In case you haven’t noticed, Halloween is no longer just a day. It’s not even a week. And it’s barely a month. Welcome to Halloween season in NYC! In terms of dining that means, restaurants and bars are already gearing up, rolling out Halloween-themed dishes and cocktails.
In other news this week, we say goodbye Hags and hello to Autumn Bar. We also learn that the best pizza on the planet can apparently be found in London, no NYC. Plus, much more. Have a tip? Send us a note via Instagram or by emailing info@diningout.com.
The World’s Top Pizzerias
This year’s 50 Top Pizza rankings are in and the number one goes to Napoli on the Road in London. According to the judges, “The project led by Michele Pascarella has been able to build a strong identity, capable of evolving without losing technical precision and stylistic clarity.” The NYC pizzerias that made the list are Una Pizza Napoletana at number 2, Don Antonio at number 30, and sliding in at number 35, Ribalta.
New Members of CIA’s Culinary Walk of Fame
Earlier this month, the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY added a few new members to its alumni Walk of Fame. David Burke, Mario Carbone, Andrew Carmellini, Maneet Chauhan, Cat Cora, Enrique Olvera, and Rich Torrisi are among the new names you’ll see on the Walk of Fame. They also added the late Anne Burrell as a nod to the chef’s impact and talent.
Britney Spears Wines in Nolita
Britney Spears was in town last week and was spotted trying hard to be not-spotted at Nolita restaurant RinTinTin. The pop star hid by wrapping her face in a scarf like a mummy while intermittently downing three glasses of red wine at lunch. No shame, we just wonder how she enjoyed it so bundled up.
The Best Chiles en Nogada
Turns out chef Luis Fayed of Boston’s jm Curley’s and Bogie’s Place took home first prize for his rendition of chiles in nogada during the 2nd annual competition, held in NYC last week. The competition, hosted by Brooklyn-based non-profit organization Mixteca and Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, was held to commemorate the end of chiles en nogada season in Mexico. Other competitors were chefs from New York City restaurants Kellogg’s Diner, Dolores, and Pocket Jazz Club.
Meet the Ghost Orchid at Philippe Chow
From now until October 31, you can sip a very special and spooky cocktail when you visit Philippe Chow’s Fifth Avenue and downtown locations: introducing the Ghost Orchid, a blend of vodka, jasmine tea, lychee, lemon juice and prosecco and is presented at the table in a veil of smoke. The drink is certainly dramatic and this will cost you exactly $34.
Edith’s and Ernesto’s Are in Cahoots
Edith’s Sandwich Counter and chef Ryan Bartlow, the top toque at Ernesto’s on the Lower East Side and Bartlo in the West Village, are undertaking a two-day collaboration. Chef Bartlow has concocted a Basque-inspired sandwich called the Bikini Hemingway that will be available at Edith’s in NYC on October 21 and 22.
Bartlow puts a Basque spin on the bikini sandwich—originally created in Barcelona—by adding Basque txistora sausage, shrimp and Mahón cheese to crispy pan de cristal bread. Bartlow is the author (with Laurie Woolever) of the recently released cookbook, Essentially Basque: Bringing Spanish Cooking Home.
Holy Tshili & e’s Bar Team Up for a Good Cause
For the month of October, NYC-based bagel chili crisp brand, Holy Tshili, is collaborating with e’s Bar, a woman-owned pub on the Upper East Side, to serve up a limited-time Spicy Cheese Pizza topped with Holy Tshili Spicy Everything Chili Crisp. Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth.
Gabriel Kreuther Relaunches Lunch
Restaurant Gabriel Kreuther has just reinstituted its lunch service. Lunchtime diners can now dig into a two-course, three-course, or a five-course lunch for $75, $95, and $155, respectively. Some of the lunch highlights include Sumac Cured Hamachi with oyster and apple bavaroises and shiso and herb dashi fond, Sunchoke Veloutte with bluefoot mushrooms, apple cider, and rosemary, Figue Royale with roasted fig, balsamic gastriquem and ginger beer foam. Lunch is served Tuesday to Friday, from 11:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Thanksgiving-Inspired Doughnuts
I’m donut ?, the existentially named, Tokyo-born doughnut shop near Times Square, has just launched a line of new Thanksgiving-themed doughnuts and drinks. Now, you can sip a Salted Maple Hojicha Latte and eat a Pumpkin Cheesecake Donut.
Starting on November 1, you can bite into a Cranberry Jelly Donut or, if you want to go the savory route, a Roast Turkey Sandwich, which features layers of turkey, cranberry sauce, and a savory brioche stuffing, all tucked into a glazed doughnut bun.
Autumn Bar Appears in Lotte New York Palace
Just for the season of autumn, Lotte New York Palace has opened up Autumn Bar, a seasonal-themed spot in the hotel’s iconic courtyard where guests can sip on seasonal cocktails made with maple syrup and apple cider and graze on house-made pretzels, wagyu hot dogs, and apple cider doughnuts. There is no confirmed closing date of Autumn Bar but it’s likely to run through the middle of November.
New Lunch Dishes for Musaafer
Tribeca Indian eatery, Musaafer, has added a few new intriguing lunch-only dishes to its weekday lunch service, including a Naan Taco with tandoori chicken or paneer, sirca pyaz, smoked chili sauce, mint chutney and garlic emulsion, as well as Baingan Bharta with roasted eggplant, onion, tomato and sesame.
Hags Has Closed
The queer-owned and operated Hags, a tasting-menu restaurant in the East Village, has shut down. The owners, though, claim they are currently negotiating to resurrect the restaurant in NoHo some time next year. Stay tuned.
