Sunday, November 30, 2008

Cheap, Sharp, Lasts Forever

Which is more than we can say for our relationships. (Well, the sharp and lasts forever part, at least.)

Tom Mylan, butcher-in-chief at Marlow & Sons Diner in Williamsburg recommends the best chef's knife for your money:

My favorite for the money is the eight-inch Forschner with rosewood handle ($44.95, from Broadway Panhandler, 65 E. 8th St, nr. Broadway; 212-966-3434). The blade is tall, thin, and tough, perfect for chopping onions and celery for Thanksgiving stuffing. The weight balance between the blade and the handle is nearly 50/50, which is ideal for carving up a turkey. And if properly maintained, the knife should last you a decade or more.

(Photo: Hannah Whitaker/New York Magazine)
Our personal faves for cooking and food prep are the Wusthof Classics. The handles are just right for our small female hand. When it comes to bread knives, however, the Wustof is a little too spendy for our tastes. We chose functionality over looks with the Pure Homachi, the lower end sibling to Shun knives. While it's as ugly as sin, it's got the same blade design as its more expensive Shun counterpart. Plus, it has pictures of loaves of bread in the handle should we ever forget what bread knives ought to be used for.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Rare Bar & Grill: Burgers the size of our heads

What we love: Burgers the size of our heads (only when we're hungry, though), ginormous baskets of fries with dipping sauces, the friendly and accomodating waitstaff.

What we could live without: We're not sure. It's the holiday season, for goodness sake!

Burger scale: A-

Price range: $$ out of $$$$

Payment method: cash, major credit card



In our minds, there are two types of burger establishments. The first is a restaurant where the burger is part of the entire experience -- the beers, the appetizers, the fries, the milkshakes, etc. The second is one where the burger is the experience. Rare falls into the second category, where the burgers take centerstage (although the basket of fries are quite excellent).



For more pictures, go here.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

This made me hungry

So I felt I ought you might want to take a look too. Thanksgiving recipes from some of the best greenmarket chefs in Manhattan.

Happy Thanksgiving!


Monday, November 10, 2008

Burger Series 15: Rare Bar & Grill

Happy Turkey month!

Yes, it's short notice, and no, we normally don't do a burger round the month of November. But, we'd like to meet at Rare Bar & Grill this month anyway, because it's an excuse to spread a little pre-holiday cheer.

Can't wait to see you there!
Photo courtesy of Joshua G on Yelp.