Food + Hospitality Things I’m Into

Happy (almost) end of Negroni Week for those who celebrate. The week is not yet over, so get over to Margot or Dante and drink for a cause. It’s a Friday and by god, it is fall. The green leaves are transforming to a crisp yellow as we speak.

This September is lush with restaurant openings, as if we are in a distinctly golden era of new beginnings. But we must not be fools and brush off the old for the new in one sweep. Visit the places that have been around for a few years or decades; they need the love, too. All that to say, here’s what I’m into right now.

New York Food + Hospitality Things I’m Into

• The NYC bakery run. We are nearing the season of races in the city (where I’ll be dripping in tears at the NYC Marathon and clinking a lot of glasses at post-race parties like the Altro Paradiso x Parcelle party). But anyway, there is one race everyone should know about and it is the Tipster Half-Marathon Bakery Run.

  • On Sunday, October 25th, this sugar-fueled, social half marathon will stop at ten bakeries and pastry spots in the city. It’s fun to watch and I imagine, even more fun to run. There are only 100 spots available (all experiences welcome), so sign up.

    

• Fall’s French bistro renaissance. When discussing bistros, little woven chairs next to little woven tables, and steak frites, I am evangelical.

  • 148 Noble Street (now open) — Greenpoint’s newest bistro is a charming, pared-back neighborhood oasis from a Chez Ma Tante alum. White tablecloths, skinny wine glasses, oysters with dainty dollops of green tomato vinaigrette, classics honored and reworked.

  • Mon Petit Canard at Gem Home (now open) — Gem Home has just launched dinner service with pissaladière and cod au poivre, from Emma Leigh Macdonald and Rowan Spencer.

  • Saint Denis (now open) — Golden Age just opened what could be described as the baby between The Nines and Le Dive. French, decadent, seductive.

  • Bar a Part (soon) — I’m particularly excited about this wine bar opening Monday, September 28th from the team behind Zimmi’s. I like that it’s walk-in only.

  • Bar Tabac (old, but new to me) — This Cobble Hill bistro and cafe with old flavors and big, sticky menus is just an evening delight.

• The filoncino from Welcome Home. It puts your grocery bread to shame. It aches to be dipped in olive oil. This chewy, twisted sourdough is bedazzled with olives, roasted red peppers, and flakes of chili. My life is changing now that I can get fresh bread down the block.

  

• Street tacos and a beer in Red Hook. I fantasize about al pastor tacos probably more than I do most things. The other day, I couldn’t get in for a solo dinner at Red Hook Tavern, so I wandered down Van Brunt St to Mexi-2218, which is a taco truck ran like a tight ship. I ordered, sat alone, frantically downed three tacos, and absorbed the sounds of the cooks’ bellows of laughter and the locals docking their Citi-bikes. Then, I sauntered down to Strong Rope Brewery, right on the water, with a wide room and a harbor breeze. The whole evening was an antidote to Manhattan hustle.

  

• Soho’s Mercer Hotel → Fanelli pipeline. On a complete opposite note, this Soho one-two punch is the heart of Manhattan hustle. The Mercer Hotel drips in sex appeal, with Sartiano’s and Submercer downstairs and residence-style accommodations upstairs. But even without the flashiness, you can just sit in the petite lobby bar area with a cappuccino and overlook the scene that is the corner of Mercer and Prince — it’s great story material. Pop right across the street to Fanelli for a Guinness and a chicken noodle soup. It’s time.

• This sh*t is bananas. I’m seeing bananas every which way, particularly in my drinks. From a banana milk latte at Apartment Ra’El to Dahla’s Blood Banana cocktail with brown buttered rum, banana, and coffee, I really believe we are experiencing a banana awakening, maximizing its potential beyond a banana split (which I do think is one of the best things to eat).

• Dynaco’s Great Re-opening. Dynaco’s first night back on Monday, September 21st was Bed-Stuy’s version of church. This watering hole closed earlier this year due to a fire and is now back open, much to the delight of what seems like… everyone ever. It’s not quite full dive and not quite full intimate date spot; it’s relaxed, cozy, cabin-esque. You feel you have been transported to upstate New York and entered a portal where you’re likely to drink 3 boulevardiers.

• The world’s best wine key. No, actually it really is called Best Wine Key. As birthdays, engagements, and holidays round the corner, this sleek, diligently researched wine key should be added to your gifting rotation. The wine key, designed with André Hueston Mack, has a ratcheted cork removal system that makes the wine-opening process one sweeping motion. Also, the tortoise key is just beautiful, and that’s reason enough to gift this to someone you love.

• Carroll Gardens’ specialty food shops. Lea Fromages (cheese shop!), Tortelli (pasta shop!), Mercado Central NYC (Spanish goods shop!) are collectively making Carroll Gardens a prime shopping destination (if you have extra $$ to spend on fancy lil foods).

  

• Wine education for the people. There’s no doubt that the once stuffy, snobby sommelier is becoming more of a guy-or-gal-next-door, these days. Also, I’m kind of convinced that instead of going to grad school, some of these pretty boys are becoming sommeliers. Whether that’s bad or good — who’s to say? All I know is that wine knowledge is slowly getting more democratized and should continue to be so. One driver is the rise of wine classes, like the Children’s Atlas of Wine class on Wednesday, September 30th at Entre Nous in Clinton Hill.

That’s it for me. Except one more thing.

If I was going upstate this fall, I’d be b-lining to Stissing House, Phoenicia Diner, Manor Rock, or Matilda.

But realistically, I’d probably try to consume less and instead purchase a squash or three, some apples, and a few surprises from a market in Cold Spring, bring it back to an Airbnb, and cook something that takes time, beside some friends. There should be two wine bottles open on the counter, poured freely as Bob Dylan hums through the speakers.

Happy late September. Eat well + be well!