Like many designers presenting collections in this year's Fashion Week (the final Mercedes Benz Fashion Week to be held in Bryant Park), Brian Reyes has many fans, both celebrity and civilian alike. The young Colombian fashion designer first appeared on the scene in 2006 and turned heads in his fall 2009 fashion show when his models went barefoot for the show's final run, due to the discomfort of the models' footwear. While no doubt inundated with praises from his own fans constantly, Reyes is also a fan himself, and is singing a few praises of his own: praises for Tribeca food fare, that is. In a brief blip from glamour.com, Reyes names Tribeca's own The Odeon and Estancia 460 as among some of his preferred grub spots in New York City.

Estancia 460
460 Greenwich Ave
New York, NY 10013
(212)431-5093
www.estancia460.com

Estancia 460, formerly Sosa Bella, offers Argentinean cuisine with additional Spanish and Italian influences in the mix, as well.  Estancia 460 offers the inclusion of three different menu styles, featuring not only a lunch and dinner menu, but also a weekend brunch menu. The menu is moderately prices, with a single fifty dollar steak entrée on the dinner menu as the priciest option.  Reyes prefers their Tostado sandwich, with mozzarella, tomato and pesto on toasted country bread. Other cheap lunch highlights include cold sandwiches like their Basico (an Italian-inspired sandwich with fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil on ciabatta), and their soup of the day ($5 for a cup and $7 for a bowl).

The Odeon
145 W Broadway
(between Duane Street and Thomas Street)
(212) 233-0507
New York, NY 10013
www.theodeonrestaurant.com

Down Greenwich Avenue lies The Odeon, a late night delivery favorite of Reyes'. The Odeon is a restaurant as well as a brasserie - although, contrary to traditional brasserie fashion, The Odeon's brasserie is closed on Sundays (brasseries are typically open every day). Reyes admits his late night delivery guilty pleasures include the tuna burger and mint chocolate chip ice cream.  Like Estancia 460, The Odeon also includes a brunch menu, available Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm. The restaurant's "new" American cuisine menu includes everything from a simple BLT sandwich and duck meatloaf sliders for lunch,  to a house-made Rigatoni dish with beef short rib ragout and goat cheese on the dinner menu. With choices varying from mint chocolate chip ice cream and leg of lamb, what's not to love?

While the world watches to see if he commits a fashion faux pas this week, Reyes will have no problem avoiding culinary taboos with menu choices such as these.

Milk & Cookies Bakery
19 Commerce Street
(Between 7th Avenue & Bedford Street)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 243-1640
www.milkandcookiesbakery.com

Freshly baked and addictive, the cookies at Milk & Cookies Bakery are baked on site daily, which has turned out to be a successful marketing technique, as the aroma pulls in any by-passers. The staff at Milk & Cookies are truly dedicated to the development and production of these cookies, which is apparent as soon as you bite into one of their many warm, gooey cookies.

Milk & Cookies Bakery offers a variety of cookies, but there are, of course, those certain few that need not be overlooked, especially on your first visit. Their traditional Chocolate Chip cookie, Peanut Butter Chocolate cookie, Chocolate Mint cookie, and S'mores cookie should be the first four ordered. Thick and chewy, these are not your ordinary homemade cookies that usually come out flat and hard.

Also available, Milk & Cookies Bakery makes brownies and bars, as well as homemade ice cream sandwiches. The magic bars are baked with graham crackers, dark chocolate, and toffee and have quite a reputation. Their ice creams sandwiches are a combination of their cookies and homemade ice cream. Ask yourself, what could be better? My recommendations are the Grasshopper sandwich - their fresh mint ice cream sandwiched between two of their chocolate mint cookies - and the Overload sandwich, a deadly rich combination of their peanut butter chocolate cookies and dark chocolate ice cream. Like I said, nothing better.

The coolest thing about the Milk & Cookies Bakery probably isn't just their cookies, but the fact that you can customize your own cookie dough. You have the option of either designing your own dozen (13 for $23) or designing your own dough-to-go (a pint for $10.50). If you design your dozen, the cookies are baked on site, which usually take about 20-30 minutes, or you can just customize your own dough and take the pint home with you. The first step in customizing your own cookie dough, is choosing the base, options include peanut butter, chocolate, vanilla, oatmeal, or sugar. Next is the mix-ins; choose from 27 different types, which includes M&M's, marshmallows, peanut butter cups, caramel bits, and lots more.

Milk & Cookies Bakery has package ready-to-bake mixes ($6), which I suggest you take advantage of, as one bite of these cookies will undoubtedly leave you wanting more.

Geisha
33 East 61^st Street
(Between Park Ave. & Madison Ave.)
New York, NY 10065(212)-813-1112
www.geisharestaurant.com

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and you may be finding it a challenge to pick a restaurant. Too many restaurants to choose from. Not romantic enough. Too expensive. How's the food? With hundreds of restaurants in the city, and on a special occasion, it is quite difficult to narrow it down to just one, especially with the added pressure from your loved one to pick that "perfect, most romantic restaurant".

Geisha, a restaurant that emanates sex appeal, romance, and elegance, is offering a 4-course Valentine's Day prix-fixe menu for $59 per person. Sounds almost too good to be true! Zen-like and beautiful, Geisha is a New York City hot spot serving Japanese cuisine prepared by French techniques.

Constructed with two different floors, Geisha is a provocative, glamorous restaurant that satisfies every criteria of an epitomical romantic Valentine's Day restaurant. Decorated with flowers, origami, and authentic Japanese fabric, Geisha seduces its patrons right into the heart of Japan and the geisha world. The walls are flecked with gold leaf and adorned with Maplewood paneling, stenciled with cherry blossoms, and silver beads, inspired by the headdresses of the geisha women, hang from the ceiling.

The décor and ambiance of Geisha alone is worth a visit, but the food will have you returning an infinite amount of times, even if the restaurant was made of cardboard boxes. Awarded the best tartar in New York City, the Valentine's Day menu's first course is Mackerel Tartar. Made with coriander, scallions, ginger, wasabi tobiko, and a citrus vinaigrette, the Mackerel Tartar is their signature dish inspired by Geisha's consulting chef and Le Bernardin's executive chef, Eric Ripert. The Mackeral Tartare is a flawlessly balanced dish, with complex flavors, and the perfect start to what will prove to be a truly incredible and aphrodisiacal meal. 

The second course is a Tuna Truffle Sandwich composed of diced fresh akami (tuna), black truffles, and spicy mayo. For the third course, there is a choice between Artic Char,  served over wilted arugula and a savory soy ginger butter, or the Soy Braised Beef Short Rib, cooked to perfection and sided with pomme puree and baby bok choy.

For dessert, they offer a warm Chocolate Cake topped with chocolate ice cream and a chocolate ginger sauce, and served with a smoky tea. Their other option is a Carrot Cake, ingeniously paired with a caramelized pineapple and cream cheese ice cream.

After dessert, you will receive a complementary Valentine Sweet platter, comprised of chocolate dipped strawberries and truffles, handmade on the premises. I would suggest taking the platter to go-home.

New York City Winter Wine Fest
When: Friday, February 5, 2010, 7-10pm
Where: NOKIA Theatre
1515 Broadway
(Between West 44^th & 45^th Sts.)
New York, NY 10036

Price: $84.50

2010 host the 1^st New York City Winter Wine Fest at the NOKIA Theatre in Times Square. This first-ever event will feature over 200 wines chosen by a local New York City wine retailer, Bacchus Wines. The experts at Bacchus Wines selected wines from boutique vineyards all around the world.

Upon entering, you will receive a Riedel crystal stem wine glass from which to taste and is yours FREE to take home at the end of the event.

Linger from tasting table to tasting table, and let your taste buds experience a variety of high-quality wines, unique to your palette and all at affordable prices. Between tastings, cleanse your palette with a variety of cheeses, breads, and crudités. 

The event is being hosted by Alex Bugnon, a Grammy-nominated jazz pianist, who mixes contemporary jazz, funk, and R&B to create his unique and sultry sound. Along with his band, Alex Bugnon will be performing at 9:15pm on the NOKIA Theatre's main stage.

The event's wine list can be previewed at the festival's website. If this article has intrigued you, the wine list preview will have you clicking on the "Purchase Tickets Online" icon. 

To purcahse tickets call (866) 811-4111 or visit www.nywinefestivals.com.

*Must be 21 or older*

Northern Spy Food Company
511 East 12^th Street
(Between Ave. A & Ave. B)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 228-5100
www.northernspyfoodco.com

Named after New York State's Northern Spy apple-juicy, crisp and mildly sweet-Northern Spy Food Co is a greenmarket based restaurant. Buying directly from local farmers and purveyors, Northern Spy Food Co picks up any local ingredients-vegetables, fruit, breads, etc.-they can find from Union Square's Farmers Market. Priding themselves on using local and sustainable ingredients, the Northern Spy Food Co produces food that is not only nourishing, but sybaritic.

Butternut squash, clothbound cheddar cheese, and mascarpone cheese are the three mouth-watering ingredients that make up their Freekeh Risotto ($11). Creamy and cheesy, this dish can be described as a sophisticated macaroni and cheese. Polenta ($11) with braised greens, roasted mushrooms, and crème fraîche is a satisfying, guilt-free dish.

The sandwiches at Northern Spy are by no means monotonous or insubstantial. Stuffed with ham, Rupert cheese, pickled onion, and whole grain mustard, the County Ham Sandwich ($10) and the Chicken & Egg Sandwich ($11), composed of a crispy thigh, poached egg, greens, and topped with a chimichurri sauce, battle it out for the number one spot. Their vegetarian Mushroom Sandwich ($10), made of savory wild mushrooms, clothbound cheddar, confit potato, and greens, could satisfy even the most meat-obsessed carnivore. Whatever you decide to order, a side of Stewed Runner Beans ($5) must accompany. Made with cheddar and parsley, the runner beans are creamy and cheesy, and have been mistaken for mashed potatoes. 

On the weekends, brunch is available. The stars of the brunch menu are the Corned Beef Hash plate ($13), a composition of heritage beef brisket, poached eggs, potatoes and onions, and the Polenta & Eggs ($10)-two baked eggs and braised mustard greens are nestled on top a bed of crème fraîche polenta.

The Northern Spy apple makes a memorable appearance in their apple pie ($6), sided with an almond semifreddo. Their Pear & Frangipane Tart is undeniably worth the extra six dollars.

The Northern Spy Food Co also houses a market. Stocked with artisanal food products, their market sells such items as candies, fresh pickles, dairy products, and even a home beer brewing kit, all made and purchased from local purveyors. Eat local and shop local all in the same place.

5 Napkin Burger
Cuisine: Burgers, Sushi
Price: Moderate

Hell's Kitchen
630 Ninth Avenue
(Between 44th Street and 45th Street)
New York, NY 10036
(212)757-2277

Upper West Side (Coming Soon)
2315 Broadway
(Corner of 84th Street)
New York, NY 10024
(212)333-4488
www.fivenapkinburger.com

Who would have thought a burger place that sells sushi would be such a success? 5 Napkin Burger, originally opened in 2003, is planning on opening their second location on the Upper West Side at 84^th Street and Broadway this week. The original 5 Napkin Burger in Hell's Kitchen was such a big success taht they decided to expand the 5 Napkin Burger name.

As an appetizer, try their Hot Artichoke & Spinach Dip ($10.75) - endive spears and French bread crostini are your edible spoons. The Chicken, Noodle & Matza Ball Soup ($7.74) is also worth a try, containing big, juicy matza balls. 

5 Napkin Burger has an exceptionally diverse menu, made up of salads, burgers, entrees, and even sushi, identical at both locations. Known for having one of the best burgers in New York City, 5 Napkin Burger offers eight incredible choices, but there are a few that stand out from the rest. The Original 5 Napkin Burger ($14.95) is 10oz. of fresh ground chuck topped with caramelized onions, Gruyere cheese, and rosemary aioli all on a soft white roll-innovative combination and incredible taste. Their Ahi Tuna Burger ($15.95) is served on a sesame egg roll and marinated in ginger, scallions and soy, topped with wasabi mayo and tempura fried onions. Then there is their housemade 5 Napkin Veggie Burger ($11.95) served on a multi-grain roll with their very own 5N sauce, b&b pickles, lettuce and tomato - a fairly new addition to the menu.  

If you are a dessert person, it may be hard to settle on just one. You may have trouble deciding between their Espresso Brownie Sundae ($7) with vanilla ice cream, espresso caramel, whipped cream and salted peanuts, the 7 Layer Blackout Cake ($7), composed of devils food cake and creamy, rich chocolate frosting, or any one of their ice cream shakes.

Settling on a dessert may be difficult, but choosing a drink is going to be quite a challenge. Luckily, you will probably have room for more than one. 5 Napkin Burger has an extensive drink menu, featuring 50 beers, 100 wines, and 10 signature cocktails.

If you do decide to visit 5 Napkin Burger, I advise you to go with an empty stomach and lots of friends, as you may be filled with a powerful and uncontrollable urge to order everything on the menu.

Photos via Grub Street

Szechaun Chalet
1395 Second Ave.
(Corner of 73^rd St.)
New York, NY 10022
(212)-737-1838
www.szechuanchaletnyc.com

Usually, when you think of inexpensive Chinese food, you think of your local, mangy Chinese take-out place with plastic pictures of their food decorating the walls and all their dishes served with a mounting dollop of MSG; Schezuan Chalet is nowhere near that. Schezuan Chalet offers real Sichuan flavor and inexpensive food, with a more sophisticated décor and much friendlier service. 

Although Schezuan Chalet's menu is similar is length to those of your local, cheap Chinese take-out places, their ingredients, flavors, and cooking style are nowhere close. The Sichuan pork dumplings are cooked till al dente and topped with a rich and savory roasted red oil sauce ($4) and make a perfect appetizer.

Braised flounder fillets with Napa cabbage in a chili oil sauce ($17.95) are perfectly seasoned with vibrant, but not overpowering, spices, not to mention eminently tender. For a side dish, order their salted vegetables, which include broccoli stems, carrots, and cabbage, in a spicy Sichuan sauce ($5.95), guaranteed to compliment your meal.

Indubitably their most visually appealing dish, the Razor clams with scallion pesto ($15.95) is also a taste bud pleasing dish. The dish is constructed in the shape of a peacock; the peacock is carved from a daikon radish and a carrot combs tops the head. The clams are situated behind the body of the peacock and are served in a pesto sauce made from scallions, chilies, and Sichuan peppercorns.

Szechuan Chalet offers quite a variety of dishes-from beef to chicken to lobster, lo mein and noodles, and even the chef specials. Walking away from Szechuan Chalet you have not only satisfied your Chinese food craving, but have done so with a bit more sophistication, and less grease.  

The City Bakery
3 West 18th Street
(Between Fifth & Sixth Aves)
New York, NY 10011
Tel: 212-366-1414
www.thecitybakery.com
www.hotchocolatefestival.com

Move aside brownie, its hot chocolate's time to shine. Known for having the one of the best brownies in New York City, even making its own little cameo on Sex in the City, The City Bakery is also renown for their rich, decadent hot chocolates. Commencing February 1^st, The City Bakery will host their 18^th Annual Hot Chocolate Festival.

Everyday in February, The City Bakery will feature a different hot chocolate; they will kick off the event with their Lemon Hot Chocolate. Stop by on Tuesday, February 2^nd for their Chili Pepper Hot Chocolate (that's if you can take the heat), or on the 7^th for their sweet and creamy Caramel Hot Chocolate. If you're feeling fun, and a little naughty, try their Moulin Rouge Hot Chocolate on the 10^th. After a long work week, get your hot chocolate spiked on the 12^th and try their Bourbon Hot Chocolate. Valentine's Day hosts their Love Potion Hot Chocolate, just be careful who you drink it with. Join me on the 18^th for their Darkest Dark Chocolate Hot Chocolate, because you better believe I would not miss out on anything with the words "dark chocolate" in it.

Finally, end the festival with a bit of mystery. The final hot chocolate is yet to be decided, so if you're looking for something to do on a cold, lazy Sunday, stop by The City Bakery and be surprised with their choice. End the festival and the month with the best way possible - with chocolate!

Buttermilk Channel
524 Court Street
(Near Huntington Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 832-8490
www.buttermilkchannelnyc.com

It's the weekend and that means it's brunch time. Brunch, a way for restaurants to make some extra money on those off peak times, has become the new trend among restaurants everywhere. Typically offering a combination of eggs, sandwiches, salads, and pastas, brunch is out to satisfy everyone's cravings, morning or afternoon. If you are tired of your usual brunch spot, or have never gone for brunch before, and are searching for a new place, look no further. Buttermilk Channel, located in Brooklyn, has a brought a little Southern comfort to the North.

For brunch, Buttermilk Channel has put together an eclectic and eccentric menu for those people looking to amp up the typical brunch experience. Brunch is not brunch without some alcohol. Buttermilk Channel offers you an option of Mimosa, sparkling wine, Bellini, or you can choose from any of their innovatively concocted Bloody Marys. You could go classic or adventurous with their "Star of the Sea" Bloody Mary, made with cucumber and dill infused vodka and garnished with a freshly shucked east coast oyster.

Now, onto the good part-the food. You cannot have brunch without some typical brunch food, but at Buttermilk Channel, expect a twist. Try their Pecan Pie French Toast, made with bourbon, molasses and toasted pecans, or their Eggs Huntington with poached eggs and country ham on top a buttermilk biscuit, all topped off with a silky, buttery hollandaise sauce. The Southern comfort effect is not complete unless something is fried, specifically meat. So, try their Fried Pork Chops & Cheddar Waffles served with warm maple syrup.

If fried and butter-soaked foods do not appeal to you, there are plenty of other healthier options available. Try a freshly-made Arugula Salad, prepared with roasted squash, pomegranate, walnuts, and grain mustard vinaigrette, or their house-made granola and organic yogurt. If a traditional brunch is more appetizing, their "Scrambles" options is always available.

Buttermilk Channel certainly provides all the warming and deliciously satisfying food their menu describes. Spend a New York afternoon with some Southern-inspired food, served with Southern hospitality.

NYC Winter Restaurant Week 2010
January 25-February 7, 2010
Lunch: $24.07
Dinner: $35.00

It's that time of year again; it is NYC Winter Restaurant Week! These are the two weeks during the winter that foodies all around New York City look forward to. Now, NYC Restaurant Week is not just the peak of sunshine in the overcast winter sky for all those foodies who love to enjoy first class food at exuberantly low prices a few times a year, but has become a time when people all over New York City can treat themselves to the fine dining and fine foods of 4-star restaurants without the 4-star prices. Other than the NYC Summer Restaurant Week, there is really no other time when people of the five boroughs of New York can enjoy a 3-course lunch for $24.07 or a 3-course dinner for $35.00 in some of the elite restaurants of New York City. Some of these restaurants include Danny Meyer's Blue Smoke, Cipriani Wall Street, Tom Colicchio's Craftbar, Le Cirque, Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill, Nobu, and the legendary Smith & Wollensky. If the thought of fine dining does not appeal to you, there are an ample amount of other insouciant restaurants to choose from.

During these two weeks, not only do you get the chance to help some of those restaurants suffering financially as a result of this worldwide recession, but you also get a chance to indulge yourself without any regret. Make those reservations; because, before you know it, you will have lost out on a chance to experience something fun, unique, and undeniably pleasing to your tastebuds.

For a full list of those restaurants participating in NYC Winter Restaurant Week, please visit www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek.

The Park Slope ChipShop
Cuisine: British
Price: Inexpensive

383 Fifth Ave.
(Between 6^th & 7^th Sts.)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 832-7701
www.chipshopnyc.com

Deep-fried. Battered. Chips. Chocolate bars. These words are sparsely used on today's restaurant menus. On the other hand, the menu at The Park Slope ChipShop happily and proudly parades the use of these frequently feared words. While most restaurants have decided to adhere to the requests of their health conscious patrons, the ChipShop is not only choosing to ignore them, but throwing the fact in their faces.

The ChipShop is a British restaurant that has chosen to literally batter and deep-fry everything on their menu. Voted the best Fish & Chips by the Village Voice and Time Out New York, The ChipShop's Battered Cod & Chips ($12) is definitely worth trip, and the extra calories. Choose from any of their varieties of meat pies, macaroni and cheeses, battered fish, or Shepard pies. An instant and guaranteed pleaser is their Cod & Salmon Fishcakes with Parsley Sauce & Chips ($10.50) or the Steak & Onion Pie & Chips ($11). If you dare, try anyone of their deep-fried chocolate bars ($3.50), the Snickers left me speechless. They are quite rich, so I suggest splitting it.

On the weekends, from 11am-3:30pm, they offer a Full English Breakfast and a Hangover Special for those who decided to hit the bottle a little too hard the previous night. If you do not have a hangover, I suggest ordering any of their draft or bottled British beers, they offer quite a few.

Although the ChipShop is all around pretty inexpensive, if you are looking to save a few extra bucks, they offer 20% Monday to Thursday, from 4pm-6:30pm, until May 2010.

During these cold winter months, the ChipShop is an excellent choice for a warm, hearty meal, guaranteed to be hunger satisfying. With British posters and shirts on the walls, BBC radio playing, and the surrounding quaint Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope, you feel like your nestled in the heart of London. Cheers!

Fig & Olive Meatpacking
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Price: Moderate

420 West 13th Street
(Between Ninth Ave. & Washington St.)
New York, NY 10014(212) 924-1200
www.figandolive.com

Dining out at a new restaurant is like gambling: sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Fig & Olive is one game you will always win. This Valentine's Day, choose a restaurant that not only proves a great value for your hard-earned money, but one that provides a guaranteed delectable and satisfying meal, filled with romance and olive oil.

This year Fig & Olive is offering a Valentine's Day 3-course prix-fixe menu for $52/person. Fig & Olive is a Mediterranean restaurant that offers clean and soul-warming food, as well as a chance to escape from New York and into the Mediterranean. Sitting in Fig & Olive's wicker chairs, surrounded by wine, olive oil and plants, you feel as if you could almost look out the windows and see the Mediterranean Sea and not West 13^th Street.

The Valentine's Day menu consists of 3-courses that exemplify Fig & Olive's essence - one that is clean, hearty, and completely devoted to olive oil. For their first course, try the Duo of Salmon Tartar & Smoked Salmon Mousse with an emulsion of herbs, yogurt and avocado, or their hearty dish of Wild Mushroom Risotto with White Truffle Olive Oil. As you move onto the second course, you might find it a bit challenging to choose between their mouthwatering options. You could go clean and fresh and choose their Chilean Seabass, marinated in aged raspberry vinegar and garlic and served with baby vegetables, or go rich and soul-satisfying with their Grilled Filet Mignon with Maitre'D olive oil butter, served with sautéed wild mushrooms and fingerling potatoes. There is no better way to finish an exceptional meal than with chocolate. For dessert, they offer a light almond cake topped with raspberry mousse and served with home-made chocolate truffles. This Valentine's Day, love is not only in the air at Fig & Olive, but is indubitably present in the food.

Cookoff kings Nick Suarez and Theo Peck are holding an open call for amateur chefs to demonstrate their skills in creating that dish that is both perfunctory, yet utterly divine; holds a special place in the hearts of so many, yet is so often misunderstood; tends to come with radishes in New York, but nobody can explain why, yes that's right, I'm talking about the taco. The perfect taco is highly subjective, but expert judges Andrew Knowlton (Iron Chef judge and Restaurant Editor for Bon Appetit magazine), Dave Vendley (Calexico), Cesar Fuentes (Executive Director of the Food Vendor's Committee of Red Hook Park), and Brandon Gillis (Bark Hot Dogs) will have the difficult task of deciding whose tacos are the most innovative and delicious. My heart goes out to you, guys. The Grand Prize winner will receive two round trip tickets to Mexico via Aeromexico.

Would-be taco champs can sign up to compete here. Advance tickets ($20, instead of $25) are also available here. Entry fee gets you one (um, yay?) free beer, access to all the action, and entry to the free Maker's Mark (definitely yay) after party. A portion of the monetary proceeds go to Ovarian Cancer Research. Tacos con karma. Delicious.

When: Jan 31st, 2010 1-5 PM, after party 5-6 PM

Where: The Bell House (149 7th St. Brooklyn, NY 11215)

The alchemists at Stuffed Artisan Cannolis aren't too concerned with tradition. Not to say that their cannolis shells don't have just the right amount of crisp and their fillings aren't smooth and creamy, it's just that there's something different about them. How to explain.... Well for instance, they come in flavors like apple pie, french toast, bacon chocolate, creamsicle, and peanut butter and jelly. YUM.

This Saturday they're taking things to a whole new level by temporarily offering a few new recipes with a secret ingredient. Here's a hint: its chemical symbol is CH₃CH₂OH. No ideas, nothing? Ok, how about that the new flavors are called things like Limoncello, Irish Coffee, and Mudslide? That's right, in case the sub-headline didn't give it away, they're hooching up their cannolis. Absolute genius. Don't worry, virgin options will still be on hand, so you can still get your rootbeer flavored cannoli fix.

Torrisi Italian Specialties
Cuisine: Italian Delicatessen
Price Range: $9-$15

Nolita
250 Mulberry Street
(near Prince Street)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 965-0955

The recently opened Torrisi Italian Specialties is taking a, shall we say "nontraditional", approach to customary Italian fare. Whereas most Italian delis of this ilk treasure their imported Parmesan Reggiano and prosciutto straight from Parma, co-chefs and owners Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone have taken a much different approach. "No Reggiano, no San Marzano, no Pecorino!" says Torrisi. Blasphemy? Maybe, but sacrilege has never tasted so good. These young, yet accomplished chefs are heeding the order of the day - locally sourced produce and meats, but utilizing them to create a rustic New York deli with time-honored Italian classics. Chicken Parm? Check. Antipasti? Couldn't call themselves an Italian deli without it. But the duo isn't prepared to stop there - come February the deli will morph into a full scale restaurant at night, serving up specialties such as pork chops with vinegar peppers. So if you're looking for a little classical Italian infused with American spirit, you know the place to be.  

Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop
Cuisine: Delicatessen
Price Range: $6-$10
 
Flatiron
174 5th Ave
(between 22nd St & 23rd St)
New York, NY 10010
(212) 675-5096
www.eisenbergsnyc.com

Improbably wedged between Lucky Jeans and Jamba Juice is a culinary relic of old New York. Eisenberg's first opened their doors to hungry customers way back in 1929, and have been serving up top-notch delicatessen cuisine ever since. Best known for their old fashioned beverages and traditional sandwiches, Eisenberg's is one of the few places in the city where you can still saunter up to a lunch counter and watch your food being made right in front of you. So if you're seeking out a slice of nostalgia or are just hungry for a good tuna salad, this is the place to be.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try Eisenberg's take on two of the most time-honored New York deli treats, the chocolate egg cream and pastrami Reuben, and I'm certainly glad I didn't. The egg cream, which is oddly devoid of any trace of egg or cream, was rich, thick, and creamy with just a hint of carbonation. It was the perfect accompaniment to the pastrami, which had all the full flavor one would expect from an old-school deli. They don't skimp either, piling slice after slice of greasy deliciousness between two pieces of rye bread that have been buttered and fried to golden perfection. The Swiss cheese oozes out over the mound of sauerkraut, and as if that isn't decadent enough, they slather on plenty of Russian dressing for good measure. Eisenberg's certainly strives to live up to its catch phrase, "raising New York's cholesterol since 1929." But if you're looking to throw caution to the wind and experience a piece of New York tradition, stop by for a heart-stoppingly good bite.  

BLT Burger
Cuisine: American/Burgers
Price Range: Moderate

Greenwich Village
70 Sixth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
www.bltburger.com

Burger joints in NYC are almost as common as Starbucks these days, and the promise of the ultimate burger is almost as frequent as the promise of the world's best cup of coffee. Various eateries boast that they serve the biggest burger, the most innovative burger, or even the most expensive burger. More often than not, restaurants fall short of their burger promises, leaving us lost in the search for the elusive title of Best Burger.

Enter BLT Burger, Laurent Tourondel's casual burger restaurant with LT's signature service and quality ingredients.  BLT has mastered the delicate balance of a neighborhood casual dining experience, while never skimping on product quality or attentive service. BLT Burger is a great go-to restaurant for almost any occasion, and for those who frequent BLT often, the menu offers enough variation and specials to keep regulars from getting bored.

Diners who want to keep the bill down and get the most bang for their buck should order one of the three combo meals that include the classic burger, fries and either a soda ($15), milkshake ($17) or a draft beer ($18). The shakes at BLT are velvety smooth and sweetened to perfection, with flavors as basic as chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and coffee or as intricate as the Twinky Boy (vanilla ice cream, Twinkies and caramel syrup), Cookie Monster (chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and chocolate chip cookies), or the Lunch Box (vanilla ice cream peanut butter and grape jelly). This classic burger is everything that a burger experience should be, with the quality 100% certified Black Angus beef (a mix of sirloin, short rib, chuck and brisket) cooked just as you asked, and a perfectly spongy bun to hold the masterpiece together.

Besides the classic, other burger options include the American Kobe, Lamb Merguez, Turkey, Great Hills Blue, Veggie Falafel, BLT, and even The Stripper (served without the bun). You cannot go wrong with any of these options, though I highly recommend the Kobe. My Kobe experience was unforgettable. As the juices spilled out of the succulent meat, I licked my fingers after every bite and knew this was a burger I would remember.

For those looking to spice up their sugar rush, BLT serves spiked shakes with various liquors. The Night Rider is a sure crowd pleaser, with Kahlua, choclolate liqueur, Oreo cookies and chocolate ice cream filled to the brim. Pass that baby around the table, but watch out for brain freezes.

With cozy booths, eye-appealing wood paneling, and a giant steer head observing from above, BLT Burger has become my new go-to restaurant for all different occasions and cravings.

Sophie's Cuban Cuisine
Cuisine: Cuban
Price Range: $6-$11

Flatiron
23 E 23rd Street
(Between 5th Avenue & Park Avenue)
New York, NY 10010
(212) 260-8884
www.sophiescuban.com

Sophie's Cuban has become an almost ubiquitous presence in the city, and for good reason. It's an easy place to stop in for some fast food, and not miss out on any flavor. Of course, if you've got a bit more time on your hands, they do have a sit down option, although the restaurant's atmosphere is nothing special. No, Sophie's is best as a place to grab a quick bite to go, and either haul it back to the office or scarf it down on a bench.

They've got a wide range of options, from platters with your choice of 2 sides to the tempting sandwiches. I opted for the fried pork sandwich, which comes topped with marinated onions and fried plantains (a personal favorite). The pork was nicely browned on the outside, delivering a delicious crunch that gave way to a succulent interior. The plantains added a nice touch of caramelized goodness that helped counterbalance the saltiness of the pork. They also offer a complimentary hot sauce, which was an excellent addition to the sandwich. The sauce is a zesty blend of cilantro, green chilies, and vinegar that doesn't overpower the rest of the sandwich. Served on a freshly toasted roll, and coming in at only $6, it's an affordable indulgence.

The Norry at Kampuchea
Cuisine: Cambodian
Price Range: $6-$16

Lower East Side
78 Rivington Street
(Allen and Rivington Streets)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 529-3901

The Norry at Kampuchea is Ratha Chaupoly's newest addition to his growing list of restaurant ventures. Named after a bamboo train that runs in the Cambodian countryside, The Norry is aimed at those looking for a casual dining experience. The vibe of the restaurant is laid-back, with tiled, arched ceilings reminiscent of any New York subway. But make no mistake about it: the food is a few notches above your typical pub fare.  Led by executive chef Scott Burnett, the philosophy of the restaurant is to provide diners with an unconventional Cambodian experience. The ingredients are all traditionally Southeastern Asian, but embellished with a classical flair owing to Burnett's culinary training.

This interplay between Cambodian and classical extends to the cocktail menu, where gifted mixologist Dan Sabo practices his craft to palliative perfection. Although he can undoubtedly whip you up a perfect martini, why would you bother when you have options like the Prince Sihanouk? A potent mix of rye whisky, sweet vermouth, Charbay black walnut liqueur, and 5 spice bitters, the drink playfully maintains the essence of the classic Manhattan while simultaneously lending it a distinctly Asian panache with the 5 spice bitters. Sabo effortlessly integrates an impressive number of ingredients while maintaining the integrity of each flavor. Take for example the Bamboo Train, which features Gran Centenario Plata tequila, cucumber-lime zest puree, lime juice, maraschino liqueur, kaffir lime leaves, infused agave nectar, and a splash of Pernod 68 absinthe. This complex take on the margarita comes at you in waves of flavor. The absinthe asserts itself on the nose, but the first sip is that familiar tang of lime. Where the cocktail really shines, though, is when the citrus recedes from your palate, and the refreshing taste of cucumber cleanses your taste buds and prepares you for the herbaceous finish of the absinthe. The smooth blanco tequila manages to assert itself and pull together the drink without overwhelming any of its components. Simply put, it's amazing. Of course, you could close your eyes and point out any drink on the menu to your server and not be disappointed - they're all that good. For those beer lovers out there, Natalie Chavoya, the general manager, has expertly constructed an eminently quaffable selection.

The bar would be enough motivation to stop by, but the food gives you a reason to stick around. Chef Burnett fuses his French and European culinary training and Chaupoly's Cambodian background with aplomb. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in his rendition of mussels, a French favorite. Mussels are often a good litmus test for the quality of a restaurant's ingredients, as their flavor quickly takes a turn for the worse once they are past their prime. However, The Norry's mussels are impeccably fresh, plump, and flavorful. Burnett imparts the broth with a wonderful sour and spicy flavor, utilizing okra, shallots, and a hefty dose of chilies. Accompanying the dish is a perfectly toasted and buttered Parisian baguette baked exclusively for the restaurant by Parisi Bakery, perfect for soaking up the outstanding broth. The first half of the menu is ideal for sharing with a small group of friends - think tapas, but with slightly larger portions. The other half is filled with their out of this world num pang sandwiches. These morsels begin with their baguettes, which are then filled with the stuffing of your choice, topped with pickled vegetables and smothered with chili mayo. Although they've got a wide range of fillings to choose from, bacon lovers out there won't want to pass up The Norry's savory house-cured indulgence. That's right, the bacon, just like everything else, is made right on the premises. This luxuriously thick cut treasure is everything you could possibly hope for - salty, sweet, and rich. Burnett balances this by adding pickled chilies to the sandwich, adding another element of heat to the sandwich on top of the mayo. It never becomes overbearing though, as the pickled vegetables help to temper the spice. The accompanying sweet potato chips are perfectly crisp and salted, providing a nice contrast to the natural sugars of the sweet potato. As far as sandwiches go, these Cambodian treats are about as close to perfection as you can get.

The Norry at Kampuchea is a smashingly successful experiment in integrating classical and Cambodian flavors. The ambiance lends itself equally well to a relaxed meal, whether you're casually lingering over a few shared plates and a couple of cocktails, or just swinging by for a quick num pang. Either way, you can't go wrong because all of the food is spectacular. The staff has managed to create an inviting experience on a number of different levels, one that will have you coming back again and again.

Photos by Daniel Krieger and Peter Pioppo

The Loading Dock
Cuisine: Mexican
Price Range: $3-$6

Downtown Brooklyn
170 Tillary Street
(Near Gold Street)
New York, NY 11201
(646) 355-7518

The Loading Dock is an eccentric amalgamation of a number of influences and ideas. Part neighborhood coffeehouse, part Baja Mexican, and part patron of the arts, it manages to seamlessly integrate seemingly disjointed parts into a harmonious whole. Partners Owen Wright and Forrest Cole, who doubles as the chef, are attempting to become the cultural and culinary epicenter of a blossoming downtown Brooklyn scene. But until then, Owen, a resident of the area for going on 10 years, and Forrest are content to serve some classy Mexican street food and gourmet Gorilla coffee.

The vibe in The Loading Dock reflects the interesting contrast between the owners' West Coast upbringing and the locale's industrial background. Originally an actual loading dock for a garment factory back in the 1920s, the space had been vacant for a number of years before being taken over by its current proprietors. The exterior of the restaurant is completely removable, and at night it still morphs back into a loading dock to cater to the needs of the businesses above it. The décor largely consists of recycled materials being put to good use - the ordering counter is made of wood Owen salvaged from a Civil War era barge, while the rug under the dining table is a dolly that was used to transport barrels. Venture a little further inside and you'll stumble across the dining room that doubles as a gallery for local artists. They rotate the art monthly - currently the Crosby Street Gallery is offering an array of photographs with the theme of urban decay. Remarkably, the restaurant pulls off a unique mesh of gritty industrialism and hipster sensibilities with ease.

The food doesn't disappoint either, as Cole offers up his take on traditional Mexican street food. The tacos are the main attraction, but the menu also offers burritos, tamales, and tortas (Mexican sandwiches). Wrapped in fresh corn tortillas made daily by Nixtamal in Corona, the tacos are a sublime treat. The Loading Dock offers a variety of fillings, from carnitas (deliciously spiced, succulently slow cooked pork), to mahi-mahi or cod fried to golden perfection or grilled to smoky delight. Accompaniments vary from a creamy avocado salsa to freshly made Mexican Crema (think sour cream, but better, if that's possible), all of which accentuate the perfectly prepared fillings. The coffee is always top-notch, although one would expect nothing less from a couple of West Coast transplants. Although they can only offer you a lunch fix currently, they'll be rolling out a full dinner menu sometime this month, and the best part is it'll be BYOB. Don't worry, if you're having a night in, they'll even deliver within a 10 block radius.

Yeah, it's out of the way. Yeah, you probably don't feel like trekking to Brooklyn. But then you remember where the best fish tacos are this side of the border. So whether you've got a discerning palate for fine caffeine, or just a yearning for some tasty Mexican grub, consider The Loading Dock.

Photos courtesy of Ryan Dixon at Dixicon