MadParkNews.com, covering New York City's Madison Square Park & Flatiron

Eataly is having another one of their big annual sales where they feature select products priced between $1-$6. A lot of them this time around are local from New York. Click the image below to enlarge and see everything that is on sale. Furthermore on Friday January 27th, 16 New York based food producers will be in the store so you can sample their products (12-6pm Jan 27th).

MadParkNews did a bit of price checking (as of Jan 21st) to see if these deals are truly good ones and they do seem to be about 20-35% off.

GUS SODA (Eataly sale $1; Freshdirect 4 for $6.19 =$1.54 each)
McClure’s relish (Eataly sale $5; McClurespickles.com 12 for $75 = $6.25 each)
North Fork Potato Chips (Eataly sale $1; www.northforkchips.com 24 for $28.80 = $1.20)

(Click image to enlarge)

New York Magazine’s Grub Street has published their Platt 101 best restaurants in New York City, and the Madison Square Park/Flatiron/Gramercy dominated the top of the list:

#1) Eleven Madison Park: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=1

#5) Craft: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=5×00002

#6) Gramercy Tavern: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=6×00101

#16) ABC Kitchen: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=16×00091

#21) Gotham Bar and Grill: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=21×00086

#30) Maialino: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=30×00077

#32) Union Square Cafe: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=32×00075

#35) Aldea: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=32×00075

#37) The Breslin: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=37×00070

#40) Eataly: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=40×00067

#42) Blue Hill: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=42×00065

#61) Ciano: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=61×00046

#62) Veritas: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=62×00045

#74) Casa Mono: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=74×00032

#79) Junoon: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=79×00008

#80) ilili: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=80×00009

#92) Otto Enoteca: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/12/new-york-city-101-best-restaurants.html#photo=92×00021

So Eataly (200 5th Avenue) has sought out the rare white truffle d’Alba and will be selling them all day on Sunday, December 18th.

Truffles are typically found using the help of pigs or dogs to sniff them out from underground. They are mostly found in the wild near certain types of trees and they are quite difficult to cultivate/farm.

Any home chefs or restaurants can pick some of the prized ingredient up in the Eataly market at $5.80/gram. Shaving a bit of a pungent white truffle over pasta or a fried egg will give your dish a rich and distinct flavor.

Because the white truffles predominantly come from the Piedmont region of Italy, the Eataly restaurants will all be featuring a Piemontesi-inspired dish. There will also be truffles in a dish at each restaurant.

Word is in that Mario Batali will be at Eataly today at 2pm signing copies of his new cookbook, Simply Family Meals from My Family to Yours.

Might make a nice holiday gift for the Batali lovers out there!

In honor of Eataly’s (200 5th Avenue just west of Madison Square Park) birthday, they are having a sale featuring deep discounts on 44 local and Italian staple products. (Click the image to enlarge it and see product and prices).

The sale runs from Friday August 26th though Wednesday August 31st while supplies last. (Max 3 of any one item per person)

What can you get? Bottles of De Carlo and Geraci extra virgin olive oil for $4. Half a pound of homemade Pappardelle pasta for $2.$6 bottle of Fontannafredda wine. Agrimontana blueberry or apricot jam for $1. 8 ears of local Long Island corn for $2. Half a pound of Tagliate Piemontese antibiotic and hormone free steak…and a lot more. Click the image to the right for all 44 products.

Electric violinist Katie Jacoby joins the Cocktailers to play La Birreria tonight at 10pm. This is no classcial performance though (watch the video to hear her style). La Birreria is located on the rooftop of Eataly (200 5th Avenue, between 23rd and 24th street), and features craft brews and hearty brewpub cuisine like homemade sausages.

Here is some video of Katie Jacoby:

Eataly turns 1 on August 31st, and to celebrate they have put together a special dinner that night which includes 6 dishes and wine parings from 6 of their restaurants to make up one great menu. It’s priced at $180 per person which includes tax and tip. it is limited though and will likely sell out, so call 212.539.0204 – Ext. 304 to reserve by phone.

Here is the current menu for the evening (you get to have everything):

Manzo Ristorante, Chef Michael Toscano
Aperitivo:
Mortadella Stuffed Suckling Pig on Crackling
Spicy Beef Shin with Stracciatella & Tomato Marmellata in Escarole
Watermelon & Basil Brodo with Villa Manodori Balsamic Taffy
Fontanafredda Contessa Rosa 2006, Piemonte

Le Verdure, Chefs Alex Pilas & Kiah Lotus
Minestra Estiva: Selection of Cooked and Raw Summer Vegetables in Tomato Water & Basil Oil
Borgogno Barolo 2004, Piemonte

La Pizza Rossopomodoro, Chef Francesco Montuori
La Stella: Focaccia with Cherry Tomato, Arugula, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, Fresh Basil & DOP Extra Vergine Olive Oil from Sorrento
Zamò Ribolla Gialla 2010, Friuli Venezia Giulia

La Pasta, Chefs Alex Pilas & Miguel Lopez
Homemade Fresh Spaghetti alla Chitarra with California Sea Urchin & Calvisius Caviar
Zamò Ribolla Gialla 2010, Friuli Venezia Giulia

Il Pesce, Chefs David Pasternack & Christian Goerner
Roasted “Filet Mignon” of Montauk Swordfish with Butter Beans & Organic Hudson Valley Corn
Bastianich Vespa Bianco 2008, Friuli Venezia Giulia

La Piazza, Chef Katia Delogu
Nord, Centro e Sud: Piemonte Tonda Gentile Hazelnut Mousse with Gianduia Chocolate
Ricotta Tortina with Chocolate Flakes
Fig Gelato Lollipop
Lavazza Coffee & Dessert Wine