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#CurrentObsessions: Alleva Dairy

5/15/2017

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The Who:
It was the year 1892 when Pina Alleva opened up a tiny cheese market in the heart of Little Italy. She was an immigrant from Benevento and she became very popular in the community for her fresh made ricotta and mozzarella cheeses. We can only imagine many Nonnas (grandmothers) would have shopped here for their own kitchen. The shop moved next door (to its current location) in 1920 and Pina's son took over. It reached Robert, the fourth generation who expanded the shop a little and introduced prepared foods.

In 2014, Bob Alleva sold the business to local legend and distant cousin John "Cha Cha" Ciarcia and his wife Karen King, a well-known singer. After Cha Cha sadly passed away in 2015, a third silent partner stepped up to help out the business. That partner was Tony Danza, the well-known actor from Who's the Boss and Taxi. Cha Cha was Tony boxing manager and best friends through their careers together in film and television. You can often find both Tony and Karen checking up on the shop and keeping quality control - someone has to taste all that cheese!  

The What:
Alleva is the oldest dairy store in America and they have been making fresh mozzarella and ricotta since the beginning. The mozzarella is made fresh every single day - in fact, the same person has been making it for close to 30 years. Their cheese selection also includes all sorts of imported provolones and parmigiana. Don't miss their meat selection - on our Tenements Tour we get a tasting of both the fresh mozzarella and their imported Prosciutto di Parma. The secret is to wrap the unsalted cheese with the fatty, succulent ham. 

Cheese and meat are just a part of what Alleva sells. They also have amazing sandwiches and prepared food (the arancini are incredible!) and all sorts of traditional Italian ingredients ranging from pastas to balsamics to cookies. In fact, this is one of the classic places the Italians come to shop when they return to the neighborhood during the San Genaro Festival or just when they want a taste of the old country. 

The Why:
Little Italy is not nearly as authentic as it once was with touristy restaurants and souvenir shops lining Mulberry Street. But a few places like Alleva hint back to the vibrancy and culture that was once prevalent in this area. We're very happy Karen and Tony are keeping it alive. Plus, we can't resist the appetizing smells that hypnotize us every time we walk in.

The Where:
Alleva Dairy,
188 Grand Street
New York, New York 10013
​(212) 226-7990
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#MustDo in NYC: May 15-May 21, 2017

5/13/2017

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Dumpling Making, Neighborhood Food Fest, Essex Street Market Birthday Bash, + Taste Local Hard Cider

Wontons & Dumplings/ Wednesday, May 17, 2017 from 5pm-7pm
We know dumplings are some of the cheapest foods in NYC, but it can get even cheaper if you learn to make them yourself. Brooklyn Brainery hosts this class from writer and cooking teacher Diana Kuan. where you learn how to wrap, fry, and eat (that part is easy!) Chinese dumplings and wontons.
Summer in the City: Surf & Turf/ Friday, May 19, 2017 from 7pm-10pm
Summer is coming (soon, we hope!) and what better way to celebrate than with a neighborhood food festival? Forty local Upper West Side restaurants, like Maison Pickle, Levain Bakery, and The Fat Monk will be setting up under a giant tent to offer up samples. unlimited wine, and summery music. 
Essex Street Market Birthday Block Party/ Saturday, May 20, 2017 from 12pm-5pm
77 years ago, the Essex Street Market was opened by Mayor LaGuardia as a place to house street vendors. Today it is the center of the neighborhood and supports many small local businesses. To celebrate their birthday, they will be hosting a block party with pushcarts and tents and some of the best food in the market and the surrounding LES neighborhood.
Pouring Green-Wood/ Sunday, May 21, 2017 from 11am-1pm
Back in 2015, Joy Doumis and Jeremy Hammond began harvesting apples in the historic Greenwood Cemetery. They did it in order to produce local, sustainable hard apple cider. Now you can learn about the process from the creators and taste the final product at this one-of-a-kind event. 
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#CurrentObsessions: Empellón al Pastor

5/8/2017

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The Who:
Alex Stupak is not exactly the kind of person you expect to be running a mini Mexican food empire. The Masschussets born chef who has been working as a chef since he was a teenager is now one of the most lauded chefs in New York and all four of his restaurants are turning out authentic and innovative Mexican food.

After culinary school and cooking at some of the most prestigious restaurants in Chicago and Boston, Stupak became the pastry chef at Wylie Dufresne's molecular gastronomy temple WD-50. But it was not truly what he wanted to cook. With inspiration from his Mexican-American wife and trips down to Mexico,  Stupak fell in love with the cuisine and decided to try his hand at it in the Big Apple. Many critics and food writers thought it was absurd that a Caucasian guy from New England could be a serious contender for a great Mexcian chef. Yet since 2012, he he has had success with four Emepllón restaurants: the Taqueria, Cocina, the brand new Midtown location, and Empellón al Pastor.


The What:
Emepllón al Pastor is the most casual of the bunch with a rollicking bar serving up great cocktails with a focus on tequila and mezcal and a taco counter in the back banging out classic and creative combinations.

The establishment is named for one of our favorite tacos - the al pastor. Generally, when you see al pastor tacos on a menu in New York, it means it is marinated pork with pineapples. But the traditional way to prepare al pastor comes from the Lebanese immigrants in Mexico who cut meat off a rotating spit. That's how the pork is cut here with a juicy pineapple roasting on top of the spinning pork. It can't be beat.

​More recently, Stupak introduced a gimmicky-sounding cheeseburger taco that is absolutely delicious. It tastes like the lovechild of a cheeseburger and a taco featuring grilled chopped meat topped with gooey Chihuahua cheese, tomatoes, avocado, and ketchup. 

Other tacos include a beer braised pork tongue, chorizo, and noaples (cactus). And you can wash it all down with a selection of playful margaritas including a spicy cilantro pineapple option.

The Why:
Not only is the food, drink, and ambiance great here, but it's literally across the street from Tompkins Square Park where we start our Craft Cocktail Tours. If you find yourself arriving early or are looking to pre-game, this is a great place to have a quick bite and sample some craft cocktails in the neighborhood. And since our tour starts at 6, you could easily stop by here for Happy Hour and find some great deals.

The Where:
Empellón al Pastor,
132 St. Marks Place,
New York, New York 10009
​(646) 833-7039
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#MustDo in NYC: May 8-May 14, 2017

5/5/2017

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Fresh Cocktails, Beer Across the Boroughs, Hamilton by Trolley, + A Flowery Mother's Day

​​​Click on the title for more info.
The Bartender's Garden: Cocktails from the Greenmarket/ Thursday, May 11, 2017 from 6:30pm-8:30pm
Join this seasonal cocktail class at Astor Center to learn how to incorproate fresh, local herbs and fruits into a delicious cocktailt to make at home. Discover some cocktail techniques like how to make your own syrups and infusions while sipping cocktails, sampling cheese, and getting a taste of the season. 
Five Boro Craft Beer Festival / Friday, May 12, 2017 from 6:30pm-10:30pm
It's time to celebrate all the great craft beer happening across all five boroughs of New York! One of our favorite Williamsburg beer bars, The Well is hosting a huge beer festival with unlimited tastings of some brand new beers from over 50 local and out-of-state breweries. All four outer boroughs are well-represented with old standbys (Brooklyn, Singlecut), and brand new microbreweries (Lineup,  Wartega) - live music and local food make the beery evening complete. 
Hamilton: The Trolley Tour / Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 11:00am-1:00pm
Hop aboard one of Greenwood Cemetery's trolleys to see where some of Alexander Hamilton's family members and frieds are buried, including Hamilton's son John, his college roommate Robert Troup, and others. In addition, you'll learn about Hamilton's role in the Battle of Brooklyn which happened in this area.
Mother's Day Weekend Garden Party / Saturday, Mary 13 - Sunday, May 14, 2017 from 10:00am-5:00pm
Stroll through the beautiful New York Botanical Garden with mom on her special day! Outdoor games, live family entartainment, and a picnic brunch from local food trucks are just some of the things to do at the Bronx's green escape. Even if you don't take advantage of the extra activities, just walking around and smellling the flowers is a great way to show mom how much you love her. 
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