Tag Archives: dining out

Food and Drink, Lifestyle

El Cartel Brings Colombian Home-Cooking to Hell’s Kitchen!

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close up on sangria photo by gail worley
Frozen Red Sangria is What You Need (All Photos By Gail)

There’s no doubt about it: it’s a scorcher out there. On a hot summer night in NYC, you want three things: cold drinks, delicious food, and air-conditioning — and if you can add a little atmosphere, all the better. If you find yourself in Hell’s Kitchen, looking for a break from the heat, a refreshing cocktail and some hearty eats, I recommend a new restaurant that tics all the boxes: El Cartel. Open for just over a month, El Cartel specializes in Colombian cuisine, serving a variety of regional favorites including fresh Shrimp Ceviche, Cazuela de Mariscos, Red Snapper, Chuleta de Cerdo, homemade Empanadas and a sampler platter known as Bandeja El Cartel (more about that coming up). Continue reading El Cartel Brings Colombian Home-Cooking to Hell’s Kitchen! →

Food and Drink, Lifestyle

Honest Vegetarian Indian Restaurant is Love at First Bite!

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honest indian store front photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

In NYC right now, it’s exciting to see  favorite neighborhoods making a post-pandemic comeback. New stores and restaurants are opening everywhere, revitalizing the local economy, and getting us all pumped-up for a fun summer in the city. Being a downtown girl, I love seeing what’s new in places like Bleecker Street, in the heart of Greenwich Village, where there’s always something  interesting to discover — especially when it comes to good eats. If you love Indian food as much as I do, please allow me to put Honest, a recently-opened fast casual Indian Vegetarian Restaurant, on your radar.

Honest has a fascinating history: a journey that’s taken this family business from its genesis as a street cart in India to an international chain with over 31 locations in the US, all serving delicious, healthy Indian specialties. Now, Honest has arrived on Bleecker Street, and that’s definitely worth getting excited about.
Continue reading Honest Vegetarian Indian Restaurant is Love at First Bite! →

Food and Drink, Lifestyle

Vineapple Cafe: A Surprise Foodie Destination in Brooklyn!

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vineapple signage photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

I don’t know about you, but lately I feel like it’s ‘safe’ to be a bit more adventurous when it comes to dining out. Specifically, I’m willing to leave my neighborhood for expanded culinary horizons. That includes making a trip to the lovely neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights for an indulgent, farm-to-table experience at Vineapple Cafe — a wildly impressive foodie find that just hit my radar.
Continue reading Vineapple Cafe: A Surprise Foodie Destination in Brooklyn! →

Food and Drink, Lifestyle

Get the Authentic Tonkotsu Ramen Experience at ICHIRAN

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ichiran exterior signage photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

There is much to be said for the value of authenticity, especially when it comes to food. A few years back, Japanese Ramen joints were popping up in every corner of the city on the crest of a culinary trend. Unsurprisingly, few who sought to ride that wave remain. For ramen enthusiasts, however, there’s a new contender in town, ICHIRAN, whose commitment to serving authentic ramen goes far beyond a bowl of noodles in broth.

Continue reading Get the Authentic Tonkotsu Ramen Experience at ICHIRAN →

Food and Drink, Lifestyle

Restaurant Review: PJ Bernstein Jewish Delicatessen Serves All of Your Favorites

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triple delight soup photo by gail worley
Behold: The Triple Delight Soup at PJ Bernstein (All Photos By Gail)

Shortly after I moved to NYC, I started dating a wonderful Jewish guy. We were together for about 8 years, until we eventually broke up amicably. He was pretty much a perfect boyfriend, but once it was over, what I missed most about our relationship was the delicious Jewish food I enjoyed so very much when we visited his family for the holidays. As a matter of fact, I am still not over it. Because Jewish food is the bomb.

Fortunately, for those who crave authentic Jewish home cooking but either don’t have a Jewish Mother/ Grandmother, or just don’t want the fuss of maintaining a committed relationship, there is PJ Bernstein Deli, where you can eat like you are a member of the tribe every day of the week. Founded in 1965, one visit to PJ Bernstein will show you why celebrities flock to this place, and families trust them to handle all their holiday catering.
Continue reading Restaurant Review: PJ Bernstein Jewish Delicatessen Serves All of Your Favorites →