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

Artisanal Cheese at Bazzini's

It is always a delight when we find something we crave a little closer to home:

I did a double-take in front of the cheese fridge at Bazzini's. They're now carrying a beautiful selection from Artisanal Cheese Company. They're more than just purveyors of cheese, they're more like curators. When Artisanal puts their stamp on cheese, you know it's going be good. They had one of my personal favorites: Dutch Roomano--this hard, orange cheese is old enough for kindergarten and will make a believer out of you. Butterscotch is the word that will come to mind. Buy a hunk and try to resist nibbling. In the past, I had to make a special trip up to the Artisanal restaurant in the Flatiron district, but now Tribeca has its own supply.

Tribeca Treats and Blogging

Rachel Thebault is one of our favorite bakers in Tribeca. Last year, my daughter's kindergarten class at ps 150 must have spent a good 6 months studying the baked goods offered for sale at her Tribeca Treats. Rachel is not only a purveyor of cupcakes and cookies, she is also a blogger for the Huffington Post.

Saluggi's - New To Taste of Tribeca 2009

Pleasing adults and children alike on a Friday night can be a big balancing act. Luckily, one of our readers found Saluggi's which seemed to satisfy everyone:

Ordered delivery on Friday night and they told us it would be 40 minutes. It was actually 20 minutes Three adults, 4 kids and everyone was impressed. The kids had the regular pie, adults got the Arugala pie and ceasars salad. We had leftovers for lunch, except my daughter who ate a slice after her rice crispies in the morning. I dropped the menus off to my doorman to spread the word and when I came back that evening he was raving about the calamari. One downer is that they are not open on Sundays.

White Day at Rosanjin

In Japan, Valentine's day is usually observed by women who give gifts of chocolate to the men in their lives. White Day, March 14, was first celebrated in 1978 and was created by the National Confectionary Industry Association so that Japanese men could return the favors bestowed upon them on Valentine's Day.

Rosanjin suggests a romantic kaiseki dinner paired with sake for White Day.

Zagat Vintage Dinner Series on March 11

Chanterelle, as part of the Zagat Vintage Dinner Series, will be hosting an evening on March 11 featuring dishes and drinks that have disappeared from our culinary culture. The $175 per person dinner will also include pairings by Master Sommelier Roger Dagorn, and a surprise live performance of 19th Century Songs. Dishes on the menu include: Pike Quenelles with Lobster Sauce paired with Domaine Les Goubert ‘Cuvee V’ (Viognier) – Rhone 2005, and an Orange and Raspberry Bavaroise.

For reservations for the Zagat dinner or to experience the new a la carte menu, please contact Chanterelle Reservations Manager Tine Bruhn at (212) 966.6960 or tine@chanterellenyc.com.

Chef Russell Moss Quietly Cooks for This Cafe

More from The Fork Lifter:

Why does Cafe 92Y Tribeca always smell so buttery when I go in? A surprisingly diverse menu is offered: from Poached Tuscan Eggs in the morning to Slow-cooked Yellowfin Tuna in the evenings. Beer and wine (not too mention a very serious cup of hot-chocolate) are available. Perfect for the Y's new sing-along movie nights! Definitely worth the walk up Hudson to Vestry to sprawl on their comfy couches and nosh on wasabi deviled eggs. Just what the neighborhood needed...and why is the food so good? Long time NYC chef and instructor, Russell Moss, is the chef behind the food!

Believe It or Not, I Do Eat at Home

A recommendation from The Fork Lifter:

Those living on the northern edge of Tribeca have a couple new things to celebrate (and no, they did not close down the Holland Tunnel). After months of promise, Grandaisy Bakery is finally open on the corner of Ericsson and West Broadway. Their offerings look simple but are packed with flavor. How else to explain that I walked 4 blocks out of my way for one of their cured-beef sandwiches? I made the mistake of ordering the bread-pudding and now I'm afraid I'll become obsessed. Other notables are the Dulce de Leche torte and the gingersnap cookies with lemon filling.

Chanterelle's a la Carte Menu

Starting this week, Chanterelle will offer guests the option of an a la carte menu at dinner in addition to chef David Waltuck's signature tasting menu and new cheese course choices. As restaurants look to provide a more relaxed dining experience, Chanterelle wanted to create the a la carte menu that offer diners a more flexible way to experience chef David Waltuck’s critically acclaimed cuisine.

Petrarca Cucina e Vino

One of our readers celebrates Petrarca's participation in this year's Taste, which will be held on Saturday May 16, 2009.

Great news that one of my neighborhood favorites, Petrarca, will be at the Taste of Tribeca. I've always had a soft-spot for the restaurant that managed to get one of my kids to like salad (hint: it's the one with the avocados). It's been a standby for dinners out with friends. I love the huge wine selection, much of it available by quartino. The paillard of chicken on a bed of arugula makes a great entree if you've indulged in one of their more substantial appetizers. I see the genial hosts out in the neighborhood a lot (they also own ARQUA). For some reason they're not listed in Zagat--but they're at the corner of Church Street and White in Tribeca (212 625-2800).