Havana Central

OK, so the weather really hasn't been in our favor lately. But once it does hit the 90s, and we're out again in our flip-flops battling the inevitable East Coast humidity, it'll be time to hit the grill. Here are some summer barbecue tips (with a Latin edge) from the chef who provided us the recipe for mango-glazed salmon earlier this week.

1) Rather than using the typical salt or vinegar to tenderize meat, try citrus. Add juices--sour orange or lime--to the meat at least 30 minutes (and up to 24 hours) prior to grilling.

2) Use chimichurri as a sauce or marinade for a Latin twist. The popular condiment is used on meats in South America and consists of parsley, garlic, oregano, olive oil, black pepper, and red-pepper flakes.

3) Getting bored of chicken and pork? Mojo--a mixture of olive oil, fresh garlic, and sour orange--is a Cuban staple that goes well with both. The sauce is easy to make, and marinating the white meats in it adds juiciness and brings out flavor.

More >>

Scarlett Lindeman

A little something for your Lent

It's the season for huazontle, a spindly plant from Mexico with bright green branches with thousands of tiny buds, somewhat similar to the beads on broccoli florets. Eaten around the Holy Week of Lent, the buds have a mild spinachy flavor. Though beautiful specimens have been popping up in Mexican markets lately, it is rare to see them on outer-borough taqueria menus.

More >>

Lauren Bloomberg

Dan Kluger's dish is as pretty as it is delicious.

ABC Kitchen, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Dan Kluger's 18th Street collaboration, is known for fantastic dishes that reinterpret vegetables. There are pizzas with farm-to-table toppings and lots of fresh, light entrées. All served in bright white dining room littered with bric-a-brac and chandeliers sourced from the attached ABC Carpet & Home.

However, on a recent dinner jaunt to the restaurant, there was one dish that stood out from the rest. It eclipsed the beets with yogurt and the pretzel-crusted calamari. And blew the socks off of the black truffle-burrata fondita (a special for the evening). Yes, this dish was better than melted cheese and truffles.

More >>

Lauren Shockey

Oysters at Romeo for Juliet?

Speedy Romeo (376 Classon Avenue, 718-230-0061) opened up recently on the border of Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill, offering a menu of wood-fired pizzas, steaks, and grilled seafood in a cozy setting. The spot, which is named after one of the chef's family's racehorses, offers a selection of inventive pies, like the St. Louie (Provel [a Missourian processed cheese], sausage, pepperoni, and pickled chiles) or the Casey Moore (baked clams, béchamel, tarragon, and spinach), but one of the most memorable dishes from a recent visit was the baked oyster appetizer.

More >>

Lauren Shockey

Chorizo and braised pork tacos

After yesterday's sham of a taco lunch, we decided to venture out and find ourselves some tacos worth eating. Fortunately, we were successful in our quest, chowing down at the recently opened Five Tacos, a sister eatery to next door's Ten Degrees, located on the easternmost block of St. Marks Place.

More >>

Lauren Shockey

New for 2012, Savannah Smiles

After learning about the 2012 Girl Scout cookie pop-ups, you're likely pretty excited about stuffing your face with sweets, no? But then comes the age-old question of what cookie to order. Purists might go for Thin Mints, while caramel lovers know the Samoa is the one. Yet there's one new addition to this year's cookie roster you should check out: the Savannah Smile. This sugar-dusted lemon wedge honors the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting, founded in that picturesque Georgia town in 1912. There, Juliette Gordon launched the national organization with "a telephone call, the English Girl Guide handbook, a handful of badges and her mind bubbling over with the endless possibilities her program could provide for American girls." That's fine and dandy, but the big question is: What do Savannah Smiles taste like and should you buy a box?

More >>

Lauren Shockey

Purim's a week away, but why not get the party started early with some hamantaschen, the tasty triangular-shaped cookies said to resemble evil Haman's three-cornered hat? The recently opened Prime Butcher Baker (1572 Second Avenue, 212-616-1502), a kosher market from the team that also owns Prime Grill, Solo, and Prime Ko, offers a fine version of the oft-crumbly cookie.

More >>

Scarlett Lindeman

Cemita sammy for you?

Peeling back the top of a sandwich from a Mexican bodega can sometimes cause momentary confusion. "Where's the pickled jalapeño? What's this green stuff?" is all too common a refrain. Here we clear up the difference between the two most popular Mexican sandwiches, the cemita and the torta, and where to find delectable versions of each.

More >>

Mpieracci/Flickr

Oysters = Sexytime

Happy Valentine's Day! Today's all about love (or, if you're single, it's about getting bombed on pink champagne in a bubble bath while listening to Whitney). And Conversation Hearts. And chocolate-covered strawberries. Now, those nibbles are all fine and dandy, but if you really want to get in the mood tonight, you might want to chow down on some aphrodisiac foods. Here's a selection of some love edibles and where to find them.

More >>

Soho residents who don't have lenient enough schedules to allow them to poke at their iPads over tea and a sandwich at Bond Street hot spot the Smile, rejoice. Because the cooler-than-thou dudes behind the concept have opened up a satellite takeaway shop on Howard Street.More >>