Rosie's puts its spin on Mexican cuisine starting today on 2nd Avenue

[Photo from Wednesday]

Rosie's opens today on Second Avenue and East Second Street.

And Women's Wear Daily has a preview, speaking with co-owner Vicki Freeman.

Rosie’s has set out to siphon the vibe of Mexico’s open markets and the myriad flavors from across the country into its menu. “The idea really was to create the feeling of a Mexican market without being literal,” Freeman said ... “We didn’t want to do anything kitschy. There aren’t going to be any piñatas.”

What the restaurant does have is clay pots and good luck charms sourced from Mexico, as well as an open, airy dining room swathed in pastel green, yellow and blue tiles and wooden tables custom-made by Asfour Guzy Architects. The restaurant sits on a well-lit corner of Second Avenue, with floor-to-ceiling windows that can open directly onto the sidewalk.

And the food?

The emphasis is on authentic regional dishes that incorporate ingredients sourced from small farmers in Mexico. Using this shorter supply chain, Rosie’s is able to get their hands on heirloom corn varieties, which they use to grind and make their own tortillas in-house, and numerous varieties of chiles. They even hope to eventually procure some more obscure items, such as terrestrial snails.

The previous tenant, the low-key, Greek-themed Boukiés, closed in March 2014 after a two-year run.

Previously on EV Grieve:
2nd and 2nd coming up Rosie's

2nd and 2nd coming up Rosie's

The transformation of the former Boukiés space on Second Avenue and East Second Street continues... with the signage for the former Greek restaurant coming down late last week... most of it anyway...



As previously noted, the folks who own Cookshop, Hundred Acres and Five Points are converting the corner space into Rosie's, a Mexican restaurant. Here's a quick preview from New York magazine:

Rosie's "plans to showcase traditional dishes, from tacos to Veracruz-style whole roasted fish. At a 12-seat comal bar, cooks will fashion masa-based snacks, or antojitos, from corn dough made in-house."

Not sure on an opening date... this is how the place is shaping up on the inside...



The well-liked Boukiés closed in March 2014 after a two-year run.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Boukiés has 'permanently closed' on Second Avenue

For sale: Everything must go at the former Boukiés space on 2nd Avenue

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Coffee at Porto Rico Wednesday via Derek Berg]

NYC rents are outpacing inflation (The New York Times)

Man on tracks killed by L train at the East 14th Street and First Avenue station (Town & Village Blog)

Winnie's is closing on Bayard Street (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

A visit to Cafecito on Avenue C (Gothamist)

Mapping NYC's gentrification by neighborhood (Curbed)

Looking at Rosie's, opening this spring in the former Boukiés space (Grub Street)

Essex Crossing demolition watch (BoweryBoogie)

Recalling the hardcore scene of Altercation (Noisey/Vice)

The last matzah batch at Streit's on the LES (Jewish Journal)

Here's Kim Gordon's conversation from Wednesday night at the Strand (The Strand via YouTube H/T to Bedford + Bowery, who has a recap here)

Another look at Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks, now open on East Second Street (DNAinfo)

"Young Bodies Heal Quickly" makes it NY theatrical premiere tonight (Anthology Film Archives)

Another Bleecker Street live music venue is going under (The Villager)

Rev. Billy headed to trial (Runnin' Scared)

Neighbors complain of excessive construction noise at the former Pathmark site on Cherry Street (The Lo-Down)

Coffee time in NYC ... in the 1790s (Ephemeral New York)

... and the RadioShack on Broadway between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street is closing ... one of the nearly 2,000 nationwide set to close as a result of the company's bankruptcy...

First sign of Rosie's Mexican, coming soon to 2nd Avenue

Signs are up now for Rosie's Mexican, the incoming restaurant from Vicki Freeman, Marc Meyer and Chris Paraskevaides, who own Cookshop, Hundred Acres and Five Points …



According to a fall preview at Zagat, the restaurant on the corner of Second Avenue and East Second Street will be "based on Meyer's travels to Mexico. Expect market-driven dishes cooked on a comal flattop grill as well as stews, homemade tortillas and more."

The Greek-themed Boukiés closed in March after a two-year run.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Boukiés has 'permanently closed' on Second Avenue

For sale: Everything must go at the former Boukiés space on 2nd Avenue

For sale: Everything must go at the former Boukiés space on 2nd Avenue

The Greek-themed Boukiés closed in March after a two-year run at Second Avenue and East Second Street. And today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there's a sale on lights, tables, chairs, etc., as the sign on the front window reads …



As for meeting those new neighbors … the Times reported in April that Vicki Freeman, Marc Meyer and Chris Paraskevaides, who own Cookshop, Hundred Acres and Five Points, will convert the corner space into a Mexican restaurant.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Boukiés has 'permanently closed' on Second Avenue

Someone vandalized the entryway to Boukiés

Someone slashed the winterized entryway into the now-shuttered Boukiés on East Second Street at Second Avenue …



Boukiés closed last month. A "farm-to-table Mexican" restaurant is in the works for the space now.

Photos by EVG contributor Derek Berg.

'Farm-to-table Mexican' coming to former Boukiés space

The Boukiés space on Second Avenue at East Second Street won't be empty for too long.

The Times reported last week that Vicki Freeman, Marc Meyer and Chris Paraskevaides, who own Cookshop, Hundred Acres and Five Points, will convert the corner space into a Mexican restaurant.

Said Freeman: "I’m calling it farm-to-table Mexican."

The Greek-themed Boukiés closed in March after a two-year run. In April 2013, owner Christos Valtzoglos sued the State Liquor Authority over an "illegal agreement" with Community Board 3. Boukiés only had a beer-wine license. Perhaps the new owners will somehow be able to secure a full liquor license.

Speaking of Mexican food, the Black Ant is getting ready to open just one block away… on the east side of Second Avenue north of Third Street…



The owners of Ofrenda in the West Village are behind Black Ant, which is billing itself this way: "Innovative Mexican cuisine & cocktail bar."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Boukiés has 'permanently closed' on Second Avenue

Team behind Ofrenda bringing Black Ant to the East Village

H/T Eater

Report: Boukiés owner sues State Liquor Authority

Christos Valtzoglou, the owner of Boukiés (try the Spanakotyropitakia!) on Second Avenue and East Second Street, is suing the State Liquor Authority over an "illegal agreement" with Community Board 3, DNAinfo reported today.

Per the article:

[T]he SLA's decision not to grant a full liquor license to Christos Valtzoglou’s East Village restaurant Boukiés was based on an agreement between Community Board 3 and Valtzoglou that the board did not have the authority to make.

It's a little complicated, and dates back to when Valtzoglou could only get approval for beer-wine for his well-received but short-lived Heartbreak Cafe at the same address.

Also from the article.

Susan Stetzer, District Manager of CB3, appeared at the meeting to voice opposition to Valtzoglou’s application, according to legal documents alleging the board was interested more in asserting its power than in acting in the community interest.

“CB3 was motivated more by its interest in keeping its authority intact rather than representing the interests of its community members,” according to the lawsuit.

Boukiés opened almost one year ago to this date. Stetzer said that she was unaware of the lawsuit and declined to comment to DNAinfo.

Read the whole article here.

Boukiés opens tomorrow

The Post has a feature today on new Greek restaurants around the city... and they note that Boukiés opens tomorrow on Second Avenue and East Second Street. It's the latest place from restaurateur Christos Valtzoglou, who also owns Pylos on Seventh Street. Previously, this space was home to the short-lived Heartbreak Cafe.

Previously.

Here's your Boukiés signage

[Bobby Williams]

Workers put up the new Boukiés signs yesterday here on Second Street and Second Avenue... the new Greek eatery from restaurateur Christos Valtzoglou opening in the spring...

...already more inviting looking than the previous establishment here on the corner...

More about Boukiés, opening next month on Second Avenue

[Bobby Williams]

We received a news release yesterday with more information about Boukiés, the new Greek eatery from restaurateur Christos Valtzoglou coming to Second Avenue and East Second Street...

A few highlights cut-n-paste from the news release...

• Valtzoglou has enlisted famed chef, Diane Kochilas, as Consulting Chef, along with Chef de Cuisine, Stefan Sanders, to design a menu rooted in delicious, modern variations of authentic Greek fare.

• Boukiés is slated to open in March.

• Culinary offerings at Boukiés, which means “small bites” in Greek, include classics like: Greek taverna mussel saganaki and unique regional dishes such as Thessaloniki eggplant “dolmas” with spiced ground meat, Volos-style shrimp and cauliflower with a twist, feta-filo flutes with Greek honey and more. Boukiés will offer only two main courses: grilled lamb chops and Greek grilled fish.

• Boukiés will be open daily for lunch and dinner, offering brunch on weekends and expanded outdoor dining when weather permits.

Previously.