Tag: cocktails

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Chefs Dining Living NYC Restaurants

AMPIA GNOCCHERIA’S GREENHOUSE ROOFTOP BISTRO

AMPIA GNOCCHERIA’S GREENHOUSE ROOFTOP BISTRO
GNOCCHERIA

IS NOW OPEN

Indoor dining is still verboten in the city, but Michele and Anisa Iuliano figured out a workaround above their restaurant Gnoccheria.

This week, the couple opened Ampia Restaurant & Rooftop (100 Broad Street) directly upstairs from their inventive gnocchi operation. Ampia serves light, rustic Italian fare with plenty of seafood, in addition to pizza and pasta, for lunch and dinner.

 

AMPIA GNOCCHERIA’S GREENHOUSE ROOFTOP BISTRO
Roofdeck

Michele and Anisa had thought of the 4,500-square-foot rooftop concept prior to COVID-19 –

The shelter-in-place orders threw a wrench in their plans. They had prepared the greenhouse space for socially-distanced outdoor dining after Anisa saw an online ad for plastic greenhouses. That’s when inspiration struck: Why not give their diners a custom indoor dining experience on the roof?  Each of the five greenhouses seats two diners, replete with a lush array of plants and flowers. (Per social-distancing guidelines, it is preferred that the dining pairs live together.)

Of course, anyone who isn’t lucky enough to snag a greenhouse can sit at one of the outdoor tables. Space is designed to accommodate 250 guests, but Ampia will be operating at 25% capacity to abide by social-distancing measures.

“I want people to come on this beautiful roof and feel safe and like they’re in their own little world so they can enjoy themselves,” Anisa told Time Out New York.

Check out their dining menu and cocktail menu

 

AMPIA GNOCCHERIA’S GREENHOUSE ROOFTOP BISTRO
Cocktail

To mitigate the risk of infection, tables are placed at least six feet apart, surfaces are thoroughly and frequently sanitized and ordering is contactless. Diners are required to wear masks unless they’re sitting at their tables.

 

AMPIA GNOCCHERIA’S GREENHOUSE ROOFTOP BISTRO
Octopus Sandwich

About 

Husband and wife duo, Chef Michele Iuliano and Anisa Iuliano, the restaurateurs behind seven NYC-based Italian eateries (most notable being their popular Napoletana eatery, Gnoccheria)open Ampia Restaurant & Rooftop in the heart of the Financial District. Located at 100 Broad St. (Entrance on Bridge St.) on the third floor, Ampia Rooftop (Ampia meaning “Space” in Italian) is a sprawling 4,500 Sq. foot outdoor rooftop terrace featuring individual greenhouses for a social distance dining experience, opulent clusters of colorful flower gardens, and Italian-themed art and décor dispersed throughout.

 

 

AMPIA GNOCCHERIA’S GREENHOUSE ROOFTOP BISTRO
Chef Michele Iuliano and Anisa Iuliano

Chef Michele Iuliano offers up an authentic Italian menu of lite casual fare, along with a selection of inventive seafood paninis.

Now Open Ampia Rooftop is incorporating safety and sanitizing precautions and will be open for dinner daily.

My LM

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Bars Dining Events Featured

Hendrick’s Gin is Hosting a Midsummer Solstice Pop-Up Near Grand Central

To celebrate the newly launched limited edition Midsummer Solstice Gin, Hendrick’s is bringing vibrant live flower installations to the masses. From Wednesday, June 5th – Friday, June 7th, Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice will come to life on a grand scale when beautifully colorful botanical displays bloom in NYC at Pershing Square near Grand Central Terminal. Passersby can welcome Midsummer with a stroll through these larger-than-life arrangements, on display for a limited time, just like the gin they represent. Come sip Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice cocktails while visiting with delightfully odd and unusual characters guiding you through bouquet stations to take home, interactive cocktail making with DIY garnishes, and Instagram opportunities galore! To support this enchanting excitement, Hendrick’s has also partnered with sustainable flower delivery service, BloomsyBox, to offer beautiful custom bouquets ready to order inspired by Midsummer Solstice.

On-site activities include bouquet stations created in partnership with BloomsyBox where guests can create micro arrangements inspired by Midsummer Solstice to take home, plus interactive cocktail making with DIY garnishes. The installations will be live between Wednesday, June 5th – Friday, June 7th with complimentary Hendrick’s cocktails available between 3:00 – 7:00 PM daily with valid ID and proof of legal drinking age for entry. Interested imbibers must RSVP to visit the Midsummer Solstice pop-up location in Pershing Square via Eventbrite here.

Both the Midsummer Solstice Gin and Hendrick’s Midsummer Bouquet through BloomsyBox are available for a limited time only. The bouquet was inspired by the Language of Flowers popularized in the Victorian Era, each selected flower in the bouquet has a meaning and is used to send thoughtful messages to the intended recipient. One might find stems in the bouquet like purple hydrangea, dark pink tinted limonium, eryngium, eucalipto, and other beautiful, finely scented blooms – inspired by the secret floral blend of Hendrick’s Master Distiller Lesley Gracie’s creation from her Cabinet of Curiosities.

Midsummer Solstice was inspired by the actual Summer Solstice, at which time the Earth is tilted maximally toward the sun, impelling all the flora of the hemisphere to attain its peak aromatic prowess. The aromatic notes of the gin include zesty juniper along with hidden undertones of orange blossom and exotic ripeness. This bright take on the rounded Hendrick’s house style complements the gin’s floral character for a liquid that’s splendid in all manner of spring and summer cocktails, from a seasonal Midsummer Spritz with elderflower liqueur, soda, lemon, and a cucumber garnish, to a Midsummer Mimosa or a Salty Dog, bursting with floral and grapefruit flavors. The signature Hendrick’s apothecary style bottle remains with the new Midsummer expression, but has received a purple-hued makeover, from the glass of the bottle itself to the label and logo.

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Bars Dining Featured Restaurants

Visit the Glorious New Murray Hill Location of Hole in the Wall

One of our favorite Aussie spots is back with a new location right on the water in the American Copper Building in Murray Hill. The second Hole in the Wall has giant, 28-foot glass walls with views out to the east river, an industrial yet inviting vibe, and delicious food and drink at all hours. There is ample outdoor seating for the warmer months, and they have also partnered with JDS Developments for the rooftop, members-only event area The Sentry.

Restauranteur Barry Dry, who hails from Perth and originally moved to New York for a career in finance, is excited to expand Hole in the Wall into dinner service. Executive Chef Brent Hudson is still in the kitchen preparing the Asian inflected Australian cuisine he is known for.

The all-day brunch menu includes house made vegemite toast, egg sandwiches, jalapeño sweet corn fritters, green tea soba noodle salad, and a burger. The upscale dinner menu features everything from oysters and sashimi to roti with garlic sambal, burrata on charred sourdough, vegan bolognese, wagyu sirloin, and even a fancy chicken cutlet and fries. Don’t miss the inventive cocktails like the cucumber margarita and rosemary old fashioned!

Hole in the Wall
626 1st Avenue
7:00 AM – 12:00 AM Daily

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Bars Culture Dining Events Featured

Serving Up Home, Breaking Ground’s Spring Cocktail Benefit

Since 1990, Breaking Ground has helped more than 13,000 people escape and avoid homelessness. They’re on the streets of New York every day of the year, 24/7, engaging with the homeless to bring them inside and connect them with services to restore their lives. They are the city’s largest supportive housing provider and operate 22 transitional and permanent housing residences, primarily in New York City.

Each year, the organization hosts a spring benefit titled Serving Up Home to raise critical funds for their street outreach program, which helps the most vulnerable street homeless New Yorkers come indoors and find a permanent home. This year’s event is a cocktail edition, featuring top NYC mixologists creating a top-shelf tasting event for guests to enjoy. This year’s edition features mixologists Marcio R Araujo of The Honeywell, Tynan Craycraft of Barbuto, Kacie Lambert of Handle Bars consulting, Thom Mullen of Frankies Sputino Group, and Chris Whalen who works in NYC and LA. We talked to Brenda Rosen, CEO of Breaking Ground, about cocktails and how this event will help Breaking Ground meet its goals.

Downtown: How did this event come to be? 

Brenda Rosen: As a nonprofit, our critical programming is funded in part through donations and philanthropy, and the Serving Up Home event is a vital way to raise funds that build and sustain our amazing outreach program, which is on the streets 24/7/365 helping vulnerable New Yorkers. This year, we’re so excited to have our Junior Board host the event to help build awareness around Breaking Ground’s mission to help New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.

Downtown: What are you most excited about cocktail wise at the event?

BR: Each specialty drink at the Serving Up Home event will be made with our product partner’s Nolet’s Silver Gin, so I’m very excited to see each mixologist’s creative spin. The drinks are all in the spirit of gin-erosity, for a great cause!

Downtown: What does this event help Breaking Ground accomplish? 

BR: The money raised from this event will benefit Breaking Ground’s street outreach program, helping the most vulnerable street homeless New Yorkers come indoors, get the help they need, and find a permanent home.

Downtown: What are some of the support services you offer people living in Breaking Ground housing?

BR: Breaking Ground partners with excellent local social service organizations who provide on-site case management, mental health counseling, medical services, job resources, and more. We also have staff who organize events and other activities in the building to engage residents socially, which decreases isolation, builds community, and helps them re-enter society.

Downtown: How do the transitional and permanent housing locations differ?

BR: Our transitional housing (known as Safe Havens) gives the homeless a safe place to stay and access services while we work with them to secure stable, permanent housing. Our permanent supportive housing is rent-stabilized housing – so everyone has a lease – paired with onsite supportive services designed to help people maintain a home for the long term.

Downtown: How long do people stay in the program? 

BR: Once people are in our permanent housing, they tend to stay. Our resident stability rate is consistently higher than 98%.

Downtown: Can you explain the partnership between Breaking Ground and the Prince George Ballroom?

BR: Built in 1904, the Prince George was once one of New York City’s premier hotels. After many years of decline and neglect, it was restored by Breaking Ground and reopened in 1999 to provide 416 units of affordable housing for low-income and formerly homeless adults and persons living with HIV/AIDS. The Prince George is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2005, Breaking Ground completed the restoration of the building’s 5,000-square-foot Neo-Renaissance ballroom – an incredible space from the building’s hotel days. Working with four other non-profit groups, including Alpha Workshops, Parsons School of Design, Brooklyn High School of Preservation Arts, and YouthBuild, the Neo-Renaissance ballroom was completed as a design-build project by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects. The Prince George Ballroom is now an event venue, available for rental with proceeds supporting the expansion of Breaking Ground’s programs and housing development work.

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Bars Dining Featured

7 of the Most Colorful Cocktails in NYC

The saying might be eat your colors, but drinking them is so much more fun! With Spring weather on the way we’re craving fruity, colorful cocktails. Here’s a roundup from all over the city to check out in the coming weeks!

1. The Eleven at Bagatelle

Celebrate Bagatelle’s 11th anniversary with a color changing, ombré cocktail featuring a miniature bottle of Möet and a Blue Butterfly Tea Flower ice cube. The cocktail is made with Cîroc apple, lemon juice, and simple syrup then garnished with an edible pink orchid from Thailand. The interactive cocktail changes from blue to purple to pink as you sip it due to an interaction between the vodka, simple syrup, and champagne mixing with the dissolving ice cube.

2. Matcha Martini at Sugar Momma

When Hole in the Wall turns to Sugar Momma at night, they keep some of the breakfast flavors on the menu with this Matcha Martini. The combination of white rum, matcha, coconut cream, and honey is garnished with a brûléed banana and a coconut rim.

3. Sojo Spritz at Zuma New York

Nothing goes better with modern Japanese cuisine than a refreshing cocktail. Made with Prosecco, strawberry, and basil-infused Aperol, the Sojo Spritz is a springtime rendition of your typical Aperol Spritz. This rose-colored, fruity libation is finished off with a garnish of strawberry and a sprig of basil. 

4. LBT Margarita at The Little Beet Table

Photo courtesy of Front of House

The Little Beet Table’s signature margarita is a veggie-centric version of the classic drink, made with tequila (or mezcal), fresh carrot juice, cayenne, lime, and ancho chili salt. The drink is vibrantly orange from the nutrient-dense carrot juice, which balances the spicy punch from cayenne and ancho chili salt in this cocktail. Eating your veggies is so last year, get ready to drink them!

5. Message in a Bottle at The Water Tower at The Williamsburg Hotel

Blue foods aren’t just for kids anymore! Message in a Bottle, created by beverage director Rael Petit, is a vibrant blue drink made with Bacardi 4 year, clarified milk punch, Chinese cinnamon cordial, lemon, and Blue Majik pineapple juice (made with algae), which gives the cocktail its bright hue. The drink is garnished with a tropical flower, playing off of the island vibes found in this eclectic spin on a rum punch.

6. Thank Me Tomorrow at Bell Book & Candle

Thank Me Tomorrow is perfect for the moody drinker who wants to deny Spring’s arrival. The drink combines vodka, lemon juice, coconut syrup, and charcoal for a tropical tasting yet literally dark and stormy cocktail.

7. Aperol Seltzer Slushie at The Springs

How do you upgrade a drink that’s already beloved? Make it a slushy! Greenpoint bar, lounge, and patio The Springs is inspired by the retro of vibes of Palm Springs in the 1950’s. The indoor/outdoor space has upgraded the Aperol spritz by turning the combination of Aperol, sparkling wine, sparkling water, and orange into a frozen treat.

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Bars Dining Featured

March Madness Comes to Due West with an Epic Cocktail Bracket

We love Due West at any time, but we’re extra pumped to visit this month because they are running their first ever classic cocktail March Madness! 64 of the most beloved drinks are pitted against each other in head-to-head competition to see which will reign supreme. Each cocktail goes for $12, and the cocktail with the most sales in each matchup will advance. Guests can fill out their own brackets, and the winner will receive a $100 gift card. On championship night April 8th, all in attendance will receive a complimentary drink token for the winning cocktail. The best part is, you don’t have to know anything about basketball to predict a stellar cocktail!