Neighborhood Watch

Moving On After Heartbreak in the East Village; Zio and 5 Napkin Burger Celebrate 11/11/11 With Special Menus and Discounts

Chelsea: The 14th Annual New York Chocolate Show (“The World’s Largest Event Dedicated To Chocolate”) continues through Sunday at the Metropolitan Pavilion (18th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues). More than 65 chocolate companies will be on hand to exhibit their work, along with chocolatiers and pastry chefs performing cooking demonstrations. This year’s event also includes a Kids’ Zone, complete with a Wonka-ish chance to find wrapper-hidden tickets to a production of “Peter Pan” at Madison Square Garden. Show hours run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $30-$35 in advance and $35-$40 at the door. Two children ages 5-12 are admitted free, with each additional child ticket priced at $8. Children 4 and under receive free admission. [Diner’s Journal/NYT]

East Village: Last month, we learned that the German restaurant Heartbreak had taken the lovelorn title to its natural end by closing for good. The latest reports from owner Christos Valtzoglou suggest the space will go Greek in its next incarnation. No word on a name yet, but a sensible reading of the location’s history would suggest shying away from “Melancholia” or “Unrequited”. [EV Grieve]
Flatiron District: Today is your chance to relish Zio’s Mediterranean-Italian dishes at Greek diner prices. The restaurant is offering a special menu of $11 items, including an appetizer (sautéed mussels), entrée (penne pasta or filet of grey sole) and glass of Barbaresco wine. If you still have room for more - and if you don’t, make room - finish things off with an $11 plate of cookies or tiramisu. [Grub Street]
Hell’s Kitchen: Burger bistro 5 Napkin Burger joins the 11/11/11 pile-on (and with a name like that, why wouldn’t they?) with their own special discount: Dine during the 11 p.m. hour and take 11% off your final bill. The elevens deal also applies to 5 Napkins’ Astoria and UWS locations. [Grub Street]
Midtown: For those that can’t or don’t want to trek to Bed-Stuy for Dough’s delicious donuts, there is now another option. On Mondays and Fridays, Dough goodies make their way across the East River (but please don’t associate the two) and over to the Culture Espresso Bar, at 38th Street between Fifth and Sixth Aves. By Midtown Lunch’s account, the yeast-raised donuts disappear quickly upon their arrival. Get to Culture early to avoid missing out. [Midtown Lunch]
Another kiosk opens in the Times Square’s pedestrian alley today. Nuchas offers “inspired hand-held foods,” including pastries and six kinds of empanadas. [Midtown Lunch]
Soho: From November 13 through the 20, ellabess will be accepting food donations for the Bowery Mission. Get a jump on Thanksgiving’s feel-goodness by bringing in canned vegetables, turkeys, sweet potatoes, yams, potatoes, instant mashed potatoes, pies, canned or frozen veggies and individually wrapped snacks between 7 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. In appreciation, donors will receive a voucher for a complimentary snack or appetizer. [Grub Street]
Upper West Side: The Children’s Museum of Manhattan kicks off its Family Chef Series this weekend. The series - part of CMOM’s new EatSleepPlayTM: Building Health Every Day exhibition - partners the museum with the nonprofit culinary organization, The James Beard Foundation, in order to teach families and children new recipes and raise awareness about healthy eating. The first program in the series takes place Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Chef Bill Telepan of the eponymous UWS restaurant will lead a food demonstration, tasting and Q&A; session for adults and children five and older. For more details, visit cmon.org or call 212-721-1234. [Grub Street]
If no dessert is more American than apple pie, then nothing quite takes ‘Mericana up a notch more than a contest to eat the most apple pie. The Fairway Café (Broadway at 74th Street) will stage just this sort of contest on Sunday from 9:30-10:00 a.m. Sixteen contestants will have ten minutes to gorge themselves for a chance to win a $100 Fairway gift card. To sign up, call 212-595-1888. Note that contestants must be 18 or older. Because let’s be honest: no one has a chance against a child or teenager inhaling free pie. [Diner’s Journal/NYT]
West Village: Tiramisu trailblazer Dolce Vizio has laid new ground in its quest to discover seemingly every permutation of the Italian dessert. Available varieties now include Pineapple Granola and Coffee Caramel. The former employs heavy use of pineapple and pineapple juice during preparation, and the self-evident ingredients of the Coffee Caramel tiramisu are topped off with coconut flakes. With menu delights like these, the build-your-own option will soon feel superfluous. [Serious Eats NY]

Moving On After Heartbreak in the East Village; Zio and 5 Napkin Burger