Forget yesteryear's pork belly, suckling pigs, or even duck-themed tasting menus: 2012 is the year of the goat (including the ones eating pizza right now). Technically, 2012 is the year of the Water Dragon, but with dragon meat currently unavailable, it was only a matter of time before the humble goat stepped into the center ring of the food fad circus. Beats hearing about bacon, anyway.
Where To Eat Goats...And Why
New York Wins Big at Bon Appetit Awards
This month's Bon Appetit features this year's winners of the Bon Appetit awards, which honor leaders in the culinary field. The intimate awards ceremony took place at Del Posto earlier this week, where current and prior winners dined on a seasonal Italian tasting menu created specifically for the occasion. The awards presentations were held between courses, hosted by Ted Allen, who did his best to entertain the crowd.
Tasty Holiday Wrappings: A Wrapup of Food/Wine Gift Guides
In case you haven't noticed, 'tis the season for giving and all that jazz. You've got a friend/relative/other loved one who can't get enough of the epicurean lifestyle, and you're looking for the perfect gift. Never fear -- 'tis also the season of gift guides, which will steer you to gifts that will guarantee a smile. First, our own five gifts for the foodie under $50, all available online, including a beautiful olive wood mortar...
Does Where You Eat Make You More Exciting?
Bon Appétit , in an attempt to appeal to a broader, younger, and theoretically "hipper" audience, has recently revamped its logo. Taunting came in full force, via Grub Street, who concluded, "[t]he truth is that Bon Appétit will never be any hipper or friskier than it is, because no magazine about upscale entertaining can ever speak to people that don’t have big houses and plenty of time on their hands." Adam Roberts, the Amateur Gourmet,...
New York Rocks the Restaurant Scene
This month's Bon Appetit is the restaurant issue, highlighting recipes from restaurants all across the world, but our own Little Owl made the cover photo with their delectable meatball sliders. Other hometown shout-outs went to The Good Fork, for their Korean-style steak and eggs, a spiced plum chutney from Tabla, and WD-50's music playlist (including one of our current obsessions, Hall & Oates).
Dona Searching for a New Home
Gothamist received some very distressing news in our inbox moments ago -- it appears that Dona is closing. The building in which Dona is currently located is being sold to a real estate developer and Donatella Arpaia is actively searching for a new spot in which to showcase Chef Michael Psilakis' cooking.
Tidbits
- We can't even begin to tell you how excited that Michal Psilakis' gnudi recipe was featured in January's Bon Appetit, which arrived in our mailbox last night. We've been to dona a handful of times, and have been compelled to order it each time. The gnudi themselves are pillowy and light, while the earthiness of the truffle and mushroom-infused sauce is a perfect match for the sage and crisp pancetta. We can't wait to try it at home!
A Taste of Japonais
We recently got the opportunity to take a peek at Japonais, the much-anticipated Chicago import from partners Rick Wahlstedt, Miae Lim, and Jeffrey Beers. A great deal of detail went into the majestic space -- approximately 11,350 square feet (includes both inside and outside areas), which seats close to 300 patrons -- decked out with gold banquettes, red plush chairs, and multiple seating areas, including the bar and lounge, main dining room, an upstairs lounge, and a sushi bar. The centerpiece of the main dining room is a striking tree sculpture featuring custom blown glass pods created for the restaurant by Beers and his team from Urban Glass.
The Julie/Julia Project: Now in Book Form
Gothamist has been a fan of the Julie/Julia Project for quite some time. We were sad to see it come to an end, but at least we knew that Julie had gotten a book deal, so we had something to look forward to. And now, we can revisit our favorite Julie/Julia moments in the form of Julie's new book, Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen: How One Girl Risked Her Marriage, Her Job, and Her Sanity to Master the Art of Living. David Kamp at the New York Times doesn't seem to love the transformation. Although he is quick to compliment Julie on her food-writing skills (she has been published in the New York Times and Bon Appetit since her blog's completion), he still sees the book as too, well, bloggy. "'Julie and Julia' still has too much blog in its DNA: it has a messy, whatever's-on-my-mind incontinence to it, taking us places we'd rather not go . . ." Don't worry, we're still psyched to read it.
It's a Hell of a Town, Foodwise
The September issue of Bon Appetit (which has already hit local mailboxes) features the country's five best restaurant cities, and topping the bill is good old NYC, naturally. It includes recipes from New York's "neighborhood haunts" (even thoughtfully including Brooklyn and Queens in the mix) that we treat like "extensions of [our] own kitchens." Damn, our cooking has gotten good, considering the cramped quarters. Look for recipes from Sripraphai (we're definitely making the drunken noodles from the provided recipe), August, Nam, Café Boulud, Al di Là, and Gothamist favorites Angon on the Sixth, and Prune.
Bon Appetit: Annual Restaurant Issue Roundup
Bon Appetit's 11th Annual Restaurant Issue showcases several of Gothamist's favorite New York restaurants: Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar, Casa Mono, 'inoteca, Pampano, Per Se, The Flatiron Lounge, and Chikalicious.
Orbach at Carnegie Deli
Gothamist was thrilled to see Law and Order's own Jerry Orbach gracing the inside cover of the newly released August issue of Bon Appetit. He mentions Judson Grill as one of his favorite NYC restaurants, (which is a shame, since it just closed) and admits that "once or twice a year, I'll indulge in a hot pastrami sandwich at the Carnegie Deli." Gothamist would happily meet up with you for your next scheduled indulgence.



