Ah, New Yorkers: we're pretty cool when it comes to having celebrities in our presence, or at least, unspoken rules dictate that we should be. If you're not, you're either a tourist, or new to town, in which case: get out of my way, I have to get to work/lunch/the subway. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule: The Obama Family. So when we got word that the First Lady was having lunch at Gramercy Tavern (literally, around the corner from BlackBook HQ), like hell we weren't going to get the chance to be twenty feet from the place. Editorial reaction, pictures of the scene, and Ms. Obama's exit? Oh yes.

As vice president of operations and new business development of Craft Restaurant Group, Katie Grieco works shoulder-to-shoulder with famed chef and Bravo's most recognizable Top Chef personality, Tom Colicchio. Overseeing the Craft, Craftbar, Craftsteak and 'wichcraft locations nationwide (New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Las Vegas) Grieco often has her hands full. She gets the job done one restaurant at a time.

Doug Psaltis, the newly installed executive chef and partner at Smith’s -- Cindy Smith and restaurateur Danny Abrams' (The Mermaid Inn) Greenwich Village American bistro -- explains what "comfort food" is to him, why he left high-end French cuisine for chicken and grits, and whether or not he'd rewrite his (fairly controversial) book, given a chance.

Jonathan Benno, chef de cuisine at Thomas Keller's Per Se Restaurant at the Time Warner Center in New York, on the downside of popular gastronomy, BMW motorcycles, and escaping the kitchen to make time for the fam.

Where do you go out when you're off duty?
Al di Là in Park Slope. It's a husband and wife team I've known for a really long time. They do traditional Italian cooking, and it's just a place that's from the heart. She does the kitchen, and he does the dining room. It's small and special. Either of Michael White's New York restaurants -- Convivio or Alto -- because he has such a command of Italian cuisine, and he's a really, really nice guy. Hearth by Marco Canora, formerly of Craft, and Paul Greco, formerly of Gramercy Tavern, is great because the place is a real labor of love for two guys who were at the top of their games at successful restaurants. They borrowed the money to open this little restaurant in the East Village, and they made it work.

Forget spiked egg nog, pumpkin-based drinks, and all those other seasonal libations. Don’t even think about a chilled beer or frozen concoction unless you plan on spending the night perched over your heater. Instead, head to one of the spots below where the mixologists are whipping up specialty cocktails for sun-deprived-drinkers.

10. Thai chili hot chocolate @ Thom Bar (Soho) - Made with Thailand’s national spirit -- Mekhong, which is sort of like a pisco -- there’s no hotter way to beat your chills.
9. Wake-Up Call @ Brandy Library (Tribeca) - You could spend all night sifting through the never-ending list of options, but make it easy for yourself and go straight for this warm, aptly named mix of espresso, vanilla vodka, and homemade chocolate and coffee liqueurs.
8. Gingerbread cocktail at Empire Hotel Rooftop (Upper West Side) - The sunny skies may be gone, but the rooftop continues to attract with sweeping views, dim lighting, and a crackling fireplace -- all of which are best enjoyed while sipping on their creation made with gingerbread syrup, Ten Cane Rum, apple juice, and lemon.

As if winning an Oscar and having an Apple wasn't enough, Gwyneth Paltrow is trying to steal our thunder by listing her favorite New York restaurants in her latest GOOP newsletter. That's what we do, Gwyneth! How would you like it if we started doing yoga? When she did it for L.A., we let it slide as a mid-life crisis/nervous breakdown, but now she strikes again. Problem is, she's not very good at it. After the jump, a list of Gwyneth's favorite NYC restaurants, followed by her vague reasons why. Luckily, you can click on each restaurant to find out what it's really about.

Sometimes you’ve got the urge to splurge ...

1. The Grocery - Innovative farmfresh cuisine in a tiny, elegant setting: as transcendent as NYC gets.
2. Chanterelle - The city’s best spot for foodgasms, with elegance done to perfection.
3. Eighty One - Creativity saved on the name is channeled into impeccable locally sourced menu.