Except for venerable institutions like Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and culinary landmarks like Rao's and Patsy's, little survives from the days when East Harlem was the city's largest and most vibrant Italian-American neighborhood.
Some focus on seasonal cooking, like a class in making a Bûche de Noël, the decadent log-shaped Christmas cake, and others on international cuisines, like Thai or German, and still others on specific culinary genres, like soups and sauces.
It is a simple matter to vary your filling by tucking in culinary herbs like rosemary, mint, chives sage or thyme, or diminutive vegetables like cherry tomatoes, peppers or radishes.
Days are filled with a wealth of pursuits, like strolls through fall foliage, old-fashioned pampering and exceptional culinary experiences like an over-the-top ten-course, wine-paired meals.
The region also has a growing female foodie scene, thanks to culinary experts like Susie Atvell (Kindred Fare and Sarah Bardenn (Ithaca is Foodies), as well as beverage mavens like Autumn Stoscheck (Eve's Cidery), Melissa Madden (Finger Lakes Cider House) and Jennifer Newman Young Lion Brewing Companyy).
"Most of the culinary herbs like parsley and oregano are not really good in teas," Ms. Gips said, adding that some are, like basil.
It has cutting edge culinary experiences like the Octopus Bar and Gaja, and it has an array of affordable options that are fun, like We Suki Suki.
That "opened up a whole culinary world, like cake and pie," Mr. Mason said.
So why does Mr. Trotter not bestride the culinary world like a cross-branded colossus?
