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Bonnie Tandy Leblang | Bite of the Best

Bonnie from BiteoftheBest.com

About Bonnie Tandy Leblang

Blogger Bonnie Tandy Leblang has been covering food since before it was hip to do so! She’s penned magazine, newspaper and syndicated food columns in addition to cookbooks. Follow her on twitter @BonnieBOTB and on Instagram@BiteoftheBest and at @BonnieBOTB "I eat for a living!” is her mantra, sharing what she’s sampled so you’ll know where (or where not) to go, plus what food products and gadgets to try. For her full bio go to the about us page.
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**Happy Hour at Great Jones Distillery, SoHo, NYC

There is nothing quite like the heartbreak of hidden restaurant math. For our group's monthly first-Wednesday happy hour, we headed over to Great Jones Distillery to cash in on their Sunday–Thursday deal: an amazing $25 burger and Old Fashioned special. It’s a premium burger topped with Applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, and house pickles, served with plenty of fries alongside their signature cocktail. Being at a distillery, this exact pairing was exactly what I was craving. Unfortunately, an incredible pairing on paper left a bit of a sour taste when the bill arrived. What I hadn't expected was a total that far exceeded the listed $25. Instead of charging a [...]

By |2026-09-08T14:14:48-04:00October 16th, 2026|Big Apple Life, Happy Hours, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Nice Garden at UVA, Upper East SIde, NYC

We picked this spot entirely because the location worked perfectly for my dining partner. The garden setting is beautiful, especially on a sunny late-summer day, but unfortunately, the food didn't quite live up to the vibe. The food was pretty mediocre and lacked a bit of love—no garnish or presentation at all. My frittata was paper-thin and dried out, and the sausage was overcooked too. If they switched to a smaller pan, the eggs would turn out much thicker and more delicious. The French toast was fine, garnished with fresh strawberries and tasting decent, but the syrup was forgotten and didn’t arrive until after the food had been served. The [...]

By |2026-09-07T13:26:27-04:00October 13th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Karen Corvino Goodlad

I’m not exactly sure when Karen Goodlad came into my life or how we went from being acquaintances to good friends, but I’m so glad we did. I love being around people who are full of life, and that describes Karen to a T. She always sports a bright smile and bouncy auburn curls. Like me, she’s a Dame—one who is about to be inducted as president of the New York chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier (LDNY). Balancing her many roles, she is also a wife, a mother of three and a Professor and Chairperson at the New York City College of Technology (CUNY). "I am the mother of three [...]

By |2026-10-12T10:15:22-04:00October 10th, 2026|Big Apple Life, Foodie Interviews, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|2 Comments
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Pura Vida Miami, Flatiron, NYC

I had an early blood test, so I hadn’t eaten anything before arriving to meet a friend at the new Pura Vida Miami on Fifth Avenue and 15th Street. I had seen an appetizing photo of their Perfect Egg Sandwich ($14.95) and decided to give it a try. Do not miss it. This toasted bagel comes filled with pasture-raised soft-boiled eggs topped with arugula, smashed avocado, ripe tomato and melted mozzarella, then drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkled with red pepper flakes. Heavenly. My dining partner indulged in their Fire Egg Wrap ($14.95), a warm breakfast wrap made with a pasture-raised egg omelet, melted mozzarella, crumbled feta, creamy avocado, [...]

By |2026-09-24T10:51:11-04:00October 7th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Friends & Family at Creola a 12-Seat Restaurant in Carnegie Hill with Tasting Menu.

When Chef Lana Lagomarsini, a Top Chef Season 22 semifinalist, extended a simple invitation to our Les Dames d'Escoffier WhatsApp group—“Would love to see some Dames at my friends and family soft opening”—we were thrilled to accept. Lana even gave our organization a lovely shout-out, crediting Les Dames with helping bring her new restaurant space into her life. We headed to Carnegie Hill to raise a glass and get an early taste of Creola, Lana’s new intimate dining concept. Named after her grandmother—whose kitchen first shaped the way Lana cooks and feeds people.  Creola features a seasonally shifting prepaid five-course menu ($125; $65 wine pairing) rooted in the American South [...]

By |2026-09-24T13:25:48-04:00October 4th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Margaux by La Sirène, Midtown, NYC + Bartleby Prefers Not To

After seeing a fun performance of Bartleby Prefers Not To at The Clubhouse of the Amateur Comedy Club, we needed a spot for a light dinner. My dining partner suggested Margaux by La Sirène (she'd been before after visiting the Morgan Library). Google said they closed at 10 PM, so we rushed over and walked in after 9:45 PM. Even though we didn't order until almost 10, they graciously welcomed and fed us. Their hospitality truly oozed—they greeted us warmly without a single glance at the clock or making us feel rushed. Gracious indeed! We shared a bottle of Pays d'Oc 100% Pinot Noir (Bachellery, Languedoc-Roussillon, 2022, $60), which paired [...]

By |2026-08-31T19:55:42-04:00October 1st, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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The Ossining Boathouse Restaurant, Ossining, New York

When visiting friends in Bedford Hills, my friend and her other visiting friend took a drive to see Maryknoll, a sprawling, wooded hilltop campus. Part of it takes care of retired priests, brothers and missionaries. It even has its own ZIP code (10545)! While in Ossining, my friend wanted us to see how close we were to Sing Sing Prison. She chided, "What other friend takes you to prison and then lunch on the water, nearby?" Nestled right between the correctional facility and a private club is the entrance to the delightful Ossining Boathouse Restaurant. It is an odd entrance that is easy to miss unless you are in the [...]

By |2026-09-02T20:08:15-04:00September 28th, 2026|Bites from the Road, USA, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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A Les Dames d’Escoffier Event at Hop Lee, Chinatown, NYC

Some dinners are about the food. Some are about the people. And every once in a while, you get one that is very much about both. That was the case when Dame Grace Young brought Dames together to celebrate Manhattan’s Chinatown—a neighborhood whose history, resilience and future are deeply intertwined with the food on our tables. Dames, as you may know, are members of Les Dames d'Escoffier, the philanthropic organization of women leaders in food, beverage and hospitality. Hop Lee itself is part of that history. The restaurant came close to closing during the pandemic, but made a remarkable comeback, landing on The New York Times’ list of New York’s [...]

By |2026-09-25T08:55:40-04:00September 25th, 2026|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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***Happy Hour OfCorsica! and Louis Cato at Little Island

We stopped in for a happy hour at OfCorsica!, the French-inspired Mediterranean restaurant located at the far end of Pier 57 (25 11th Ave), before heading next door, down the Hudson River Parkway to Little Island to see the amazing performance of Louis Cato, who was the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. I sampled their Vesper martini from the happy hour menu at OfCorsica!. It's a tasty blend of Beefeater, Tito's, Lillet Blanc ($10) and their unusual gnoccho fritto, a light, crisp, and pillowy fried dough served warm, featuring a golden, hollow interior topped with Prosciutto Di Parma, Lonzo, Parmigiano Reggiano. From our seats at OfCorsica, [...]

By |2026-08-30T15:02:33-04:00September 22nd, 2026|Big Apple Life, Happy Hours, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Cosme in the Flatiron District Lost Luster

Some Dames and I met for dinner recently at Cosme, the trendy, upscale Mexican-inspired restaurant on 21st Street in the Flatiron District. As you may know from my posts, Dames are members of Les Dames d'Escoffier, an influential nonprofit group of female leaders in the food, beverage and hospitality fields, focused on education, advocacy and philanthropy. We met for dinner after connecting and catching up at our scholarship event and managed to snatch the very quiet corner table. Though our server was initially welcoming and knowledgeable, the hospitality stopped the moment the food hit the table. It became a classic 'drop-and-run' service; the food was set down, and the server [...]

By |2026-08-30T15:05:00-04:00September 19th, 2026|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Marcel at Sotheby’s, Upper East Side, NYC

I recently headed out to Marcel, the fairly new restaurant on the lower level of Sotheby's new location in the Breuer building (on the corner of 75th and Madison). I actually had low expectations after reading a zero-star review in the NY Times, but I was so pleasantly surprised! My friend arrived before me and requested the large, round corner table usually reserved for bigger parties, and they happily obliged. Walking toward her, I took in the magnificent space. The ceilings are so high they reminded me of the Summit indoor space, with massive windows and tables spaced out perfectly to allow for easy conversation. There was just a nice, [...]

By |2026-09-19T07:52:45-04:00September 16th, 2026|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Skip Wayan, Nolita, NYC

My friend chose Wayan for her birthday celebration. I had mixed feelings about returning after a disappointing first visit years ago, but I hoped that after seven years they would have ironed out the kinks. Unfortunately, the experience still fell short.The evening started on a rough note at 6:00 pm. Despite the entryway being empty, the host's greeting was quite blunt, telling me I couldn't be seated until my full party arrived and requesting that I step aside because I was blocking the door. The service and attention to detail didn't improve much from there. We ordered a bottle of Grüner Veltliner Weingut Hirsch 'Kammern' 2022, which was priced at [...]

By |2026-08-24T10:03:20-04:00September 13th, 2026|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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La Fleur Rouge, Park Slope, New York

One summer evening, I met a friend at La Fleur Rouge in Park Slope. This Chinese-French bistro is a new concept from AO Hospitality Group—the team behind Hupo, Shan and RokuNana. Located just steps from Prospect Park, it’s an accessible spot to gather for an evening of shared plates. We dined as guests of the restaurant. Our server, Soso, walked us through the menu, explaining unfamiliar ingredients and pointing out their signature items. To go with the meal, we ordered a bottle of 2023 Domaine des Clos Godeaux Chinon 'Les Maupas' ($60), a Loire Valley Cabernet Franc that paired easily with the food. First up was the shrimp toast ($24), [...]

By |2026-08-30T15:06:06-04:00September 10th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Drift In, West Village, NYC + The Shifters

As summer was winding down, we decided to grab a bite before our 7 pm curtain of Shifters at the nearby Cherry Lane Theatre. That's the theatre known as “The Birthplace of Off-Broadway,” founded in 1923. The Drift In is a short walk from the theatre and one of the few restaurants along the Hudson River Parkway. Food and service are good, and you're sitting outside with water views across the Hudson River Parkway at about Christopher Street. I recommend their refreshing Aperol spritz ($18) and their fish and chips — North Atlantic pollock with dill, caper and cornichon tartar sauce, a vinegar dip and seaweed-salted galley fries. The fish [...]

By |2026-09-21T09:31:05-04:00September 7th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Theatre|0 Comments
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Karen Goodlad’s Favorite Apple Bread

We’re sharing Karen Goodlad’s favorite apple bread. The recipe appeared in the Les Dames d’Escoffier New York (LDNY) cookbook, Stirring the Pot, which I’ve mentioned frequently over the years.  (You can order it here.) Photo Credit: Phil Provencio Photography Karen, the current Vice President of LDNY, is scheduled as our Guest Foodie this fall. She was introduced to this recipe as a teenager in a high school cooking class and still remembers the joy she found in baking it. Now, she’s sharing her favorite autumn treat with us. "Over the years, the original paper recipe has grown tattered and stained, evidence of just how beloved this apple bread [...]

By |2026-09-07T10:52:00-04:00September 4th, 2026|Endings, Recipes|0 Comments
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Return to the View, Marriott Marquis, Theatre District, NYC

Once we found our way to the correct escalators and elevators to get to The View atop the Marriott Marquis, we were greeted warmly and wished a happy birthday at the desk. Another host led us to our table in their rotating dining room, holding a "Birthday" placard to place on our table so the staff would know we were celebrating. The room makes a full loop of Manhattan in about an hour, giving us plenty of time to chat and enjoy the sights since it took a while for our server to return. We started with their massive salads. They were so plentiful we definitely should have shared, a [...]

By |2026-08-04T08:19:13-04:00September 1st, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Don’t Trust Your Eyes: Farzi, Tribeca, NYC

Ever experienced a culinary illusion? That's the whole idea behind Farzi, named for the Hindi word for "illusion." The menu is full of playful, unexpected dishes that mix classic Indian flavors with modern techniques and global inspiration. It's all the work of Executive Chef Gaurav Chawla, who grew up in New Delhi and is making a name for himself with his inventive take on modern Indian cuisine and molecular gastronomy. A friend and I were lucky enough to sample his incredible fare as guests of the restaurant. Our introduction was a kiwi-fennel amuse-bouche served on a dramatic, smoking tray. It is meant to be taken like a shot. It instantly [...]

By |2026-08-04T08:08:04-04:00August 30th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Restaurant Week at Chito Gvrito, Gramercy, NYC

Restaurant Week often gets me sampling restaurants I've never even heard of. Some friends from the Upper East Side met me on Third Avenue for a Georgian 30 two-course brunch at Chito Gvrito. Our friendly server, Olivia, first brought just one Vermont Lemonade, a blend of vodka, grapefruit juice, and maple syrup ($14). The combination sounded a little odd, so we decided one of us should sample it before everyone ordered. It turned out to be so refreshing that we all ended up having at least one. For appetizers, one friend chose the chilled aubergine rolls in a walnut-fenugreek sauce sprinkled with juicy ruby-red pomegranate arils;  two of us had [...]

By |2026-08-04T08:07:49-04:00August 27th, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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Restaurant Week Riverpark, Kips Bay, NYC

I recently met a friend for Restaurant Week at Riverpark in Kips Bay. To find the waterfront restaurant, just walk as far east on 29th Street as possible until you spot the sign. Originally opened by celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, it's now part of a hospitality group. Naturally, the service was top-notch, and the setting is idyllic. Not every dish impressed, but there were a couple of highlights While choosing our wine, we nibbled on warm focaccia served with butter and olive oil. We ultimately paired our meal with their featured rosé, Cibonne Tentations Côtes de Provence, France 2025 ($68). The $60 three-course menu offered a couple of choices for [...]

By |2026-08-04T08:07:38-04:00August 24th, 2026|NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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World Cup at Palermo Argentinian Bistro, Gramercy, NYC

One of my Argentinian friends mentioned that she and 19 friends and relatives had booked Palermo Argentinian Bistro to watch the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. Figuring the restaurant would fill up quickly, I immediately reserved a table for three in case my friends hadn't already booked another place. When Palermo later added a $50 cover charge, my friend's group abandoned the reservation and watched the match at a private home in Brooklyn instead. Given where Palermo ended up seating us, they really didn't have the chutzpah to ask us to pay the $50 cover. We arrived on time for our confirmed reservation only to discover the restaurant [...]

By |2026-08-04T08:07:31-04:00August 22nd, 2026|Big Apple Life, NYC Best Bites, NYC Restaurant Reviews|0 Comments
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