New York city Archives - NY Foodie Family

NYCWFF’s Grand Tasting!

Posted on September 4, 2019 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(We were given media passes to attend the Grand Tasting. As always, all opinions are our own.)

New York City’s Wine and Food Festival, presented by ShopRite is celebrating its 12th year! Last year, my husband and I attended the Grand Tasting for the first time and believe me, if you are a wine and/or food lover, you will enjoy this event.

The event is held at Pier 94 and features over 130,000 square feet of food and beverages. The Grand Tasting is the culminating two day event of the four day wine and food festival. Funds from this four day food festival support Food Bank for New York City and No Kid Hungry.

There is so much to eat, so come hungry! Since we don’t get into the city very often, it was a great way to try new-to-us NYC restaurants. While the food samples are unlimited, I don’t think we sampled all of what was available! Some restaurants even had more than one food sample. Some of the tasty bites we had included Housemade Ricotta from Fausto, Elotes from Island Oyster, Haitian Chipotle Pork on a Black Bean Huarache garnished with red and green cabbage from Bridgewater Club and a Kao Yuk Soy-Braised Pork Belly Slider from Bricolage.

Each eatery has a signs with the name of the restaurant and the dish/dishes they are serving. While I’m sure the restaurants that participate in the NYCWFF vary each year, some of the dishes and restaurants we got to try at last year’s event include {Khe-Yo}’s Red Curry Beef Soup, Mamo Restaurant’s Raviolini al Tartufo (yes, that’s shaved truffle!), Print’s Porchetta with Butternut Squash, Chili, Pickled Shallots and Mustard Greens and Ropa Vieja Taco Bites from Los Viajeros.

There was a huge pan of Paella Mixta from La Fonda del Sol.

ShopRite, one of the major sponsors of this event, had a huge setup, featuring samples of dishes made with some of the brands they sell. They also had packaged food samples (granola bars and seasonings) that they were giving out. Coca-Cola, the Food Network & Cooking Channel and Blue Moon also had some of the larger displays.

Although most of the food samples were savory, we did manage to find some sweet treats as well! Mahalo New York Bakery had the prettiest cupcakes and Spoonfuls Inc. had a variety of dessert jars. I might have had more than one sample of 2 Dough Boyz cookie dough, both the original and the chocolate salted caramel pretzel! And I couldn’t pass up a praline from Bernard’s Pralines of New Orleans.

Since this is a wine and food festival, have no worries, there are PLENTY of wine samples. Every wine table has more than one sample to try. We are not big wine drinkers, so unfortunately I don’t have a lot of wine pictures to share with you. If I am going to drink wine, I enjoy a moscato or sweet wine, so I did have to sample the sweet shiraz from Jam Jar.

Don’t be fooled, there are tons of spirits to taste as well. Spirit makers concoct special cocktails for the festival, like Tito’s Zilker Green Lemonade, Four Roses Lawrenceburg Cooler, Maker’s Mark Cucumber Julep and Spring44 Distilling’s Feast for Queens.

For those that don’t drink, there are non-alcoholic drinks available as well. Last year, there beverages from Bai, Coca-Cola, Dunkin’ and La Croix.

When you need a break from all of the eating and drinking, make sure to stop by The Ikea Kitchen to watch some culinary demonstrations. Each day’s lineup features different chefs cooking up a dish in 30 minutes. You don’t get to sample the dishes that are made, but they are fun sessions to get to see some of your favorite chefs in action. We were doing so much eating and drinking that, sadly, the only demonstrating chef we got to see was Robert Irvine. But I was able to get a pic of him and my husband, so I think that’s a win! This year’s chef demo lineup includes Andrew Zimmern, Rick Bayless, Masaharu Morimoto, Rocco DiSpirito, Stephanie Izard, Jeff Mauro, Rachel Ray and many more! Many of these chefs will also be signing cookbooks, for sale in the Flavour Gallery, where you can also purchase other festival merchandise.

As you can see, the NYCWFF Grand Tasting is a delicious event! It’s a great day date or outing with foodie friends!

The Details:
NYCWFF Grand Tasting presented by Shoprite
Pier 94
New York, NY

Date: Saturday & Sunday, October 12 and October 13
Hours: 12 PM – 6 PM
Tickets: General Admission $185, discounted tickets with a Capital One credit card

Tips:
*Arrive early! This event gets more crowded as the day goes on.
*Make sure you adhere to the bag policy.
*The Tasting ends at 5 PM, however the culinary demonstrations take place until 6 PM.
*You must be 21 to enjoy the Grand Tasting. However, children are able to attend the culinary demonstrations. There are a couple of food and non-alcoholic beverage tastings available in this area.
*Dress comfortably – you will be doing a lot of walking. It’s a huge space!

NYC Winter Family Fun {Besides Seeing the Tree in Rockefeller Center}

Posted on December 21, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

For those of us fortunate enough to live close to New York City, a winter visit is a must-do. Of course, if you visit around the holidays, seeing the tree in Rockefeller Center is a must. After battling the crowds to get a glimpse of the tree and attempting to take a decent family photo in front of it, now what are you going to do? Here is just some of the NYC winter family fun to be had!

Free:

Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal – See the New York Transit Museum’s annual holiday train show.

Holiday Windows – Check out the holiday window displays at Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany & Co.

Inside:

American Museum of National History – The museum is so large that you really can’t see everything in one day. Current temporary exhibits include Our Senses, the Butterfly Conservatory, Mummies, Inside You, Earthflight, Opulent Oceans and Dark Universe.

Big Apple Circus – The Big Apple Circus is back at Lincoln Center, celebrating its 40th Anniversary. Experience an evening of thrills and laughs through January 7.

Broadway Shows – There are lots of family-friendly Broadway shows. Charlie on Broadway is closing January 14 and SpongeBob Square Pants just opened December 4. Seasonal show Elf is running until December 29 and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is playing through January 1. Other family-friendly shows include Aladdin, Anastasia, Cats, Lion King and School of Rock.

Gulliver’s Gate – A recently opened attraction in Times Square. Step into an interactive world of miniatures. Read all about our family’s experience! Reserved timed tickets start at $31 (if purchased online).

National Geographic: Ocean Odyssey – A unique, immersive underwater experience in Times Square. Read about or family’s recent visit. Reserved timed tickets start at $39.50 (adults).

New York Hall of Science – We have not been to New York Hall of Science yet, but it looks like a lot of fun! This is a hands-on science museum for children (and adults) of all ages. Through January 15, visit special exhibit Gingerbread Lane. See a village of homemade gingerbread houses. On select dates you can even take part in a gingerbread workshop ($15 plus admission). On January 15, the last day of the exhibit, from 2-5 PM, gingerbread houses from the exhibit will be given away on a first-come first serve basis.

Winter Onderland at One World Observatory – Through January 7, visitors will follow Ollie the snow owl from his home in the forest, past famous international landmarks to One World Observatory. Reserved timed tickets start at $36.

Outside:

The Rink at Rockefeller – Ice skate under the famous tree in Rockefeller Center.

Winter Village at Bryant Park – The holiday shops are open until January 2. However, the skating rink is open until March 4.

National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey {Family Fun}

Posted on December 6, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(We were provided tickets to Ocean Odyssey. However, all opinions are our own.)

If you are looking for a new, one-of-a-kind family outing in New York City, you must check out National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey. Conveniently located in Times Square, Ocean Odyssey is an immersive, underwater experience. You will use almost all of your senses as you “travel” from the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific to coastal California via the Pacific Ocean.

While I’d love to fill this post with pictures of our experience and give you all the details, I’m going to try my best to keep it short, but informative. The Encounter really needs to be seen and experienced in person.

Entrance to the Encounter Ocean Odyssey is by timed ticket. We had 2 PM tickets but arrived early and were admitted in. We were placed in a group of approximately 25 people and began our journey. You move with your group throughout the majority of the Encounter, over 60,000 square feet of space.

The Encounter begins in The Shallows. Here we were introduced to sea life via a screened wall and floor. After a few minutes here, we then entered the Coral Reef. The reef is fairly dark lit by the glow of the bioluminescent coral and eels. There is some seating in this room but the exhibit is interactive and meant for guests to walk around. After the Coral Reef you visit Deep Ocean at Night. This is a very dark room with benches for guests to sit on. In this exhibit we used our sense of hearing to listen to the sounds of the ocean at night.

The journey then continued to Squid Battle. Here we watched on surround screens as two Humboldt squid battled it out. We then walked to the Kelp Forest & Sea Lions. The kelp forest is a maze that you must navigate. At the end, you get to play with a sea lion and make him do tricks with your hand movements. Our Encounter ended at Bait Ball where we watched a 3-D viewing of a feeding frenzy.

In every room there are knowledgeable guides, who explain what is going on. They usher you from one room to the next. The group experience lasts for approximately 45 minutes. After that, you are free to stay and explore in Exploration Hall for as long as you wish.

In Exploration Hall children can color ocean images, learn more about the animals in the exhibit via touch screens, or “clean up” a portion of the ocean via the Pristine Seas Challenge. There is also a scavenger hunt which anyone can complete by watching a series of videos. Once the scavenger hunt is completed and shown to an Encounter Guide, you are given a puzzle piece to design and place on the Ocean Community Wall. Although our kids spent some time exploring the exhibits in the hall, they did not wish to participate in the scavenger hunt. As you exit the experience you are routed through a gift shop selling branded memorabilia and ocean-related gifts.

National Geographic definitely went for the “wow” factor with the Ocean Odyssey Encounter. It was such a fun and different experience. However, keeping with the Society’s mission, they did a great job of educating guests as will. Visitors will leave with a greater knowledge of the wildlife living in the Pacific Ocean and the importance of keeping the oceans clean.

The Details:

National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey
226 W. 44th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue, Times Square
New York, NY 10036
(646) 308-1337

Hours: Sunday – Thursday 10 AM – 10:30 PM, Friday & Saturday 10 AM – midnight
Last tickets are sold one hour prior to closing time

Tickets: Online, for reserved time, $39.50/adults, $36.50/seniors (65+) and veterans, $32.50/child (12 and under)

Tips:

*Reservations are highly recommended. Order tickets online if you are looking to visit at a specific time. If purchasing onsite you will be admitted for the next available time slot.

*This experience is recommended for ages 3+. Strollers are not permitted in the experience. but there is place to park them during your visit.

*Photography is allowed, but flash photography and video recording are prohibited.

*If you are looking for someplace to eat before or after your Encounter, there are many restaurants within walking distance including Junior’s, Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar, Carmine’s, Sardi’s, City Kitchen and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Brunching at Calle Dao {Chelsea}

Posted on October 17, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

{I was invited to a tasting of the everyday brunch menu. All opinions are my own.}

Just hearing the restaurant name Calle Dao, you know you are going to get a global dining experience. Calle Dao serves Cuban-Chinese cuisine, paying tribute to the heyday of Havana’s Chinatown. Located at 461 West 23rd street, the new Chelsea location opened in the beginning of September. This is the second Calle Dao location (the first one is located in Bryant Park).

Owner Marco Britti, a musician by trade, has traveled the world as a drummer. He has spent a good amount of time in Cuba, playing music and studying the culture and food. Calle Dao Chelsea is his seventh restaurant.

The restaurant’s decor reflects more of a Cuban vibe. The white-washed walls lighten the space and each table has its own overhead light. The abundance of potted green leafy plants, Chinese prints and neon lit signs add pops of color. The beats of the Latin music playing will have you tapping your toes and make you want to get up and dance.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Bradley Warner helped create the menu at Calle Dao.

The restaurant serves brunch seven days a week. From 11 AM to 4 PM, you can enjoy all the deliciousness they offer! Appetizers are in the $9-$10 range, with options like these Cuban Sandwich Spring Rolls and Shrimp Empanadas. I highly recommend the spring rolls that are served with a Mojo Lime Mustard. They really showcase the fusion of the Cuban and Asian cuisines.

Main entrees are priced from $15-$23. I was most impressed with the restaurant’s take on Beef & Broccoli. Tender pieces of smoked short ribs are served with Chinese broccoli and noodles in a garlic hoisin sauce. I just wish there was more than three small pieces of meat. They also serve a vegetarian, mushroom and broccoli version of this dish.

Another one of my favorite entrees was the Chorizo and Garbanzo Hash. The chorizo and garbanzo beans are mixed with sweet potatoes, peppers and onions and topped with sunny-side up eggs. This was a very flavorful dish with a great combo of flavors.

Other dishes I tried were a Lamb Picadillo & Corn Congee, topped with poached eggs and Huevos Al Horno (eggs baked in a white bean stew with Chinese sausage). The picadillo was an interesting fusion of the two cuisines. The Huevos Al Horno was a hearty dish. However, this was one of the few dishes that I felt that I could make myself at home. When I dine out I try to order dishes that I wouldn’t make at home due to the complex ingredients, flavors, or cooking methods.

The menu has a couple of classic dishes like this Cubano sandwich with Mojo glazed pork, cured ham, salami, pickles and Gruyere cheese.

Besides the Mushroom and Broccoli noodle bowl, Calle Dao offers several other vegetarian-friendly options. They make a Black Bean and Mushroom Burger, Shiitake Spring Rolls and two different salads. More breakfast-y options include a vegetarian omelette, Maduro & Eggs (fried rice topped with eggs), Avocado Toast and a strawberry jam and cream cheese filled french toast.

The restaurant has a fully stocked bar and also serves wine and beer. Master mixologist Joy Daniel has created several unique Cuban-Asian cocktails to accompany Calle Dao’s menu. I prefer my drinks on the sweeter side and sampled the “Flor de Oro”. Made with vodka, rose and vanilla infused dry vermouth, cherry jam and fresh lemon juice, this cocktail did not disappoint.

You have to leave room for dessert! I tried both the Bunuelos (fried dough balls, rolled in Chinese Five Spice Sugar and served with a chocolate coconut sauce) and Matcha Tres Leches. Both were amazing, but if I had to recommend only one, I’d vote the Tres Leches.

Whether you are in Chelsea to visit an art gallery, see a show or to shop, take a brunch break at Calle Dao. You are in for a great dining experience!

5 Things Our Family Wants To Do In NYC

Posted on July 8, 2016 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

When you don’t have the funds or the time to travel a great distance, it is often suggested that you be a tourist in your own town. Our family is certainly trying to take advantage of all our town and the surrounding Hudson Valley has to offer this summer. However, we also live a short train ride away from New York City. The city offers so much to see and do that there’s always something to add to our NYC to do list. Here are five things that we’d like to do in NYC:

1. Visit the Statue Liberty – The last time I visited the Statue of Liberty was in elementary school on a Girl Scout trip. I thought that maybe we’d take the kids this summer and went online to reserve tickets to the crown…..because if we go visit the Statue of Liberty, I want to go to the top. The next available tickets were for the middle of October! Since I don’t know the kids’ sports and activity schedules for the new school year, I didn’t want to make any reservations yet. I guess this trip won’t be happening anytime soon.

2. See a Broadway Musical – New York City is famous for its Broadway musicals and plays. It is always fun to go see a show together.

3. Take a Bus Tour – I’ve been saying for awhile now that I’d love to do the whole touristy thing and take a bus tour through NYC. While The Ride is a bit on the pricey side, I’ve heard it’s one of the better bus tours available.

4. Have Dim Sum in China Town – Last year, my family conducted our own food tour of China Town. My kids ended up loving soup dumplings and have been asking for them again. Instead of doing another food tour through Chinatown, we think they’d like having dim sum there. It has been years since we’ve had dim sum and what better place to get some than in Chinatown?!

5. Visit a Museum – Last year we visited the Museum of Natural History. While we took the kids to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan when they were much younger, we think they are now old enough to enjoy the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) or the Guggenheim. We may have to take advantage of the MoMA’s free Friday nights one day this summer.

And a bonus:

6. Walk the High Line – The High Line is an elevated freight rail that has been turned into a public park.

We are fortunate to live so close to New York City. There is always something new to see or do and we are hoping to take advantage of this more often.

What are your favorite New York City family-friendly recommendations?

Gelato in Eataly (New York City)

Posted on January 9, 2015 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

We took a recent trip down to New York City to see the tree in Rockefeller Center. After seeing the tree, taking the mandatory photos, and visiting the Nintendo Store, we took a trip down to Eataly. We had never been and I had heard so much about it.

According to their website, Eataly is “an original “marketplace” model inviting consumers to be active participants in an innovative food and beverage experience where they shop, taste and savor high quality traditional Italian food products and beverages along with local produce and artisanal products; a multifunctional marketplace that includes a premier retail center for Italian delicacies and wine, a culinary educational center, and a diverse slate of seven boutique eateries.” The 50,000 square foot entity opened in 2010 and is owned by Mario Batali, Lidia Bastianich and Joe Bastianich.

It is an Italian food lover’s dream. As soon as you walk through the doors your senses are bombarded with various sights, sounds and smells. And yes, there are plenty of crowds in Eataly…especially over the holiday break. From our understanding, if you were interested in eating fish, you would go to the fish area and try to get a table at Il Pesce. If you wanted, you could stand and nibble on wine and cheese in La Piazza. They cook with fresh ingredients that they sell in the marketplace. You can also purchase most of the food products to take home with you, including one of the 200 different types of cheese and over 30 types of baked bread. We saw cooked lobster pieces in a plastic take-out container that were going for $70/lb.

As I mentioned, the place was super crowded. We didn’t get to see them making homemade mozzarella, or hand-made pasta. We didn’t get to see them rolling out the dough at the bakery. These are things that the kids would have enjoyed seeing. We found the demarcations of one eating area from another weren’t very clear, and there were people everywhere. We weren’t going to be able to get a table at any of the seven restaurants without a huge wait time. With two young children and no clear waiting areas we decided to skip eating lunch there. Unfortunately, because it was so crowded, you couldn’t really stop and just take it all in. The below pastry shots were taken on the fly as we were pushed along with the crowds. But you can’t leave Eataly without some type of treat!

We passed bakery cases showcasing all kinds of delectable looking treats but decided on gelato. My husband and I honeymooned in Italy and have fond memories of gelato.

The chalk drawn menu listed several gelato flavors including chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, and some fruit sorbets, including raspberry. We ended up getting a large cup to share, with up to three different gelato selections, for $6.90. I chose Salted Caramel, my daughter chose Stracciatella (sweet cream with chocolate chips), and my son chose Coconut. My husband is not picky and was happy enough with our choices. The gelato was cold, creamy, and delicious and we all voted the Salted Caramel as our favorite. The Coconut gelato, which we were originally trying to dissuade our son from choosing, was actually really tasty, with shreds of real coconut.

Overall, the crowds of the place really detracted from our enjoyment. I felt rushed and was more worried about losing my kids in the crowd than really enjoying the place. While Eataly has restaurants that serve food very kid-friendly food, like pizza and pasta, the long waits were not child-friendly. We would prefer to go again when the crowds aren’t so heavy. Unfortunately, since we make family trips into the city so infrequently, it is highly unlikely that we will be returning to Eataly anytime soon.

Have any of you been to Eataly? Please share your experiences in the comments section.