"New York City foods"--looking for menu ideas and recipes
April 22, 2018 9:48 AM

I'm going to a New York City (specifically Manhattan, but I don't think anyone's going to be picky) -themed potluck, and need ideas for menu items.

So far I've come up with Manhattan-style clam chowder, Waldorf salad, New York steak, bagels, cheesecake, and pastrami. Is there anything I'm missing? Do you have any ideas for specific recipes involving these foods, or ways they could be presented for a potluck? (Bonus points for anything that can be made a day in advance and kept in the fridge overnight.) Thanks!
posted by rpfields to Food & Drink (19 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
Pizza, baked pretzels, black and white cookies? Depending on the time of day, a Manhattan (cocktail)?
posted by pinochiette at 9:55 AM on April 22, 2018


Black and white cookies. The bacon egg and cheese.
posted by holgate at 9:57 AM on April 22, 2018


Plate of (various) bagel chips with cream cheese dip.
posted by sexyrobot at 9:59 AM on April 22, 2018


Sour pickles. Buttered Kaiser rolls. (Definitely pizza, but it should be thin-crust pizza.)
posted by holborne at 10:02 AM on April 22, 2018


It's a little more work-intensive than you might be up for, but Halal cart style chicken over rice is as New York as pizza and dirty-water hot dogs. Falafel is also a good vegetarian/vegan option in the same family.
posted by SansPoint at 10:03 AM on April 22, 2018


Knishes!
posted by Smearcase at 10:30 AM on April 22, 2018


Sounds like the old classic Jewish deli/pizza version of Manhattan is covered.
Huge part of Manhattan (Washington Heights and more) is heavily Dominican. Cornmeal arepas, rice and beans, yuca and delicious, delicious fried plantains would be good.
Then don't forget Harlem -- if you're going to want super classic/ familiar/ Sylvia's, maybe fried chicken, really really good baked mac and cheese, peach cobbler.
And lastly, Chinese dumplings.
Agree with falafel suggestion above!
Sorry can't link recipes but all google-able.
posted by flourpot at 10:43 AM on April 22, 2018


Egg cream.
posted by camyram at 10:44 AM on April 22, 2018


Dr. Brown's Black Cherry Soda

Bialys. I don't think that Bialys are actually specific to New York, but you mostly find them there.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 12:23 PM on April 22, 2018


Mofongo--maybe kind of involved, but positively Washington Heights.

Chopped cheese--take hamburger, onions, and American cheese, cook it on the grill, chopping it up into a hash as you go. Serve it on a Kaiser roll or "Italian" sandwich roll, with mayo, ++ketchup, shredded iceberg lettuce, and tomato.
posted by 8603 at 2:18 PM on April 22, 2018


Oysters! Most people don't know why, but should... The Big Oyster (not apple)
posted by blaneyphoto at 2:44 PM on April 22, 2018


Nathan's hot dogs?
posted by kevinbelt at 5:52 PM on April 22, 2018


Dr. Brown's Black Cherry Soda

Or Cel-Ray for advanced players! It’s celery flavored soda. It’s gross and refreshing at the same time.
posted by Smearcase at 6:25 PM on April 22, 2018


I’m gonna disagree with Dr. Brown’s black cherry soda. Real New Yorkers drink Dr. Brown’s Cel Ray.

Also, Italian ices, and giant, bready pretzels. Coffee in those Greek diner coffee cups.
posted by MexicanYenta at 6:27 PM on April 22, 2018


Peruse Arthur Schwartz for some on-point ideas.
posted by Miko at 9:10 PM on April 22, 2018


A pitcher of Manhattans or Brooklyns
posted by knile at 7:29 AM on April 23, 2018


2-ing Arthur Schwartz.

Horn & Hardart's Mac And Cheese. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015583-horn-hardarts-baked-macaroni-and-cheese
posted by SemiSalt at 10:25 AM on April 23, 2018


So what did you end up bringing?!
posted by 8603 at 5:29 PM on April 28, 2018


Thanks everybody! I ended up with a Waldorf salad and black and white cookies since I ran out of time for a lot of cooking. I shared this list with some of the other invitees and people found the Dr Brown's sodas, and someone else made mafongo. We definitely had a better dinner than we would have if everybody had brought bagels and cream cheese. (Thankfully somebody did bring those, with lox, so we were covered.)

I haven't marked any as "best answer" since they were all great.
posted by rpfields at 8:36 PM on April 28, 2018


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