David Chang and Mario Batali

At The Strand promoting Chang's new book...
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Obama's First Official White House State Dinner: The Menu

Marcus Samuelsson  of Aquavit was the guest chef...The veggie-focused feast was in honor of India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Lettuce and herbs were harvested from the White House garden.  
Très vert!

Via: Eater

Hamburger Macaron

I love this.  So adorable. 

Via: Eatmedaily.com

Today's McCafe Plug Courtesy of DJ Khaled

McDonald's marketing is hardly subtle, especially when describing the ubiquitous McCafe advertising campaign.   This local radio spot featuring DJ Khaled takes the cake.  I've never heard such an impassioned case for mass-produced hot chocolate. Points for hip-hop hilarity.

Via: Twitter

Happy Turkey Day

Gobble, gobble...
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Lombardi's

Party, Lombardi's Pizza Party!

The other day, after an event at the Crosby Hotel, my friend, Cory, and I, went wandering around Nolita and worked up an appetite. In all of my time in New York, I have never been to the famous Lombardi's, so we decided to try the goods at the well regarded and respected pizzeria.
The restaurant is  bustling, loud, and bright, giving off a "cheap and cheerful" vibe.  We ordered a simple pepperoni pizza with mushrooms sprinkled on my half of the pie. The pizza came out covered with the most precious little pepperoni slices and fresh, melted mozzarella cheese sprawled across the evenly sauced pie (Uneven saucing is a pet-peeve of mine.) The crust wasn't too doughy and not too crispy. Overall, the pizza was tasty and satiated our hunger pangs. I can't say the place wowwed me, but Lombardi's puts out a satisfying slice.


*Perfect after a day at the Angelika or shopping.

Lombardi's
32 Spring St
New York, NY 10012
www.lombardisoriginalpizza.com
(212) 941-7994

Bread Shoes=Yuck

Via: New York Approval Matrix
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Hoard Those Wings

What is Pluck U to do? Because of low poultry production this year, there's a chicken wing shortage... Sports bars everywhere are lamenting the terrible scourge affecting the range of their app menu.

Via: Reuters

Sh*t, if it's gonna be that kind of party...

...I'm gonna stick my fork in these mashed sweet potatoes! 

Went to a fabulous dinner party that Sabina threw last week and made the easiest dish ever... Here's the recipe:

                       

Party! Pizza Party: Roberta's

Half-eaten pizza.  

Last Saturday, my friend, Sabina and I had plans to go to a loft party in Bushwick.  So, I recommended that we go to a restaurant called Roberta's in the area, which is  accessible by a harmless subway ride on the L to the Morgan stop.  I've been there a number of times when I'm in the vicinity.  The food is pretty consistent and the variety and simplicity of the menu are enough to please most people. The centerpiece of the menu is the pizza, cooked in a wood-burning oven at the front of the restaurant.  Being THE local spot in Bushwick, the only major drawback of Roberta's is that the wait for a proper table is always impossibly long (well, 45 minutes). Luckily, the wait for 2 spots at the bar area is not. We ordered the following:

• Kale Salad with Guanciale,  Pickled Onions w  Vinaigrette: I highly recommend this dish.  The kale was fresh and crunchy--dressed with a perfect balance of fat and acid.
• Grilled Skirt Steak:  Very simple, well-cooked and well-seasoned.
• Good Girl Pizza: Kale, Tallegio, Pork sausage, and Garlic: My go-to dish here. I've had it every single time I've been here. Really tasty.  Sometimes the garlic slices are a bit overbearing, but this time around it was perfect.

Everything is big enough to split, except for the skirt steak.

I kind of went overboard on the kale that night, but the leafy green is an immunity booster and wards off H1N1.  The waiter said that 35% of the kale (and other produce) is sourced from the greenhouse on the premises and the remainder is locally sourced.

Compared to a commensurate Manhattan dining experience, the prices are recession-friendly and  very reasonable. The staff is quite busy but cheerful.  No reservations and cash only (ATM outside the building).

Roberta's 
261 Moore St Brooklyn,NY
Mon-Fri 12p.m.-Midnight
Sat-Sun 11a.m.-Midnight
718-417-1118
*My anthem for the night. Couldn't stop singing it.