amazing places I've had the opportunity to enjoy.  I am so lucky to live in this wonderful city and don't take a moment for granted.  Hopefully this will serve as a guide for those of you trying to pick out some tasty meals in 2013.  It's not all new for 2012 but it was all new to me! Enjoy! Best Chocolatier- Chocolat Moderne This little shop on the 9th floor of an office building may be challenging to find but impossible to forget. Joan and her husband are creating incredible combinations such as Dark Chocolate Lime Toffee, Salted Espresso Milk Chocolate Caramel and Kalamto Olive with Sea Salt.  The patterns are almost to beautiful to eat but don't let the look fool you...they're way to delicious to leave for eyes only. Best Brunch (High End)-  Locanda Verde From the warm seasonal doughnuts (think apple cider in fall and fresh blueberry in ...