Faicco’s – The Rice Ball To End All Rice Balls
One look at the Faicco’s storefront sign and you immediately think pork. Rightfully so, as Faicco’s is known for their various homemade sausages as well as the numerous cuts of great looking meats they sell…. but pork is absolutely not on my mind when I walk up to Faicco’s. When I’m passing by that glorious sign on Bleeker Street in the heart of Greenwich Village, I think of one thing and one thing only: rice balls.
You can easily tell by reading a couple of the reviews on Yelp that Faicco’s is legit… and that it is cherished as one of the best old-school Italian deli’s in the city. The place has been around for over 100 years, which speaks to their quality and service. Not many food establishments survive even 5 years. They are consistently busy, with customers eagerly lining up to purchase an array of Italian meats, sandwiches, cheeses, as well as other classic Italian products and specialties. I’ve heard they make an awesome Italian sub. Maybe I’ll try it some day. But for now, it’s all about the rice ball to end all rice balls:
Make Time for Taïm
Taïm (Tah-eem) is a place that lives up to its name. Meaning ” highly pleasant to the taste, delicious” in Hebrew, Taïm is home to some of the best falafel in all of NYC. Falafel, a ball (or patty) of ground chickpeas mixed with various herbs and spices, is nutty, earthy, and deep-fried deliciousness. It is a dish that has become a staple throughout the Middle East. With an all-vegetarian menu, Taïm must be doing something right… NY Magazine, Serious Eats, and Village Voice all declared Taïm to have the best falafel in Manhattan.
Taïm Falafel is located at 222 Waverly Place, just steps off 7th Ave and a couple blocks away from amazingly delicious gastropub The Spotted Pig and the overrated Magnolia Bakery (for your cupcake fix, go to Molly’s Cupcakes on Bleeker Street instead). Owned by husband and wife Chef Einat Admony and Stefan Nafziger, the decision to open up Taïm came about as they realized NYC was missing the amazing falafel they were used to eating in their native Tel Aviv. Creating their take on street food fare with a gourmet twist ended up becoming a winning hit for the pair. They found instant success with Taïm, and soon gave birth to the eatery’s food truck sidekick, Taïm Mobile, which brings the taste of Taïm to the streets of NYC.
Molly’s Cupcakes: Greenwich Village
Almost every single place where I choose to eat in NYC has either been recommended to me by a fellow food lover or was heavily researched by yours truly. There is good reason for that… I want to find and eat the best the city has to offer! However, every now and again comes along a chance meeting, fate you may call it, where some unexplainable force in the universe attracts me to someplace new as I’m traveling around NYC. This was one of those times, and I actually have my amazing soon-to-be wife to thank for it.
Asheley and I were cruising around Greenwich Village checking out some awesome eats at Dos Toros Taqueria, Faicco’s Pork Store, and Artichoke Basille’s Pizzeria, when we stumbled upon the bright yellow storefront of Molly’s Cupcakes. Asheley stopped in her tracks laughing at the clever sign hanging in the window:
“Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free puppy”
My eyes immediately focused on the adjacent sign in the window declaring that Molly’s Cupcakes won an episode of the show Cupcake Wars on Food Network. Being a sucker for sweets, we had to step inside, and what a magical place we found…
Dos Toros Taquiera: Greenwich Village
Narrowing down my favorite food(s) is near impossible. However, on any given day if you asked me if I would be in the mood for some tacos, the answer will always be yes. I’ve always loved tacos. And yes I’ll admit it, and judge me as you may and probably should, I’m even a sucker for some of those chains (Chipotle or Taco Bell anyone?). There is no shortage of taco-eating opportunities while in NYC. I have some favorites, including the mini-beef tacos at Suenos and the tacos at one of my favorite food trucks Kimchi Taco. Another favorite? That’s a no-brainer… especially when I’m in the mood for tacos in Greenwich Village: Dos Toros!
Artichoke Basille’s Pizzeria
New York takes its pizza seriously. Ask any New Yorker where to find a good slice of pizza, and they can probably rattle off a list of places. In Manhattan, there seems to be a pizzeria on every corner, and many of those places pump out some really great pizza. Although there are some definite icons in the “NY Pizza world”, I recently visited a relative newbie in the mix: Artichoke Basille’s Pizzeria. Although not a traditional pizza joint, Artichoke’s serves up some very delicious slices of pizza.
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