Art in One Form or Another

Culinary Insiders

If you're a foodie and live in New York, you should check out the Culinary Insiders. Membership offers some great opportunities from behind-the-scenes tours at new and top restaurants (I took a private tour at Daniel last weekend!) to private dinners with like-minded young professionals. The most interesting component of Culinary Insiders is the food + art collaborations. The organization pairs a chef with artists on really interesting projects (i.e. Daniel Boulud and VIk Muniz!).

Running a Danny Meyer Marathon

If eating is an art, then Danny Meyer is Jackson Pollock.

New York City has two rulers. The Hon. Michael Bloomberg is its elected mayor. Its equally honorable but unelected emperor, Danny Meyer, holds court without pomp at 10 palaces in New York County, aka Manhattan. These are restaurants admired round the world, restaurants ranging from the humblest hamburger stand to the higher reaches of Michelin-starred, plate-of-the-art fine dining. Make that 11 palaces, since Mr. Meyer, a mild St. Louisan, has just launched Maialino, a Roman-style trattoria, riding into town on a pig.

Yes, an Egg Sandwich is Art

This week's New York magazine takes a look at the best egg sandwiches around the city. Sure, a street vendor or local deli meets the basic criteria of the egg on a roll, but there is a new movement that is revitalizing a long time staple in my every day life. From a pork and egg bun McUpgrade to Portuguese muffins, be sure to walk through the slide show after the jump.

 

 

Food + Art Collide at Prospect.1

We went for the art. We stayed for the food. We left with spiked cholesterol counts. While our journey down to New Orleans was for international art, it soon became clear that the biennale was just filler between epic meals. A review of Prospect.1 is in the works, but first, the culinary highlights:

ACME Oyster House – Less than 30 minutes after landing I had grilled oysters in one hand, raw oysters in the other!
Cafe Du Monde – The Beinet bender was on.
Dooky Chase's – An institution like no other. Their fried chicken and catfish encored with the best banana pudding on this planet ,served by three generations of Chase’s.
Casamentos – A dozen oysters while waiting in line parlayed into a Po Boy sandwich capped off with the best coffee in town.
The Creole Creamery – The first of two visits to this ice cream shop in the Garden District. . An array of artesian ice cream, extraordinary flavors.
Mother's – Ever heard of debris? If not, go to Mother’s to experience firsthand.
Franky and Johnny's – My introduction to the Mufaletta sandwich and a pile of craw fish and gator bites served by one of the most fun (and bossy) waitresses I’ve ever met. 
Luke – Sitting bar side at this bistro I had a tutorial on cracking oysters and met a shucker whose biggest fear is (my favorite) the kumamoto oyster (soft shells = high injury rate).
Galatoire's – Sunday brunch at Galatoire’s is an experience like no other. Jackets are required as are two Manhattan’s before the apps come out. Eat here and you will understand how business deals are done in the south.
Deanie's – Local shrimp the size of your hand.
Camellia Grill – You know it’s the right spot when all of the Tulane students are waiting in line for breakfast.
Morning Call Coffee Stand– THE place for beignet’s and coffee. Period.

Unreal.

Say Cheese (Shop)!

Did you know that if you ate at a different New York City resident everyday, it would take 50 years to enjoy every establishment? I bet the same would be the case if you tried every little gem at Murray's Cheese Shop in the West Village.

Not only is their staff extremely knowledgeable about the blinding array of cheeses, but there is a dairy selection, bread, and several jelly, nuts and dried fruits to go with the cheeses. Not to mention my Achilles heel: cooked and cured meats. Yup, the salami is the real deal.

Whether you are a rookie coming off of the bench or a cheese eating machine, Murray's has something for anyone willing to clog some arteries.

Purple State '08 Election Tart

Four years ago Obama explained how he was no red or blue state, but a purple state. In support of this historic election, we will be bringing our purple state '08 election tart (yeah, I said it) to our friends house.

Now, all we have to think about is what amendments to bet on. Let's go amendment 50!

Revisited: Fatty Crab

One of our only mandatory's for every trip to New York is a meal at Fatty Crab. This time we made our way to the West Village for Sunday Brunch where wisely let the ex-Raleigh Hotel Pool Manager/waiter make our menu decisions and he nailed it.

Green mango dipped in sugar and chili. Great. Then watermelon crispy pork salad. Even Better. Followed by Wonton Mee (shrimp and pork wontons, fried noodles). Now that's a happy ending. While their staple is the duck and the crab which are religious experiences, it was great to try something new.

Burger Bash was Burger Heaven

To kick off the NYC Wine and Food Festival, we went to the Rachel Ray Burger Bash on Friday night.  Throngs of meat-lovers descended upon the Tobacco Warehouse in Brooklyn under the Williamsburg Bridge to sample 18 burgers and vote (by text message) for their favorite.

The chefs included Rachael Ray, Tom Colicchio, Michael Lomonaco, David Burke, Spike from Top Chef, and Al Roker. Food Network personalities were also out in force as we saw Bobby Flay, Giada DeLaurentiis, Cat Cora, and Guy Fieri who were all chowing down to cast their vote for the best burger.

 

In the end, Billy Joel's wife, Katie Lee, won with her grilled cheese style burger and I was the first one there to congratulate her!