Staying in the city this Memorial Day weekend? Celebrate your day off from work Monday with a luau at The Dutch!
Enjoy special Tiki cocktails and a tropical feast with dishes like tuna poke, teriyaki fried chicken wings, pork ribs, suckling pig, steamed black bass and old-fashioned macaroni salad!
Available at lunch (prix fixe for $40) or dinner (family-style for $65)….make reservations by calling 212-677-6200.
131 Sullivan Street (at Prince Street)
Filed under Check it Out
It’s the beginning of soft shell crab season and I’m on the hunt for the city’s best. You’ve probably seen them popping up on menus cooked in various forms as these briny and tasty little delicacies can be pan-fried, deep-fried, sautéed, baked or broiled.
The season goes from late April to mid September and I got my first taste at North End Grill at the beginning of May. Since then I have eaten soft shell crabs in some form or another at least five times at various restaurant in the city (for those wondering that means in 20 days I’ve eaten soft shell crab roughly every four days). Most of them have all been sautéed but this past Sunday I had the most wonderful deep-fried tempura soft shell crab sandwich at The Odeon and cannot stop thinking about how good it was, and how much I want another!
Unfortunately for me, and everyone else who is reading this, the sandwich was a special but it better be making frequent comebacks this summer. Deep frying anything is a skill because if you use too much batter you lose all of the flavor. Well, whoever is making these at The Odeon is a fry master as the tempura was just perfect. When the bartender brought the plate over the soft shell crab looked like the crustacean version of The Hulk hunkered down on thin slices of avocado, tomato and a soft brioche bun. I went at it placing the bun on top, smashing the thing together and digging right in. Each bite brought out crab juiciness and the avocado helped to offset the fry of it all. It was crazy crunchy but also tender as the each component melded together to create a soft shell crab sandwich done right.
It’s only the beginning of the season, so I’ve got a lot of chances to enjoy soft shell crab as much as I want and given that I walk by The Odeon many times a week, you can can bet I’ll be checking in every time to see if it’s back on the menu.
145 West Broadway (at Thomas Street)
Filed under My Latest Obsession
Shake Shack and Delta are giving away “burger passes” for free ShackBurgers to celebrate the opening of the newest Shake Shack at JFK’s new Terminal 4 this Friday, May 24!
Score these burger passes (redeemable for one free ShackBurger) at ANY Shake Shack in the US! All you have to do is head to the Delta T4X Pop-Up Space in Soho at 376 West Broadway from 11am-3pm today, tomorrow and Wednesday to get your pass! But hurry up…..this offer is only available until supplies last!
Filed under Deal of the Week
I’ve got a picnic in the park tomorrow with friends and wanted to bring something other than a salad, hummus or cheese plate. Berries are starting to spring up in the markets and my mint is growing out of control so I figured why not mix the two and make into popsicles to bring to the party? I’ve transported popsicles to a party once before (where they were a big hit) so I know what I need to bring to make them hold up for longer than the bike ride to get to the park…i.e. lots of ice and a cooler.
Last time around I made them in plastic cups but this time I was gonna make them right and so bought something I know I will use often….star-shaped popsicle molds!
Ingredients:
To Make:
Filed under McKenzie Makes
While checking out Instagram earlier this week I noticed a heavenly looking sandwich ready to be eaten by one of my favorite accounts, Immaculate Infatuation, accompanied by the following text….”Monday Italian sub delivery from @CoppaSandwiches, High quality #EatsAtTheDesk.” I immediately clicked on the link and found the source of this drool worthy meal….Coppa Sandwiches, an Italian sandwich shop based in NYC, they deliver classic Italian cold cut sandwich meals only on Mondays (for now).
For just ten dollars in downtown Manhattan (their delivery area is expanding), Coppa delivers a delicious sandwich (made with an italian baguette, prosciutto cotto, coppa, pepperoni and mortadella, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, vinaigrette and peppers), a bag of Cape Cod chips, Brooklyn Brine pickles, and an Italian soda of the day right to your door. It’s their version of the classic school lunch where they don’t allow any substitutions and only accept cash (and make sure to tip your delivery person).
Just follow the easy steps and soon enough you’ll be enjoying this great deal….
*Please note that they may sell out or you may be out of their delivery zone 
Thank you Immaculate Infatuation for posting the photo and introducing me to this great concept. You better believe that I’ll be ordering a Coppa Sandwich right at ten am this Monday!
Filed under Check it Out
Last night I had the pleasure to dine at Little Prince, the new french restaurant in the South Village/Soho from Chef Paul Denamiel (of Le Rivage) with my dear friend Susan. This little square of a space near the west end of Prince Street has a very contemporary feel, white washed brick walls, painted tile floor, plush tan banquettes and huge windows that open out onto Prince Street. Serving classic bistro fare with a few twists, THIS is the place to be.
The menu is full of french classics such as moules frites, sole meuniere, frisee aux lardon salad, etc but I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the one dish everyone was talking about…..the French Onion Soup Burger! It’s a thick medium rare patty served on a toasted English Muffin and topped with Caramelized Onions, Emmenthal Cheese and Dijon, and then capped off with a French Flag sticking out from the top of a pickled onion and gherkin.
When I love eating something I normally scarf it down like a crazed lunatic but for the first time in, well forever, I savored this burger. I took a few bites, then set it down and ate a few fries or the side of glazed carrots we ordered, then went back for another bite or two, repeating the process until the entire thing was gone (which happened in roughly five to six minutes). I can’t wait to see my friend Rev of Burger Conquest this weekend and tell him all about it because he has to drop everything and check this thing out asap!
While I’ve only been there once, I’m just gonna go ahead and say it….Little Prince is my idea of the perfect restaurant. From the hug I received from the maitre’d (he remembered me from when I enthusiastically made a reservation in person last week), to the super friendly service, reasonable prices and unbelievable food…Little Prince is going to see a lot of me. They open up for lunch and brunch in the next week so, in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, I’LL BE BACK!
199 Prince Street (between Macdougal and Sullivan Streets)
Filed under My Latest Obsession
A few weeks ago I was invited to join the Chinatown/Little Italy food tour with Ahoy New York Food Tours and with my sister coming in town this past weekend figured it was the perfect way for me to show her around one day!
Armed with a coffee and umbrella (there was a threat of rain) we met our group just outside of the Kam Man Grocery Store on Canal Street with a bottle of water in tow and comfortable walking shoes. The tours are small (roughly ten people) so it’s very intimate and you can really hear and experience everything amongst the crowds. What I love about this tour is that you aren’t one of those annoying big groups that crowds the sidewalks and takes photos of everything you see.
For three hours we were at the hungry mercy of Alana, our tour guide, who was extremely informative, friendly and personable. Her knowledge is evident from the get-go as she enthusiastically shares colorful stories of famous happenings and notorious residents in between food stops. Those tasting included Prosciutto and Homemade Mozzarella at Alleva, Italian Cheese at Di Palo’s, Pizza at Grand Appetito, Cannolis at Ferrara Bakery, Noodles at Pongsri, Dumplings at Tasty Dumpling, and Egg Rolls at Nom Wah Tea Parlor. With the exception of a sit down tasting at Pongsri, each stop was quick (but not rushed) and offered a good-sized tasting of the food item. With the exception of the pizza stop, the restaurants were great places that offer a tasty snapshot of the great food you can eat in the neighborhood (Nom Wah was my favorite).
Her tour was a perfect mix of walking, tasting and information visiting historical sites, hidden gems and staples businesses, some who have been there for over 100 years! Armed with a map and coupons, you’re encouraged to double back after the tour and enjoy the discounts offered at the places we visited, enjoy a more complete meal or just explore! We had to rush to a birthday party so I’ve kept the guide and will be heading back this weekend to do some shopping 
I’ve explored and hung out in Little Italy and Chinatown many times before and thought I knew a lot about the area but Alana’s tour helped me truly learn and know the history and hidden secrets! Whether you are visiting New York or live here, this is a must for both! I was amazed at how fast three hours went by and how much I learned. Alana helped make my sisters visit that much more special and I enjoyed trading stories of what we know about the area, the food we both love, and the New York books we enjoy reading. And yes my tour was comped but at just $49 this is an incredible deal and a great way to learn more about this fabulous city! Take a bite out of the Big Apple with Ahoy New York Food Tours!
Filed under McKenzies Recommenzies
|
