BWW Reviews: Stephen STARR EVENTS and NYBG for Dining Delights

Stephen STARR Events, the events and catering division of the acclaimed STARR Restaurants, has opened Hudson Garden Grill, a distinctive dining destination in the Bronx on the grounds of The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). Hudson Garden Grill debuted in April as the first full-service, sit-down establishment ever for the Botanical Garden. It is open to both Garden guests and the general public. Broadwayworld.com recently visited the Grill for lunch and we highly suggest it for our readers. Their delightful menu features locally sourced ingredients offering a superb dining experience.

The Garden's current exhibition, FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life is now on display through November 1st. Hudson Garden Grill is celebrating this wonderful event with a three-course prix fixe luncheon that is inspired by the life of Frida Kahlo. The menu is created by Executive Chef, Julian Alonzo. Alonzo attended the French Culinary Institute and has been praised for his innovative style.

The prix fixe special includes a tempting choice of appetizers, main courses and desserts. As a starter, enjoy "Huerta" Vegan Tostada with jicama, pickled red onion, cilantro, avocado, salsa molcajete and sesame seeds or the Sopa de Tortilla with guajillo chili, avocado, crema, queso frsco and cilantro. For an entrée, you can choose between "Veracruzano" Red Snapper with tomatoes, bell peppers, capers, olives and chili with cilantro rice or the Chile Relleno, an Oaxaca cheese-stuffed poblano chile with tomato guajillo broth, Mexican rice and refried beans. Desserts include "Teotihuacan" Mexican Churros or the Bellas Artes, a tres leches cake with rompope. One visit will not be enough. You will likely want to return to enjoy these gourmet delights.

In addition to the Hudson Garden Grill specialties, STARR Events has launched, 'Frida al Fresco,' an outdoor tequila bar and cantina. They also have a new food truck, "La Casa Azul Tacos" that serves delicious casual Mexican fare inspired by Frida's own recipes. Look for the bright blue truck that serves Fish Tacos, Pork Al Pastor quesadillas and churros. With the taco truck offerings and outdoor bar and cantina, you can eat picnic-style on the Garden's grounds for a real treat.

The Pine Tree Café at NYBG is also operated by Stephen STARR Events. They are highlighting their menu during the Kahlo exhibit with specialties like Mexican Chopped Salad, Black Bean Soup and a Chipotle Chicken Sandwich.

Guests will also be welcome to the Garden to attend "Frida Al Fresco Evenings" on specific nights throughout the run of the exhibit to celebrate the life and times of Kahlo under the stars with live music, performances, cocktails and delicious Mexican inspired fare.

The New York Botanical Garden is located at 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY. For more information on dining options, menus and to make reservations at the Hudson Garden Grill, visit http://www.nybg.org/visit/dining.php.

About Stephen STARR Events:

Stephen Starr has played a major role in transforming Philadelphia into one of the most vibrant food cities in America with restaurants like The Continental, Barclay Prime, Continental Mid-Town, El Vez, Jones, Alma de Cuba, Pod and Parc. The organization has also had a significant impact on New York City with restaurants like Upland, Buddakan and Morimoto. He currently oversees more than 30 restaurants in New York, New Jersey, Florida and Philadelphia, earning him multiple honors, including "Restaurateur of the Year" accolades from both Bon Appétit and Zagat. Starr was selected by Restaurant Hospitality as the 2013 recipient of its Richard Melman Innovator of the Year Award. This year, he is a James Beard Foundation Award nominee for Outstanding Restaurateur.

Stephen Starr and Simon Powles founded the Starr Restaurants Catering Group and Stephen STARR Events in 2008. The restaurant group's full-service catering and special events division includes clients such as The New York Botanical Garden, Carnegie Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the New-York Historical Society, Rubin Museum of Art in New York, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton NJ and the Perez Art Museum Miami. With innovative cuisine, stellar service, hip music and cool settings, Stephen STARR Events brings the experiences of the wildly successful Starr Restaurants to the world of catering and special events. For more information, please visit www.starrevents.com. Find them on Facebook: facebook.com/StephenStarrEvents or follow us on Twitter @StarrEvents and Instagram @StephenStarrEvents.

About The New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden is an iconic living museum, and since its founding in 1891, has served as an oasis in this busy metropolis. As a national Historic Landmark, this 250-acre site's verdant landscape supports over one million living plants in extensive collections. Each year, 900,000 visitors enjoy the Garden not only for its remarkable diversity of tropical, temperate, and desert flora, but also for programming that ranges from renowned exhibitions in the Haupt Conservatory to festivals on Daffodil Hill.

The Garden is also a major educational institution. More than 300,000 people annually-among them Bronx families, school children, and teachers-learn about plant science, ecology, and healthful eating through NYBG's hands-on, curriculum-based programming. Nearly 90,000 of those visitors are children from underserved neighboring communities, while more than 3,000 are teachers from New York City's public school system participating in professional development programs that train them to teach science courses at all grade levels.

NYBG operates one of the world's largest plant research and conservation programs, with nearly 200 staff members-including 80 Ph.D. scientists-working in the Garden's state-of-the-art molecular labs as well as in the field, where they lead programs in 18 countries.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Stephen STARR Events

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