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Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
I keep trying City Bakery's over and over and there's something not quite right about them. Grainy in a bad way is pretty much what I've been experiencing.
Do Ma Peche's baked to order chocolate chip cookies count on this list?
Inexpensive restaurant in BK/Manhattan for medium-ish bday din?
Define inexpensive -- $20pp? $40pp? Are you OK with, say, Chinese food? Those places are often quite affordable and OK with last minute party size changes.
Otherwise, if you can do closer to $40pp I would look at Otto or Kuma Inn. The problem becomes that lots of restaurants will ask you do a prix fixe if your party size is very large, just to ease the burden on the kitchen, who has to coordinate everybody getting their food at the same time.
And non-Chinese places with a private room also tend to be a bit more expensive. I would look at Alta, Freemans, Blue Ribbon Bakery, as the next tier up.
Best Coffee in Manhattan
Zibetto feels more like an espresso place than a drip coffee place to me. Abraco has good coffee but it's very strong, and I think the espresso is better. Stumptown's coffee is a bit too mellow for my preference, but it tastes great. Joe the Art of Coffee is good but not memorable for whatever reason. The Mud Truck doesn't even place. Eh. I think my absolute favorite would have to be either 9th Street Espresso or Jack's Stir Brewed.
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Making Scarpetta's Tomato-Basil Spaghetti with Scott Conant
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To Sir Cutlets, with Love
Posted by Adam Kuban, August 26, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Serious Eats Presents 'The Greenmarket: One Farmer's Story'
Posted by Ed Levine, August 11, 2009 at 7:30 AM
Una Pizzarino: Anthony Mangieri and Motorino's Mathieu Palombino to Form Pizza Supergroup for Pieman's Craft Events
Posted by Ed Levine, July 22, 2009 at 1:00 PM
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Quinces in NYC?
Locust Grove, who sell at the Union Square Greenmarket, may have some on Wednesday:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatingintranslation/4082847367/
Not sure if they'll be here this Saturday due to the Thanksgiving holiday, you could call 845.795.5194 and ask.
Keep an eye on Lucy's Greenmarket report
http://greenmarketstuff.blogspot.com/
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
I keep trying City Bakery's over and over and there's something not quite right about them. Grainy in a bad way is pretty much what I've been experiencing.
Do Ma Peche's baked to order chocolate chip cookies count on this list?
Inexpensive restaurant in BK/Manhattan for medium-ish bday din?
Define inexpensive -- $20pp? $40pp? Are you OK with, say, Chinese food? Those places are often quite affordable and OK with last minute party size changes.
Otherwise, if you can do closer to $40pp I would look at Otto or Kuma Inn. The problem becomes that lots of restaurants will ask you do a prix fixe if your party size is very large, just to ease the burden on the kitchen, who has to coordinate everybody getting their food at the same time.
And non-Chinese places with a private room also tend to be a bit more expensive. I would look at Alta, Freemans, Blue Ribbon Bakery, as the next tier up.
Best Coffee in Manhattan
Zibetto feels more like an espresso place than a drip coffee place to me. Abraco has good coffee but it's very strong, and I think the espresso is better. Stumptown's coffee is a bit too mellow for my preference, but it tastes great. Joe the Art of Coffee is good but not memorable for whatever reason. The Mud Truck doesn't even place. Eh. I think my absolute favorite would have to be either 9th Street Espresso or Jack's Stir Brewed.
Motorino in Manhattan
I've been to the Manhattan one four times now and always been happy. Service has actually been stellar, especially compared to the previous occupant's.
We always get the spicy soppressata and the "white" pie. I wasn't really thrilled with the margherita or the butternut squash ones. The brussels sprouts one is good and was actually better the 2nd time we tried it.
Count me in as a happy customer.
Search It!
In my experience, asking a question without spending at least a little bit of time to research it yourself doesn't show respect for the community's time as a whole. Especially if the question has a yes/no or otherwise concrete answer.
When you ask your question, display the fact that you have done at least some basic research first; this will help establish that you're not being lazy, but looking for personal anecdotes, other user's experiences, trying to start a debate, whatever.
Otherwise, people will just assume you're taking a shortcut and not contributing back to the community.
wd-50
Just make sure you don't go on a Sunday -- that's Wylie's day off.
Bagels & Pizza in the East Village
Motorino does whole pies to go. If you have a little patience, you can grab a square slice at Artichoke. Vinny Vincenz also does a good square slice and a decent gas oven regular round slice.
For bagels, I haven't found a good bagel in the neighborhood but I've heard that you can get smaller, more traditional bagels at 9th Street Bakery. They boil them and then bake them, the old-fashioned way. And there's the new bagel spot on 3rd Avenue that just opened up. 81 3rd Avenue Between 11th and 12th. A friend has reported a good experience there.
For fast meals on the go, I like Baoguette, BBQ Chicken and Crif Dogs.
Cabrito's Messy and Crazy Good Border Dogs
Looks delicious. Have you tried Asia Dog yet?
Hot Apple Cider near Central Park?
Starbucks' apple cider is steamed apple juice with caramel syrup, whipped cream, and caramel sauce on top. I bet you could ask them to leave off the whipped cream and caramel sauce.
If you go on Sunday, I would consider exiting towards the 80s on the UWS so you could go to the 77th Street Greenmarket which should be selling apple cider.
The Burger Lab: The Fake Shack
This is amazing. From an eGullet post, back in the day, apparently the Shack sauce mixture is dijon mustard, yellow mustard, mayonnaise, tomato puree, onions, pickles, garlic, chipotle.
Lamb Burgers from Eleven Madison Park
These are only available from the lounge? At lunch or dinner or both?
NYC Bakeries field trip
Sweet Freak has a GREAT list. I would add:
Cupcakes: 'wichcraft, Grey Dog, Sage American Kitchen (available at Dean & Deluca)
Ice box pie: Magnolia (skip the cupcakes)
Chocolate chip cookies: Jack's Stir Brewed
Sandwiche cookies: 'wichcraft, Grandaisy
Scones: Sarabeth's
Croissants: Ceci-Cela, Patisserie Claude
"Sweet" breads/loaf cakes: Abraco's olive oil cake, Balthazar's chocolate bread or fruit foccacia
Muffins: Clinton Street Baking Company
Locanda Verde: anything
NB: Payard has closed as has Batch/p*ong.
The Great New York Fancy-Pants Fried Chicken Roundup
Did you guys manage to catch where the chickens are from? Like Momofuku Noodle Bar's fried chicken is Bell & Evans chicken, right?
Inexpensive restaurant suggestions for Saturday ...
NB: Make sure Doughnut Plant is open when you want to go. They're open Tuesday - Sunday from 6:30am until sold out. Located on Grand STREET not Grand Avenue. Grand Avenue is in Queens.
Also they sell out of flavors towards the afternoon, so earlier is better (you didn't say if this was for lunch or dinner and on what day).
Lunch at Eleven Madison Park: Four-Star Food at Neighborhood Restaurant Prices?
Didn't JG recently increase their price of the prix fixe to $29?
The Meat and Chocolate Trend
How old is the Spanish combination of chorizo and chocolate?
I'm not a fan of the Vosges bacon candy bar, but my first exposure to the Vosges combination was their special, limited edition bacon truffle (part of the Jazz collection IIRC). Heavenly, and with higher quality bacon than in the bar.
Best Challah in the city?
Blue Ribbon Market has great, great challah.
Is there a better cheap eats list besides New York Magazine?
Time Out's yearly list is always better for college students than New York Mag's. NY Mag's is more about "bang for your buck" and value but "cheap eats" is the wrong label.
Bakery for Baguettes
Blue Ribbon Bakery sells theirs at the Blue Ribbon Market. I also like Balthazar's. Maybe Sullivan Street Bakery?
tourist in new york
Have you already read through this?
Dessert Fail: Raspberry Beignets from The Little Owl
I recommend whatever crumble is on the menu instead; we almost ordered those same beignets once until we noticed our neighbors weren't happy with theirs. Maybe there's a consistency issue.
I doubt though that anybody can touch the beignets at the Bar Room at the Modern.
The Only Six-Foot Super Bowl Hero a New Yorker Needs
the pizza bianca is great. i had it straight from the oven one day and it was heaven. the other pizza's are good too, the potato is the best
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
Your mileage may vary on Pret. I went to the one on 42 and 5th today at 5:00. It was like a dried out biscuit. Very tough and hardly any chocolate. Truthfully, I'd rather eat dough from a tube.
Quinces in NYC?
They are everywhere--even in my tiny neighborhood Key Food in central Queens.
Quinces in NYC?
i would also check at GrandCentral Market - on Lexington/42nd street
Quinces in NYC?
The Manhattan Fruit Exchange in the Chelsea Market usually has them.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
Given that half the cookies in NYC seem to be baked below Union Sq, good luck!
I have no idea if it's the BEST, but you have to include Insomnia Cookies.
This bastion of cookies for the NYU crowd (and anyone else in a 3 mile radius), are delectable. And (I think) it's the only purveyor that does nothing BUT cookies. Whenever I brought them into work, it caused a scene like the bridal gown sale at Filene's.
Motorino in Manhattan
Motorino's pizza is very close to the napolitano pizza I grew up with in Italy. It's not American-style pizza. I understand it's different. I love it! If the chef is there, he inspects the pies. I've seen him throw away pies that were too charred.
Motorino in Manhattan
I agree with you. was there two night ago and had the margherita. Very good crust. poor toppings, by which I mean not enough of all and too much oil.
Serious Eats City Guide Premiere: New York (How to Leave Here Pleasantly Full)
@Ed: I think most New Yorkers might be over the Shake Shack burger - am I alone here? There is an amazing burger down in FiDi at a hotel bar - I would definitely add it to the list - at The Libertine..
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
Ditto on Jack's. My daughter used to work there and couldn't get the recipe. Top secret. But I'm sure they have lots of coffee. I think they might actually contain ground coffee beans. Sometimes they're too raw (because the staff bakes them in a toaster oven and lack consistent timing) but they're usually very good. Jacques Torres is still the winner.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
When you get to the downtown edition, the chocolate chip cookies from Jack's Stir Brew coffee are a must-try. I go to the location on Front Street by the Seaport. They are crisp on the edges, have a ton of chocolate, are slightly underbaked to ensure a gooey center, and have a deep, almost, caramel-like, burnt suger / brown butter bass note to them. I keep begging the staff to give me the recipe, but rumor has it that only Jack's aunt knows the recipe. She makes the batter, delivers it to the store, and the staff only bakes off the cookies to keep the recipe secret.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
City Bakery's cookies aren't for the serious cookie lover. They're mealy, the chocolate isn't good, they're burnt and thin, there's really just not much to like about them.
FYI, Pret at Maiden Lane sold out of cookies this afternoon.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
I am eating a Pret cookie right now and it is good but needs some more salt. I think the success of this cookie resides on the fact it is in a heated case (though that doesn't explain that it is still good when it cools down after being brought to the SE office). CURSES! What have they done to this cooooooooooookie to make it good. And this thing is 300 calories too. I wish they hadn't told me.
Motorino in Manhattan
My wife and I were there a month ago. Service was great. The flavors were great. I like a nice charred crust, but they were a little burnt in my opinion. I have only been there once, I would go back anytime.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
Yeah, you know lately i've been noticing the city bakery cookie going downhill. Along with other things..the food is getting old and tired. I hear this place has dodgy management..As far as i've been able to tell lately, the rumors are proving true..coming to the surface in the form of an overpriced, overhyped, pretentious product. :(
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
Mmmm... just had a Pret Cookie, lush chocolate and slightly soft dough. It is durned good. Just slightly sweet and a crisp "crust."
On to City Bakery!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
wow, lotta CB haters. i'm still a fan, maybe your burnt is my crunchy.
petrossian has a good one too though, i have to agree with that.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
Not to be too harsh but I always thought City Bakery Chocolate Chip cookies tasted like stinky feet smell.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
@hightemp: Interesting. For the record, ours came from 37th and 7th.
That's part of the reason we wanted a two-round taste test. If a cookie isn't consistent, multiple tastings put them at a disadvantage. The best cookie is not only fantastic on first tasting, but fantastic on a return visit. We'll see how Pret fares in the finals!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
SO... against my better judgement...but following your lead.... I went over to Pret today. There must me some location specific magic happening because the cookie I got tasted no better than the toll house cookie rolls you buy at Gristedes and cook at home....right down to the slightly artificial preservative taste.
I'm still waiting for Jacques Torres to show up (Outer Borough I guess) and Le Pain Quotidien.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
Stone, this tasting is Midtown down to 14th street, I expect a Downtown installment soon!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
whoa this is a total scandal. i will have to try this pret cookie because i really can't believe that it would be particularly great.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
City Bakery will always own a piece of my heart. But they suffer from major inconsistency.
But Petrossian, there's a whopper that never disappoints.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
Thanks for trying Times Square Hot Bagels. Totally unfortunate that they were stale. I admit, they tend to be that way when you get them at the store (which is how most people would think to get them). When they're catered, they're moist and chewy.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition
the first time i got a city bakery chocolate chip cookie, it was so badly burnt i wasn't able to bite into it. when i told them it was inedible, they gave me another (only slightly less burnt) one. maybe it was a really off-day, but i haven't wanted to subject my teeth to that again.
Recent Posts
Recent Favorites
Making Scarpetta's Tomato-Basil Spaghetti with Scott Conant
Posted by Carey Jones, October 5, 2009 at 4:20 PM
To Sir Cutlets, with Love
Posted by Adam Kuban, August 26, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Serious Eats Presents 'The Greenmarket: One Farmer's Story'
Posted by Ed Levine, August 11, 2009 at 7:30 AM
Una Pizzarino: Anthony Mangieri and Motorino's Mathieu Palombino to Form Pizza Supergroup for Pieman's Craft Events
Posted by Ed Levine, July 22, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Eggs Travaganza in Midtown: The First Power Breakfast Cart Ever?
Posted by Ed Levine, July 21, 2009 at 11:00 PM
The Serious Eats Ginger Beer Taste Test
Posted by tressa eaton, July 14, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Locanda Verde: The Best Breakfast in New York?
Posted by Ed Levine, June 30, 2009 at 11:00 PM
FarmFreshNYC: A New iPhone App for Finding Local Food
Posted by Hannah Geller, June 22, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Photos from Big Apple Barbecue Block Party 2009
Posted by Nick Solares, June 15, 2009 at 1:10 PM
The Real Emotions Behind the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards
Posted by Ed Levine, May 5, 2009 at 2:15 PM
The Making of the Momofuku Milk Bar Volcano
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Dim Sum at Perfect Team Corporation in Flushing
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Roosevelt Food Court (aka 'Beautiful Food City') Opens its Doors in Flushing
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Cook the Book: Bacon Fat Spice Cookies
Posted by Lucy Baker, October 17, 2008 at 2:00 PM
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Locust Grove, who sell at the Union Square Greenmarket, may have some on Wednesday:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatingintranslation/4082847367/
Not sure if they'll be here this Saturday due to the Thanksgiving holiday, you could call 845.795.5194 and ask.
Keep an eye on Lucy's Greenmarket report
http://greenmarketstuff.blogspot.com/