Layla and Ben are a couple that certainly make sweet music. I’m not talking about Barry White here; I’m talking about a couple that blares original music from their new-to-New-York ice cream truck. The set hails from L.A. where they’ve been ice cream trucking for almost two years. Their premise is simple: clients book the [...]

You may have guessed the Dish’s affinity for popsicles by now, and most recently, the Trader Joe’s Fruit Floes in strawberry and lime have caught the Dish’s fancy. They are refreshingly natural, with no preservatives or artificial colors. Strawberry even has chunks of the real stuff throughout the pop. Lime is tart and tangy with [...]

The Dish team trekked out to Park Slope a few weeks ago to get the scoop—actually a swirl—on Öko, the latest frozen yogurt joint to pop up in New York this season. The Öko difference is that everything—from spoon to wall to counter—is green, as in environmentally friendly. The walls are compressed sunflower seeds; the [...]

Live lobster sashimi and surprisingly sweet ikura are remarkable at Soto. I could say that either one was the best bite I’ve had all year. So to eat them both in one fell swoop made for an unforgettable meal. There was a torrential rainstorm on the night that my party dined. Coming to Soto was [...]

Since I first explored the Essex Market in the lower east side in 2003, it has come a long, long way. What was once something that seemed like a mere collection of bodegas beneath one roof is now a fully developed, full-service, funky group of specialty markets. Ann Saxelby Cheesemongers pioneered the move into the [...]

Lotus Foods is producing lines of rice from around the globe. Each rice has a unique flavor, texture, and color. Rice from Bhutan, China, and Bengal make for interesting and satisfying dishes in and of themselves. The Dish favorite was the Chinese black rice, called Forbidden Rice. Its nutty taste, purple-black coloring, and soft texture [...]

I try everything. I’m not even the least bit picky. Of course I have many preferences, but there’s not too much that I flat out will not eat. I relish enjoying the weird stuff, and I aspire to like it. At my summer camp where many of the counselors were Australians, I bragged about my [...]

Tired of the Barnard cafeteria one week into freshman year, I frantically called relatives and city friends to dine out, doing anything I could to save myself from rubber pizza and processed cold cuts. A good friend lived downtown, and I suggested we go to Japonica, a restaurant about which I’d read in New York [...]

I distinctly remember tasting something magical when I was in the eighth grade. I was in Hawaii with my junior high best friend. One night, her dad and step-mom had us meet them at a seaside restaurant. Looking out into the Pacific, we gathered around a wicker table. My friend’s father ordered a dozen oysters—something [...]

I had never been to Grey Dog Coffee for dinner until a few weeks ago when, after I’d disclosed this information, a few of my friends questioned my credibility as the Dish! Of course, we went for dinner that night. I couldn’t believe what I’d been missing. I’ve experienced the fantastic muffins and egg sandwiches; [...]