Food: August 2007 Archives

Market Table -- Mike Price, formerly of the Mermaid Inn has partnered with the Little Owl's Joey Campanaro and Gabriel Stulman, moved into the former Shopsins space and created a market/restaurant where, among other things, they'll be selling the kick-ass pork chops served at the Little Owl so you can attempt to re-create them at home. The market portion is in the soft-opening stage, and the restaurant is due to open the week of September 11. 54 Carmine at Bedford Street. (212) 255-2100.

September 3: West Indian–American Day Carnival

Clippers Cuisine in Lefrak City has all the things one associates with a great Jamaican restaurant: killer oxtail, patties and coco bread, such traditional breakfasts as ackee and salt cod and the requisite easygoing dancehall reggae soundtrack. It also has one another claim to fame. The menu cites it as Naomi Campbell's favorite Jamaican restaurant. At first we were skeptical about that claim, but a quick check of W Magazine proved its veracity. The other interesting thing about Clippers' menu is a dish called Rasta Pasta. With a name like that, we simply couldn't resist ordering it. Much to our disappointment, Clippers was out of it the day we visited, but we did learn from the gal behind the counter that this vegetarian dish has "very special sauce."

As Grub Street and others reported yesterday, a letter written last Thursday by Senator Chuck Schumer to Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Friedman may have prevented the forcible closure of the Red Hook Ball Field food vendors this past weekend. While this seems to be a small victory for the food purveyors, doubt remains whether the operating season for the newly food safety-certified vendors will end just after Labor Day, or at the end of October, the date observed by the vendors for the last few decades.

Save for a few ethnic markets in the outer boroughs, raw pistachios are a difficult food to source in NY. Because of occasional crop blights and problems with carcinogenic, fungal aflatoxins, imported fresh pistachios are subject to rigorous inspection and regulation; perhaps not a lot see this side of customs, and eventual retail sale. What does make its way to market has often been flown in literally under the radar. Raw pistachios have some other problems as well: apparently, the whirlwind of chemical reactions taking place within each ripening kernel can actually cause the pistachio to spontaneously combust when nuts are stored en masse. Seriously.

When we want to find ripe mangoes - lush, juicy, almost overripe mangoes, in fact - the Mrs. Robinsons of mangoes - all the shelves seem to carry are hard, tart, green mangoes.

The PR team over at Mercadito sent us a very disturbing email earlier today:

On Sunday, August 26, at 7:20 am Antonio Barranco Hernandez was killed, and Luis Romero and Augusto Bravo were seriously injured after a drunk driver slammed into the back of the van while the men delivered produce to Mercadito Grove restaurant, located at 100 Seventh Avenue South in New York City.

Continue reading "After Fatal Drunk Driving Incident, Relief Fund Established For Victims"

The PR team over at Mercadito sent us a very disturbing email earlier today:

On Sunday, August 26, at 7:20 am Antonio Barranco Hernandez was killed, and Luis Romero and Augusto Bravo were seriously injured after a drunk driver slammed into the back of the van while the men delivered produce to Mercadito Grove restaurant, located at 100 Seventh Avenue South in New York City.

Continue reading "After Fatal Drunk Driving Incident, Relief Fund Established For Victims"

Bruni goes to Franny’s in Brooklyn, rates it a top pick, awards it two stars, and calls himself a newly converted “besotted Franny’s believer.” Says Franny’s simplicity—they serve crostini, cured meats, pasta and pizza (along with a few other items)—“is deceptive. The restaurant finds transcendence in dishes and genres that wouldn’t seem to yield so readily to invention or open the door to so much pleasure.”

Bruni goes to Franny’s in Brooklyn, rates it a top pick, awards it two stars, and calls himself a newly converted “besotted Franny’s believer.” Says Franny’s simplicity—they serve crostini, cured meats, pasta and pizza (along with a few other items)—“is deceptive. The restaurant finds transcendence in dishes and genres that wouldn’t seem to yield so readily to invention or open the door to so much pleasure.”

This week's New York Mag runs down some of this season's upcoming restaurant openings -- better start planning now. We've already given you the scoop on Will Goldfarb's Picnick and Peter Hoffman's Back Forty, due in September and October respectively, but we're looking forward to some of the other spots highlighted by Rob and Robin, especially noodle shop Bun, from Mai House chef Michael Huynh and his wife, Thao Nguyen, and El Quinto Pino, from the Tia Pol gang.

As much as Gothamist tries to be on the bleeding edge of the food scene in Queens, sometimes only an old favorite will do. Which is exactly what happened the other day when we found ourselves standing in front On the Grill craving chicken shwarma.

As much as Gothamist tries to be on the bleeding edge of the food scene in Queens, sometimes only an old favorite will do. Which is exactly what happened the other day when we found ourselves standing in front On the Grill craving chicken shwarma.

When a cocktail is delicious and easy to make, it’s worth talking about. Often times we get overly ambitious with our mixology skills and the results can be drinks that are undrinkable, even for professional lushes like us. Perhaps that’s why we fell in love with the Honey Bee. This cocktail is light and refreshing with just a subtle hint of sweetness and involves nothing more than a shaker and a few easy to find ingredients. We just had to knock on our neighbor’s door to borrow the honey. Thanks 6C.

When a cocktail is delicious and easy to make, it’s worth talking about. Often times we get overly ambitious with our mixology skills and the results can be drinks that are undrinkable, even for professional lushes like us. Perhaps that’s why we fell in love with the Honey Bee. This cocktail is light and refreshing with just a subtle hint of sweetness and involves nothing more than a shaker and a few easy to find ingredients. We just had to knock on our neighbor’s door to borrow the honey. Thanks 6C.

Generally, when one thinks of baseball game food, the usual suspects come to mind -- hot dogs, sausage and pepper sandwiches, Cracker Jacks, maybe some nachos, complete with day-glo cheez -- but tucked away in a corner of Shea stadium lies something that puts them all to shame. Mama's of Corona is squirreled away on the third base side on the Field Level of the stadium, and those of us with the cheap seats have to follow a winding path to get there (look for signs for the "Hot Corner"). But upon arrival, deliciousness awaits. In addition to antipasti plates, Mama's offers three varieties of Italian sub, all featuring fresh mozzarella from Leo's Latticini, which shares the same ownership. Our pick for the night was the "Mama's Special," pepper ham, genoa salami, and fresh mozzarella on an Italian roll, with small side containers of roasted peppers and marinated mushrooms. We added a splash of oil and vinegar for good measure.

What’s worth watching, food-wise, on TV this week? Be warned: it’s the dog days of summer, so there’s not much new on the air…

Maybe it’s the weather, but lately Gothamist has been craving Indian food. Rather than go to one of the numerous steam-table joints in Jackson Heights, we decided to give Hyderabadi, a new restaurant in Woodside down the street from the much-acclaimed Spicy Mina’s a try. The scuttlebutt on Chowhound was that this spot serves cuisine from the South Indian city of Hyderabad, renowned for its myriad biryanis and the mysterious Chicken 65, among other things.

Maybe it’s the weather, but lately Gothamist has been craving Indian food. Rather than go to one of the numerous steam-table joints in Jackson Heights, we decided to give Hyderabadi, a new restaurant in Woodside down the street from the much-acclaimed Spicy Mina’s a try. The scuttlebutt on Chowhound was that this spot serves cuisine from the South Indian city of Hyderabad, renowned for its myriad biryanis and the mysterious Chicken 65, among other things.

Feast of San Gennaro. Manhattan’s Little Italy may be constantly shifting borders and shrinking, but this event seems to get bigger every year. Plunk down $3 for a big plastic cup of Italian bianco with peaches. When you’re done sipping, you can fish out the large hunks of wine-steeped fruit with your straw. It’s worth waiting on the long lines for kettle-fried zeppolis that come by the half or full dozen, shook up in a plain brown paper bag and coated with confectioner’s sugar. Just give them a couple of minutes to cool down before you start eating- they’re about 300 degrees fresh out of the oil. September 13-27, sangennaro.org

Freegans have been around for a while now, most recently The Times caught them dumpster diving in the NYU area just as school let out. A freegan goldmine! Now a blogger for Newsweek is getting knee deep in rubbish for a month in order to fully understand these "waste reclaimers".

Freegans have been around for a while now, most recently The Times caught them dumpster diving in the NYU area just as school let out. A freegan goldmine! Now a blogger for Newsweek is getting knee deep in rubbish for a month in order to fully understand these "waste reclaimers".

Alphabet City has long been a cheap eats favorite, with Kate's Joint for veggie-heads, Westville East for market lovers, and Nicky's Vietnamese sandwiches for the best salty-sweet-hot sandwich for under $5. You can get ramen (Minca) or delicious baked goods (Ciao for Now) or the city's arguably best coffee (9th Street Espresso), before even getting to welcome Cafe Cortadito, a new sure-to-be neighborhood favorite on 3rd Street and Avenue B.

Alphabet City has long been a cheap eats favorite, with Kate's Joint for veggie-heads, Westville East for market lovers, and Nicky's Vietnamese sandwiches for the best salty-sweet-hot sandwich for under $5. You can get ramen (Minca) or delicious baked goods (Ciao for Now) or the city's arguably best coffee (9th Street Espresso), before even getting to welcome Cafe Cortadito, a new sure-to-be neighborhood favorite on 3rd Street and Avenue B.

What do tourists like more than walking slowly in bunches, visiting Ground Zero, buying fake handbags in Chinatown, and wearing socks with sandals? Eating at restaurants they can find at home! The Post is reporting that IHOP (aka the International House of Pancakes) is in talks with Vornado to open a location at 1540 Broadway (btwn 45th and 46th). It would be the 2nd Manhattan location for the chain - the first location opened in 2004 at 135th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard in Harlem.

Despite Meatopia IV's downright pagan theme, Slaughter of the Innocents, which involved spit roasted kid goat and suckling pig as well as the consumption of copious amounts of other young animal flesh, the good lord chose to spare the soul of Mr. Cutlets, aka Josh Ozersky, and the band of meat-crazed revelers that came out Tuesday night to Water Taxi Beach to celebrate Josh's 40th birthday.

August 23 & 30: "Get Some" at Bottlerocket

August 23 & 30: "Get Some" at Bottlerocket

Inwood’s La Estufa (“the stove”) is a reliable restaurant destination in a neighborhood largely bereft of good food. The restaurant’s website bills its menu as “a delicious fusion of American-Italian dishes,” but it’s really more simple than that: menu items are prepared from scratch in an open kitchen, and they’re not fancy. Standing in for the traditional breadbasket are a few slices of house-made whole wheat bread, served with a shallow dish of cold, spicy tomato sauce. That same sauce comes with the small dish of perfectly fried calamari ($5.95). Airy, smooth, and well-seasoned butternut squash soup ($6.95) is delivered in a huge bowl, and a large portion of arugula salad ($7.95) with two types of apples and creamy gorgonzola dressing is a good deal. For what it’s worth, a few of La Estufa’s desserts and wine list choices are labeled “organic,” and non-alcoholic beverages include GuS Sodas, which is nice to see in a restaurant not located below 14th Street. In short, there’s a lot to love here, and that’s not even mentioning the uptempo, guitar heavy, Spanish language version Total Eclipse of The Heart that boomed through the dining room speakers at La Estufa one recent night.

Mid to late August is the perfect time to catch two locally grown vegetables at the top of their game. At the very beginning of the month, bush lima beans are most buttery and vibrant. The very last weekend in August is also the best time to try Long Island corn. It is around Labor Day weekend that local corn is its sweetest and most flavorful.

We sailed around the Cyclades in Greece a few summers ago, and while we felt that the cuisine on the islands became tedious after a while, there were a few things we never tired of: dolmas, spanikopita, and milk pies.

This week in the Times, Bruni one-stars “freestyle” Latin restaurant Rayuela on the LES. Says, “it’s a beautiful, fascinating, frustrating place, its cosmetic showiness echoed by dishes that are also all over the map, in terms of their appeal as well as their geographic and ethnic tethers.” He loves the tuna relleno, the arraz con pollo, and the lobster ceviche, and also the cocktails and the house-made bread.

BarFry: Sumile's Josh DeChellis is bringing New York our first ever tempura bar. Not only will he be perfectly battering and frying fresh veggies, seafood, and meat and serving them up with his signature dipping sauces (wasabi remoulade and pickled jalapeno soy, to name a few), but he'll be offering made-to-order tempura Po Boys. Wash everything down with Gaijin Pale Ale from Oregon's Rogue Brewery, made especially for BarFry. And -- they deliver in the neighborhood. West Village, better buy some elastic-waist pants. 50 Carmine between Bedford and Bleecker Streets, 212-929-5050.

This time of year was always bittersweet for us. The summer was winding down and those carefree, lazy afternoons become numbered. However there was something energizing about beginning a new school year. Maybe it was the excitment of picking out new fall clothes, backpacks and a hot pink Jem Trapper-Keeper (we were partial to Smurfs and Snorks as well). Now we've traded in our colorful binders for the standard issue white with the handy clear sleeve. But just because we are no longer students doesn't mean we can't go back to school. Actually, school just got a whole lot more interesting.

This time of year was always bittersweet for us. The summer was winding down and those carefree, lazy afternoons become numbered. However there was something energizing about beginning a new school year. Maybe it was the excitment of picking out new fall clothes, backpacks and a hot pink Jem Trapper-Keeper (we were partial to Smurfs and Snorks as well). Now we've traded in our colorful binders for the standard issue white with the handy clear sleeve. But just because we are no longer students doesn't mean we can't go back to school. Actually, school just got a whole lot more interesting.

What’s worth watching, food-wise, on TV this week?

Marian Burros has an article in the Times this week about the resurgence of buffalo as an alternative red meat. She calls it “steak without guilt,” as the meat is healthier than beef: loaded with iron, with less total fat, fewer calories and more of the good kinds of fatty acids. It’s also praised by chefs, environmentalists, and nutritionists, a rare concurrence.

When you get to the Greenmarket and there is a bunch of basil the size of a small shrub, offered for the meager price of one dollar, staring at you there is only one thing to do. Buy it, head home and make some pesto. If you have a food processor or a blender, your best bet is to whip up as much as you can handle. It is easily frozen, allowing you to taste summer all year round.

On the edge of Middle Village sits Uvarara Vineria and Ristoro, a charming family-owned wine bar that looks and feels like it should be in the middle of an Italian village instead of Queens. This is due to the efforts of the Iadicicco's who spent nine months converting what had been a tailor shop with dowdy green walls into a cozy space with exposed brick and a dining area whose four rooms each have a different ceiling. Thankfully they did not have to do much work on the exterior. The building itself has many of the architectural elements of nearby St. John's cemetery. Ask about the renovation and in short order, you'll be shown a photo album that chronicles the family's labor of love.

We were recently asked about recommendations for good first date spots: "she's allergic to shellfish, I hate TexMex - any thoughts?" We have plenty of thoughts. The first is that a first date, depending on how well you know the person, should be limited to drinks or coffee. This way, if things become clear that you don't want to stick around, you can leave politely without having to suffer through appetizers, an entree, and possibly a dessert. If the conversation is flowing and you're feeling a connection, you do want to have the option of eating available to you -- no need to get bombed before you get to know each other a little better.

These days, using seasonal, local, and organic ingredients are old tricks for New York's top caliber restaurants. Rose Water, the Park Slope neighborhood spot opened in 2000 by John Tucker, formerly of Savoy, is no exception to this market rule. Champions of the earth's bounty and offering a perpetually changing menu, Rose Water is celebrating its seventh anniversary this year as a neighborhood fixture in its Union Street (between 5th & 6th Avenue) location.

These days, using seasonal, local, and organic ingredients are old tricks for New York's top caliber restaurants. Rose Water, the Park Slope neighborhood spot opened in 2000 by John Tucker, formerly of Savoy, is no exception to this market rule. Champions of the earth's bounty and offering a perpetually changing menu, Rose Water is celebrating its seventh anniversary this year as a neighborhood fixture in its Union Street (between 5th & 6th Avenue) location.

August 19: 8th Annual Blues & BBQ

Summertime is iced coffee time, and for some, it's when finding good iced coffee takes on the form of a quest. Cold brewed iced coffee (recipe here), with coffee iced cubes thrown in, seems to be the culmination of all the perennial "perfect cup" stories. A handful of spots along Flatbush Avenue in Midwood serve coffee that has been strained from a mixture of cold water and ground beans, and iced coffees aren't offered with coffee iced cubes. Red Horse Cafe in Park Slope uses Barrington Coffee's Vienna Blend, diluted with a little water, to make their cubes. A bucket of coffee ice on hand in a small freezer behind the counter for drinks looks like something out of Superman's bedazzled secret hideaway, matching the laptop-weaned, meditative vibe of the place. The resulting coffee is a flavorful, sharp cup, but one that's not bitter. The ingenuity of coffee ice cubes is that as they melt, they fortify the drink with additional, nonstop flavor. Medium iced coffee is $2.50 for a 16 oz. cup at Red Horse, a moderately good deal considering the epic prices even the crummiest corner delis charge for the stuff these days.

Last night food blogger Andrea Strong played the role of her (really mean) self in the Restaurant Wars episode of Top Chef. She was there as an "undercover blogger," an accurate title given by Padma - as Strong got less screen-time than random walk-ins.

As the name implies, Terraza Cafe Art is a rather Bohemian hang complete with an eclectic decor we like to call Colombian folkloric hippie.

As the name implies, Terraza Cafe Art is a rather Bohemian hang complete with an eclectic decor we like to call Colombian folkloric hippie.

We don't have the luxury of forgetting indefinitely because this is not a sustainable proposition. By the time my kids are my age, they're going to look back and say, "You did what with the last drop of fossil fuels? You pushed a watermelon from Chile to your door so that you could eat it out of season? What were you thinking?"

As anyone who grows vegetables can tell you, it is easy to find yourself drowning in summer squash. We're not gardeners, but even so we find ourselves overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of squash this month. Last week, we were wandering around Prospect Heights when we came across a plastic bag full of zucchini hanging from the fence in front of one of the brownstones. A sign above the bag declared that the zucchini came from a farm upstate, and begged passers by to take some. There is no escaping the summer squash! Not that drowning in summer squash sounds like such a bad way to go, mind.

This week in the Times, Bruni goes to Café Boulud, reaffirms its three-star status. Says that under Chef Bertrand Chemel (who replaced Andrew Carmellini after his departure in 2005), the restaurant “promises about as much pleasure in the present as it did in the past.” He likes the traditional section of the menu best, but also loves the pastas. Doesn’t love the desserts, excepting the soufflés.

This week in the Times, Bruni goes to Café Boulud, reaffirms its three-star status. Says that under Chef Bertrand Chemel (who replaced Andrew Carmellini after his departure in 2005), the restaurant “promises about as much pleasure in the present as it did in the past.” He likes the traditional section of the menu best, but also loves the pastas. Doesn’t love the desserts, excepting the soufflés.

The Grey Dog's Coffee has been open in its Carmine Street location since 1996, and has been a neighborhood favorite for years. David Ethan, who co-owns The Grey Dog with his brother, Peter Adrian, recently opened a second location on University Place. We caught up with David over a cup of coffee (naturally).

At the Ethnic Market highlights international specialty foods and ingredients that you're very unlikely to find at your local Gristedes.

At the Ethnic Market highlights international specialty foods and ingredients that you're very unlikely to find at your local Gristedes.

8th Street Wine Cellar: This long awaited cozy wine bar is a welcome addition to the block between 5th and 6th Avenues in Greenwich Village. Union Square Cafe alums Michael Lagnese and Jonny Cohen are offering an excellent and diverse selection of wines both by the glass and by the bottle, in addition to a full bar, and have a tasty-looking small plates menu, featuring cheese, charcuterie, oysters sandwiches, and even pigs in blankets. 28 West Eighth Street, (212) 260-9463.

Last week was a friendly reminder of what it feels like to live in a rainforest. The scorching high heat coupled with humidity that reached the steam levels of the Russian Baths on East 9th street, had us retreating to air-conditioning. In these conditions you need something refreshing to keep you going and when water with lemon just isn’t strong enough, may we suggest these thirst quenching wines…

Last week was a friendly reminder of what it feels like to live in a rainforest. The scorching high heat coupled with humidity that reached the steam levels of the Russian Baths on East 9th street, had us retreating to air-conditioning. In these conditions you need something refreshing to keep you going and when water with lemon just isn’t strong enough, may we suggest these thirst quenching wines…

This week on food-related TV, we’ve got:

We don’t know if you heard or not, but apparently the “sexiest event of the year is back and better than ever.” That seems to be an awfully big promise but considering the dangerous combination of wine, chocolate and adult toys, the Erotic Wine Tasting Soiree at Babeland NYC, has the potential to really heat up.

We don’t know if you heard or not, but apparently the “sexiest event of the year is back and better than ever.” That seems to be an awfully big promise but considering the dangerous combination of wine, chocolate and adult toys, the Erotic Wine Tasting Soiree at Babeland NYC, has the potential to really heat up.

Will Manhattan's clubs be moving to the 10013? With the group that opened Cain on 27th Street having opened Gold Bar at 389 Broome Street in February; and uber-promoter Danny A having opened the VIP-only Upstairs on Spring Street and Broadway, The Observer is reporting on a move of "clubland" to Chinatown.

Frank Bruni, in the Diner's Journal, waxes poetic about the oysters at Wild Salmon and Aquagrill, and discusses the reasons why he often disobeys the "rule" that one is not supposed to eat oysters in months that don’t have an ‘r’ in them. We're with Frank on this one. We love oysters in the summer. The platter above was from a recent oyster happy our at P.J. Clarke's downtown. They were cheap, but didn't hold a candle to ones we've had at Aquagrill, Blue Ribbon or Pearl Oyster Bar.

Did you ever wake up one morning and feel like something's not quite right with the universe? The other day, we had that very feeling. During the course of the day we learned that not one, not two, but THREE new Pinkberry locations are in the works in addition to the four existing branches. Do we really need three more Pinkberrys? Some people say yes. We mentioned the word "Pinkberry" in front of a friend last night and her reaction was downright freakish. She spewed adoration for the tangy unsweetened yogurt with cultlike intensity; if there are others like her in the city, then perhaps the exponential growth is a good thing.

Anne Burrell has barely gotten any sleep in the last month. Almost all of her time has gone into the opening of the new West Village restaurant Centro Vinoteca. Its small, trench-style kitchen features a pass window that looks out onto the bar area; the dining room itself is spread out over two levels with about 75 seats total. 1960’s era Italian glass chandeliers hang over the tables (“They make me think of Lite-Brite,” says Burrell). A good amount of early press for the restaurant has been about its piccolini, or small plates menu, which features items like Fried Cauliflower Wedges with Parmigiano Crust and Agliata ($6), and Stir-Fried Marinated Olives ($3). Entrees range from $19 to $36.

Stone Ridge Orchard, the farm behind the Organic Schmorganic blog, is celebrating its inaugural harvest from its fifteen acres of certified organic farmland. Take a trip to the country for some food and drink, right from the farm. 6 to 9 PM at 300 Springtown Road New Paltz. RSVP to Amy Johansson by email or by calling 845-249-3440.

Like the rest of the city yesterday, Brooklyn was recovering from an angry summer squall that shut down the subways and even had its own tornado.

Like the rest of the city yesterday, Brooklyn was recovering from an angry summer squall that shut down the subways and even had its own tornado.

It's that time of year again -- the third annual Vendy Awards are upon us. Nominations are now open. Show your love for your favorite street food vendor and tell the Vendy folks why you think your vendor is part of what makes New York great and what keeps you coming back for more. The top nominees will be announced on September 1st.

The other night when Gothamist went to the wildly popular Yakitori Totto, the hostess told us we'd have to wait 40 minutes for a seat at the counter. After giving her our phone number, we headed downstairs to cool our heels at a location of the Japanese minichain East.

The other night when Gothamist went to the wildly popular Yakitori Totto, the hostess told us we'd have to wait 40 minutes for a seat at the counter. After giving her our phone number, we headed downstairs to cool our heels at a location of the Japanese minichain East.

Stuffing is generally seen as a Thanksgiving tradition, and we know very few people who bother with it at any other time of year, ourselves included. What a damn shame. Now is the time for stuffing, it turns out, while the markets are full of fresh figs and local sweet potatoes. The figs add so much flavor to this stuffing, added in raw at the very end. The sweet potatoes add richness and pull up the figs' sweetness to a level we prefer, and the texture of the wild rice is the perfect foil for the rest.

We spent this past weekend in a tranqil cabin on a lake (ahhh). Cooking was a big part of the weekend, and although the kitchen was relatively well-equipped with the basics, we realized very quickly that there was one thing that would have made it even better -- one solid, sharp chef's knife. One sharp knife is better than several dull ones, and it can make up for the lack of other tools, like a vegetable peeler.

It was reported last week that the 71 year-old Hartsdale, Westchester Carvel -- the very first outpost of the ice cream shop -- will likely be demolished at the end of next summer to make room for businesses that presumably make more money. Yes, the 68% milkfat solid, sidereal softy known as Cookie Puss is crying tiny crunchy tears as we speak; Flying Saucers are slowing down for their final approach. While the building’s current location is the site of the original Carvel store, the fact that it has been renovated over the years to look more retro apparently complicates bids for historic preservation. Tom Carvel, the chain’s gravelly voiced founder who also used to narrate its television commercials (vintage WPIX, anyone?) once lived with his wife Agnes in quarters behind the shop.

The last time we saw Dan "Chino" Perilla, the new chef at 5 Ninth, was about two years ago. He was gleefully cooking up sweetbreads to stuff into roulades made from pig face. Actually that's not entirely true, the last time we ran into him was at a birthday for his former boss, Zak Pelaccio. So when Gothamist heard that 4Foodies a newly launched online community for folks obsessed with all things food was holding its inaugural event at 5 Ninth last Tuesday, we rushed over to the meatpacking district.

Perhaps our favorite expression we learned in a recent visit to Rioja, in Spain, is “cojonudo.” It may be slightly vulgar as the etymology of the word has something to do with balls, cojonas, but that is not the only reason we like it. The word is used is to describe something that is really…really good. For example, the banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery can easily be described as cojonudo. As a writer, it is always nice to have an extra adjective in the back pocket. Especially when delicious does not seem sufficient in describing the bold, multi-faceted red wines of Rioja.

Perhaps our favorite expression we learned in a recent visit to Rioja, in Spain, is “cojonudo.” It may be slightly vulgar as the etymology of the word has something to do with balls, cojonas, but that is not the only reason we like it. The word is used is to describe something that is really…really good. For example, the banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery can easily be described as cojonudo. As a writer, it is always nice to have an extra adjective in the back pocket. Especially when delicious does not seem sufficient in describing the bold, multi-faceted red wines of Rioja.

Today's new and narrow NY Times Metro section features a battle over pizza propriety. The Times reports Papa John's Pizza is opening right next door to Johnny's Pizza, a 39-year-old Sunset Park institution. John Miniaci Jr. whose father started the pizza parlor in 1968 is none too happy about this development and not just because Papa John's is a blight upon the very word pizza: Miniaci's father died just a month ago. In fact John Jr. knew about the franchise's plan to move in before his father died, but couldn't bear to tell him.

Today's new and narrow NY Times Metro section features a battle over pizza propriety. The Times reports Papa John's Pizza is opening right next door to Johnny's Pizza, a 39-year-old Sunset Park institution. John Miniaci Jr. whose father started the pizza parlor in 1968 is none too happy about this development and not just because Papa John's is a blight upon the very word pizza: Miniaci's father died just a month ago. In fact John Jr. knew about the franchise's plan to move in before his father died, but couldn't bear to tell him.