Jon Hochstat

Hey everyone. I know it seems like I fell off the face of the earth. I am back now and hope to post as often as possible. I’ve decided to make my comeback posting a story about places I grew up eating in when I lived in West Orange, NJ as a kid.

Many of you have seen my posts extolling the virtues of both The Millburn Deli and Town Hall Deli sloppy joes. Recently I received a single picture from my old West Orange neighbor with a two word question with the picture: Guess where?

[Photo by Marc Millman]

Although I drew a blank on the name, I replied without hesitation “The bakery at the bottom of the hill on Main Street in West Orange.” He responded “the bakery, you mean THE bakery, Supreme!”

Photo by Marc Millman

READ ON for more of this week’s F4tF…

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to attend the 2009 NYC Wine & Food Festival Burger Bash. At the South Beach Burger Bash earlier this year, Spike Mendelsohn (formerly of Top Chef) and owner of Good Stuff Eatery in Washington DC swept the competition, taking the People’s Choice, Judge’s Award, and the Best Dressed Burger. Last year’s NYC Burger Bash winner Katie Lee (Billy Joel’s ex) was also entered, expecting to retain her crown.

The man, the myth, the Flay!

Other places entered were: Bobby’s Burger Palace, City Hall Restaurant, DuMont Burger, Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine, Fatty Crab, Gus and Gabriel, Lure, Minetta Tavern, Mullanes Bar and Grill, Old Homestead Steakhouse, Shake Shack, The Spotted Pig, Wall Street Burger Shoppe, Wildwood Barbeque and Wollensky’s Grill.

The party started at 7:00 PM and went until 10 PM. Anyone and everyone from the Food Network was there: Duff from Ace of Cakes with his team, Tyler Florence, Robert Irvine from Dinner Impossible, Giada De Laurentiis, Big Daddy, Bobby Flay, Rachel Ray, Guy Fieri, Chef Morimoto. Some major NYC food personalities were also seen floating through the crowd: Chef Michael White of Alto, Marea and Convivio, Martha Stewart, Mark Pastore of Pat LaFrieda Meats, Jeffrey Chodorow and even Rocco DiSpirito. Non foodies spotted included Nick Mangold of the NY Jets.

READ ON for more about the NYC Burger Bash…

I am sure there are many readers of this blog that either hail from, went to school in or have been to Chicago. Other than deep dish pizza, the other food that Chicago is known for is the Chicago Dog (hot dog).

A Chicago Dog according to Wikipedia:

“Is a steamed, boiled or grilled – but never broiled – all-beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, originating from the city of Chicago, Illinois. The hot dog is topped with mustard, onion, sweet pickle relish (usually a dyed neon green variety called “Nuclear Relish”), a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt; sometimes, but not always, cucumber slices. Ketchup is never used on a Chicago-style hot dog.”

There is one place in Chicago that has taken the Chicago Dog to a whole other level, that place is Hot Doug’s.

(Picture taken during my trip to Chicago April ’09)

There is only one Hot Doug’s location which is open from Monday to Saturday 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM (closed Sundays). Also his website has this additional comment regarding the hours ” We also take a whole bunch of holidays off, so give us a call to make sure we’re open (if it’s a holiday).”

READ ON for more of this week’s Friday 4 the Foodies…

Wednesday night I had the opportunity to attend the first public screening of a documentary about the life and background of Chef/Restaurateur Daniel Boulud called Un Certain Goût de L’Amérique. The screening was held at NYU’s Cantor Film Center and sponsored by NYU’s La Maison Française.

The film was shot in 2008 in French (with English subtitles). It traces Daniel’s background all the way back to his family’s farm in France, to his internships starting at age 15, through his moving Washington DC and eventually to New York City. It is a fascinating look at someone who knew early on what he wanted to do and set about working to be the best at his craft.

Since I have previously lived and worked in France, I followed the film in French rather than reading the subtitles. It was inspiring to see French culinary legends such as Paul Bocuse, Jean Georges Vongerichten and Joël Robuchon speak about their relationships with Daniel. Paul Bocuse for example met Daniel when Daniel was 15 and starting his first apprenticeship in Lyon at Restaurant Nandron. READ ON for more…

In case you haven’t heard, Motorino Pizza of Williamsburg just opened a Manhattan outpost in the East Village on 12th Street just off of 1st Avenue in the space previously occupied by Una Pizza Napoletana.

I decided to wait a few days while all of the food bloggerati, diehard foodies, pizza lovers and East Village hipsters descended upon the space. I stopped in on Thursday night right as they were opening at 5 PM. The first thing that hits you upon entering is the simplicity of the space, small with about 25-30 seats, a pressed tin ceiling and the obligatory East Village iPod mix blasting through the speakers.

The menu (shown below) is very simple and straightforward. My waiter told me that the menu will be seasonal, driven by what is currently available and fresh for that time of year.

READ ON for more of this week’s Friday 4 the Foodies…

Hey everyone, I was on vacation last week enjoying the unofficial end of summer. This week, I thought I’d bring everyone up to date on foodie related stories and events happening in NYC soon.

The 2nd annual NYC Beer Week starts today. Check out the events schedule and pick up a passport to get all of the amazing discounts. (via Beermenus blog)

The new Motorino Pizza opens in the East Village on Monday at 349 E. 12th St., nr. First Ave.; 212-777-2644. Grub Street previewed the new menu yesterday.

Do you cook? Here is a recipe for Make-Ahead Meals: Asian Dumplings (via The Kitchen)

READ ON for more of this week’s Friday 4 the Foodies…

Well, since we started a debate recently about the best sloppy joe, I figured it was time to talk about my favorite NYC bagel store and favorite thing to get

This past Wednesday – I – like many other readers of this blog, headed out to The Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ to see Gov’t Mule. What I don’t think many of the people who went to the show did beforehand was to take the express NJ Transit train to South Orange and walk to The Town Hall Deli for Sloppy Joes from the deli that invented them.

I know when I did my Millburn Deli posting a few people stood up for Town Hall as the better of the two. After not having a Town Hall Joe in a while, I have to agree. I got 2 Joes (for the office, really). One was “the Favorite” with Roast Beef, Turkey and Swiss. The second was with Corned Beef, Pastrami & Swiss ($2 extra for the pastrami btw). I have to say, the originator of the Sloppy Joe is still the best. Below is their “Joe” menu and a few pictures of the making of a Town Hall Sloppy Joe.

READ ON for pictures of the making of a TH Sloppy Joe…