Chelsea: Where art and eats meet

Wednesday September 30, 2009 7:33 PM By Courtney Crowder

If you’re planning to spend a day gallery hopping in Chelsea, you won’t go hungry.

There’s plenty to see between 20th and 25th streets, from Eighth to 11th avenues. But with galleries, great shopping and all that walking, it’s easy to work up an appetite.

These restaurants will tantalize your taste buds while you rest your feet.

The Red Cat
227 10th Ave., btwn 23 and 24th sts., 212-242-1122
The Red Cat serves New American cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere. “It’s not the most famous place, but it has a distinct verve and soul that other places don’t,” said chef-owner Jimmy Bradley. The menu is focused on local ingredients and seasonal foods. “We change our menu six or eight times a year,” Bradley said. One standout is the tempura bacon appetizer, served on a bed of grilled corn salsa.

Empire Diner
210 10th Ave., at 22nd st., 212-243-2736
Located inside a real dining car designed in 1946, the Empire Diner is a city staple. While it has an extremely large menu, co-owners Mitchell Woo and Renate Gonzalez recommend the burgers. “We have burgers of all kinds and all with different tastes. We sold 75 burgers yesterday alone,” Woo said last Friday. Things are going so well that the owners are looking to add another location.

Cookshop
156 10th Ave., btwn 19 and 20th sts., 212-924-4440
The owners of Cookshop, Vicki and Marc Freeman, came to the restaurant business in different ways. Vicki’s mother owned a restaurant and Marc discovered his passion while driving a fruit truck. The menu at Cookshop focuses on sustainable ingredients and local produce. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, each meal showcases unique American cuisine. Chef de cuisine Joel Hough is starting to create heartier winter items and just added his version of a Caesar Salad on the menu. “It’s one of the best we have ever had. We could eat it everyday,” the Freemans said.

F&B Gudtfood
269 W. 23rd st., btwn 7th and 8th Aves., 646-486-4441
The brainchild of two European ex-pats, F&B Gudtfood specializes in European street foods. “Our signature dishes are the gourmet hot dogs from Germany and Poland,” said manager Daga Lyczko. The dogs come in beef, chicken, pork, veal and veggie varieties and are served with all sorts of toppings. “Another best selling item is the lobster and shrimp roll,” Lyczko said. Pair any of your choices with their European Boylan sodas or homemade lemonade.

Rocking Horse Café
182 Eighth Ave., btwn 19 and 20th sts., 212-463-9511
Forget Tex-Mex. Rocking Horse Café serves authentic Mexican fare. “The food that we provide is like what you could find in a fine dining room in Mexico City,” said manager Steven Epstein. Some of the best-selling items include a special burrito stuffed with watercress, avocado and pickled onions and the Enchiladas de Pollo, made with pomegranate-charred chicken. To complement your plate, enjoy a signature margarita. “We use 100 percent agave tequila and we have fresh fruit purees for flavor,” Epstein said.

La Grainne Café
183 Ninth Ave., at 21 st., 646-486-3000
Here, the atmosphere is like a quiet Parisian bistro. “It’s all about the ambiance here,” said owner Grainne O’Flynn, “We have a very French feel.” Some of the most popular items on the menu include crepes, risottos and the croque monsieur, a fried ham and cheese sandwich. O’Flynn is from Ireland, but visits France often. “I love French food and French wine, so, so much,” O’Flynn said.
 

For foodies: This week's dining briefs

Wednesday September 30, 2009 7:23 PM By Courtney Crowder

Industria Argentine is part of the Argentinean Wine and Food Festival.

Football Sunday with Fatty ‘Cue: Catch the games this Sunday, from 12-7 p.m., with chef Zak Pelaccio of Fatty Crab. Pelaccio will serve bites from his brand-new barbecue restaurant, Fatty ‘Cue, which is set to open in Williamsburg. Freeman McNeil, the ‘80s Jets star, will also be in attendance. The lunchtime fest will take place inside Home Studios at 873 Broadway. Tickets are $50. To learn more, visit epicurious.com/community/events.

NYC Wine & Food Festival at Comix: Comix, Zagat’s highest-rated NYC comedy venue, will welcome culinary demonstrations Oct. 9-11 at 6 p.m. as part of the NYC Wine & Food Festival. The club is in the Meatpacking District, a neighborhood that will host many NYWFF events. Demonstrations will involve some of the food world’s top names, including Rocco DiSpirito, Bobby Flay and Masaharu Morimoto. To purchase tickets or for more info, visit nycwineandfoodfestival.com.

Argentinean Wine and Food Festival: Imagine you’re in Buenos Aires during the Argentinean Wine and Food Festival, which runs Monday through Oct. 15. The festival will be hosted by the Industria Argentine, Libertador and Azul restaurants. Three prix-fixe winemaker dinners will he held, one at each locale. A four-course menu will be served with wine pairings at Libertador on Tuesday and at Industria Argentina on Oct. 13 for $55. A four-course brunch will be served at Azul on Oct. 11 for $25. All three restaurants will have other specialty regional dishes, beer parings and wine flights to mark the event. For more information, call 212-965-8560.

Real Chi-town dogs in NYC: For one night only, Hot Doug’s, arguably Chicago’s best hot dogs, are being served at the Astor Center. The chef, owner and personality behind this institution will be there serving his famous food and talking “dogs.” A $65 ticket gets you a table for two and a dinner of two Chicago-style dogs, two foie gras dogs, an order of duck-fat fries and a six pack of beer. The event takes place on Wednesday, with two seatings, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. 399 Lafayette St. Visit astorcenternyc.com/calendar to learn more.

 

As celebrities coddle Polanski, backlash grows among women's group and other stars

Wednesday September 30, 2009 7:04 PM By Heather Haddon

Earth to Hollywood.

After a chorus of celebrities came out in support of jailed film director Roman Polanski, women’s groups and other big names pushed back yesterday, saying no amount of tinseltown clout can excuse a sex crime.

“Rape is rape. This is one Hollywood star who does not celebrate or defend Roman Polanski,” actress Kirstie Alley wrote on her Twitter feed yesterday.

During the weekend, the famed director was arrested on charges of unlawful sexual contact dating back to 1977, when he plied a 13-year-old girl with champagne and forced her to have sex. Polanski pleaded guilty to the crime, but fled to France and was never punished for attacking the young model. Authorities nabbed the director of “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby” when he arrived at the Zurich Film Festival.

Within days, more than 100 stars — including Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen — had endorsed a “Free Roman Polanski” petition. On the “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg said that the director had not committed “rape-rape.”

“It’s outrageous,” said Sonia Ossorio, president of the National Organization of Women-New York City. “Under what circumstances is that excusable?”

New Yorkers, even those who admired Polanski’s work, also recoiled from all the support.
“It’s way creepy,” said Robert McMaster, 41, of Brooklyn. “I can’t think of any reason to support a pedophile rapist.”

Samantha Gailey, the victim, has called for authorities to leave Polanski alone, and stars like Peter Fonda and Debra Winger said it’s time to drop the 30-year-old case.

Still, Hollywood works in its own dimension, where currying favor with a landmark director can outweigh the importance of appearing moral, marketing experts said.

“Hollywood is not Middle America,” said John Tantillo, a psychologist and president of a Manhattan-based marketing company. “There is a way of life that is very unique to that industry.”

For other celebrities, Polanski’s misdeeds might bring back memories of the notoriously sordid 1970s, when celebrities lived even further over the edge, said Lori Levine, founder of the Flying Television talent agency in Manhattan.

But standing up for Polanski is dicey, according to media analysts. Goldberg ended up distancing herself from the “rape-rape” comment yesterday, saying she was just “trying to make sure we had our facts straight.”

Backing a rapist also sets a dangerous precedent, with the public not always able to separate the nuances of different rape cases, said Peter Kanaris, coordinator for public education with the New York State Psychological Association.

“It’s either right or wrong,” Kanaris said.

Polanski is being held in a jail cell in Zurich, with his lawyers fighting his extradition to the United States.

Hollywood is divided over whether to support Roman Polanski.
 
Polanksi supporters include: Penelope Cruz, Martin Scorcese, Woody Allen, David Lynch, Whoopie Goldberg, Mike Nichols, Terry Gilliam, Monica Bellucci.
Anti-Polanski celebs include: Kirstie Alley, Luc Besson, Michael Seitzman, Sherri Shepherd

Dems choose de Blasio, Liu, for citywide offices

Tuesday September 29, 2009 10:18 PM By Jason Fink

City Councilman Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn) trounced Mark Green to win the Democratic nomination for public advocate Tuesday night, all but assuring him of election to the post in November.

City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) defeated his colleague, David Yassky, of Brooklyn, to win the nod for comptroller and is now poised to become the first Asian-American elected to citywide office.

Both winners were backed by the Working Families Party, whose organizational strength and robust get-out-the-vote operation have made it a formidable presence in city races.

In his victory speech, de Blasio thanked his family, congratulated Liu and gave a nod to Green, thanking him for "everything he's contributed to this city and his years of service."

"Tonight the people have responded," he said. "I want to thank the people of this city for their faith in me."

He also called for more parental involvement in the schools, vowed to reform the city planning commission to  create more affordable housing and strengthen the Civilian Complaint Review Board.

With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Liu was ahead of Yassky 56 to 44 percent; de Blasio was up 63 percent to 37 percent on Green, who served two terms as public advocate in the 1990s and was the first to hold the office.

Liu and de Blasio were both the top vote getters in the Democratic primary two weeks ago, though neither reached the 40 percent needed to avoid Tuesday's runoff.

Turnout in the race was abysmal, around 7 percent of eligible voters in each race, lower than the historically paltry turnout two weeks ago.

Republicans Joe Mendola will be on the ballot for comptroller on Nov. 3, while Alex Zablocki will face off against Liu for public advocate.

Police ID suspect in fatal stabbing outside post office

Tuesday September 29, 2009 7:49 PM By Pete Catapano

The suspect in the fatal stabbing of a 20-year-old man outside the city’s main post office is a  vet who served in Kuwait and has a  long rap sheet, police said yesterday.

Police are hunting 28-year-old Sirmone McCaulla, who lives on Lexington Avenue in East Harlem, in Sunday’s slay of Christopher Gutierrez outside the James A. Farley Post Office.

A police officer who had served with McCaulla in the Army Reserves recognized him from the photos taken on the scene by a German tourist and published by the press, reports say.

McCaulla allegedly stabbed Gutierrez four times after they accidentally bumped into each other.

“The victim takes his coat off, looking like they're going to have a fistfight. Indeed, the victim assumes a stance like a fighter,” said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly in describing the video.

McCaulla has three prior arrests for burglary and robbery. The funeral for Gutierrez will be on Friday at the Ortiz Funeral Home on the Lower East Side.

Michelin rewards great deals

Tuesday September 29, 2009 7:36 PM By Lucy Blatter

Buttermilk Channel's been recognized as a Bib Gourmand.

Sure, the Michelin Man loves expensive, high-end restaurants, but that doesn’t mean he disdains cheap but tasty eats.

The Michelin Guide yesterday released its so-called Bib Gourmand list, which the company calls ”inspectors’ favorites for good value."

To gain the distinction, a restaurant must offer two dishes and a glass of wine or dessert, for $40 or less. Michelin added 31 New York restaurants to the list this year, for a total of 85 affordable options. The Guide will be released Oct. 6.

“People are always talking about the Michelin stars. But sometimes people forget that there are Bib Gourmands,” said Jean-Luc Naret, director of the Michelin Guide. “In France, you have 500 Michelin-starred restaurants and 500 Bib Gourmands. The Bib Gourmand is a distinction in itself.”.

While only about 10 percent of the Bib Gourmand restaurants usually are awarded Michelin stars, Naret said these restaurants are still high quality. “Usually the places are using local ingredients and that’s why they’re cheap. But they’re very good,” he said.

Out of the 85 Bib Gourmand restaurants, 59 are in Manhattan, 18 are in Brooklyn, seven are in Queens and one is on Staten Island.

“I’m just excited that people are realizing that really good quality food can be a good value, too,” said Francine Stephens, owner of Franny’s Italian restaurant in Prospect Heights, which received the Bib Gourmand distinction. “We only buy the highest-quality ingredients but we keep prices down by monitoring our waste and using everything we buy.”

The Bib Gourmand distinction came as something of a surprise to Amanda Cohen, chef-owner of Dirt Candy, an upscale East Village vegetarian spot where most entrees hover just under $20. “I think it’s because we do half-glasses of wine,” she said. “I would have thought it was more like $50.”

Cohen said her tiny, 18-seat restaurant is able to keep prices relatively low by controlling food costs and limiting waste. “We pretty much know we’re going to do about 36-45 covers on an average weeknight.”

Doug Crowell, owner of Bib Gourmand restaurant Buttermilk Channel in Carroll Gardens, said he hopes the distinction will bring more customers. He also added that in his American bistro, one could likely get the wine and the dessert.

“We opened really as everything headed south last November and tended to give people a good value. We saw the headlines and lowered our prices a little more because of that. But I think you can do very well at many places in New York City,” he said.

What’s in a name?

The title Bib Gourmand comes from the Michelin man’s real name, Bibendum.

A guide to urban herbs

Tuesday September 29, 2009 7:23 PM By Jessica Jones

Kate Gardner in her brooklyn garden. (Brian Harkin)

Gardening and living in New York City don’t have to be mutually exclusive. City residents can grow fresh herbs that flavor food, boost health and save cash.

“As long as you have a window with decent light, then you can have an herb garden,” said Kate Gardner, a New York City-based nutritionist. Here are five foolproof steps to sustaining an herb garden.

Step One
Choose your herbs
Herbs such as basil, bay, chervil, chives, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon and thyme grow well indoors during the fall and winter.
Do a little research to learn which herbs can be planted with others, and which need their own pot.

Step Two
Buy the basics
To start, you’ll need either a ceramic or plastic pot with tiny holes for water drainage. Pots should be at least 8 inches long and 8 inches deep. Also buy organic potting soil, fertilizer and, of course, herbs.

“If you are starting late in the season, it is better to get baby herbs instead of seeds,” Gardner said.

You’re best off purchasing everything from a nursery, where the selection is extensive and the staff is usually very knowledgeable.

Step Three
Plant away
Layer the bottom of the pot with 2 to 3 inches of soil. If you are going to plant multiple herbs in the same pot or container, make sure they are 8 inches apart.
Repot your transplants, or baby herbs, in the soil and then place another layer of soil on top, leaving an inch for watering.

Step Four
Sunlight and air
For most herbs to survive, they need direct sunlight for up to four hours a day.
South-facing windows are brightest.

If you don’t have a window, an inexpensive fluorescent light will do the trick.
In addition to sunlight, plants need air. “Open the window, let the air come in and wiggle the plants around,” said Cynthia Sandberg, founder of Love Apple Farm and growbetterveggies.com.

“If you can’t do that in the winter, then a fan blowing on the plants for a couple of hours every day is important,” she said.

Step Five
Maintenance is key
Most herbs only need a light watering two to three times a week. It’s best to water the plant in the sink and then let it drain.
Fertilize your plant about once a week (any all-purpose organic fertilizer will do the job).
Follow the directions on the package. You’ll almost always have to dilute the fertilizer in water and then add it to the soil.
Trimming herbs on a regular basis will ensure growth.
Be sure not to clip more than one- third of the plant’s foliage at a time.

Additional resources:
gardenweb.com
organicgardening.com

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF VARIOUS HERBS:

Mint: Mint contains anti-nausea and antiseptic agents, and is known to soothe bug bites.
Basil: Basil is loaded with vitamin A, and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Lavender: Lavender has been used for centuries to calm nerves and promote sleep.
Oregano: Oregano is a known antioxidant with antibacterial benefits.
Sage: Recent research suggests that sage helps maintain stable blood sugar levels. It also inhibits perspiration and acts as an antioxidant.

Ads hit back at city health campaign

Tuesday September 29, 2009 6:56 PM By Jason Fink

A counter-attack has been launched in the city’s war on obesity.

A $1 million ad campaign produced by the non-profit Center for Consumer Freedom knocks the city for its PR blitz against sweetened drinks and its ban on trans-fats.
 

“When did the Big Apple become Big Brother?” say the ads, which began appearing in newspapers Friday.
 

Similar ads will appear next week on local cable.
 

“This is targeted primarily at the idea of the food police and the nanny state,” said James Bowers, creative director at the Washington-based organization.
 

The group — which sponsors campaigns defending products such as corn syrup and argues against taxes on unhealthy foods — has been described by critics as a front for the food and restaurant industry. The organization acknowledges receiving donations from the industry but says it advocates only for consumers.
 

The city health department defended its own campaign against sugared drinks, which include graphic ads on subways, and took its own jab at the ads, one of which appears Wednesday in amNewYork.
 

“People are smart enough to know when they see something that is trying to sell them a certain kind of food,” said Cathy Nonas, director of physical activity and nutrition at the health department.
 

MTA investigating sign that apparently slights riders without English skills

Tuesday September 29, 2009 6:48 PM By Heather Haddon

This was no welcome sign.

A transit worker along the No. 7 line apparently made a public dig against straphangers without English skills recently, and the bizarre incident has left MTA officials livid, saying it falls contrary to efforts to increase public transit’s accessibility.

“It’s very upsetting to me,” John Hoban, general line manager of the No. 7 train, said yesterday. “It is the antithesis of what the No. 7 line is about.”

Last week, a transit employee at the Hunters Point Avenue station scrawled “English spoken here” on the token booth’s dry erase board. The sign shocked some riders in the multi-ethnic enclave.

“That’s very rude,” said Wesley Fruge, 26, a Long Island City straphanger who snapped a photo of the sign on Friday. “It’s something that shouldn’t have been there.”

As an agency rule, token booth boards can only display service updates or MetroCard information. Officials yesterday were still investigating who was responsible for the writing and are expected to question two station agents today.

Riders on the No. 7 line are some of the most diverse in the city, with the train often called the “international express.” But public transit can bewilder those without solid English skills, said Andrew Friedman of Make the Road New York, a nonprofit that runs ESL classes.

“There’s tons of immigrants who are afraid to get on the subway because they feel confused,” Friedman said.

Station agents receive instruction in customer service and how to accommodate riders with disabilities, but transit does not provide language classes or cultural-sensitivity training. The MTA also does not assign station agents based on language skills, as clerks chose their jobs based on seniority.

Still, those who speak a particular language often select stations serving their community, union leaders said. Others learn a few key phrases to help them on the job.

“You see a big smile on their faces when they hear some common words,” said John Mooney, a station agent who learned Russian phrases while working in Brighton Beach.

The MTA translates all service advisory signs into Spanish, along with Chinese, Korean and Russian in particular neighborhoods. It has also recently:

- Allowed straphangers to fill out surveys in different languages.

- Deployed translators to stations with many immigrants during service interruptions or public events, with interpreters speaking seven languages stationed at the U.S. Open last month.

- Started designing cards listing key phrases in different languages for station personnel confronting emergencies.

“We’re not there yet,” said Hoban, who is learning Spanish to speak with his riders. “But it’s essential I know what they are thinking and how I can serve them better.”

hhaddon@am-ny.com

Languages in NYC by the numbers
 
170: Estimated number of languages spoken in the city
48: Percent of New Yorkers who speak another language at home
23: Percent who don't feel they speak English well
Source: U.S. Census Bureau