NYC Restaurants: Rocks In Cookies & Pizza Union Edition

NEW YORK CITY — Check your Trader Joe's cookies for rocks, New Yorkers.

For real.

Maybe New York City has entered its summer silly season, but a major story in this past week of food news involved potentially extra-crunchy cookies at the beloved grocer.

Patch's devoted local newsroom sifted through all the details in the cookie near-catastrophe, and still had time for other culinary news.

Check out our weekly roundup, and come back next week for seconds.

Some Trader Joe's cookies just plain rock — by which we mean, they could contain actual rocks.

A July 21 recall notice from the New York-beloved grocer warns customers that two types of cookie — Trader Joe's Almond Windmill Cookies and Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies — may contain rocks.

The stony situation wasn't the only unique happening in the city's culinary scene this past week either.

A Prospect Heights pizzeria — Barboncino — made history as its workers secured union representation, a first for a New York City pizza shop.

They unanimously voted to support the union after a campaign based on higher pay, a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment, inclusive scheduling and clear disciplinary procedures, organizers said.

"With higher wages and more job security the cook/artist is now able to explore the possibility of what pizza can be,"said Josh Johnston, a chef at Barboncino.

Rounding out the unusual was Beans & Vines, a popular Inwood restaurant. The spot was briefly seized and shut down by state tax officials over an unpaid balance of more than $350,000.

• Rocks In Trader Joe's Cookies Spur Recall: What NYC Needs To Know
• Crown Heights Pizzeria Becomes First To Unionize In NYC: Workers
• Beans & Vines, Popular Inwood Restaurant, Seized Over $350K Tax Issue

A heat wave may have slowed New Yorkers down this past week, but the cycle of new eateries didn't.

The team behind the iconic The Dead Rabbit has an "exit" strategy.

No, the iconic Financial District spot isn't closing — instead, it's getting something of a sister. The team plans to soon open The Irish Exit, an all-day pub inside Moynihan Train Hall.

In the French arena of foodie things, Madame Bonté opened their third Upper East Side cafe last week.

Across the park, La Caridad appeared poised to reopen and bring its Cuban-Chinese fusion fare back to the Upper West Side.

Speaking of threes, a new Ethiopian joint called Addey Ababa plans to open and become the third eatery in as many years to open within its Washington Heights storefront.

Bagel Bar NYC, a kosher bagel spot, also recently set up shop in Washington Heights.

A growing Korean fried chicken chain, bb.q Chicken, opened its eighth location in the city within Astoria.

And some old favorites in Brooklyn got some love.

The Soup Doula in Bed-Stuy became one of 10 finalists for a $10,000 fellowship for promising local businesses.

Finally, eight Park Slope eateries are part of NYC Restaurant Week.

• Moynihan Train Hall To Get All-Day Irish Pub
• Madame Bonté Opens Third UES Cafe In Lenox Hill
• La Caridad, Beloved Longtime UWS Eatery, Appears To Be Reopening
• Ethiopian Restaurant Opening In Washington Heights: 'So Excited'
• Kosher Bagel Spot Opens Near Yeshiva U. In Washington Heights
• Korean Fried Chicken Chain Opens Eighth City Location In Astoria
• Brooklyn's Soup Doula Comes 1 Step Closer To $10K Grant
• These 8 Park Slope Eateries Are Taking Part In NYC Restaurant Week

Just one restaurant this past week was ordered closed by city health inspectors.

• NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed July 21 - 18