Photography by M. Sharkey

Geoff Bartakovics and Scott Hocker, the CEO and editor in chief, respectively, of lifestyle website and email blast Tasting Table, are the guys who keep any reader up to date on the gastronomic news.

Whether you tune in to cook alongside the TV, admire Tyler Florence, or just take in a Chopped marathon, you've got Bob Tuschman, the general manager and senior vice president of the Food Network, to thank for the delicious viewing.

Nestled between the tattoo parlors and porn shops on New York City's Christopher Street is I Sodi, the cozy hidden gem that chef and owner (and former Calvin Klein Jeans executive) Rita Sodi opened in 2008 in hopes of recreating the traditional Tuscan fare she grew up eating while living on a small farm north of Florence.

Nearby is her girlfriend Jody Williams's equally charming French gastrotheque, Buvette. Like Sodi, Williams -- who established her craft at Morandi, Gusto, and Gottino -- aimed to create an elegant home away from home. Her plan has paid off, making Buvette a favorite among epicureans, critics, and Martha Stewart.

As one of the masterminds behind Columbus' Middle West Spirits, Brady Konya has led the charge in crafting the uber-popular line of OYO vodkas and whiskies, the artisanal craft boozes that have become a runaway hit.

Photographed at the Tasting Table Test Kitchen & Dining Room in New York City on September 10, 2012