New York City Restaurant Buzz & Guide: The Restaurants, the Food and You

A Vanguard of the Williamsburg Art Scene Flees to DUMBO: Galapagos heads south

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:45:32 GMT

To those who live in and around North Williamsburg, the rent has gone up – and up and up and up. Galapagos, which opened in 1995, blazed an artistic trail along a waterfront teeming with drugs, prostitution and neglect. Galapagos was new, edgy & daring, flaunting all things experimental. At the time, who would have thought that Billy Burg would become a destination neighborhood filled not only with the Hipster locals but also Westchester Glitterettes & Long Island Sparklers. (All you need to do is spot the shorts & 4-inch stiletto pumps to know that things have changed.)

Rent has quadrupled since 1995 as condos spring up like mushrooms all over the neighborhood, encircling McCarren Park like a mini-Upper West side. And the waterfront – let’s just say that the war still rages on, its most visible and controversial victim being the partially destroyed MarineTerminalBuilding in nearby Geenpoint. Battles lines have been drawn and condo-mania & big-box branding are winning.

Galapagos, feeling that heat and more, had to flee rent increases that made it impossible for them to operate in the manner to which we were all accustomed. Edgy does not translate into high volume sales. Oh well, I guess there will be another big-box resto-bar hot spot taking up the old space, and sure to jammed full of trend-o-maticas.

Now, Galapagos has opened its door in DUMBO (acronym for Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass http://www.galapagosartspace.com/galapagosindumbo.html ), a mature art zone with more teeth and a big knot of transportation routes nearby. And the building is labeled Green.

The Galapagos website points all of its fingers for the move at the rent situation, but there is more to this change than that. On WNYC, a Galapagos owner stated in an interview that “you need a passport” to get to Williamsburg. A passport?What could he have meant by that? Have the hipsters set up a border crossing? Is the L Train not enough train for the size of the crowds flooding the neighborhood? Are big-box competitors outbidding art houses for coveted space? Or has the entire scene changed from edgy and innovative to Meatpacking East?

To find out, Adanna will venture into the wilds of Willy B, looking for signs of the ancient artistic civilization, and reporting on the new invaders.

Get egg-cited at davidburke & donatella

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:25:03 GMT

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? While we can't promise an answer for eternity, on July 26, the AIWF declares the egg came first, and as such is celebrating with an egg-themed brunch at acclaimed restaurant davidburke & donatella on Saturday, July 26, 2008 from 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM. Tickets are $75 for AIWF members, and $85 for non-members. You can purchase tickets online at www.ticketweb.com. Questions: (718) 522-6688 Egg Menu 1st Course Organic Ostrich Scramble 2nd Course davidburke & donatella Eggs Benedict 3rd Course Polenta, Braised Short Ribs & Slow Cooked Duck Egg Dessert Egg-stravaganza Dessert Trio Bellinis will be served with all courses. All beverages donated by Southern Wines & Spirits of New York.

Tags: aiwf, davidburke and donatella, southern wines

Tribute to Rochelle Ratner @ Cornelia Street Cafe

Wed, 07 May 2008 21:10:44 GMT

Cornelia Street Cafe

Presents:

A Tribute to Rochelle Ratner

1949-2008

Hosted by Christine Panas

Monday, May 12^th, 6 to 8 PM

Cornelia Street Café

(on Cornelia Street, off little West 4^th)

Rochelle, poet, essayist, novelist, critic, friend, mentor, sister to all contributed over 80 books of poetry, literature and insight to the world. We are proud to read in her honor:

Alethea Black – reading from her upcoming story in The North American Review

Anita Bernstein – reading her poems recently published in Parnassus Literary Journal and the Minnesota Review.

Marian Bock – reading selections from Rochelle’s collections Combing the Waves and Balancing Acts

Michele Bowman – reading from her poems

Christine Panas –hosting, and reading select poems & correspondence by Rochelle

Tags: Alethea Black, Anita Bernstein, Christine Panas, Cornelia Street Cafe, Marian Bock, Michele Bowman, Rochelle Ratner

Event Alert! Fabulous Dinner with Wine Pairings! All from Navarra, Spain

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:36:13 GMT

Thursday, February 7 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM (6:30 PM doors)

AIWF - New York Chapter presents AIWF NY Chapter: Navarra Paints New York Garnacha-

at W - Union Square Hotel - The Great Room, New York City

AIWF NY Chapter - Navarra Paints New York Garnacha Red
The American Institute of Wine & Food - New York
Chapter is proud to present this outstanding
educational tribute to this extraordinary region
of Navarra.

Join us for a tasting of wines & a dinner prepared
by one of Spain's most well-known chefs, Teresa
Gil of Restaurante Don Pablo of Pamplona.
The Kingdom of Navarra, Spain has a stored history.
Navarra, situated in the north of Spain, is a land
of complexity and contrast. From the wild and
rugged Pyrennees to the gentle, bucolic landscapes
of its southwest, Navarra has almost as many climatic
variations as the whole of Spain. Bordered by
France, Castilla, Aragon and the Basque Country,
Navarra shares many cultural elements with each.
Connected to many historic sites by the famed Camino
de Santiago, Navarra's smooth landscapes, fertile
valleys, dramatic piedmont escarpments, medieval towns
and strategic crossroads have been immortalized by
Hemmingway and many other authors. Due to its
relative isolation, Navarra has remained a
distinctive region within Spain. The cuisine, farm products,
and wines have always been unique; now as the region
becomes better know outside of Spain, these
indigenous products are even more highly prized.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MENU

www.restaurantdonpablo.com

Event Sponsors: Cámara Navarra & Sodena: Sociedad de Desarrollo de Navarra

Chapter Sponsor: Continental Airlines

NOTE: To receive your AIWF member discount click the buy icon and enter your code in the access code field
$150.00

Tags: Five Course Dinner, Local Wine Events, Navarra, Spanish Wine Event, Teresa Gil

Event Alert! The Biscuit Readings Present: Jami Attenberg

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:29:29 GMT

Greetings!

The Biscuit Readings continue, this time with our hot pepper of a novelist, Jami Attenberg.Selections from her upcoming novel, The Kept Man, are on the menu.

Join us

SUNDAY

November 11^th

6 to 8 PM

Biscuit BBQ, Park Slope (that’s Brooklyn, baby)

(N to Union)

Stop by for a drink, a rib and some lovin’!

Jami Attenberg is the author of the story collection Instant Love.She has written for Jane, Print, Nerve, the San Francisco Chronicle, and others.Her novel, The Kept Man, will be published by Riverhead Books in January 2008.Visit her online at www.jamiattenberg.com

Reviews:

“With The Kept Man, Jami Attenberg has written a gorgeously atmospheric novel about art, love and obsession that evokes North Brooklyn in all its gritty, workaday, do-it-yourself glamour. Jarvis Miller is a heroine for the oughts: passionate, independent, sexy, lonely and brave. Like Mary Gaitskill, Attenberg gets at the dark and complex hungers that underlie even the most basic human interactions."

-Kate Christensen, author of In the Drink, The Epicure’s Lament and The Great Man

Tags: BBQ, Biscuit Readings, Brooklyn, jami attenberg, kate christensen, Park Slope, ribs

Revisiting Paloma

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:56:37 GMT

Every once in a while, it is good to go back and review restaurants already reviewed, and to check out what the scene is like.

I thought I’d poke my head in and see what Camille Becerra has been up to since she was on Top Chef.

Paloma

60 Greenpoint Ave

Brooklyn, NY11222

718.349.2400

Changes for the better:

The Menu – some nice additions, such as the seared scallops with the saffron ragout and the quinoa caviar, and the seasonal sides.

The Hours – It’s now dinner only, Tuesday through Sunday (weekend brunch has returned, however) which is probably a good thing, since the place is open late night for the party monsters inhabiting the tidal coast of Northside and Greenpoint. It is likely, once the hulking ugliness in LIC creeps down the point, that the hours will expand to accommodate the people- explosion, but we’ll have to stay tuned for that.

The Chef – Camille is closer to her kitchen than she was right after the opening, which is always good.

The Weekly Line Up has begun to fall into place:

Thursdays: DJ & Vintage Films

Sundays – DJ Gary spins

Some things never change:

The stench from the LIC sewage plant sometimes drifts down here and is inescapable

Most people still cling to the corner of Franklin & Greenpoint, as if that one extra block to the west might kill them.

Still a lot of abandoned buildings & live chicken slaughter to deal with on the avenue

http://www.palomanyc.com/

Tags: Greenpoint dining, Live Funk in Brooklyn, Paloma Restaurant Brooklyn

Event Alert! Big Red - Get your Red Wine & Red Meat Here!!!!

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 18:25:30 GMT

You love Red Wine, and you love Red Meat.

Here is an event for you!

This is an annual, highly anticipated coming out party for wine & meat lovers (cigars available, too!)

Sneak previews of new vintages! Meat the meet from:
Beacon, Chef Brad Thompson, Christos, Craftsteak, Fankie & Johnnie's, Hill Country, Icon, Jimmy's No. 43, Keens, Kobe Club, Stk, Capital Grille, Old Homestead, Tribeca Grill

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards "Big Red" 2007

Tuesday, November 6th
Strata
915 Broadway @ 21st Street
6:30 to 8:30 PM

A walk around tasting of red wine & red meat.

Tickets $115, for AIWF members $100.

For Ticket Info: 1-866-KOBRAND, or visit: www.kobrand.com

Tags: Beacon, Big Red, Capital Grille, Chef Brad Thompson, Christos, Craftsteak, Fankie and Johnnies, Hill Country, Icon, Jimmys No 43, Keens, Kobe Club, Kobrand, Old Homestead, St Francis, Stk, Tribeca Grill, wine events

What happend to my donut?

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:02:23 GMT

For those of you concerned about the transfat ban, or about the size of your ass, here is an event that might just explain what all the hoopla is about!

What Will Happen To My Doughnut?

How To Cope With The Trans Fat Ban

New York City made history this year when it banned the use of artificial trans fat in restaurant kitchens. Beginning July 1, 2007, food-service operators could no longer use partially hydrogenated vegetable oil for frying or as a spread. Next July, all foods served to New Yorkers are supposed to be trans fat free—including items notoriously dependent on trans fat, such as doughnuts, cake icing, even our beloved black-and-white cookies.

How did this happen? And is this effort really working? Join our panel discussion to find out what’s been going on behind the scenes in government and the food industry as New York leads a charge that’s being felt around the nation.

New York City College of Technology, CUNY:

300 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NYC - Janet Leftler Dining Room, Namm 215

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

$15 AIWF Members & Guests

FREE to all City Tech, FCI, ICE, NYU & AiNY Students

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO MAKE RESERVATION

Questions: (718) 522-6688 or aiwf@beardallis.com

Panelists:

Gail Goldstein, Deputy Director for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Joanne Jacus, Lecturer, New York City College of Technology CUNY Department of Hospitality Management (

www.citytech.cuny.edu

)

DavidSchleifer, PhD Candidate (Sociology), New York University

Laura Stanley, Coordinator, NYC Trans Fat Help Center (http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/notransfatnyc/), New York City College of Technology CUNY

This event will be moderated by Elizabeth Schaible, assistant professor and department chair at New York City College of Technology CUNY Department of Hospitality Management. She also serves on the board of AIWF-NY Chapter.

Gail Goldstein, MPH, has played a key role in the NYC Trans Fat initiative from its inception, and continues to act as the Department of Health’s point person on the issue. She also participates in the development of other heart-healthy nutrition initiatives city-wide. Gail will discuss the history of New York’s proactive involvement in the trans fat issue, which is widely compared to the city’s once-controversial leadership against restaurant smoking.

Joanne Jacus, a CIA-trained baking industry veteran, has worked closely with the American Institute of Baking and the NYC Trans Fat Help Center in testing a range of new “0 grams trans fat” baking shortenings and margarines in a wide variety of familiar recipes. She will report on her findings, both surprising and not surprising, and pass out samples.

David Schleifer has made a name for himself this year as one of the city’s most engaging authorities on the anti-trans fat movement. He is currently finishing a dissertation that examines scientific, regulatory, and industrial issues, and how they impact what we eat, and what we believe about what we eat. David is also conducting a case study for the Trans Fat Help Center, on a local Chinese bakery chain.

Laura Stanley manages the Trans Fat Help Center, the city’s trans fat outreach to NYC food professionals. A food writer and culinary instructor, she conducts research and creates educational materials that support restaurateurs, chefs, bakers, and suppliers in their efforts to phase out trans fat. Laura will explain how the TFHC serves its vast and multicultural constituency, and talk about her recent adventures in public health activism and food service.

Tags: AIWF, big fat ass, donuts, fat ass, Transfat ban in New YOrk City

Commuter Talk: Friday evening on a southbound train

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:22:22 GMT

Friday, on a southbound train….

A couple of pimpled and above-average former prep school boys piled onto the train with their gigantic week-end-home-from-college luggage and began talking very loudly. One of them, wearing glasses and a decent array of zits, revealed within the first 60 (long) seconds of being on the train that:

a) he was a Freshman at Cornell
b) he lived somewhere in New Jersey
c) his father was a player on Wall Street and
d) is friend was a bumpkin from Fort Lauderdale.

His friend was not nearly so chatty, and appeared to be somewhat embarrassed to be seen with Zit Boy.

Here is how their conversation played out:

Zit Boy: We’re gonna get off at Harlem.

Friend: How do we get to New Jersey from there?

Zit Boy: We can walk to the GeorgeWashingtonBridge. It’s like, right there. Ten minutes, max.

Friend: I don’t know. What about the luggage?

Zit Boy: You’ve been dragging around all day.

(Brief pause while Zit Boy answers his phone and tells someone, and proudly, that he is headed to Harlem.)

Zit boy: Is that Swiss Army luggage?

Friend: I guess so.

Zit Boy: Man, that’s expensive luggage. That’s like, at least 600 dollars, that bag alone.

Friend: I know my Dad didn’t pay 600 dollars for this.

Zit Boy: That’s what it retails for.

Friend: I’m not sure about walking.

Zit Boy: We can take the subway there, then.

(At this point the conversation is interrupted by another passenger.)

Passenger: This train stops on the Eastside. You can’t take a cross-town train from 125^th Street because there’s aren’t any.

Zit Boy: Oh, yeah, I forgot this train stops on the Eastside; we could've gone to the west side.

Passenger: There are no commuter trains on the Westside.

Zit Boy: Well, we can get off at Grand Central. Then walk to Port Authority.

Friend: How far is that?

Zit Boy: I don’t know. Maybe we can take the shuttle. Port Authority is like, five minutes from there.

Friend: I’m gonna call my Dad.

Zit Boy: I’ll call Beckman and ask him what’s best. He knows the city. He’s, like, here all the time. I bet he’s here now, out somewhere. He’s always here. He practically lives here.

(Pause while they prattle on during their respective calls.)

Zit Boy: No problem, I’ve got it all under control.

Friend: I’m hungry.

Zit Boy: Let’s get something to eat before we head to Port Authority.

Friend: Like what?

Zit Boy: Well, my Dad can get us in to any place we want.

Friend: Like what kind of place?

Zit Boy: It doesn’t matter. My Dad’s name open doors. It’s like, you know, people kiss his ass.

Friend: I just want a slice of pizza.

Zit Boy: No way, dude. You’re in fuckin’ New York City. You can get a slice in New Jersey. But we can do whatever we want in the city. I’m telling you, my Dad knows everybody.

Friend: Whatever. Whatever you want to do.

Zit Boy: I love watching these guys faces when they find out it’s my dad.

Friend: Are we going to drag our luggage to a restaurant? I don’t know.

Zit Boy: Okay, look, if you want, we can wait and grab a slice in New Jersey.

(A few seconds of welcomed silence as the two of them temporarily run out of things to say)

Zit Boy:Abierto. Doesn’t that mean something in Spanish. Like, “Of course”?

Friend: No, I don’t think so.

Zit Boy: Ropa Vieja. Old Clothes.

Friend: I guess.

Zit Boy: My Dad says that whenever he speaks Spanish, people freak out. And he likes, speaks German and Italian. He’s always freaking people out, when he says shit. I love it.

Friend: I don’t have a phone signal here. What’s up with that?

Zit Boy: My Dad says if you really want good service, you have to show people what you’re worth.

Friend: Why don’t I have a signal here?

Zit Boy: You must have TMobile.

Friend: No, Cingular.

Zit Boy: Maybe it’s your phone. My Dad says never to get the free phones. They’re crap.

Friend: I want to call my Dad. He doesn’t know where I am. He doesn’t know I’m on break.

Zit Boy: Tell him you’re in Harlem. Freak him out.

Friend: I just didn’t tell him. I should have told him.

Zit Boy: I just come and go as I please. My Dad makes sure everything’s ready for me. My room, a driver, the cook. Just in case.

(Another pause while the friend tries in vain to reach his father…)

Zit Boy: Anyway, my Dad’s name’ll get us in wherever we want. I’m telling you.

(At this point, a disgruntled female passenger makes a loud huffing noise; the two look around, then giggle)

Zit Boy: You’re gonna see. My Dad knows this city. I use his name all the time.

Female Passenger: Do you fuck with your Dad’s dick, too?

(The two boys fall silent, while the rest chuckle quietly. Zit Boy’s face is now completely red; the two pretend they didn’t hear the comment.)

Zit Boy: Let’s get off at Grand Central and take the Shuttle. We’ll get to Port Authority faster.

Tags: commuter train talk, Cornell freshmen in NYC, the ugly and the stupid

Event Alert! The Biscuit Readings are Back!

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:45:26 GMT

Event Alert: Breaking Biscuit News!

Biscuit * Biscuit * Biscuit

The Biscuit Readings are back from summer hiatus. We’ve had a face lift! Come see the new room & revel in the fact that there is Food for Body & Mind.

The Biscuit Readings

Biscuit BBQ

Corner of 5^th Avenue & President

Park Slope, Brooklyn

Train Info: R or M (Mmmmmm) to Union

Don’t miss the following literary throw downs as we wrestle it out with words:

Sunday September 23rd: Works in Progress

6 – 8 PM

Featuring Alethea Black, Sandy McIntosh and Christine Panas

(The first 20 through the door get a goody bag!)

Sunday September 30^th: Experimental Minds

6 – 8 PM

Poets on Fiction, and the reverse

Featuring Linda Simone, Kevin Pilkington, Christine Panas

As always, 1 drink minimum.

Tags: Alethea Black, Biscuit BBQ, Biscuit Reading Series, Biscuit Recipes, Christine Panas, Kevin Pilkington, Linda Simone, Sandy McIntosh