New York food gifts (Coffee, Cheese, Wine, Olives)

This doesn't directly answer your questions, but have you thought of hitting up the Union Square farmers market (M/W/F/Sat)? There, you can pick up food gift basket items from local vendors--plum or apple butter, jam, pretzels, NY wines, jars of pickled vegetables, honey, maple syrup or maple sugar candies...more NY and tri-state area than NYC, but the farmers market itself is very NYC, I suppose.

Also unsolicited, but you could pick up hot chocolate mix from Jacques Torres in DUMBO.

This gift basket idea is great. It's making me hungry!

cook dont run in Manhattan

Trattoria Toscana vs. Giorgio's of Gramercy

I'm thinking of taking my parents to one of these places on Christmas Eve. From what I've read online, both places sound like they have good food and good service. Trattoria Toscana sounds like it might have the better pasta (good for mom). And both places have filet mignon on the menu (good for dad). Can anyone comment on the pasta and filet mignon at both these places? The atmosphere?

Thanks!

cook dont run in Manhattan

looking for a restaurant for visiting parents who have opposite-ish tastes

Mini update: I called around to some of these places. Giorgio's, Lumi, Park Ave and Piano Due are all open for Xmas Eve dinner. Park Ave is sticking with their Winter menu that night, and the other three aren't sure yet--although Giorgio's was super nice and told me to call them up if it turns out that filet mignon is somehow not on the menu for Xmas Eve, and they can ask the chef to make it.

cook dont run in Manhattan

SUPER Small get together! Help

Have to chime in about Otto. It's a fun place for groups, though I have no clue whether you can request a private area.

I have the opposite problem--I eat meat and so does my boyfriend, but otherwise most my friends are vegetarians. But I'm all for going to veggie restaurants, since I cook veggie most the time and like it better when they're mains at restaurants instead of crappy sides.

Probably not good for your group of 10+ since it's a small place and you won't have a space to yourselves, but if you have time, try to get yourself to Westville East (there's also the original Westville in the West Village, but I've never been there). Their market plate is something like 4 small dishes for $13, where you get to choose from a list of 20 vegetables prepared different ways. It's so frickin' good. And fresh. And there are meat dishes too. And fun desserts. But those veggies are awesome.

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Westville East
173 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

Westville
210 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014

cook dont run in Manhattan

looking for a restaurant for visiting parents who have opposite-ish tastes

Thanks, all, for your great advice! Two's enough to rule out Capsouto Freres; didn't even realize it was notable to begin with, so I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. As for Landmarc, any leaning towards the Tribeca or Time Warner locations? I looked at their menu before and don't know how I didn't notice the filet mignon on there.

With everyone's suggestions here, I have a good variety of options in terms of food/atmosphere/cost. And I forgot to mention that my mom won't eat cheese (she says she "can't" have dairy, yet she can handle chocolate ice cream just fine), yet it seems like she'd still be covered with any of these choices. Nice work! I feel like I have a good idea of what to expect from Giorgio's and Park Ave--welcome anyone else's thoughts on Landmarc and Bond 45!

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Bond 45
154 West 45th Street, New York, NY 10036

Landmarc
179 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013

cook dont run in Manhattan

Great Milkshake after Keste?

Can't go wrong with Stand--plus, if anyone in the group doesn't feel like a milkshake, the sodas there are pretty great too.

Just don't let anyone order the lemon milkshake. I tried that once, and it was like drinking a cup full of lemon frosting. The toasted marshmallow shake is by far the best flavor.

cook dont run in Manhattan