Lucinda Scala Quinn

We posted this Friday Fives just because Lucinda promised to cook us food. Alright, that’s 100% false, but we’re kind of pissed we didn’t think of that earlier. Lucinda is the host of a show called Mad Hungry (great name) on Hallmark Channel, is Executive Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living, and makes things in the kitchen that make us jealous. We’ve been eating nothing but restaurant food for two years straight – and Lucinda’s home cooked meals are looking pretty damn good right now.

Mad Hungry kicks off it’s second season on September 26th (Noon EST/11am CST), so we figured this would be the perfect time for this New York native to hook up some her favorite places to go and let someone else do the cooking. Check out her picks below, and be sure to catch Mad Hungry every weeknight on Hallmark Channel. Then learn to cook some of her recipes and make us dinner.

Lucinda’s “Perfect For” Picks

Neighborhood Hang

Cafe B (240 E 75th St.) – “The Belgian beer lover that I am: Saison St Feuillen for me, Tripel Karmeliet for hubs, Moules frites 5 different ways, best uptown burger, AND all at a bar that feels like a small European town jewel.”

Authentic Ethnic Eats

Sripraphai (6413 39th Ave. / Woodside, NY 11377) – “Queens hosts the most authentic and delicious Thai food. Array of dishes that actually taste different and can be ordered as blazingly spicy as is appropriate and desired. Always eat the crispy watercress salad and hot drunken noodles.”

Fine Dining

La Grenouille. (3 East 52nd St.) – “So old school that it could be cutting edge hip (since hipster hip is practically old school at this point). Seriously, it’s perfect haute cuisine for a special occasion uptown location. Dress up. You’ll have classic service found in only a few places that matches the style and quality of the food. I eat Dover soul with mustard sauce and order a soufflé before dinner. Flowers and decor a fantasy too.”

Vegetarians

Pongal (Frnt. 1, 110 Lexington Ave.) – “I’m not a vegetarian but I love Indian food especially south Indian and Pongal rocks my world with its masala dosa: a large amazing rice and lentil flour lacy pancake filled with sliced potatoes or chickpeas.”

Serious Take-Out Operation

Dirty Bird To Go (204 West 14th St. #3) – “Redunculously moist and crispy fried chicken, cornbread, and greens I swoon for.”

Bonus: Best Restaurant Dining Inside a Supermarket

Il Pesce at Eataly (200 Fifth Ave.) – “David Pasternack’s pristine fish and knowledge coalesces within this fantastical food market. A recent whole roast black bass and sliced raw divers’ scallops knocked my socks off.”

Bonus: Dirty Little Secret

Christie’s Jamaican Patties (334 Flatbush Ave./ Brooklyn, NY 11238) – “Carb bomb at Christies: Jamaican beef patty enrobed inside a cocobread wrapper with a Ting grapefruit soda or Red Stripe beer back.”

Lucinda’s Twitter People

@DalaiLama – Uber-wisdom always.

@rosannecash – Witty writing woman.

@aoscott – Film fanatic that I’m a fan of.

@ruhlman – Always a doer with real food in real time.

@BBCBreaking – Instant news of the world.