I always keep a pack Nunu's Hot Chocolate Shavings ($15) in my pantry because: 1) they satisfy a good winter hot chocolate craving; you never know when the snow and wind will hit in this crazy weather, and 2) the chocolate shavings are just as addictive when devoured plain, spooned up straight from the bag. More

You've gotta give points for the name. The "Shawafel" ($8) at Park Slope falafel shop Kulushkät combines (wait for it) shawarma and falafel in one sandwich, along with hummus and all the usual fixin's. More

It's hard to miss taqueria Piaxtla es Mexico once you turn onto 51st Street off of 5th Avenue in Sunset Park. There's the vertical sign attached to the facade, glowing "Ricos Tacos" in fluorescent pink; there's a painted mural with a fat pig in a steel cauldron, proclaiming "Ricas Carnitas" across the wall. There's also a man marching the block, advertising both sentiments into a bullhorn. More

I'm going to have to try the falafel at Chick-P on Bergen Street a few more times before I decide if I prefer it to neighbor and fellow newcomer Kulushkät, but so far, I'm quite happy with Chick-P's sabich ($8). More

Toward the end of our meal, another waiter came over to chat. He mentioned that lately the place had been attracting young people from Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and "even Dumbo," much to his happiness. "Most of our clients have been with us for years," he said. "It's good eats, you know, nothing fancy." Agreed. La Palina is best for: a date that makes you feel like family. More

I've always wondered why New England-style seafood preparations have never made it far beyond the New England borders. That's precisely what Aaron Lefkove and Andy Curtin, a couple of Brooklyn bandmates with—get this—no restaurant experience, thought to themselves before they opened Littleneck. More

At cozy Cafe Catania in Brooklyn Heights, the sandwich list is impressive. But I'd recommend you skip the menu and go for a manager's suggestion: their sarde a beccafico on semolina with a bed of arugula and a healthy squeeze of lemon ($11.75). Pricey, but more than worth it. More

We can feast on apple desserts all year round, but they seem especially appropriate during the colder months. From classic tarte tatins to fancier versions found at restaurants, from apple milkshakes to apple butter-laced sundaes, pastry chefs in the city do all sorts of things. Check out ten apple desserts we love this holiday season. More

Snacky surprised me with the quality of its eclectic menu. There were many more intriguing items that we didn't get to sample—what could smashed cucumbers be?—but that just means there are multiple reasons to go back. Asian Fusion can be tricky, but Snacky manages to pull it off quite well. More

We here at Serious Eats love a good loaf of bread, and Bien Cuit in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill knows how to bake them. We stopped by for a day with owner and baker Zachary Golper, spending an early Sunday morning preparing everything from baguettes to croissants. More