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If your friend is a total boozehound who won’t step foot anywhere that doesn’t visibly look like it can keep him properly imbibed – don’t cringe when he suggests “dinner” at one of his favorite dives. Instead steer him to one of the following bars – that just happen to dish out excellent food as well.

WEST VILLAGE
Blind Tiger Ale House
[281 Bleecker St.] [212.462.4682]

This brew pub with a barnyard feel serves a fantastic banh mi, “Bloody Beast” (a neat little roast beef slider with cheddar, red onion, and bloody mary sauce) deviled eggs, and a Murray’s cheese plate. Just as enticing are the 28 beers on tap – and the fact you can pack one up in a growler for home.

EAST VILLAGE
Jimmy’s No. 43
[43 E. 7th St.] [212.982.3006]

He will like the beer sausage, mussels in beer, and excellent selection of German, Belgian, and American craft beers. You’ll like that everything is organic, locally sourced, and positively delicious. The menu changes nightly – so try as much as you can… and wash it down with a cold one.

PARK SLOPE
Beer Table
[427 7th Ave.] [718.965.1196]

Delicious and decidedly dedicated to beer – this Park Slope favorite has excellent food as well. Even better, make reservations for this Monday and be there when they partner with Saxelby Cheesemongers. Fifty dollars gets you five brews and five cheeses (all which promise to be superbly curated and delightfully interesting: Italian-made, Belgian-style beer paired with American-made, Italian-style cheese.)

WEST VILLAGE
Wilfie & Nell
[228 W. 4th St.] [212.242.2990]

Saddle up with a sidecar and Berkshire pork sliders, scotch and scotch eggs, a beer and a corned-beef sandwich, and assorted bacon-y things with well more assorted bacon-y things. The drinks are well-constructed, the crowd pretty, and the kitchen happily open until 2am.

You know the quote: “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day – teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Well it’s probably not going to work in this case. But by patronizing the following establishments you will indeed learn something about their craft – to appreciate it. And while you may be ready to go home and start pulling your own candy – you’ll be back watching in awe (and popping sweet treats) marveling at how the masters do it.

LITTLE ITALY
Papabubble
[380 Broome St.] [212.966.2599]

This delightful laboratory churns out brightly swirled lollipops, teensy hard candies – even fancy ring pops. Best of all you get to watch as the magic happens. Stop in when then the chalkboard outside reads, “making candy” and watch as molten sugar is cut, stretched, pulled, looped, and rolled into marvelous confections. If you’re looking especially mesmerized they may let you try a piece of hot candy.

LOWER EAST SIDE
Saxelby Cheesemongers
[120 Essex St.] [212.228.8204]

In her charming “A Day A-Whey” series Anne Saxelby, the sweetheart of American farmstead cheese, designs fieldtrips to her favorite local farms for an up close look at the cheese making process – and a picnic (of course.) And while the trips certainly gives you the full lesson – frequenting her stand in Essex Market is always a sure way to pick up tips – and wonderful cheese.

ROVING
A Razor, A Shiny Knife
[Roving.] [No Phone.]

Billing itself as “an educational, social and theatrical culinary experience” – A Razor, A Shiny Knife is a dinner club (of sorts) that takes its form from whatever idea, location, event, or ingredients are closest and most interestingly at hand. The education comes in participation – you can see protein butchered, techniques broken down, masterful meals replicated – and a totally different mix at the next pseudo-secret meal. Sign up for the newsletter to see what’s coming next.