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🚕 NYC’s Best Bites to Kick Off the New Year
And Voices from NYC’s Kitchens: Immigrant Stories Revealed
Good Morning NY!
NYC’s food scene is kicking off 2026 with stories, flavors, and fresh openings that reflect the city’s energy and diversity.
From immigrant chefs sharing their journeys to new restaurants popping up across Brooklyn and Manhattan, the city’s kitchens are full of creativity and resilience.
This week, we’re highlighting a powerful new book, Downtown’s packed 2026 event calendar, Brooklyn’s December dining boom, standout bites to try now, and a rare pop-up from London restaurateur Jeremy King.
Whether you’re hunting for global flavors, comforting classics, or unforgettable dining experiences, there’s something in NYC for every palate.
Let’s dive in and see what’s shaping the city’s culinary scene as the new year begins.
Voices from NYC’s Kitchens: Immigrant Stories Revealed
A new book, Voices from the Kitchen, shares the journeys of 27 immigrant restaurant workers in New York City.
Chef and restaurateur Marc Meyer conducted interviews with workers from countries including Ecuador, Colombia, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Bangladesh, and Ireland.
The book highlights the difficult circumstances many faced in their home countries before making the journey to the U.S.
Several accounts describe harrowing experiences, like traveling inside a tanker truck through Mexico with barely enough air to breathe.
Other stories include workers who were robbed or faced violence while trying to survive before emigrating.
Meyer emphasizes that NYC kitchens have become spaces where people from diverse backgrounds meet, work, and share their experiences.
Voices from the Kitchen offers an intimate look at the human stories behind the city’s restaurants.
It underscores the resilience, courage, and determination of the immigrants who fuel New York’s culinary scene.
The book is a reminder of the personal journeys behind every dish served in the city.
Downtown NYC’s 2026 Event Calendar Is Packed
Lower Manhattan is preparing for a busy 2026 filled with food, culture, and major global events.
America’s 250th birthday celebrations will also include special programming across Lower Manhattan.
Winter kicks off with NYC Restaurant Week, offering prix-fixe dining deals at participating restaurants.
The Re:Store pop-up program will bring rotating retail concepts into downtown storefronts throughout the year.
New NYC Ferry routes launching from Wall Street will improve access to Brooklyn and Staten Island.
Seasonal highlights include Lunar New Year celebrations hosted by the China Institute of America.
Governors Island will host its annual ice sculpture show, drawing visitors during the colder months.
Warmer seasons bring the Dine Around Downtown food festival, live music, and outdoor walking tours.
Altogether, 2026 positions Downtown NYC as a year-round destination for events and dining.
Brooklyn’s December Dining Boom
Brooklyn closed out December with a wave of new restaurants, bakeries, cafés, bars, and markets opening across multiple neighborhoods.
Brooklyn Heights welcomed Diljān Bakery, spotlighting Afghan breads, pastries, and savory snacks made with traditional ingredients.
Williamsburg saw some of the biggest activity, with new sports bars, a 1930s-style cocktail bar, and an ice cream shop opening doors.
Greenpoint gained Kelang, a Malaysian restaurant offering fusion dishes from an established local restaurant team.
Bay Ridge welcomed Soul of Palestine, expanding access to Palestinian cuisine in the neighborhood.
Prospect Lefferts Gardens added Ouma, an all-day café focused on pastries and coffee.
Bed-Stuy’s Tlacualli Breakfast expanded beyond brunch with new dinner service.
The mix of openings reflects Brooklyn’s continued appetite for diverse, community-driven food spots heading into 2026.
NYC’s Best Bites to Kick Off the New Year
Eater editors rounded up some of the most memorable dishes they ate across New York City this week.
On the Lower East Side, Tera impressed with abalone jang bap served in its shell alongside Korean-inspired snacks.
Bar Oliver in Chinatown earned praise for its classic Spanish bikini sandwich, featuring buttery bread and melted ham and cheese.
In Westchester, Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings delivered bold flavor with spicy chicken soup dumplings.
The dish was noted as especially comforting during the cold early days of January.
Editors highlighted how each pick balanced comfort with creativity and strong execution.
Together, these dishes reflect the city’s wide-ranging culinary energy as 2026 begins.
Jeremy King Brings London Restaurant Royalty to Greenwich Village
Legendary London restaurateur Jeremy King is making a rare New York appearance this January.
King will host a limited-time pop-up at People’s, an exclusive Greenwich Village restaurant and bar.
The residency runs from January 6 through the end of the month.
King is best known for iconic London institutions like Le Caprice, The Ivy, and The Wolseley.
The pop-up introduces his celebrated “King Menu” to New York diners for the first time.
Signature dishes include Bang Bang Chicken, Scandinavian frozen berries, and classic martinis.
These dishes were once favorites of cultural icons such as Andy Warhol and Princess Diana.
People’s was co-founded by King’s daughter and is typically an invite-only destination.
For this pop-up, reservations will be open to the public.
The collaboration also marks People’s one-year anniversary, adding extra buzz to the event.
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