Monthly Archives: October 2012

On Our Radar: Table Verte

tableverte

Follow the yellow brick wall to your green table at Table Verte. Taking over the East Village space formerly occupied by sister restaurant Taureau, the new French vegetarian bistro had its soft opening on October 18.

After watching Forks Over Knives, a documentary advocating a plant-based diet, owner Didier Pawlicki of restaurants Taureau and La Sirene, along with fiancé Jeane Fournier, went vegan for several months. They’ve since returned to an omnivore’s diet — running both a fondue and a filet mignon hotspot has its temptations — but with a greater reverence for the art and health benefits of meatless meals. Continue reading →

Dairy with a Purpose: Milk Not Jails

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Milk Not Jails is not only a dairy marketing and distribution co-operative, it’s also what founder Lauren Melodia calls, “an economic alternative to the prison industry… building an alliance for a sustainable and just regional economy.” What does that mean for city dwellers? Now there’s an option to join a dairy CSA with a cheeky pink truck and a serious purpose. Continue reading →

Off the Hook: NYC’s Community Supported Fishery

Spotted Sea Trout

New York is a city of villages: the butcher, the baker, even the gefilte fish maker. But what of the fishmonger? Samantha Lee enjoyed the East Village, but lamented its lack of fresh fish proprietors: “I didn’t feel like there was a great deal of access to local, sustainable seafood. When there is, it’s either really expensive or far away. If you’re busy and want somebody to lead you through the maze [of sustainability], there’s very little out there.”

Thus the Village Fishmonger was born. Manhattan’s first Community Supported Fishery (CSF) made its first deliveries of sustainable seafood in September to five pick up spots across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Members join on a rolling basis, signing on for 12 weeks of weekly or bi-weekly shares of whole fish or fillets. We sat down with Lee to learn more about Village Fishmonger’s story, what happens between pick ups and the joys of (non-amphibian) croakers. Continue reading →

Sea to Haven: Slow U Seafood Supper

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What: Slow U: Sustainable Seafood taste and talk

When: Tuesday, October 16, 6:00 to 8:00pm

Where: Haven’s Kitchen, 109 17th Street, Manhattan

How Much: $35 for Slow Food Members, $45 for Non-members

In a sea of guilty pleasures, sashimi is many a city dweller’s purest craving. But the good stuff doesn’t always come cheap, and the cheap stuff doesn’t always come sustainable (we have our doubts about you, East Village all-you-can-inhale party palaces).

This Tuesday, you can fill your belly with fish and keep your conscience clear with Slow U: Sustainable Seafood. This installment of Slow Food NYC’s talking and tasting education series brings a boatload of sustainable sashimi and other seafood to Haven’s Kitchen, a recreational cooking school, specialty shop and event space. Continue reading →

On Our Radar: Casa Pomona

Jamonera at Casa Pomona

Starting last week, Upper West Siders have been reaping the benefits of a shrine to Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruitful abundance — in the form of a Spanish tapas spot. A giant mural of the goddess herself is a focal point of the urban rustic décor at Casa Pomona, a new restaurant from co-owners Sid Gupta (of nearby Clean Pates-rated Tuscan Pappardella) and Marion Maur (owner of the former Marion’s Country Kitchen in Woodstock).

These are not the tired trendy tapas of yesteryear: Continue reading →

Drink to Your Health with Bottled Ayurvedic Tea

MissionRoot

The ancient healing system of Ayurveda, a holistic approach to health and wellness, has been followed throughout India for more than 5,000 years. Traditionally, Ayurveda is thought to help balance the body and mind and prevent, and treat illness through the principles of meditation, yoga, deep breathing, lifestyle and diet.

With MissionRoot, a new organic bottled iced tea company, we can all get down with the benefits of this ancient Indian practice here in the United States.  Continue reading →