Excitement Builds...

Just six more days until the pleasures of May 17th! There is a lot of chatter out there about all that Taste of Tribeca has to offer this year.

"I have looked at the restaurant page on TasteofTribeca.org. There are so many different cuisines available. The Odeon will serve "BBQ pork spare ribs, as well as vanilla ice cream cones". Flor de Sol begs me to get out my food encyclopedia with "Shrimp Ajillo". Max will offer "Meat Lasagna'. However, the real deal will be all the tasty and unexpected dishes currently listed as "Chef Surprise" at so many of the restaurants such as The Palm, Mai House, and Bouley... I can't wait to see what these chefs will serve!""

All this and more! What's even better is that you are helping New York City public school children with each and every adventurous bite.

Now that's a win-win!

The Odeon Burger

Noted food writers Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page are blogging on a range of food and restaurant items. The pair offer up their picks from bubbly rose for all the lovers out there this Valentine's Day.

They highlighted the famous Odeon burger a while back - I've reprinted their post below.



"On Sunday afternoon, we went out for a late lunch with fellow author friends who live in Tribeca. Walking into the Odeon, we were happy to see one of New York's most talented* chefs Tom Valenti ('Cesca, Ouest) out enjoying a bite with his lovely wife. (*NOTE: We refer to his culinary giftedness as well as his lesser-known comic talents.)

Asking them what on earth could pull them so far downtown from their Upper West Side locale, we looked at their identical plates and learned: Odeon's hamburger! After interviewing Tom for our show "Chef's Night Out" and learning of his excellent taste in hamburgers (e.g. he's a fellow fan of Big Nick's), there was no way were we leaving without ordering one — and, lo and behold, they were right: It was fabulous!"

The Odeon is at 145 West Broadway (bet. Thomas & Duane), New York. (212) 233-0507.

The Odeon - A Tribeca parent's review

"We went to The Odeon last night for a birthday dinner with 4 adults and 2 children. It was a great evening with a great meal.



We started with the French Onion Soup and 2 Satur Farms Baby Beet Salad (with Black Mission figs, shaved fennel & aged goat cheese), which is a family favorite.

The children split a generous portion of pasta with butter.

For the entree, we had
- Local Autumn Squash Ravioli with pancetta butter & sage
- 2 orders of the Angus Hangar Steak
- Grilled NY Sirloin Steak

For dessert,
- ice cream for the kids
- Odeon ice cream sundae
- Warm Upside Down Apple Crisp with pumpkin seed dipped caramel apples & vanilla ice cream
- Warm Doughnuts with raspberry jam and maple dipping sauce
- Molten Chocolate Cake with hazelnut ice cream

The food, service and atmosphere were all great, and the children were welcomed and kept busy with coloring."