Celebrating a borough that has one of the best food scenes in the country
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Havila Voyages Sets Sail Towards Sustainable Cruising Along Norway’s Breathtaking Coast
Norway, a country known for its stunning fjords, dramatic landscapes, and vibrant culture, is also home to a new breed of cruise line dedicated to preserving its pristine beauty.
Li-Lac Chocolates Celebrates 100 Years at Their Chocolate Factory in Industry City
Li-Lac Chocolates, the beloved confectioner renowned for its handmade gourmet chocolates, recently celebrated its 100th Anniversary in the heart of New York. The Industry City factory and store were abuzz with excitement as the chocolatier celebrated this significant milestone in their storied history. This special anniversary event, the fourth in their series of centennial commemorations, drew a crowd of chocolate enthusiasts and community members eager to partake in the festivities. For those who cherish their timeless creations, it was a golden opportunity to join in the celebration.
Li-Lac Chocolates treated their loyal customers and newcomers alike with some sweet surprises. Among the highlights was the limited edition 1923 Vintage Collection Chocolate Gift Box, priced at just $19.23 for the first 300 customers. This exclusive collection was a tribute to the very beginning of their journey. The celebration continued with free gift boxes for the first 100 visitors, acknowledging the ongoing support from their dedicated patrons. The store also extended a generous 20% discount on all their offerings, making it a sweet day for everyone in attendance.
Li-Lac Chocolates’ 100-year journey is not just a reflection of their culinary excellence but also a celebration of their tradition of craftsmanship. As they continue to be an integral part of New Yorkers’ milestones, their commitment to quality and tradition remains unwavering. The Industry City factory and store served as the perfect backdrop to celebrate a century of sweet memories and continue to create many more.
Li-Lac Chocolates Locations
- Hudson Yards: 20 Hudson Yards, Level 4
- West Village: 75 Greenwich Avenue
- Bleecker Street: 162 Bleecker Street (btw Sullivan & Thompson)
- Grand Central Market: 43rd Street & Lexington Avenue
- Chelsea Market: 75 9th Avenue (at 15th Street)
- Brooklyn Factory/Store: 68 35th Street (btw 2nd & 3rd Avenue) Brooklyn.
- Website: www.li-lacchocolates.com and Instagram: @lilacchocolates
The Global Lyme Alliance Gala successfully raised $1.6 million for Lyme and tick-borne disease research and awareness.
The famous PJ Bernstein restaurant serves classic and inventive Jewish-style food. The restaurant’s staff cooks all recipes with fresh ingredients. In the Upper East Side, PJ’s has a unique history.
In 1965, the restaurant opened its doors. In 1985, Mr. Berstein looked to move in a different direction. He asked his most devoted customer, Mr. Slobodski, to buy the deli. Mr. Slobodski accepted the offer. He continued the traditions of delicious and savory food in a warm environment. He passed that dedication to his son and grandson, Steve and Eugene Slobodski. They added an outdoor dining area and a vital delivery service.
For over twenty years, Chef Tommy Jedrzejezyk led PJ Bernstein’s kitchen. He learned to cook in Poland and Germany. His specialties include chicken liver pate, homemade gefilte fish, and stuffed cabbage. He expertly prepares classic cuts of mouth-watering corned beef, turkey, and pastrami.
Fifty years ago, Landy Hunt started working as a dishwasher at the restaurant. He started with the Bersteins and stayed on to work with the Slobodski family. Currently, he works as a floor manager. He has served meals to many celebrities.
The late Lucille Ball ordered kosher hot dogs. Sharon Stone liked chicken soup and a turkey sandwich. Liza Minelli ate a corn muffin and drank coffee. New York Yankee baseball player Giancarlo Stanton liked pastrami sandwiches and homemade soups. Other household names included Sean Connery, Daniel Craig, and former New York City Mayor Ed Koch. PJ’s gained attention from the public as well.
The restaurant reminded Russian-born cab driver Alex Slobodski of home. The authentic flavors, aromas, and friendly atmosphere comforted him. In the evenings, he chatted with the initial owner, Mr. Berstein. PJ’s menu lists innovative sandwich options.
Jedrzejezyk makes their best-selling soups’ chicken stocks in a vat each morning. It consists of 25 pounds of chicken bones, celery, and carrots, which make an estimated fifty gallons of broth. The “Triple Delight” chicken soup consists of soft, clear chicken consommé with matzah balls, noodles, and delicate kreplach. The ravioli-like kreplach has melty brisket and onions inside. The restaurant has cold and hot Russian borscht. PJ’s makes delicious sandwiches.
PJ’s Famous New York Sandwiches contain a half-pound of meat on a variety of Eli’s Famous Breads. The famous pastrami sandwich contains a half-pound of meat with coleslaw and a pickle as side dishes.
Cardiologist Special has tongue meat, chicken liver pate, and hot pastrami. The Reuben Sandwich features homemade corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing.
The Lucky Latke consists of tasty pastrami or brisket between two crispy potato latkes. The Meatloaf Sandwich showcases homemade meatloaf on the customer’s choice of bread. The Brisket Sandwich presents homemade brisket, also on the customer’s choice of bread.
The Italian “Turkey” Sandwich contains fresh salami, provolone, and pastrami on soft rye bread. It comes with coleslaw and a pickle as sides. The deli serves traditional Jewish-style meals too.
The Jewish Whopper consists of a fried potato knish stuffed with pastrami and sauerkraut. The sharable cheese blintzes delight customers as well. They consist of thin Russian-style crepes wrapped around a fresh house blend of ricotta-like cheese. Jedrzejezyk sautees and serves them with sour cream and a cherry compote. Customers can order and share housemade perogies.
Jedrzejezyk can freshly chop brisket, potatoes and onions. Then, he can fill the handmade dumplings with the delicious ingredients. He can fry or boil them, as per the customer’s request. PJ’s has terrific dinner specials too.
The cozy, rustic Beef Goulash stew contains pieces of brisket. Jedrzejezyk serves the dish over egg noodles. Broiled Scottish Salmon comes with fresh vegetables or a baked potato.
The Beef Burger displays eight ounces of fresh-cut sirloin on a fluffy bun. The crunchy latkas come with sour cream or apple sauce. The Jumbo Frank has a timeless Hebrew National grilled or boiled frank on a soft bun. It comes with mustard and sour kraut on the side. Customers can choose between baked beans or French fries as an added side dish. PJ’s has a variety of knishes as well.
The Bomb consists of a fried knish with sauerkraut and pastrami inside. The chef makes the Baked Potato Knish from fresh Williamsburg potatoes. PJ’s mixes their kasha knish with buckwheat groats. It comes with spicy brown mustard. The restaurant even has a spinach knish.
The Nova Scotia consists of low-salt, mildly-smoked salmon. It comes with tomatoes, onions, olives, capers, lemon, lettuce, and cream cheese on a New York bagel. The Lake Sturgeon and White Fish contain fresh fish and appear on fluffy bagels too. The restaurant has a great Catering and Party Menu.
The dishes feed gatherings of ten to twenty people. Classic salad options include Potato, Macaroni, or Cucumber Salad. Customers can order PJ’s Vegetable Platter, which contains cherry tomatoes, celery sticks, carrots, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, and housemade onion dip. The Whitefish Platter has a variety of bagels, cream cheese, olives, Bermuda onions, tomatoes, and fresh lemon. PJ’s Famous Sandwich Platter comes with either twenty jumbo sandwiches and seven pounds of a choice of side salad or twelve jumbo sandwiches and five pounds of a choice of side salad. Jedrzejezyk prepares cold-cut platters with three and a half to five pounds of select meats, Eli’s Bread, house dressing, and pickles. PJ’s has a friendly atmosphere.
The restaurant has a window that showcases its meats, deli products, and pastries. The facility has a clean, accessible countertop. Framed photographs of celebrity customers line the walls. Among them are David Copperfield, Marisa Tomei, and Cuba Gooding, Jr.’s pictures. The restaurant has a new outdoor dining patio with lovely hanging plants. Recently, PJ’s launched an exciting app.
Customers can order takeout and delivery orders on the app. They can download it on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
The Knockturnal attended the second anniversary of The Henn na Hotel, which is the hotel group’s first property outside of Japan. The second anniversary comes at a time, especially in the hospitality real estate market where thousands of Airbnb’s and short-term listing rentals were wiped off the map in New York City. Local Law 18, which came into force Tuesday, limits how Airbnb operates in the city by implementing new policies for hosts and guests alike. Henn na Hotel New York’s presence here is celebrated as the pendulum has shifted back towards the Hotel Industry. Henn na Hotel New York offers stylish, tech-forward accommodations and irreverent hospitality to experiences in the heart of Manhattan. I met with a few of the team, toured the rooms and surrounding common areas as well, and enjoyed sushi and saki from the restaurant in the lobby. Stationed directly in the hub of NYC activities and recreation spaces to experience all the excitement the city has to offer, the property also features a GOSUKE restaurant, and a one-of-a-kind life-size animatronic T-Rex in its lobby to welcome guests which is a memorable fixture within the lobby. The rooms are very luxurious bright open and airy. I have never seen an LG Styler, in addition to steaming and reducing the need for ironing, the LG Styler refreshes clothing by removing allergens, dust, smoke and sweat and is asthma & allergy friendly. Henn na Hotel New York is an oasis away from the fast pace of New York even as it is centrally located. This is a very vibrant space private with easy access to everything in the city.
As we carefully prepped our dough, we were instantly transported to Nonna’s kitchen in Italy. Thanks to the guidance of the wonderful and talented team at EVÈNTO. Co-founder and Celebrity Chef, Andrea Belfiore shared exclusive tips on how to make the perfect tagliatelle.
HBO Documentary “AKA Mr. Chow” Reveals The Fragmented Childhood Of Restauranteur Mr. Chow
NEW YORK, NY – To many dining enthusiasts, the Mr. Chow restaurant brand symbolizes upscale Chinese-American cuisine.
ON THE SCENE: Soho’s newest dining concept coming this fall, Odd Sister NYC.
Nestled at 45 Mercer Street, Odd Sister is set to offer an upscale social experience that will transport patrons to a realm where elegance harmonizes with enchantment, with every aspect meticulously curated to craft a vibrant and inviting atmosphere.
CeCe Winans, the best-selling and most-awarded female gospel artist of all time, delivered an awe-inspiring performance at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn on Thursday, October 12, 2023. This concert marked a significant milestone in her career as it was her first nationwide tour in over a decade, aptly named the Believe For It tour, which encompassed 26 cities and concluded this month after a year of intermittent shows across the country.
Winans, with her unmatched talent and remarkable achievements, captivated the audience with a dynamic showcase of her biggest hits spanning her illustrious career. From classics like “Alabaster Box” to newer tracks from her recent album “Believe For It,” released in early 2021, she left no stone unturned in delivering a memorable experience for her fans.
The concert, much to the delight of the audience, featured a full-band experience that had been eagerly anticipated for over a decade. Additionally, gospel musician Todd Dulaney graced the stage alongside Winans, collaborating on the powerful track “King of Glory,” a song he had penned. The crowd was electrified by their joint performance, which showcased the harmonious blend of their voices and musical prowess.
Another highlight of the evening was when Jenn Johnson, a talented singer-songwriter and co-writer of “Goodness of God” with Bethel Music, took the stage to perform with Winans. The song, which Winans had included in her latest album, had soared on music charts and resonated deeply with the audience. The fusion of their voices created an atmosphere of pure euphoria, leaving the attendees in awe of their collective talent.
Throughout the night, Winans exuded a spirit of gratitude and perseverance, encapsulated by her poignant statement, “the blessing is in continuing.” Her unwavering dedication to her craft and her consistent delivery of soul-stirring gospel music have solidified her status as one of the most influential artists of our time.
CeCe Winans’ concert at the Kings Theatre was a testament to her enduring impact on the gospel music scene. With a staggering 15 Grammy Awards, 31 Grammy Nominations, 23 Dove Awards, and 15 Stellar Awards to her name, she has carved a permanent place in music history. Her performance was a celebration of her remarkable journey and a reminder of the profound blessings that come from unwavering dedication and steadfast belief.