Tag: New York City

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Frank Bruni leaves a void at the Times

food criticPrior to moving to New York 5 years ago, I didn’t read the Times regularly, and when I did, it was usually the Business or the Market sections; I never subscribed to it. Really I still don’t but my neighbor had a subscription that he over paid a year for and has never changed the delivery address after moving, so I’m fortunate to have a free subscription by proxy.

I’ve always been a “foodie” but haven’t had the “disposable” income to explore great restaurants until that move to New York. I use “disposable” lightly because I could have very well cooked at home more and become more financially liquid, however, this isNew York, one of the greatest dining cities in the world; there’s no way I’m going to pass up eating quality, unique and worldly food.

I have 5 years personal in restaurant experience as either a waiter or a chef, and local eating experiences at Bay Area, Central Coast or Santa Monica joints. I never really read restaurant reviews or reviewed my own (Yelp) until my move to NY. I was then introduced to the world of restaurant reviews with my subscription to Time Out NY and then expanded it to include reviews from Frank Bruni, eater.com, Gael Greene, and of course person-to-person reviews on Yelp.

This week Frank Bruni will be leaving the Times and has added a few parting thoughts comparing his favorites in and around New York. He notes some of my favorite restaurants in NY, including the Spotted Pig, Momofuku Ssam Bar, Prune, Minetta Tavern, Locanda Verde, Five Points, DBGB, Public, and PDT, and he’s given me a few more suggestions now for my next restaurant exploration. Give his last column a read.

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Vesuvio Bakery is finally getting reoccupied

I’ve seen Vesuvio closed for almost a year now, noting earlier this year that it was up for sale. I just read this NYMag post that it’s finally getting reoccupied by City Bakery’s newest launch of Birdbath. I just hope its not all vegan!

Here’s the rest of the post:

When the City Bakery’s Maury Rubin launched his first Birdbath, he coined a catchphrase for the ecofriendly enterprise: Build a Green Bakery. In the case of his third branch, though, slated to open in October in Soho, there was no building involved. He only had to lease it. The bakery in question was already one of New York’s most famous—the 89-year-old Vesuvio, a cherished remnant of a pre-Soho Soho. Even though in recent times it was known more for its iconic façade than for its coal-oven-baked loaves, Vesuvio’s passing struck a chord with urban nostalgists, guidebook-toting tourists, and especially, it seems, with Rubin, who immediately engaged in “very intense, very personal jockeying for it.” Rubin ultimately triumphed, in large part thanks to his commitment to leave the shell virtually untouched. “It’s an heirloom, it’s a treasure, it means the world,” he says. “That I have a chance to have my bakery be in it is a gift.” Ironically, Rubin’s retiring the ancient ovens for now, mostly because of the owners’ fire-hazard fears. Even so, the deal makes sense: Birdbath was originally conceived as the next-generation iteration of the neighborhood bakeries that were disappearing from New York. And by keeping the structure intact (save a new reclaimed-wood banquette and LED lights), Rubin is perpetrating what he calls “the ultimate bakery recycling.” To suit the sixteen-seat setting, there will be a made-to-order menu, a first for Birdbath, with cinnamon toast, microwaved eggs (“Low energy!” says Rubin), and “neighborhood mozzarella” pressed with tomato and basil, plus new pastries like rice-milk-raisin scones. Also, for the first time in Birdbath history, espresso. This is one place, says Rubin, preservationist pâtissier, that “really requires espresso.”

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The Stow Away

A beautiful young New York woman was so depressed that she decided to end her life by throwing herself into the ocean. But just before she could throw herself from the docks, a handsome young sailor stopped her.

“You have so much to live for,” said the sailor. “Look, I’m off to Europe tomorrow and I can stow you away on my ship. I’ll take care of you, bring you food every day, and keep you happy.”

With nothing to lose, combined with the fact that she had always wanted to go to Europe, the woman accepted. That night the sailor brought her aboard and hid her in a lifeboat. From then on, every night he would bring her three sandwiches and make love to her until dawn.

Three weeks later she was discovered by the captain during a routine inspection.

“What are you doing here?” asked the captain.

“I have an arrangement with one of the sailors,” she replied. “He brings me food and I get a free trip to Europe. Plus he’s screwing me.”

“He certainly is,” replied the captain. “This is the Staten Island Ferry.”