DIG IN — STUFF TO EAT AND DRINK AROUND NYC
CHANNALY PHILIPP/EPOCH TIMES
2Beans’ collection of bonbons includes artisanal confections from Christopher Elbow and Surbhi Sahni.
2Beans carries renowned chocolates from around the world.
By Annie Wu I Epoch Times Staff
If you still haven’t picked out a gift for your sweetheart, 2Beans’s astounding array of chocolates—about 500 different products—is the ideal place to find it. The options range from a fragrant white chocolate and cardamom bar from Rococo Chocolates, to a nutty milk chocolate by Italian chocolate-maker Amedei.
2Beans sources many rare bean-to-bar chocolates, including those from Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat, made from Vietnamese cacao beans; Al Nassma, camel milk chocolate made in Dubai; Madre Chocolate, which sources beans from Hawaii; and Francois Pralus, by the eponymous French master chocolate-maker.
For conscientious buyers, 2Beans has its own ratings system for ranking chocolate companies by their sustainability and ethical standards.
2Beans
100 Park Ave.
(between 40th & 41st streets)
Murray Hill
461 Amsterdam Ave.
(between 82nd & 83rd streets)
Upper West Side
At TurnStyle
Corner of 57th Street & Eighth Avenue
Columbus Circle
Snag a table at Chef Michael White’s Upper East Side Italian restaurant and you can feast on a four-course menu of dishes like housemade tagliatelle pasta with Parmigiano and black truffles; broiled black cod with charred kale, Manila clams, and tomato-pancetta ragu, and tiramisu with mascarpone mousse, lady finger, espresso, and amaretto. $115 per person.
ANTHONY JACKSON
Chef Todd English’s cocktail bar is serving discounted cocktail specials on Valentine’s Day, such as a choice of two cocktails for $22, and a tasting of three cocktails with a platter to share for $46. Singles needn’t feel left out either: gather your friends to share the Cupid’s Sting honey rum punch bowl, made with aged Bacardi rum, lime juice, honey, Peychaud’s bitters, and housemade black tea demerara syrup ($52). The bowl is served with a side of chocolate truffles.
Tuesday, Feb. 14
The Stinger
300 W. 44th St. (between Eighth & Ninth avenues)
Midtown West
NOAH FECKS
The Honey Rum Punch
The legendary Italian restaurant Patsy’s—known as a favorite spot for Frank Sinatra, Al Pacino, George and Amal Clooney, and Jennifer Lopez—is open for Valentine’s Day. The options include tortellini bolognese with veal meat sauce; stuffed pork chop with vinegar peppers; and broccoli di rabe affogati, sautéed with whole garlic cloves and olive oil.
Patsy’s
236 W. 56th St. (between Eighth Avenue & Broadway)
Midtown West
SAMIRA BOUAOU/WEPOCH TIMES
Broccili di Rabe Affogati.
SAMIRA BOUAOU/EPOCH TIMES
Patsy’s was a favorite of Frank Sinatra’s.
The Institute of Culinary Education has a whole lineup of classes for couples to make a romantic dinner together. In the “Romantic Italy” class, instructors will teach how to make regional Italian dishes, like fresh pasta filled with pecorino de Pienza, grilled treviso salad, and vernaccia poached pears, while lovers of Indian cuisine can sign up for the “Indian Favorites” class, featuring rogan josh, Goan shrimp curry, pakora and tamarind chutney, and more. A class on Valentine’s Day cupcakes will teach couples to make treats like red velvet cupcakes and vanilla chiffon with rose petal buttercream cupcakes.
Friday, Feb. 10-Tuesday, Feb. 14
Institute of Culinary Education
At Brookfield Place, 225 Liberty St.
Battery Park City
Black Tap is making a special milkshake for the holiday: a red velvet cake batter shake, topped with a slice of Magnolia Bakery red velvet cake, rimmed with vanilla frosted heart-shaped sprinkles, and garnished with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle. $19.
Tuesday, Feb. 14
All Black Tap locations
BlackTapNY
COURTESY OF 6LACK TAP
The Valentine’s Day shake.
James Beard award nominee Justin Carlisle is bringing his popular ramen from Milwaukee to New York City. His tonkotsu pork broth ramen and mushroom miso ramen served at Red Light Ramen will be available for a limited time at the Lower East Side's Ramen Lab, a shop run by noodle maker Sun Noodle. The ramen comes with toppings like pork, bamboo shoots, egg, and greens.
Through Saturday, Feb. 18
Ramen Lab
70 Kenmare St. (between Mulberry & Mott streets)
Nolita
COURTESY OF RAMEN LAB
Chef Justin Carlisle’s tonkotsu ramen.
Southern-inspired restaurant Root & Bone is launching a series of special dinners inspired by old cookbooks that have defined Southern cooking. The Fat Tuesday dinner will focus on Creole cuisine and Jazz Age cocktails, taking a page from “The Picayune’s Creole Cook Book” (1904). The dishes include crawfish bisque, gumbo file, Creole jambalaya, and more. $100 per person.
Tuesday, Feb. 28
Root & Bone
200 E. Third St. (between Avenue A & Avenue B)
East Village
During February, Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken is serving a massive sandwich: fried chicken, lettuce, tomato, pickled cucumbers, melted mozzarella cheese, and truffle mayonnaise, topped with truffle oil and truffle salt-tossed sweet potato fries. $8.95.
Through Feb. 28
Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken
28 E. First St. (at Second Avenue)
Bowery
COURTESY OF BLUE RIBBON FRIED CHICKEN
The Love Bird Sandwich.
To warm up during this cold season, Wallflower in the West Village has concocted a new cocktail called Cafe Mendoza. Head bartender James Lombardino mixes together Cardenal Mendoza brandy, demerara syrup, Branca Menta mint liqueur, Bittermens New Orleans coffee liqueur, cream, and a whole egg for a creamy, comforting drink. $15.
Wallflower
235 W. 12th St.
(near Greenwich Avenue)
West Village
Midtown Greek restaurat Nerai will be hosting a music and wine event, featuring jazz musicians Petros Klampanis and Christos Rafalides. Guets will get to enjoy Greek wines, spirits, and cocktails, along witg a spread of mezze. Seatings at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 24
Nerai
55 E. 54th St.
(between Park & madison avenues)
Midtown East