Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Restaurant Week in New York City known for all types to dine at the best restaurants and getting more "bang for your buck".

Participating restaurants celebrate fine dining by offering 3-course prix-fixe menus at affordable prices for lunch and/or dinner. 

This year NYC Restaurant Week will be offering 3 course pre fixe menu @ $20.21 and extending this offer through take out.

What better way to enjoy the perks of restaurant week in the privacy in your own home.

So get your food apps ready and indulge while wearing your sweatpants and watching Netflix... Bon Apetite!

For more information on NYC Restaurant Week 2021

NYC Go/ NYC Restaurant Week 2021

NY Eater.com

Trending on Tik Tok to Instagram, these so called "Chocolate Bombs" and/or "Cocoa Bombs" have gained a huge following and trend for 2020.

Chocolate Bomb/ Cocoa Bomb is basically a hollow chocolate shell filled with hot chocolate mix which usually consists of cocoa powder, some sugar (optional), and marshmallows.

The reason why it is gaining so much attention is because the experience is both delicious for the mouth and entertaining for the eyes to see.

Each "bomb" is slightly different depending on where you purchase it or make it yourself. The chocolate bomb can be experienced by either pouring hot milk over the chocolate bomb and watch it melt from the top view or place the "bomb" into a a cup already filled with hot milk and watch it disperse from below.

The item has gotten so popular that even Costco is selling a 16 pack of chocolate bombs with different flavors and the product is flying off its shelves. Some people are even taking advantage of the popularity and using the profits towards donations such as a local baker from North Idaho who sells it to raise money for Autism Speaks.

This tasty trend is going viral and hope it is a trend that will stay mainstream just a little bit longer and return every year. So cheers to those who are drinking the chocolate bombs!

My question is... who will be making the "Irish" Chocolate Bomb version?!? 😁

Photo Credit:bloomberg.com

New York has made it clear that outdoor dining is here to stay, but with the temperature slowly dropping and of course "Winter is Coming" outdoor dining can be a bit discouraging.

Photo Credit: @danielboulud

Do not fear fellow dinners! New York has seen it all and been through it all. From hurricanes, snow storms, heat waves, to 9/11. New York restaurants have adapted and created the latest trend to dine... heated outdoor seating!

Photo Credit: @osteriamorini

Restaurants such as Daniel have set the bar to heated lamps and more intimate dining. Time Out New York, did a featured article and a Google Document that updated frequently of where to eat with heated outdoor dining. Listing all restaurants in all the five boroughs. So be hungry and excited... you will be toasty while toasting to a delicious dinner!

Photo Credit: crystalinks.com

As of last week, the COVID 19 surcharge went into effect. Restaurants in New York City can charge up to 10% for this. The percentage can vary in each restaurant, but the maximum percentage is 10%. This will be before sales tax on your bill when you are dining in or ordering take out.

All restaurants participating must state the COVID 19 surcharge on their menu, app, and verbally by their staff. The reasoning for this surcharge is to have extra revenue for the restaurant and bars that are struggling to operate during this pandemic.

Photo Credit: seriouseats.com

Some restaurants and bars are a little hesitant to participate in the COVID 19 surcharge. It is not mandatory, but optional. The businesses fear the downside of the surcharge. Examples like customers not wanting to dine at their business when they can go down the block and not be charged the COVID 19 surcharge. Servers and front of house staff are discouraged knowing that this surcharge will mess up their tips and the lack of it to begin with.

Good news is that any business establishment that ends up abusing COVID 19 surcharge will be fined up $330 for each violation.

Mixed feelings are being discussed due to the COVID 19 surcharge. We just hope that everyone who plans to eat in New York City has brushed up on their math skills.

CNN.com -NYC Covid Restaurant Surcharge

NY1.com - NYC Restaurant and Bar Coronavirus Surcharge Takes Effect

NY.Eater.com - NYC Restaurant Surcharge Covid-19

Photo Credit: newmediarockstars.com

With Halloween just weeks away and more holidays around the corner, chocolate has been a huge staple to celebrate the holidays. To the majority, chocolate is apart of our daily lives so why not learn some fun facts of chocolate!

Photo Credit: foodnavigator.com

🍫 Chocolate was first consumed by drinking not eating. 90% of chocolate consumption history was drinking "hot chocolate".

🍫 September 13th is International Chocolate Day and Milton Hershey, founder of Hershey's chocolates birthday.

🍫 The chocolate industry is worth $110 billion per year.

🍫German chocolate cake is not from Germany. The cake is named after an American named Sam German who developed a sweet baking chocolate in 1952.

🍫100 pounds of chocolate are eaten each second in the United States.

🍫 The average person from Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, and Great Britain consumes 24 pounds of chocolate each year and China 99 grams of chocolate each year.

🍫Ghirardelli brand is the U.S. portion of swiss confectioner Lindt.

Photo Credit: americanhistory.si.edu

🍫The United Kingdom sells 200 million Cadbury Creme Eggs each year and produces 1.5 million a day.

🍫A week before Easter🐰 , Americans purchase 71 million pounds of chocolate candy, 48 million pounds for Valentine's Day💟 , and 90 million pounds for Halloween 🎃.

🍫Harry Barnett Reese, the founder of Reeses Peanut Butter Cups was a former Hershey employee and created the famous candy in the 1920's.

🍫The scientific name for the cacao tree is "Theobroma Cacao" which literally translates to "Cacao, food of the Gods".

🍫It takes the whole years crop from one cacao tree to produce a half kilo of cocoa.

🍫Milton Hershey, founder of Hershey's Chocolate company expanded so rapidly that Milton built an entire town for his employees to live in.

🍫Napoleon always had chocolate with him. He ate it as whenever he needed an energy boost.

🍫 Chocolate producers worldwide use an estimated 20% of the world's peanut crops and 40% of their almond crops.

Photo Credit: lindt-home-of-chocolate.com

🍫 In 2020, Lindt Chocolate introduced the world's largest chocolate fountain that pours from 30 feet high with 1,500 liters of real chocolate pouring into a giant Lindor truffle at their latest Lindt shop, museum and factory.

🍫 Rodolphe Lindt, founder of Lindt Chocolate invented the conche press

🍫It takes about 400 beans to produce a single pound of chocolate.

🍫Each cacao tree produces approximately 2,500 beans

🍫Nutella was invented during World War Two, when an Italian pastry chef mixed hazelnuts into chocolate to extend his cocoa supply.

🍫The French celebrate April Fool's Day with a chocolate shaped fish also known as "Poisson d'Avril"

Saving the best fun fact for last!

🍫CaCao Noel is named after the founders of Paris Gourmet, Xavier and Dominique Noel!

More Fun Facts About Chocolate:

Mental Floss - Food History of Chocolate

EatThis.com - Chocolate Facts

Mental Floss- 30 Facts About Chocolate

Insider.com -Worlds Largest Chocolate Fountain Opens At Lindt Chocolate

Mental Floss - 38 Sweet Facts About Candy

CandyUSA.com - Story of Chocolate

Photo Credit: @floydcardoz

In March we lost Chef Floyd Cardoz to Covid- 19. The food industry was at a loss for such a talented chef that also pioneered Indian cuisine to the mouths of many who dined at his restaurant Tabla.

Photo Credit: @sogadesigncollective

Prior to his death, chef Floyd was working on a collaboration project with a Queens based spice company Burlap & Barrel.

The concept is to create a line of masala blends and thanks to his wife, Barkha Cardoz the product is now available. With each purchase a $1 of the proceeds is donated to Cookies for Kids Cancer.

It is honestly a winning purchase for all parties. We can't wait to hear, taste, see, and of course try all the delicious creations that will come out with this spice line. What an amazing way to honor chef Floyd Cardoz!

NY Times - Floyd Cardoz Masalas Spices

Food and Wine -Floyd Cardoz Burlap Barrel Spices

Photo Credit: NYDailyNews.com

Chef and restaurateur Andrew Carmellini is an Italian American chef based in New York City. Well known for his restaurants such as Locanda Verde and The Dutch, chef Andrew shared his experience as a line cook serving the notorious mobster John Gotti.

Photo Credit: www.grubstreet.com

The story itself is quite intriguing. The fact that it is based on a real life experience in the 90's which was John Gotti's prime. The "Dapper Don" made back then "line cook" Andrew drop everything in the middle of a Saturday night dinner service run down the block in search for some "sole" for the mobsters to consume.

Photo Credit: community.qvc.com

The story ends with Chef Andrew Carmellini learning a valuable lesson that night with him stating "big lesson... doesn't matter who is coming into your restaurant... you have to treat them with respect!"

Another lesson should be embraced as well. At the end of the meal John Gotti's associates went around the restaurant and personally tipped each employee from the waiter to the pastry chef $50 and saying "Mr. Gotti would like to personally thank you for tonight"

We may not have the finances to tip every staff $50 every time you go out to eat, but maybe we should take a page from John Gotti's book and show other ways to appreciate BOH (back of house) staff. Some restaurants are even offering options like a round of beer for the line cooks on their menu's.

A round of beers doesn't sound so bad after all, but can they drink it after they serve us? 😂

What do you think?

Story Time: What Do You Do When John Gotti Comes to Dinner? | On The Line

NoHo Hospitality Group - Chef Andrew Carmellini

GOTTI Official Trailer (2017) John Travolta Mafia Thriller Movie HD

Photo credit: www.pininterest.co.kr

New York City restaurants geared up and welcomed customers to finally dine indoors. Majority of restaurants followed the strict rules and guidelines such as visual stations of hand sanitizers, masks worn and temperature checks taken upon arrival, etc

Photo credit: ac-repairplantation.com

Some restaurants are taking even more drastic measures and upgrading their HVAC/ air filtration system to prevent even further spread of the virus. This "upgrade" of equipment leaves another huge bill, adding on to even more debt that restaurants are already dealing with before they can make a profit. The reason is obvious and that reason is for the safety of their own staff and customers.

So the next time you go out to eat and someone at your table complains about the temperature or states "there's a draft"... think twice before you let your server know.

Chicago Tribune.com Restaurants Air Filtration Coronavirus

NYEater.com NYC Restaurants Indoor Dining Air Filters Cost Coronavirus

Photograph: @rflnyc/Time Out New York

Since outdoor dining in NYC became permanent, restaurant owners now have to think outside the box to battle the weather. Cafe du Soleil’s solution? Space Bubbles. Eighteen space bubbles, which can accommodate 2-6 persons each, have taken over this restaurant’s sidewalk and now diners can enjoy their meal regardless of Mother Nature’s plans. We look forward to seeing what other restaurants have up their sleeve when winter hits. For more, head over to Time Out New York

@NYPost

IN-n-OUT, but not the burger! Governor Cuomo has announced that starting September 30, 2020 indoor dining will begin in New York City at a 25% capacity. With strict protocols including temperature checks upon arrival, contact information to keep track of traceability, and no service after midnight.

Hindustan Times

If the infection does not increase then these guidelines will be reevaluated based on data and restaurants maybe permitted to seat up to 50% capacity come November 1, 2020. When the decision was announced, mixed reactions came to surface from fellow New Yorkers such as restauranteurs, reporters, etc.

LAtimes.com

Check out the links below for the official guidelines and the "IN" or "OUT" reactions of fellow foodies.

Governor Cuomo Announces Indoor Dining New York City

NYTimes.com

NY.Eater.com Indoor Dining NYC Restaurant Reaction

GrubStreet.com Indoor Dining Returns to NYC September 30

NY.Eater.com NYC Food Media Return of Indoor Dining

NYPost.com How NYC Restaurants Prepping for Indoor Dining