July 5, 2009
Posted by Robyn Lee, July 5, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Yesterday morning in Coney Island, thousands of cheering people crowded the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenue. But these cheers were not for independence—no, they were for something greater. Something meatier. Something log-shaped.
Hot dogs—more specifically, lots of hot dogs being shoveled down many gullets at the same time within a ten-minute period. This is the scene of Nathan's International Hot Dog Eating Contest, the oldest (since 1916) and most famous eating competition in America.
Joey Chestnut garnered first place for the third year in a row, at the same time breaking the world record by eating 68 hot dogs, or HDBs (shorthand for hot dog and buns in the competitive eating world), in ten minutes. Takeru Kobayashi came in second with a still-nauseatingly-high 64 and a half hot dogs. In third place was Patrick Bertoletti, who ate a mere 55 hot dogs. And let's not forget about the female champion Sonya Thomas, who set a new women's world record by chowing down 41 hot dogs. (For the full results, visit nathansfamous.com.)
I just summed up the whole contest for you. Somewhat. If you don't think you'll ever make it to the big day, here a more detailed look at contest with lots of photos, after the jump.
Continue reading »
Posted by Hannah Howard, July 5, 2009 at 12:00 PM
The Paris Bistro: The new bistro is inventive, affordable, and reliable.
Japanese Baseball: Attending a ball game in Japan is an opportunity to cheer nonstop, try takoyaki, and slurp soba noodles.
Dip Revolution: Dip no longer entails "sour cream mixed with Lipton onion soup mix, served almost exclusively with Ruffles potato chips."
Taste of Slovenia: The Karst, a limestone plateau bordering the Friuli region of Italy, has a rich culinary tradition and thriving agricultural tourism.
Continue reading »
Photograph by bionicgrrl
- Densely packed tub of roast pork and vegetables with rice for only $2.50 from Wah Fung [Bionic Bites]
- Beet Carpaccio with baby artichokes, watercress, and pine nut-crusted goat cheese from Po [A Passion for Food]
- Overly mayonnaised James Beard Onion Sandwich on crust-less bread with fried chicken livers from Prune [FoodMayhem]
- Three kinds of beets with blue cheese and pumpernickel "soil" from Klee Brasserie [Writing with My Mouth Full]
Posted by Grace Kang, July 2, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut competing in Nathan's Hot Dog-Eating Contest 2008 during overtime.
Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest
Saturday, July 4, 12 p.m.-1 p.m.
The 94th annual contest is doubly intense this year as defending champion Joey Chestnut seeks to keep his title against Takeru Kobayashi, six-time winner. For those staying at home, you can also watch it live on ESPN. The record to beat? Fifty nine hot dogs. Free admission, but get there early for a good view. Nathan's Famous, 1310 Surf Avenue at Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island (map); event website
Blaue Gans PIG OUT!
Saturday, July 4, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Join this Austrian joint for their second annual all-you-can-eat feast with whole roasted pig, sausages, salads, and a Viennese Cake Bar. Tickets $35/person. 139 Duane St. (between Church Street and West Broadway) (map); event website
Pig Roast and Camp Out at Queens County Farm
Saturday, July 4-Sunday, July 5, 5 p.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Marlow & Daughter's Tom Mylan roasting a whole pig to accompany pulled pork sandwiches, and pies and other yummies from Sweet Deliverance. With a DJ, old school games like flashlight tag, and a farm-fresh breakfast the next morning, this is one tasty sleepover. FYI, it's BYOT (bring your own tent). Tickets $80/person. Queens County Farm Museum,
73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park (map); event website
Wine Film Festival at Enoteca on Court
Sundays June 28-July 26, 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy outdoor screenings of wine-themed films on Sundays this summer in Enoteca on Court's garden. If you love Keanu, "A Walk in the Clouds" will screen July 26. 347 Court Street, Brooklyn; (map); event website
Ommegang Brewery Presents Fight Club!
Monday, July 6, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Taste four craft ales paired with cheese at The Bell House. Additionally, Ommegang pints will be $3 all night! . $10/person. The Bell House, 149 7th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, Gowanus Brooklyn (map); event website
Hudson Square Music & Wine Festival
Tuesday, July 7, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
At the city's only non-park free concert series, City Winery sells its first wines made in New York in accompaniment with the weekly barbecue. There's live music, a wine and beer garden, and Thunder Pickles from the organic Katchkie Farm. Free admission. City Winery parking lot, 155 Varick Street between Spring and Vandam Streets (map); event website
After the jump, the street fairs.
Continue reading »
Posted by Kathy YL Chan, July 2, 2009 at 4:15 PM
After dinner at DBGB last week, Ed, Robyn and I shared a trio of desserts. I tried to pick a favorite, as I always do when a crowd of sweets land at the table. But really, such a task is difficult when the options are so varied and equally tempting. First, a coffee-caramel sundae, complete with crumbled chocolate cookies, brownies, candied pecans, a tower of fluffy fresh whipped cream and chocolate sauce. It's hard to lose with such a pairing—who could refuse coffee, chocolate, and caramel smothered into one delicious mess of a sundae cup? If this particular combination doesn't strike your fancy, sundae combos are also offered with base flavors of kreik beer-cherry and apricot-pistachio. Ice cream by the scoop is also available. DBGB doesn't serve the top ice cream in the city, but is better than average—the texture is simply lovely, but flavors could be more aggressive.
Continue reading »
From Slice
Posted by Adam Kuban, July 2, 2009 at 3:59 PM
I just got back from a trip to Di Fara to check out unsubstantiated rumors of a Di Fara closing. The pizzeria was indeed closed, but Dom DeMarco's daughter, Maggie, was there and reports that her father was at the doctor for "minor mouth surgery."
No word on when the place will reopen. Stay tuned.
Update: It has reopened.
Posted by Joe DiStefano, July 2, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Long ago this Canal Street storefront must have sold art, or more likely knockoff handbags. These days it hawks something far more interesting: fresh jackfruit. The impressive array of huge green fruit looks like something out of a science fiction flick. At first I didn't know what they were. A sign with two Chinese characters and the English word “sweet” indicated that the mystery fruit costs $4 a pound.
When the couple working this hole in the wall told me the ginormous green ovoids were jackfruit, I jumped at the chance to buy some. Not willing to commit to a gigantic wedge, I grabbed a small container. They told me that many people cook the seeds, but that it was fine to eat the fruit itself out of hand, which is exactly what I did as I strolled down Canal Street. I had all intention of taking a closeup of the jackfruit flesh in Sara D. Roosevelt Park, but it was so damn good it was gone long before Grand Street.
Continue reading »
Pera's Wine & Meze special: Bottle of wine and three mezes for $39, until 7pm every night. 303 Madison Avenue (map); 212-878-6301. [via Wined & Dined]
Posted by Allison Hemler, July 2, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Here's yet another serving of some delicious educational opportunities to get down and dirty for next week. All classes listed still have openings, but if you hear otherwise, please let us know.
Photographs by Robyn Lee
'Punches—The Original Mixed Drink' at Astor Center
Monday, July 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., $45
Phil Ward of Mayahuel guides you through the ins and outs of the perfect party drink—punch. Using Flor de Caña rum, Phil will show you various drink recipes, how making punch will save your wallet, and why it will never go out of style.
Astor Center, 399 Lafayette Street (at East 4th Street), Manhattan; 212-674-7501; astorcenternyc.com for info and registration
'Soups and Salads for Summer' at ICE
Tuesday, July 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $105
Forget the stockpot: cold soups paired with refreshing salads make the perfect summer meal. Peter Berley will lead you through some of his favorite recipes, featuring spicy melon soup with crab, chilled avocado soup, quinoa salad, fresh tomato soup with ricotta crostini and basil oil, corn and lobster salad with tarragon, and more.
The Institute of Culinary Education, 50 West 23rd Street (at Sixth Avenue), Manhattan; 800-522-4610; web.iceculinary.com for more info and registration
'Kimchi' at The Brooklyn Kitchen
Tuesday, July 7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., $45
Korean-Texan Sunny Bang will show you how to make different styles of kimchi, and will have students assist in the production of a kimchi pickle.
Brooklyn Kitchen, 616 Lorimer Street (at Skillman Avenue), Brooklyn; 718-389-2982; thebrooklynkitchen.com for info and registration
A beginner's cheese tasting, Argentine cuisine, and peach lavender jam—after the jump.
Continue reading »
Posted by Ed Levine, July 2, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I've said it before and I'll say it again: New York barbecue joints all seem to have one meat that they nail, one dish that is clearly superior to every other meat they cook low and slow. At RUB BBQ that one dish is the burnt ends, or the crazy smoky burnt ends of the fatty half of the brisket. RUB's burnt ends are alternately meaty and fatty, so if you're fat-phobic you should order something else.
Of course if you're fat-phobic you probably wouldn't have walked into RUB or any other barbecue joint in the first place. Don't worry, though. There's plenty of meat, both crusty exterior pieces and tender interior ones, on these burnt ends, and they give you so much Adam and I happily split the burnt ends dinner. If you eat them that way, they are even a bargain.
Continue reading »
