Since before Covid, Barnea Bistro is now open for lunch! With more office workers coming back this is a great sign of the times. The popular restaurant, helmed by Chef Josh Kessler, is taking lunch reservations Monday-Thursday, open from 12pm-2:30pm. Click here to see the lunch menu. Click here to weigh in. Barnea Bistro is located at 211 E 46th St, New York, NY. Their phone number is (212) 461-1001. Click here for their website.

 

I was honored that Mayor Adam's office reached out to me to help put together the food portion of the "Jewish Heritage Month" Reception. It was not an easy task since the Mayor requested vegan but there was one man I know who can pull this all together: Albert Bijou. And turns out, this vegan stuff ain't too bad. Click here for images of the food, and here for the menu. Click here for a video checking out the food (and fun with Mayor Adams). Click here for a clip of Mayor Eric Adams addressing the crowd. Click here for a clip of Shulem Lemmer serenading Mayor Adams and the crowd singing "New York, New York." For images of myself with New York's Finest and New York's Foodiest, click here. We also put together this shortened version to get a sense of the scene; click here to see it. I want to thank Jayson Littman, Director for the Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events (quite a title) for bringing me on and a masterful job by Albert for putting the menu and everything together working side by side with the Mayor's Chef. The following restaurants and caterers did great providing vegan food: Bay Cafe, Orchidea, Falafalafa, Aqua e Grano, Jus by Julie, Urban Pops. Thank you to Mayor Adams for hosting us in your backyard of Gracie Mansion and for highlighting Jewish Heritage Month. Gracie Mansion is the official residence of the Mayor of NYC, and is located at East End Ave. at 88th Street.

 

Margez Grill House in Brooklyn had their Grand Opening on May 22^nd. We got a sneak peak beforehand at their Friends and Family Tasting on May 19th. Click here to check out a video of us going behind the scenes and in the kitchen. Click here for a video of the main event: the food! Click here for a clip of everyone eating and having a good time. Finally, click here for a clip where we show off the lamb shank. To view their menu, click here. For more information, click here. Margez is located at 1018 Avenue M (Off Coney Island Avenue). Call (718) 369-0979 to make reservations.

 

As the Chief Foodie Officer (CFO) of Shulamith School for Girls of Brooklyn of Brooklyn, I'd like to invite you and any alumni to join us the Annual Dinner at Bison and Bourbon in Brooklyn. Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 6:30 PM. Special memorial tribute to Dr. Susan R. Katz A”H, the founding principal of Shulamith High School. To make a reservation of to place a journal ad click here. For more information, or to weigh in, click here. Deadline to RSVP: May 26.

 

Join us Sunday, June 12th in Marine Park, Brooklyn for our annual and epic GKRF Spring BBQ on the corner of Avenue S and East 33rd at the Great Lawn in Marine Park! This is one event you won't want to miss! Get early bird tickets now before price changes. While everyone has raised their prices, we've kept the price the same (only $15pp). It's very low and affordable so price should not be the reason you can't come. If you are financially strapped or want to donate tickets for someone else, please message me. BBQ will be from 1PM-3:30PM. Grilling will start at 12:30pm. Volunteers are appreciated and get certain perks. Volunteers are asked to come starting at 10am. $15pp in advance. $20pp after Tuesday, June 7th. Click here to purchase tickets. You will bring your order confirmation to the registration desk (DON'T FORGET IT!) where you will receive a wristband for each person who has paid. Each person get 4 food tickets which includes: 2 Hot Dogs, 2 Hamburgers (and some surprises). Also includes 1 Rita's Italian Ices, Salads from Tuv Taam, cake and other refreshments. Besides eating, we will have baseball, backgammon, frisbee, football and more! All meats will be sealed upon arrival with a reliable hechsher. Hot dogs will be provided by Abeles & Heymann and hamburgers from Prairie Street Prime LLC. We encourage families. plenty of space! Each child will need a ticket. Kids 2 and under are free. You are encouraged to bring items to enhance the BBQ, however, all food items must be sealed with reliable hechsher and brought early Sunday morning to the park. You may also want to bring blankets, lawn chair, sports equipment, etc. Click here for more information, or to weigh in.

 

News in Crown Heights. The Boozery opened May 28th. It's ice cream for adults. Alcoholic flavors. Endless fun. Click here to weigh in if you went, or if you want to go. The Boozery is located at 420 Troy Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.

 

5 Towns, are you ready to get slushed? SL'SHOLOGY had the grand opening of their new location on May 22nd at 346 Central Avenue. The real fruit juice slushie shoppe, popular already at Roosevelt Mall, opened their doors for the first time at 1pm until 10:30pm. Click here to check out a video of the new premises. Stop by and welcome them to the neighborhood, and click here to weigh in. Mazal Tov and continued success to owners Mordechai Kamenetsky and Yonatan Jon Prigan.

 

You want TRU, can you handle TRU? Tru By Mur, the new dairy restaurant by MUR finally opened Wednesday, May 25th! Great to see a restaurant offer something different and if you know Igor, you know he does things differently. I wouldn't call this a "dairy place." It's a Mediterranean restaurant with Greek, Italian, Israeli, French influences that happens to be dairy. Click here for pictures and descriptions of some of the amazing fare I tried on opening night. Also, click here to check out this video where we explore the magic of mezza. Click here to make reservations. Tru by Mur is located at 310 Central Avenue, Lawrence, NY. Their phone number is (516) 260-6341.

 

Click here for a clip I took when checking in with Sushi Tokyo and their Upstate Summer location. Hmm, what are they building on their property? Can't wait to show you. Big plans for Summer 2022 with sushi on the lake, Located at Loch Sheldrake.

 

Pomona, THE FLAME has been lit. The Grand Soft Opening was May 29th for the Chinese restaurant in the Monsey area. Stop by this week and welcome them to the neighborhood. The Flame is located at 14 Thiells Mount Ivy Road, Pomona NY. Their phone number is (845) 478-8000. Click here to see the menu on their site. You can also go to the Curbngo app to order online. The Flame is open from noon to 10:30pm. Please note their Monticello location will be open soon for the new summer season. Click here to weigh in.

 

Catskills Mountains Kosher News: Original Fialkoffs Kosher Pizza in Monticello is now open! Newly renovated for the new season. Go check it out. Fialkoff's is located at 250 East Broadway, Monticello, NY. Click here for more information.

 

All Hatzalah Members, BVAC and TVAC from Bergen County NJ were offered a small Chulent and Kugel for FREE on 5/19/22 courtesy of Heimish • היימיש. They wanted to thank you, and we'd all like to thank you, for your hard work and time volunteering to save lives. Click here for our post on the subject. Heimish • היימיש is located at 182 West Englewood Avenue, Teaneck, NJ. Their phone number is (201) 644-5100. Click here for their website.

 

HOUSE OF SUGO Pizza has announced they will be opening this Thursday. The artisanal pizza and pasta Cafe comes from Gideon Fentin of Giddy's Pizzeria East Brunswick, NJ. They will have a limited menu for dine in and local takeout orders. Click here to weigh in. For inquiries, email: houseofsugo@gmail.com. The restaurant will be located at: 2360 Lakewood Road, Toms River NJ.

 

Spending a fun filled day at Sesame Place? Order your Housemade takeout and satisfy those cravings while you’re out having fun. Pizza, sushi, meat takeout from House of Kosher. Just call (215) 677-8100 or email catering@houseofkosher.com to place your order. They’ll order the Uber, send you tracking info, and it’ll be on its way! For more information, click here. House of Kosher is located at 9806 Bustleton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA.

 

 

Spending time in Atlantic City? No need to shelp food! House of Kosher now offers catering & grocery delivery to Brigantine, Ventnor, AC, & Margate. 13,000 sq. ft. filled with Rollmasters Sushi, Brick Oven Pizza, Gourmet Meat Takeout, Fresh Meat & Fish, and aisles of your grocery essentials. To shop or view their Menu, click here. They head down the shore every Thursday, just in time for Shabbos. For more info, call them at (215) 677-8100.

 

Unfortunately, Ariela Lyttle made a post that Bochur Burger, the ghost kitchen, online delivery restaurant has closed. She doesn't think it's the right time yet and maybe down the road it will reopen. I hope she would have given it more time but easy for us to say. Click here to weigh in.

 

Psy on Pico doing a major rebrand and opening up TOMORROW June 1 as “The Kosher Burger Joint”. First 100 peeps get a FREE burger!!! Loosely modeling after “In-N-Out” they are responding to the needs of the community and offering a simpler, and more economical option. Click here for Lee Fisher's review of the place, and feel free to be active in the comments. The Kosher Burger Joint is located at 9407 W Pico Blvd.

 

Tens of thousands of people came and showed their pride and love. There is no other parade like a Celebrate Israel Parade.

Click here to read all about it, and check out our recap video! Click here for a clip of us rocking out on the float; friends, restaurant owners, basically everyone and their mother sings, dances, and makes merry. In case you weren't watching the live show, here is how the broadcasters called it as the GKRF Float drove up 5th Avenue. Click here for great article by Julia Gergely and Jackie Hajdenberg of the NY Jewish Week (and appearing in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency), all about the parade and Great Kosher Restaurant's role in it. Thanks for the nice coverage in the article. Click here to weigh in. Until next year in Jerusalem.

 

Not sure if you heard but singer Yoni Z - יוני זיגלבוים was badly hurt and is ok, relatively speaking, but needs our prayers for a refuah shelama. This is what Yoni's brother said on social media on May 29th. Dear friends, this is Yoni’s brother. We thank Hashem that Yoni is alive and recovering but endured a bad vespa accident during what was meant to be a 24 hr visit to Rome before continuing to Israel to promote the new album. He is in stable condition but suffered 7 fractures throughout his body. Please have him in mind in your tefilos (Yonatan ben Sigalit) and we are hopeful he will be able to travel home for Shavuos. His phone is with our father who is with him at this time. Thank you. Click here to weigh in.

 

While we are talking about learning Torah and giving back, let's continue the theme. As we did last year and every Yom Tov, I think it would be a nice gesture and appeal to many in our foodie family to see if we can connect individuals or families who will be alone (or just want to go to someone) for meals with those who would like to host others in this group. So if you are looking for a meal/place to stay or are willing to have someone, please click here for our post and comment with your area. If you do not want to publicize it, please feel free to message me and we will partner you up with someone. This thread is for anyone around the globe and can make a difference in someone's life. Now it's up to you guys. Also, with Saturday night being Tikkun Leil Shavuos, a night that many people learn and stay up in shul, as well as enjoy a nice buffet, if your shul or home can welcome visitors Saturday night, please list the name of the shul, address and times. May we we always invite and be invited and spend the holidays with friends, family and good food. Thank you. P.S. My shul, Merkaz Yisrael Marine Park Jewish Center in Brooklyn will be open all night and will have speakers, learning chavrusas and hot food. If you'd like to come, please message me.