http://www.thegothampalate.com Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:34:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en BY CAROLYN ONOFREY L & B Spumoni Garden 2725 86th Street Gravesend, Brooklyn 718-372-8400/spumonigardens.com I went to Spumoni Garden for what everyone in their right mind goes there for, the Sicilian pizza and the spumoni.  I had heard about Spumoni Garden from many reliable sources, all with the same verdict: delicious.  Despite the ... http://www.thegothampalate.com/2010/03/the-best-pie-in-brooklyn-a-review-of-l-b-spumoni-garden/ Presented by 92Y 1395 Lexington Ave. | 212.415.5500 call or click here for ticket information Kalamansi lime and dark chocolate confections, chocolate-inspired cocktails, single origin chocolate gelato, equi-trade chocolate bars from Madagascar, and fine Dominican chocolate. All this and so much more will be available at the 92nd Street Y’s fifth annual chocolate event ... http://www.thegothampalate.com/2010/03/chocolate-fest-2010-a-walk-around-tasting/ BY SARAH IP Paradis To-Go 114 4th Ave (between 11th St & 12th St) East Village (646) 416-6709 /paradistogo.com/index.html [caption id="attachment_7267" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Paradis To-Go. Photo by Sarah Ip."][/caption] Fresh fall tulips and gerbera daisies.  Hot cup of coffee.  Hugs and smiles.  This is a perfect Saturday afternoon lunch with my bestie. ... http://www.thegothampalate.com/2010/03/almost-paradise-review-of-paradis-to-go/ BY BETH KAISERMAN Pies-n-Thighs 166 S. 4th St. at Driggs Ave. Southside Williamsburg 347-529-6090/ piesnthighs.com As my knife sank in, I could hear the juice flowing inside. The meat was perfectly tender, moist and flavorful, and the coating had the ideal crispy, slightly salty bite. Yes, this is the fried chicken from ... http://www.thegothampalate.com/2010/03/clucking-its-way-into-hungry-hearts-review-of-pies-n-thighs/ BY CAROLYN ONOFREY Cowgirl Hall of Fame 519 Hudson Street West Village 212-633-1133/cowgirlnyc.com It had been a while since I’d been to Cowgirl, the first time being in 2005 when I first moved to the city. Walking in, it was just as I remembered. The bar to the left, always playing ... http://www.thegothampalate.com/2010/03/tex-mex-worthy-of-a-hat-tip-review-of-cowgirl-hall-of-fame/ BY CLAIRE McCURDY 706 Amsterdam Avenue (between 94th St & 95th St) Upper West Side (212) 932-2400 AyurvedaCafeNYC.com [caption id="attachment_7161" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Interior of Ayurveda Cafe'"][/caption] The vegetarian Ayurveda Restaurant and Cafe is justly called one of the hidden treasures of the Upper West Side. From the beginning the customer recognizes s/he is walking into a very different ... http://www.thegothampalate.com/2010/03/ganesha-welcomes-you-review-of-ayurveda-cafe/ BY BETH KAISERMAN While it was cold and slushy outside, movie clips, trivia and delightful Italian sweets warmed the audience of Francine Segan’s Food in Film lecture last week at 92nd St. Y. [caption id="attachment_7142" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="John Belushi in Animal House - courtesy of Flickr"][/caption] Segan told some weird and interesting ... http://www.thegothampalate.com/2010/03/francine-segan-on-foodie-movies/ Tasting Table and Thrillist are proud to present Martini Week from March 1-14. [caption id="attachment_7112" align="aligncenter" width="210" caption="Image courtesy of tastingtable.com"][/caption] Visit top bars  as they offer $10 martini cocktails, featuring premium vodka and gin, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. nightly. Click on the ... http://www.thegothampalate.com/2010/02/martini-week-begins-march-1st/ BY CLAIRE McCURDY ACQUA 718 Amsterdam Avenue @95th Street Upper West Side 212-222-2752 /acquanyc.com [caption id="attachment_7090" align="aligncenter" width="468" caption="Image courtesy of acquanyc.com"][/caption] An exterior of cerulean blue,  very appealing on an otherwise somewhat dreary block, “sails” hanging in swags from the ceilings, so that you are meant to feel you’re on ... http://www.thegothampalate.com/2010/02/home-cooking-from-the-italian-islands-of-sicily-and-sardinia-review-of-acqua/ BY CAROLYN ONOFREY Friend of a Farmer 77 Irving Place Gramercy 212-477-2188/Friendofafarmernyc.com [caption id="attachment_7070" align="aligncenter" width="466" caption="Warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream at Friend of a Farmer"][/caption] After being told there was no room (when there clearly was), at our first choice for dinner.  My dinner mate and I luckily stumbled upon ... http://www.thegothampalate.com/2010/02/friend-of-a-farmer-is-a-friend-of-mine-review-of-friend-of-a-farmer/