DLG Holiday Party 2019

We held our annual holiday party at the Institute of Culinary Education (aka ICE, but not to be confused with the other ICE) in downtown Manhattan again this year, and the results were as fun and delicious as always. As before, we chose a seasonal menu and divided up into groups to work at three different food stations to make the appetizer, main dish, and dessert. Although a few of us were skeptical to begin with (ahem, Alexis on the far right), enabled by the pink champagne, we quickly become experts in our chosen specialty, (see Alexis presenting the cooked fish and Tommy inspecting the group’s efforts,) resulting in a memorable meal. We are truly talented cooks. Okay, we also had some (very) valuable help from Chef Phil Hering and his skilled team. Happy holidays, everyone!

Happy Birthday, Ada!

We celebrate a lot of birthdays here at the firm, but this one we can all agree was special. This week the birthday festivities for Ada, our longtime bookkeeper, included a delightful cheesecake with strawberry topping. We thought it was pretty good but Ada, a real connoisseur of cheesecakes, was skeptical. Happy Birthday, Ada!

National Cheeseburger Day

Thanks, Shake Shack!

In honor of National Cheeseburger Day this past Monday, September 18, we had a couple of, you guessed it, cheeseburgers (and fries). While the origins of National Cheeseburger Day are unclear, we nevertheless were excited to celebrate this special day by getting some cheeseburgers from Shake Shack, one of our favorite places. The origins of the cheeseburger itself are also unclear, with one story saying that Lionel Sternberger invented it in 1926 while working at his father’s Pasadena, California sandwich shop, The Rite Spot, when he dropped a slice of American cheese on a sizzling hamburger. O'Dell's, a Los Angeles restaurant, and Kaelin's, a Kentucky restaurant, also make a claim for its invention. Whatever the origin, cheeseburger, we honor you!

Congratulations to Joseph and Radford!

The firm was happy to celebrate the recent engagement of blog editor/HR manager, Joseph, and his fiancée, Radford. We planned a dinner at Cosme in New York since we know how much Joseph likes a taco. Headed by the world-renowned Chef Enrique Olvera, this delightful restaurant features dishes rooted in Mexican flavors and traditions, while also celebrating local and seasonal ingredients from the Hudson Valley and surrounding region. Among the food highlights of the evening were the red mole with ricotta, hoja santa, and crème fraîche, the cobia al pastor with pineapple purée and cilantro, and the oh-so-delicious duck carnitas with white onions, radishes, and salsa verde. The husk meringue with corn mousse was exceptional as well. Okay, the margaritas weren't bad either. But the real highlight was toasting Radford and Joseph, and wishing them well on their upcoming marriage. Congratulations, you two!

May Your Holidays Be Filled with Delicious Food and Good Company!

We held our holiday party once again at the Institute of Culinary Education in downtown Manhattan. At this annual event, we cook our own meal—okay, the chefs help out a little bit and a few glasses of delicious brut rosé don't hurt either. On the menu this year was hand-cut beet pappardelle with goat cheese and toasted walnuts, a maple chipotle-glazed duck breast, and for dessert a pumpkin and dulce de leche tart. While some food stations worked harder than others—pasta station and duck grilling station clearly outworked the "chopping the cauliflower" station—everyone had a great time (especially dessert station) and we maybe even learned something. Great work, everyone!

5 Boro Pizza Tour

A few years ago, two hungry and adventurous friends decided to do a fun pizza challenge: they were going to visit all five boroughs in one day and eat a slice of pizza in each. And they were going to do it without using any cars, instead traveling only by subway, ferry, bike, and foot. Out of this a tradition was born: the annual 5 Boro Pizza Tour.  Now every year participants meet under the arch at Washington Square Park to receive a list of the appointed five pizzerias. Participants must go to each one, in any order, eat a slice and document it on Instagram (with the hashtag #5boropizzachallenge), and race to the finish. In honor of this event taking place tomorrow, Jon skillfully handled and enjoyed a very cheesy slice from local favorite Rocky's.