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Kolache Mama
Yo Mama says: Time for some Euro pastries! This takeout joint right off Grand Central specializes in Eastern Euro baked goods called kolache, which are made with sweet-ish bread and stuffed (or topped) with a variety of ingredients both sweet and savory. They're $2.99 each, and are a grab bag of multiculti tastes: There's a spinach-feta-olive version, a Reuben, tomato-mozza-basil, and an Italian sausage that we particularly liked, drizzled with sweet streusel. Apparently, kolache is not only huge in Prague (Czech Republic), it's also huge in Prague, Oklahoma (!)—just one of several states, like Nebraska and Texas, that hold annual kolache fests. Owner-founder Richard Saler is hoping the pastries will be huge around the rest of the country as well: Aside from two other planned NYC locations, he hopes to expand next year to Boston, Chicago and Atlanta, among other cities. (45 E 45th St. between Vanderbilt and Madison Aves., 212-922-1856)
Travertine
After more than a year of battling with Community Board 2, the infamous curse of historic 19 Kenmare St. might finally be lifted with the opening of this Italian-Mediterranean spot, from 28-year old restaurateur Danae Cappelletto. The 58-seat space, occupying the gut-renovated Little Charlie's Clam Bar, showcases the cooking chops of Manuel Trevino, a "Top Chef" alum and subject in Bill Buford's kitchen tome "Heat." He's also a Babbo vet, whose pasta savvy was evident in our exclusive sampling of Travertine's handmade fagotini stuffed with truffled ricotta and spinach. Other dishes keep things familiar, from grilled rack of lamb with crushed potatoes, to beef carpaccio with bone-marrow aioli. Classic design touches—darkwood, chandeliers—lend an elegant feel, as does the restaurant's namesake stone, used here for visual accent. (19 Kenmare St. between Elizabeth St. and Bowery, 212-966-1810)
Stuffed Artisan Cannolis
Holy cannoli—face-lift! After launching a popular Little Italy street cart in 2008, Anthony Fontana and Brielle Dahan continue to reinvent the popular Italian pastry with their first brick-and-mortar location, on the Lower East Side. The couple searched for a year to find the perfect ricotta filling, finally settling on a top-secret Jersey-based purveyor because its cheese "tasted good without any additional ingredients," Dahan says. As for those add-ons, Stuffed's got over 30 tricked-out flavors, including French toast, birthday cake and eggnog. Come wintertime, they plan to introduce flavors spiked with liquor like Bailey's and sambuca. There's a counter for munching and sipping (they've got Gimme! Coffee roasts), but no seating—perfectly in keeping with Stuffed's street-cart roots. "I wanted to bring that element of the street into the store," Dahan says, "to still be kind of gritty and hustle-bustle." Mini cannolis are $2 each, or 12 for $18. A standard dozen is $30. (176 Stanton St. between Clinton & Attorney Sts., 212-995-2266)
Abe & Arthur's
Naming restaurants after your two grandfathers, which owners Michael Hirtenstein and Mark Birnbaum have done here, is sort of a trend these days...if two is a trend (which it totally is). Franklin Becker (Sheridan Square, Capitale) has crafted a brasserie-style menu that features burgers, raw seafood and Birnbaum's grandma's sweet-and-sour meatballs. The space, formerly ‘90s club icon Lotus, has been opened up into an airy, bi-level gastroclub. The Meatpacking District space can bump at night, but time will tell if Becker will once again have the golden touch with the critics. (409 W. 14th St. near Ninth Ave., 646-289-3930)
Also open:
East Village newcomer Robataya NY specializes in a range of meat, fish and veggies cooked, robata-style, over a charcoal fire. (231 E. Ninth St. between Second and Third Aves., 212-979-9674)
After briefly disappearing last year, legendary Brooklyn Italian spot Armando's has reclaimed and updated its original space, which was reportedly a haunt for greats like Marilyn Monroe and Norman Mailer. (143 Montague St. between Henry and Clinton Sts., 718-624-7167)
Trusty Carroll Gardens Thai spot Ghang now has a second location...one block away! Whatever happened to "divide and conquer"? (229 Court St. at Baltic St., 718-875-1369)
After 13 years in Crown Heights, Muddy Waters Café has hightailed it to Harlem, offering a sandwich-heavy menu and Seattle Best coffee, along with free events like book readings, live music and art shows. (2185 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. at 129th St., 212-289-6510)
Healthy falafel chain Maoz drops its first Midtown location just south of Times Square. (200 W. 40th St. at Seventh Ave., 212-777-0820)
Meals, deals, specials:
Rosa Mexicano Chocolate Festival: Choco-inspired dishes both sweet and savory are on the menu at all three RM locations (First Avenue, Lincoln Center, Union Square), through Oct. 25. Bonus perks: They'll host a cooking class on Oct. 10, and a four-course choco-loco tasting dinner on Oct. 14.
Lamb Takedown: The latest installment of the hugely popular Takedown series hits Highline Ballroom on Sunday, with 20 amateur chefs vying for the competition's top lamb dish. The American Lamb Board is sponsoring the event, and George Motz, "Hamburger America" author, will be on hand as a celebrity judge. (431 W 16th St. between Ninth and Tenth Aves.)
International Pickle Day: On Sunday, pucker up for a taste of city's top brined treats at this ninth annual festival, featuring everything from Guss' classic kosher dills to Rick's Picks pickled beets. The day's events also include canning demonstrations and a performance by Shakespeare in the Parking Lot at 3 p.m. (Orchard St. between Broome and Grand Sts.)
Additional reporting by Matt Rodbard and Krista Garcia; photo by Sam Horine
What other people are saying...
saraht from Cobble Hill, Brooklyn - October 02, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Not really sure why Ghang needs another location so close especially since there is about 6 other thai places within a couple block radius!
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