Tag: delivery

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Chefs Dining Featured NYC Restaurants

Chef Mashama Bailey brings her Southern food to NYC at Intersect

Intersect by Lexus restaurant residency

Acclaimed Savannah, Georgia Chef Mashama Bailey is bringing the best of her Southern cuisine from award-winning restaurant The Grey to the Big Apple in a multi-week residency at Intersect by Lexus. In its first-ever takeout and delivery program, the venue is featuring a rotating three-course menu that changes on a weekly basis — to keep things interesting. 

Located in New York City’s Meatpacking District, Intersect by Lexus has featured some excellent chefs in their Restaurant-in-Residence rotation, and this month’s is no exception. Chef Mashama Bailey residency started on Thursday, January 21, and is running through mid-April, so you will have plenty of time to enjoy her port city classic dishes mixed with the NYC flavors. 

The menu, which includes appetizer, entrée and dessert courses, along with sides of The Grey’s signature collard greens, pickles and homemade bread, is available Thursday through Sunday evenings. To complement the experience, guests can choose between a selection of handcrafted cocktails such as Chatham Artillery Punch and the Father John Manhattan available to order à la carte, and a wine pairing package. 

Orders will also include some branded gifts inspired by The Grey and Intersect by Lexus, such as a copy of Chef Bailey and her business partner Johno Morisano’s new book, Black, White & The Grey, an at-home pickling kit and a free month of Netflix to stream Chef Bailey’s episode of Chef’s Table. 

Wine pairing intersect by lexus

Current menu

LEEKS VINAIGRETTE:Tomme, Benton’s Country Ham, Rye Crouton 

GRILLED RED SNAPPER: Charred Citrus, Salsa Verde 

BUTTERSCOTCH CREAM: Rye Brisee, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Chantilly Fried Sage 

Accompanied By: PARKER HOUSE ROLL, COLLARD GREENS, PICKLES

From Thursday, Jan. 28 to Sunday, Jan. 31

For this new edition of the program, Intersect partnered with food delivery app Taste to make sure everyone will have a safe meal at home. Orders can be placed at their website.  Each menu costs $65, excluding delivery, tax and gratuity, and the three course wine pairing is available forpurchase for extra $24.

Intersect by Lexus restaurant residency

About Chef Mashama Bailey

Mashama is a New York City girl – born in the Bronx and raised in Queens. Thanks to the women in her family — grandmothers, aunts and her mom — she learned to cook and became passionate about the power of food to tell stories. Chef Bailey attended the Institute of Culinary Education and also did a six-month stage at Château du Feÿ in Burgundy, France to improve her cooking techniques. 

After working 12 years in New York restaurants, Mashama was invited by John Morisano to become the partner and executive chef at his new Southern restaurant in Georgia, The Grey, set in a former Greyhound bus terminal in downtown Savannah. With a penchant for regional produce, seafood and meats, Chef Bailey is always bringing new ideas to the restaurant. 

The Grey was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best New Restaurant award, with Chef Bailey winning Best Chef Southeast award in 2019. Not to be missed, she was featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table in 2019 and became the first African American chef to star on the acclaimed show.

See more: 

The Heartwarming Story Behind Nola Love Pizza

Food Truck Operators See Booming Business Amidst Citywide Closures

The Future of Food is Plant-based, says Matthew Kenney

The Perfect Pairing with Cafe Katja

Categories
Business Featured Finance Living NYC

58 WAYS TO SUPPORT LOWER MANHATTAN BUSINESSES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

58 WAYS TO SUPPORT LOWER MANHATTAN BUSINESSES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
https://www.instagram.com/marzenka_/

Maybe this year is the year to accept that the 2020 Holiday season will be different.

It’s not that long ago that we made it through the toughest two seasons to spend quarantined, spring, and summer. Is this not the time of the year, that most of us long for? Shedding our heavy winter clothes, and shaking off those dreary blues, not to mention those few extra pounds we put on over the long winter months, snuggled up with cookies, hot cocoa, and scrumptious Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding?

Wait… that was me I was talking about.

Personally, I think we need to be a little less worried about jumping on a plane to see Grandma and Grandpa, or jetting off to that island paradise just so you can jump in the beautiful piercing blue ocean in that new bikini, or parasail your way over the long white sandy beaches. It’s so overrated!

What’s not overrated is staying the course, thinking about others, do your part, from populating your travel miles with or picking up on your travels the worst virus in our lifetime.

Downtown Alliance compiled 58 Ways to Not Leave Lower Manhattan.

Shopping

Holidays are a little different this year, with many people forgoing big family celebrations in favor of smaller, home-based events. All the more reason, then, to make your homebound holiday even more special.

If you’re sticking around Lower Manhattan, we’ve rounded up some great spots in the neighborhood for seasonal cheer. Here, we’ve included some tasty eateries, eclectic shops, and other local highlights. Note that most of these establishments have been hit hard during the pandemic and could use some extra help these days, so you’ll be giving back as much as you’re getting. Happy holidays!

1. Thai Farm Kitchen

This South Street Seaport staple serves contemporary Thai cuisine from thom kha kai to Panang curry. A tall glass of Sapporo makes for a great addition to the meal. (21 Peck Slip)

2. Adrienne’s Pizza Bar

Pizza maker Nick Angelis’s menu features gourmet Italian cuisine — make sure to try their house specialty, the grandma-style pizza. (54 Stone St.)

3. Babesta

Babesta is an excellent resource for new and seasoned parents alike for the best clothing, learning toys and equipment to raise your bundle of joy. (56 Warren St., Brookfield Place)

4. Black Fox

Kick back with a great cuppa caffeine and an afternoon cookie (trust us) from 70 Pine’s resident coffeeshop. (70 Pine St.)

5. Blue Park Kitchen

This delicious walk-up establishment offers the rare combination of fast-casual convenience and locally-sourced produce, grains and proteins. (70 Pine St.)

6. Luke’s Lobster

Classic lobster rolls, crab rolls, shrimp rolls, and cole slaw are all on offer at the Financial District location of Luke’s Lobster (26 South William Street). The seafood shack is also dishing up lobster bisque and New England clam chowder for colder days, as well as DIY lobster roll kits for those who’d prefer to cook (or look like they’ve cooked, via Instagram) at home.

7. Taim

Taim offers satisfying servings of falafel sandwiches, cauliflower shawarma, sabich, tasty fries and more. (75 Maiden Lane)

8. Wattle Cafe

A lovely independent cafe boasting excellent superfood waffles, organic bites and excellent coffee blends for all flavor profiles. (19 Rector St.)

9. Bowne & Co.

Learn about the origins of letterpress printing in Lower manhattan, take a workshop or purchase unique gift items. (211 Water St.)

10. Brookfield

Brookfield Place covers all of your shopping needs with more than 40 shops ranging from Gucci to Rite Aid. (230 Vesey St.)

11. The Rink at Brookfield Place

The Rink at Brookfield Place is available for corporate outings, private lessons, birthday parties and special events. (230 Vesey St.)

12. Pearl Diner

Paging omelet lovers: Pearl Diner, the 48-year-old Downtown institution at 212 Pearl Street, is now available for in-person service as well as delivery via apps like GrubHub and Seamless.

13. City Acres

City Acres Market is an all-in-one grocery store, caterer and restaurant specializing in the highest quality products, and its beer selection is first-rate. (70 Pine St.)

14. City Blossoms

Whether purchase to-go bouquets or designing an exquisite floral centerpiece, this mother/daughter-run operation will ensure a beautiful arrangement. (62 Trinity Pl.)

15. Crown Shy

The former chef of 11 Madison Park and the Nomad features a menu of plates like Red Snapper Crudo, Grilled Quail and Roasted Short Ribs. (70 Pine St.)

16. CUT by Wolfgang Puck

Residents and visitors alike fancy this chic, award-winning steakhouse with a killer martini bar. Specialties include the popular Japanese Wagyu beef. (99 Church St.)

17. Da Claudio

This longtime neighborhood standby is perfect for a relaxing weeknight meal (p.s. the Bucatini Arrabbiata is awesome). (21 Ann Street)

18. Sant Ambroeus

Beloved Italian restaurant and coffee shop Sant Ambroeus has expanded its New York City presence with a new location in Brookfield Place (200 Vesey Street) — offering up the usual cappuccinos, gelato and homemade pastries, but will also feature some of Sant Ambroeus’ more robust restaurant options including salads, pasta and even a few elegantly prepared seafood and steak options.

19. Eataly NYC Downtown

Eataly’s Italian specialty grocery has you covered with handmade cheeses, fresh pasta, espresso beans, and the finest quality seafood. (101 Liberty St.)

20. fellow barber

fellow barber is not only the ideal spot for a stylish, affordable haircut; it’s also where you’ll find expertly crafted, US-made grooming products. (18 Fulton St.)

21. Fields Good Chicken

Winner, winner chicken dinner (or lunch!) at this fast-casual restaurant dedicated to amazing poultry dishes. (101 Maiden Lane)

22. Fresh Salt

This neighborhood watering hole has been serving up seasonal cocktails and top-notch grub since 2004, back when the Fulton Fish Market was still swinging in the Seaport District. (146 Beekman St.)

23. Gnoccheria

Come hungry, leave extremely satisfied by the pillowy Italian potato classic as well as Neapolitan pizza offerings. (100 Broad Street)

24. Greenwich St. Jewelers

Give yourself extra time to peruse the gorgeous, carefully curated collections of precious metals and gemstones at this family-owned jewelry store. (64 Trinity Pl.)

25. Bombay’s

Though Bombay’s Indian Cuisine has a small menu, owner Sonal Vyas and staff work hard to ensure that all its offerings are delicious and made with lots of love — from crispy samosas to tender pieces of chicken marinated in yogurt and spices — and it’s also reasonably priced for the neighborhood.

26. Suited

When business partners Andrew Fazio and Wilson Johnson teamed up to create Suited, Lower Manhattan’s newest cafe, it was with the understanding that you can find good sandwiches or a good cup of coffee all over New York City, but not always at the same place. That dilemma has now been solved. (45 John Street)

27. La Parisienne

A lovely French cafe tucked away on Maiden Lane offers excellent dishes for breakfast, lunch, happy hour and weekend brunch. (9 Maiden Lane)

28. Le District

Le District has all of your grocery needs, from daily essentials to French-inspired fare. (225 Liberty St.)

29. Leo’s Bagels

“Leo’s” stands for the classic bagel breakfast “Lox, eggs & onions” — recommend trying their specialty as well as other bagel, cream cheese spreads and smoked fish offerings. (3 Hanover Square)

30. Mad Dog & Beans

Located in a landmark building, Mad Dog serves up traditional Mexican cooking that includes fresh guacamole and potent margaritas. (83 Pearl St.)

31. Brooklyn Beef ‘N Cheese

Ironically, Brooklyn Beef ‘N Cheese isn’t in Brooklyn, but what it sells is a classic Brooklyn roast beef sandwich, the likes of which you’d generally have to go all the way to Coney Island to get. (upstairs at City Acres Market, 70 Pine Street)

32. magic mix juicery

Nutritious breakfast bowls, filling lunches, snacks and — yes — fresh-to-order juices to keep your body happy and healthy. (102 Fulton St.)

33. Salon DeLouie

Salon DeLouie has been operating in the neighborhood for seven years, offering up cuts and colors to the busy workers of Lower Manhattan through good times and bad. And even through the COVID era, the salon is sticking to its most popular classics like coloring, highlights and cuts for all genders.

34. Martin Busch Jewelers

Longtime independent jewelry shop offers excellent options for all price ranges, original designs and watch repairs. (85 John St.)

35. McNally Jackson

Get lost in the vast selection of McNally’s beloved Seaport location. (4 Fulton St.)

36. Mysterious Bookshop

Explore the thrilling titles at this longtime niche bookstore dedicated to noir and the art of mysterious happenings. (58 Warren St.)

37. Neapolitan Express

Neapolitan Express is the perfect spot for organic, authentic pizza that’s good for you and the environment. (40 Wall St.)

38. The Greens at Pier 17

A reservation for The Greens’ seasonal rooftop dining concept nets you your own 10-person-max rooftop cabin, replete with banquette seating, a virtual fireplace, electric heating and delicious seasonally-themed dishes like mushroom risotto, hot smoked toddies, mulled cider and chipotle beef stew.

39. Casa Taqueria

When you need some flavorful takeout, this spicy standby at 40 Gold Street will never let you down.

40. Only Nails

Only Nails offers a selection of 300+ colors for their special dipping powder gel manicure and more than 400 colors for a gel manicure/pedicure. (86 Nassau St.)

41. One World Observatory

Gain a new perspective of our beautiful city from the top of One World Trade Center. (285 Fulton St.)

42. Petropolis

Spoil your four-legged BFF with organic snacks, adorable toys and grooming services at this doge palace. (91 Washington St.)

43. Poster Museum

Philip Williams’s gargantuan in-store collection boasts colorful prints, vintage posters and unique typographical art. You could spend days in here. (122 Chambers St.)

44. primp

Glow up each day with blowouts, makeup, massages and curated products at this Seaport District salon. (142 Beekman St.)

45. Proof

PROOF Coffee Roasters not only makes their coffee from ethically-sourced, locally-roasted beans. They also deliver! (65 Nassau St.)

46. Pure Liquid Wine & Spirits

A knowledgeable staff will help you pair the perfect spirit to any event at this inviting wine shop located in Westfield World Trade Center. (Westfield, South Concourse, Balcony Level)

47. Sauce & Barrel

Sauce & Barrel takes its name from the bar’s barrel aged cocktail program and has a menu that offers more than 15 pizzas. (97 Washington St.)

48. Schilling

Schilling’s menu is a blend of Mediterranean and Austrian dishes that features wiener schnitzel, spaetzle, braised lamb and more. For dessert, the strudel can’t be beat. (109 Washington St.)

49. Spa services at The Four Seasons New York Downtown

New Yorkers in need of rest and relaxation after months of lockdown can unwind at the Four Seasons New York Downtown, as the hotel’s menu of services from manicures to immune-boosting treatments are all be available.

50. Springbone Kitchen

Stay healthy all year with Springbone’s nutrient-rich bone broth, as well as other organic dishes. (74 Pearl St.)

51. Stone Street Tavern

Stone Street Tavern attracts diners looking for hearty American fare and a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. (52 Stone St.)

52. Temple Court

Tom Colicchio’s excellent farm-to-table, American-style restaurant is set within the beautiful atrium and cozy corners of The Beekman Hotel. (5 Beekman St.)

53. Caravan Uyghur Cuisine

Caravan serves Chinese homestyle dishes in a cozy space, and believe us when we tell you that the Laghman noodles are so satisfying. (200 Pearl St.)

54. Stout NYC

If this 90 John Street staple isn’t tempting enough to frequent for their generous pours, consider their signature Stout Steak Sandwich to soak up all that sud.

55. The Tuck Room

The Tuck Room serves up exceptional contemporary plates for lunch and dinner, as well as early bird and late-night specials. (11 Fulton St.)

56. Cowgirl Seahorse

Don’t forget cocktails to-go when you order delivery from Cowgirl SeaHorse: In addition to its reliably reliable bloody marys during brunch, the Seaport District darling offers frozen margaritas in a sanitized mason jar inside a frozen food bag — so they’ll be delivered just as icy old as they come if you’d get ‘em straight from the bar. (259 Front Street)

57. Westfield World Trade Center

Westfield World Trade Center is home to all the stores and art installations you could ever imagine. (185 Greenwich St.)

58. Yoga carE

YogaCare was created to facilitate this transformation in becoming the best version of yourself – permanently — with several online programs that complement the mind, body, and soul in our journey towards each other.

Downtown Alliance 

Lead photo of Stone Street by Marzena Manganaro 

Categories
Living NYC

Downtown News – COVID 19

Downtown News - COVID 19

Downtown Alliance Opens Pearl Street As Part of City-Wide Open Streets 

Beginning on Saturday, May 23, the Alliance for Downtown New York, the nonprofit business improvement district for Lower Manhattan, is partnering with the Department of Transportation to bring the Open Streets Program to an eight-block stretch of Pearl Street, between Cedar and State Streets from 11a-3p ET.

“As the city moves forward with the recovery, we need to ensure that people feel more comfortable in public places,” said Jessica Lappin, President of the Alliance for Downtown New York. “We hope these first measures will help our neighbors make good use of this reclaimed roadway.”

Per the organization’s proposal to participate in this citywide program, the Alliance Operations team will place and remove temporary barricades along the stretch of road to designate the protected area as restricted to traffic. DOT will also provide signage that explains social distancing requirements and requests slower vehicular travel speeds. This effort is part of a City-wide program to make a total of 100 miles of roadway available for public use in the warmer weather. Pedestrians and bicyclists using the roadbed along Pearl Street must maintain social distancing of at least six feet and wear a face-covering in public.

No through traffic will be permitted while Open Streets are in effect. Vehicle traffic will be limited to local deliveries, pick-ups/drop-offs, necessary city service vehicles, utility vehicles, and emergency vehicles only. When Alternate Side Parking regulations are in effect, drivers must move their vehicles from the street and may return when ASP is over. These drivers and cyclists are advised to be extremely cautious and to drive 5 MPH or slower.

NOW OPEN- MORE DOWNTOWN DELICIOUSNESS MADE TO ORDER

Downtown News - COVID 19
La Parisienne

Diversify your home dining experiences by supporting the following Lower Manhattan restaurants recently reopened for takeout and delivery:

—Jeremy’s Ale House (228 Front Street)

—La Parisienne (9 Maiden Lane)

—No. 1 Chinese (10 South William Street)

—Route 66 Smokehouse (46 Stone Street)

—Tacombi (74 Broad Street)—Ulysses (95 Pearl Street)

As always, bookmark and keep an eye on our list of restaurants offering takeout and delivery, which we’re constantly updating.

 

Downtown News - COVID 19
DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE EXPANDS CRITERIA FOR SMALL BUSINESS RENTAL ASSISTANCE GRANT

 

DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE EXPANDS CRITERIA FOR SMALL BUSINESS RENTAL ASSISTANCE GRANT

The Alliance for Downtown New York is expanding criteria for the Small Business Rental Assistance Grant to offer immediate help to more storefront businesses currently providing vital services to residents and workers in Lower Manhattan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, which launched earlier this month, is funded by the Alliance with support from Brookfield Properties, Silverstein Properties and The Howard Hughes Corporation to award a total of $800,000 in grants.

More businesses can apply to start on, Thursday, May 21 at 9a ET at downtownny.com/RentAssistGrant.

The expanded criteria include eligible businesses with gross annual revenues of up to $3 million and who employ up to 30 employees, and to storefronts within expanded geography that covers everything south of Chambers Street.

The individual grants will offer $10,000 each to small businesses as a single direct payment to be applied to April or May rent. Businesses must provide appropriate documentation and meet all the following requirements:

—Currently be open and providing an “essential” service as defined by Governor Cuomo in the PAUSE order of March 22, 2020

—Be located on the ground floor in Lower Manhattan below Chambers Street—Be an independent business with five or fewer locations in New York City

—Have fewer than 30 employees as of March 1, 2020

—Gross annual revenue below $3 million—Have a lease at their current location through December 31, 2020

—Provide proof of rent payment for April or May 2020 or potentially for later months if the landlord has given approval for rent deferral

Applications are available starting Thursday, May 21 at 9a ET on a first-come, first-served basis through June 4 at 11:59p ET or until funding has been exhausted. Required documentation includes 2019 4th Quarter 941, relevant lease agreement pages, and the main pages from the business’s most recently filed IRS business tax return, showing its annual gross revenues.

RESTAURANTS CATCH A BREAK FROM DELIVERY APP FEES, THANKS TO CITY COUNCIL MEASURE

Food-delivery apps will no longer be able to charge high fees to restaurants in the five boroughs, thanks to local legislation. On Wednesday the New York City Council passed Int.1908-b, a bill that caps third-party delivery fees at 15%.

The vote tally was 46-4 with zero abstentions.

Int.1908 was introduced last month in the Committee on Small Business by Queens council member Francisco Moya and co-signed by District 1’s Margaret Chin of Lower Manhattan, among others.

At a City Council hearing in April, Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin spoke in support of the bill.

“Our local restaurants, which already operate on razor-thin margins, are facing a once-in-a-generation crisis,” Lappin said. “They may be serving takeout and delivery, but are likely doing so at a loss just to keep their doors open and staff on payroll. These outsized fees are massively eating into what little profit restaurants are able to realize today. Charging a 30% fee, especially during an unprecedented crisis, is unconscionable.”

The new measure goes into effect seven days after being signed into law by the mayor.

Categories
Dining Miami

Zone Manhattan’s Steve Lindner on his healthy delivery service

 

Zone Manhattan's Steve Lindner in action
Steve Lindner in action

Too busy to cook gourmet meals? Too overwhelmed to stick with a diet? Concerned that a diet will mean missing out on great food? For all of these nutritional concerns and more, there is an easy solution in Zone Manhattan, New York City’s longest-running healthy meal delivery service.

In a few words, Zone Manhattan is essentially a diet-to-your-doorstep. The company offers ready-made chef prepared meals, as delivered fresh daily to each customer’s door. Ingredients are purchased daily at the Hunts Point Terminal Market and the New Fulton Fish Market, and every meal is crafted specifically for each individual customer. Dietary needs can be accommodated, whether the customer is gluten-free, paleo, sugar-free, vegan or vegetarian.

Zone Manhattan founder Steve Lindner is a chef by trade and has been in the food and beverage business for more than 30 years. He was schooled at the famed Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York before working at notable hotspots like Aureole, Aquavit, Sign Of The Dove and An American Place. He was also the proprietor of the Greenwich spot Café Alyss, which he had opened in 2000. Zone Manhattan was launched in 2005, and now delivers to all five boroughs of Manhattan, Westchester, Northern New Jersey, Long Island and Southern Connecticut. Expansion plans are underway to create Zone Los Angeles, Zone San Diego, Zone Miami, as well as Zone Vancouver.

Downtown had the pleasure of speaking with Steve not only about Zone, but life as a chef in both New York and Europe. For more info on all things Zone Manhattan, you can visit www.zonemanhattan.com.

Rumor has it that you are at the Hunts Point Food Market every day picking out food. Is that true?

Steve Lindner: Yes, we pick the freshest ingredients daily to use in our meals for customers.

What do you think the Hunts Point Food Market offers that others do not?

Steve Lindner: Variety, quality, consistency and value. When you say “others,” as far as I know you would have to go to Philly or Boston to find something that compares to Hunts Point. In the Hunts Point area, not only do you have access to some of the freshest fruits and vegetables, you have the whole world of fresh fish and seafood. Yes there are chic micro markets bi-weekly around town. And yes we do frequent those as well to source local produce, but Hunts Point gives us the ability to operate at large volumes and at the highest level of quality on a daily basis.

Where did the idea for Zone Manhattan come from? Had you offer ordered food from restaurants online?

Steve Lindner: Necessity. I needed a job in 2004. So I took my knowledge of the restaurant business and applied it to food delivery. At the time, food delivery was just in its infancy. We didn’t offer online delivery at Café Alyss. We just weren’t tech-savvy enough at that time. We didn’t even have a website.

You studied at the Culinary Institute Of America. How did you wind up working at the Bayerischer hof Munchen in Munich?

Steve Lindner: Yes, I attended the Culinary Institute Of America and shortly after graduating, I traveled to Europe. I was hitchhiking around Europe when I ran out of money and knew of some other culinary graduates that were working in Munich. I was fortunate enough to get a job with them.

Is there anything you miss about living and working in Germany?

Steve Lindner: I enjoyed my time there and loved the culture of Europe, but no, I don’t miss it.

Your credits as a chef also include Aureole, Aquavit, Sign Of The Dove, and An American Place. Is being a chef in New York especially different than elsewhere?

Steve Lindner: Yes, the level of competition is on steroids here. There is an energy that exists in New York City that doesn’t exist elsewhere. Now, I believe the culinary competition and quality is at a very high level from coast to coast. However, in this industry, that is constantly evolving with new technology and innovations, New York City still stands out as the culinary mecca of the world.

You also owned Café Alyss some years back. Is there anything you miss about owning and operating a restaurant?

Steve Lindner: Sure, direct contact with the customers, and the energy and excitement of the restaurant business. And then I realize I have to pay bills and don’t miss it as all.

Beyond picking out the food every day, what’s a typical day like for you in running Zone Manhattan? How much time are you actually in a kitchen?

Steve Lindner: After 12 years in business and continual growth, I oversee all aspects of the business. Yes, I am directly involved with the selection and quality control of the food and meals, but I also have loyal and reliable chefs and staff to oversee the production.

Of the Zone menu, do you have a favorite entree?

Steve Lindner: I love our rack of lamb and lobster dishes and what we do with salmon is amazing. It all relies on the quality and freshness of the produce we select every day. I thinks what we do is the simplest form of cooking. We are selecting the highest quality product and extracting the most flavor from the fish, meat, vegetables and fruit without using salt, sugar and fat.

DSC_0861
Do you have a way of describing the food offerings of Zone?

Steve Lindner: Clean, fresh and delicious.

Is it true that Zone plans on expanding beyond New York City?

Steve Lindner: Yes, growth to other markets is always the goal.

When not busy with Zone Manhattan, how do you like to spend your free time?

Steve Lindner: I love to ski, sail and I am a “car guy.”

Aside from Zone, do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?

Steve Lindner: The restaurant scene in New York City is in constant flux. To pick one to be my favorite would be a crime. My tastes change like the weather. One day I am feeling a pork taco from Taco Primo from Chelsea Market or Crispy Chicken Sandwich from FUKU and the next it may be high end from Gabriel Kreuther. One thing is for sure is next year it will be different. The only thing that doesn’t change is the level of quality.

Do you have tickets to any upcoming concerts or events?

Steve Lindner: My wife Alyssa loves the shows and I love the restaurants in the area. A Bronx Tale is the next show on our list and we will be eating at Aureole.

Finally, Steve, any last words for the kids?

Steve Lindner: Eat healthy and exercise.

Categories
Health Nutrition

Direct Eats Delivers Healthy, Natural Foods Right to Your Door

Photo Courtesy of Direct Eats
Direct Eats hosts smaller vendors as well, Photo Courtesy of Direct Eats
Photo Courtesy of Direct Eats

Direct Eats doesn’t deliver takeout; the website boasts a collection of healthy and specialty food items for your household at low per-item costs.

Founder David Hack got the idea from his own life.

“It actually started originally with my wife,” said Hack, “she was at Whole Foods and wanted a box of Luna bars and realized you couldn’t just simply buy a box of Luna bars; you literally had to take every Luna bar out of the box, have them scan it individually—you got no price breaks for buying it in any kind of mass or bulk or bundle and that’s really kind of what initiated the idea.”

Basically, Direct Eats creates a personalized food shopping experience where customers can filter products based on what they want and their dietary restrictions. They can then buy bulk quantities of their favorite products—or new finds—at extremely low prices. It’s a Costco you don’t need to buy a membership for; an Amazon for specialty foods.

“You’re going to get ten times the selection at half the price of Whole Foods,” says Hack, “That’s a winning proposition for most consumers.”

Forte Chocolate is one of the vendors on Direct Eats, Photo Courtesy of Direct Eats
Photo Courtesy of Direct Eats

Shoppers can find all of their favorites alongside smaller brands.

“You can have everything that a Whole Foods carries of course, you’re going to get your Amy’s, your Luna bars, whatever you want,” said Hack, “but you’re also going to discover all kinds of new and exciting things from all over the country.”

Though larger brands are on the site, Hack is excited for the smaller vendors as well.

“The idea is that we take local and make that national,” said Hack, “We take the best of the best from across the country and allow every consumer to get access to it.”

With over 25,000 products currently on the website, there’s certainly a wide selection. According to Hack, that number is increasing fast.

“We are growing at around 500 products or so every day,” he said, “we’ll have north of 50,000 products in the next year, which is roughly 5-10 times bigger as far as pantry stuff than Whole Foods.”

The site’s unique filtering method makes it simple to adhere to dietary needs. With options ranging from nut-free to vegan to fair trade, all kinds of consumer needs can be easily found.

“I think at the end of the day, everyone has so many specific health needs and whether that’s gluten free or peanut free—which in some cases can be life threatening—this could totally make their world about them, not about what’s best for the store,” said Hack.

Little Black Dressing Company, Photo Courtesy of Direct Eats
Photo Courtesy of Direct Eats

In the end, Direct Eats makes it simple for people to stock their pantry with good quality, natural foods at low prices, additionally offering free shipping to anywhere in the continental United States.

“We’re healthy food shoppers,” said Hack about his own family, “as parents, we want to make the best decisions for our five kids so that they have the best choices and the best food.”

For more information on Direct Eats, click here.

-by Kari Sonde

Categories
Dining NYC Technology

New App Offers Late Night Noshes

Photo courtesy of Fooze.
Photo courtesy of Fooze.
Photo courtesy of Fooze.

Former US national champion gymnast Lisa Wang used to come home after late practices to power bars. In college, the vending machine was her go-to during long nights studying. Afterwards, she found herself in the same snack rut as a hedge fund analyst working late hours. And she was still hungry.

Enter Fooze. Wang wanted quality late night food, without being exhausted by too many low quality options and slow delivery. So she made an 1-tap app to get the food she was craving.

“People are already seeking better late night dining options,” said Wang in an email.

Fooze offers three food options that switch up nightly from participating restaurants. You pick the one you want, it tells you the all-inclusive price, you tap the button and it charges the card you have saved. The app promises you’ll get your late night nosh in under 25 minutes, all in the name of making it simpler to order late night food.

“Late night ordering is a pain,” said Wang, “and it is my vision to transform casual perceptions of late night dining as unpalatable and unreliable by providing more quality options and better service.”

Fooze is limited with the number of restaurants it partners with and the number of food options offered every night–especially in comparison the endless scrolls of Seamless–but according to Wang, that’s the point.

“While delivery giants like Seamless and Grubhub provide a plethora of options, they don’t offer any specialization,” she said.

She added that the late night offerings already out there are limited and low quality.

“Currently, restaurants delivering on Seamless after 11:30 pm average only two stars on Seamless,” said Wang.

Wang has found that with current delivery systems, people find themselves spending too much time trying to figure out what they want based on the quality of what’s open. Late night delivery also takes a long time–Wang found that late night delivery times had an average of about 60 minutes.

“While people tend to be pickier with lunch, and especially dinner, late night eaters are more craving driven,” said Wang, “People struggle with decision fatigue at the end of the day, and over 50% of customers are habit-driven ordering the same 1 or 2 types of food almost every week.”

Fooze has some pretty interesting cuisine choices, which works in the app’s favor. A Spoon University survey found that the top adventurous orderers go to New York University and Columbia College. Previous menu items include a Kobe beef burger from Bark Hot Dogs, a Steak and Bacon Fried Rice Bowl from Korilla BBQ, and spicy pork ramen from Ramen-Ya.

“We sought comfort foods that this market craved, but made sure we were sourcing quality restaurants/items,” Wang further explains, “we also recognize that increasingly more people seek healthy, hearty food as well, so we do try and offer a vegetarian and healthier option within our three nightly choices.”

With this logic, Fooze makes sense. It eliminates the need to make too many decisions by only offering three options. It’s also quick. According to a Fooze blogpost, their average delivery time has worked out to 21 minutes.

Wang’s audience caters to students and busy young professionals. According to the National Restaurant Association, over half of consumers under 35 years of age visit restaurants late at night several times a month; they’d do it more if restaurants were open later.

“Our initial target audience is college age and young working professionals who self-describe as ‘Night Owls,’ ‘Partiers,’ and ‘Foodies,'” said Wang.

According to a 2014 survey by GrubHub and Spoon University, this demographic is twice as likely to order food late at night, making it ideal to target. College students also order a significant amount of Chinese food, pizza, and cookies.

Wang thinks that Fooze is coming at just the right time of transition.

“My larger belief is that with the disaggregation of the 9-5 job, there will be increasingly more entrepreneurs, freelancers, people who are making their own schedules,” said Wang. “That trend combined with our reliance on mobile technology will significantly shift everyone’s bed times later and later.”

A significant number of people order online, and mobile apps are becoming an increasingly popular way to do so; in a 2013 survey by the National Restaurant Association, 23% of adults ordered food via app, with the majority of those adults in the 18-34 age range.

Wang believes this will create a larger market for late night ordering.

“People will start demanding more quality late night options,” said Wang, “and who knows, in a decade or so, the midnight meal may be our fourth meal of the day!”

For more information on the Fooze app, click here.

-by Kari Sonde