Best Bites from New York City
A celebration of New York City's eclectic cuisine from the 2011 Village Voice Choice Eats Tasting Event
Sour Cherry Pie
Brooklyn’s The Blue Stove bakery had pie to satisfy every taste: sour cherry, bacon apple cheddar, pear ginger and plum crumble. Too good to miss, they are well worth a trip into NYC's biggest borough.
Shrimp Roll
Red Hook Lobster Pound might take first in the hotly debated category of best lobster roll in town, and their shrimp roll is up there too. Sweet Maine shrimp came tossed in a homemade tarragon mayonnaise, seasoned and then sandwiched into a top-split JJ Nissen bun.
Mini Chocolate Cakes
Fay Da Bakery highlighted their bakers’ talents by serving pineapple buns, roast pork pastries, and bite-sized chocolate treats. The bakery has several locations around the city, so you’re never far from a sweet fix.
Smoked Meat Knish
Popular Brooklyn deli Mile End served up steaming hot knishes that were spot on. Appropriately paired with yellow mustard, the dough was crunchy and chewy, and the smoked meat was salty and so satisfying.
General Tso's Broccoli Salad Sandwich
Manhattan's No. 7 Sub may serve a mean General Tso's Tofu sandwich at lunchtime, but it was their broccoli variety that had hungry patrons coming back for seconds. Visit the popular daytime destination for some of the city's best sandwiches.
Maple Bacon Cupcakes
Kumquat Bakery showcased many of their tastiest treats, but most notably these mini maple bacon cupcakes. If it's cupcakes you crave, be sure pay the quaint Brooklyn bakery a visit.
Smoked Pork, Duck, and Crawfish Boudin
Not your average bite, The General Greene's fancy take on the Louisiana Creole classic came wrapped in a boiled leafy green, and drizzled with tangy hot sauce. Normally filled with pork and pork liver, the added duck and crawfish gave the dish a unique and creative twist.
Greek Dips
Manhattan cheese market and wine bar Kashkaval offered a colorful (and delicious) assortment of vegetarian Mediterranean dips that included beet skordalia, baba ghanoush, tzatziki, olive tapenade, and muhammara.
Mixed Berry Scones
Full-sized scones are tough to stomach when already stuffed, but these were well worth saving room for. Alice's Tea Cup also happens to make a mean dark and white chocolate variety that are particularly praise-worthy.
Madame Rose Sour Cherry Beer
With all the heavy food, boozy drinks were the best way to help wash it all down. Beers came courtesy of Magic Hat, Abita and Goose Island, who served their tart Madame Rose.
Brisket Sandwich
East Village ale house Jimmy's No. 43 showed that beer isn't the only thing they do well. The sign said Orwasher's ale bread, topped with house-cured corned beef brisket, kraut and mustard cream, but all everyone's stomachs could say was mmm mmm mmm.
Pig's Head Sandwich
The restaurant Resto offered up the most outlandish eats – thick slabs of crunchy white bread that gave way to fillings that included tender pig’s head.
Smoked Cauliflower and Buttermilk Waffles with Wild Arugula
Dirt Candy's savory waffle came replete with delicious smoke flavor. Beautifully arranged, it tasted even better than it looked. Swing by the small East Village establishment for some of the city's best vegetarian food.
The Fiesole
Brooklyn bakery Robicelli, brought out the goods with their olive oil cake, topped with gorgonzola buttercream, roasted hazelnuts, and a warm honey drizzle.
Albondigas de Camarón (Shrimp Balls)
Soft and soaked in a delicious tomato based sauce, Ofrenda's Mexican meatballs had just the right amount of shrimp flavor.
Pulled Pork Sandwich
Black Shack Burger brought delicious barbecue to the party. Their best bite? Pulled pork piled high with slaw and barbecue sauce, and then topped off with a sweet pickle. When it comes to all-American cuisine, Black Shack takes the cake.
Shrimp Taco
NYC Mexican mainstay Mercadito served up shrimp tacos that came topped with a healthy slice of creamy avocado. Más, por favor!
Chocolate and Olive Oil Bastoncino
Olive oil-filled chocolate pops from Mario Batali's famous Italian restaurant were enthusiastically plucked away from their display. Del Posto has serving some of the city's finest Italian fare for years.