Capsouto Freres- Classic Cooking

The 16th Annual Taste of Tribeca will be May 15, 2010. Capsouto Freres, one of the original restaurant participants in Taste of Tribeca, is approaching its 30th Anniversary! That is no small feat in the New York restaurant world. Take a peek at this Black Book article about Capsouto Freres and come away with some delicious recipes to try in the New Year!

New Year's Eve at Cercle Rouge

Do you have your New Year's Eve plans yet? Cercle Rouge is offering two New Year's options- one early and one late. The later option comes with Burlesque! What a way to say good bye to 2009! Here are some of the details:

On New Year’s Eve we will be offering two seatings with prix fixe menus. The first seating will include 3-courses for $49.95/person until 8pm. The second seating will include 4-courses and live entertainment (4-piece band and Burlesque Cabaret show) for $125/person; starting at 9pm. Options include Goat Cheese Crostini, Twice Baked Crab Soufflé, Roasted Rack of Lamb, Sautéed Sea Bass, Roasted Organic Capon, and more. A la carte dining options will be available until 8pm.

Don't forget, brunch will be served on New Year's Day!

Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes

At Trattoria Cinque, five is the magic number. Each section of the menu offers five options. On Christmas Eve, however, Trattoria Cinque will be celebrating the number seven with the Italian-American Tradition of Feast of the Seven Fishes (Festa dei Sette Pesci). Visit Open Table for your Christmas Eve reservations.

Like Pie?

Rumor has it the corner of Greenwich and Chambers has had a new infusion of sweet. The Little Pie Company has a new outpost there. Looks like something that will require a fork, and possibly some ice cream, for further exploration...

The Forklifter Visits Bar Artisanal

Tribeca offers so many opportunities for young diners to sniff out their favorite flavors in restaurants their parents enjoy, too! Just ask the Forklifter:

Sleepover season found us with just one child to take out to dinner one Friday night. Instead of the sushi-maven, we were accompanied by the truffle-hound (and I say that with love). She's also a cheese and Iberico ham fanatic--she's an expensive date. We steered her away from Corton and into Bar Artisanal. Fondue was ordered, flatbreads, ham (of course), something delicious with truffle honey, their famous mac and cheese. Nice wines by the glass (not for the truffle hound, of course). Just another Friday night in Tribeca.

Good Bye Dinner with Chanterelle

David and Karen Waltuck will serve a "Farewell Chanterelle" dinner on Tuesday, Jan 12 at the James Beard House. To read more click here.

Best Pastry Shop?

Tribeca has Tribeca Treats, Duane Park Patisserie, and Bouley Bakery. Paris has La Patisserie des Reves?
Care to vote on your favorite?

The Forklifter Strikes Again- Capsouto Freres

The Forklifter chimes in about another neighborhood favorite:

Some colleagues and I had a special dinner out to celebrate the end of a successful project at Capsouto Freres- possibly Tribeca's longest running restaurant. Judging by the rest of the patrons, there were quite a few celebrations going on for a Sunday night. Capsouto Freres always maintains its allegiance to classic French cooking--a rarity these days. I'm a pushover for cassoulet and it's hard to find on NY menus. Ordering a souffle is a must; there are always several to choose from --should I be embarrassed that my table order one of each? My personal favorite was the fig with port wine sauce.

More from The Forklifter: Trattoria Cinque

The Forklifter- our dedicated reader, contributor, and restaurant lover- was out and about recently and lifted not just a fork, but a pen as well:

Trattoria Cinque has one of the nicest, most welcoming rooms in the neighborhood - and staff were no slouches either. I loved the big banquettes and huge fireplaces. It's casually sophisticated, but I was really pleased that they made my kids so welcome too. They're famous for their Caeser Salads and the concept of 5 seasonal offerings in each menu category (hence the name Cinque). There are always a few specials so the menu fills out nicely. My favorite was the super-thin crusted pizza with pear and gorgonzola. I'm thinking I should bring a bunch a friends next time and score one of the big tables in front of the fireplace.

Cercle Rouge in November

Thursday November 19, celebrate the arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau at Cercle Rouge! Chef Pierre Landet has plans to tempt your palate with a prix fixe 3 course menu ($39.95). Each dish tells you a story of the region and can be enjoyed with a glass of our Beaujolais Nouveau picks: Antonin Rodet or the classic Georges Duboeuf.

Of course, if the Beaujolais Nouveau is here that means Thanksgiving is not too far behind. Cercle Rouge has three-course prix fixe menu ($49.95), bearing Chef Pierre Landet's French touch, that features such dishes as Pumpkin Ravioli, a delectable Organic Roasted Turkey with Foie Gras, and home-inspired Pecan Pie with pumpkin ice cream.

A la carte menus are available for both occasions and a special children's menu will be prepared for your Thanksgiving feast! To see full menus click here. For reservations, please call 212-226-6252.

Iron Chef Returns to Tribeca

Tribeca reataurant lovers are a-buzz regarding Masaharu Morimoto's plans to open a casual Japanese restaurant/ bar on Church Street. Here is an excerpt from a post on Eater:

Morimoto has taken the former Dennis Foy on Church St. to do a mid-priced funky place catering to the late-night crowd. Should be a great hangout for foodies and chefs at 2-4 AM... He talked about how he missed Tribeca since he used to be at Nobu and really likes the 'hood. He's looking forward to doing something more low-key (more of a neighborhood place) than in the Meatpacking.

Tofu in Tribeca

Tofu done right is a delight. A reader had this to say about a recent tofu experience:

I may have had the most ethereal homemade tofu in the city this week at Rosanjin in Tribeca. Perfectly proportioned, the tofu was accompanied by a dollop of cavier, a small mash of fruit and a light soy based sauce at the bottom of the dish. Sheer delight. The sashimi was extraordinarily fresh and tuna and sweet potato was well made. The service was warm and helpful. I will be back for the tofu.

Welcome Sarabeth's

The news is Sarabeth's Kitchen will be taking over the Bazzini space sometime this winter. It will be another great brunch spot. Expect something big from them at Taste of Tribeca, May 15, 2010.

Terroir Will Open at 24 Harrison St.

Insieme chef Marco Canora and his partner will open a branch of their Terroir wine bar at 24 Harrison St. Despite the closings of Chanterelle and Yaffa's, the Tribeca restaurant scene is thriving. Expect to see some new restaurants at next year's Taste of Tribeca, May 15, 2010.

Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner at Taste of Tribeca 2009

Kurt was the star of the Lamb Board's chef challenge at Taste of Tribeca 2009, beating out Top Chef contestant Leah Cohen. Check out this Behind the Burner video with Kurt making cheddar-filled sausages:

Cheddar-filled Sausages With Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner At Taste Of Tribeca on Howcast

Landmarc Dinner Series: Eat (and Drink) Well for a Great Cause

Landmarc's chef Marc Murphy is launching a benefit dinner series to provide free massage therapies to cancer patients during chemotherapy. The dinner series are intimate wine dinners including a reception hour with hors d'oeuvres and a four course dinner. Read more about this series on The Strong Buzz.

Trattoria Cinque - Weekend Brunch and Monday Specials

On Saturdays and Sundays, Trattoria Cinque offers brunch from 11 AM to 4 PM. Choose from brunch selections like Porchetta Eggs Benedict, Panettone French Toast, and even a brunch pizza, the Pizza con Uova Strapazzate, with scrambled eggs, mozzarella and pancetta! And, how could it be called brunch without a bloody mary? There are 5 signature bloody marys at Trattoria Cinque, of course!

If you, somehow, miss the weekend brunch, don't fret. Monday nights Trattoria Cinque offers Peroni and Pie Mondays. From 5 PM- 10 PM enjoy the artisanal pizza of your choice with 2 Peronis for $20.

Pizza con Speck & Funghi: speck, mushroom, mozzarella
Pizza con Gorgonzola e Pere: pears, gorgonzola, white truffle oil
Pizza Margherita: tomato, mozzarella, basil, evoo
Pizza con Lardo: fresh rosemary, mozzarella, lard from Colonnata, Italy
Pizza Margherita con Anchovies: tomato, mozzarella, Sicilian salt-cured anchovies, basil, evoo

Taste of Tribeca Bids Farewell to Favorite Haunt

Karen and David Waltuck were co-founders of Taste of Tribeca, way back when (maybe 1994?). They were parents at PS 150 at the time. They have been such an important of the Tribeca restaurant scene which makes the closing of Chanterelle more than a bit sad.

Tribeca Wine

This past week, Eric Asimov asked the wine directors of both Locanda Verde and Tribeca Grill to sit in on his wine panel.
Taste of Tribeca, perhaps next year there should be a wine tasting with these rising wine stars?

Trattoria Cinque - Now Open!

Five is the magic number.

The new Trattoria Cinque's menu showcases "the five best of everything in Italian cuisine, masterfully prepared yet rustic and homemade". Each section of the menu showcases five options capturing the essence of Italian fare as interpreted by Chef Mirco Grassini- and nothing is over $25! There has been some buzz about this affordable, new Italian fave at 363 Greenwich Street. You can read more on Thrillist or you can simply check out the menu, bring your five best friends and buon appetito!

Tribeca's Industry Insider

Downtown culture, insider connections, new shows at the Tribeca 92Y, cultural happenings at the Tribeca Grand- Tommy Saleh knows it all.

Panzanella Salad with Chef Stephen Lewandowski

Chef Stephen Lewandowski shows us how to make Tribeca Grill's Panzanella Salad at Taste of Tribeca:

Panzanella Salad with Chef Stephen Lewandowski at Taste of Tri

Lamb Burger at Bar Artisanal

The Gluttoness at Always Hungry had a few words (not to mention a few mouthwatering pictures!) to share about Bar Artisanal's Lamb Burger. After seeing this, I will have to agree that the lamb burger must be "eaten immediately"!

Gourmet Strawberry Shortcake

Behind the Burner interviewed a few Taste of Tribeca chefs. Here is a video of Craig Bero of Cosmopolitan Cafe making his popular strawberry shortcake.

Gourmet Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Danny's Ices

Every parent hopes to give their child great memories and treats often have a special place in a child's heart. Here's a sweet, memory-making recommendation from one Tribeca parent:

I've heard they call it "prenatal marking"--in other words if you eat a lot of something while pregnant, your child develops a particular fondness for it. With my eldest, it was avocados. With my youngest, it's "Catch the Flava". Tribeca families know what I'm talking about. Nine years ago, hugely pregnant, I would pick up my 5 year old at Downtown Day Camp. We would always stop at the little cart on Chambers Street, otherwise known as Danny's Ices or "Coco Helado"...or "Catch the Flava". My daughter would work her way through the various "flavas", but I stayed true to the creamy, coconut and- almost from the day she was born- her younger sister has seldom wavered from it too. Danny Castro smiles at me every time she orders it. Judging from the line of kids that snakes its way down Chambers Street, the other flavors have fans: Rainbow will remind you of "Pixie Stix", "Mango" is smooth and tropical. Cherry is tart and intense. Sometimes he'll have specials like Tamarind or Strawberry/Kiwi--both worth getting.

Danny has a smile for everybody and treats each child like a special connoisseur. I suspect that 30 years from now, when the Tribeca kids have grown and meet up, one of the neighborhood institutions they'll reminisce about will be Danny and his ices. This afternoon,as we walked away, my daughter said, "I don't know what I'd do if Danny wasn't there. Something would really be missing from my life".

You can "catch" him on the northeast corner of Chambers and Greenwich--look for the green and white umbrella. On summer weekends, he sometimes moves to Soho at Prince and Broadway. He's in business from Spring through Fall, weather dependent. No phone, no reservations, just respect the line.

Locanda Verde Rocks

Locanda Verde seems to have all the elements in place for success- Robert De Niro, chef Andrew Carmellini, designer Ken Friedman... there's just so much to talk about! Click to see what Restaurant Girl has to say in NY Daily News.

Ice Cream at Duane Park

A happy (and full!) reader suggests two of the many reasons to enjoy Duane Park:

"Happy days are here again: the return of the ice-cream kiosks at Tribeca restaurants. One of our favorites is the street front closet (how did they carve out that space?) at Duane Park. They have the most unique flavors: things like grape or s'mores and wonderful creamy textures. Love the little blue dishes too. But there's no reason to stop there. We took the family into the restaurant the other Friday night. Three of us were convinced by the waiters recommendation of soft shell crabs. Like everyone else in NYC, I've been eating soft shell crabs for 20 years and over the years I guess they've gotten a bit tired of them as a seasonal treat. The ones at Duane Park reminded me why I loved them in the first place. These were so plump, juicy and bursting with briny flavor. I thought about them for days afterwards."

Burgers at Bar Artisanal

Burger lovers rejoice, someone understands you! At Bar Artisanal you will find a burger, Bloomberg.com says will be worth the price.

Billy's Bakery Open in Tribeca

Cupcake bake offs, cupcake blogs, cupcake mania! Billy's Bakery to open a location in Tribeca.

More Tribeca Love

All around cyberspace, first hand accounts of this year's Taste of Tribeca and its gastronomic delights are available for you to read. Did you taste everything they tasted? Did you catch all the sights and sounds? Here's another Tasty Read from Alex Eats World.

Is This A Pizza Restaurant?

Naples is known for its pizzaioli; less so for its hip-hop artists. Alberto Polo Cretara happens to be both, although the rapper M.C. actually got his pizza training in Rome, at the legendary Il Forno. “My teachers were very severe,” Cretara says. “They really cared.” And so does he, about the integrity of the four-foot-long pies he’s baking in a Tagliavini triple-decker electric oven at Farinella, the Italian bakery he opened. Roman style in shape and substance, Cretara’s pizzas are traditionally topped and sold by the slice; the same dough is used for sandwiches like broccoli rabe and smoked mozzarella, or stracchino with walnuts and radicchio. Intended to be a fast and affordable lunchtime beacon in the Civic Center wilderness, Farinella will also serve frittatas, a baked special and soup of the day, and Italian-accented breakfast items, plus packaged bread products like grissini and freselle. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld

Tribeca's Kurt Gutenbruner Wins Lamb Cook Off!

The 15th Annual Taste of Tribeca featured a few new attractions including a Greenmarket New York State wine tent with guided wine tour and a table of firefighters serving their own firehouse jambalaya.
Most exciting of all was The American Lamb Board Cook Off in which Taste of Tribeca's Kurt Gutenbrunner (Blaue Gans) bested a Top Chef winner. You can read more about the attractions at this year's Taste in Time Out New York.

2009 Taste of Tribeca in Pictures

New York came out in full force last Saturday to support PS 150 and PS 234 at the 15th Annual Taste of Tribeca. Thousands enjoyed samplings from some of New York's finest restaurants while taking in some of the local color. I could go on and on, but since a picture is worth 1000 words...





Thanks to Juren David for the great pictures and there are still more to come! Check back here for more on this year's Taste.

Taste of Tribeca Newcomer- Bar Artisanal

Today's the day! Taste of Tribeca 2009 will be on Duane and Greenwich from 11:30- 3:00 today! Another of our readers has written a recommendation of one of this year's newcomers- Bar Artisanal. Happy Eating!

A foodie friend invited me to Bar Artisanal the week it opened. Chef Brennan was in the house and stopping by the tables. What did I like best? This is a tough one. Pristine scallops lightly dressed in citrus and jalapeno. One scallop remained to be divided among the four of us--it was so good we cut it into 4 tiny wedges. Then, there's the cheese. If Artisanal is doing something with cheese, just order it. The mushroom flatbread (can't really call it pizza) might have won my heart. It was drizzled with white truffle honey. I confess to taking more than my share. The room is open and airy. It was hopping with people happy to welcome this uptown chef to Tribeca. Bar Artisanal is a great fit for the neighborhood.

That Old Time Montparnesse- Cercle Rouge

Just days before the eagerly awaited Taste of Tribeca (this coming Saturday, May 16!) a reader fills us in on the Cercle Rouge experience:

I was having serious flashbacks in Cercle Rouge the other day--it feels like a bit of Montparnesse. Bistros and brasseries are a dime-a-dozen in Manhattan but this one has a real air of authenticity. The chef, who makes regular rounds of the tables, confirms that he's genuine--hailing from Toulouse. I had a rich duck stew with green olives and a nice glass of red. It made me very happy on a rainy day. If it were a nicer day I would have loved sitting in the sidewalk cafe. I can see this becoming a regular stop. Great options for kids too--serious french fries of course.

Kori

Another offering from The Forklifter:

Tucked away on a quite stretch of Church Street is Kori, a great oasis for Korean cooking. You won't find the table-top grills here (but I'm always wary of having to do that much work when I'm eating out--the novelty wears off quickly). We stopped into Kori for lunch the other day to discover a great bargain and a newly redecorated space. First off, a bowl of steaming savory broth is brought to your table when you sit down. The lunch special is generous bento-box style. I opted for the smoky spicy chicken, which was as promised. There were dumplings, salad, noodles and rice. Ten bucks. And there were several variations. My favorite part of the meal might have been their special fruited iced drinks- incredibly refreshing and loaded with slices of asian citrus Yuzu. Perfect counterpart to the cuisine and the muggy days that await us.

Beaujolais at Capsouto Freres

Most are familiar with Beaujolais Nuveau, however, there are many more wines to enjoy from this region. During the month of May Capsouto Freres Restaurant, a Best Beaujolais Bistro since 1995, will be featuring a Morgon, Brouily, Julienas, Saint-Amour and others. Delicate or robust, dry or flowery, they are certain to engage and enchant you.

The Palm- Kids Eat FREE!

Finding a kid-friendly restaurant that is also parent-friendly is always a challenge. Luckily, we have our faithful readers to help us navigate those culinary waters!

The Palm Tribeca is offering a Kids Eat Free on Sundays for Spring and Summer . They open at 5:00 and kids 12 and under eat free when accompanied by a paying adult. The Palm Tribeca is very kid-friendly and boasts an awesome kid's menu. My daughter had the fillet mignon and cleaned her plate. My son had the Chicken Parmagianna and it was an adult-sized portion which we brought home and had for lunch the next day. I had the Veal Oscar which was great and my husband had the Veal Marsala also a wonderful choice.

The Palm Tribeca also offers a membership in what the call The 837 Club, which awards you points that can be redeemed for free meals when you reach a certain level. It also alerts you to any specials the restaurant is offering and offers exclusive specials to club members. The membership fee is $25.00 but they give you a $25.00 gift card on the spot when you sign up.

The Excitement Builds

This year's Taste of Tribeca will be on Saturday, May 16 from 11:30 AM- 3:00 PM. You'll find notices popping up all over the place, like this one on Eater.com.

Amanzi Tea at Taste of Tribeca

Amanzi Tea, a new tea bar and shop at 166 Chambers Street, is one of the newest participants in this year's Taste of Tribeca (May 16, 2009). Amanzi Tea boasts over 100 custom blends, including Rooibos, Yerba Mate, Herbals and White, Green, Oolong and Black teas. They also serve hot & cold teas, tea smoothies, tea frappes, tea lattes, sparkling tea and bubble teas. Welcome to Tea Paradise!

Petrarca Cucina e Vino- Outdoor Seating!

A Taste of Tribeca reader (and dedicated citizen!) starts off the day at jury duty and ends it with an enjoyable meal (outdoors) at Petrarca Cucina e Vino. It is, quite possibly, the happiest jury duty tale ever told:

I was in the area serving jury duty and was released early. Deciding to celebrate a little, I set off towards a lunch in the sunshine since it was a gorgeous Spring day. After wandering into TriBeCa I saw this place as I neared Canal Street. It had outdoor seating along the sidewalk and a nice lunch menu - salads, individual pizzas, pastas, a burger etc, and also a wine list that sold a vast and interesting array of 1/4 bottles (Italian mostly.) Exactly what I was looking for! A friendly, very pretty waitress sat me outdoors at a table (I was solo), which was along a row of them that wrapped around the corner. Soon I was brought water, delicious crusty bread and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and menus. I got the lunch omelette - goat cheese and herbs, and a 1/4 bottle of a delicious white wine which I think was called Tribbiano. The omelette was perfectly prepared - fluffy and light, and it came with perfectly crispy french fries and a small salad. Sitting there, people watching, enjoying the weather and the food and wine, I practically felt like I was in Europe (although the view of the iron front buildings is pure NYC). I had a very nice lunch, the service was very good, and the prices seemed fair. The only nit pick I would have is that you can only buy wine by the 1/4 bottle - but hey that's no big deal! Recommended!

Taste of Tribeca - Breaking News!

Bar Artisanal, the latest creation of Chef Terrance Brennan, will be participating in the 15th annual Taste of Tribeca on Saturday, May 16, 2009. Newly opened, Mr. Brennan wants to participate in the city's best food event!

Arqua- Classic Cooking

Restaurant lovers searching for good Italian food take heart! Arqua has won the heart of one of our readers:

Once we arrived, our biggest problem was trying to decide what to have. The selections were all great (as usual). We helped to solve our dilemma by tasting each other’s orders. The food is prepared in a classic method, nothing trendy about it at all. And for me, that is a big plus! So many times, I’ll read the ingredients listed on the menu in a particular dish at other restaurants and all is great until there is that one, wacky ingredient that never before appeared in, say, pasta primavera. I believe a chef is expected to demonstrate creativity but, for me, classics can only be improved by the quality of the ingredients. And the quality at Arqua is among the highest. The venue lends itself to relaxed dining and good conversation – the hallmarks of the Italian dining experience. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the wines and suggested a great one to go with our meal. All in all, an unforgettable dinner. We’re still taking about it!

Le Pain Quotidien- Most Eco-Friendly Fast Food!

Le Pain Quotidien, which has a Tribeca location at 81 West Broadway, was written up on Your Daily Thread, an LA based site promoting green living. Apparently, Le Pain Quotidien is eco-friendly! Click here to read more.

Lily O'Briens

Everyone should have their own watering hole to call their own. One of our readers has a recommendation for those seeking a specific atmosphere:

Lilly O'Briens Bar & Restaurant is an Irish bar with excellent food and service. Inside, you'll find a warming bar and restaurant with nook-like booths and a polished, roomy bar. Lilly O'Briens Pub & Restaurant has a sporty Celtic feel that is a relaxing site for enjoying some fun, food, and drink. Conveniently located Downtown on Murray Street, on the corner of West Broadway, Lilly's is right near the A-C-E and 1-2-3-9 Chambers Street station, making it an easy stop for a delicious meal and some drinks after work, or to catch the game on one of their seven TVs. While there's plenty of Irish eats, the menu also dishes up numerous other specialties and creations. Numerous beers are on tap and in the bottles, while the bar also mixes up fantastic cocktails. It's not your usual Irish haunt, but the character is still the same, even if the cuisine is a little more out of this world. Open daily till 4am - kitchen closes at 2am.

Firefighter Chef at M1-5

Need to find the right place to go on your next Night Out? One of our readers had a great girl's night out experience and decided to share the details:

Went to M1-5 for a girls night out and had a really good time. The chef is a NY City Firefighter who won the Iron Skillet Contest and has appeared on Martha Stewart. We also got to meet Serge, the owner. They have a great bar menu and if you go you absolutely have to try Nanny's Mini Rice Balls and the Pulled Pork Sliders and the Sweet Potato Fries. The place is huge and they have various drink specials. They rent the place out for events, so if you want to have an office party, birthday party, happy hour they can set up a custom experience you would be sure to love. I can't say enough good things about the place - just go and enjoy, you won't be disappointed!!

Jerry's on Chambers Street

After Jerry's on Prince Street was shuttered to make room for a Michael Kors store, owner Jerry Joseph took an 18-month hiatus to recharge. Now he's back with Jerry's Café in Tribeca, and loyal fans of his cobb salad, mango chicken salad, and Dutch eggs with ham and gouda are flocking to the new locale. Manager Toi Tracy is thrilled that despite the relocation, seats are filled with "all the old faces Jerry's known for over 20 years," plus a new brand of tourists—the folks buying Prince Street brands at Century 21 prices. Besides homey staples like burgers, BLTs and mac-'n'-cheese, the Middle Eastern mezze plate, pan fried pork dumplings and scallop carbonara pasta add an international flair. Like the old joint, prices are kept in check and the atmosphere is classic with a little hip thrown in for good measure.

Most Interesting Chef in Tribeca

Just in time for Taste of Tribeca on May 16 comes the question: Who is the most interesting chef in Tribeca? Aaron Sanchez at Centrico? Amanda Freitag at Harrison? Who?

Landmarc's New Spring Menu

The pleasures of spring; a day without a jacket, blooming trees, daffodils and a new spring menu from Landmarc. Who wouldn't want a warm goat cheese profiteroles with herb and roasted red pepper salad? Salmon tartar? How about roasted rabbit with warm potato salad, capers and a mustard vinaigrette? Click here to see the new menu.

Taste of Tribeca - May 16, 2009!

Taste of Tribeca 2009 is almost here! If you want to make the wait more exciting, check out Serious Eats. They are offering a chance to win free tickets to this year's Taste! Click here to find out more.

More Easter in Tribeca

There are so many options for Easter dining in Tribeca that it may be hard to decide where to go. One might entertain the idea of going for Easter brunch, taking a brief nap, then heading out for Easter Dinner!

Tribeca Grill is offering a special Easter prix fixe menu featuring 3 courses for both brunch and dinner. In addition, they are offering a special menu for children 12 and under to keep your finicky ones happy, too. You might find yourself tempted by Seared Sea Scallops with Morel & Asparagus Risotto, Black Truffle Vinaigrette or perhaps Black Trumpet Dusted Rack of Colorado Lamb with Mascarpone Polenta, Broccoli Rabe & Merguez Sausage? Personally, I am looking forward to the Raspberry Financier with Pistachio Anglaise & Bourbon Vanilla Ice Cream!

Easter in Tribeca

Several Taste of Tribeca restaurants are offering Easter specials. Among the many Easter options is Chanterelle, which will be providing diners with an elegant destination in Tribeca for holiday celebrations.

In addition to chef David Waltuck’s classic and Easter-appropriate dishes on the menu such as Rack of Lamb in Cumin Salt Crust and Ravioli of Spring Greens with Tomato Butter, he will be preparing a special (surprise) holiday entrée for both his tasting and a la carte menus. Pastry chef Kate Zuckerman will be crafting decadent house-made chocolate ganache Easter eggs in lieu of her truffles, which will be offered complimentary to diners on Sunday.

Brick Oven Habit

A dedicated reader gives us the scoop on a new restaurant:

The other night, we stopped into Warren Street's new wine and antipasti bar called Brick. Actually, I think it's called Brick because they also have a great selection of brick-oven pizza. I had the Calabrese with all the stuff I love like olives and onions--a nice crispy crust too (NY pizza is sometimes too prone to flopping when you pick it up). There's a huge selection of pastas and panni sandwiches. Very strong wine and cheese selection too. Family friendly and free delivery. I think I hear a habit forming...

Worth the Tassel: Burlesque at Duane Park

On Friday nights, the restaurant formerly known as Duane Park Cafe, now simply Duane Park, transforms into a 1920's-style Parisian salon. One can enjoy a late night dinner, live jazz and burlesque. Acts have included Darlinda, Legs Malone, Gal Friday, Perie Noire and the Brian Newman Jazz Trio has become the house band. Saturday and Sunday night shows will be offered soon, but only Friday night will remain free of charge.

The menu, executed by New Orleans native and Five Points alum, Beau Houch, blends classic bistro dishes (i.e. steak with caramelized onions) with provocative touches like Creole-spiced fries to dip into a garlicky aioli. The tightly edited wine list, courtesy of partner Frank Locker--the proprietor of East Village shop Is Wine--offers deep bargains; most bottles run $30 to $60.

Book early, tables fill up fast. (Duane Park, 157 Duane Street 212 732 5555)

Rosanjin

One of our readers was kind enough to alert us to an exciting new menu at Rosanjin. It is called Ju Bako and it is "for when one doesn't have time for a two hour dinner but still feels like giving oneself a refreshing gift." The Ju Baku experience offers a tempting array of items such as Temari Sushi, Grilled Yellow Tail, and Steamed Gabocha (Japanese Pumpkin) among others. This is from our good friend:

I love this place. I have had one of the most extravagant dinners of my life here and have also had an event catered and am amazed by the quality of the food and the presentation. I just received an e-mail alert about a new offering at Rosanjin and cannot wait to try it out. Check out this special offer:

The name of this special menu is Ju Bako : ten boxes, because only ten of them are offered a day.

*Ju Bako requires a reservation and a full payment at least a day in advance.

*Ju Bako is $28 per order, not including beverage, gratuity and tax.

*Reservation for Ju Bako is available only from 6pm to 7pm

For further information or to make a reservation, call 212-346-0664.

More Three Star Bouley...

The following post is from The Forklifter, an exuberant restaurant goer whose single mission is to visit every Taste of Tribeca restaurant with her 8 year old daughter:

Ding! Ding! Ding! Another 3* restaurant for Tribeca. What's in the water in this little triangle below Canal? This time it's Chef David Bouley pulling in a rave review from the New York Times for his renewed flagship Bouley, now in the Mohawk building. What's a foodie to do but make a reservation? Stepping in out of the drizzle and into his apple-stacked foyer, we tried to shake off the cold. What a treat to walk into main dining room and find an open hearth with a crackling fire and suddenly we were transported to an elegant inn in the French countryside. The decor is exuberant and sensual--this is a restaurant that won't take a pass on anything. My personal vote for the ideal line-up: the Porcini flan with crabmeat and truffled dashi--the flavor explodes, then duck crusted with Balinese pepper that was both exotic and familiar, finishing with the astonishing meringue "snowball". My companions at the table might offer their own ideas, but let them get their own blog entry.

Three Stars for Bouley

The new Bouley is better than ever. Frank Bruni says "3 stars". We love David Bouley's food. Read this review from the New York Post, then run, don't walk, to your next fantastic dining experience!

Tribeca Neighborhood Faves

MUG - Manhattan User's Guide - is one of my favorite online NYC websites. Two of their favorites in Tribeca are The Harrison, and Walker's, both long time Taste of Tribeca participants.

Brunch and Harry Potter Screenings

Sunday Brunch at The Church Lounge in the Tribeca Grand is about to get even more exciting. In April and May (see schedule below), the screening room will be showing all 5 Harry Potter films in anticipation of the sixth installment's summer release! Brunch is 10 AM- 3 PM and features a buffet-a-plenty, lots of space to hang out on couches, the Sunday Times separated by sections in big piles, and kids' movies playing downstairs in their screening room at 10 am, noon, and 2 pm. The Harry Potter films are scheduled for the 2 PM screening on the Sundays noted below. The cost of brunch is $34.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids and the tall iced lattes are yummy and the bloody marys are totally spicy and olive-icious.

April 26: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
May 3: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
May 10: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
May 17: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
(No Potter films playing Memorial Day Weekend)
May 31: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Call to make reservations at 212-965-3565.

Indian Express

One of our readers tried a new restaurant using Taste of Tribeca as her guide. We are delighted to hear that the experience was such a success!

Based on your recent article, a friend and I dined at Indian Express last night. We couldn't have been more pleased. She's not happy unless smoke is coming out of her ears; I like mild, mild, mild. The chef adjusted the ingredients in a dish to meet my special request, and it was delicious - mild but full of flavor. My friend's palate was happily aflame. The service was exceptional, and the room was warm in ambiance. It's great to have another terrific alternative to running up to the Indian restaurant row on 28th and Lex! Thanks for bringing Indian Express to my attention. It has become my new "fave" venue