The Finance Foodie Holiday Gift Guide, Pt. 1: The Five Best NYC Places To Buy Last Minute Gifts 'N Gourmet Goodies!

By: Anne M. Raso

This is the time of year when you want to avoid long lines at all costs, whether you are buying a holiday gift or just trying to bring some nice "eats" over to a friend's house to help celebrate the holidays! Here are FF's Top Picks for easy, breezy holiday buying! All are open late seven days a week!

Guerlain

Specialty Food Association Holiday Taste Test: Enjoying Unusual Gourmet Products Perfect For Holiday Meals & Snacking!

By: Anne M. Raso

Nine sweet and nine spicy gift ideas were presented for tasting at an exclusive event on the offices of the Specialty Food Association recently. In case you don't know, they're the folks who bring the wonderful Fancy Food Show to New York and San Fran (and occasionally other destinations) each year. Guests included the entrepreneurs behind two of the products: Rick Fields of Rick’s Picks, with Smokra, and Kate Pratt and Michel Mazuret, the duo behind East Hampton Gourmet’s gift-worthy, and gluten-free, East Hampton Gourmet Crispbread.

Zingerman's Peanut Brittle

The Lodge Club—Bringing Gastro Goodness To The West Village!

By: Anne M. Raso

I really enjoyed the dark dance club atmosphere of the dining room at the back of The Lodge Club in the Village. The music varied from disco to punk rock to today’s alt rock and the food was fine gastropub fare. They are getting famous for their roasted bone marrow, but I stuck to more basic Modern American versions of the comfort food classics that are on the menu. Portions were respectable and most can be shared between two diners. The Lodge Club is from the same folks who brought you Bounce and Vero Midtown, so you just know they have high standards for ingredients and kitchen staff. Chef Olnowich has works for Olives NYC and the restaurant at L’Ecole (the French cooking school downtown) so you just know that he’s creative before you set foot in The Lodge!

A Mighty Meaty Meal at Texas de Brazil

By: Alex Loanzon

Following a gluttonous Thanksgiving Day meal, the Mister and I decided to continue on the path of excess throughout the weekend by going to a buffet on Saturday night - I mean, why quit while we're ahead (on the weight gain) LOL? Enter Texas de Brazil (TdB), an upscale Brazilian eatery featuring all-you-can-eat grilled meat carved tableside & a salad bar.

Downstairs Bar