My New Book—Ice Cream: A Global History

Where to Find Hamantaschen for Purim on the Upper West Side and Elsewhere

Purim or no Purim, hamantaschen are a bore. The traditional Jewish pastry is typically dry and flavorless—regardless of who bakes them—on the Upper West Side or elsewhere in New York. Yesterday, however, I became a partial convert at the Second Avenue Deli on 33rd between Lexington Ave. and Third. Their selection—prune, apricot, poppy seed, [...]

Restaurants for Valentine’s Day on the Upper West Side and Elsewhere in New York

Especially in this down economy, restaurants are hungering for your business on Valentine’s Day. On the Upper West Side, there’s a bumper crop of places to go.
I personally would rather skip the whole hyped-up Valentine’s Day eating out thing and prepare a cozy dinner at home. Why brave the mobs at the restaurants, the often [...]

Where to Get New Year’s Day Brunch on the Upper West Side and Elsewhere in New York

Brunch on New Year’s Day is a must-do for lots of folks, especially when January 1 falls on a Saturday like it does this year.  There are a ton of choices on the Upper West Side and elsewhere in the city.
As for me, crawling out of bed to fight the mobs for a watered-down Bloody [...]

Where to Find Christmas and New Years Ice Cream Flavors Around New York

Yes, it’s holiday time, but just because it’s frigid outside, doesn’t mean a scoop of peppermint or eggnog ice cream isn’t in the Christmas or New Year’s spirit. You can warm things up by topping warm apple pie with ice cream, or draping a scoop or two of the frosty treat with [...]

Holiday Cooking Class: Christmas in Provence Workshop

The Culinary Loft, which puts on food events throughout the year, is giving their holiday offerings a French twist.
Paule Caillat, owner of Promenades Gourmandes in Paris, and Rosa Jackson, owner Les Petits Farcis in Nice, will teach a series of four pre-Christmas workshop from December 16 through 19.
Paule’s workshops will focus on cheese and chocolate. [...]