For Fancy Sandwiches
Starwich has a wide selection of options including unusual signature items like fish-and-chips sandwiches (baked Atlantic cod, herbed potato chips, and roasted tomato rémoulade on challah), and soft shell crab BLT’s (Virginia soft shell crab with applewood smoked bacon, heirloom tomatoes, smoked pimento-rosemary aioli on sourdough). For the health conscious (or just particularly picky), all sandwiches can be made with low-carb bread, and low-carb and low-fat salad dressings are available. Starwich delivers in Manhattan, and can provide lunch packages, platters, and wait service.
For Name-Brand Bites
Burke Bar Café, the stylish 40-seat eatery from star chef David Burke that debuted inside Bloomingdale’s in December, also delivers its casual fare. Burke in the Box is a range of tasty take-out items (hot and cold) packaged in colorful custom-designed boxes and pinstriped bags. On the menu are fun dishes like “Millionaire's meatloaf” served with lobster whipped potatoes and lobster bordelaise, roasted “angry ‘hen-in-law,’” and “chefster’s asiago truffle fries.” Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert options are available and can be delivered. In the works is the “Burkemobile” delivery and catering van.
For a Not-So-Serious Meeting
Break the boardroom stuffiness with buckets of cereal dropped off for a tasty break. Cereality puts together specialty blends, using top quality brands of cereal—ranging from the healthy to the sugary—you can even custom blend your own cereal. The company also makes cereal bars for snack time. The grainy goodies all arrive with the company’s signature utensil, called the “sloop,” a spoon that doubles as a straw to sip up every last drop of milk—which, by the way, you’ll need to order from a separate vendor. (Don’t forget to have a variety of dairy, soy, and rice milk on hand.) Orders require a four-day advance notice with a $100 minimum.
For Perfect Pies
Pizza doesn’t have to be downmarket. Try Palà, the latest pizza joint that foodies flock to. Owners Gigio and Edena Palàzzo spent two years researching the perfect recipe and these are their results: dough allowed to ferment for two to five days—which makes it easier for your body to digest (and thereby healthier)—and Roman-style pies (sold by the foot) baked in controlled temperatures in brick-lined electric ovens. And the menu is a playground of gourmet toppings. Although Palà is located on the Lower East Side, the company delivers orders of $300 or more (which can also include antipasti, salads, drinks, and desserts) to most Manhattan locations.
For Nostalgic Types
For a fun alternative to fussy food, order some classic peanut-butter sandwiches from Peanut Butter & Company. This all-American joint in the West Village creates an array of sandwiches like the peanut butter BLT, peanut butter with marshmallow Fluff, and the Elvis, a scrumptious peanut-butter sandwich with bananas, honey, and bacon. Of course a simple PB & J is always an option. Take-out orders require a $6-perperson minimum and a few days notice.
More Options
Jamba Juice
Energize your team with fresh and healthy smoothies, juices, and snacks from this California import. “Boosts,” shots containing dietary supplements, can be added to drinks to target specific needs like energy, immunity, or performance. Catering or delivery is available, or you can telephone your order in and pick it up from the nearest location.
The Soda Shop
This TriBeCa candy store offers old-fashioned candy and retro sweets like Sugar Daddies, Pop Rocks, Charleston Chews, Doschers Taffy, Necco Wafers, and wax bottles. Pick up the sugary delights yourself, or have them deliver the goodies in baskets or grab bags—with sufficient lead time the store can accommodate large orders.
Beard Papa
This shop’s fresh and tasty cream puffs have only been in Manhattan for two years, but are still an easy way to satisfy sweet tooths and dessert lovers—and a tastier alternative to standard office fare like donuts. The baked (not fried) goodies have a crispy shell of choux pastry filled with whipped cream custard in various flavors. The Japanese company has two cafes in the city—each with its own delivery policy. Large orders can be placed ahead of time and Beard Papa is developing a catering division.
—Mark Mavrigian & Anna Sekula
Posted 05.22.06
Photos: Courtesy of David Burke at Bloomingdale's, Courtesy of Palà
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Starwich has a wide selection of options including unusual signature items like fish-and-chips sandwiches (baked Atlantic cod, herbed potato chips, and roasted tomato rémoulade on challah), and soft shell crab BLT’s (Virginia soft shell crab with applewood smoked bacon, heirloom tomatoes, smoked pimento-rosemary aioli on sourdough). For the health conscious (or just particularly picky), all sandwiches can be made with low-carb bread, and low-carb and low-fat salad dressings are available. Starwich delivers in Manhattan, and can provide lunch packages, platters, and wait service.
For Name-Brand Bites
Burke Bar Café, the stylish 40-seat eatery from star chef David Burke that debuted inside Bloomingdale’s in December, also delivers its casual fare. Burke in the Box is a range of tasty take-out items (hot and cold) packaged in colorful custom-designed boxes and pinstriped bags. On the menu are fun dishes like “Millionaire's meatloaf” served with lobster whipped potatoes and lobster bordelaise, roasted “angry ‘hen-in-law,’” and “chefster’s asiago truffle fries.” Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert options are available and can be delivered. In the works is the “Burkemobile” delivery and catering van.
For a Not-So-Serious Meeting
Break the boardroom stuffiness with buckets of cereal dropped off for a tasty break. Cereality puts together specialty blends, using top quality brands of cereal—ranging from the healthy to the sugary—you can even custom blend your own cereal. The company also makes cereal bars for snack time. The grainy goodies all arrive with the company’s signature utensil, called the “sloop,” a spoon that doubles as a straw to sip up every last drop of milk—which, by the way, you’ll need to order from a separate vendor. (Don’t forget to have a variety of dairy, soy, and rice milk on hand.) Orders require a four-day advance notice with a $100 minimum.
For Perfect Pies
Pizza doesn’t have to be downmarket. Try Palà, the latest pizza joint that foodies flock to. Owners Gigio and Edena Palàzzo spent two years researching the perfect recipe and these are their results: dough allowed to ferment for two to five days—which makes it easier for your body to digest (and thereby healthier)—and Roman-style pies (sold by the foot) baked in controlled temperatures in brick-lined electric ovens. And the menu is a playground of gourmet toppings. Although Palà is located on the Lower East Side, the company delivers orders of $300 or more (which can also include antipasti, salads, drinks, and desserts) to most Manhattan locations.
For Nostalgic Types
For a fun alternative to fussy food, order some classic peanut-butter sandwiches from Peanut Butter & Company. This all-American joint in the West Village creates an array of sandwiches like the peanut butter BLT, peanut butter with marshmallow Fluff, and the Elvis, a scrumptious peanut-butter sandwich with bananas, honey, and bacon. Of course a simple PB & J is always an option. Take-out orders require a $6-perperson minimum and a few days notice.
More Options
Jamba Juice
Energize your team with fresh and healthy smoothies, juices, and snacks from this California import. “Boosts,” shots containing dietary supplements, can be added to drinks to target specific needs like energy, immunity, or performance. Catering or delivery is available, or you can telephone your order in and pick it up from the nearest location.
The Soda Shop
This TriBeCa candy store offers old-fashioned candy and retro sweets like Sugar Daddies, Pop Rocks, Charleston Chews, Doschers Taffy, Necco Wafers, and wax bottles. Pick up the sugary delights yourself, or have them deliver the goodies in baskets or grab bags—with sufficient lead time the store can accommodate large orders.
Beard Papa
This shop’s fresh and tasty cream puffs have only been in Manhattan for two years, but are still an easy way to satisfy sweet tooths and dessert lovers—and a tastier alternative to standard office fare like donuts. The baked (not fried) goodies have a crispy shell of choux pastry filled with whipped cream custard in various flavors. The Japanese company has two cafes in the city—each with its own delivery policy. Large orders can be placed ahead of time and Beard Papa is developing a catering division.
—Mark Mavrigian & Anna Sekula
Posted 05.22.06
Photos: Courtesy of David Burke at Bloomingdale's, Courtesy of Palà
Related Stories
10 Business Entertaining Biggies
10 Hot Restaurants for Business Entertaining
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5 Sparkling Scenes for Business Entertaining
Ask the Experts: Business Entertaining