Tacombi Empire State Building Opening

On Thursday, January 11th, Tacombi opened its fifth and largest taqueria in the iconic Empire State Building, brining warm Mexican hospitality and authentic taco culture to Midtown Manhattan. 

I had attended the opening party the night before it opened to the public, where guests sampled Al Pastor, Barbacoa and Black Bean y Sweet Potato tacos, mini bites of Tuna Tostada, Esquites, and chips and guacamole. Guests enjoyed margaritas and Modelo beers. 

Tacombi Empire State Building is inspired by the grand, disappearing art-deco taquerias unique to Mexico City, with an on-site Vista Hermosa tortilleria, open kitchen and wide bar with a selection of Tequilas, Mezcales, Cocteles y Ice-Cold Cerveza. 

Tacombi had become one of my go-to taco hotspots when I came back from vacation in Sayulita four years ago, craving authentic tacos (Baja Fish Tacos and Tuna Tostadas are my favorites). I had stumbled upon Tacombi's first location in Nolita and have been hooked ever since. Other Tacombi locations include Flatiron, Bleecker Street and Montauk. 

Learn about how Tacombi got started from Mexico to Manhattan. 

- Kim Weling

New Taste of the Upper West Side: Best of the West 2016

Tessa

Seared Octopus Caponata with green olive tapenade, 

fennel salad, old balsamic

Earlier this month on June 3rd and 4th, I attended the annual New Taste of the Upper West Side under the grand tent on Columbus Avenue between 76th and 77th Streets. Best of the West, which  is my favorite of the culinary two-night tasting, was hosted by Sara Gore of NBC's New York Live and Open House. 

New Taste of the Upper West Side celebrated the crème de la crème of UWS cuisine for its 9th year, featuring over 46 fabulous Upper West Side restaurants preparing unique and delectable dishes.

It was a downpour of rain that night, but it didn't stop foodies from enjoying some seriously good eats. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of dishes that centered around octopus or salmon, which I both loved. Tessa, Bustan, Nice Matin, and Caffè Storico featured octopus and Atlantic, The Milling Room and Crave Fishbar made salmon creations. Desserts included Voila Chocolat, Jacques Torres, Alice's Tea Cup, Treat House and Mille-Feuille Bakery Cafe.

Check out highlights of my favorite dishes. Best of the West gets better every year, with my go-to UWS restaurants mixed in with some new ones I got to sample. Taste of the Upper West Side still remains to be my favorite celebration of gourmet cuisine. 

Atlantic Grill

Faroe Island Salmon Crudo 

with pastrami spice, pickled mustard seeds, pumpernickel crisp

Candle Cafe West

Grilled Vegetable Salad 

with crispy kale, poblano vinaigrette & avocado mousse

Cafe Luxembourg

Escargots Braised in Parsley Cream with Garlic & Smoked Bread Crumbs

Burke & Wills

Kangaroo Ham with Homemade Sesame Bread, Lemon Yogurt & Pickled Onions

The Smith

Toasted Ricotta Gnocchi with Truffle Cream

The Milling Room

Citrus Cured Salmon with marinated cucumbers & chives

Naked Cold Pressed Juice in 5 flavors:

Cool Pineapple, Bold Beet, Lively Carrot, Hearty Greens and Bright Greens

Bar Boulud

Veal & Foie Gras Pâté en croûte morels & spring pea salad

Bustan

Taboon Charred Spanish Octopus

with white bean masabaha, spiced tomatoes, herb labane, 

shaved fennel & sumac pickled onion salad & cilantro oil

Nice Matin

Grilled Octopus with sweet pea, cucumber & red onion salad

Caffè Storico

Insalata di Polpo with braised octopus, potato, celery and olive

Jean-Georges

Main Lobster Summer Roll with sriracha emulsion & dill

Ed's Chowder House

Fluke Poke with sriracha, crispy garlic, red onions & scallions

Crave Fishbar

Faroe Island Salmon Crudo with sun gold tomatoes, fava beans, kaffir lime & yuzu

Henry's

Henry's Summer Picnic

Fried Chicken "Chicharrones", Henry's Shredded Kale Salad,

Guavade Summer Cooler lemonade, guava juice

Roscato Prosecco, Sparkling Moscato and Sparkling Sweet Red

Voila Chocolat

Alice's Tea Cup

Buttermilk Mixed Berry Scones and Oreo Cupcakes

Magnolia Bakery

Jacques Torres

Jacques Torres Chocolate

Rum Raisin Ice Cream with Caramelized Popcorn

Treat House

Mini Crispie Treats

Mille-Feuille Bakery Cafe

Caramel Cognac Flavor Macarons

Cake Truffles

Bottega White Gold Moscato

- Kim Weling

Grand Gourmet - The Flavor of Midtown

New York Central at the Grand Hyatt New York: Chef Christian Ragano - Spring Pea Mousse with Braised Morels, Pickled Ramps, Foie Gras and Jamon Iberico

The past few weeks have included numerous food tasting events, including the Grand Gourmet - The Flavor of Midtown, held earlier this month on May 10th. Grand Central Partnership's (GCP) annual event held at Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall, benefits and recognizes the work of the Grand Central Neighborhood Social Services Corporation, an independent, not-for-profit organization serving the needs of the homeless throughout Midtown.

Guests sampled delicious dishes, desserts and beverages from over 35 of Midtown Manhattan's finest restaurants. Here is my pick of the best from the Grand Gourmet.

The Wheeltapper Pub: Chef James Donahue - Potato Napoleon with Irish Smoked Salmon and Apple Smoke Chutney

Bobby Van's Steakhouse: Chef Nile Medford - Sliced Filet Mignon over Toast Points with Horseradish & Mustard Sauce

Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant: Chef Sandy Ingber - Raw Bar with 2 Oysters, 1 East Coast and 1 West Coast

Ruby Foo's Times Square: Chef Darrell Raymond: Fluke Tartar with Fresh Wasabi, Shiso and Plum Sauce

La Fonda del Sol: Chef Christopher DeLuna - Oysters Escabeche with Olive Oil

Silverleaf Tavern at the 70 Park Avenue Hotel: Chef Massimo De Francesca - Duck Confit "Taquitos" with Avocado Mousse and Lime Creme Fraiche

The National: Chef Paul Corsentino - Grilled Octopus Salad with Cranberry Beans, Herb Vinaigrette and Fennel

Lexington Brass: Executive Chef Franklin Becker - Spring Bean Salad with Truffle Vinaigrette, Berkshire Prosciutto and Quail Eggs

Michael Jordan's The Steak House N.Y.C.: Chef Ted Pryor - Michael Jordan's Lobster Macaroni

Murray's Cheese Shop: Manager Will Whitlow - A Selection of Murray's Cave Aged Cheese

Ciao Bella: Chef Danilo Zecchin - Selection of Gelato & Sorbet

Li-Lac Chocolates: Chef Anwar Khoder - Hazelnut Truffle Squares and Marzipan Squares

Magnolia Bakery: Chef Bobbie Lloyd - Assorted Mini Classic Cupcakes, Banana Pudding and Peanut Butter Bars

American Girl Place NY Cafe: Cafe Manager Adam Czartoryski - Cookies and Assorted Sweet Treats for Two

Grand Gourmet Signature Cocktails by Bookmarks and The Campbell Apartment: Featuring Kansas Clean Distilled Spirit Whiskey and Cocktail Rum - Featured Drinks: Bookmark Martini, Grand Punch and The Campbell Fizz

- Kim Weling