The Dutch is one of New York’s restaurants of the moment– sitting atop year-end top ten lists of several of the city’s papers of record, acclaimed by critics, beloved of the in-crowd. These accolades often indicate just the type of eatery that the City Present would want to avoid– impossible to book, a line...
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While neighboring Belgium and distant Switzerland eclipse the Netherlands when it comes to achievements in chocolatiering, the Dutch capital has several sweet shops worth visiting, and top of the City Present’s stops for both cakes and chocolate is Pompadour. Located in the bustling, trendy Nine Streets section of the central canalbelt, on a gorgeous,...
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Gastropub is now a term so overused as to be meaningless– every corner bar with a kitchen is suddenly infused with haute-cuisine, we are supposed to believe. However, there originally was, and is still, such a place as a Gastropub– a classic English watering hole offering fine, gourmet food. Perhaps fittingly, an excellent example...
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Set in a converted power station, in the arty neighbourhood of Ottensen, the Gastwerk hotel is one of our favourites in Hamburg. So when the hotel launched its new restaurant, Mangold, featuring distinct flavours and an excellently compiled wine menu, we had to check it out. German chef Andreas Marquardt’s food is promising. He combines fresh...
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A conspicuously Italian eatery known as Apsleys now holds court in London’s venerable Lanesborough Hotel. Despite Apsleys’ English pedigree—not to mention the restaurant’s Old Guard name (derived from the Duke of Wellington’s former residence)—the Lanesborough brought in global talent such as Italian-trained chef Nick Bell (Zaferanno, Cecconi’s) and New York–based designer Adam D. Tihany (Per Se,...
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The New York Historical Society, while a legendary institution, worthy of a visit whether a local or a visitor, with the recent opening of the Caffe Storico. Its high-ceilinged, porcelein-white, sun-drenched dining room is more remenescent of a European patisserie than a reading room, and its northern Italian menu from chef Jim Burke, in partnership...
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Of all the pleasant advantages of London over New York (which is not to say the reverse is never true), certainly among the best is that a sushi lover can actually head over to Nobu at the spur of the moment and, well, actually get a table. The City Present has loved the original London Nobu...
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In the game of celebrichef Go Fish, London has traded one naked chef for one French chef with our friends across the pond. And from the looks of things, we’ve got the winner. Bar Boulud, the first London outpost from NYC phenom Daniel Boulud opens Thursday in Knightsbridge (although they’re taking reservations today). The...
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In continuing our hunt for the City Present’s best burger we find ouselves in Dublin. The late-night organic burger joint called Jo’Burger has loud D.J.’s, graffiti murals and juicy grilled burgers that are pure beef bliss. The Dobson burger is a patty stacked with Maasdam cheese, arugula and a zingy relish, my favorite. Menus are made out...
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“Spice Market” is inspired by the street food Jean-Georges Vongerichten enjoyed while traveling in Asia. Authentically uplifted version of flavorful street foods are service family-style…” Thus reads the Spice Market website. They don’t mention that the ENTIRE INTERIOR of the restaurant has also been lifted up from some other corner of Southeast Asia. If the...
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Lunch can be an expensive and stressful proposition in much of Manhattan. Time is better spent walking the streets, not standing in line for a salad, or an open table to order a burger. Finding the right spot that serves a quality sandwich in a pleasant atmosphere, without the meal being too time- or...
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