Imagine traveling back to 1683 and being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of Black Forest without having to leave New York. Then imagine being invited to a 48-person dinner in that forest prepared by the chefs of Eleven Madison Park and Betony. It’s a foodie’s dream come true thanks to Gaggenau, the maker of high-end home appliances.
Lower East Side, NY: TAO Group hosted a fabulous anniversary party for it’s LES hot spot The Stanton Social. We stopped by to see the scene.
PepsiCo hosted a night full of gourmet tastings, innovative drinks, and exquisite music to celebrate the opening of their new NYC hotspot, Kola House. The event, which was invite only, treated guests to a surprise performance by none other than the prolific LCD Soundsystem.
Boston is a city that defines America. Beantown is rich in history and full of legendary moments that defined the country. From the steps of the freedom trail to the momentous halls of education, this is a part of the world that cannot be denied its status of admired appreciation.
Manhattan, NYC: We enjoyed a unique dinner at Sushi Roxx, a dynamic performance-infused Japanese restaurant in Midtown East. Check out the review!
Meatpacking District, NYC – Museum of Ice Cream Pop-Up Opens in NYC, Tickets Promptly Sell Out. However, we caught a sneak peak a day before opening.
The announcement regarding a pool full of sprinkles was well documented earlier this summer, and finally, here we are getting to dive in ourselves. Indeed, the month-long “Museum of Ice Cream” hosts a 3-foot-deep pool of sprinkles, complete with ladder, diving board, beach balls, and tile stairs. It’s a place we can definitely imagine ourselves kicking-back in the pool, it’s at once soothing and spa-like, but also a total blast, with a selfie mirror on the ceiling, we couldn’t help not snap a cheeky shot.
The pool of sprinkles is only a part of the larger Museum of Ice Cream, which was created by Maryellis Bunn, who says the idea came about as a fun dream she had as a child. All these years later, manifested! With pastels and neon signs, there’s plenty to look at while at the Museum, and plenty to eat, too- guests can taste different ice creams from local makers, we enjoyed a Kellogg’s Froot Loop and marshmallow over Blue Marble vanilla ice cream, which was the special for this week. Other providers include OddFellows, Chinatown Ice Cream, and Black Tap. There’s plenty of truly interesting history, facts, and figures about ice cream along the walls, about the scoop, the taste, the texture, and more.
There’s an immersive chocolate room, with a fountain of chocolate and a visual experience accented by a dynamic Willy-Wonka-esque score through the audio system. Dove Dark Chocolate is on hand if you’re not satisfied with the ice cream.
Further on, one passes through (yeah, just try passing up the pool of sprinkles…) the pool room, with candy from Dylan’s Candy Bar lining the wall. The next room introduces a variety of ice-cream inspired art, plenty of mirrors and bright colors which just scream “ice cream” (sorry!). We also had a chance to see some multimedia, such as Tinder’s playground to get matched, a small store with a selection of Museum of Ice Cream memorabilia such as an original scooper or Bunn-designed iPhone case, and even a trailer for Fox’s new show Son of Zorn.
We’d definitely suggest swinging by the Museum of Ice Cream as soon as possible, since it’s only up until August 31st, though founder Bunn cedes it may go on if the month goes well. Tickets are $18 for one and $30 for two, click here if for availability and purchase (if you can find a time!).
Museum of Ice Cream
100 Gansevoort St
New York, NY 10014
Shanghai, a foodie’s paradise. Within a city that has over 10,000 nightly mobile food stalls, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the ranges in taste, texture, and look of the snacks you’ll find. Catch my ten personal favorite street food items below (in no particular order of deliciousness):
In June 2016, we spent the weekend in Cincinnati and Kentucky Speedway for the #smellegendary expedition hosted by Old Spice, with Reds games, Tough Mudders, Starbucks and, of course, Old Spice products. Here are the field notes by Benjamin Schmidt!
There’s always been a little confusion about where Hells Kitchen ends and Theater District begins, and vice versa. Newly opened bar “Dutch Fred’s” at 307 W. 47th looks to, if anything, be the boundary line: Dutch Fred, a police officer around 1900 said while patrolling in the area, “Hell is a milder climate, this is Hell’s Kitchen.” The name stuck for the neighborhood, and finally there’s a bar acknowledging the curious reality. We were able to spend some time at Dutch Fred’s on a warm June evening, exploring the space and tasting the menu.
Located in a prime section of theater and arts venues just west of the real craziness, Dutch Fred’s is close enough to be a stopover before a show, but far enough to not send shivers down a New York native’s spine when invited there. If anything, Dutch Fred’s feels comfortable and authentic. A long bar frames the room with wood all around. Ornate detailing on the floor and ceiling made the entire space feel like the interior a luxurious old sailing ship. Selections of hightop tables dotted the room and, an open air space towards the front was perfect for a private event. Not to mention an eager and educated waitstaff who seemed to actually enjoy being there.
We started the evening with a few mixed drinks, a dramatic (literally) selection of drinks include “Astaire Sipper”, with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Campari, Antica, and chocolate bitters as well as “Hell is a milder climate” (hey!), which involved tequila, Campari, Grapefruit, bitters, Agave, and lime. These drinks pack a punch, certainly, but are complex enough to enjoy at a measured pace. Some lighter drinks include “Kinky Boots”, a bright and ambitious drink composed of little more than Vodka, lemon St. Germain, and raspberries. Simple, but totally satisfying. My personal favorite was Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, which is composed of Brockman’s gin, blackberry puree, lemon, and champagne. It was fun but approachable, substantiated by the gin and lemon.
As for food, we took pleasure (perhaps a bit too much) and indulged in a perfectly executed Ahi tuna, beef sliders done just right, with a just-right amount of juiciness, a soft, curried crostini topped in egg and jalapeños, as well as a selection of beef and cauliflower tacos. The food was small enough to get through with just your fingers, but share a few dishes and you could easily fill one’s stomach.
After inviting a few friends to finish with us, with pleasure can we say Dutch Fred’s was delicious, inspired, and totally accommodating. We can’t wait to go again soon!
We hope Dutch Fred’s lodges itself in the mind of the population as well as the Hell’s Kitchen name did so many years ago. We’re feeling confident: the team behind bars such as Tanner Smith’s, Three Monkeys, and The Mean Fiddler is responsible for Dutch Fred’s.
Dutch Fred’s
307 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036
Mamo may have just celebrated its one-year anniversary in its SoHo location, but the successful eatery has been a staple in the French Riviera for over 23 years.