Hot Five: New York City Restaurants

Whether you have lived in the busy streets of New York City your whole life, or you are just visiting an old college friend for the weekend, finding good cuisine can be rather difficult. There are so many restaurants scattered across the city, a quick and easy guide could be extremely useful. Usually, when I work up an appetite, it falls into a few different categories. I have to decide whether or not I want something Asian, Italian or even Mexican. So I have comprised a list of five top restaurants in New York that could satisfy any craving you might have on a Friday night. Although short, this list includes the web addresses, street addresses, telephone numbers, items from the menu, as well as a small description.

BABBO

ITALIAN

www.babbonyc.com

110 Waverly Place New York, New York 10011

212-777-0303

Babbo was opened by Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich in 1998. This restaurant is inspired by traditional Italian cuisine housed in a modern Roman-Style building. Dining here would be a way for you to travel to the Italian countryside without leaving New York. Serving simple, classic Italian food with the matching atmosphere is the goal of Babbo. This restaurants philosophy is "Use the best local ingredients as simply as possible and serve them with flourish and joy". Examples of the menu and prices include:

• Duck Bresada with Asparagus and Parmigiano $14

• Roasted Beet Tartare with Chianti Vinegar & Ricotta Salata $14

• Goat Cheese Toerelloni with Dried Orange & Wild Fennel $19

• Barbecued Skirt Steak with Asparagus and Salsa Verde $28

• Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with Orange Sauce and Hazelnut Gelato $12

CHANTERELLE

FRENCH

www.chanterellenyc.com

2 Harrison St. New York, New York 10013

212-966-6960

If you would like to enjoy contemporary French cuisine with a touch of the far east, then Chanterelle in New York City is the place for you. Opened in 1979, by husband and wife duo David and Karen Waltuck, Chanterelle received four stars from the New York Times in 1987. The restaurant is inspired by an ornate, floral Old World design. It also includes a large selection of 5000 bottles of wine directed by Roger Dagorn. An example of the menu and prices are:

• Ginger Pickled Salmon with Seaweed Salad & Wasabi $15

• Crisp Softshell Crab with Citrus Vinaigrette & Wilted Arugula $18

• Olive Oil Poached South Carolina Cobia with Saffron Orzo

& Roasted RedPepper $27

• Tasmanian Sea Trout Saute with Sorrel Cream $31

• Fromage Blanc Cake with Apricot-Kumquat Glaze $13

• Hot Crispy Coconut Cardamon Rice Pudding w/Port Poached Cherries $12

HAKUBAI

JAPANESE

www.Kitano.com

The Kitano New York 66 Park Ave. (E.38^th) New York, New York 10016

212-885-7111

Hrs: Lunch-11:45 am to 2:30 pm

Dinner-6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

With 3 tatami rooms, kimono dressed waitresses, and low tables with plenty of leg room, Hakubai proves to be a wonderful Japanese get-away. With roots in Zen Buddhism, Hakubai embraces the Kaiseki tradition in its cuisine. Executive chef, Yukihiro Sato is a master of Kaiseki. The Kenbi lunch course is an example of some of the courses available daily. This course in comprised of an appetizer, which provides minerals and iron to the body, the second appetizer, which promotes healthy beautiful skin, blood circulation, DHA and Collagen. It also includes an entrée which is the nutrient supplement and finally dessert, which helps with healthy digestion and vitamin C. Some items on the Kenbi lunch course include:

• Appetizer- Lotus Root Cake, Mushroom Sauce & Scallion White fish w/ Jellied Fish Broth

• 2^nd Appetizer- Root Vegetable Soup/ Tuna & Avacado Sashimi

• Entrée- Soba Noodle Salad with Organic Vegetable

• Dessert- Organic Yogurt with Fruit & Gelatin

DOS CAMINOS

MEXICAN

www.brguestrestaurants.com/restaurants/dos_caminos_park

373 Park Ave South New York, New York 10016

212-294-1000

Hrs: Sun-Mon 11:30am-11:00pm

Tue-Thur 11:30am-12:00am

Fri-Sat 11:30am-1230am

With a huge variety of modern Mexican foods to choose from, Dos Caminos is the perfect place to go for a fun lunch or a tasty dinner. Executive Chef Ivy Stark brings a colorful array of traditional Mexican food with a modern twist. Live music travels through a wonderfully modern atmosphere comprised of rustic, Aztec accents that compliments an ethnic feel. If you were interested in learning some modern Mexican cuisine, Dos Caminos holds cooking classes on Saturdays at 11:30am-2:30pm. This includes lunch, cocktails, recipes and a copy of Dos Caminos Mod Mex Cookbook. For more information on the classes, contact Emily Bixler at events@brguestinc.com. Some examples from the menu include:

• Smoked Swordfish Tostada with Watercress, Jicama, Orange Salad

Pasilla Oaxaco Vinaigrette $10

• Mexican Chopped Salad with Grilled Corn, Poblano Chiles, Apples, Pinto Beans

Green Olives, Tomato, Onion, Anejo Cheese, Crispy Tortillas and Toasted

Cumin Vinaigrette $10

• Crab Empanadas with Papaya Citrus Slaw, Tomatillo Morita Chile Salsa $12

• Scottish Salmon al Pastor with Grilled Pineapple Salsa, Lemon Basil Rice $24

• Lobster Fideos withRed Snapper and Mussels over Toasted Vermicelli

Pasta in Creamy Lobster Chipotle Salsa $24

• Short Ribs Tamarindo with Braised Beef Short Ribs, Tamarindo White Wine,

Chile de Arbol $20

SPICE MARKET

THAI

www.spicemarketnewyork.com

403 W 13^th New York, New York 10014

212-675-2322

Hrs: Sun-Mon 12:00pm-12:00am

Thurs-Sat 12:00pm-1:00am

Located in the Meat Packing District in New York City, the Spice Market is a great place to enjoy a contemporary, Southeast Asian atmosphere with delicious Thai food. Walking into the Spice market, you will be amazed by the collection of imported antique art and beautiful exotic surroundings. The dress code in this establishment is mostly upscale casual. Some items of the items off of the menu are:

• Charred Chili Rubbed Beef Skewer, Thai Basil Dipping Sauce $14

• Crunchy Squid Salad, Ginger Papaya and Cashews $11

• Shrimp Dumplings, Shiitake and Dill Fragrant Lemongrass Broth $8.50

• Steamed Lobster with Butter Fried Garlic, Ginger and Dried Chili $35

• Spicy Shanghai Noodles, Chilled Silken Tofu, Garlic and Herbs $9

• Onion and Chili Crusted Short Ribs, Egg Noodles and Pea Shoots $22