Category — Restaurant News & Reviews

Beef Bobotie/by Darko Zagar

Tired of beer and sandwiches with your FIFA World Cup action? In honor of the world’s most beloved sport and its host country, DC’s Peacock Cafe is featuring a special South African menu to be enjoyed along with high-def coverage of the games on the restaurant’s two televisions. South African classics like Beef Bobotie, a curry and meat dish served with yellow rice and a side of mango chutney, Karoo Lamb Pie, and Vetkoek, puffy bread filled with meat and cheese, should take the edge off not being able to get to the games yourself. If you are truly crazed — meaning you get up to watch the early games — Peacock is also offering fresh pastries for morning games. Like the games, the menu runs through July 11.

In New York, supporters of Team France will find bar and dinner specials during every French Cup game at Meli Melo Restaurant, a bistro with a massive flat screen and Cote du Rhone. How good is that?

courtesy Gourmet Latino Festival

What do you know about culinary tradition and the power of women in Latin America? Nothing, right? Okay, maybe you do, but I don’t and I would LOVE to.

If, like me, you don’t have enough cash to reach Buenos Aires head instead for the Gourmet Latino Festival, an eight-day celebration of Latin foods, cocktails, wines and coffees that kicks off in New York this weekend. The festival brings together more than 40 of well-known Latin chefs, mixologists and tastemasters from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, México, Perú, Uruguay, and elsewhere.

The festival boasts seminars on rum, agave, coconut. There will be dancing. There will be music. There will be eating. There will be lots of stimulating conversation. All that, and a brunch featuring levantamuertos (awake the dead) food and drink.

And if you see Chef Aaron Sanchez, who’s hosting several events, tell him he’s my dude (you gotta love him. He’s the nice one on Food Network’s “Chopped”) The festival runs June 4-June 12 in New York. See their website for more details and to buy tickets.

Still Life, Pastrami with Kosher Dill/Charles Haynes

Oy vay! Who knew there were no Jewish delis in Israel?!

Ruben, dubbed Israel’s first authentic Jewish deli by the local press, recently began serving up heaps of pastrami on rye — with harissa!! — to the befuddled masses. Why befuddled? As with so many culinary traditions, giant matzo balls and sky-high sandwiches were New World creations. And it took them six decades to make it to Israel.

Check out this fascinating story in The Forward.