Tasting of the Day: Taste of the Upper West Side

May 10, 2011 11:54 am

Tasting of the Day: Taste of the Upper West Side

The plethora of dinner locations in New York City is never ending. Each neighborhood is filled with unique restaurants, cafes, and even hole-in-the-walls that all offer something different, often intriguing and hopefully tasty. Although most places are all vying to seat the most clientele, there is a certain time when everyone comes together to appreciate the fresh ingredients and quality culinary skills that make New York such an apt locale for eating out. On May 20th and 21st some of the Upper West Side's most talented chefs will gather to create some of their best dishes for the Fourth Annual Whole Foods Market's New Taste of the Upper West Side.

This exciting event will feature over 80 chefs and restaurants of the Upper West Side that will come together and let their creative energies flow and learn more about the new innovations each has been implementing to produce the best and freshest tastes in the neighborhood. Although each chef differs in style and cuisine, they all agree that only wholesome fresh ingredients should be used and must be found within 100 miles of the city.

Learn a little more about the chefs and restaurants that will be attending:

Located on 1900 Broadway between 63rd and 64th Street is Bar Boulud owned by the famed chef Daniel Boulud. Known as a leader in culinary authority, Daniel grew up on a farm and because of that his menus are completely based on the change of seasons and freshness of ingredients. Although his food is very traditionally French, he combines a contemporary vibe that can be felt from the atmosphere of the restaurant along with the notions that a three course dinner is not a necessity.

On 10 Columbus Circle is A Voce, which maintains its quality Italian cuisine under the watchful and effortless eye of Missy Robbins. New York Magazine claims that Robbins takes her Italian to an elevated and "different plane". Like Daniel Boulud, Missy Robbins takes pride in keeping authentic traditions alive in a modern, sophisticated way that is pleasing to locals of the Upper West Side, as well as everyone else.

In Lincoln Center at 142 West 65th Street is Lincoln, an upscale Italian restaurant that again takes traditional Italian and makes it contemporary by adding many of Jonathon Benno's twists. Before Lincoln, Benno spent 10 years working at Per Se and French Laundry, and now he runs the slightly eclectic kitchen of Lincoln where he makes authentic dishes like Strozapretti Neri and Pappardelle Verdi al ragu di vitello.

Tip: By coming to sample and learn more about some of your favorite chefs and cuisine in the area, you will also be contributing to Columbus Avenue BID's fund dedicated to neighborhood beautification.