Get Your Tickets! 8th Annual New Taste of the Upper West Side

The New Taste of the Upper West Side is almost here! There's just a few days left to grab your tickets to this annual event. 

The Soirée in the Park will kick off the New Taste of the Upper West Side festivities on May 28th, to raise funds for New York City's beautiful Theodore Roosevelt Park, surrounding the American Museum of Natural History. With proceeds benefitting the park, this cocktail event will have live chamber music and feature champagne and hors d'oeuvres prepared by a host of local restaurants. 

On May 29th, Adam Richman, host of NBC's Food Fighters and author of the upcoming book "Straight Up Tasty" will be hosting Comfort Classics, and will be joined by Food Network's Katie Lee, who will be autographing her new book, "Endless Summer Cookbook." During Comfort Classics, forty Upper West Side restaurants will display their most innovative and creative "home-style" fare, while competing to win the title of "Best Comfort Food Dish."

Limited Offer: The next 50 Comfort Classic ticket buyers will receive a free autographed copy of adam's first cookbook, Straight Up Tasty! 

On May 30th, the celebratory Best of the West will be hosted by Marc Murphy, a judge on Food Networks Chopped / owner and executive chef of Benchmarc Restaurants and Anne Burrell, co-host of Food Network's Worst Cooks in America. 

Take a look at my recap from last year's New Taste of the Upper West Side Best of the West event here. 

- Kim Weling

6th Annual New Taste of the Upper West Side: Comfort Classics 2013

Last week I attended the 6th annual New Taste of the Upper West Side food fest at the grand tent on Columbus Avenue between W. 76th-W.77th Streets. Comfort Classics, hosted by Travel Channel's Adam Richman for the third consecutive year, took place on May 31st, followed by Best of the West on June 1st. 40 of the Upper West Side's most innovative chefs presented new takes on soul-food classics. DJ Phresh mixed up the music while guests sampled dishes and enjoyed world class wines and cocktails from Palm Bay International Fine Wine & Spirits.

Christina Tosi signed copies of her book, Momofuku Milk Bar, which contains amazing recipes such as cereal milk panna cotta, compost cookies and white peach sorbet. Christina also happened to be the people's choice that night, with the most votes for Momofuku Milk Bar cake truffles: pretzel truffles, b'day truffles and chocolate chip truffles.

Here's a look at my favorite Comfort Classics restaurants and their dishes:

Sugar and Plumm: Apple Glazed Berkshire Pork Belly with House Pickled Vegetables

Sysco: Red Potatoes, Chicken Chorizo, Baby Clam and Lobster-Corn Pudding

Tolani Wine Restaurant: Salmon Tartar with Candied Ginger Soy Vinaigrette, Micro Wasabi and Avocado Yuzu Mousse

Mamajuana Cafe: Ceviche

A.G. Kitchen: Pork Tacos

Jacob's Pickles

Sarabeth's: Sarah's Famous Velvety Cream of Tomato Soupand Buttermilk Biscuits

Gabriela's Restaurant & Tequila Bar: Shrimp & Pineapple Ceviche - Shrimp Ceviche, Pineapple, Jalapenos, Citrus and Mexican Beer

Shake Shack: Dapper Dog topped with Shack Cheddar and American Cheese Sauce and Crispy Shackmeister Ale-Marinated Shallots / ShackMeister Frozen Custard topped with Candied Pecans for a sugary bite

Momofuku Milk Bar: Cake Truffles

B'Day Truffles

Chocolate Chip Truffles

Pretzel Truffles

Magnolia Bakery

Banana Pudding

Mini Classic Cupcakes

Cream Cheese Brownies

Roscato Rosso Dolce sweet red wine

Cavit Moscato

Bastille 1789 French Blended Whiskey

The Irishman Original Clan Irish Whiskey

Four Roses Bourbon Whiskey

Dos Maderas Rum 5 + 3 Years Old Cask & Barrel

Pouring Bottega Venetian Gold Prosecco, upside down on aerial silks - amazing!

- Kim Weling

6th Annual New Taste of the Upper West Side

The New Taste of the Upper West Side is back, celebrating its 6th anniversary! Adam Richman (Travel Channel) will once again be hosting Comfort Classics and Gail Simmons (Bravo's Top Chef) will be hosting Best of the West, honoring Danny Meyer (Union Square Hospitality Group) and Randy Garutti (CEO of Shake Shack). Over 70 amazing restaurants are participating, including Dovetail, Jean Georges, Tavern on the Green, Sugar & Plumm, Red Farm, Jacques Torres and Bar Boulud.

The festival takes place May 29th, 31st & June 1st with all proceeds benefitting the Columbus Project and The O'Shea Wellness in School programs.

New this year and kicking off Whole Foods New Taste of the Upper West Side on Wednesday, May 29th is Soirée in the Park at 7pm, in Theodore Roosevelt Park. Hosted by the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), the festive fundraiser will feature champagne and hors d'oeuvres by chefs John Fraser (Dovetail), Maria Loi (Loi) and Cesare Casella (Salumeria Rosi Parmacotta).

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to newtasteuws.com. Take a look at my coverage from lasy year's Comfort Classics and Best of the West for a look at my favorite dishes and delectable desserts.

- Kim Weling

New Taste of the Upper West Side: Classic Comforts 2012

Tolani Wine Restaurant: Truffled Gnudi with Sweet Pea Puree

This year the New Taste of the Upper West Side was held on May 18th and 19th, with Friday night starting off with Comfort Classics under the grand tent on Columbus Avenue between 76th and 77th streets. 35 of the Upper West Side's innovative chefs / restaurants presented their take on "Comfort Food Reinvented", with Travel Channel co-hosts, Adam Richman from Man v. Food Nation and Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.

I attended New Taste of the Upper West Side for the first time last year, for Comfort Classics 2011. It was a completely different experience for me this year, seeing some of my favorite restaurants come up with crafty, delicious dishes and finding new ones that caught my eye and taste buds.

Attendees also enjoyed music by DJ Phresh, delectable desserts and fine wines and cocktails from Southern Wine & Spirits. If you find yourself on the Upper West Side this summer or are looking for a few hot spots to grab a bite to eat during fashion week this September, here some of my favorite restaurants.

Jacob's Pickles: Sweet & Spicy Carrots / Big Dill

Bistro Citron: Duck Confit, Wild Mushroom and Fig Tarte with Mousse de Foie Gras and Goat Cheese

Ditch Plains Upper West Side signature Ditch Dogs: Hot Dogs Covered in Mac N' Cheese

Gastronomie 491 Market Cafe

Barney Greengrass: Pastrami Salmon on Pumpernickel with Mustard

Shake Shack Upper West Side: A Vienna All-Beef Hot Dog Dip in Shack-Made Batter and Fried Crisp and Olive oil Cake Frozen Custard Topped with Local Strawberry Compote

Bomboloni: Mixed Bomboloni, Ciambella, La Bomba

Sarabeth's: Raspberry Bread Pudding

Gazala Place: Osh Al Saria - creamy yogurt pudding prepared with rose water, oranges and potato bread

Valrhona milk and dark chocolates

Baconery: Left - Mini Chocolate Bacon

Baconery Mini Bacon Brownies and Mini Chocolate Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies

Cascal soda, crafted with natural juices comes in five flavors: Fresh Tropical (Mango, Jasmine & Kaffir Lime flavors) - my favorite! Also Crisp White (Pear, Apricot & Magnolia), Ripe Rouge (Chocolate & Rose), Bright Citrus (Lemongrass, Mango & Pineapple) and Berry Cassis (Currant, Tangerine & Lemon)

Art in the Age Rhubarb Tea

Cavit Moscato

Forbidden Secret Dark Mocha American Dream

Figenza Mediterranean Fig Flavored Vodka

OR-G Liqueur: French vodka with natural persimmon, papaya, mango and lime juices

Voli light vodkas

- Kim Weling

New Taste of the Upper West Side - Comfort Classics

The New Taste of Upper West Side took place on May 20th & 21st at the grand tent on Columbus Avenue between W. 76th and W. 77th streets.

I attended Comfort Classics on May 20th (Best of the West took place on the 21st) at the grand tent on Columbus Avenue between W. 76th and W. 77th Streets. The sold out event was hosted by Adam Richman of the Travel Channel's Man v. Food, and Dylan Lauren, founder of Dylan's Candy Bar.

Comfort Classics featured over 35 chefs out to reinvent classic dishes, which were both inspiring and unique. I couldn't have asked for anything more - I was immersed in food heaven, surrounded by amazing dishes, desserts, drinks and live music. It is making me hungry again just thinking of it!

I took note of some of my favorites, which included some restaurants I have always wanted to try. You can bet I'll be taking that next step and dining at these hot spots soon! I'm glad I'll have some UWS favorites to turn to once Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week rolls around!

The Yard at 160 / Whitney Aycock: Local Razor Clam Ceviche, Crispy Shrimp "Cracker", Meyer Lemon


Greenmarket / Margaret Hoffman: Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp with Maple Yogurt

Citrus Bar & Grill / Louie Lanza: Crab Cakes & Skirt Steak Tortilla Wrap, featured with Josie's Salad

My favorite from Valrhona are Milk Chocolate Salted Caramels

Tazo Tea samples a variety of their teas and gave out boxes of Zen Green Tea and Herbal Passion Tea

Alice's Tea Cup / Haley & Lauren Fox: Chocolate Cake, Savory Scones (Goat Cheese Basil), Peanut Butter Brookie, Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt Scone (these are so good!)

Dovetail / John Fraser: Honey Carrot Cake, Cream Cheese Frosting, Pineapple, Fried Walnuts

Ditch Plains Upper West Side / Marc Murphy: Ditch Dogs - hot dogs topped with mac & cheese!

Magnolia Bakery / Bobbie Lloyd: Banana Pudding, Chocolate Wafer Whoopie Cookies with Vanilla Buttercream, Classic Mini Cupcakes

Shake Shack Upper West Side: Mini Corn Dogs - Jalapeno Battered Hot Dog with Rick's Pick Handy Corn Relish, Root Beer Floats - Abita Root Beer with Shake Shack Vanilla Custard

e.e. cookies / Kori E. Stanton

Ed's Chowder House / Ed Brown

Virgil's Real BBQ / Chef Glen Rolnick: Memphis Pork Ribs

5 Napkin Burger / Chef Andy D'Amico: 5 N Beef Slider, Caramelized Onions and Rosemary Aioli

Starr Restaurants New York Historical Society / Jim Burke: A Cicchetti Tasting

Heron Hill Winery

Bong Spirit Vodka

Prairie Organic Vodka

Pinnacle Vodka Cotton Candy - if you like sweets, this vodka's for you!

- Kim Weling