Food: February 2010 Archives

At the end of last week, we were so impressed to read that someone actually had the intestinal stamina to beat the Hill Country "Feed Your Face Challenge." We shouldn't have been. Turns out, eating two pounds of meat, two sides, a cupcake, and a 32-ounce soft drink in under an hour is child's play. At least, it is for a "competitive eater." We're told that on Saturday, an unidentified female pro eater visited the popular BBQ joint and beat the challenge in eight minutes—then added another extra pound of meat and some more sides! Hill Country's workers say they don't remember her name, but the restaurant insists they initially set the challenge with the condition that if anyone wanted to set the bar higher they could... and she did. Now it's really extreme. more ›

It is upon us. Everything's been pink for about three weeks now, and hetero guys are wandering around in a daze trying to remember their girlfriend's cup size. There's no fighting it, and if you're not heading to church to honor the martyrdom of the Saint Valentine of Rome and Tremi, you might as well get into the spirit...or at least make plans to hit a strip club (we're not kidding, details above!). And even if you can't stand the flowers and hearts and ridiculous prix fixe dinners at every restaurant, just hold out for another month and then it'll be Steak and Blowjob day. For now, here are some appealing dining options at trustworthy restaurants; keep in mind that while time is quickly running out on reservations, your kitchen is always open for romance (unless you have roommates). Click on the images for details.
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A surprising report in the March issue of Men's Health asserts that Boston is the "least drunk" city in all the land. You really don't need to read much further to realize this news is wicked retarded, but what makes it even more ridonkulous is that the Irish and college capital of America ranks even higher on the sobriety scale than Salt Lake City, which is fourth "least drunk." And ranking #2 for least drunk is Yonkers, which is such a dreary place you need a drink just to get through it on Metro North. more ›

Click on the images for details on this week's new arrivals, which include Wall & Water, Faustina, Black Market, a new Five Napkin Burger, and This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef. more ›

In a promotional gimmick to rival the "Ole 96er" steak eating challenge in the classic 1988 film The Great Outdoors, local BBQ restaurant Hill Country is throwing down the goutlet with their "Feed Your Face Challenge." Think you're tough enough to consume a massive amount of meat, soft drink, and one cupcake in under 60 minutes with no bathroom break? If you pull this off, you'll not only eat $65 worth of food for free, but you'll also receive a Hill Country hat and T-shirt, plus an immortal photo of your bloated face on the "Wall of Cue!" Losers, however, "pay for their meal and carry their shame home." Hill Country says [pdf] your "opponent" consists of the following items: more ›

Looks like a community battle is brewing between the River Cafe and local civic groups. The chic Dumbo restaurant now wants a cabaret license to allow live music and dancing, while locals fear "the restaurant won't kick concession revenues toward the under-funded, long-delayed Brooklyn Bridge Park project next door," the Post reports more ›

This week Sam Sifton revisited Aretsky's Patroon, which he deems the meeting place of the "modern American Mad Men." This is eating for the powerful, with "steaks the size of weights at the gym" served under photographs of old New York. Aretsky's remains a standby in midtown, with the food still holding its own after nearly 15 years. "Grilled smoked prawns, with roasted tomato vinaigrette and a pillow of mâche ($19), are as close to a good cigar as you’re going to find in a foodstuff," and the perfectly carved Porterhouse is "a sign that the old boy has a little life in him yet." more ›

Consumer Reports Magazine ran tests on "pre­washed" and "triple-washed" salad greens sold in plastic clamshells or bags and found bacteria "that are common indicators of poor sanitation and fecal contamination—in some cases, at rather high levels." Out of 208 containers representing 16 brands purchased at stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, 39 percent had "an unacceptable level" of total coliforms and 23 percent were heavy with enterococcus, as determined by "industry experts." Those two things sound like something you don't want to eat, and Google confirms that indeed they are! more ›

Did you know that in Japan, restaurants waste virtually nothing, and cooks transform unused ingredients like fish heads, bones, vegetable peels and scraps of wagyu beef into dishes eaten during the staff meals, or "makanai"? Supposedly, this act of extraneous alchemy yields delicious results, and EN Japanese Brasserie in the West Village is starting a regular series of special feasts using all these leftover bits. more ›

Say what? There's a study out that claims Manhattan shops are less likely to carry unhealthy snacks (candies, chips, sodas, etc). According to researchers at the Tulane University School of Public Health, we're at less of a risk of coming into contact with snacks at the checkout than anywhere else in the country. The NY Post points out that Manhattan's obesity rate is 16%, as compared to the rest of the country at 33%—which may be related. more ›