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Lupa is one of those great joints for shaved meats and cheeses. I love it for lunch. It’s Batali at his most chill read: accessible. Beyond one meal when I over-dosed on carne, in this case cow’s brain. Otherwise, I’ve left with the most satisfying feeling. The pastas are al dente and perfectly seasoned. Sardines and tuna with cannellini beans. Rabbit sausage. Need I say more? The catch of the day, a whole roasted insanely fresh fish (bone in). If the Tomoe line is too long; please know you can always drop by for a glass of vines. The smell alone inside …I like to sit upfront at a communal table. Sneak in; sneak out. I’ve always had great meals with great friends at Lupa.
One of my favorite blocks in New York, Crosby Street, sits a narrow hallway of a tapas bar called N33. Yes, it’s 33 Crosby Street. The food is spot on for snacks and sangria. It’s warm and if you’re lucky; hit the live music nights or hang with the locals.
(image Flickr)
As I sit here on the brink of a new era, I think about more great meals with friends. While I’ve had many a memorable meal at Peter Luger’s; too many to count on ten fingers, one such meal was December 31st, 2001 when my good pal Scott and myself decided to cross the Brooklyn Bridge ; just in case we didn’t like what was going on in the city. Yes, people were quite paranoid. It was early, say 5 PM and no, we didn’t have a reservation but were welcomed with open arms. It was a great meal.
Although my father refers to Luger’s as a “typical beer hall” serving meat (he’s Midwestern and Black Angus fan at that)….”runny, sweet tomato sauce and marbly meat.” Growing up in the Midwest, our meat is prepared a certain way–usually grilled. It’s not baked or pan seared; thus this presentation could be a turn off. Midwestern bred or not, you must give props to the presentation, even should it not meet your expectations. Wood panelled walls, gold Chandeliers, cafe chairs, all male wait staff (I recall asking why no women worked at Luger’s…”it’s just the way it is…” the bartender told me). It smells like a warm meat locker. Take in the scent and order a Peter Luger Lager.
DINNER! You kick-start with the thick slab of bacon and massive sliced Vidalia onions and tomatoes (with Luger’s sauce). OH, and GIANT shrimp cocktail. Depending on who you are with (size doesn’t count here), order your steak for one, two, three, four. I’m a creamed spinach fan but don’t pass on the Onion Rings or French Fried Potatoes. Red wine…a must. Sadly, I’ve never tried the Cheeseburger. Oh, it will happen. Wash it down with something sweet; a Tommy Collins perhaps (Rob? Ash?).
Regardless, Luger’s is always on top of its game. When has it not received the no 1 coveted spot on any list? It’s old school (since 1887). They don’t take any credit cards except their own, yes, the Peter Luger Card, which you can apply for online. I think that’s pretty great.
(Image one: conceirge.com, Image two: forbes.com)
My good pal, Kerry (“KK”) just reminded me of this long standing Thai staple, Kelley and Ping (the original: 127 Greene Street) which has been serving up good tea, noodles and dumplings in an Asian market atmosphere. Remember in Great Expectations (night scene) when Ethan Hawke stole Gywnnie (weighing about a buck one) away from her rich boyfriend and they ran into the rain. Well, that was Kelly and Ping’s. The space is housed in a high ceiling, railroad space bustling at lunch and more chill at night. Skylights, creaky floors and wood tables. Don’t forget your chopsticks.
(image: Photo by Carmen Lopez and AJ Wilhelm/NYM)
The Kitchen Club (at 30 Prince Street) and it’s 25 years of business is going away to what the owner calls “operating costs and rent increase.” Now, while man have beef with Chibi (“Chibi’s mean!”) It’s sad to see a small corner restaurant close in a neighborhood that wasn’t always so cutting edge. The last curtain call falls on New Years Eve.
While I never dined there (perhaps of the dog tales), I remember walking by a million times and passing its neighboring bar, Chibis; sake and appetizers which sat adjacent to the KC. I guess, drop in and see Chibi. But, be careful; they say he has a mean bite.
Serious cheese too. Walking into Murrays Cheese can be daunting unless you are with a cheese expert (not myself)although I’m training as one who fully appreciates and love the creamy, buttery, tangy delicious wedges. Ohh….Camembert, Brie, Goat, Cheddar, Parmigiano Regiano…all those regions–Spain, Italy, England, Portugal. Via the ”blog” they hook one up with a virtual cheese monger who tells you what you’ll dig. SMART.
Olives are another story; so is wine and champagne; all up and coming.
as it once were. Although you will still pass the waiters lining the streets of Mott and Mulberry, hustling you to come in and your classic Little Italy Italian flag and “Kiss me I’m Italian tees…”much has changed since the Chinese moved into the neighborhood and it became an interesting gentrification of a neighborhood once so clearly dominated by Italians.
Being a huge fan of the Italians and the great films of the time (not to mention the bevy of directors and actors) who grew up in the neighborhood, it’s hard to doubt the real history of Little Italy. There’s some great literature here.“Key scenes from The Godfather – Francis Ford Coppola’s epic family saga – were filmed in Little Italy. These include the Christening scene, in which Coppola’s family members acted as extras, and the set representing the interior of the Genco Olive Oil Company, which was built on the fourth floor of an old loft building at 128 Mott Street, at the corner of Hester.”
You can still walk the past in Little Italy; the narrow streets, the foods and smells (mixed with a bit of Chinese Wok) and the tenements haven’t changed a bit.
The warm (is this word over-utlized?)…perhaps. Okay, the rustic Italian kitchen vibe of Il Buco sounds about perfect on a cold, snowy New York day. I foresee crudo as a starting point with a glass of white and then seguing into a pasta dish (portions are small but just right) or Maltagliati con Galletti e Pancetta (rough cut pasta, chanterelle mushrooms, pancetta, nepitella, parmesan). The family tables are great to share a meal with friends and fork over to try your neighbor’s bowl. It’s as if you’re sitting in a n old Umbrian barn or someone’s home. The subterranean wine cellar (where Woody Allen sat his character Melinda of yes, Melinda and Melinda) is uber-romantic if not the perfect, dark and moody cinematic spot. Check it out live. It’s moody and perfect.
Everyone has (and is entitled) to their own Kim’s Video story. I can think of a dozen off-hand; one which N.F. told me after Jimbo yielded an Ax at one of the employees who refused to lessen his late fee. This East and West Village icon served it’s purpose whether for the classics or the more smutty titles behind a curtain or just beyond that wall. IN 2008, The Daily News reported, ” The beloved movie shop Kim‘s Video will soon shut down its rental service on St. Marks Place and ship the store’s 55,000-title film collection to a new far-flung home – in Italy. And it’s been given away for free. A sign posted in the window states the last day for rentals is Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve –and after that the films will be donated to the town of Salemi, Sicily – population about 11,000.”
For owner Yongman Kim, losing his video collection marks the end of an era. “I think my passion in loving film to share and introduce to New Yorkers is no longer valid,”he told the Daily News via e-mail.
Thanks to Netflix and the barrage of Direct TV and other do-dads; Kim’s is dust in the wind but not to be forgotten (WHAT A MAJOR COLLECTION, FOLKS). A colorful place and one well-known to all.
ROCKS. And, it’s still open in NYC. Nicky Fresh hooked me up with a Priest Holmes NFL Action Figure now utilized as my tree “angel” as his leg broke and the platform which he chilled.
They also have a wide assortment of comics and random action figures; yes, The WILD THINGS movie stressed me out to new levels but I still like the figures. I wish I had more Comic Book education. This way, I could really talk…less.
In Jamaica mon we say Babylon burn
And burn is what Babylon will do …ughmmm – is doing.
Last September NYC lost the East Village Reggae Shop Jammyland. No,
it wasn’t because of the wafts of smoke pouring out from the walls and
I’m sure it wasn’t for lack of supplying NYC with “more platters that
matter” ranging from Calypso to Dancehall, Ska, soul, funk and dub –
this was the place.If you were lucky you might run into a Legend , as
in one of the Whailers or like this lucky guy.
——————-
RASTA J is old New Yorker, an East Village legend, and LES spliff master.
This morning, I was thinking about the lack of good delis where I live sans the Italian area, I miss sinking my teeth into a pastrami on rye, tuna sandwich or enjoying a cup of matzoh ball soup. One such place, was Eisenbergs Sandwich Shop (1929) with one of the last great lunch counters in the city. Stay put, Eisenbergs.
Image: Don Hogan Charles/The New York Times
