Gus Van Sant’s Oscar-nominated film aside, milk itself is undergoing a bit of strange renaissance. Milk is hot. Fact is, our recession has accelerated the eternal return to comfort food. And unless you’re lactose intolerant, a tall glass of milk might make you feel better. Here are a few highlights from milk’s current curdle-free moment in the sun: more ›

Did you know that January was the first time the temperature in New York City didn't hit 50 degrees in over twenty-five years? But alas, relief is here! Today begins the 17th annual Hot Chocolate Festival at City Bakery in the Flatiron District. For each day of the month, they'll have a different flavor of hot chocolate, starting with Beer Hot Chocolate today and Bourbon Hot Chocolate on the 27th (with a surprise flavor on the 28th). more ›

Or so they say. Well, maybe, maybe not, but regardless, we wanted to give you some options for food and drink-related events on Valentine's Day. more ›

Hot chocolate's all the hype these days with Jacques Torres, City Bakery, Cocoa Bar, and MariBelle all pouring decadent brews at their downtown locales. And, while we have to admit that we’re more likely to stop in one of these spots below 14th Street, there are plenty of reasons for heading further uptown during this holiday season—say, for ice skating at Rockefeller Center, a trip to Central Park, or a visit to the Met. more ›

Hot chocolate aficionados are likely well-aware of The City Bakery's on-going Hot Chocolate Festival through the end of February, but for the layman of the hot chocolate world, Gothamist reminds you to stop by for a cup of the coma-inducing cocoa. With a new flavor each day, including Monday's (2/19) , Thursday's (2/22) cinnamon, and next Monday's (2/26) chili pepper varieties, there's sure to be a cocoa for any type of chocolate lover. Notoriously rich and thick, The City Bakery's hot chocolate is offered in "shot" or cup ($4.50) sizes either with or without a homemade marshmallow. The brew--if one seeks pure indulgence--can be enjoyed with any one of City Bakery's memorable cookies, including new vegan chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin varieties. more ›

This week'sNew York Magazine wraps up some of the city's best cups of hot chocolate -- you know, the kind that drinks like a meal. Their top choice, the decadent cup at City Bakery ($2), is rich enough to make even the most passionate chocolate lover feel close to overdose levels (don't forget that February is the month where they feature a new hot chocolate flavor every day). Other mentions include the gianduja hot chocolate at Otto Enoteca Pizzeria ($4.50), which is creamy, infused with hazelnut, and served with delicious shortbread cookies. Other standouts include chocolatiers Marie Belle, Jacques Torres, and Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man. Did they leave any off the list, in your opinion? more ›

Now that the big tree is lit, Rockefeller Center draws tourists like moths to a flame. You may even find yourself under its sway. The tree is pretty impressive after all—more than 65 feet tall and adorned with more than 30,000 lights. But when the crowds swarm and the cold bites, remember relief is not far away. Just duck into La Maison du Chocolat, around the corner on 49th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, for what might be the best cup of hot cocoa in New York. This outpost of the quintessential French temple of chocolate provides a respite to midtown madness. Despite its location (right next to the NBC studios tour entrance), La Maison always maintains an air of calm. Maybe it’s because as soon as you walk in, the scent of pure, unadulterated chocolate envelops you. Every surface in the shop radiates in shades of auburn and brown, and even the clerks bear beatific smiles that seem cocoa induced. This is the Hermes of chocolate (with a bigger branch on Madison Avenue and 78th Street), and prices reflect the value. more ›

Bruni joins the chorus of unenthusiastic reviews for Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, awarding it no stars. The best he has to say is that chef/owner Tim Love "seems dedicated to getting first-rate cuts of meat" (which the kitchen then overseasons). more ›

At first when you walk into Tisserie, the new pastry shop at the northwest corner of Union Square, it seems like another high-end traditional French patisserie. A seemingly endless, gleaming glass case displays rows of impeccably crafted sweets: berry tartlets, macaroons, palmiers. But tucked among the croissants and pains au chocolat are little surprises, pastries made with French technique yet unheard of in Paris. There are tiger eyes (little round spongy cakes spotted through with chocolate and topped with a generous round of dark ganache), chococitron (a similar cake but in a mini-bundt form and soaked in a tangy syrup), and coquitos (filled with coconut). These are hints at the cafe’s Venezuelan origin. The owners, Ronald and Morris Harrar, have based the place on their shop in Caracas. The variety they’ve injected to the art of pastry is just enough to reawaken your sweet tooth. On the savory side, there are lovely sandwiches and quiches (whose flavors are indicated by perfect garnishes). One standout is the cold avocado and lime soup. It’s surprisingly light, like a liquid mousse, if such a thing could be, and it would be worthy of a fancy amuse-bouche at a three-star restaurant (which kind of helps explain its whopping $5.50 price tag). more ›

It used to be that the only kind of croissants you could find were the fake ones—made without a trace of butter and not flaky at all. Now though it seems there’s an authentic French patisserie on every corner offering up flawless renditions of the pastry. But in the search for the best croissant, Gothamist still prefers the classic crescent at Patisserie Claude. The proprietor here—let’s call him Monsieur Claude—has been holed up in his tiny hot kitchen on West Fourth Street for years. Perennially sweaty and grumpy, he radiates a disdain for all things American. (Hint: don’t order American coffee.) But paying him obeisance is part of the charm. Regulars often form lines out the door of the unassuming storefront, but they never complain. more ›

Lizzy Marlin, Founder of Fizzy Lizzy more ›

Tel: (212) 366-1414 more ›

You are wearing a hat today aren't you? The pressure gradient, the difference in air pressure between the low pressure system passing by this afternoon and the high pressure system that will replace it tomorrow, is very steep today. Steep pressure gradients mean windy weather. A wind advisory is in effect from 9am to 6pm today. Northwest winds will be blowing at 25-35 mph this afternoon with gusts to 50 mph. The winds will continue throughout the weekend, though not at advisory levels. The wind, along with a little rain and snow, makes tomorrow a good day to stay inside sipping hot chocolate. Which reminds us, is the City Bakery having their hot chocolate festival? We haven't heard a peep about it this year. more ›

We meant to post on this a couple of weeks back, but it just kept slipping through: check out this walk-through of the environmental materials used in the new City Bakery in the East Village. The walkthrough is a little Flashy for our tastes, so we've pulled out the links for your clicking pleasure: more ›

photo from Tangentialism/Flickr more ›

Ask.Metafilter is our favorite answer site-- the NYC tag provides a weekly dose of New York questions and answers. This week, the theme seems to be food: more ›

For the past eight hours, we've been thinking about macaroni and cheese, in no small part due to Julia Moskin's mac and cheese odyssey in the Times' dining section. Even though this will seriously cripple our annual New Year's resolution of losing weight, Gothamist is determined to sate our craving for some cheesy pasta. We might head to City Bakery, but upon reading the article, we really want to try Daphne's Caribbean Express. What are some other places to hit up for mac and cheese? We've liked Cafeteria's, and Petite Abeille in Tribeca has a really rich and creamy pasta and cheese with jambon (perfect comfort food, even if it brings you one step closer to needing an angioplasty). more ›

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City Bakery's Wasabi Pea Crusted Chicken more ›

You may have some in your well-stocked pantry, but if not, never fear. It's time for the 13th Annual City Bakery Hot Chocolate Festival! more ›

Damn, it's cold outside. The past few days have made us want to curl up in our flannel p.j.'s and fuzzy slippers, rent movies, and seek warmth and solace in our favorite comfort foods. Near the top of almost everyone's comfort food list is macaroni and cheese, and this week New York Magazine rounds up some of the creamiest, cheesiest versions in the city. more ›

Macaroni and Cheese: 52 Recipes, from Simple to Sublime more ›

Updated: E!'s handy guide to watching the game, commercials, and halftime: NBC counterprograms the game of men in tight pants with Queer Eye and more.
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Hurricaine Isabel forced the Harvest in the Square Event to be rescheduled tonight. In its eighth year, Harvest in the Square brings Union Square area chefs to offer tastings of food prepared from Union Square Greenmarket Farmers Market, accompanied by Long Island and other New York Wines. Tickets are $90 in person (cash only), $75 in advance, and will benefit the Union Square Local Development Corporation, which is currently looking to enhance the North Plaza of Union Square Park. more ›

The Times magazine looks at grilled chocolate sandwiches (from Maury Rubin, the owner of City Bakery, whose cookies Gothamist loves), but we at Gothamist want to give you an easier and equally delicious option: Toast some bread, spread some Nutella on it, and you're done. But we're sure if you have the time, Maury's recipe would be delicious - we're just impatient.
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Gothamist was too tired from the Gothamist-601AM Happy Hour to face scads of screaming children at various Harry Potter parties around town (though we were tempted to go - believe us - it would have been a lesson in seeing who could be bigger babies). We had stopped by City Bakery on 18th Street, and learned it was staying open late because the Book of Wonder across the street had its midnight Harry Potter party. (PS, the Books of Wonder staff was pretty nasty when we went inside to take a picture of the boxes, but we suppose they were stressed out.) Anyway, Gothamist thought it'd need a good night of sleep, to prepare for reading the 870 page book, but we were concerned about book status: more ›