LIFESTYLE

In The Mood For A Cruise Around Manhattan? Try Bateaux New York

The warm weather is finally upon us after a dreary winter that never seemed to end. Now that New Yorkers & Manhattanites are trading their overcoats for skirts and shorts, we have several wants and needs to get out of the house and enjoy this weather that seems severely overdue. Why not start… with a cruise? Although several of us tend to go far and away to experience an amazing cruise and its amenities, there is one in particular that is right here in New York City that provides all of that and then some. This is Bateaux New York, which is located right in the heart of Chelsea Piers on 11th Avenue between 20th and 21st street. If Chelsea Piers doesn’t work for you geographically, they also depart from Lincoln Harbor Marina in Weekhawken, NJ. Here is some facts on Bateaux itself.

Bateaux New York, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Bateaux New York

Built in 1998 in Tidewater, Virginia, Bateaux New York measures 185 feet from bow to stern. Currently owned by Entertainment Cruises, Inc., this impressive vessel has hosted over half-a-million guests. With a unique all-glass design inspired by the river boats of Europe, Bateaux New York delivers the best of New York serving 360-degree views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty directly to your table. Creative plated cuisine. Gracious service. Live jazz. And more. All in the most chic and sophisticated atmosphere. All of that is a severe understatement until you experience Bateaux itself.

Here are some great unique features that Bateaux provides for its customers upon arrival-

Curved glass ceiling and walls offering a 180-degree skyline view

Two dining rooms that can be adjoined for up to 300 guests or separated for private occasions

Hardwood dance floor and rich nautical accents

Open deck layout assures every table a view of the entertainment

Uniquely designed seating arrangements create an inviting and intimate dining experience

State-of-the-art sound system with customized volume levels

Flattering halogen lighting throughout

Two outdoor strolling areas offer fresh-air views

Handicap-accessible boarding and restrooms

So essentially if you want to see all of the incredible landmarks that New York City is known for, Bateaux is the way to go. If you take a look at the above photo, Bateaux gives you full access to view everything from The Statue Of Liberty, Ellis Island, The Brooklyn Bridge and so much more. With the weather being as beautiful as it has been lately, you would get a clear view of these amazing places and take several photos to encompass a memorable evening with your loved ones.

Bateaux runs three different types of cruises on the regular- brunch, lunch and dinner. Myself and a friend were treated to their dinner cruise which boarded at 6PM on Saturday night and set sail at 7pm. The entire trip was about three hours long, and not a moment was to be missed as we were treated VIP status throughout. The views throughout were spectacular beyond the glass windows and it was smooth sailing (literally) throughout. The food and beverages we were provided were top shelf, and were treated to complimentary champagne during our stay on board. The dinner menu itself was quite impressive, as we indulged on savory treats from Shrimp Cocktail, Crab Chowder, Braised Short Rib, Roast Wagyu Strip Loin and so much more. Dessert was just as tasty as we both had the S’More Bread Pudding and New York Style Cheesecake. The dinner entertainment featuring a wonderful vocalist accompanied by a baby grand piano, acoustic bass and jazz guitar added some groove and flavor to the night. They performed some classic hits as well as more modern ones such as Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” and Alicia Keys “Empire State Of Mind”. Kudos to them as they did a phenomenal job. During the cruise we were able to head outside and get a better view of the city itself, take some photos, and enjoy what was overall a very relaxing evening.

Bateaux New York also offers specialty cruises outside of the brunch, lunch and dinner ones that they already provide. Starting on April 18th, they are offering New York Sightseeing Lunch Cruises. Come aboard the glass-enclosed, European-style Bateaux New York for the ultimate sightseeing experience. Float along the Hudson and take in amazing views with narration by our pianist of notable New York City sights like the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and Freedom Tower. You’ll enjoy a delicious, three-course plated lunch and live music from an onboard pianist during your cruise. It’s the most sophisticated, special way to see the best of NYC from the water. With the upcoming holidays there are specialty cruises they have setup for Mother’s Day, 4th Of July and Fleet Week just to name a few. If you need more information on these, you can check out this link.

I would highly recommend anyone trying Bateaux as it really is 10/10 when it comes to quality in what you are signing up for. They have a great variety of affordable options for you and your friends, family and loved ones and encourage a great time had by all upon arrival. For more information on them, check out the official site.

Why You Should Try Irvington In The W Hotel

by Ryan Shea

When a restaurant opens up in New York City, they can either be a flash in the pan and fail within a couple of months, succeed and become something longer than a trend, or be another Chipotle/Panera that seems to be populating the city. The hope for Irvington Restaurant is that it becomes the next big thing in cuisine in New York City and sticks around for as long as possible… because it is that damn good.

Irvington, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Gerber Group

Irvington, which is located right in The W Hotel on East 18th and Park Avenue, recently opened its doors a mere two weeks ago on March 24th. The brand new space is headed by brilliant chef David Nichols, who is also the executive chef & nightlife leader of The Gerber Group. He was also runner up on Food Network’s big hit show “Chopped”, where he worked alongside recurring judge Marc Murphy at Landmarc Tribeca. Quite the impressive resume if I must say so myself. For Irvington, his specialty is market-to-table fare and fresh rotisserie offerings, which after we went there proves that he excels in both and then some.

For the location just being opened you get the sense that there is a buzz throughout the room based off of how new the location is. It is something me and my friend definitely felt upon entry. Spacious as can be, the high ceilings and wood carvings across the room really made the entire experience that much better, even before we ate any of the delicious food we were about to be presented with.

Onto the food now. The menu itself had a very rustic and warm vibe, which I believe will bode well for Irvington in the summer months as much as it will when the dreaded winter time approaches us again. It is chock full of hearty and tasty dishes in all categories, however these are the ones that I would recommend trying- from start to finish. For appetizers, I would recommend the Charred Octopus with sweet potato, jalapeno yogurt & beet chimichurri. As someone who recently tried Octopus for the first time a couple of weeks ago, I was delighted that this was cooked perfectly and didn’t have that rubbery taste that they can have. Pairing that with the yogurt, chimuchurri and sweet potato really elevated the taste level of the octopus itself. Other good starters are the Croquettes which were stuffed with rotisserie chicken, chorizo and romesco. Great flavor profile that bursts in your mouth. Finally, the Roasted Market Carrots and Asparagus can dual well as a starter and side dish for the entree as they tasted absolutely delicious and light on the flavor palette.

Irvington also has a line of great flatbreads available at your disposal. The one that we tried was the Merguez Sausage Flatbread with red onion, romesco & ricotta. A great Italian flatbread that didn’t overdo it when it came to being heavy especially with the ingredients on top of it. Onto the mains, if there is one you should try above all it was the Duck Confit Pot Pie with wild mushrooms and black kale. Besides my mother’s pot pie, this was hands down the best pot pie I have ever experienced. Usually when you experience pot pie it is made with chicken, so the fact that this was substituted with duck was really such a change in flavor profile and the sauce inside was simply splendid. For another meat option, try out the Marinated Lamb with flageolet beans, pickled shallots, cured olives & herbs. Much lighter than the pot pie yet still fills you up overall with the lamb and sides it comes with. Overall two great entrees worth trying.

Irvington is also excelling in the rotisserie world and have three great options for you to try out in that category. Free Range Chicken with marble potatoes, grilled leeks & gremolata, Glazed Muscovy Duck with scallion crepes, bibb lettuce & baby radish and Porchetta with spring onions & cherry agrodolce are all fantastic choices to try next time you go to Irvington. To finish off in the dessert area try the Warm Fudge Brownie and the Strawberry Trifle. Yummy and delicious on both ends. They also have a great line of retro and modern cocktails like The Grasshoper (Stoli Vanilla, Creme De Menthe, White Cream De Cacao, Light Cream) pictured above. Wee.

Don’t just take my word for it though! Check out their official site for more details on their menus, location and so much more. Happy eating everyone!

Irvington (Inside The W Hotel)

201 Park Avenue South

212-677-0425

Why You Should Take A Look Into Out Professionals

by Ryan Shea

With the economy seeming to get out of its slump that it was in roughly 5-6 years ago, now is the best time to get yourself out there and promote you in any which way, shape or form. When you are a part of the LGBT world, finding common minded individuals to network with can seem to be a bit of a hassle even in the New York City culture that we all live in. Luckily, there is a fantastic organization that has all of that and more, and at little to no cost.

Out Professionals, an organization that has been around for thirty plus years now, is the nations leading LGBT non-profit network. Hosting various events each month, they invite you to engage with fellow professionals in hopes that you will strengthen your presence in and out of the working and LGBT community and develop relationships that can further your pursuit for professional ubiquity. Beyond the events, Out Professionals has a ton of valuable resources for the everyday LGBT professional from culture to professional development in order to ensure that you are on the up and up with whatever you are trying to achieve. Seeing as I am one of these types of people, I can ensure that this organization is doing the right thing in helping this community out and getting yourself out there to the extent that you want it to be. The events itself are well organized, held in great locations, and really allow you to connect with like minded people who can be a great benefit for you in the long run.

I recently spoke with President of Out Professionals Charlie Conard and founding member Jack Schlegel about the organization at hand, where its future lies and why you should ultimately try it out. Take a look.

Thanks for sitting down with us! So tell us about the history of Out Professionals. How did the organization begin and what was that like?

Charlie- “Out Professionals started in 1983 as a place for LGBT professionals to meet and advance their careers. Early on, membership was driven by word-of-mouth invitation. Since it was not uncommon for people to be fired if outed, meetings were private, almost secretive, and photography forbidden. Indeed, the original name of Out Professionals was NYACN, the New York Advertising and Communications Network, which catered to people in advertising, marketing, and communications.”

Jack- “Like the organization’s original name (NY Advertising & Communications Network), early meetings were fairly closeted. Attendees enjoyed the option of identifying themselves by a first name, a full name, an occupational specialty and even employer. Our founding idea was that an LGBT network provided job applicants with a valuable insider’s take on a potential workplace.”

Charlie- “In 1999, the board decided to “out” the organization with the new name, Out Professionals. OP also started to cast a wider net to other professions. In 2004, we continued our evolution by creating OP.LYNX, our women’s network within the organization.”

“We also launched OP.PRIME in 2011 to help attract and serve younger professionals just entering their prime. With the sour economy, professionals just starting out have faced unprecedented challenges. We wanted OP to help them realize that meeting other LGBT professionals face-to-face is important. You just can’t do that on social media. Today, with more and more out and proud professionals, we have an active face on social media and a wider public impact on the community.”

Your organization has been in operation for quite some time. Have you seen a shift upwards in terms of how gay men and women approach the business world?

Charlie- “Today, LGBT employees are more likely to be considered equal, and are often sought-after by companies who embrace the value of diversity in their organizations. In the end, we want the same thing as anyone else: a chance to be valued for who we are and our contributions.”

Do you find that the world we live in today is more tolerable of open LGBT employees? Where do we have to improve on?

Jack- “Although I haven’t sought a staff job in advertising since 1993, when I took early retirement, my sense is that in New York one’s sexual orientation doesn’t matter much to employers, particularly in hiring for creative fields — writing, graphic design, TV production, etc.”

Charlie- “While the LGBT community has made more strides in recent years than I ever thought I would see, we have a long way to go during a time of especially negative, divisive politics. As we’ve seen in Indiana and other places, there is always risk of a backlash when we are making headway towards fair and equal rights. We must remain vigilant and not become complacent.”

I checked out your site and it looks like you have weekly events, looks great! Can you let my readers know a little bit more on what they are about and if they are tailored to a particular persons liking?

Jack- “Out Professionals’ networking events cluster within three broad categories. Career; with seminars and workshops on professional development and career transition. Community; with relationship-building breakfasts and after-work mixers. Finally Culture; with theater parties, screenings, gallery visits, walking tours. wine tastings and author appearances.”

Charlie- “All our events are about creating a friendly, low or no stress environment that is welcoming to all attendees. For many, networking can feel terrifying. With a dash of fun and a warm atmosphere, OP is often the catalyst for people to meet.”

Out Professionals, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Blandon Belushin

If one becomes a member of Out Professionals, what benefits are included that would be of use to them in the long run?

Charlie- “Membership includes an entire year of discounted and free events. I like to emphasize that attending events is key to making OP work for new and existing members. While we have other benefits, it’s face time with other LGBT professionals that is more important. You can see all our benefits here: http://www.outprofessionals.org/join.”

Is this something that is affordable?

Charlie- “We work hard to keep the organization affordable for both aspiring and established professionals. Often, corporate support in terms of sponsorship or venues, helps us keep the cost down.”

“Membership is still only $65 (Business Memberships are $125/year), and entitles members to a year of low or no-cost networking. Most events are $10-$20, depending on the costs involved. We have started to have premium events, such as last Fall’s winery tour to the North Fork of Long Island.”

What overall would you say is your mission statement for OP?

Jack- “We are a nonprofit, membership organization run by volunteers. We offer supportive networks for professional women and for the up-and-coming LGBT professional. As we continue to grow, we have become known as the nation’s leading LGBT networking organization.”

Any future events you feel worth noting in this article?

Charlie- “We always have a number of exciting events on our schedule:

Mixers where professionals can meet others, often at hotspots or rooftop clubs, even museums.
Historical, art, and culture walking tours with mixers afterwards
Curated seminar series for small business topics
Job search and career advancement seminars and workshops
B2B networking groups and referral circles

– Soon we will launch a series of industry-focused mixers (Advertising/Marketing/Communications, Tech, Financial Services, Small Business Owners & Consultants, Real Estate.

– Our marquee monthly event, OP Lounge, has grown substantially over the last year. Even in this harsh winter, where OP Lounge fell on two nights with -10°F wind chill and another during a huge snowstorm, we had 120+ attendees at each event. We can’t wait to see how successful our summer rooftop series will be!”

Manhattan Digest, Out Professionals — Credit to: Blandon Belushin

What are your biggest hopes for OP going into the rest of this year and beyond?

Jack- “The continued growth in our membership will soon require growing our board as well. So we are always eager to talk with Members eager and ready for a greater roles within Out Professionals.”

Charlie- “With 32 years under our belt, we definitely have had to continue evolving to stay a vital part of the community. In the last few years, we’ve made great strides towards renewing and refreshing the organization for today’s world. Memberships are up 45% in the last year alone, and we’ve had more and more interest from corporate sponsors, which is now becoming a focus to help finance our continued growth and evolution.”

For more information on Out Professionals, log on to their official site.

Where To Go For Easter Brunch in New York City This Sunday

by Ryan Shea

As if Manhattanites don’t celebrate the weekend brunch as is, they have an even bigger and better reason as it is Easter Weekend and many fab locations across the New York City area are offering some pretty great incentives to get you to dine and dish with your friends and family. The Waldorf Astoria, Corkbuzz in Union Square, Bateaux New York, and Spirit Cruises all have great amenities lined up for you to experience, enjoy and leave with a smile on your face. Having been to some of these before (Waldorf in particular) I know that each will provide a great time to have for all. Check out to see what each is bringing to the table and then some.

Waldorf Astoria, Easter, Easter Brunch, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Waldorf Astoria

Waldorf Astoria Sunday Brunch

Known for the country’s top Sunday brunch, the Waldorf Astoria New York will offer a special Easter brunch on April 5^th. Laid out in Peacock Alley, the renowned lobby restaurant, special Easter additions include citrus smoked salmon, smoked sturgeon, lobster & asparagus salad. Additional gourmet options incude cold dishes such as caviar and a seafood bar (crab, oysters, and more!), as well as hot dishes like made-to-order Eggs Benedict (originated at the hotel!) and numerous carving stations. The array of specialty desserts includes favorites such as Red Velvet Cupcakes (another hotel original!) and Baked Alaska. Brunch cocktails (including the Bloody Bunny, a carrot take on the Bloody Mary) are also available. $98 per person

Corkbuzz, Manhattan Digest, Easter Brunch — Credit to: Corkbuzz

Corkbuzz’s Union Square

The location is celebrating Easter Sunday with a brunch buffet featuring an egg station, French toast, ham carving, granola, and an assortment of meats and cheeses. Signature brunch favorites including the Grilled Cheese (mahon, saffron-apricot chutney) and Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes (apple chutney) will also be available to guests. Additionally, the champagne will be flowing with Corkbuzz’s Champagne Campaign – meaning half-off bottles of all champagne!

Bateaux New York

This Easter, families celebrating Easter can choose a Champagne Brunch Cruise or Easter Dinner in the all-glass dining vessel, Bateaux New York. Inspired by European river boats, guests who choose brunch will enjoy Quiche Du Jour, Roasted Banana French Toast and Amish Roast Chicken, while guests who prefer the dinner cruise will feast on Stuffed Pork Roulade, Braised Short Rib and Roast Wagyu Strip Loin. Starting at $69.90 per adult and $41.95 per child, guests will also enjoy live entertainment, attentive service and stunning NYC skyline views. In addition, those using the promotion code Easter20 can save 20%. To book, call 866-817-2463 or use the website here.

Spirit Cruises, Manhattan Digest, Easter Brunch — Credit to: Spirit Cruises

Spirit Cruises – New York Metro

Departing from Chelsea Piers, NY and Lincoln Harbor NJ, Kids can hop on Spirit of New York or Spirit of New Jersey brunch or dinner cruises for free this Easter! Cruisers will enjoy an engaging family friendly DJ, dancing and beautiful views of One World Trade, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and more. In addition, the contemporary buffet includes items like organic spinach and kale salad, roast salmon and tilapia, chicken parmesan meatballs, and kid friendly options like pizza or chicken fingers. This offer is limited to one free child per paying adult, with a maximum of two children per order and reservations must be made via phone by MARCH 22^ndfor this offer. To book, guests can call 866-483-3866 or use the website here.

Happy Eating Everyone!

City Kitchen Elevates The Food Hall Experience To A New Level

by Ryan Shea

We’ve all had experiences at our local malls and the less than fantastic food they have at the food halls that they provide the general public. Many of them are low in price but not exactly pungent when it comes to flavor and value so the savvy foodie like myself is left wondering what else is out there. Well, for the Manhattanite in all of us I found something that you will love in many different ways. This is City Kitchen, which is located inside the super fabulous Row Hotel on 8th Avenue between 44th and 45th Street. Hotel guests and Times Square locals are having the unique opportunity to indulge in some of the city’s most desired and buzzed about food concepts – without having to travel too far to taste them. City Kitchen brings to Row NYC a collection of restaurant trailblazers to continue the evolution that has made this property one of the most exciting to open in Times Square to date.

I was fortunate enough to stay in The Row Hotel before as a review for Manhattan Digest, and was thrilled overall with the incredible art landscape of the room and hotel itself and how it really had a great duality with modern and classic architecture overall. The addition of City Kitchen really is the cherry on top of the already delicious pie the property itself has to offer. City Kitchen is a nostalgic nod to the classic working kitchen and features industrial décor such as white subway tile, marble, reclaimed wood, gingham, and statement Italian glass chandeliers. Fixed steel and turquoise leather stools along the floor-to-ceiling windows provides customers with an unobstructed view of Times Square. The unique brand and personality of the assorted purveyors will be reflected within their own space, making City Kitchen as diverse as the streets of New York.

City Kitchen, Manhattan Digest, Row Hotel — Credit to: City Kitchen

The fabulous thing about City Kitchen, given that warm weather is upon us, is that a lot of the food that each vendor provides really translates to what we are expecting for the spring and summer seasons. So here is what I would recommend trying at each of the vendors as me and a friend went over the weekend and had a field day with all of them. In the mood for sushi? Try Asuki and check out their Manhattan or Tuna Lover roll. ilili box skews Mediterranean with a variety of really delicious wraps and salads. A good combo would be their Duck Shawarma with their Green Lemonade. The flavor in the Shawarma is an explosion whereas the Green Lemonade has a nice kick of cucumber in it which blends well with the sweetness of the drink itself. Gabriela’s Taqueria is your one stop for all things tacos, tacos and more tacos. Even breakfast ones! Try a classic and go with their steak taco. Simple, cooked well and the perfect bite for your afternoon meal. Kuro Obi is your Ramen headquarters, and a great place to stop by on a rainy day. Try the classic Ramen with pork belly. Just remember the two words- pork belly. Enough said.

Luke’s is renowned for one thing- Lobster Rolls. Just get that, trust me. It was hands down the best lobster roll I have ever had. Pair it with a cold soda, pickle and chips and you are good to go. I have actually reviewed Whitman’s for Manhattan Digest before, so naturally I was pumped to try them out again as they are big on their burgers. The PB&B Burger (Peanut Butter & Bacon). An odd combo at first but when you try it the flavors really blend well together.

Now if you are looking for a quick snack, there are three vendors there that fit that bill as well. Sigmund’s boast a wide array of my favorite snack- pretzels. I would try the truffle cheddar as it is warm and soft on the inside with the truffle cheddar adding a great flavor on the outside. For dessert, Dough is the place to go as they have a great line of doughnuts with unique profiles. The Chocolate Nib was more than enough for me, as it came topped with a ton of delicious chocolate. Want something a little lighter? Try Wooley’s shaved ice, which comes in leche, coffee and green tea and has a bunch of great toppings. A delicious ending to a wonderful experience.

I would recommend trying at least one of these places out as it would fulfill any food palate out there. For more information, check out their official site. Happy eating everyone!

Manhattan Digest’s First Fundraiser A Big Success at Gymbar!

by Ryan Shea

This past Saturday night, Manhattan Digest held its first fundraiser at the best gay bar in New York City- Gym Sportsbar in Chelsea. The event itself was held from 7-9 PM in the basement part of Gymbar, and included great giveaways like T-Shirts, Dog Tags and Trial Memberships from Scruff App. The room was packed throughout with not only friends of mine and fans of the website but a ton of great people who came down and got in on the bidding action & donating for a great cause. A month of hard work, promotion, donations and all of that paid off and the event was a huge success not only for the website but for raising money for cancer research and patient care.

Manhattan Digest Fundraiser — Credit to: Steve Alb

A big thank you to the following people and organizations as they helped tremendously to make the night a big success. Rick Schmutzler, co-owner of Gym Sportsbar, for letting us have the event at your fabulous establishment and Serge Sturbois for being a fantastic and amicable bartender throughout the night and helping all of our participants out with a smile. Thank you to my best friend in the world Nixon Saget who stepped it up ten fold and worked the front desk, encouraged people to donate and helped collect the donations throughout the two hours. You are an amazing guy and friend and I really do appreciate what you did. Thirdly, my buddy (and amazing photographer) Steve Alb for his amazing photography he took throughout the night. Definitely give him a shout for your next event you are having, worth it!

I would also love to thank the following companies and organizations who generously donated an item(s) for people to bid on. We raised hundreds of dollars for this event with more coming in the next couple of days, and the general response from the people who showed up for the event was gleeful & excitement when they saw what they could bid on for a good cause-

Best Barber in Hell’s Kitchen

Blue & Black Apothecary in Carroll Gardens

Hustlaball New York

Haru Sushi

Ugg/Deckers Outdoor Corporation

Out Professionals

The Jolly Monk

New York Beer Company

House Of Brews

Coopers Craft & Kitchen

The Guerlain Spa

Upstairs at The Kimberly Hotel

Top Shelf Premium

Kenta Long Island

Buffboyz

Hard Rock Cafe: Times Square

We will be doing another fundraiser hopefully in the next month or two, with more fab prizes you can bid on for another great cause… to be determined! Thanks again to everyone who came and participated!!

Alex Guarnaschelli’s Butter Lights Up Midtown

by Ryan Shea

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past couple of years you should know who Alex Guarnaschelli is. One of the most popular chefs on television today, she rose to fame on the mega-popular Food Network show “Chopped” and has also participated in other big shows on the network such as “Alex’s Day Off” and “The Next Iron Chef” in which she won a little while back. Poised but stern, she has done a phenomenal job not only on screen but also in her successful restaurant business, most notably her restaurant Butter. Butter, which opened over a year ago and coincidentally is right across the street from my office, has received rave reviews from fans and critics alike since its inception and is a place that I have been dying to review since I heard word of it opening that close to me. So when I was granted access to try out one of my favorite chef’s, I was giddy with anticipation and scooped up a good friend of mine to see what all the fuss was about.

Butter, Butter Midtown, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Fingerprint Communications

Although the entrance to Butter is on the main level, the actual restaurant is held downstairs in a spacious and warm setting that is felt throughout. Although the crowd was mainly business types (although that could have been because of the hour we went) it looks to be opened to much more than that including dinner & drinks with your friends and an overall friendly atmosphere. Before our meal began we met with chef Michael Jenkins, who has had a relationship with Alex for over ten years now. Both of them have spearheaded the fantastic and modern menu, which is seasonal throughout the year.

The menu itself is quite impressive with its inventive take on what many people consider to be classic dishes. A lot of them have flavor depth built inside, which really is the showing of a great chef as opposed to making something that I have tasted at a zillion other restaurants before. Case and point- their Peas & Carrots Ravioli. Something as simple as two everyday vegetables stuffed inside a warm ravioli with fresh apple mint, ruby chard and aged pecorino yet when all is put together in one bite is truly spectacular. The flavor is amazing, and the dish itself is served as an appetizer but can also be ordered as an entree. I am one to never turn down shrimp, especially if they are jumbo. So another great starter for me and my friend was the Jumbo Florida Shrimp with a lemon bergamote mayonnaise & toasted coriander. In my life I never tried shrimp with a specific type of mayonnaise on top, but the lemon bergamote really added a great amount of flavor to the oversized shrimp. Of all the appetizers that we tried the one that I would highly recommend more than anything is the Homemade Ricotta Crostini with crispy brussel sprouts and aged balsamic. As someone who has grown into loving the taste of brussel sprouts, I thought it was simply divine how they were able to get such a sharp crisp on them which paired beautifully with the ricotta and balsamic. A perfect bite to start your meal.

Manhattan Digest, Butter, Butter Midtown — Credit to: Fingerprint Communications

For their large plates, or entrees, the menu itself is a great reminder of how the warmer weather is coming as a lot of these dishes have a Spring-esque vibe to them. I was served their Grilled Double-Cut Pork Chop with a Collard-Green sauerkraut and spicy pickled mustard seed. The side that I chose to pair with the pork chop was the Gnocchi Mac N Cheese. Absolutely delicious on all ends. The pork chop and Sauerkraut are a great duo and the Gnocchi blended really well with the Mac N Cheese to the point where I forgot I was actually eating Gnocchi. Really amazing. My friend opted for the Roasted All Natural Chicken Breast with sautéed sunchokes, black truffle butter, aged sherry. Perfectly cooked chicken and great sides to go along with. We didn’t have this but something that Michael recommended trying is their Charred White Cloud Califlower, which is a vegetarian dish served as a large entree. He raved about this so I wanted to put this in for people who want to opt for something a bit lighter and not so meat-heavy. To finish your meal off, you can go southern and have their Raspberry Beignet’s or a great classic with a twist in their Frozen Toasted Marshmallow Mallomar. Both are a great end to a fantastic meal.

With Easter right around the corner, Butter will be serving up some delicious and scrumptious meals for Brunch that morning and afternoon to satisfy your midday cravings. Whether you are looking forward to sipping on a tangy mimosa, or taking that first bite of mouthwatering blackberry French toast, Butter Midtown’s prix fixed Easter Brunch menu and beautiful garden patio offer the perfect ambiance to enjoy Easter Sunday with loved ones. The special menu is also offering brunch favorites with a twist like a Burrata Quiche with oven-roasted tomatoes, wild mushrooms and aged Balsamic and a House Cured Bacon Omelette with fava beans and Challerhocker cheese. Sounds absolutely delicious to me and should be checked out.

For more information on Butter, check out their official website and Twitter. Happy eating everyone!

Rocco Steele Wins Top Honors at the 2015 Hookie Awards

by Ryan Shea

The 2015 Hookie Awards went down this past Friday night at BPM inside The Out Hotel on 42nd Street. It is true in some cases when you say third time’s a charm, and seeing as this was my third Hookie award show that I went to I can truly say that this was the case as this one I had the most fun at. Probably because I have interviewed most of these intelligent and sexy men, and knew what I was getting myself into (puns galore). Regardless of the fact that the shitty weather was keeping us from half naked men and water cooler awards like Best Cock and Best Boyfriend Fantasy, the room was packed to see the who’s who in the Rentboy world as well as some bonus amenities that I will get to later. This event was also live streamed for this first time on the web so you could enjoy the debauchery and excitement at home in your boxers with those sticky stains on them. Ew.

Hookie Awards, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Fahrenheit NYC Photography

I started off my evening before the show at a pre-party with some of my favorite guys in the industry like Neil AKA Erotic Hypno, Jesse Jackman and Dirk Caber as well as a new friend that I met, Duncan Black. I also got to hang with my Buffboyz buddy Jeffrey Watchman who let me in on some pretty awesome news that I will be writing about soon (think naked guys. Wait, this article already makes you think about that. Just look at Jeffrey’s photos for reference and stay tuned). After the pre-party we waltzed into the show itself where I hung out with my new favorite person (and fellow chicken finger lover) Dewitt from Manhunt who is just as cute in real life as he is in his photos. His shorts he was wearing left little to the imagination, which would’ve been a disappointment if he wore more. The award show itself was hosted by Rupaul’s Drag Race legend Alaska Thunderfuck and by comedian Brad Loekle, who pretty much stated throughout the award show that he is a grateful size queen who would bottom for the majority of the audience with a smile on his face. The reference he made about Boomer Bank’s huge cock and Dora The Explorer was probably the funniest joke of the night. Kudos to him. Alaska seemed to be feeling her oats for the most part however I thought her jokes could’ve been a little bit better as Brad seemed to be carrying the entire show. Needless to say they both did a great job in keeping the event going seamlessly and in a timely fashion.

Manhattan Digest, Boomer Banks, The Hookies, Rocco Steele — Credit to: Jeff Eason

Onto the winners. I love Rocco Steele as he has been a great friend of mine for almost a year now. The fact that he even doubted winning Mister International 2015 was something that I giggled at as this was his Julianne Moore “Still Alice” moment. He was a shoo-in from the moment he was nominated so naturally I was ecstatic that he won that and another pivotal award… Best Cock. 2015 really was his year and the fact that he continues to be humble in a community that has a bit of arrogance is really what makes him such an incredibly awesome person. I am beyond proud of him for what he has done since I first interviewed him last July.

Boomer Banks, Manhattan Digest, The Hookies — Credit to: Boomer Banks

Boomer Banks won a unique award that Rentboy presents for Best Style, which didn’t seem like much of a stretch as I have seen his get ups in person as they are quite spectacular. He should’ve won for Best Pornstar or tied that with Rocco, but it is what it is. Something that I was quite happy to see this year as I am a bear/cub was that the people who won this year (tie) actually represent that community. The winners were Ted Byrns & Will Foster, and I couldn’t be happier that they represented us at The Hookies. Totally rad. Whereas I didn’t agree with some of the winners at the actual event (not naming names here but I did shake my head a couple of times) the ones that did win were genuinely happy and that’s really all that matters at the end of the day.

Manhattan Digest, The Hookies, Stoya — Credit to: Jeff Eason

Side notes from the event:

I felt like I was one of the few people who actually knew who Stoya was. She is one of the biggest female performers out there, drop dead gorgeous and I loved that someone from her realm of porn was repping for the gays at ours.

Ryan Shea, Colby Jansen, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Me

The biggest shock of the evening wasn’t exactly the winners or anything that happened on stage. It was quite possibly the most handsome man I have ever laid my eyes on Colby Jansen being in attendance. He was there to present Best Bear/Cub (nice) and couldn’t have been nicer or better to look at. Colby, I’m ready to interview you… pick the location. I’m so open. 🙂

One of the nicest people that i met that night was hairy ginger & Best Twink winner Shameless Seamus, who was visiting New York for the first time by way of Nashville. Adorable and sweet in person, he has a thing for older bears (He’s 22 and I’m 28. Daddy age is coming). So naturally I want him to visit again so we can explore his “older bear” thang.

I was so happy to see Seth Fornea be one of the trophy boys at the ceremony as I have happily interviewed him in the past. However, his counterpart who goes by the name of “Ricky” was on a lot of people’s lips that night. Not literally, but chatting wise. If he really decides to go the distance in this arena he could be the next big thing. Cuz boy oh boy was he fun to look at (and chat with later on that night at Attic).

Completely forgetting I met him at Hustlaball 2015, I was happy to see Bravo Delta make an appearance by way of the never ending winter city of Boston. A nominee that night, I enjoyed our conversations that we had as he is one of the most intelligent men I have met in this biz.

Want to know more about The Hookies? Check out their official site.

Kenta in Melville Blends Modern Asian Cuisine at its Best

by Ryan Shea

As a native Long Islander we fortunately have the reputation of having the best bagels in the world (damn right) but on the flip side of the coin we aren’t necessarily known for our restaurants as a lot of people think all we are is chains. The latter part of that statement couldn’t be more false as there are a ton of amazing local eateries for anyone to divulge in when they visit or live in Long Island. One of these great examples is the brand spanking new Kenta located right on Walt Whitman Road in Melville. Only being opened for about two months, the location is smack dab in the heart of Melville and a short drive away from the famous Walt Whitman Mall which has gone through quite the dramatic improvement in recent years. Kenta is run by brothers Joseph and James Ragonese, the latter is the front of the house guy who has worked with some of Long Island’s best restaurants for years now. Running the kitchen in style is up and coming chef Jason Lee, who definitely left a culinary mark on me and my friend upon our exit.

Kenta, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Kenta LI

This is perfect location for many different reasons. It is great for the business area of Melville for your colleagues to get together for some after work drinks or appetizers, yet also has a family friendly atmosphere that you can adapt to as well. It has a relaxed and cool vibe to it that my friend and I dug immediately upon arrival. We knew we were in for a treat ahead.

Now to the food, which was nothing short of spectacular. Kenta provided us with a copious amount of options to try, and needless to say they were all fantastic in one way or another. The Modern Asian Cuisine aspect really was felt throughout the entire meal, as classic met modern in many different ways. So let’s start off with their variety of appetizers. Kenta has both cold and hot appetizers you can try from, which is great balance to begin. For the cold, I would recommend The Tuna Poke as the tuna was sliced fresh and really paired well with the avocado, sriracha, scallion and lime-ginger soy. For the Hot Appetizers, the word Kobe seemed to keep coming up as they prepared the delicious beef in two different ways. One was in meatball form with a sweet glaze, wasabi aioli and a fresh crostini to dip into the latter two. Something that I thought was fantastic about these was that the wasabi was not overpowering. Wasabi itself can be quite a lot to take in for people who are spicy-sensitive yet instead of it taking over your taste buds you are left with a simple amount that tastes really deliciously with the meatball itself. The other way they prepared the Kobe is in a slider with a Kalbi marinade with a spicy garlic aioli. These sliders do not need any ketchup as the marinade does the work for it. Perfect bite. A third bite I would try out before diving into the main courses is the Satay, otherwise known as Chicken Yakitori. The sauce in the Satay was unique in its flavoring and went really well with the chicken itself.

I have had my good share of delicious sushi, however the sushi that we experienced at Kenta was far and beyond fantastic. If you are going to a place like this, it is foolish to avoid getting sushi as they have a ton of classic and special rolls that they provide. Two that I would go with is what they call The Gracious Balance. This delight of a roll consists of deep fried eel, mango, avocado and lemon yuzu on the inside and spicy rock shrimp and scallions on the outside. All of that flavoring put into one really made for eight incredible bites. No soy sauce needed. The other is their Island Roll which consists of coconut shrimp and mango on the inside and grilled kani, wasabi aioli and mango sauce on the outside. Similar eating experience to The Gracious Balance in terms of flavor explosions in your mouth. Highly recommended.

When it comes to the main entrees, it is good to have a side dish like their chicken or pork fried rice to compliment whatever you are eating. It comes with asparagus, scallion and a fried egg on top that adds to the depth of flavor it comes in. As for the main courses, it runs the gamut however I would try their Miso Chilean Sea Bass and Spicy Jumbo Prawns. Different flavors for sure, however the sea bass and prawns were both cooked perfectly with the right amount of spice on both of them. Top notch deliciousness.

Don’t just take my word for it though. If you are ever in the Melville area and need a place to wine, dine and have fun… check out Kenta. Worth the trip in my opinion. Want to know more about Kenta? Check out their official site. Happy eating everyone.

NYY Steak Hits It Out Of The Ballpark… And More

by Ryan Shea

As someone who has been a lifelong New York Mets fan, a struggling one per se, I tend to narrowly avoid anything that has do to with the Yankees. I mean, when you grow up with the last name Shea it is sort of embedded in your system to ultimately root for the Mets even though in recent years a local high school team has a better shot at getting to The World Series than they do. I blame that on the name change from Shea to Citifield, but I digress. Luckily, I had a huge change of heart when I visited their official restaurant called NYY Steak this past Wednesday. Located right in the heart of midtown Manhattan on 51st between 5th and 6th Avenue (with alternate locations at Yankee Stadium and Coconut Greek in Florida), NYY Steak is to fine dining what the Yankees are to baseball- just great. This is their quote, which I was originally hesitant by, however after my experience I can truthfully say that statement couldn’t be… truer.

NYY Steak, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: NYY Steak

The location itself is quite grand upon arrival. The space is two floors and seeing as it is fine dining I would highly recommend not showing up in a pair of jeans and t-shirt and maybe getting a bit dressed up (nothing they said to me on their part, but I should’ve known better based off what I was wearing). Something that was fascinating about NYY Steak was that the plates that we were served on were the traditional colors of the New York Yankees- blue and white. That may not seem so spectacular but what made it cool was that each plate had a number of a legendary Yankee player imprinted on the top of it. So you had your run of the gamut of players like Yogi Berra and Joe DiMaggio’s numbers just to name a few while you are dining on their delectable items that they serve. The service was top notch as well, with their impeccable wait staff accommodating me and my friend at every stop and recommending the best of the best that was on their menu that night.

The menu itself for the main part is Americana at its best, from its 21 day USDA Steaks (butchered in house) to its incredible line of Seafood, NYY Steak has got you covered. Let’s go through what in my opinion you should have while you are dining there. If you are looking to start off with a soup and salad, I would recommend The Crab Bisque with cream & sherry and Ozzie’s Spinach Salad with dried cherries, pine nuts, roasted bell peppers, BACON and shaved asiago cheese in a cherry vinaigrette dressing. The bisque itself was quite warm and creamy and the Alaskan King Crab was cooked perfectly. I for one am not the biggest spinach fan however combined with all the elements it made for one tasty salad.

Moving onto the appetizers might I suggest two words- STEAK BACON. Yes, pictured about you have their steak bacon which is cured and smoked in house. Putting two of my favorite meats together in one tasty bite really is quite the treat itself, and their steak bacon is no exception. Another tasty option is of course a classic Colossal Shrimp Cocktail with a horseradish cocktail sauce and something that you can get as an entree but we actually opted to get them as an appetizer.

This is their Dry Aged Lamb Chops, which if you ordered as an entree would come as two double-cut chops and rubbed with fresh rosemary & roasted garlic. However, they were gracious enough to make them for us in a lollipop format, where we could literally pick them up and eat them off the bone. I don’t know if it was the rub or the way they cooked the meat, but honest to god this has got to be one of the best tasting meats I have ever experienced in my life. The flavor on them is insane and can dual well if you want to share with others or have for yourself as an entree. Heck, its so good it even got its own paragraph on here. So that is saying something.

For a main course option, outside of the lamb chops, a good classic choice would be their Filet Mignon which comes in a 6, 8 or 12 Oz. Cooked perfectly and can pair well with any of their yummy sides like Lobster Mac N Cheese & Garlic Mashed Potatoes which they provided us with. Something that they also do is that if you order a particular steak they will carve whatever you would like onto the bone of it. No kidding, look above. I was short of in shell shock when they told me about this originally and even in more shock when they presented it to me. I mean, my name and website on a steak. That I can keep, as a memento. Totally awesome.

To finish the meal off with something sweet, try their classic New York Style Cheesecake, Chocolate Covered Pretzels or Creme Brulee as it a great way to end. 10/10 in my book for so many different reasons. For more information on NYY Steak’s three locations, menus and so much more, check out their official site.

LIFESTYLE

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