I've noticed that there are a lot of American style barbecue restaurants opening in NYC.

Does this seem like a popular concept right now? If so, what makes it so popular? I love BBQ and I love cooking it so I'm always eager to hear what attracts an urban crowd to it. It's delicious of course but I wonder why it is starting to take off now. Do people like the traditional BBQ restaurant model or are they looking for somethings that the traditional may not offer?

Art, you're absolutely right that it's becoming VERY popular. From Justin Timberlake's new place to the one in Rock Center. I don't know why exactly, but it's probably just time. Compared to all of the other food choices out there, New York hasn't had very many good BBQ joints. Maybe Paula Deen has something to do with folks being a little more willing to go for the fattening stuff... I don't know.

But I'm certainly glad to have more of those options!

I heard about JT's business. It seems like all the pop stars open up restaurants. I wonder why? Restaurants are not the most efficient investments. Oh well, they probably don't care about the money sometimes.

In addition to these big corporate type places it seems like there are little independent places popping up in every neighborhood. I wonder if it's the environment that is attractive, the prices, the food? I wonder if NY has come up with its own "sophisticated" version of BBQ as well.

I've noticed an increasing interest in fatty foods nationwide. The Kitchen at AT, the NYT, other newspapers, etc... seem to be commenting more on this trend. From where I stand (I'm really parroting what I've read here), it seems that there's a subculture of anti-dieters who are itching for a mouthful of the kind that sends molten fat down your chin.

Perhaps the BBQ explosion is part of this trend? If so, that's great news! I'll just have to go for a jog (again) and hope this movement extends further up and down the West Coast.

or do you think the BBQ/fat mindset comes from the Atkins diet? (protein fat = good for you, or at least not terrible for you)

I still miss Biscuit, a very homey BBQ place on Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn (near Park Slope). They closed without warning or explanation about a year or two ago. I keep hoping that they'll reappear somewhere else but so far they haven't (as far as I know).

Help! I need to buy a paella pan like this one, but it needs to be about 15 to 17 inches in diameter. It is for a dinner party this weekend, and I'm trying to save myself the 50-something dollars I'd need to pay online stores to get it to me on time (I can't stand paying more for shipping than for the thing that I'm actually buying).
Can anyone recommend any subway accessible kitchen stores in NYC that would have something similar? (I checked Williams-Sonoma and no luck).
Thanks in advance!

Darlyn,

Have you tried Broadway Panhandler (8th st near Broadway)? They have nearly everything. You might also try Brooklyn Kitchen on Lorimer St in Williamsburg or A Cook's Companion on Atlantic Ave near Sahadi's in Brooklyn.

Good luck!

Hi Eliza,

I've never been a big fan (I prefer the the Smoke Joint for Brooklyn BBQ), but you'll be happy to know that Biscuit reopened a few months ago. They're now on Fifth Ave and President in the space that used to house Night & Day.

"Smoke Joint." I love the simple yet clever names.

Bird and Beef

Thanks for the heads up! I will go check out Biscuit again, though now you've got me intensely curious about the Smoke Joint! Where is that?!

By some strange coincidence (maybe BBQ is on NYers' minds?) I've just been invited to a party at Hill Country, a Manhattan BBQ spot.

Smoke Joint is on South Elliot in Fort Greene. Here's a write up from the NYT:

http://events.nytimes.com/2006/12/20/dining/reviews/20unde.html?ref=dining

Hill Country's supposed to be good. I hope that you enjoy it!

hey, anyone know of a relatively decent juicer for, er, UNDER $50? what a longshot! sheesh. i really want to start juicing - (mmmm carrot and apple juice mmmm).

Eliza,
I called Broadway Panhandler and they have them, so thanks! I'll head there on Saturday and should be all set for my Sunday night dinner party.
I still feel like I'm new to New York (even though almost a year has passed since I moved here), so having someone share these little gems of knowledge is really useful.
Thanks!