Potatoes are a significant part of Swedish culture. On Cape Bjare, in the south of Sweden, the soil they grow in is referred to as farmer’s gold. The country grows hundreds of different types of potatoes and certain rare varieties, like the Gammel Svensk Rod (Old Swedish Red), can sell for upwards of $100 a pound. In 2008, Gammel Svensk Rod potatoes matured perfectly on Bertil Gunnarsson’s farm. That’s the opinion of master blender Borje Karlsson anyway, who decided to make an unfiltered, single-varietal vodka sourced exclusively from Gunnarsson’s Gammel potatoes that were picked in July of 2008.

Walking down Extra Place in the East Village, one can only imagine what unsavory activities used to occur in the alleyway. It’s had its fair share of notoriety being right behind CBGB – most famously visible from Ramones’s first album and the band’s other press photos. But all that has changed and with it, the history from that era. The grittiness is paved over is now home to several restaurants and shops including Koji Kusakabe’s Extra.

At Battersby, it’s all personal. Chef-owners Walker Stern and Joseph Ogrodnek have a long-standing friendship that’s taken them through culinary school to stints at some of the city’s best restaurants.