[title]
The fourth of July celebrates all the things our proud nation has to offer, and food is something we do pretty damn well (especially in NYC). There are lots of places to eat and drink this weekend (you can even conduct your own hot dog eating contest), but what better way to celebrate American ingenuity than to stuff your face with the craziest food creations from the best city in the world? From malted ice creamed rolled in hot fudge and dunked in chocolate rice crispie to a pretzel ball stuffed with hot dogs and cream cheese, we’ve got you covered with the most over-the-top, out-of-the-box dishes to try while you wait for the fireworks to begin.
Lobster Corn Dog at Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co. (above)
For those bemoaning the ubiquitous summertime lobster roll, the good folks at this Brooklyn fish market and seafood establishment will offer their beautiful, fried alternative starting July 4th. Chef-owner Adam Geringer-Dunn skewers the tender tails plucked from fresh Maine-sourced crustaceans, fries them in a heavy cornmeal-flour mixture and tops them with tarragon-lemon aioli and Old Bay seasoning. $15
Ballpark Bomb from Momofuku Milk Bar
Ballpark Bomb at Momofuku Milk Bar
From pastry mastermind Christina Tosi comes this shameless re-appropriation of savory concession stand cuisine. A heaping ball of pretzel dough—topped with sesame seeds, kosher salt and celery seeds—encases sliced hot dog franks and a zingy honey mustard cream cheese. Home run, indeed. $4
Cheeseburger Tacos at Empellon Cocina
Cheeseburger Tacos at Empellon Cocina
Available exclusively at the bar are these off-the-menu, South-of-the-Border hybrids that Chef Alex Stupak actually discovered while in Mexico City. Fresh tortillas cradle all the makings of a mini-burger (including a tiny patty), all topped with restaurant’s signature Chihuahua cheese. $5
Black and Walt at Ample Hills + Baked
Black and Walt at Ample Hills + Baked
Brooklyn does it right. The beloved ice cream whiz kids partnered with the Red Hook cookie shop to create this frozen masterpiece. A dollop of vanilla malted ice cream—bathed in hot fudge and topped with chocolate rice crispie crunch—is sandwiched between two gorgeous black-and-white cookies. Seriously. $7