Bon Appetit Presents "Feast or Fashion"

Where the food and fashion worlds collide.

Chef Dan Kluger of ABC Kitchen

At the tail end of NYC's premier fashion week, Bon Appetit magazine invited Chef Dan Kluger and the crew of ABC Kitchen to cook in the beautiful, high-tech home of fashion designer Lela Rose.  The goal here was to feed 50 of Lela's high end guests, one of which included Chef Mario Batali, a multi-course, "pull out all stops" type of sit-down dinner.  Dinner challenge accepted.

As chefs and cooks we are always wary of cooking at off-site events.  You never know what you're walking into.  Never know how big the space is, what type of cooking equipment will be on hand, how demanding guests are, etc.  We are taken out of our comfort zones where we know our kitchens like the back of our hands, where proper cooking temperatures and timing are key.  Luckily, we did not run into any major challenges at this event, and that is more so due in part to Lela Rose's home.

Four stories set inside a swanky Soho building, which included a living room displayed to the street, of which the floor electronically lifts up to act as a runway.  A dessert table which lowered from the ceiling.  A stainless steel kitchen equipped with all major cooking appliances, an eight-burner stove, and an elevator which dropped down to subsequent levels including a hidden linen area.  Finish it off with a kid's playroom which was the size of most NY apartments, and a suede-laced hidden drinking room in the basement and you have yourself a home that would make anyone jealous.

Tacos el Idolo Food Truck

After my visit to Tacos el Bronco a few weeks ago in Brooklyn, my mouth has been watering for more tasty, authentic tacos in NY.  Located just two blocks from the West Village location of Gray's Papaya, I couldn't help but try out the tacos from the Food Truck of Tacos el Idolo.

Even though I've never been to the West Coast (I'll make it there in November, pick your jaw back up!), and hardly remember my last visit to Texas, people from those areas constantly say that authentic Mexican food in NYC does not measure up.  Honestly, that makes me upset.  NYC is known as a food mecca, and the fact that I can't find something really authentic here pisses me off.  With that being said, I can't wait to try out the Mexican food in California when I make it out there later this year.

That being said, I guess I'll settle for what I think are some great places here.  Tacos El Idolo is based out of Corona, Queens, and has about three to four food trucks parked around NY.  What really drew me to try them out was their meat selection.  Along with the usual carnitas, beef, chicken, spicy pork, and salty beef, they also offer tongue, tripe, ear, and even goat meat.  You know I'm always on the lookout for offal cuts.  Tacos El Idolo did not disappoint.

Gray's Papaya

I've been coming to Gray's Papaya and other Papaya rip-offs in NYC for years.  Gray's Papaya rises above the rest, and the rest of the bunch include Papaya Dog, Chelsea Papaya, Mike's Papaya, Papaya King, Seventh Ave Papaya, and... well you get the idea.

Honestly, wherever you go you're going to get a tasty hot dog.  But in my opinion Gray's, which is the original, does it best.  Over here, it's all about the snappy texture.  Cooked on a plancha (think flattop) it gives every dog a crunchy exterior.  Compare these dogs to the soggy, limp, disgusting dogs swimming in dirty water inside hot dog carts across the city and it just seems like a no-brainer to make a trip out to Gray's.

Gray's serves $1.50 hot dogs, $1 pizza, and several flavors of fruit drinks.  The hot dogs come with warmed buns, and pretty much any topping you desire.  The pizza comes with many toppings, but I've never tried it (I'm not into $1 convenience pizza, call me crazy).  The fruit drinks come in the original namesake Papaya, Orange, Grape, Pina Colada, Coconut Champagne, and Banana Daiquiri.  The fruit drinks are all non-alcoholic, which is too bad for the NYU students living on a budget a few blocks away.

Outstanding in the Field Event at Brooklyn Grange Farm

Outstanding in the Field (OITF) is a group that runs farm-to-table dinners right at the source of a local farm.  They set up large tables, where guests from all over can dine and enjoy the food as it was meant to be served.  Straight from the ground, and onto their plates.  They want their guests to have an experience which makes them feel closer to the land, and to the people who's hard work brings food to the table.

On August 30th, ABC Kitchen was asked to participate in one of the OITF events at Brooklyn Grange Farm.  Brooklyn Grange (which is not based out of Brooklyn) is located in Long Island City, Queens.  Wait, a farm in an urban setting?  That's correct.  Brooklyn Grange is a start-up, organic urban farm growing their vegetables on a NYC rooftop.

The man behind the greens is Ben Flanner.  Ben is a trained engineer, with a background in finance.  He did not grow up a farmer, nor was he really exposed to a farming lifestyle.  A few years ago he decided to follow his passion for food and food production, and started Brooklyn Grange with Anastasia Plakias.

Brooklyn Grange's message is simple.  They want to connect people of an urban setting to those of a rural one.  Although they just have one one-acre farm in production at the moment, their goal is to eventually have rooftop farms all over the city.

Prosperity Dumpling

I don't know if you can find a better deal in NYC, and if you can, I'd love for you to show me.

Rickshaw, I think we've met your match.

Prosperity Dumpling is literally a hole-in-the-wall located in Chinatown.  Walk too fast down Eldridge Street at night and you may miss it, as the yellow sign hanging above the door can not be seen.  Just look for the line out the small door and wait patiently for a few minutes, and you'll be greatly rewarded.

Prosperity isn't much to look at.  A small counter lining the wall with two bar stools is all that is inside.  The space can fit about 3 customers comfortably.  However, the line here moves fast, and everything in here is dirt cheap.  That's what tempted me to venture out to Chinatown and try this place out.  The dumplings here are 5 for $1. That's right.  No gimmick.  No hustle.  You get 5 jumbo dumplings for $1.

Now I've had cheap meals before, and it's always you get what you pay for.  What can you really expect for that price?  I can tell you, now from experience, these are the best dumplings I have ever had in NYC, and the fact they are so incredibly cheap makes them taste even better.