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For cheesecake when I'm in NYC, it's Junior's or Zabar's. Granted, I haven't been there for awhile, but back when I still went there a few times a year -- those were the two places for me!

Hands down, the best cheesecake in NYC comes from the Bronx...S&S Cheesecake at 222 W 238th St to be precise (one block east of Broadway)...if you blink, you'll walk past them as they're in a non-descript brick building...All they do is cheesecake, nothing else...They have them in two sizes (I think 1 lb and 2lb, not 100% sure) come both fresh and frozen and they are also available sliced...718-549-3888...

I would LOVE for him to drop into my kitchen as my sous chef. Many of the dishes on GBB sound interesting, but I would need 2 people chopping veggies, a brandy new set of sharp knives (Retchel's perhaps), and a medic standing by to stitch my fingers back in place. Seriously, I think Fieri has good credentials and some tasty recipes, but pleeeeease FN, stop the madness now! Between DD&D, GBB, Off the Hook and the Fridays ads (out of their control of course) he's becoming as ubiquitous as RR. The hair, the bling and his goofy trademark words are starting to grate on my very last nerve. I haven't caught a whole episode of his new show yet, so I can't comment on that one. But I truly hope he doesn't trot out his videogame-playing buddies who are drop-ins on GBB. They don't add anything to the show other than periodic grunting, and their collective IQs are probably the same as their ages. Hopefully, he can get some talented cooks as guests on his new show or at least people who are entertaining by nature. @ Fanciemom - you sound like a natural choice for a guest! Let the mole fly and see where it lands!

@Fanciesmom & floridagirl: you raise a good point. When you put it that way, it would be a kick to have him in the kitchen with you. I think most of my irritations stem from the way FN has gone so far down in the quality of their programming in general.

@franciesmom- I want an invitation to your house for mole explosion night! That's hysterical. You and yours sound like our gang. Too funny!

1) Chelsea Thai Market - Amazing Pad Thai, best I've had in NYC
Here's a review & photos, plus a look at Fat Witch Brownies & Ronnybrook Dairy: http://nycfoodguy.com/category/chelsea-market/

2) Sandwiches in the waaaay back of the Market, inside of the Kitchen Appliance store

3) Buttermilk pancakes with blueberry compote at Cafe 202

4) Ice Cream Shakes at Ronnybrook Dairy Bar

5) Bread, Pastries, Cookies & Pizza at Amy's Bread

The only thing I'd add to this is that the Chinese themselves are not percieved as hip, at least not in the "aspirational lifestyle" variety. Americans want to pretend, at least for an evening, that they are bistro-going Parisians or Romans at their local trattoria, as these cultures have romantic associations. As China becomes more promenant culturally and economically I think this might change; Americans will see the Chinese lifestyle as aspirational and will become more interested in authentic Chinese cuisine.

I agree with chevans, above, about restaurant decor as a factor in Chinese cuisine's lack of hipness. Many of the good, authentic restaurants in NYC's Chinatown have all the charm of a high school cafeteria. I like eating at these restaurants, but if I want nice ambiance I'll look elsewhere.

He did make a pepperoni lasagna on GBB that I found interesting. I have to try it.

Who gives a rip if he changed the pronounciation of his last name? If some of you didn't take life so seriously, maybe you could actually enjoy his shows. Remember that t.v. is for entertainment... it's still o.k. to be silly and have a little fun.

@Wavewench - No need to be preachy. Like you, I love "real food" - fresh produce, home-baked goods, real dairy.

But I also love the All-Bran 100-calorie snack packs: they taste good, they're pretty healthy, and they come in a perfect serving size when I'm just peckish. (Plus, they keep well in a purse or desk drawer, for snack emergencies.)

Sure, they shouldn't make up the bulk of anyone's diet. But they're not evil. So ease off on the snobbery, would you?

I find him more irritating than RR. I can not watch him for more than 30 seconds. And, BTW, when did he change the "r" in his last name to a hard "r" ? He now says 'Fiedi'.

"American's adventurous eaters?"

That's an elitist attitude. People said the same thing when sushi started making its presence in the 80s and now look at that. I've lived in many countries in my life and Americans by far have the most diverse set of restaurants to choose from.

The downscale aspect of Chinese restaurants is due to the restaurants not the ingrained beliefs of the eaters. If a transplant from China could get funding and open a high end Chinese restaurant in the Time Warner building and actually made some high quality food it would do unbelievably well. I personally have given up on Chinese food in this city (along with Mexican).

"Sad loser" here who eats an occasional 100-calorie pack of wafer-thin flavored rice cakes. Said packs should not be consumed instead of other healthy "real" food but instead are for those people that occasionally want a treat now and then and have actual reserve when it comes to snack foods i.e. those with the ability to eat one bag occasionally. Rather than buy a big bag of something that will either go bad if you only eat a small portion every blue moon or will sit on the shelf and mock you into eating the rest so you don't throw it out and waste money, small packs can work for normal people.