My New Book—Ice Cream: A Global History

Upper West Side: Magnolia Bakery.. .Without the Cupcakes

Predictably, the new Magnolia Bakery on Columbus and 69th was a madhouse late this afternoon.
Only one problem: There were no cupcakes. That’s like Katz’s running out of pastrami.
According to Cupcakes Take The Cake, the official opening is Monday. Still, that’s no excuse. The place certainly looked open.
“We’re icing cupcakes like crazy,” [...]

Valentines Day: Not Too Early to Plan Where to Dine With Your Sweetie

Still recovering from New Year’s Eve? Well, restaurants are already touting their Valentine’s Day drinking and dining offerings. Among the ones listed below, I’ve personally dined at Anthos and Bar Americain.
Tailor (525 Broome St., 212-334-5182) is an option if you want to toast your honey with a Royal Blush made [...]

Chelsea: Boqueria for Great Tapas

For great tapas, you can’t beat Boqueria, located in Chelsea. But be prepared for ambiance that evokes the Number 2 train during the height of the morning rush hour.
We arrived and quickly put our name on the list for a table in the smallish dining room. Checking out the cramped bar, we decided we [...]

Upper West Side: Community Food and Juice Means You Don’t Have to Go Downtown for Brunch Any More

Every time I pass Community Food and Juice, the new Morningside Heights outpost by the folks who brought you the Clinton Street Baking Company on the Lower East Side, there’s a long line outside. Maybe that’s because Columbia students are sick of all the old standbys. Or, may that’s because the food is good.
I’m happy [...]

Food News: Tea for Good Taste…and Good Health

As a die-hard tea drinker, I like to see tea given its due. Often it’s portrayed as the also-ran to coffee, but these days tea is being lauded as a tasty–and healthy–drink.
Says the Daily News in a recent story about the brew: “Hundreds of recent studies show that drinking tea may lower your [...]