What’s on the Menu at Choice Eats

Choice Eats is just over a week away — our annual tasting event hits the Metropolitan Pavilion on Friday, March 13. Have you bought your ticket? Hurry! We’ve sold out of VIP and Early Entry Preview tickets, but you can still score a General Admission spot, which’ll get you unlimited bites from 68 restaurants, plus sweets, beer, wine, and spirits. We have an absolutely stellar lineup this year: Fork in the Road hand-picks the invitees for this party, and this year’s list includes a number of our Best of NYC winners from 2014 (including our Best New Restaurant, Tuome), members of our list of the 99 Essential Restaurants in Lower Manhattan, and restaurants we’ve given lots of love to in our coverage. We’re thrilled to share them with you, all in one spot.

And today, we’re divulging what’s on the menu from many of the participating restaurants. Have a look at what you’ll be eating.

The East Pole Kitchen & Bar, 133 East 65th Street, 212-249-2222 Braised heritage goat sandwich, Vermont Creamery chèvre, roasted parsnip purée, toasted pullman

Spicy Pot, 5902 Fort Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn, 718-633-8788 Tea-smoked ribs, sesame cold noodle

Luke’s Lobster, multiple locations Maine shrimp rolls: buttered and toasted bun, chilled Maine shrimp, swipe of mayo, drizzle of lemon butter, dash of secret seasoning

King Bee, 424 East 9th Street, 646-755-8088 Venison Liver Mousse with Cranberry Compote and Grilled Country Bread

Tabata Noodle Restaurant, multiple locations Garlic noodle: egg noodles marinated in garlic oil with small cubes of charshuu pork, roasted garlic, and scallions

Baz Bagel & Restaurant, 181 Grand Street, 212-335-0609 Latkes Dill-luxe: mini potato latke, house-cured gravlax, sour cream, dill

Calle Dao, 38 West 39th Street, 212-221-9002 Lechón Asado: Roasted pig with fried-rice-style quinoa, ginger-cilantro sauce

The Gorbals, 98 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, 718-387-0195 Skewered grilled beef tongue, romesco, lemon crouton

Delaware and Hudson, 135 North 5th Street, Brooklyn, 718-218-8191 Sour braised beef short rib with caramelized-onion purée

Pickle Shack, 256 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, 347-763-2127 Bánh mì: smoked tofu, avocado, aioli, cilantro, kimchi, pickled carrots

Tuome, 536 East 5th Street, 646-833-7811 Beets with quinoa, five-spice yogurt, pumpkin seed

Carnitas El Atoradero, 800 East 149th Street, Bronx, 718-292-7949 Meatballs in chipotle sauce, poblano mole with chicken, pork ribs in green sauce, tostadas (mixed) different meats, red pipian pumpkin seeds

The NoMad, 1170 Broadway, 347-472-5660 Sea urchin panna cotta with Granny Smith apples and chives

Los Tacos No. 1, 75 Ninth Avenue, 212-256-0343 Chicken, steak, pork, cactus taco sampler

Mable’s Smokehouse, 44 Berry Street, Brooklyn, 718-218-6655 Jalapeño corn cake with smoked pulled pork and a maple bourbon drizzle

Max, 181 Duane Street, 212-966-5939 Meat lasagna

Commerce Restaurant, 50 Commerce Street, 212-524-2301 Marinated beet salad with yogurt, za’atar, and pistachios

Brooklyn Kolache Co., 520 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-398-1111 Mini kolaches

Recette, 328 West 12th Street, 212-414-3000 Grilled kingfish, jicama squash salad, parsnip and black-garlic purée

Thai Rock, 375 Beach 92nd Street, Queens, 718-945-5111 Thai dumpling: steamed Thai-style homemade crepe filled with a peanut and turnip sauté

Wilma Jean, 345 Smith Street, Brooklyn, 718-422-0444 Fried bologna sandwich on a potato roll

Genuine Roadside, 600 Eleventh Avenue, 212-582-7941 Ahi tartare tostadas with spicy mayo, border slaw, avocado, and sesame seeds

Venturo Osteria, 44-07 Queens Boulevard, Queens, 718-406-9363 Black and green lasagna, bechamel, kale, eggplant

The Meatball Shop, multiple locations Pizza balls with classic tomato and grated Grana Padano

Papa’s Kitchen, 65-40 Woodside Avenue, Queens, 347-724-9586 Laing: taro leaves steeped in coconut milk, like a larger-than-life version of Thanksgiving creamed spinach, amplified by green finger chiles, crab meat, and shrimp. The recipe comes from the Bicol Region of the Philippines, where Papa grew up. Served on top of thinly sliced toasted Italian bread sprinkled with red-hot chile.

No. 7, 7 Greene Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-522-6370 Double-decker broccoli tacos with black-bean hummus, feta cheese, and fried shallots

applewood, 501 11th Street, Brooklyn, 718-788-1014 Braised pork shoulder, ricotta dumpling, spicy caramelized apples, fermented chile purée

2 Duck Goose, 400 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, 347-987-4808 Pineapple bun sliders with pork char siu and sambal slaw

Bustan, 487 Amsterdam Avenue, 212-595-5050 Lamb shawarma with pickled mango sauce, tahini, sumac pickled onions on steamed butterfly buns

Box Kite, 115 St. Marks Place, 212-574-8201 NYC basil semifreddo with rhubarb compote and Tasmanian peppercorn

Casa Mono, 52 Irving Place, 212-253-2773 Confit goat with avocado, goat cheese, and pistachios

Brucie, 234 Court Street, Brooklyn, 347-987-4961 Crostini with house-made coffee stracciatella, hazelnut “dirt,” and pickled raisins

Coppelia, 207 West 14th Street, 212-858-5001 Torrejas de Oliva: bread pudding, blackberries, whipped cream

Edi & The Wolf, 102 Avenue C, 212-598-1040 Chicken schnitzel with fingerling potato and cucumber dill

The Queens Kickshaw, 40-17 Broadway, Queens, 718-777-0913 Broccoli soup with idiazabal cheese tuile and lemon oil

Awadh, 2588 Broadway, 646-861-3604 Sufiana Subz biryani, basmati rice with mixed vegetables, dum pukht, khaas korma, chicken tikka with saffron and cashew sauce

Fort Defiance, 365 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn, 347-453-6672 Deviled eggs with fried capers

606 R&D, 606 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-230-0125 Pig ear salad with pickled ginger, soy, and sesame

Queens Comfort, 40-09 30th Avenue, Queens, 718-728-2350 Steak au poivre mac & cheese: short rib, fontina, cheddar, green peppercorn sauce

Juliette, 135 North 5th Street, 718-388-9222 Spicy Florida rock shrimp slider on brioche bun with sriracha mayonnaise, celery, and dill

Xe May Sandwich Shop, 96 St. Marks Place, 212-388-1688 Vermicelli salad: vermicelli noodles, Asian lettuce, cilantro, pickled carrots, daikons, cucumbers, crushed peanuts, and fried shallots; grilled pork with fish sauce; soy-glazed portobello and spiced tofu with soy ginger vinaigrette

John Brown Smokehouse, 10-43 44th Drive, Queens, 347-617-1120 Pecan-smoked pastrami reuben sliders

Mexico Lindo, 459 Second Avenue, 212-679-3665 Roasted cauliflower soup with chorizo, zucchini, and pepitas

Huertas, 107 First Avenue, 212-228-4490 Tortilla de Garbanzos y Morcilla: chickpea and morcilla sausage omelet

Veselka Restaurant, 144 Second Avenue, 212-228-9682 Potato pierogi with a slice of kielbasa, horseradish beets, and sour cream. A mini Ukrainian combo plate.

Kuma Inn, 113 Ludlow Street, 212-353-8866 Pig and pickles

Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter, 94 Avenue C, 212-228-2972 Pecan pie, egg cream

Sigmund’s, 29 Avenue B, 646-410-0333 Oven-fresh hand-rolled pretzels and a surprise in a blanket

Rubirosa Ristorante & Pizzeria, 235 Mulberry Street, 212-965-0500 Osso buco tortelloni with saffron and horseradish gremolata

Red Hook Lobster Pound Downeast bisque

BOOMwich, 311 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-643-9229 Dr. Cubano Slider: Dr. Pepper–braised pulled pork with dijonnaise and Boom pickles on a pretzel brioche bun

Casa del Chef, 396 64th Street, Queens, 718-457-9000 Casa del Chef Chicha (dessert): fresh fruit confit and pineapple and rice broth

Egg, 109 North 3rd Street, Brooklyn, 718-302-5151 Country ham ‘nduja toasts with sunchokes

Untamed Sandwiches, 43 West 39th Street, 646-669-9397 The Hot Goldie Sandwich: grass-fed beef short rib, red onion, sweet and sour cabbage, black-pepper aioli

See the menu for Choice Sweets on the next page.

Choice Sweets

Ample Hills Creamery, multiple locations Salted Crack Caramel; Snap, Mallow, Pop!; Chocolate Milk & Cookies

Carlo’s Bakery, 95 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ, 201-448-8400 Assorted cake bites, brownie bites, mini-cannoli, rugelach

Luca & Bosco Ice Cream , 120 Essex Street, 347-815-5822 Bourbon brown sugar ice cream, vanilla toffee crunch ice cream, honey lavender ice cream

Butter & Scotch, 818 Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn, 347-350-8899 Smore’s Squares: graham crust with milk chocolate custard and toasted marshmallow

Robicelli’s, 9009 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, 917-509-6048 Nutelasagna: buttery lasagna noodles, cannoli custard, toasted homemade marshmallow, Nutella ganache, roasted hazelnuts

The Blue Stove, 415 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-766-7419 Lemon lavender chess pie, rosehip and plum pie

Butter Lane, 123 East 7th Street, 212-677-2880 Vanilla mini cupcake with sea salt chocolate frosting, banana mini cupcake with peanut butter frosting and marshmallows, chocolate mini cupcake with chai spice frosting

Doughnut Plant, multiple locations Chocolate hazelnut doughseed, cashew and orange blossom doughseed, peanut butter and raspberry jam doughseed, coconut cream doughseed, Manhattan cream doughseed, pecan praline beignet

Sugar Couture, 386 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-349-1440 Banana pudding pie topped with a smoked peanut butter cookie

Fay Da Bakery, multiple locations Japanese cheesecake, red bean rice cake, tapioca milk tea, grass jelly soy milk, iced jasmine green tea

Choice Eats runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Metropolitan Pavilion on Friday, March 13. Find tickets on the Choice Eats website.