Gotham Digest

Moms, do your kids have epilepsy?  Stop forcing your kids to eat vegetables and start forcing them to eat fat right now! Carbs, the arch nemesis of good health, might be triggering your kid’s seizures.

Irvine Robbins, founder of Baskin Robbins, died yesterday at the age of 90.

How can anyone resist a juicy burger with a cold and creamy shake? In my book, a good burger should be juicy, flavorful, and medium rare, with a bun that is sturdy enough to handle the toppings, condiments and patty inside. Shakes should be thick and not too sweet or artificial tasting.

Admit it, it’s difficult to open a plastic container of cool whip, refrigerate pudding, or spread cream cheese on a bagel.  And, finally, Kraft has found solutions to these plaguing problems.  Canned whip cream! Pudding packets that congeal as soon as you stir in milk! Pre-sliced bagels that are pre-stuffed with cream cheese!

Cosmos are under-rated. For those of you who don’t know, Cosmos are a combination of vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and fresh lime, giving this girly cocktail the bite of a much stronger drink. As with any cocktail, a good cocktail is hard to find, so I decided to make my way through Manhattan until I found the perfect one.

Zak Pelaccio is a quiet celebrity chef. He doesn't have a television show, he's not judging would-be-chefs on the Food Network, and he's no diva- but few chefs in New York City could boast such street-cred. From his Chelsea favorite Fatty Crab to the gaggle of restaurants he's consulted for, Borough Food and Drink, Chop Suey, and London's Suka, Pelaccio has helped craft menus that are home-spun, funky, and often have Malaysian roots. I interviewed Zak to learn more about his inspiration and what he's serving up next.

Modeled after a Korean café, da Bhang serves traditional coffee drinks with Korean fare like bingsoo, fage yogurt, and bimbimbop. Their Belgian waffles are made with Verona chocolate, pecans, or vanilla cooked into the batter. Fruit smoothies, salads, and in-house pastries line the front counter. Da Bhang’s menu is mostly organic, and all of the food is prepared in-house.