FOODCETERA

DOMINIQUE ANSEL KITCHEN.  remember that ‘lil thing called the cronut?  y’know, that delicious frankenstein of a pastry?  well, the culinary scientists at dominique ansel kitchen are at it again.  ladies and gentlemen... the cinnamon spun roll.  it’s like a buttery spool of moist and spicy cake enveloped in a melty apple jack frosting.  could this be the new cronut?  who knows...but i’ll gladly keep consuming this gem.

LOS TACOS.  coming from california, it’s natural to be skeptical about mexican food in the northeast.  but i have to say, with a huge smile on my face, that los tacos at the chelsea market is the best tacos i’ve ever had.  and that is saying a lot.  check it out for yourself.  try the chicken, beef or adobada in either taco or quesadilla.  you will not be let down!

MORGANSTERN’S FINEST ICE CREAM.  it’s pretty safe to say that this has been my summer of ice cream.  i’m usually very cautious when it comes to dairy.  but when my friend dragged me to a very unassuming store in the lower east side with a very long line, i had no idea what kind of treasure i was about to meet.  morganstern’s is a small-batch ice cream parlor with really unique flavors like szechuan peppercorn chocolate, cardamom lemon jam and green tea pistachio (pictured above)... and that’s just scratching the surface.  treat yourself to something sweet and unique soon!

DOJO RAMEN.  sadly, it’s been half a year since we have posted anything on our blog.  time flies and (even with the best of intentions) sometimes you just forget to do things. 

anywho, we are back with a reimagined throwback.  when i moved to new york, dojo on st.marks was one of the affordable good places to eat that really hit the spot.  it’s been years since they have been in that location, but dojo still lives on and thrives on the other side of broadway, right by washington square park and nyu.  and they have added a ramen restaurant next door.  hungry for a satisfying tonkatsu ramen?  head downtown and give them a try.

10 QUESTIONS WITH...MARIN RADOVANOVICH.

with family roots in the wine industry in new zealand, marin radovanovich flexes his knowledge of the grape in the united states under the house of lauber imports.  if you are wondering why he looks so familiar to you--you've probably seen him smashing the courts on espn as a professional tennis player.  this is what our pro-athlete-turned-wine-buff had to say about our 10 questions:

• coffee or tea? coffee • what is your catch phrase in the kitchen? 'needs more garlic' • if you weren’t a wine aficionado, what would you be doing? my guess would be cooking, that way i could work some wine into the mix! • many people have a spirit animal, what is your spirit food/beverage? whiskey on the rocks • anyone past or present, who would you invite to dinner? roger federer-the guy is a class act • wine… red or white? or rose! • who is your biggest influence/inspiration in your career? i have to say both my parents-it's hard work raising 3 crazy boys! • if you could go to any country for dinner where would you go? italians do it best!!  italy-sicily.  it's like a separate country down there-everything tastes phenomenal • how would you describe your knife skills-knight, ninja or vader? more like surgeon • what song best describes your life? cat empire-hello.  you just want to get out of your seat and boogie!

MINAMOTO KITCHOAN.  new york is full of unique eats.  it's seems like there is always something delightful, delicious and unique every time you turn a corner.  minamoto kitchoan was one of these destinations, when i would happen to be in the rockefeller area...until it closed.  cut to last week when i stumbled upon their new store!  if you love mellow yet delectable desserts, give this japanese sweets shop a visit. 

i spent the day drawing cute lil' avatars of the foodcetera crew...and they are pretty accurate.

DAIKAYA.  i may not be a ramen expert, but i know a good one when it hits the tongue.  new york practically has a ramen house on every corner--it's even inspired a map that can be purchased for your enjoyment and livelihood.  folks aren't so lucky in washington dc when it comes to number of noodle joints...but what they do have are gems.  and daikaya is leading the pack.  geared towards a younger and hip crowd, their bowls are filled with fresh and hearty ingredients, flavorful broths and expertly cooked ramen noodles.  i filled my belly with their shio ramen and a side of their chicken and pork fried dumplings.  i'm still full.

all i have to say is it's 23 degrees outside.  thank you LUCID CAFE.  your delicious hot chocolate successfully defrosted me.

10 QUESTIONS WITH...JOHAN PESENTI.

blessed with the extensive knowledge of one of the world's most popular beverages (...and pretty much everyone's morning ritual), johan pesenti has been blazing a trail in the coffee industry.  having collaborated with the likes of alain ducasse, guy savoy and eric kaiser, johan has founded his own new york based coffee roasting company called coperaco.  here's how he tackled our 10 questions over a cup of joe:

• coffee or tea? coperaco coffee • what is your catch phrase in the kitchen? 'coffee, chef?' • if you weren’t a coffee aficionado, what would you be doing? i would be a farmer • many people have a spirit animal, what is your spirit food/beverage? olive oil • anyone past or present, who would you invite to dinner? my grandmother • wine… red or white? red • who is your biggest influence/inspiration in your career? chef alain ducasse, i admire what he represents • if you could go to any country for dinner where would you go? thailand • how would you describe your knife skills-knight, ninja or vader? no knife skills, i am better with an espresso handle • what song best describes your life? it would probably be a song by moby

DANNY'S GIGS, GROUPIES & GOOD EATS...

PAUL'S BURGER JOINT. when i think about guilty pleasures only 2 things come to mind….bon jovi and paul’s burger joint!  this lower east side spot, hands down, has the best damn burger in the city.   this isn’t some upscale “designer burger spot” that has been plaguing nyc lately…this is a tchotchke laced piece of heaven.  the burgers are big, beefy and juicy, just the way god intended it to be.  from burgers to philly cheese steaks to the thickest milk shakes around, paul’s does not disappoint on any level.  at an average price of $6 a burger--it’s worth every cent.   p.s.  make sure you say hello to the elvis bobble head for good luck.

131 2nd avenue, nyc.

10 QUESTIONS WITH...ERIC KAYSER.

ever wonder what goes on in the brain of the busiest baker on the planet?  we jumped on our chance to lay our 10 questions on the man behind maison kayser while on a very brief visit to the united states.

MAISON KAYSER.  who can say no to an opening, especially when it's the opening of a delicious restaurant?  today we literally broke bread with the good folks at maison kayser on the upper west side.  eric kayser opened his first maison kayser in 1996 in paris, and now there are over 150 locations worldwide.  kayser invented the fermentolevain machine, simplifying the baking process and allowing bread to be made around the clock (technology used in almost all the bakeries all over the world).  stop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner for meals featuring amazing baked goods, earth-shattering coffee and sweets that are unforgettable.

VANESSA's DUMPLINGS.  i've lived in new york for almost fourteen years, and when asked 'what's the best deal in the city?', the answer is easy.  vanessa's dumplings.  nowhere else in new york can you have a robust food adventure, needing only the $5 in your pocket.  the dumplings are obviously the stars of this show (the classic chive and pork are a must), but also try the sesame pancake sandwich and the hot & sour and wonton soups (the best i've had in the city).  visit the o.g. location in chinatown for a true dining experience.