NYCGuide
The Best Dishes We Tried In May
photo credit: Carina Finn
A rainy memorial day weekend wasn’t exactly the explosive start we all hoped to have this summer. But we’re not concerned - we still have enough time to use our 2021 guide to summer in NYCand look back on some of the best things we ate in May. Including brothy fish curry, an exciting plate of duck, and more. Find all the best dishes we ate in May on this guide.
The Dishes
Floyd’s Goan Fish Curry
This curry from Sona in Flatiron is dedicated to the late chef Floyd Cardoz - who sadly passed away at the beginning of the pandemic. When we went for dinner here, all of the proceeds for the dish were being donated to Covid relief in India as a tribute to Floyd. That fact alone is reason to order it - but this mild, coconut-based curry is also one of the dishes that shows off the quality of the kitchen’s technique. The white fish is cooked perfectly, with crispy skin on top and big flakes that easily separate without a knife. Plus a couple of rogue clams in their shells that you can and should use to slurp up the curry.
NYC Feature
For Indian Restaurants In NYC, What Does “Fine Dining” Really Mean Anymore?
Khinkali
Toné Cafe in Brighton Beach is home to a traditional circular clay oven, where they bake the bread that forms the basis of popular Georgian items like khachapuri, the cheese-filled, egg-topped bread boat that seems to be everywhere these days. Get an order of khinkali, the oversized soup dumplings you eat with your hands, liberally seasoned with pepper. If you’re fighting a hangover or are just looking to feel rejuvenated after this brain-melting year, a bowl of khashi soup is also a good choice - the broth is mild, comes with a heaping pile of minced garlic, and can be enriched with milk to make it extra soothing. Toné also has a strong wine list, including a wide variety of amber and skin-contact wines.
NYC Guide
Where To Eat, Drink, And Shop In Brighton Beach
Crown Of Duck
If you’re having a big night out at Francie, get this incredibly juicy duck breast. The skin is perfectly crispy and the meat is some of the most tender we’ve had anywhere in the city. Each order costs $98 and comes with three rich sides: soppressata jam, swiss chard, and mashed parsnips.
NYC Guide
The Most Fun Dinner Spots In NYC
Fresh fish sandwich
Shelley Worrell, founder of CaribBEING, first met owner Sabrina and her husband at the Taste of Little Caribbean event, and as a lover of Haitian music and art, this is one of her go-to restaurants when she’s in Bed-Stuy. She especially loves to perch in the bright dining area next to the picture window noshing a fresh fish sandwich seasoned with epis (a blend of Haitian spices) topped with pikliz and spiced herb mayo with a side of bannann (fried green plantains) and cola couronne. While you’re there, be sure to visit their marketplace where you can pick up authentic Haitian goods like bestselling Cantave St. Marc coffee, chocolate, spicy peanut butter, and grab some patties to-go.
NYC Guide
The Best Caribbean Food In Crown Heights & Bed-Stuy
Lots of dessert
This spot is known for its cute llama motifs and crème puffs, but we’re also a big fan of the matcha pearl egg tarts, mostly because of the chewy boba that’s embedded in a jiggly matcha-flavored egg custard held together by a buttery and flaky crust. There’s also the fact that these egg tarts are kind of exclusive - they’re only available Friday through Sunday.
NYC Feature
With Warm Welcome’s Guides To Asian-Owned Bars & Restaurants In NYC
Any pastry that’s available
Getting through Kimberly Camara’s sari-sari pastry box waitlist has become a sort of rite of passage, with its size quickly ballooning from dozens to 800 - 10,000 in just a few short months. Born during the pandemic and a continuation of Camara’s grandmother’s legacy, the pastries in the ever-changing boxes reimagine classic Filipino desserts and flavor combinations within brioches that swing more ensaymada than doughnut. There’s the leche flan ni lola, where rich flan that feels closer to tocino del cielo sits atop even more flan by way of cream before being enclosed by brioche. Traditional ingredients like kalamansi, a citrus native to the Philippines that tastes like an orange and a lemon’s firstborn, saba banana, and ube also make appearances. Set a timer for 3pm, head to their website, and hope the weeks you spent helping your family book vaccine appointments have paid off.
NYC Guide