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This Is Not a Drill: 6 Restaurants in Firehouses for Architecture Buffs

Nevin Martell April 16, 2018 Leave a Comment

Raise the alarm! Restaurants are popping up inside firehouses. Don’t worry; you won’t need to go down a fireman’s pole to get into them. Here are six to check out and their dish that’s most fit for a firefighter.

The Fire Station Cheltenham, Cheltenham, England
Housed in a century-old Edwardian firehouse, the hotshot crew plays up the sizzling space by cooking extensively over a wood-powered robata grill.
Fit for a firefighter: Pork and chorizo burger topped with bacon and pickled fennel, and served with rosemary salted fries.
Make a reservation at the Fire Station Cheltenham.

The Columbia Firehouse, Alexandria, Virginia
Occupying a firehouse built in 1883, the brasserie and bar offers stick-to-your-ribs fare perfect for powering a rescue company.
Fit for a firefighter: Smoked pork ribs accompanied by barbeque baked beans and cornbread slathered with honey butter.
Make a reservation at the Columbia Firehouse.

Sixth Engine, Washington, D.C.
Founded in 1855, the oldest firehouse in the city was originally home to Metropolitan Hook & Ladder 1, and in 2012, it became a restaurant with a penchant for refined comfort food.
Fit for a firefighter: Smoked paprika carbonara accented with Cajun-style tasso ham and basil.
Make a reservation at Sixth Engine.

The Apparatus Room, Detroit, Michigan
Originally, the fire department headquarters housed fire engines but is now the home to a bustling brasserie with an open kitchen and sprawling bar.
Fit for a firefighter: Smoked Michigan ribeye with celeriac, vegetable Parmentier, and rich black trumpet jus.
Make a reservation at the Apparatus Room.

Kalo Pascha! 7 Restaurants for Greek Easter Celebrations

Nevin Martell April 5, 2018 Leave a Comment

Forget chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, and Cadbury eggs – Greek Orthodox Easter has decidedly different food traditions than a classic Catholic celebration. Think avgolemono (egg and lemon soup), spit-roasted lamb, and tsoureki (sweet braided bread) instead. Here are seven restaurants where you can celebrate the resurrection this weekend and beyond.

Molyvos, New York, New York
Dive into a four-course dinner featuring traditional avgolemono, grilled lamb chops with garlic-sauced fingerling potatoes, and an Easter sundae forged from baklava ice cream, caramel, walnuts, and shredded sesame halva. Available on Sunday, April 8 from 1PM. to 10PM for $75 per person (plus tax and gratuity) or $120 per person (plus tax and gratuity) when paired with select Greek Alpha Estate wines. Make a reservation at Molyvos.

Iron Gate, Washington, D.C.
Enjoy Easter at brunch or dinner with a three-course, family-style feast. Dishes include Sesame-crusted feta with honey and vin cotto, caramelized onion pie, spring lamb with mint tzatziki, and toasted walnut cake with cognac caramel. Dinner is available on Friday, April 6 through Monday, April 9 for $55 per person (plus tax and gratuity), while brunch is available April 7 and 8 for $40 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Make a reservation at Iron Gate.

Estiatorio Milos, New York, New York
Chef-owner Costas Spiliadis commanders the sidewalk on 55^th Street to spit-roast lambs for his annual Greek Easter feast. Additionally, diners will enjoy magiritsa (tripe soup) and avgolemono as well the chance to dye eggs red and crack them open, which symbolizes the resurrection and new life. Available on Sunday, April 8 from 12AM to 2PM and then from 5PM on for $115 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Make a reservation at Estiatorio Milos.

Kyma, Roslyn, New York
Celebrate Greek Easter with a three-course feast. Tsoureki and traditional dyed red eggs adorn each table. Guests get their choice of dishes, including magiritsa, avgolemono, spit-roasted baby lamb, and kokoretsi (seasoned offal wrapped with lamb intestine), plus a selection of traditional Greek desserts. Available after midnight mass on Saturday, April 7 for $95 per person (plus tax and gratuity), and again from 11:30AM to 9PM on Sunday, April 8 for $65 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Make a reservation at Kyma.

Estiatorio Milos, Las Vegas, Nevada
A five-course feast awaits celebrants. There will be spreads, magiritsa, Greek salad, roasted lamb with Greek potatoes, and desserts including tsoureki and koulourakia (Greek Easter cookies). Available on Sunday, April 8 from 11:30AM to 3PM and from 5PM to 11PM for $75 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Make a reservation at Estiatorio Milos.

Zaytinya, Washington, D.C.
The weekend following Greek Easter, stop by on Saturday, April 14 from 12PM to 4PM for the restaurant’s annual Agora celebration. The patio becomes a Greek marketplace, where guests can sample complimentary wine and spirits from Greek distributors, including Metaxa, taste olive oils, and nibble on bites from the restaurant and its sister spot, Pepe. Make a reservation at Zaytinya.

April 2018 Restaurant Weeks: New Ways to Save in a City Near You

OpenTable April 2, 2018 Leave a Comment

With spring officially underway, April 2018 restaurant weeks are happening. Whether you’re a local or a traveller, don’t miss these opportunities to dine for less when you’re in town.

* Seattle Restaurant Week starts today. Book now for $18 two-course lunches + $33 three-course dinners through April 19. Make a reservation.

* East End Restaurant Week hits the Hamptons and beyond. Enjoy $28.95 dinners featuring the flavors of spring, April 8-15. Make a reservation.

* Dining Out for Life D.C. comes to the capital on April 12th. Book a table at a participating restaurant, such as Le Diplomate (pictured above), and 25-110% of your bill will be donated to Food & Friends, providing specialized meals and nutrition services to children and adults facing HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses. Make a reservation.

* Jersey Shore Restaurant Week is a sure thing with $15.18 lunches and $22.18 + $32.18 dinners, April 13-222. Make a reservation.

* Western New York Local Restaurant Week is a delicious way to support local independent restaurants with $20.18, $30.18 + $40.18 lunches and dinners, April 16-22. Make a reservation.

* Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week brings three-course lunches + dinners for $25 + $35 to the Queen City, April 16-22. Make a reservation.

* Dining Out for Life Philadelphia hits the PHL on April 19th. Dine out and 33% of your bill will be donated to Action Wellness, and other area AIDS service organizations, to benefit men, women, and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Make a reservation.Continue Reading

Optical Illusions: 5 Color-Changing Cocktails to Order Now

Nevin Martell March 29, 2018 Leave a Comment

Mixologists are becoming magicians. Top cocktail creators have figured out whimsical ways to turn their tipples into tricks that leave their guests clapping with delight. One of their favorite illusions is to transform their drinks from one color to another. Here are five color-changing cocktails to add magical vibes to any #ThirstyThursday.

Arbella, Chicago, Illinois
Just as Anastasia undergoes a stunning transformation in 50 Shades of Grey, so does this sultry sipper. The 50 Shades of Jade is a shaken mixture of shōchū, sake, crème de violette, and Gran Classico. It’s cloudy when it’s first poured into the coupe glass, but then it takes on a golden glow before ultimately settling on a purplish-green hue. Make a reservation at Arbella.

Scarpetta, Miami Beach, Florida
True Bleau, baby, we love you. Featuring gin and grapefruit soda, the cocktail is completed with a pea flower-infused ice cube. As the cerulean sphere melts, the cocktail turns a rich violet color. Make a reservation at Scarpetta.

Toups South, New Orleans, Louisiana
Sitting in the middle of a bitter gin martini is a scoop of Ponchatoula strawberry granita. As the scoop of slush melts, it gives the drink a ruddy hue. Additionally, the berry-powered slurry adds a subtle sweetness, which balances out the cocktail. Make a reservation at Toups South.

Firefly, Washington, D.C.
The Transformation is actually two drinks in a single glass. There’s a gimlet forged from gin and basil-lime cordial and there’s an Aviation cocktail in ice cube form. As the spherical ice melts, it turns the green gimlet into a purple Aviation. Make a reservation at Firefly.