Aug
9
Guess what? I got fired after 40 years of good eats. Photo: Dan and Rita Wynn
Gael Greene, the brand name of restaurant journalism for 40 years at New York magazine has been fired by the magazine, effective immediately. The magazine gave her one last hurrah with a coverline on “The Most Important Restaurants in 40 Years” in its 40th anniversary issue October 6, 2008, and said goodbye six weeks later.
“I describe it as cutting off your nose to spite your face,” Greene said.
At her premature “retirement” Greene was no longer the weekly critic, having asked to be replaced in 2000, setting off an 18-month search for a replacement that brought on Adam Platt in January 2002. She remained on the masthead as a contributing editor to write her weekly column, “Insatiable Critic.”
She also created a virtual restaurant magazine of her own at www.InsatiableCritic.com.
In her role as restaurant critic, Greene helped change the way New Yorkers (and many Americans) think about food. A scholarly anthropologist could trace the evolution of New York restaurants from the early awakening in the 1970s on a timeline that would reflect her passions and taste over 30 years from Le Pavillon to nouvelle cuisine to couturier pizzas, pastas and hot fudge sundaes, to more healthful eating.
Tapped by founder Clay Felker to be the restaurant critic just months after the pioneering city magazine’s launch and competing against the Times beloved and powerful Craig Claiborne, Greene decided not to rip into any Claiborne favorites like La Caravelle or Le Grenouille. Instead, she chose to dissect the brand new Ground Floor in the CBS building on Sixth Avenue. “Paley’s Preserve,” appeared November 11, 1968, and she writes, “I found my voice.”
“The Ground Floor is, above all, appropriately grand. It is slick, rich, calculated, spare, intimidating. It is Contemporary Wasp. You would hate to break open a roll for fear it would scatter unprogrammed crumbs. It is understatedly snob. The Ground Floor is a perfect room to end an affair in….”
“Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Ice Cream But Were Too Fat To Ask,” “The Mafia Guide to Dining Out,” “The Menu Rap and How to Beat It,” and “Nobody Knows the Truffles I’ve Seen” were early pieces that inspired foodies before foodie was a word. In later years, her annual roundup of New York City’s dining favorites, “Ask Gael,” was a gourmand’s collectible.
As co-founder 27 years ago with James Beard and an ongoing force behind Citymeals-on-Wheels as board chair, Ms. Greene continues her commitment to help feed the city’s homebound elderly. She has devoted as many hours to fund-raising in recent years as she does to writing. Citymeals, the largest public/private partnership in the country, has delivered more than 40 million meals to frail needy neighbors no longer able to shop or cook for themselves. The exceptional support of the food and restaurant community to the city’s elderly shut-ins has been an essential factor in the success of this effort from the very first fundraising weekend 27 Christmases ago.
By: Gael Greene
Aug
8
Eating Out for Cheap in New York
Filed Under Restaurant | Leave a Comment
Dining on the cheap in New York City isn’t nearly as hard as you may thing it is. New York is a city of many nations in that there are probably more nations represented in the dining options of New York than any other city in the world. You can find wonderful food options that represent these many nations and won’t break your wallet. What a wonderful way to literally enjoy the flavors of the world while on vacation!
Rainbow Falafel is the first place I recommend. This may very well be the best falafel shop (if you can call it that) in New York City. If you’ve never tried falafel you are definitely in for a tasty treat. Falafel is essentially a ball of veggies and spices (chick peas, onions, garlic, and other goodies) that has been fried and placed into a pita along with tomato, hummus, lettuce, and yogurt. Getting hungry? We’ve only just begun.
Gray’s Papaya offers the best hot dogs in the city, particularly when you consider the fact that it is hard to mess up hot dogs, especially when that’s all you do for the price. The price in fact is what keeps packing the clientele in by the droves. Where else in New York can you get two hot dogs and a drink for two dollars? Be warned however that the décor and atmosphere are about what you’d expect in a restaurant that charged two bucks for the average meal and don’t expect a Jimmy Buffet type of atmosphere with umbrella drinks and neon colors.
For hoagies of heroic or would that be epic proportions you really must try Tony Luke’s. The décor is simple and the service is quick. You won’t find a huge menu or massive variety of specialty breads or carb friendly diet options here (there are some items but not a massive selection). What you will get are mammoth sandwiches with lots of meat and perhaps a side of cheese fries and a soda to wash it down with. The food is good and the price is right making this one of the best cheap places to eat in the city.
Whether you refer to it as southern fare or soul food, the Soul Spot has it going on. They offer many of the traditional Sunday dinner types of foods such as fried catfish, fried chicken, and vegetables dripping in ‘drippings’ for those willing to risk the impending heart attack. This food is certainly and fabulous example of the culinary delights one would experience in the south while also being offered at a price that is comparable to what you would pay on a Mississippi Sunday afternoon. They do offer a lunch menu that is a little bit less expensive than the dinner menu and either offers a great value for the money.
Schnack is another institution of inexpensive dining excellence in the great big city of New York. If you have a Krystal’s or a White Castle in your area then you’ll get the concept of “Schnackies” which are very much like the burgers you’ll find in the joints I’ve mentioned above. Be assured however that you also have other choices if the cheap little burgers aren’t really your thing. If you make it in before 5 PM you can have eggs almost anyway you can think of having them and if you have the time and the room you really should try Harry’s Famous Warm Chocolate and Banana Bread Pudding. My mouth is watering from just thinking about it.
The point to all of this, other than getting you good and hungry was to let you know that despite its reputation for being an expensive place to visit, if you know where to look you can not only find cheap entertainment but also cheap food. You can enjoy the best that New York City has to offer without breaking your budget. And cheap isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
By: Jake J Saab
Rainbow Falafel is the first place I recommend. This may very well be the best falafel shop (if you can call it that) in New York City. If you’ve never tried falafel you are definitely in for a tasty treat. Falafel is essentially a ball of veggies and spices (chick peas, onions, garlic, and other goodies) that has been fried and placed into a pita along with tomato, hummus, lettuce, and yogurt. Getting hungry? We’ve only just begun.
Gray’s Papaya offers the best hot dogs in the city, particularly when you consider the fact that it is hard to mess up hot dogs, especially when that’s all you do for the price. The price in fact is what keeps packing the clientele in by the droves. Where else in New York can you get two hot dogs and a drink for two dollars? Be warned however that the décor and atmosphere are about what you’d expect in a restaurant that charged two bucks for the average meal and don’t expect a Jimmy Buffet type of atmosphere with umbrella drinks and neon colors.
For hoagies of heroic or would that be epic proportions you really must try Tony Luke’s. The décor is simple and the service is quick. You won’t find a huge menu or massive variety of specialty breads or carb friendly diet options here (there are some items but not a massive selection). What you will get are mammoth sandwiches with lots of meat and perhaps a side of cheese fries and a soda to wash it down with. The food is good and the price is right making this one of the best cheap places to eat in the city.
Whether you refer to it as southern fare or soul food, the Soul Spot has it going on. They offer many of the traditional Sunday dinner types of foods such as fried catfish, fried chicken, and vegetables dripping in ‘drippings’ for those willing to risk the impending heart attack. This food is certainly and fabulous example of the culinary delights one would experience in the south while also being offered at a price that is comparable to what you would pay on a Mississippi Sunday afternoon. They do offer a lunch menu that is a little bit less expensive than the dinner menu and either offers a great value for the money.
Schnack is another institution of inexpensive dining excellence in the great big city of New York. If you have a Krystal’s or a White Castle in your area then you’ll get the concept of “Schnackies” which are very much like the burgers you’ll find in the joints I’ve mentioned above. Be assured however that you also have other choices if the cheap little burgers aren’t really your thing. If you make it in before 5 PM you can have eggs almost anyway you can think of having them and if you have the time and the room you really should try Harry’s Famous Warm Chocolate and Banana Bread Pudding. My mouth is watering from just thinking about it.
The point to all of this, other than getting you good and hungry was to let you know that despite its reputation for being an expensive place to visit, if you know where to look you can not only find cheap entertainment but also cheap food. You can enjoy the best that New York City has to offer without breaking your budget. And cheap isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
By: Jake J Saab
Aug
5
Is it true that people in the east coast (like New York) celebrate the holidays (like Christmas) more?
Filed Under General | 5 Comments
I heard that people in the east coast celebrate the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) most? Is it true? Does this mean the people in New York celebrate the most for Christmas due to nice decorations, snowing, and people being joyful?
My cousin lives in California in the Bay Area (she lives in the area where the majority population is Asian) and she says there’s barely anything exciting around the holidays and the people around her don’t seem to enjoy or celebrate the holidays at all.
So to those east coast people (especially the ones in New York) out there, do you guys always enjoy or celebrate the holidays?
Aug
4
im here on holiday and cant find a place, i heard there was 1 on time square, but what ive seen there isnt. Also i heard Macy’s did 1 but i had a brief look at da first 3 floors and couldnt find it.
if any1 know i wud really appriciate it…thanks
Aug
2
Just imagine this…..you come back home after a hectic day at office and your friends insist you to meet them somewhere for a light partying session…..isn’t that wonderful…..But this can be more amazing if you all decide to meet up in one of the New York City steakhouse. A New York City steakhouse is the ideal place for people who want to enjoy some good steak and want to be light spirited for a while. In fact spending quality time with your family and your friends at a New York City Steakhouse can become one of the most remembered and one of the best moments of your as well as their lives. A New York City steakhouse promises of a pleasing and a soothing environment that helps you to refresh and relax your mind.
A New York City Steakhouse is the best place to have a nice eating, freaking out, talking, listening to some good music, dancing and drinking session with people you love to be with. A New York City Steakhouse is definitely one place to hang around because it boasts of some of the best made steaks in New York. If you are in love with steaks then you have one more reason to visit a New York City steakhouse. You can also indulge in any sort of food that you like. You get a variety of cuisines like Continental, Mexican, Chinese and the list is endless. Each of the New York City Steakhouse has some specialty of their own that makes it a favorite place of many food lovers.
A New York City steakhouse offers a great ambience and this indeed is one of the biggest attractions apart from good food. The atmosphere of a New York City steakhouse is thoroughly pleasant and it makes you feel delighted as you get to start your evening in the perfect way. Most people tend to visit a New York City steakhouse in the evening after spending a tedious day as they get to relax and refresh themselves in a New York City steakhouse. As already mentioned the food of a New York City steakhouse is also delicious and amazing. You can start off your dinner with some mouth watering starters that complement your drink and then go in for some of the sumptuous steaks prepared the way you like it. If you prefer your steak to be less cooked then you will be served a less cooked one and if you prefer having a fully cooked steak, they will get you a full cooked one.
In fact a New York City steakhouse knows how to pamper their customers. Boasting of great ambience, great service, amazing steaks and some mouth watering starters and side dishes, a New York City steakhouse is the best place that you can visit and have a nice time. A New York City steakhouse can also help you relax, enjoy yourself and forget all the day’s tiredness and tediousness. So get prepared to indulge all your senses in the aroma and ambience of New York City steakhouse.
By: Neil Folley
A New York City Steakhouse is the best place to have a nice eating, freaking out, talking, listening to some good music, dancing and drinking session with people you love to be with. A New York City Steakhouse is definitely one place to hang around because it boasts of some of the best made steaks in New York. If you are in love with steaks then you have one more reason to visit a New York City steakhouse. You can also indulge in any sort of food that you like. You get a variety of cuisines like Continental, Mexican, Chinese and the list is endless. Each of the New York City Steakhouse has some specialty of their own that makes it a favorite place of many food lovers.
A New York City steakhouse offers a great ambience and this indeed is one of the biggest attractions apart from good food. The atmosphere of a New York City steakhouse is thoroughly pleasant and it makes you feel delighted as you get to start your evening in the perfect way. Most people tend to visit a New York City steakhouse in the evening after spending a tedious day as they get to relax and refresh themselves in a New York City steakhouse. As already mentioned the food of a New York City steakhouse is also delicious and amazing. You can start off your dinner with some mouth watering starters that complement your drink and then go in for some of the sumptuous steaks prepared the way you like it. If you prefer your steak to be less cooked then you will be served a less cooked one and if you prefer having a fully cooked steak, they will get you a full cooked one.
In fact a New York City steakhouse knows how to pamper their customers. Boasting of great ambience, great service, amazing steaks and some mouth watering starters and side dishes, a New York City steakhouse is the best place that you can visit and have a nice time. A New York City steakhouse can also help you relax, enjoy yourself and forget all the day’s tiredness and tediousness. So get prepared to indulge all your senses in the aroma and ambience of New York City steakhouse.
By: Neil Folley