Food & Drinks

Food and drinks that we have tried and recommend

City Bakery’s Pretzel Croissant, Gramercy-Flatiron, NYC

An out of town friend emailed to meet at City Bakery. She wrote, "Gotta have one pretzel croissant per visit." I was looking forward to both seeing her and also trying my first pretzel croissant ($4.50). It has a crisp, salty slightly crunchy crust sprinkled with sesame seeds — the inside is pure flaky croissant. An absolute treat. If you've never had one, be sure to stop in on 18th Street when in the hood. City Bakery Gramercy-Flatiron 3 W 18th Street New York, NY 10011 (212) 366-1414

By |2018-04-04T10:43:42-04:00May 11th, 2018|Food & Drinks, NYC Best Bites, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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The Donut Pub, Chelsea, NYC

I go to The Donut Pub but don't eat donuts. Instead, I stop by this 14th Street establishment only for their Black & White cookies ($3.25 each) served with a smile. When I moved to the city, I learned theirs are the best; as I learned Breads Bakery has the best chocolate babka. I stop in at The Donut Pub when I'm running around the city picking up bagels, whitefish salad, chocolate babka and black & white cookies to pack when I'm boarding a plane to bring these goodies to family. When I'm heading to Paris, I purchase one all white (Yup! they make all whites, but not all blacks!), for [...]

By |2018-04-26T06:20:11-04:00April 26th, 2018|Food & Drinks, Products|1 Comment
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Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog Dill Remix

I've always been a fan of Cypress Grove's signature soft, surface-ripened, award-winning buttermilk and fresh cream Humboldt Fog cheese. I was thrilled when a publicist emailed me about this new Dill Remix limited edition (only available through April), offering a sample. This is  not to be missed. It's filled with a distinctive ribbon of dill, ash and hand-harvested dill pollen giving a citrus finish to this creamy goat cheese. Uncut, it has a white cake-like appearance; once cut, you’ll notice the ribbon in the center. One ounce contains about 100 calories, 7 grams of fat (of which 4 are saturated) and 200 milligrams sodium A three-pound wheel is available for $70 on their site, while cheese [...]

By |2018-03-01T13:48:48-05:00March 2nd, 2018|Food & Drinks, Recommended|1 Comment
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Li-Lac Chocolates

A publicist asked if he could send me some Li-Lac Chocolates from Manhattan's oldest chocolate house. How could I say no? He mentioned that for nearly 100 years, the company has been handcrafting gourmet, small-batch chocolate and confections using the same old-world cooking methods and time-honored recipes. I luckily had friend visiting when the chocolate arrived  - otherwise would have been a disaster for my waistline. The bark ($36 per pound) had freshly roasted almonds enrobed in white, milk — and my favorite — dark chocolate.   The butter crunch are addictive squares of almond toffee coated in milk chocolate and sprinkled with almond dust ($36 per pound). I sliced the almost [...]

By |2018-02-05T15:43:49-05:00February 14th, 2018|Food & Drinks, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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Moët Impérial Golden Sparkle Bottle: Holiday Gifts

For an always perfect hostess gift, bring a bottle of bubbly as it's always a welcome addition to any holiday get together. Consider Moët Impérial dressed up in a golden sparkly bottle (SRP $39.99). This Moët & Chandon champagne — in a gold bottle —adds a touch of glamour to all holiday celebrations.The bubbly  has bright fruitiness and elegant maturity with a seductive palate.

By |2017-11-26T18:10:45-05:00December 4th, 2017|Food & Drinks, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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Dole Organic Salad Mixes

Dole expanded its Organic Salad Mixes to six different varieties including baby spinach, spring mix, 50/50 salad mix, kale, super spinach, and baby spinach and arugula. All mixes are available in 5-ounce containers serving two - the baby spinach and spring mix are also available in 16-ounce containers serving five. Save Save

By |2017-10-02T16:20:55-04:00September 19th, 2017|Food & Drinks|0 Comments
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Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Herbs

Lightly Dried Herbs are organically grown herbs that are washed, roughly chopped and lightly dried, allowing the herbs to stay fresh for up to four weeks. They refresh completely in cooking. Available as lightly dried ginger, basil, chili pepper, cilantro, chives and parsley. Store the click 'n stack bowls — that won a design award — in the refrigerator for "fresh" herbs at anytime.   - bonnie -  I liked the fresh flavor of all but the cilantro. I'd recommend keeping the the fridge or freezer to have almost "fresh" herbs at anytime. BonnieBOTB Follow @BonnieBOTB  

By |2018-01-29T11:57:22-05:00April 14th, 2016|Food & Drinks, Recommended|0 Comments
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Sancerre… yes, Rouge

"A red Sancerre?" I said somewhat bewildered. Until that moment, Sancerre was Sauvignon Blanc, I hadn't a clue that Sancerre Rouge even existed! I learned about the Loire Valley red through a chilled bottle of Lucien Crochet: La Croix du Roy, an elegant light-bodied, bright but earthy, Pinot Noir at dinner at Montmartre. The sommelier had kept the wine at 50 F, making it much more drinkable with the French foods. Interestingly, I also drank Pinot Noir chilled while dining with master sommelier Fred Dexheimer early this summer. "Chill ... and the natural beauty comes out," Fred explained. We were at Artisinal, where Fred — spokesperson for Pays d'Oc IGP [...]

By |2017-09-02T16:06:21-04:00August 18th, 2013|Food & Drinks, Rambling|0 Comments
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Good Food Made Simple Original Unsweetened 100% Steel Cut Oatmeal

bonnie_webBonnie:Steel-cut oatmeal is my breakfast grain of choice. I love it plain, with just a smidgen of salt -- no added sugar or sweetener, no dried or fresh fruit and no nuts. I like the nutty flavor of the grain that best comes through in steel-cut versions.

About five years ago, we recommended...

BiteoftheBest bloggerBryan: You've got to love any ingredient list that's just a simple, graphic representation of three items. If you're checking out GFMS's website and navigate over to the page for steel-cut and organic rolled oats, you will see that three small pictures serve as your entire guidance on what you're about to eat. Sometimes simplicity speaks volumes. A small pile of whole ...

Eric (2 sunglasses)Eric: On a cold Winter morning, I would admit that I'm a fan of oatmeal. The hearty, stick-to-your-bones texture warms me up on cold mornings, but the bland flavor leaves me desiring more. Plus, quality oatmeal is laborious, taking a good amount of time to make from start to finish; time most of us need in the morning....

     

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By |2017-09-04T10:42:53-04:00October 2nd, 2012|Food & Drinks|9 Comments
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Villa Manodori Artigianale Aceto Balsamico di Modena

bonnie_webBonnie:" Good vinegar can turn an ordinary dish into something ethereal.

Artisan-made Villa Manodori Artigianale Aceto Balsamico di Modena begins with the boiled down must (juice) of locally grown Trebbiano grapes that’s aged in wood — oak, chestnut and juniper — barrels to yield a rich, dark balsamic with an intense aroma and syrupy consistency.

Chef Massimo Bottura, of the three-star Michelin restaurant Osteria Francescana in...

BLOGGER-B_2Bryan: This stuff is already vouched for by freakin' Mario Batali! What could I possibly tell you about it that would make you feel more secure about its quality than this: the king of Italian cuisine in the United States has given it a shout-out on his menu at Babbo. What more can you ask for? Try it. As such, I thought I'd take a moment to talk about balsamic vinegar, as it can be quite a confusing food product. Why are some so...

BOTB bloggerEric: Balsamic vinegar is a fickle product, manipulative in myriad forms. For some consumers, the flavor profile of mass-produced balsamic vinegar is synonymous with salad dressing. For others, more "gluttonous" consumers, balsamic vinegar is a flavor-enhancing agent to pasta, cheese, charcuterie, meat and dessert.

To compare a high quality balsamic vinegar such as Villa Manodori to ...

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By |2017-09-04T11:20:06-04:00September 18th, 2012|Food & Drinks|0 Comments
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34º Caramel Crisps

bonnie_webBonnie:

Craig Lieberman is the man behind these paper-thin crisps first introduced in 2003 with savory flavors and earlier this year with sweet ones. The new sweet ones include chocolate, cinnamon, graham and today’s FeaturedBite, caramel. All are made using ingredients you...

BOTB BloggerBryan:

Today’s Bite seems to have more than a few fans. Now, we certainly don’t base our product recommendation decisions on other peoples' opinions, nor necessarily on mass appeal. In fact, many of our chosen...

Eric (2 sunglasses)Eric:

The original savory 34° Crisps are designed to treat the palate of your average cheese aficionado; they're thin, flavored with subtlety and nearly melt in your mouth. The new 34° Sweet Crisps are also designed to treat the palate. However, it's ...

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By |2017-09-04T10:54:16-04:00July 3rd, 2012|Food & Drinks|0 Comments
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High West Campfire Whiskey

bonnie_webBonnie: David Perkins, proprietor of High West, the gastro-distillery on Main Street in Old Town Park City, Utah, recently introduced a one-of-a-kind blend of smoky scotch, fruity rye and sweet bourbon whiskeys that he calls Campfire Whiskey. He named it in celebration of the western tradition of ...

BiteoftheBest bloggerBryan: Park City, Utah... one of the most magical places on Earth. Truly a ski-Mecca, Park City offers access to seven of the country's greatest resorts, airy powder snow unlike anywhere else on earth, an amazing après-ski centered town with fantastic dining options... it's heaven. That is, unless booze....

eric...Eric: I enjoy the occasional weekly glass of whiskey. Actually, I am joking with you; I enjoy the occasional weekly bottle of whiskey, and just like many notable men of History, it is usually part of my daily routine. Now some might scoff at the idea — shouting ...

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By |2017-09-04T10:56:29-04:00June 19th, 2012|Food & Drinks|0 Comments
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Lucini Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oils

bonnie_webBonnie: I met Daniel Graeff, one of the founders of the Lucini Italia Company, at a private home in San Francisco many years ago when he conducted an olive oil tasting for a group of food editors who were in that city attending the Fancy Food Show. Just as for wine tasting, we sniffed, swirled and sipped to...

Bryan 3aphoto - Version 2Bryan:

Olive oil is one of those special kitchen ingredients that somehow makes its way into almost everything I cook. Pretty much anything that's going in a pan gets a coating of olive oil (especially before it's seasoned). Even many noncooked items, especially salads, get a splash of this heavenly liquid before making...

Eric (2 sunglasses)Eric: "Simply the Best" is certainly a statement worth touting for Lucini and for the myriad products they produce, bottle and sell. I believe most consumers couldn't care less about the olive oil they're consuming or, for that matter, with what they are cooking. But we epicures sing the praises of the...

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By |2017-09-04T10:58:17-04:00June 12th, 2012|Food & Drinks|0 Comments
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Coach Farm Fresh Goat Cheese with Fig

bonnie_webBonnie: We do love our cheese, especially fresh chèvre. Today's feature is about Coach Farm Fresh Goat Cheese with figs.

I've been in love with Coach Farm's chèvre since my first bite of its fresh goat cheese back in the '80s. That's when the company began making cheese in a small Hudson Valley (New York) town, just two hours from New York City. The company boasts more than 900 dairy goats, born and raised on its farm.

And to answer the question always asked: Yes, the name...

BLOGGER-B_2Bryan: Figs and goat cheese... Can you think of a better combination of flavors? This combo has to be the perfect example of sweet and savory goodness; it is a product that makes my mouth water even as I type right now. Coach Farm's new offering wonderfully pairs the subtle barnyard creaminess of fresh goat cheese with beautiful, ripe, delicious figs. This is good eating at its very best!

As with almost any cheese (especially ...

BOTB bloggerEric: I've always been a glutton for combining fresh goat cheese (_fromage de chèvre_) with dried fruits: My favorite combination is using dried cherries. There is something incredibly sumptuous about the tart flavor and almost candyesque texture of the cherry paired with the creaminess of the cheese that leaves your palette salivating for more; and that's only one flavorful combination.

Coach Farm has always (at least ...

By |2017-09-04T11:05:59-04:00April 10th, 2012|Food & Drinks|4 Comments
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Harney Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea

bonnie_webBonnie: This hot cinnamon-spiked tea is an oldie but goodie blend of tea flavored with three types of cinnamon, plus orange peel and sweet cloves. Harney now offers new varieties of Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea that include a green, herbal and decaf versions. All are delicious.

I fell in love with the Harney Hot Spice Cinnamon Tea the first time I brewed it many a decade ago. I also fell for the members ...

BOTB Blogger Harney & Sons has been in the tea business going on 30 years! That's a lot of tea expertise, especially when their only product is tea. John Harney, the company's founder, worked in the tea business for 13 years before starting his company, making for almost a half century of tea know-how... that's possibly 15,000 cups of tea he consumed himself. Let's just say the man knows his teas.

Harney & Sons is inspired by the British Legacy teas, and while the world ...

eric5Eric: I’m loving that tea now has become a mainstream affair in this country — not to say that it hadn’t been consumed prior, but for a while it seemed that we depended on coffee to get our fix of a hot beverage and caffeine. (Thank you Starbucks.) Some people might not realize it, but tea primarily contains more caffeine than your average cup of coffee; and the effect also lasts longer; as an experiment, try it next time ...

By |2017-09-04T11:07:31-04:00March 13th, 2012|Food & Drinks|2 Comments
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Kerrygold Cashel Blue

bonnie_webBonnie: Each year the folks from Kerrygold invite food editors to an event to sample its Irish dairy products such as butter, cheese and cream. At this year's event I sampled the new Cashel Blue, an authentic artisanal farmhouse cheese.

I asked for samples...

BOTB Blogger >Kerrygold's Cashel Blue cheese (actually produced by J&L Grubb Ltd.) is made by Jane and Louis Grubb on their farm in County Tipperary, Ireland. And, like any good cheese maker, they've been making it the exact same way, in this case, since 1984.

Cashel Blue is actually the first farmhouse blue cheese to be ...

eric5Eric: Kerrygold's Cashel Blue is one-of-a-kind (although mass produced) and would be one of my choices as an accompaniment to my "last meal". By no means am I a blue cheese advocate -- most of the time, blue cheese taste just like it smells, pungent with an almost mildewy ...

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By |2017-09-04T11:13:14-04:00November 29th, 2011|Food & Drinks|1 Comment
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Trois Petits Cochons Mousse Truffee

bonnie_webBonnie: All year, BOTB has been scouting for products to share with you during the holiday season. Today's FeaturedBite is just that — another goodie to serve at one of your upcoming gatherings or to bring as a hostess gift. This Trois Petits Cochons Mousse Truffee is a delectable combo of chicken liver, pork, truffles, sherry and Pineau — a French aperitif. And for anyone who likes liver pâtés, it’s addicting.

I like to unmold the tub version onto a platter for easy slicing and attractive presentation surrounded by...

Bryan 3aphoto - Version 2Bryan: Les Trois Petits Cochons began humbly in 1975, a small charcuterie in New York's Greenwich Village taking its name from the three young French owners who are the self-titled "Three Little Pigs." The shop was a quick culinary success, counting James Beard amongst their friends and customers. So successful in fact, that Les Trois Petits Cochons closed the store to open a larger kitchen in order to turn out what was to some in New York City simply the best pâté around.

Les Trois went on to supply....

Eric (2 sunglasses)Eric:I never thought I’d see a day when pâtés became nearly, dare I say, mainstream. The term liver doesn’t usually jump off the plate and make your taste buds dance with delight; in fact, I imagine most people cringe at the idea of eating anything more ...

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By |2017-09-04T11:18:05-04:00November 8th, 2011|Food & Drinks|1 Comment
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Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

bonnie_web Bonnie Cincinnati natives and visitors have known it. And their friends and relatives have heard them rave about Graeter's ice creams, especially the signature eye-catching, berry-colored Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip.

The fourth generation of Graeter's makes this ice cream just as Louis Graeter did in 1870, using a French Pot method. It's a small-batch way (they tell me that's only ....

Bryan 3photo - Version 2Bryan: Leave it to your friends to have the best recommendations. This is the social age (as you read this blog), is it not? So, kudos to my friend Alex, who has sung the praises of Graeter's Ice Cream for almost as long as I've known him. Today, your recommendation is official.

The discussion actually began over a product called Skyline Chili. You may or may not have heard about it. It is apparently a Cincinnati ...

Eric3Eric:: I've never indulged in ice cream as fast as I did when I popped the top on the Graeter's Chocolate Chip. The written word can barely describe how delicious this product truly is. Sure, it's ice cream, but in my opinion, it's more than that; it's ice cream with purpFB_Graeters_raspberryose.

Small batch translates to...

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By |2017-09-04T11:27:55-04:00July 26th, 2011|Food & Drinks|6 Comments
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Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water

Bonnie: We do like our libations!

Generally the only sweet mixer I ever use is tonic — especially in summer. For me, I mix it with vodka; for some friends, with gin. And to save calories, I made a "sonic" — the alcohol mixed with part bubbly club soda or seltzer + part tonic. For the seltzer, you can either ...

Bryan: What more can I do to let you know how amazingly good and unique Fever-Tree beverages are than to simply list the collection of outstanding, luxury, eating establishments that currently serve it? What more would it take for you to think these tasty drinks are worth a try? What wonderful adjectives could I put forth that would do better than noting that Fever-Tree mixers are currently served in seven out of ...

Eric: I wouldn't consider myself a tonic drinker. In fact, it was only while I was spending time in Africa that I found myself sipping a gin and tonic -- and that was mostly due to my belief in the "medicinal" benefits as it's a natural mosquito repellent.

Tonic has never found a spot in my fridge; the bitter, dry flavor is something my ...

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By |2017-09-04T11:32:11-04:00June 7th, 2011|Food & Drinks|0 Comments
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Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog

Bonnie: Yes, it's true. The Bite of the Best team loves cheese.

When I'm fantasizing about those foods I must have on my desert island, goat's milk cheese (chèvre) is on that list. I smartened up recently thinking that instead of cheese, I should have a goat or two for an endless supply, but then I'd need to learn both how to milk the goat and make the cheese. Nah!

For now, I'll just get some chèvre...

Bryan: What an absolute delight it is to taste-test cheese for a living! So many different types, different flavors, textures and smells. Did you know that there are more than a thousand different types of recognized cheese and cheese products in the world? And though there are terrible ones (Cheez Whiz), there are also wonderful ones... like today's offering from Cypress Grove, Humboldt Fog.

So what, you ask, is on the cheese ...

Eric: All bleu cheese is not created equal, but I imagine you're aware of that. As fellow foodies, I'm sure you've encountered a variety of cheeses that have made you question your palate. And that's great. That's what being a true epicure is all about -- the process of trial and error in finding the tastes that delight your senses and make you hungry for more.

Cheese, like wine, is a product of many different...

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By |2017-09-04T11:34:24-04:00August 31st, 2010|Food & Drinks|5 Comments
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