Graffiti is celebrating their first Valentine’s Day with an 8-Course Aphrodisiac Tasting Menu. That means you start with Pop Rock Oysters, main with Fig and Honey Pork, and end with Kamasutra Chocolate. And at $80 per couple (that’s just $40 per person), it may be the best deal in town.

Graffiti Food & Wine Bar, 224 East 10th Street (between First & Second Avenues), (212) 677-0695, graffitinyc.com

Lobster bisque soup. New Zealand lamb chops. Molten chocolate cake. Bar Martignetti’s $50 per person, multi-course Valentine’s Day meal is easy on the eyes and on the wallet.

Bar Martignetti, 406 Broome Street (at Centre Street), (212) 680-5600, barmartignetti.com

Sure they have awesome fish tacos but Mercadito is so much more. And for V-Day, $60 per person gets you a five-course tasting menu (raw oysters, ceviches, botanas) with margaritas. Yes, with margaritas.

Mercadito, 179 Avenue B (at 11th Street), (212) 529-6490, and Mercadito Grove, 100 7th Avenue South (at Grove Street), (212) 647-0830, mercaditony.com

Hop over to Rayuela where Valentine’s Day begins with a Cava toast, Sopa Amarillo, and your choice of prix-fixe options, including Ribeye a la Parrilla, Bacalao Colorao, Cordero Amoroso, and Paella Para Dos. $75 per person. For reservations, please contact Event Coordinator, Rachel Japko at (212) 253-8840 or rayuela.events@gmail.com.

Rayuela, 165 Allen Street (at Stanton Street), (212) 253-8840, rayuelanyc.com

Suba is going to be special on V-Day. Starting with choices like Atun Crudo (raw Bluefin tuna) or Terrina de Faisan (pheasant and bacon terrine with candied hazelnuts), and Waygu Flatiron steak or Cochino Glaseado en Sidra (apple cider glazed pork). Four-course dinner goes for $95 per person.

Suba, 109 Ludlow Street (between Rivington & Delancey Streets), (212) 982-5714, subanyc.com

Treat someone special to Mandarin Oriental, New York’s Champagne Tasting Menu in the 35th floor Lobby Lounge featuring views of Central Park and the spectacular Manhattan skyline. Decadent caviar, smoked salmon rosettes, and velvety Foie Gras terrines are paired with fine Champagnes. Three-course Champagne Tasting Menu, $195 for two people. For reservations, please call Cleiser Calcines at (212) 805-8234 or email ccalcines@mohg.com.

Mandarin Oriental New York, 80 Columbus Circle, 35th Floor Lobby Lounge, (212) 805-8800, mandarinoriental.com/newyork

Here are our suggestions for the evening:

Costumes, Champagne, and caviar. It’s hard to resist the allure of the Four Seasons’ New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted with canapés and Champagne. Unwind with a live, five-piece band, lobsters, langoustines, white truffle risotto, and cheesecake lollipops. Dinner begins at 9 p.m. Black-tie attire. $800 per person. For reservations, call (212) 350-6658.

Four Seasons, 57 East 57th Street (between Madison & Park Avenues), (212) 758-5700, fourseasons.com/newyorkfs

Bring in ‘08 with a special New Year’s Eve dinner at Megu Midtown. Indulge in Megu’s Osechi Amuse, ten varieties of traditional Japanese finger foods, five different sashimi, Filet Mignon Kagero, and dessert. First Dinner Seating begins at 5:30 p.m for $150. Second “Count Down” Seating begins at 8:30 p.m. for $180.

Megu Midtown, 845 UN Plaza, 47th Street (at First Avenue), (212) 964-7777, megunyc.com

Seven-figure bonus? How about a six-figure party: Welcome 2008 with grandeur at your private $100,000 New Years Eve Extravaganza at The Campbell Apartment. Treat 75 guests to premium cocktails, dinner, Champagne, and dancing to a full orchestra in authentic 1920s decor. It could make anyone feel like a mogul. Contact the venue for more information at (212) 953-0409.

The Campbell Apartment, Grand Central Terminal, 15 Vanderbilt Avenue Entrance (near 42nd Street), (212) 953-0409, hospitalityholdings.com

Get the glitz and glamor of the original Times Square ball minus the tourists at Tribeca Grand Hotel’s Church Lounge. The sleek cocktail party features a replica of the ball in its 8-story atrium, with an open premium bar, food, desserts, and of course, bubbly. General admission is $149, reserved seating $249, and premium seating $299. Formal cocktail attire required. Call (212) 519-6666 for reservations. View invite.

Tribeca Grand, 2 Sixth Avenue (between Church & White Streets), (212) 519-6600, tribecagrand.com

That sounds about right. Brewtopia: The Great World Beer Festival is the longest running festival dedicated to the enjoyment of finely crafted beer in New York City history.

This year’s event will be held at Pier 92 (60,000 square feet of beer!), the “Show Pier” located in midtown Manhattan at 52nd Street and the Hudson River, and will bring together hundreds of brewers and thousand of participants. A mere $49.99 will give you full access to this planet’s most awesome tribute to malted barley. You’ll revel in the sounds of live bands jamming on center stage, be amazed by fun games, and even get a souvenir glass to remind yourself that you sampled over 50 beers in one setting.

You also be supporting Hope For A Cure, Brewtopia’s choice non-profit, in helping to raise awareness for Parkinson’s disease.

So grab your fellow beerman and come on down.

This brew’s for you.

For more information and tickets, visit worldbeerfest.com, or call (800) 935-8537. Tickets are also available at the door (cash only).


Brewtopia V: The Great World Beer Festival
Pier 92, 52nd Street and the Hudson River
Friday 10/26: 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday 10/27: Session 1, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. & Session 2, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

THE SWEET (& SAVORY) SPOT
Like an eclectic artist, Pastry Chef Jehangir Mehta (Jean Georges, Vong) creatively melds sweet and savory at his new spot Graffiti. Expect the unexpected, like Pickled Ginger Scallop with candied red chili and seared flat bread, or Grape Braised Figs with black pepper ice cream. Restaurant, bakery or café? You decide. photo: Kyle Erin Schmitz

Graffiti, 224 East 10th Street (between First & Second Avenues), 212-677-0695, graffitinyc.com

THE EURO
Foams, gellées, mousses. Sometimes you just want to eat real food from the Home Country. Head to Bobo, Carlos Suarez’s new, bi-level brownstone of pan-European fare (peruse the menu) by Chef Nicolas Cantrel (Alain Ducasse, Country). Indulge in Chestnut Soup with cognac, chicken and cream and Chicken Grandmere with red wine, mushroom, bacon and mashed potatoes. Bon appétit, indeed.

Bobo, 181 West 10th Street (at Seventh Avenue South), (212) 488-2626, bobonyc.com

THE SPEAKASY
The mercury may be cooling but Broome Street is heating up with the opening of The Randolph at Broome. Go for the West Indian theme and pitchers of Michael Derry (beer meets vodka meets lemons). Stay for the music. Yeah, mon. Opens Monday (9/24).

The Randolph at Broome, 354 Broome Street (between Bowery & Elizabeth Street), (212) 274-0667, randolphnyc.com

THE ROAST
What could be better than a plate of slow-roasted, flavorful Ossabaw Heritage Pig to kick-off Autumn? How about some wine and beer to wash it down. Hit Il Buco’s Fourth Annual Outdoor Pig Festival on Bond Street today, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. $20.

IL Buco, 47 Bond Street (between Bowery and Lafayette Street), (212) 533-1932, ilbuco.com

THE PARTY
Picture this: you, your friends, and free vodka at GalleryBar tonight! Yes, that’s right: the Lower East Side’s only art bar is serving free well vodka from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tonight (9/20).

GalleryBar, 120 Orchard Street (between Rivington and Delancey Streets), (212) 529-2266, gallerybarnyc.com

Sure, English may be the most universal language on Earth, but the Japanese speak your language. After all, when was the last time you dined on haute British cuisine?

Right, we can’t remember either.

Thankfully, you only have to remember one sacred word to gain passage into the über-chic world of Japanese fare — “Joy of Sake.” (Okay, that’s three words, but sake is the only one that matters).

This year’s Joy of Sake New York event features over 300 premium sakes. Paired with an array of complementary appetizers from your favorite celebrity chefs including Nobu’s Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, and Megu’s Koji Imai, it may be the most palatable $75 you’ve ever spent.

Add to that the opportunity to sample rare labels not available in the U.S. and you’ve nearly enticed yourself to spend another Thursday night in Soho.

Smooth, irresistible, refreshingly innovative; you may have met your match…

Or 300 of them.


The Joy of Sake takes place on Thursday, September 27, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. $75 per person, $90 at the door (if available).

Purchase tickets at joyofsake.com or by calling (212) 799-7243.


The Joy of Sake New York
The Puck Building
295 Lafayette Street (between Prince and Houston Streets)
joyofsake.com

Read on…



DINING FOR DARFUR
Back in April 2006, Andrea Strong, a food writer (TheStrongBuzz.com) and local celebrity wanted to make a difference to the people of Darfur.

Boy, did she ever! Since founding and championing Dining for Darfur, a series of food and wine events with proceeds benefiting the cause, Strong has helped raise awareness about the genocide, and tens of thousands of dollars.

For her next event on August 21st (Tuesday), T Edward Wines supplies the vino (400+ wines), while Blue Ribbon, Cookshop, and Hill Country serve up signature dishes. Tickets are $125 each and benefit the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

T Edward Dining for Darfur Wine Tasing, The Puck Building, 295 Lafayette Street, diningfordarfur.org

KIVA
Hey, big spenders: twenty-five bucks may net you a week of Iced Caramel Macchiatos, but lend it to someone through Kiva and it could jump start their livelihood.

You’ll loan to small business owners in the developing world, and receive email updates on their venture as your loan is fully repaid in six to twelve months.

Consult kiva.org for more information.

CARNIVAL FOR CONSERVATION
Here’s all you need to know about the Carnival for Conservation: drink organic cocktails ($5), eat complimentary apps, play games and win prizes, all while benefiting The Trust For Public Land. 8/16 (Thursday), 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Silverleaf Tavern, 43 East 38th Street (Park Avenue South, (212) 973-2550, silverleaftavern.com

BEST PARTY
Brooklyn’s Bar Tabac will be buzzing with a street festival and North America’s largest pétanque tournament (think Italian bocce). Two whole Smith Street (between Bergen & Pacific) blocks will be covered with sand, as 84 teams from around the world compete.

Blue Orchid will provide the jazz soundtrack. Merguez and chicken sandwiches will be served. Ricard cocktails will flow. Sunday (7/15), 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Bar Tabac, 128 Smith Street (Dean Street), Brooklyn, (718) 923-0918, bartabacny.com

BEST PARTY IN MANHATTAN
Les Halles’s annual Liberty Festival continues through this weekend with a special menu and festive events. Check out the street festival on Saturday (7/14) from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. All proceeds benefit Best Buddies Charity.

Les Halles Downtown, 15 John Street (Broadway), (212) 285-8585, leshalles.net

THE RESTAURANT
Feel instantly transported to the French countryside at Soho’s Provence. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon nibbling on some pissaldière (French pizza) while sipping a glass of rosé.

Provence, 38 Macdougal Street (Prince Street), (212) 475-7500, provencenyc.com

THE BISTRO
250 artisanal cheeses. 160 wines by the glass. Get to Artisanal with friends for an uncomparable selection of fromagerie.

Artisanal Fromagerie, Bistro and Wine Bar, 2 Park Avenue (32nd Street), (212) 725-8585, artisanalbistro.com

THE FÊTE
Immerse yourself in French sights, sounds, and flavors at the city’s annual Bastille Day Festival on Sunday (7/15) in midtown (60th Street from Fifth to Lexington Avenues). Go for the food. Stay for the live performers, and French Can Can.

Bastille Day Festival, Sunday (7/15), Noon to 6 p.m., 60th Street from Fifth to Lexington Avenues, bastilledayusa.com

To honor the occasion and the Rising Star Chefs of tomorrow, we bring you the sweet stuff…

Chefs Armando Baisas, Hervé Chabert, and Christian Faure
Le Cordon Bleu International, Ottawa
Fondue of Caramel, Maple Syrup, and Apple Icewine
First, we were awed by their edible sculptures: a bouquet of sugar flowers, a wildcat made of chocolate, and vegetable odes to Mr. Beard himself. Then, these chefs from up North floored us with their Canadian-American marriage in one delectable dessert. Sweet, big apples (representing New York) drenched in caramel and maple syrup (Canada) sit atop a creamy caramel fondue inside each glass. Perched on top is a small vial with just enough Canadian icewine to balance out this treat.

To learn more about Le Cordon Bleu, visit their website.

Chef Dominique Ansel
Daniel, NYC
Tahitian Vanilla Bavarois with Mango–Cilantro Gelée, Passion Fruit, and Banana Sorbet
Soft, pillowy rolls scented with vanilla and sweet gelée inside were light and delicate. But when Chef Ansel presented them beside the most intense sorbet we’ve ever tasted, an act of perfection was achieved.

Restaurant Daniel’s website.

Chef David Carmichael
Gilt, NYC
Marionberry Brûlée Strudel with Muscovado Granité
Tiny cones lined one neat, wooden, chem-lab-reminiscent rack on this table and we had to take a peak. Chef Carmichael was busy filling each paper-wrapped wafer with an impressive concoction - sweet marionberry brûlée filling topped with icy, crunchy granité. Smiling and cracking jokes, he seamed to enjoy his treats being eagerly snapped up as soon as they were set down.

Visit Gilt online.

Chef José Andrés
Minibar at Café Atlantico, Washington, DC
Foie Gras Cotton Candy
Childlike desserts were crowd pleasers, but the most popular by far was Chef Andrés’s puffy pleasures. Tiny cubes of foie gras on a stick, rolled in corn nuts and seasoning, were taken for a quick spin in the cotton candy machine. Sticks never made it to the table, as the chef handed each prize to the growing crowd. Sweet, light and dense, with a hint of crunch. So good, we had to have three.

To learn more about Minibar, visit their website.

It’s obviously in your best interest to shower your special someone with necessary fanfare, but you might as well make arrangements for an activity you’ll both enjoy.

It’s hard to go wrong with the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park’s annual chocolate buffet. The hotel’s award-winning pastry chef Laurent Richard dazzles your palate with the world’s most cherished aphrodisiac in 22 different ways for this year’s “The Art of Chocolate“. Chocolate saffron napoleons, chocolate cheesecake balls, and crunchy chocolate pots de crèmes give you an inkling of this sumptuous smorgasbord.

You’ll need a drink to wash this all down, and Laurent’s chocolate Bananas Fosters martinis may not cut it, so a bottomless glass of champagne adds further sparkle to the already decadent experience.

Rise Bar on the 14th floor serves as the ideal romantic setting, and has been outfitted with chocolate sculptures and artwork for the occasion. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer breathtaking panoramic views of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor, and the lights of Downtown Brooklyn sparkling in the evening sky.

If the chocolate and bubbly combo proves too intoxicating, there sure are worse places to be stuck than the Ritz.

“The Art of Chocolate” takes place today and on Friday and Saturday evenings of the next two weekends with seatings at 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m., and 11 p.m. $75.00 per person.


The Art of Chocolate at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park
2 West Street
Tel: (917) 790-2600
ritzcarlton.com

Water Street Restaurant & Lounge, 66 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY, (718) 625-9352, waterstreetrestaurant.com

What’s better than shrimp cocktails, lobster rolls, and caviar potatoes? Having it delivered to your door by the brand new Urban Lobster. It’s the surf to your turf. Starting this Saturday (10/7).

Urban Lobster, 240 East Houston Street (near Avenue A), (212) 677-2626, urbanlobster.com

It doesn’t get any better than Armani Exchange’s One Day Sample Sale Event. Tees are discounted to $5, bags are $15, and denim is down to $20. Starts Saturday (10/7), 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Armani Exchange Warehouse, 125 Enterprise Avenue South, Secaucus, New Jersey