Here’s our roundup of recent Lower East Side food news:

The Lower East Side BID is putting the finishing touches on DayLife, the Orchard Street festival coming up on Sunday.   There will be lots of food and retail vendors, plus musical performances, DJ’s, ping pong and skateboarding.  The event takes place from noon-5 p.m. on Orchard between East Houston and Delancey. You can see the full ... Continue reading]]>

The Lower East Side BID is putting the finishing touches on DayLife, the Orchard Street festival coming up on Sunday.   There will be lots of food and retail vendors, plus musical performances, DJ’s, ping pong and skateboarding.  The event takes place from noon-5 p.m. on Orchard between East Houston and Delancey. You can see the full list of vendors here.  There’s also a video series profiling many of the neighborhood-centric participants on YouTube.

Federal regulators have shut down more than two dozen bus companies providing interstate service between Chinatown and major cities along the East Coast.  The crackdown, announced this morning, was the result of an ongoing investigation that began after last year’s deadly ... Continue reading]]>

Last year's bus crash in the Bronx killed 15 passengers, all of them Chinatown residents.

Federal regulators have shut down more than two dozen bus companies providing interstate service between Chinatown and major cities along the East Coast.  The crackdown, announced this morning, was the result of an ongoing investigation that began after last year’s deadly bus crash in the Bronx that claimed the lives of 15 Chinatown residents.

The regulators targeted three companies (and their many affiliates) for safety violations.  The companies impacted are: Apex Bus, I-95 Coach and New Century Travel.  New Century is based in Philadelphia; the other companies are headquartered here in New York.

Among the safety shortcoming cited by the government: drivers who did not possess a valid commercial license and buses that were not regularly inspected or repaired.

As our regular readers know, we cast a pretty wide net here at The Lo-Down in search of all sorts of happenings in this famously diverse neighborhood. It’s in this spirit that we pass along word of a new event debuting tonight at Fontana’s: Vegan Drinks.  Details via the group’s web site:

Vegan Drinks is a monthly ... Continue reading]]>

As our regular readers know, we cast a pretty wide net here at The Lo-Down in search of all sorts of happenings in this famously diverse neighborhood. It’s in this spirit that we pass along word of a new event debuting tonight at Fontana’s: Vegan Drinks.  Details via the group’s web site:

Vegan Drinks is a monthly social networking* event for people interested in promoting veganism and advocating for animal rights. Vegan Drinks’ mission is to bring together a diverse group of people—from cupcake aficionados to animal lawyers to veg*ns of all stripes in between—to build new coalitions and promote the sharing of resources. Vegan Drinks is for newbies and oldies. All we expect is an interest in animal rights, veganism and the pursuit of after-work fun. Show up and introduce yourself, pass around business cards (if you’ve got ‘em) and embarrass yourself at least once an hour.

Interested? Click here for more info.

Find out why Anthony Bourdain calls Russ & Daughters his “favorite place in New York,” by joining our famous front of the house team. You will have the opportunity to be part of 100 years of New York history, learn the craft of “appetizing” and ... Continue reading]]>

Get those resumes ready! Here’s a very intriguing job posting on Craigslist:

Find out why Anthony Bourdain calls Russ & Daughters his “favorite place in New York,” by joining our famous front of the house team. You will have the opportunity to be part of 100 years of New York history, learn the craft of “appetizing” and engage with the public in a meaningful way. We have very low turn-over in our staff, which tells you something about the quality work environment at Russ & Daughters. We are looking for bright, articulate people who are fast, focused and attentive to detail and presentation. Candidates should have a background/interest in gourmet food, retail experience, salesmanship, strong communication skills, a good work ethic, and enjoy providing a special experience. Knife skills and familiarity with specialty food items such as smoked fish and caviar are a plus.  If you genuinely enjoy working with and talking about food, connecting with people and providing the best service, then we want to hear from you.  Give us a call at (212) 475-8331 to tell us a little about yourself, and email your resume in the body of an email (no attachments).

 

Sunny with a high of 81 today and, thankfully, less humid than the past ... Continue reading]]>

Grand Street, looking west. Photo by Noel Rockwood.

Sunny with a high of 81 today and, thankfully, less humid than the past few days.

Plenty of us go out for shellfish, whether it’s moules- frites at a French joint, Chinese clams in black bean sauce or oysters on the half shell offered at several neighborhood happy hours. But many do not cook shellfish at home. This strikes me as weird, since we live on the coast ... Continue reading]]>

Photo by Cynthia Lamb.

Plenty of us go out for shellfish, whether it’s moules- frites at a French joint, Chinese clams in black bean sauce or oysters on the half shell offered at several neighborhood happy hours. But many do not cook shellfish at home. This strikes me as weird, since we live on the coast – shellfish are relatively cheap and plentiful. In the case of clams and mussels, they’re really inexpensive and easy to cook. By most metrics they’re considered “healthy” foods as well, being big on nutrients and low in fat.

I think a big reason most folks do not cook shellfish at home is because we shop for food at the supermarket. A supermarket favors foods with long shelf lives. Most of the food for sale in a supermarket is capable of sitting for weeks, months, even years without spoiling. This makes it easier for managers to pay attention to the smaller percentage of foods with shorter shelf lives, such as meat, fresh vegetables and dairy. There are greater losses, and thus less profit in selling these things, so a smart manager must choose carefully among them. Fresh fish, particularly shellfish, doesn’t stand much of a chance in this environment, as it’s extremely perishable. It’s simply not worth the risk, and thus uncommon in most supermarkets.

But living on the Lower East Side we’re not at the mercy of the supermarket when it comes to seafood. There are fishmongers all over the place.  Those who prefer an upscale supermarket experience can go to Whole Foods. The Essex Street Market boasts two very worthy fishmongers (Rainbo Fish and New Star). I shop at both. Fishmongers dot the streets of Chinatown, ranging from excellent to dicey. (My favorite is Ocean Star, on the north corner of Grand and Chrystie. That’s usually where I get my shellfish, and I’ve never had a problem there – staff is friendly, turnover is high and prices are good). Those of us who want to cook clams or mussels at home have plenty of choices for sourcing them. Just be sure to buy them no more than an hour or two before cooking.

The cooking is easy: first scrub the shellfish, discarding any that have opened. Then make a cooking liquid in the bottom of a pot, toss in the clams or mussels and cover. About ten minutes later, when they have opened, serve in a bowl with the cooking liquid, some bread for sopping and a salad. (Discard any that fail to open after ten minutes). You won’t even need to add salt, as the shellfish are salty enough on their own.

I offered this type of recipe for mussels in this column last October. Here’s one for clams:

Clams in Garlic and Wine

18 Little or Top Neck clams, scrubbed
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2Tbs olive oil
glass dry white wine
handful of Italian parsley, chopped

Fry garlic in oil in bottom of pot for a minute or two. (Don’t let it brown). Add remaining ingredients, cover and simmer for about ten minutes until clams have opened. Serve in bowl with cooking liquid spooned over top of clams. Serves two.

If this clam recipe looks quite a bit like a sauce for pasta, that’s because it is. Substituting a small hunk of bread for a large plate of pasta makes for a lighter meal, with just about the same level of satisfaction. In the hot weather quick, light meals like these make sense. Just remember to be vigilant about getting the shells into the garbage and out of your apartment after you eat. Enjoy!

JP Bowersock is a professional musician and music producer who has toured the world repeatedly, eating at top restaurants and hole-in-the-wall joints. He is a serious home cook with over two decades’ experience cooking for family, friends and fellow rock and rollers. Mr Bowersock keeps a toe in the wine business as well,  consulting for the wine lists of several neighborhood establishments, including Clandestino, 35 Canal St. When not on tour or in the recording studio he’s scouring the neighborhood for frugal food finds.

Dry, high acid wines tend not to drink so well by the glass, but are perfect at the table. My summer cooking veers toward Mediterranean seafood dishes, and a wine displaying “mouth watering” acidity goes well with such meals. A lovely example at Seward Park Liquors is Domaine Felines Jourdan, Picpoul de Pinet, 2011 ($15). The Picpoul grape was once hugely popular in France, until phylloxera decimated the vines, nearly wiping out this ancient variety. Some of the last stands of it are in the sandy, coastal soils of the Languedoc, where this wine is made. On the nose it’s more floral than fruity, and in the mouth there’s a slight minerality. But the high, yet balanced acidity coupled with its dryness are what make this wine special at the table.

Our friends at Pushcart Coffee are spreading the word for Friday’s grand opening party at Cowboy Pizza, their new venture around the corner from the cafe.  It starts at 7 p.m.; you’ll get the chance to sample the new pizza pies and to meet Aaron Stoquert and Sarah Trapido, who will ... Continue reading]]>

Cowboy Pizza, 201 Clinton Street.

Our friends at Pushcart Coffee are spreading the word for Friday’s grand opening party at Cowboy Pizza, their new venture around the corner from the cafe.  It starts at 7 p.m.; you’ll get the chance to sample the new pizza pies and to meet Aaron Stoquert and Sarah Trapido, who will be behind the counter most of the time.  As we reported in April, they partnered with Jamie Rogers and Lisa Fischoff to reinvent the small pizza place (formerly Va Bene) at 201 Clinton. As you’ll see on Friday night, the restaurant has undergone quite a makeover.  Cowboy Pizza is located at 201 Clinton, just below East Broadway.   They’re open Sunday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Thursday-Ssturday 10 a.m.-midnight. And yes this place delivers!  Have a look at the menu here.

Half Gallery features the art of Wes Lang in “Here Comes Sunshine,” a fun collection that draws on a variety of influences including tattoo art and motorcycle culture. Ominous references to impending death are plentiful as are nods to the highly sexualized female form.

Wes Lang at Half Gallery.

The paintings appear ... Continue reading]]>

Wes Lang at Half Gallery

Half Gallery features the art of Wes Lang in “Here Comes Sunshine,” a fun collection that draws on a variety of influences including tattoo art and motorcycle culture. Ominous references to impending death are plentiful as are nods to the highly sexualized female form.

Wes Lang at Half Gallery.

The paintings appear as incredibly annotated documents, offering a detailed glimpse into Lang’s very busy subconscious.

Wes Lang at Half Gallery

There’s a lot to read in these works—messages written directly onto the paintings—that offer plenty for us to ponder. For example, “Everything is not enough” and “Pick a Place to Fly Away.”  Non-sequiturs? Aphorisms for daily living?  Take what you wish from them. The works are thought-provoking, thoroughly absorbing and a joy to experience. Through June 22.

Donna Chung, Untitled (Rug) at Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery.

Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery presents a show of new works by Donna Chung. “Cloud Hem” is Chung’s second solo show and features several wall pieces and sculptures made from paper, wood, metal, and found objects.

Donna Chung, Untitled (Bulletin Board)

When asked what a “cloud hem” is in an interview provided by the gallery, Chung responded it “marks the endgame of nomenclature. …The title of a show feels like such a weight of a decision that it’s best to leave it a little up to chance, or various inputs, or a friend and a computer.”

Donna Chung, Untitled (Grid)

Maybe so, though it hardly seems Chung left anything to chance in the calculated works presented in this show. The works carry a formalism and precision that belie the whimsy she expressed in her explanation of the show’s name. Nevertheless, the works are striking and elegant in their simplicity of form. Hurry: This one is on view through June 3.

Noted: Strange Loop Gallery’s “Renaissance,” a collection of kitschy ephemera that includes cute bunny rabbits, household items, along with stark and whimsical photo portraits runs through June 6.

Featured Gallery Picks

Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery/ 54 Ludlow St./ 212.777.7756; Wed.-Sun. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Half Gallery/ 208 Forsyth St./ Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment.

Strange Loop/ 27 Orchard St. between Canal and Hester/ 646.410.2083 or 347.963.3881; Wed.-Sun. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

TLD contributor Tobi Elkin is a writer, editor and interviewer and former resident of the Lower East Side who delights in the neighborhood’s eclectic pleasures. A regular reader of The Lo-Down, her diverse interests include arts and entertainment, film, food and cultural critique. Visit her website at tobielkin.com.