Dining

By Christopher A. Pape

In the realm of fine dining, the three major cuisines of French, Italian and Japanese have reigned supreme. Until recently, no one would have spent a moment’s notice on the cooking of the Iberian Peninsula, thinking it too crude and too rustic for serious consideration. But there has been a dramatic and penetrating Renaissance. La Fonda del Sol, tucked away in a corner of Grand Central Station is leading the charge in recognition and praise of Spanish cooking.

By Christopher A. Pape

La Promenade des Anglais, in the heart of Chelsea and in the iconic London Terrace Gardens, is a sleek and delicious new restaurant from acclaimed chef and owner Alain Allegretti. Known for his savory Provençal and Niçoise creations, Mr. Allrgretti has branched off to the wider Mediterranean, encompassing Italy (he is, to be clear, of Italian heritage and upbringing) and Spain.

By Christopher A. Pape

There is no meal more quintessentially New York than a good steak dinner. And there are few steakhouses in New York who provide the level of food and service like BLT Steak. And yet, there is more to this restaurant than the thrill of eating a perfectly prepared steak. After a visit there recently, it became abundantly clear that the restaurant has an atmosphere that speaks of the monied class and an attentiveness of service which is professional without being intrusive.

By Christopher Pape

Fish, fish and then for some variety some dried fish. That and bland flavors are what come to mind when one thinks of Scandinavian cooking. And yet that couldn’t be further from the truth. Like their famous furniture and automobiles, Nordic cuisine uses clean lines, clean flavors and a clean modernist approach to food. These are, in fact, the true hallmarks of the great Northern cuisine. Aquavit in Midtown, a standard-bearer and destination restaurant, known the world over, serves this underappreciated and underrepresented but awfully delicious food.

With the rematch of the legendary 2008 Super Bowl going down this week, GO Burger is getting a head start on the Giants-Patriots rivalry! The restaurant has created a burger inspired by each team so diners can prepare for the Super Bowl Burger Challenge!

By Christopher A. Pape

For Italians ingredients are the key to a successful meal. Without the freshest, highest-quality produce and meats, the meal will inevitably fail. Whether or not Italian chefs follow the strictest recipe or technique is of little or no concern, but rather their dish should be delicious and bring a smile to the people who are eating it. Recently Resident colleagues and I embarked on a journey to two famous Italian restaurants to test this theory; and what we found is sure to prod you into visiting them. We know that you will leave with a full and satisfied stomach.

By Christopher A. Pape

Gastroarte:
When one walks into Gastroarte, one knows one has arrived at a special place. Located on the ‘garden’ level, the space is bright, airy and has a wonderfully landscaped courtyard that serves as inspiration for an excellent meal. During the visit, we were struck with their innovative use of ingredients. We especially loved an appetizer of shrimp marble with flavors of the sea which was a perfect combination with briny pungency and had flavors that sang of both sweetness and savory notes. For another starter the soft, velvety texture and mild flavor of pig’s feet and lobster ragout went beautifully with the richness of corn soup. A third dish that was loved was the Salmorejo – salt-cured rock shrimp, hitachino, white ale and grapes. The shrimp was perfectly plump and tender and the acidity of ale was paired nicely with the sweetness of the grapes. For a main dish we ordered and enjoyed the Serrano-wrapped monkfish with romesco, spring onion and a confit shitake mushrooms.

By Anthony Panzella
Success comes in all forms. From creating and leading a profitable company to selling artwork in a gallery, many individuals seek fame and recognition for the special talents they posses. But there is one guy, not a native New Yorker but one who has embraced our spirit, whose drive and motivation are legendary and whose talents are many. This man, Ted Turner, the media entrepreneur and environmentalist is also the acclaimed owner and founder of Ted’s Montana Grill. A classic American Grill featuring fresh, made-from-scratch comfort food within an authentic turn-of-the-century Montana grill atmosphere has become a mainstay of the New York business elite while still being family-friendly.

By Christopher Pape

Here in the city we are spoilt for choices when it comes to Asian (pan, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, etc...) food. From the high to the low and everything in between, options abound for the picky New Yorker eater. And it isn’t necessarily the case (as it is typically in French or Italian) that cheaper means lesser quality. In fact, there are two places that I frequented recently, whose prices are modest but whose taste is great, which should definitely be on your radar. Take my word for it; these are two places that can’t be missed.

Drinking in the a country’s culture one sip, swizzle and swirl at a time.
Written and Photographed by Karen Loftus

On a recent trip to Wales I was put to test on a daily basis, mountain biking, sea kayaking rock-hopping, river rafting and coasteering into the Irish Sea. We found the best way to calm the nerves or celebrate the day’s success was with one of the country’s many spirits, another one of the countless gems that we discovered along our Welsh way. So, if you are looking to drink in the spirit of Wales this holiday season, you may want to consider stocking up on a few these Welsh beauties to place behind your globally savvy, holiday bar.