By David Porat Francoe Noriega is a celebrity chef based on somewhat humble beginnings as an underwear model. A Peruvian who has done a good bit of television, Franco, with the help of some PR, has become a celebrity Chef. Often wearing not much more than an apron, he is the owner of Baby Brasa, located
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Elegant Dining at Home: It Might be Cheaper Than You Think
By Deirdre Anderson, Private Chef Many years ago, having a private chef such as myself, was something reserved for the truly wealthy. Today, as the demand for private chefs has risen dramatically, so has the competition. Although most people have a general valuation of a plumber’s hourly rate, many don’t realize that private chefs charge
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Requiem for a Neighborhood Burger Joint
By Jane Heil Usyk Here’s what a neighborhood is to me: it’s a few square blocks with homes or apartments, a grocery store or two or three, a shoe repair, a laundry, a cleaners, a hairdresser, a park, a library, maybe a stationery store and–most important of all–a bar or restaurant with good cheap food and drink,
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In and Out
The sale of Chelsea Market by Jamestown Properties to Google has been finalized, and the good news is that Google has assured the community that “Jamestown will continue to manage the retail and food hall.” This month we sensed that Village landlords were beginning to accept the new rent realities: a “for rent” sign in
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No More Faux-Feta
Just try telling Citarella, Zabar’s, or Murray’s Cheese to take those ‘French feta’ and ‘Danish feta’ labels off their faux-feta products. Either they won’t know what you’re talking about when you say that feta is an “EU protected designation of origin product of Greece since 2002,” or they’ll just shrug and say they can call
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Chelsea Market Changes Upstairs and Downstairs
By David Porat Chelsea Market, which has been rather constant over the last 20-plus years, is changing. About two weeks ago, it was announced that Google, a significant tenant in the building and landlord of 88 8th Avenue, known as the Port Authority Building, along with Pier 57 at the end of 15th Street (which
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Modern Middle Eastern Dining in the West Village
By Caroline Benveniste As I planned our January visit to Tel Aviv, I confess that I mostly focused on food. I had a long list of places to try, gleaned from articles and friends’ and relatives’ recommendations. There were also a few places that I’d heard about because the chefs had either opened or were
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In and Out
This month, the big real estate news was that Google, in its quest to obtain more office space, was not only buying the Chelsea Market building but also increasing its footprint at Pier 57 at 15th Street. Originally, Anthony Bourdain had been planning a huge international “street food” market at the pier, but those plans
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Abingdon Square Food Paradise: A Sequel
By Barry Benepe In the January 2018 issue of WestView, I described some of the farmers that came into the city from the surrounding region to set up their products at thte Abingdon Square Greenmarket on Saturdays. An additional farmer, with an outstanding array of farm-made cow cheeses, is Consider Bardwell, founded in 1864 in
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It All Started with Pop-Pop
By Dierdre Anderson Pop-Pop, aka Vincent Scailo, my Italian grandfather, sparked my initial love for food. Namely, the preparation part. Growing up, family get-togethers were all about the food. Of course we loved to eat, but with equal passion we loved to create. Together. While Grandma Helen simmered and stirred, my mom seemed to constantly
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More Insight on Coffee Joints
Dear Mr. Capsis: First, I am sorry to learn of the loss of John Capsis. My condolences to you and your family. My reason for writing is this: Gordon T. Hughes, Jr., in his January 2018 WestView article “West Village Coffee Joints,” missed an exquisite newcomer to the neighborhood. Ad Hoc Collective Coffee + Shoppe—part
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In & Out
As usually happens in January, there were few openings and numerous closings, some of them due to lease issues. Corey Johnson, the new City Council Speaker, said that he was in favor of a hearing on the Small Business Jobs Survival Act (SBJSA), which, as described on the City Council website is, “A Local Law
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Correction
Within the January 2018 issue of WestView, the dollar amounts referenced in the article entitled “West Village: A Food Desert?” were incorrect (page 10). The corresponding sentence should read: “The farmers bring home some 20 to 25 million hard-earned dollars…”
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West Village Coffee Joints
By Gordon T. Hughes, Jr. There is a famous scene with Jill Clayburgh and Woody Allen in Annie Hall where the two are sitting on a bench in New York City describing people who are walking by. Well, many New Yorkers with a little spare time do just that. When I have a moment or
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In & Out
On November 30th, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the threshold on the Commercial Rent Tax (CRT) would be raised from $250,000 to $500,000 starting in July 2018. The CRT is a 3.9% tax on rents in Manhattan below 96th Street that exceed the threshold. This is the first change to the CRT since 2001.
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West Village: A Food Desert?
By Barry Benepe Writing in the September 2017 issue of WestView, Robert Widmann bemoans the loss of food markets in the West Village. (See the article entitled “Market-less in the Village.”) Naming several, Widmann concludes, “Now they are all gone.” Actually, we have many serving the West Village: D’Agostino, Integral Yoga, Chelsea Market, Whole Foods,
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In & Out
This month, it seemed like everyone was talking about the crisis in retail. The New York Times wrote an editorial on November 19th entitled “Why Is New York Full of Empty Stores?” New York State Senator Brad Hoylman hosted a Town Hall on November 9th on the ‘Small Business Crisis.’ Tim Wu, a professor at
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In and Out
This month, we heard more stories of high rents driving out long-term tenants. But there were also a large number of openings, including the return of sorts of a beloved Village institution, and hints that some recently shuttered spots will have new tenants soon. Open Osteria 57 (57 West 10th Street, near 6th Avenue): Another
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Heaven on a Plate, Italian Style, at Osteria 57
By Karen Rempel I live on West 10th Street, and watched with interest over the summer as the former Piadina at 57 West 10th Street (near 6th Avenue) gradually metamorphosed into Osteria 57. Happily, on September 15th, I attended a champagne reception and experienced bite-sized, intriguing tastes of joy. I’ve returned numerous times to swoon
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Food Shopping in Paris
By Caroline Benveniste I recently returned from a trip to Paris. While there, I stayed with my aunt, who lives in a residential area in the 17th Arrondissement not far from the Parc Monceau. One of the best things about her neighborhood is that she is only a block or so from a wonderful pedestrian
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In and Out
By Caroline Benveniste As always, the fall brings with it a spate of openings, and an even longer list of anticipated openings. Some long-awaited restaurants need a bit more waiting, such as Pasta Flyer. Italian restaurants continue to flock to the Village, and increasing numbers of old-fashioned barbershops are popping up in the area. Open
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Tracking Changes in the Village
Dear Editors: I just looked at the August issue of WestView and noted that the recent passing of Paul Bellardo was not mentioned. I assume that was because you had already gone to press when he died. I remember well his shop on Christopher Street. I also noticed that, in “In and Out,” you say
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Amazon Buys Whole Foods and Cuts Prices
By George Capsis Oh wow! Amazon’s Jeff Bezos bought Whole Foods for $13.7 billion and, in days, he cut prices. What does that mean for us here in the West Village? I mean, I went to Whole Foods on 14th Street only once and found the prices forbidding (a jar of asparagus juice with three
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The Riviera Cafe Dies but it is Not the Rent
By George Capsis “Oh no, not the Riviera,” was the reaction to the closing of this 47-year-old landmark defining the corner of West 4th Street and 7th Avenue, with its outdoor tables and the funny-leaning front door. So, Dusty and I went there to share a hamburger and asked the waiter to send over the
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In and Out
Perhaps things will improve for retail in the Village: A bill in the New York City Council, which proposed raising the threshold for the Commercial Rent Tax (CRT) from $250,000 to $500,000, now has enough bipartisan supporters to override a mayoral veto. The law came into effect 54 years ago and requires commercial tenants below
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Market-less in the Village
By Robert Widmann My M14A bus pulled up to the light at 8th Avenue and—seated as I was, on the north-facing side—I found myself gazing into the darkened, empty frontage of the former Associated Supermarket. A quick twinge or two shot across my brow—guilt (two heavily laden bags of Trader Joe’s stuff sat beside me
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IN AND OUT
Summer is always a slow time for openings, with only three this month. A number of places closed or will close temporarily (or so we’ve been informed) and one scandalous closing has been in the news. Fortunately, a couple of ice cream pop-ups have opened for the summer, joining the growing list of established spots
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Clarifying Statements in June’s “In and Out”
Dear Caroline: I read your “In and Out” column with interest, as usual, in the latest WestView issue. I always welcome your news. But two things you wrote puzzle me. You ended the section by saying that, “Perhaps the West Village is just not a favorable location for vegan restaurants.” What vegan restaurant? Certainly not
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“What, No Hellman’s?”
By George Capsis Even I, the Publisher of WestView, am sometimes surprised by how good our contributors’ articles are. One of the best was Russell Neuman’s price comparison of Hellman’s Mayonnaise, which dramatizes the insane differences in food cost. If you still have the June issue, I suggest you re-read the article. Russell discovered a
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IN AND OUT
June seems to be a popular time for openings. Last year, we counted 12 new spots, this year seven. We were happy to see a small, independent antique store open on 7th Avenue. Two big name restaurants started service this month as well. High rents were cited again as a reason for restaurant
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Drink Pink, By Victoria James—A Timely Summer Read
By Caroline Benveniste Victoria James is not your typical sommelier. In a field dominated by men, it is unusual to see a young woman, particularly one who has already received numerous awards and made Wine and Spirits Magazine’s list of ‘Best New Sommeliers of 2016.’ Victoria is a local celebrity: She is the wine director
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Missing Caffe Cino Plaque on Cornelia Street
Pó Restaurant, at 31 Cornelia Street (near Bleecker Street) for 24 years, closed suddenly, and the bronze Caffe Cino plaque that was on the outside wall of the venue has disappeared. (Read more about Pó Restaurant’s closing on page 16.) The owners have sent an email stating that they know nothing about it. Caffe Cino
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We Cannot Save What We Have Already Lost
By George Capsis The evening of May 24th, I met the Peruvian-born, and very young (age 28) and handsome (he is an underwear model, artist, and former student at Le Cordon Bleu), owner of the week-old Baby Brasa—Franco Noriega. The restaurant is located at 173 7th Avenue South, near Greenwich Avenue—its 100-plus seats were nearly
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Hold the Mayo! The Future of Grocery Prices in the West Village
By W. Russell Neuman I know I should, but I don’t pay a lot of attention to price tags in stores. I should also keep track of sale items and I don’t do that either. But when I picked up a jar of Hellmann’s Mayonnaise at a chain grocery store/supermarket in the West Village recently,
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IN AND OUT
This month, we saw a large number of store closings of all sorts. The closing of Pó was widely reported, and with the previous closing of Home, and the news that Cornelia Street Café is struggling, the outlook for the Cornelia Street restaurant scene is not rosy. On the positive side, two interesting openings and
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A Food Tour of London’s East End—in the West Village
By Caroline Benveniste Recently, while in London, we (my husband and I and about 10 other people) took a wonderful East End food tour. This was not really a surprise, as we’d previously gone on an Eating Europe’s tour in Amsterdam, which was equally brilliant. I didn’t know much about the East End, which turns
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Favorite Restaurants, Continued
Piccolo Angolo (621 Hudson Street, at Jane Street): In more than 20 years, I’ve never had a bad meal at this family-run establishment. I’ve found it a little expensive but always high quality. Its large portions and diverse menu make it well worth the price. One caveat is that it can feel small and crowded,
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IN AND OUT
by Caroline Benvieste The big news this month is the re-opening of the Quad Cinema which was purchased by lawyer, film buff, and real estate developer Charles S. Cohen back in 2015 and has been under construction ever since. Many famous people came to the opening on April 13th, including Harvey Keitel, Julian Schnabel, and
