In the magazine this week, Adam Platt checks out Todd English’s tourist-filled, many-restaurants-in-one spot, the Plaza Food Hall. It’s clear to Platt that English “knows variety usually trumps quality in this kind of environment,” but “if you’re looking for a quick meal before booking a carriage ride through the Park or plunging into the scrum at the Fifth Avenue Apple store, you could do worse.” Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld preside over a tomato taste test of epic proportions, with judges like ABC Kitchen’s Dan Kluger rating orbs ranging from heirloom to store-bought on acidity, sweetness, and other elements.
If smaller tomatoes are more your speed, there’s also a rundown of the best cherry tomato, a matter decided by sweetness. Wild blueberries are in season, used to their best advantage studding nutty buckwheat pancakes from the newly opened Vandaag. And Stuzzicheria opens this week, finally bringing Tribeca the Italian-inspired small plates it’s been promising.
