Lauren Tran’s story is an inspiring one, even in the post-pandemic age. After she was released by Gramercy Tavern, where she had held down the job as pastry chef, Tran embarked on a successful stint on the pop-up circuit. She also baked out of her small apartment in Lower Manhattan, selling to friends and neighbors and ultimately cultivating a following for her artful creations, which unite features of French and Vietnamese pastry. Now she and husband-partner Garland Wong feel ready for the next step: going physical. The pair have announced the opening of their first actual storefront on Marke ..read more

You might expect news from the front to be more timely or that the company would have at least christened their latest creation. Instead, Mickey D’s is slow-walking reports of its “its biggest burger ever,” telling Fox Business only that they would soon launch a “larger satiating burger.” Satiate? How many fast foodies have that word in their vocabulary? The article quotes McDonald’s CFO Ian Borden, who reveals only that “we’ll be testing this burger in a few markets later this year, ensuring that it has universal appeal before scaling it across the globe.” The company recently revived it ..read more

It is 65 feet long, it is lightly drizzled in mustard, and every day at noon it obscenely discharges a round of confetti. No, this is not the latest PC antic of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. It is “art.” Dubbed “Hot Dog in the City,” the work, by Brooklyn-based artists Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw, will reside at the corner of Broadway and 46th Street until June 13. According to a press release, the work “paints a unique portrait of America” that its creators hope will generate a conversation about “the patriarchy of meat-eating,” whatever that means. Like any artwork worth its salt, this o ..read more

City Harvest, New York’s first and largest food rescue organization, has a new partner. Beginning today and running through the end of May, the Ichiran family of ramen restaurants will be partnering with the charitable group to help feed New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity. With every purchase of a take-home ramen kit (original tonkotsu or vegan), at any of Ichiran’s New York City locations, the chain will donate one ramen meal to City Harvest. The meals will then be distributed to City Harvest’s network of food pantries across the five boroughs. As a token of appreciation, each customer ..read more

Another Mother’s Day is nearly upon us, and with it another chance to thank the special ladies in our lives for the little (or not so little) things they do for us. If you’re looking for a restaurant that is both traditional and inventive, consider the pan-Asian-Meditarranean seafood restaurant and oyster bar Sagaponack, in the Flatiron District. Options from the $39 prix fixe Mother’s Day menu include the house version of the South Korean stuffed pancake hotteok and a crab benedict with a perky togarashi hollandaise. Sagaponack, 4 W. 22nd Street, 212-229-2226. At the decades-old French Upper ..read more

The last two decades have witnessed a spate of boutique high-rise hotels in the Rose Hill section of the city. The most recent addition, The Marmara Park Avenue, will be kicking off the arrival of the warm weather along with its rooftop bar and restaurant Balcón on May 4 with a Kentucky Derby-themed party complete with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, mint juleps, and a Prosecco welcome toast. A full array of craft and classic cocktails will be available for purchase. Entertainment will be provided by The Showmance Band along with a live stream of the race. Balcón, 114 E. 32nd Street, 646-83 ..read more

In case you haven’t checked your calendar lately, May 5, better known to the world as Cinco de Mayo, is scarcely two weeks away. As most history books will tell you, the date commemorates Mexico’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla. But the date has also evolved in more recent times into an invitation to get plastered, ideally on shots of tequila or mezcal. This year I will be toasting May 5, but it will be with a cupcake, not a shot glass. Why? Because I learned this morning that EMILY Brooklyn, the popular neighborhood restaurant and gourmet pizzeria in Clinton Hill, will be hosting ..read more

This coming Saturday, Apr. 20, is National Ice Cream Day. The 20th also happens to be the birthday of KYU, the pan-Asian restaurant in the Village, which turns two this weekend. The celebration will include free desserts from an old-fashioned cart set in front of the restaurant between the hours of noon and 5 p.m. Anyone who stops by and posts on social media will be treated to mini munchies, including a cinnamon roll or a miniature version of the restaurant’s signature coconut cake. The post National Ice Cream Day and More: Where to Score Free Treats This Weekend appeared first on Apple Eats ..read more

In May of 2023, a restaurant opened in Brooklyn that made quite a stir by self-identifying as a purveyor of “Jew-ish” cuisine. At first the apparent typo confused many until they recognized it as an embodiment of the modern Jewish-American ethos. This year, as it kicks off another Passover season, Kosher food giant Manischewitz is seeking to make that ethos — “Jew-ish”ness — central to its brand and to the entire retail experience. Toward that end, the company has completely revamped its design, injecting a brighter color palate and even humor. This year will also mark the first in which Manis ..read more

It’s getting so you need a scorecard to play along. If you haven’t yet tried 2024’s most popular new game and logic puzzle, “Who’s Cooking Tonight and Where?” note that the period from Apr. 23 to 26 will give you a set of fresh clues. On those dates Yuu Shimano, owner and head chef of the Michelin-starred Restaurant Yuu, will be participating as guest chef at Shirley Brasserie, across the country in Los Angeles. Don’t assume that Yuu’s team will be idle during this period. They will be at the restaurant’s home kitchen in Greenpoint, creating their own French 15-course Yuu’s omakase m ..read more