Cafe Tallulah served cucumber melon gazpacho with grilled shrimp at the New Taste food fest.
The New Taste of the Upper West Side food festival this past weekend featured dozens of local restaurants, including a few that haven’t even opened yet. Here’s the buzz about some of the newcomers:
White Gold, the restaurant and butcher shop coming to 78th and Amsterdam, should open in August, said Jocelyn Guest, a chef and butcher. “We’re pumped!” she told us. The Post reports that she and chef Erika Nakamura slept in their car the night before the festival so they could supervise the 24-hour smoking of the 244-pound hog they served on Friday night.
Orwasher’s Bakery, set to open at 81st and Amsterdam in the former home of Pet Health Store, is hoping to open by August 1, owner Keith Cohen (pictured at right, with challah) told us. Orwasher’s drew a large crowd of people for its baked goods — from cookies to challah — at the festival.
Zucker’s Bagels, opening on Columbus between 72nd and 73rd, still has quite a bit of work to do on the store before opening. Zucker’s makes hand-rolled bagels and will also sell sandwiches and pastries. After consulting with the landmarks board (it’s in an historic district), owner Matt Pomerantz says they’ll be building a wooden storefront with a special three-section awning. They’re aiming to open in October.
Kirsh, the new bakery and restaurant on Amsterdam between 86th and 87th street is getting some good traffic on weekdays and is hoping to draw bigger crowds on weekends too, a sous-chef there told us. Given that the space was formerly occupied by Popover Cafe, “everyone who comes in asks for popovers!” Stop by and check out what they’re cooking. It sure looks good on owner Dan Kirsh’s Instagram.
New Taste is put on by the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District and proceeds benefit various neighborhood nonprofits and causes. West Side Rag was a sponsor this year.
Georgia and Aliou’s Tiny Treats Bakery and Cafe (Amsterdam & 90th Street) which opened in 2015 (I think?) is terrific.
Great chocolate cake, fruit tarts, gingersnaps, soup and more.
And authentic.
Surprised it has not yet been “designated” as a cool foodie destination.
Vin Sur Vight opening Friday June 10 on W 84th
Please, no more bakeries.
1. Orwasher’s
2. Farinella Bakery
3. Boule & Cherie Bakery
4. Kirsh Kitchen & Bakery
5. Levain Bakery
6. Europan Bakery
7. Mille Feuille Bakery
8. Maison Kayser Bakery
9. Pain D’Epices Bakery
10. Magnolia Bakery
11. Muffins Cafe
12. Le Pain Quotidien
13. Birdbath Bakery
14. Alice Tea Cup
15. Grandaisy Bakery
16. Margot Bakery
17. My Most Favorite Food
18. Paris Baguette
19. Epicerie Boulud
20. Breads Bakery
21. Silver Moon Bakery
22. Simit & Smith
23. By the Way Bakery
24. Insomnia Cookies
25. Treat House
26. La Toulousaine
Forget all of them. Just bring back Lichtmans Hungarian bakery on 86th and Amsterdam. What a prune danish!
Go to the Hungarian Pastry Shop on Amsterdam and 111th. They’re the best!
Not to mention Zabar’s and Fairway when you don’t want to break the bank buying breads. And is there a place for Italian pastries anywhere on the UWS (now that Cafe La Fortuna on 71st is long gone)?
My son worked at Silver Moon Bakery, so I still go by for their macaroons.
People on the UWS do like their muffins.
The dancing in a bubble reminds me of the Roaring 20s. Especially when paired with macarons cognac.
Given that the space was formerly occupied by Popover Cafe, “everyone who comes in asks for popovers!” So Kirsh should take the hint and add popovers to the menu. I do believe the result would be a noticeable increase in customers.
If you can promise to keep it between us, Shnaties has Popover’s popovers and strawberry butter.
Many of the kitchen staff from Popover came over to Schatzie. You can get a lot of the Popover menu there!
What happened to the whole roast pig?
What whole roast pig?
The one you were having a conniption over.
You misread my Comments. I remarked that it was inappropriate to have this “soiree” (as self-described on their official site), including whole HERITAGE hog and other extravaganzas in a public playground. Of course, not one response, including yours, responded to it. Comments were all about cooking.
I was going to reply but WSR closed the comments before I had a chance to do so.
What I was going to say then is that your references to old times when whole heritage hogs where part of king’s feasts although accurate do not paint the whole picture. Whole roasted hogs are also a common occurance amongst other cultures o lesser means through out the South Pacific islands, South East Asia, and South America. The reason is due to the ease and low cost of raising the animal compared to cattle for example. Hogs require a fraction of land than cattle and due to their omnivorous nature they can eat just about anything. They are also very hardy and require very little human care. In fact they are capable of becoming feral and live on their own if given the opportunity. I believe that’s why pork is cheaper than beef in the market.
Based on the above noted points I argue that having a whole heritage hog roasted on a public playground is actually not offensive and rather appropriate and of course delicious.
Even more Comment about the cooking! I give. Enjoy the ostentation.
Zulu, I am a patient man, so here goes:
You wrote a convincing argument for the appropriateness of roasting hogs by other cultures of lesser means throughout the South Pacific islands, South East Asia, and South America. So, yes roasting hogs in schoolyards there is appropriate.
Rituals have different meanings in different cultures. In the Anglo-American it is historically a ritual of excess.
And ostentatios “soirees” conflict with P.S. schoolyard culture too.
dannyboy, I appreciate your response and also your point of view. You’re correct, different cultures do indeed interpret the same gestures and/or actions differently.
Be well.
Zulu, I enjoyed the Conversation and do appreciate your well wishes.
d
What’s wrong with bakeries? Better than chain stores and banks!
What is wrong with chain store and banks!?
What is “wrong” is that the same way we don’t need more banks, we don’t need more bakeries when we already have 30 plus bakeries in as many blocks.
Perhaps some clean/healthy/mid-priced diners would be nice. Just about every diner on the UWS is a shthole or close to it (City, Viand, Pier 72, Old John’s Luncheonette,…).
The staff at Old John’s is really nice, very kind to kids and elderly.
Diners are passé.
Not Viand, I was there today after swimming.
Cafe Tallulas is excellent! I just “discovered ” it Monday and loved it especially the flatbread pizzas and chickpea fries!
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Hey is it true that Tenzan was closed after a Health inspection?
Yes. Today WSR reported:
“Tenzan at 285 Columbus Avenue (73rd-74th) was shuttered by the health department. Among the violations: evidence of roaches, mice and flies. Thanks to Morgan and Craig for the tips.”
Is kind of odd to see the surge in bakeries alongside the SoulCycle demographic….
The Taste was truly fantastic! My first question is: WHO WON???? My second is: Are Zucker’s or Orwasher’s kosher.