March 15, 2010 11:55 am
Now that St. Patrick's Day is two days away, it's time to start staking out the city's best Irish pubs where you can celebrate with a cold pint of Guinness. But if you're not a parade-goer and debaucherous bar crawls aren't for you, try one of these authentic pubs where you can get some real Irish beer (don't worry, we're not referring to green food coloring in Bud Light) and hearty traditional St. Patty's Day fare. It was hard to narrow it down, but after doing some extensive research (hiccup), we finally arrived at our top five picks for the city's best Irish watering holes for drinking and dining.
1. The Wheeltapper Pub: Adjoining the Fitzpatrick Hotel, this traditional pub has an outdoor patio and two bars, which means there is plenty of space to move around and getting a drink is no problem. They offer a solid selection of beers plus authentic Irish foods ranging from bangers 'n mash to a traditional Irish stew. It may be on the pricey side, but as you sip your Guinness in front of the cozy fireplace and gaze out at the unmoving line at the bar next door, you'll know it's worth it. Trick: Although it feels heavy, Guinness actually contains fewer calories than most other beers. Sláinte!
2. McSorley's Old Ale House: This place is a New York City landmark. The oldest Irish pub in the country (in operation since 1854), McSorley's is known for the rugged atmosphere complete with sawdust on the floor, and— you guessed it— ale. They serve only two types: light and dark, both of which are house-made and served in pairs by a server who carries about 20 mugs at a time. Tip, beer spills are likely to happen here so it's best not to wear your favorite shirt. The simple foods here are the best— try the shepherd's pie or the white cheddar cheese plate served with mustard and onion. This place fills up like you wouldn't believe, so get there early, get a table and get ready to go back in time.
3. August: This cozy West Village restaurant is a more low-key option for tasting the true flavors of Ireland. They'll be serving up a special menu for St. Patty's Day complete with traditional items like Crubeens (crispy pig's trotters with sweet onions) and Irish Coddle (pork belly, black pudding, Brussels sprouts and potato). Between the old-style décor, classic cuisine and modestly priced beer selection, you can celebrate St. Patrick like a true Irishman.
4. Puck Fair: A legendary downtown dive, this pub is the place to go if you're in the mood for some good old fashioned whiskey drinkin'. They offer a dizzying selection of Irish whiskey, rye whiskey and single-malt Scotches to choose from as well as traditional Irish and Scottish toddies. As far as noshing goes, they've taken classic bar staples and put an Irish spin on them— go for the Guinness-battered fish n' chips, Irish farmhouse cheese plate or cottage pie.
5. The Quays Pub: If you want friendly atmosphere, this is definitely the bar for you. Located in the heart of Astoria, the Quays hosts live music nights featuring fist-pounding Irish bands, weekly dart tournaments and you can bet that a Gaelic football match will be on their TV. The service couldn't be friendlier— the owner can be seen chatting with the regulars from behind the bar in between pints, and the bartenders always remember your name. Tip: Unfortunately, no food is served here, but they make up for it by buying every third drink for you (which probably explains padding at the base of the stairs to ease the inevitable falls). This is definitely a place where you enter a stranger, leave a friend.
The Wheeltapper Pub
141 E 44th Street
New York, NY 10017
McSorley's Old Ale House
15 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10003-8001
August
359 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10014
Puck Fair
298 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10012
The Quays Pub
45-02 30th Ave
Astoria, NY 11103
Photo credit: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com
— Written by Lisa Curry
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March 14, 2010 10:43 pm
Picture your local mall's food court. On one side you have Panda Express, across the way Burger King, Sbarro and, of course, Hot Dog on a Stick. But modern times and palates have evolved traditional fast food choices and many shopping centers have thankfully embraced gourmet. At the Westfield San Francisco Centre, you can find a diverse assortment of cuisines that don't involve deep-frying or their employees muddling a bucketful of lemons with a giant pogo stick. On a break between two 3-hour voiceover classes, I decided to try Catch Isle and their Grilled Salmon with Tarragon Spinach Risotto.
My food was ready within 10 minutes of placing the order but it didn't taste like it was made in a hurry. The salmon was tender with a slightly crispy sear from the grill and beautifully presented atop a bed of creamy risotto. I could taste a hint of butter, olive oil and pepper on the fish. My first bite had me swooning and mumbling "Oh my gawwww...." around my fork. Then I dove into the risotto, strewn with thick leaves of spinach and tarragon. A string of earthy Parmesan trailed from plate to fork. The rice was perfectly al dente and had just the right amount of "chew."
The portion was generous but at $10.75, the price was definitely smaller than comparable restaurant cuisine. Tip: While you'll give up ambience this quick dining destination, you'll get a delicious and healthy meal that your wallet and watch will love.
Catch Isle
845 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103-1923
415.882.1699
Photo credit: Cia Court Rosenberg
— Written by Cia Court Rosenberg
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March 13, 2010 6:05 pm
Almost everyone gets a carb attack now and again, that intense craving for nothing but high-carbohydrate foods. This particularly happens to those who follow strict low-carb diets, which is why they don't work. Your body revolts and it ends up craving even more what you "can't" have. The human body is meant to run on carbs, protein and other essential nutrients and cutting out starches completely is unrealistic and unhealthy. I know many of you are afraid of even the thought of allowing a crumb of bread pass your lips. If you have followed a low-carb diet before, you know that they do work—for awhile. You shed so many pounds at first, feel great, less bloated and you have tons of energy. But then you become miserable. You want to partake in the bread basket at the restaurant and you are tired of eating your over-easy eggs without an English muffin for dipping. One incident leads to the next and you end up gorging. When it comes to carbs you can never ask the question "to be or not to be?" The question is how much and which ones.
You can still have carbs and lose weight. Instead of the processed, starchy variety, choose a healthier options like whole grain breads and pastas, brown rice and quinoa. Tip: Quinoa, is one of the best, most versatile of grains. You can use it in virtually everything. You can cook it up and use it as a side dish with your chicken in place of couscous. You can eat it for breakfast in place of hot cereal and add some fruit or yogurt. You can grind it up and use it for flour in your baked goods. You can also eat sandwiches but try flour-less bread and use lean meats such roast turkey and substitute spinach leaves and mustard for rich mayonnaise.
Another Trick: Use barley instead of rice for risotto. Barley is an excellent source of fiber and extremely filling. The starch in the barley becomes creamy when slow-cooked just like rice. Make these modifications the next time you have a carb attack and you won't be afraid to hit the scale the next morning.
Photo credit: mymansbelly.com
— Written by Jennifer Ambrose
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March 12, 2010 7:24 pm
We all know it's not easy to get kids to eat their vegetables or other nutritious foods. If you really want them to get the good stuff, you have to be creative. One way to get them to eat is to hide it in the things that they love. Try the smoothie. They are filling and you can really pack in a lot of nutrients and flavor in one terrific shake. They are also super convenient so a blender is an excellent investment. Tip: Try combining tomatoes or cucumbers with berries, apples or bananas. Use more of the fruit and the taste of the vegetable is minimal. We love this smoothie base that can be modified with a hint of veggie or even a little protein, like peanut or almond butter. Toss in some whole milk or frozen yogurt and your little one has a perfect breakfast to start their day.
Another option is to hide nutritious foods inside other foods when cooking. The next time you make mashed potatoes, add a cup of cauliflower and mix them together. Most kids also love carrots. Trick: Try cooking the carrot and toss in some turnip that has a bitter flavor. The sweetness of the carrot will overpower it. Get in the kitchen and experiment. You would be surprised would you can hide and your child will never seek.
Photo credit: http://health.more4kids.info/
— Written by Jennifer Ambrose
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March 11, 2010 5:28 pm
Dine In Brooklyn is just around the corner, which means a tasty excuse to emerge from culinary hibernation and reacquaint yourself with this excellent foodie borough. From Williamsburg to Fort Greene, Coney Island to DUMBO, Park Slope and beyond, almost 200 restaurants are participating in this year's festivities. And the message is simple: "Quality food, no attitude on the side!"
The deal? Lunches for $20.10 and three-course dinners for $25.00 (not including beverages, tax or tip). Tip: Be sure to make a reservation in advance because tables fill up fast. You can choose from gems as varied and tempting as Alma, Madiba, Blue Ribbon, Junior's, Applewood, and my delicious favorite, al di la Trattoria. A full list of participating restaurants organized by neighborhood is available at www.visitbrooklyn.org. Or, you can download the complete list as a PDF.
But wait culinary friends, there's more! Thirty-plus restaurants—including Park Slope's Sette Enoteca e Cucina, Carroll Garden's Jake's Bar B Que, and Williamsburg's PT Restaurant—are even offering brunch and lunch for 2 people for $20.10, and/or dinner for 2 for $25.00. Check the list for details.
Dine In Brooklyn runs through March 25th. So get crackin'!
Photo credit: courtesy of visitbrooklyn.org
— Written by Anna Carnick
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