Learn How to Get a Liquor License for Your Restaurant or Bar

October 15, 2018 by Leave a Comment

bartender tricks for mixing cocktails

“Opening a bar is about a little more than choosing the perfect beer and liquor list. In fact, there are a number of restaurant licenses and permits that you need to get out of the way before you can open your doors for business. In getting caught up in dreaming about all the delicious drinks that a new restaurant owner plans to offer, many forget about the extent of the legalities they have to navigate first, legalities that can throw a serious wrench in your grand opening plans if they aren’t executed correctly.

Although alcohol laws will vary from state to state, attempting to open a bar without a liquor license is going to lead down a road of penalties, fines, and shut doors—all of which every restaurateur wants to avoid at all costs (…).”

    1. “How much does it cost to get a liquor license? The cost of obtaining a liquor license can vary greatly depending on the state. Full liquor licenses can range from $12,000 to $400,000. Beer and wine liquor licenses can cost as low as $3,000. The actual cost you can expect to pay really depends. The best way to estimate it is by chatting with bars and restaurants in your local area that are similar in size and scope to yours.
    2. How old do you have to be to get a liquor license? Like all things related to alcohol in the United States, a person must be 21 years of age to work in a bar or obtain a liquor license (…).”

View more information here.

Filed Under: Openings, Operations, Opportunities Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Restaurants at New York’s Hudson Yards Have a Big Plan to Feed Office Workers

October 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Image result for hudson yards

“More details are emerging about the dining roster at the $25 billion Hudson Yards project, and as a food editor who also happens to be a native New Yorker, I can say that it’s time to get very excited. By mid-March the megaproject’s 25 restaurants and food concepts, from José Andrés’s Mercado Little Spain food hall to the fish temple Estiatorio Milos, should be open.

Hudson Yards anticipates more than 40,000 employees arriving to work daily—a new epicenter of Manhattan supporting companies from Steve Cohen’s Point72 Asset Management to Tapestry, VaynerMedia, and Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs.

The question of feeding all those workers, as well as the thousands of residents and tourists who will be flowing through the 1-million-square-foot space, has obsessed Kevin Stuessi, vice president at Related Companies LP, the real estate company developing the project. He’s determined that most of the restaurants will have continuous service, starting at about 11:30 a.m., with late-night menus planned.

Following an exclusive hard hat tour in early September, Stuessi and Related Urban CEO Kenneth Himmel shared some of the most exciting details of the project’s signature concepts.”

Read more here.

Filed Under: Events, Heard on The Street, Local Market Buzz, Openings Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

How the Union Square Partnership puts on the ‘best food event’ in New Yorks’

September 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment

The 23rd annual Harvest in the Square will

As Harvest in the Square, a fundraising event put on by the Union Square Partnership and a favorite of foodies in the area, gears up for its 23rd edition later this month, patrons and sponsors alike reminisce on the good it has done for the neighborhood and look toward the park’s promising future still ahead.

These days, the partnership funds the park’s repairs, seasonal plantings, and seating area additions, but it also focuses on providing the neighborhood with a series of free programs year-round. From cooking demos with some of the city’s best chefs to outdoor concerts and film screenings, the organization offers events to maintain Union Square’s booming reputation, all free of cost.

This year’s Harvest in the Square will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 20. Tickets start at $125, or $150 on the day, and can be purchased at www.harvestinthesquare.nyc

Read more here.

Filed Under: Cooking, Events, Heard on The Street, Local Market Buzz, Trending Now Tagged With: , , , , ,

NYC’s Newest Viral Food Is the $75 Smoked Watermelon ‘Ham’

September 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment

The latest viral food to hit NYC has a lot in common with ones of the past: The smoked watermelon “ham” at Duck’s Eatery is one thing (a fruit), but when it’s sliced, dramatically looks like another (meat). Chef and co-owner Will Horowitz says that after videos from several food sites collectively racked up nearly 100 million views, the $75 product is sold out until November. “We’re getting a request every minute or two,” Horowitz says. “I had to set up an auto-reply on our email.”

See more here.

Filed Under: Heard on The Street, Local Market Buzz, Trending Now Tagged With: ,

Ikea Gets into the Hyper-Local Game

June 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment

635925890195816807-242942337_Header.jpgAt first glance, it might seem like an affordable furniture company has very little to do with the farm-to-table movement. But where others might see apples and oranges (or apples and bookshelves, as the case may be), Ikea sees opportunity.

The brand recently partnered with Space 10, a “future-living lab” and exhibition space in Copenhagen, to produce an environmentally sustainable hydroponic gardening system (called “The Farm”) made primarily using Ikea products like LED lights, shelving, and plastic bins. All told, 80% of the materials in The Farm come from Ikea’s product lines.

Ikea plans to roll out the new hydroponic system in their in-store cafes. Those cafes have historically been known more for Swedish meatballs, lingonberry jam and baked goods than for fresh produce, but that may change in the near future. Although food sales represent a very small portion of Ikea’s overall revenue, they ultimately plan to market The Farm to restaurants and home gardening enthusiasts interested in producing more of their own vegetables. If the hyper-local movement is any indication, this market will continue to grow in the coming months – and Ikea may just be on to something.

To read more, click here.

Filed Under: Global Market Buzz, Trending Now Tagged With: , ,

Hudson Valley Real Estate Eating Up Our Produce

June 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment

North of New York City, a battle is brewing between real estate and family farming.  A boom driven by City residents seeking refuge in greener, quieter locales is displacing our local food system.  Since 1982, real estate developments have transformed more than 471,000 acres of New York farmland, according to the American Farmland Trust data.

For example, Elizabeth Ryan’s Stone Ridge Orchard is not for sale–but she’s been offered millions for the land.  And her lenders think “it’s a bad business decision, not to cash out land for houses.” Ms. Ryan has support, though; a group of New York City lawmakers has teamed up with another preservation group, the Scenic Hudson Land Trust, to create a plan to preserve the region’s existing food system. As part of the initiative, lawmakers are seeking for the first time to set aside money in the municipal budget for the preservation of farmland in the Hudson Valley. “The risk to farmland is a risk to healthy food for New York City residents,” Councilman Daniel R. Garodnick, Democrat of Manhattan, said.

New York City is plighted by urban food desserts, and farmers markets are helping to alleviate that problem.  As such, Mr. Garodnick has proposed spending $50 for a conservation easement program that would pay farmers the development value of their land and impose a deed restriction to permanently protect the property from development.

“This modest, but visionary, strategic investment will make the city a national model of how to create a more equitable and secure regional food system,” said Steve Rosenberg, executive director of the Scenic Hudson Valley Land Trust.  To read more about the proposal, including May De Blasio’s position and the concerns of a declining farmer population, click here.

Filed Under: Local Market Buzz Tagged With: , ,

Padoca: Creative Bakery on the Upper East Side

September 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Padoca BakeryTheir Success…“Padoca” is the Brazilian term of endearment for local bakeries.  Usually, these bakeries are fixtures of the community and run by familiar, friendly faces that know everyone in town.  Marina Halpern, who hails from Sao Paolo, owns New York’s Padoca Bakery, which opened at the end of June. The kitchen is in the hands of Rachel Binder, previously the pastry chef of Maialino, and from Israel originally.  TaraPaige Group worked with Marina and Rachel on conceptualizing, defining, and developing the business, and we couldn’t be more proud of what the duo is doing:

Pao de queijo—authentic Brazilian cheese bread puffs—are sold alongside sabich sandwiches—an UES favorite.  No cronuts here, but the bolo de coco is far superior—a traditional Brazilian cake with a hint of lemon and light and moist with coconut milk.  The drip and espresso are provided by Nobletree Coffee, which owns farms in Brazil and roasts in Red Hook, Brooklyn.  The made-in-house juices include pineapple-mint and an emerald bottle of kale, apple, and spinach, among others. It’s all good—seriously, all of it. The chicken empadinhas—think snack-size pot pie—haunts us. And with the cold weather coming around the corner, the bakery is starting to launch their soups. Thank goodness; having tasted those during recipe testing, we advise that you try them as soon as possible! The team has done a terrific job of balancing sweet and savory fare to provide something for everyone.

The space was previously a Wok n Roll Chinese restaurant, but you wouldn’t know it!  The bakery is now an inviting, comfortable setting with playful touches, much like the food. A beautiful set of windows overlook St. Catherine’s Park, and the walls and ceiling are clad with reclaimed wood. It’s hard not to feel at home in the space. The swing seat lights up children with excitement, and teapot pendant lamps add an accent of whimsy.  Whether just stopping in or looking to sip coffee with a friend, you’re going to be taken care of.

Take Aways…The bakery-cafe segment in New York City is tough!  Between deli’s, bodegas, patisseries, and third-wave coffee shops, it takes more than muffins and iced coffee to survive.  That’s why it’s key to differentiate your brand by bringing something new to guests.  And that’s what Padoca Bakery has done.  Marina and Rachel have creatively integrated Brazilian, Israel, and American influences into a sweet, petite place at home on the UES with delicious treats and lunch fare priced affordably in a wonderful atmosphere.  We’re can’t wait to see Padoca grow into the community fixture it’s destined to be, and the type of place the Upper East Side so dearly needs.

Padoca Bakery: 359 E 68th St, New York, NY 10065 http://www.padocabakery.com

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James Beard Award Chef and Restaurant Finalists Announced

March 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

After months of deliberation, the James Beard Foundation has finally honed in on the selection of finalists for this years’ Chef and Restaurant awards.  The awards will be held May 4 in Chicago–the first time outside NYC in 24 years! Here is a quick review of the local talent that made the cut:

  • Batard, nominated for Best New Restaurant
  • Jim Lahey, nominated for Outstanding Baker
  • Maison Premiere, nominated for Outstanding Bar Program
  • Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern, nominated for Outstanding Chef
  • Ghaya Oliveira, Daniel, nominated for Outstanding Pastry Chef
  • Christina Tosi, Momofuku, nominated for Outstanding Pastry Chef
  • Momofuku Noodle Bar, Per Se, and The Spotted Pig nominated for Outstanding Restaurant
  • Marea, nominated for for Outstanding Service

To see the complete list, click here.

Filed Under: Events, Heard on The Street, Local Market Buzz Tagged With: ,

Per Se Alums Open Fine-Casual Hawaiian

March 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Chef Chung Chow, Jin Ahn, and Gerald San Jose all met while working for Thomas Keller at the New York City fine dining institution, Per Se.  However, they’re no longer dabbling in French or American classics.  The trio has moved on to open a Noreetuh: a 42-seat, upscale-casual restaurant in the Eat Village focused on Japanese, Korean, and Filipino cuisines and where those three meet–Hawaiian.

Jin Ahn has assembled an impressive wine list with an emphasis on Burgundy and Bordeaux, but has kept the selection largely under $150.  Chow’s cooking reflects his upbringing in Hawaii and Japan with such dishes as pork croquettes, garlic shrimp over sticky rice, and crispy mochi waffles.  The menu is priced between $5 and $22, reinforcing the current trend of the return of casual dining, albeit with a fine-dining tweak.

To read more about Noreetuh, click here.

Filed Under: Local Market Buzz, Openings, Shopbuzz Tagged With: , ,

Le District to Partially Open This Week

March 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

The giant French market, bakery, cafe, and restaurant, also known as the French Eataly, is set to be partially open this week in the Brookfield Place in Battery Park City.  Over the weekend, the Cafe District opened up to the public serving pastries, espresso, and candy.

Much to the delight of Francophiles around the city, this is also the first US location of the Paris-based candy store, La Cure Gourmande, which is now open inside the Cafe District.  Guests will have to wait until Wednesday, however, to get a taste of chef Jordi Valles’ brasserie cooking at Beauborg.  The final portion of the project, a 28-seat tasting menu restaurant called L’Appart will not open until May.

Le District has slowly been releasing details about the project to excite guests.  In case you missed any of the previous reports, here are the highlights:

The space is divided into four districts: cafe, restaurant, garden, and market.  While separate physically, guests will be able to interact with the spaces with some degree of cohesion; for example, guests can purchase a steak at the butcher and have it cooked on the grill before leaving.  Also, the salad bar will switch over to a chocolate mousse bar at 4:00p.m.  Inside the market, there’s a wine bar, rotisserie, fishmonger, bakery, and cheese shop.  In addition to the 30,000 square feet inside, Le District will also have 7,000 square feet of outdoor space, with 250 seats overlooking the Hudson.

To read more about Le District, click here.

Filed Under: Local Market Buzz, Openings, Operations Tagged With: , ,
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