Immaculate Infatuation: CHRIS STANG & ANDREW STEINTHAL

Chris Stang and Andrew Steinthal are of the opinion that, “In a city with so many great choices, is there any reason to eat mediocre food? No dice.” And we couldn’t agree more. Luckily for us—and for other hungry New Yorkers—Chris and Andrew founded the acclaimed foodie-website “Immaculate Infatuation” to air their fresh perspectives on NYC’s culinary world. In addition to capsule reviews and recommended dishes, Immaculate also presents other original content ranging from “Friday Fives” interviews, to “Infatuation TV”, to general features. Despite the site’s wild success and professionalism, Immaculate Infatuation is only an early morning/late-night hobby of Chris and Andrew’s; their days are spent pursuing careers in the music industry--Chris at Atlantic Records and Steinthal at Warner Bros. Records. However, their jobs often require them to entertain clients with a meal before a show, and so they developed a list of go-to’s and misses that they would recommend or warn against to a circle of friends. Now, with Immaculate, that circle of friends has grown to be enormous—and their credibility is hard to beat for diners looking for restaurants with the perfect balance of price, atmosphere, service, and food.

We take our hats off to blogger-professionals extraordinaires, Chris and Andrew, for bringing a hobby to a whole other level. We don’t remember how we ever chose restaurants before Immaculate Infatuation.

 

How did you meet?
We met at a CMJ music convention in NYC 11 years ago. We were both in college and music directors at our respective stations--Stang at KCSU/Colorado State and Steinthal at WICB/Ithaca College. A mutual friend of ours put together a group of his favorite music directors and we actually met on set at TRL. We realized we had a lot in common--namely making fun of Carson Daly and thinking the smoking-hot head of production was into us (she wasn't).

How many people follow your blog?
A lot. It's kind of crazy how fast this thing has grown over the last two years. We remember how excited we were to get to 100 people a day. Then 200. Then 500. Then suddenly we were bummed if we had less than 1,000 a day. We're way past that point now, and the site continues to grow every month...so we're happy.

What did you have for dinner last night?
Nothing too exciting, actually. Steinthal had a buffalo chicken slice from Muzzerella Pizza on Ave A, and Stang ate some kind of crazy falafel from a place near his apartment. When we're not out reviewing, we have to keep it simple...and cheap.

What are your day-to-day Immaculate responsibilities?
Writing. A lot. Since there are only two of us, we need to find time in the day to create all the content. That means early in the morning or late at night.

How does it fit in with your day jobs?
Well, we don't do any writing or blogging while we're at work. With our jobs in the music business, we both have a lot going on and that stuff gets our full attention. We'd like to keep our paychecks coming in so we can pay for all these dinners.

Your team mantra:
Can't stop, won't stop.

Three words to describe each other:
Steinthal on Stang: “Weirdo Adrian Brody.”
Stang on Steinthal:  “Jewish Mark Sanchez.”

What do you do when you disagree on a dining experience?
Honestly, we're usually on the same page. If we both have different experiences at the same restaurant, we'll go back before reviewing.

Earliest indicator that a meal will be a success:
When you look around and see smiling faces genuinely enjoying themselves at a restaurant, chances are you're in for a good meal.

A disaster?
When there's a crew of dudes wearing Ed Hardy gear at the table next to you.

Friday Five you were most proud to score?
Stang: Mike D of the Beastie Boys.
Steinthal: Mark Hoppus of Blink 182.
Both are childhood idols turned Immaculate Infatuation contributors. Life comes full circle.

Talent you’d most like to have:
Steinthal: To be an NBA caliber basketball player.
Stang: I'd like to be really good at the Cupid Shuffle.

Most overrated virtue:
Not sure how to answer that and not sound like we’re bad people.

Your guilty pleasure:
Steinthal: Taio Cruz's “Dynamite” (put those hands in the air).
Stang: Meet the Press.

Best burger in NYC?
Steinthal: The Bash Burger at Burger & Barrel.
Stang: The Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien.

Slice of pizza?
Steinthal: Joe's, no contest.
Stang: Agreed.