Reviews

NYC: Day 7 and 8

The Culinary Chronicles4 Comments

We woke up late in the morning on Day 7 with little plans other than hanging out with my brother and baby niece. When the bro picked us up, he suggested we grab a lobster roll from a nearby neighborhood spot. Lobster, you say? HECK YES! 🙂  We cruised up to Luke’s Lobster in the East Village and walked in the small shop. Adorned with New England decor and charm, I knew we were in for a treat!

Per my brother’s suggestion, we ordered the “Schooner” which entailed a regular Lobster Roll, Miss Vickie’s Chips (I chose Jalapeno), pickle, and a Maine root soda (I got the Ginger).

When our Lobster Rolls came out, my eyes bulged out with surprise at the mass amount of meat that was piled into my roll. O-M-G…..no skimping here!!! Let’s start from the beginning…..The Roll. Thick white bread (The “OG” hot dog bun), sliced down the middle, slathered with butter, and toasted to perfection. Crispy on the outside and perfectly soft on the inside. The Lobster….chunks, and I’m talking CHUNKS of fresh from Maine lobster meat, seasoned with Luke’s “special spices” with just a light amount of mayo. And I’ll be honest, “over-mayo’ed” rolls in the past is what has deterred me from these delicious eats. But not Luke’s, they add just the perfect amount to hold the lobster together. Absolute perfection.

The prices are extremely affordable, too. For a Lobster Roll by itself, the cost is $14—which is crazy insane when you factor in how much (and how fresh) lobster they give you. And for just 2 bucks more, you can upgrade to the Schooner and get all the other goodies. 🙂

Why is it so cheap? Luke gets his lobster direct from Maine—from his Dad’s Lobster business! The lobsters are literally caught, steamed, packaged, and shipped directly to Luke’s in the East Village. You can’t get more direct than that! And with no “middle man”, Luke can keep his prices extremely low while ensuring the best quality. 🙂

My tip? Looking for an “affordable” but DELUXE date restaurant to impress you special someone? Skip the seafood houses and take your Honey to Luke’s. You’ll get the best bang for your buck and your Boo will love it. Guaranteed. 🙂

Luke’s Lobster
93 East 7th Street
(212) 387-8487

With little else on our day’s agenda and a belly full of lobster, we opted to walk around Chelsea Market to peruse all the shops and hope for a run-in with a FoodNetwork Celebrity. 🙂

Cupcakes!!! (From Eleni’s New York)

Wicked Hot Chocolate from Jacques Torres Chocolates

Goodies we picked up from Jacques Torres Chocolates

Chelsea Market
75th Ninth Avenue
(212) 243-6005

After a few hours at the Chelsea Market, we took a stroll on top of The High Line – a New York city park built on the old elevated freight railroad. GREAT views of the city and we were sure that we found the rooftop studio of where Bobby Flay films some of his Grill It! with Bobby Flay. Can you see it on this tiny pic? 🙂

With all the walking and activity we had done, I found myself with quite a rumbly-in-my-tumbly 🙂 I convinced my companions to do a quick pitstop in the Theater District so that I could pick up a plate from a food stand that friends and foodies said we could not miss— The Halal Cart. And not just any halal cart mind you—as there are MANY sprinkled up and down Manhattan. But we needed to go to this very particular cart on the corner of 53rd Street and 6th Avenue.

I walked up to the cart and asked the somewhat grumbling guy what he suggested for me to have.

“You like lamb?” he asked.
“YES!” I answered.
“I make you lamb and chicken combo.” he grumbled.

After a series of a few more questions (sauce–no sauce, spicy—no spicy), he handed me over a surprisingly heavy plate in a bright yellow bag. I forked over my 6 bucks and we were on our way. It smelled divine.

Back in the comforts of my brother’s place, I ripped open the bagged and lifted the cover to discover the most amazing aromas and pile of goodness.

Forget the forks we needed spoons to shovel in this goodness!!! Juicy and flavorful chopped lamb mixed with the wonderful sauces—what is that white sauce anyway?! Who cares, it was amazing! The hot sauce was SPICY but I loved it. The chicken was also VERY tasty but I was all about the lamb. All paired with seasoned rice and the softest pita I’ve ever had.

HOLY MOLY—was this goodness really only $6!!! It was as heavy as a newborn baby! Easily a meal for 2. Delicious, cheap, filling—I’m ALL over it! Long lines at the Cart are supposedly quite the norm but lucky for us…we had none 🙂

Believe the hype folks….it really is THAT good.  P.S. They’re open until 4am…how amazing is that?!

Halal Cart
53rd Street and 6th Avenue

The next couple hours were a blur for the BF and I as we were caught in a Halal Food Coma……happily so, but still comatose. 🙂  As it was the Opening Ceremonies for the Winter Olympics, the bro and sis–in-law invited a few of their friends over to join in on the festivities that evening.

They called in a few pizzas and salads from one of their favorite neighborhood spots, Gruppo.

Shroomtown Pizza (Portabello, Shitake, Button Mushroms..Drizzled with Trufle Oil)

Meatball Classic (Mini Meatballs, Red Onions, Basil)

And although I wasn’t really hungry, late in the evening I managed to get in half a slice of each of the pizzas. At least so I could say I tried it, right?? 🙂    MMMM!! The Meatball Classic was cute with the mini meatballs but I preferred the Shroomtown. LOVED all the mushroom flavor!!

Gruppo
186 Avenue B
(212) 995-2100

DAY 8

We woke up on Day 8 with that mixed feeling of sadness and anticipation since it was our last day in NYC. After packing up all our stuff, we loaded the car to run a few last minute errands and grab lunch before the sibs dropped us off at JFK.

Where did we have our final meal in the city? At Chinese Mirch in the Flatiron District. 🙂  Chinese Mirch offers a menu of Chinese/Szechuan dishes with an Indian flair. The restaurant itself is nestled on the corner of Lexington Avenue in a 2 story building. Decor is modest but clean and accented with artwork that reflects its cuisine. (Hey, I rhymed!)

Seated on the 2nd floor next to large windows that faced the main street, our group ordered the Crispy Okra for appetizers.

These aren’t your typical fried okra that you may find in Southern restaurants—completely different flavor profile. In fact, the okra themselves looked smaller in size than your average variety. Lightly floured and dusted in a spicy seasoning, these okras are flash fried and aren’t the least bit oily. With two dipping sauces to choose from (a sweet tamarind base or chili), they were a GREAT way to open our meal.

For our entrees, we went family style and ordered the Singapore Rice Noodles, Salt & Pepper Prawns, Coriander Vegetables, and Chili Chicken.

LOVED, loved the Chili Chicken! Slightly Crispy and quite spicy. Coriander Vegetables were also quite unique as it came with a spinach/cilatro pesto. 🙂

Chinese Mirch
120 Lexington Avenue
(212) 532-3663

On our way to JFK, we drove by Doughnut Plant to pick up some goodies for the flight. Unfortunately, we encountered our first true line of our whole trip and decided we couldn’t wait and risk missing our flight.   After much hugs and goodbyes to the family we checked in without a hitch (SHOCKING, I KNOW!) and found ourselves with a couple of hours on our hands before our boarding time. After putzing around the terminal shops, I decided to get some food for us to have on the 5.5 hour plane ride back to Cali. No meal service on this flight 😦

And what did I scrounge up??? Drumroll please….

Famiglia Pizza and Dunkin Donuts. Hey, thoughts of Doughnut Plants wonderful creations were haunting me and I needed to fill the void. How was it? Mehhh….the best Airport Food Court can possibly be.

But we have little to complain as we just had a phenomenol 8 Day Food Tour of New York. Amazing food from “Cheap Eats” to “Break the Piggy Bank” and covering a wealth of cuisines. We were blessed—even with the snow storm.

8 Days……20+ Restaurants…..1 Homecooked Meal…..Gallons of “Adult Beverages”…….1 Snow Day……..Priceless Time Spent with Family & Good Friends…….and Memories to Last a Lifetime.

I’d say it was a success. So…..where to next? 🙂

Special Shout Outs and Love to Family and Friends for being such gracious Hosts/Hostesses and wonderful ambassadors of NYC. Thank you for making us feel so much at home! 🙂

AND because I am one of  “those” aunties, please indulge me as I show off a  few pics of my little ones who I already miss SO much. Auntie loves you–come to California to visit soon! 🙂

The beautiful Claire who has already learned the skill of multi-tasking (Talking on her book over brunch)

My wrinkly and loving Pug Niece/Nephew, Princess Leia and Zangief. Leia is the quintessential “little sister” as you can see while she sits on poor Zangief’s head. 🙂

And lastly, my gorgeous neice, Luna — who may be one of the happiest babies on earth and can melt your heart in under 5 seconds.

GOOD BYE NEW YORK….UNTIL NEXT TIME! 🙂

Reviews

NYC: Day 6

The Culinary Chronicles6 Comments

The snow had let up when we woke up the next morning and with all the rest we got from our day of hibernation, we were ready to face the day. Bundling up to brave the cold, we headed back down to the Lower East Side to the infamous Katz’s Delicatessen.

Since its inception in 1888, Katz’s remains to be a favorite to locals and tourists alike. Whipping out amazing corned beef and pastrami (just to name a few), Katz’s maintains a steady flow of followers and is the site for the infamous scene from “When Harry Met Sally“. You know which scene I’m talking about 🙂

We walked into Katz’s from the cold and were greeted with the overwhelming aromas of goodness. Again, with no line, we moseyed up to one of the cutters and placed our order for a Pastrami Sandwich. Did I mention they always cut a few small pieces of pastrami for you to try???

Once seated, we smiled with glee at the beautiful sandwich and plate of pickles. Simple in construction, two pieces of rye bread with mustard holding together a mound of freshly cut pastrami. Hand cut by the way–no deli machine slicers here.

Absolutely, meat-a-licious…..and for those of you who have had a Katz’s sandwich before know exactly what I’m talking about. Perfectly seasoned meat that is so tender…..you’ll never look at a pastrami sandwich the same again.

Homage to the exact spot from “When Harry Met Sally“

Someone was a HAPPY camper after his pastrami sammy!

Katz’s is absolutely a MUST DO when visiting the city. You’ll be hard pressed to find a “deli” that serves up such quality eats in the same old fashion way that they do. The atmosphere is second to none with old “diner” tables/chairs, photos of famous celebs adorning the walls, and the staff yelling at each other in the fab New Yorker accents. 🙂

Worth every penny for that $14 sandwich—in fact, I would plunk down the money to eat that on a VERY regular basis. 🙂

Katz’s Delicatessen
205 East Houston Street
(212) 254-2246

After lunch my brother picked us up and we headed over to Edgewater, New Jersey to the Mitsuwa Market. In addition to getting a little “bleh” of all the eating out we were doing, we wanted to cook a nice dinner for my brother and sis-in-law to thank them for all of their hospitality. Mitsuwa was the ideal spot for us to pick up our usual goodies and ingredients. On a random note, the BF and I may do an homage tour of all the Mitsuwa’s in the States. We’ve been to three out of the 10 but I may be able to knock out the Chicago location at a business trip later next month 🙂

Tonight, I took the role as sous chef/commis as the BF took the lead with some of his popular dishes.

The BF’s Mise en Place 🙂

Yup, he’s a great cook and a cutie 🙂

Ahi Poke on Wasabi Nori Chips

Furikake Crusted Salmon with a light Teriyaki Glaze. Served with Baby Arugula and Brown Rice

Furikake Crusted Salmon with a light Teriyaki Glaze. Served with Baby Arugula and Brown Rice

With delicious food, priceless family time, and a few bottles of vino from Alphabet City Wine Company, we had the perfect recipe to a memorable evening in the city….and no high-end, bougie la-la restaurant can beat that 🙂

Reviews

NYC: Day 5

The Culinary Chronicles2 Comments

We had intended to get some last minute eats in before our 6pm flight on Day 5……but Mother Nature had other plans for us. 🙂

As an epic Snow Storm hit the East Coast, we were informed by JetBlue that all flights out of NY were to be canceled. The earliest flights they could book us back to San Jose would be three days later. Slightly ridiculous but my rants about JetBlue could consume a whole another blog post. 😦 After the initial shock wore off that our vacation was to be extended due to the impending 12-18″ of snow, the BF and I decided that we deserved a true snow day—first one I’ve had since leaving Minnesota in 1986!

So, we took the suggestions of family and city officials and settled into our digs for Hibernation Mode. Truth be told, we were looking forward to it since we had been on the go for 4 straight days and the idea of staying in our PJs in front of the TV seemed divine 🙂

Snow shot from our window on the 5th Floor.

Somehow after a few episodes of “Holmes on Homes” and “Dog Whisperer“, my tummy began to growl and I knew it was lunch time. Knowing that I didn’t want to even try venturing out in the snow, I thanked the Delivery Gods and began perusing a stack of menus that were left in the kitchen of our rental apartment. Since we had been gorging on a ton of meat over the past few days, vegetarian Indian food sounded perfect. We stumbled upon a menu for Sangam a few blocks away from us and called in our order.

Less than 20 minutes later, a knock at our door signaled the arrival of our lunch. DANG, they were F-A-S-T! Particularly since they had to maneuver poor weather conditions and 5 flights of steep stairs up our building.

The BF and I pulled out our dishes on the floor of our living room and dove right in. We had the Aloo Channa Qorma Curry, Vegetarian Samosas, Basmati Rice, Naan, and a Diet Coke.

Not bad at all–particularly when you factor in the fact that all that food only cost $16 AND we didn’t even leave the apartment! That’s what I’m talking about New York!!! If only San Jose, CA had such an easy and cost effective delivery culture. 🙂

Sangam
190 Bleecker Street
(212) 228-4648

Perhaps the weather suppressed our hunger because by the time 8pm rolled by, we still hadn’t thought about dinner–nor was I even really hungry. But as the clock ticked by, we decided that we needed something for our tummies, no matter how small. And since we had been cooped up all day we decided to bundle ourselves up and walk over to the corner market to see what they had to offer.

Snow Shot! 🙂

When we got inside the little market, I was surprised to see that they had a pretty good variety of snacks, sandwiches, fruits, and other items to choose from. But perhaps my inner “10 year old self” was calling because all we ended up with was this:

That’s right, Haagen Dazs Dulce de Leche Ice Cream and a bag of Ruffles Sour Cream and Cheddar Chips. Hey, at least the chips were baked and not fried! 🙂 And I tell ya, it was a fabulous dinner……I might have also failed to mention that a six pack of Red Stripe was included with our dinner somewhere 🙂

Quite an unexpected, yet fun, snow day 🙂

Reviews

NYC: Day 4

The Culinary Chronicles2 Comments

Day 4 was a BIG DAY for us. For lunch, we were headed to the BF’s Top Pick for the trip. As such, we needed some caffeine…BIG TIME.

Per my brother’s suggestion, we grabbed a cup of joe from one of his usual spots from the Mudtruck. With two locations in the East and West Village, this popular spot is all about no-thrills, no-frills tasty coffee. Seriously. You won’t get your Sta-narz-bucks, unreliable coffee here! 🙂

With drip coffees (mine with two Splendas, please) in hand, we were ready to head off to grab a light breakfast and knock off another spot from our list. 🙂

The Mudtruck
307 East 9th Street
(212) 529-8766

Where to? THE DOUGHNUT PLANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Featured on the FoodNetwork’s, “Throwdown with Bobby Flay“, the Doughnut Plant is an institution in the Lower East Side for whipping out quality and innovative doughnuts. MMMMmmmm…..doughnuts! I was quite concerned about possible lines for this hot spot, per reviewers and other bloggers, but we were in luck! No lines! So we strolled right up to the counter to place our orders. 🙂


I’ll be honest….I was a little overwhelmed. It’s one of those moments that you think, “heck, I’ll take one of everything”. But common sense (and fear of great obesity!) rears in your mind. As such, I selected one of their infamous Tres Leche Doughnuts and the BF selected a seasonal special, Passion fruit…..ooooohhhh. 🙂

How were there?? Undeniably THE BEST doughnuts of our lives. Exaggerate much? Not me…..at least not this time. The Tres Leche was absolutely amazing. Rich, sweet (though not too sweet), crisp on the outside—yet moist in the inside. As for the Passion fruit….now that was the stumper. It looked like your average glazed, yeast doughnut. But after one bite, you realize that they somehow took passion fruit and infused it into the glaze. And not some “imitation-meh” flavor. But an honest-to goodness, passion fruit flavor. How did they do it? I have no idea. Sneaky, Doughnut Plant. Brilliant, they are. 🙂

Doughnut Plant
379 Grant Street
(212) 505-3700

With delish doughnuts and coffee in our tummies, we headed over the Brooklyn Bridge to take in some sights and encroach upon our lunch spot. Here’s our view from Brooklyn Heights into Manhattan. If you take a closer look, you’ll see a tiny Statue of Liberty towards the center. 🙂

A light stroll through the neighborhoods (with a greater appreciation for the beautiful brownstone homes), we headed towards Williamsburg for the BF’s Top Pick for our entire NYC trip. Drum roll please…….

PETER LUGER STEAKHOUSE!

Peter Luger has received awards after awards from the New York Times to James Beard and even has a Michelin star. And since the BF is quite the Steak Connoisseur, this particular meal was greatly anticipated. 🙂

The decor is old school…..and by old school, I’m talking 1887. The restaurant is embellished with dark woods, heavy set tables and chairs, and oversize artwork. In every sense, it’s an “old boy’s steakhouse” right down to the cantankerous waiters, who play their roles quite well. 🙂

Steaks are typically ordered by person. So, for our party of five, we ordered the Porterhouse for 2 and another Porterhouse for 3. We also added a side of their creamed spinach and sides of bacon (ordered by slice) because we were told that it was a MUST.

The Extra thick, sizzling bacon. It WAS really tasty–though for me, it was more reminiscent of ham than bacon.

Our Porterhouse still bubbling from the broiler….sliced, bathed in butter, and served table side.

My steak and creamed spinach.

My thoughts? Well……I’m scared to actually say it but I would only give this “meat institution” a 3 out of 5. Our steak was greatly under-seasoned and although there was the famous Luger Steak Sauce on the table, I think a good steak should be well seasoned. Heck–ALL food should be well seasoned. The quality of the dry aged beef was top notch that it was a shame that they drenched it in butter. However, I did enjoy their methods of using a blazing high temperature broiler to seal in the juices.

But I did enjoy the overall experience at Peter Luger. The waiters were entertaining, the environment/atmosphere appears to have not changed in the over 100 years it’s been running, and the sides were quite yummy.

Plus, we got these fun gold chocolate coins at the end of our meal. In fact, they were thrown by our server across the table at us. Again, another kitschy touch 🙂

Peter Luger Steakhouse
178 Broadway
(718) 387-7400

With a day filled with “heavy eats” paired with the FREEZING weather, we were in need of something warm to comfort our tummies for dinner. When this happens, only two things sound yummy to me….either Pho or Ramen. 🙂 My bro and sis-in-law suggested we head over to the East Village for their favorite winter Ramen from Minca.

Mmmmm……sounds good to us!

We were quickly seated right before a dinner time rush (kind of our luck the whole trip!). Between the four of us we shared an order of the Shrimp Gyoza and Kimchee. Both very yummy!

I ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen with Pork as seen below.

The bowl was HUGE!!!! The broth was extremely rich and savory–much thicker broth than our usual ramen spots however it was perfect for the cold weather. I loved the corn and mushrooms that were served as accouterments and the pork was absolutely delicious. Extremely tender and a little fatty—but in a good way! 🙂

Fantastic way to end our day and warm our tummies for the cold weather ahead.

Minca
536 East 5th Street
(212) 505-8001

Reviews

NYC: Day 3

The Culinary Chronicles8 Comments

Day 3 in NYC was a fabulous one.

We started off the morning in the Lower East Side at Clinton Street Baking Company for some breakfast. Recently featured on the Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay“, Clinton Street Baking Company is known for some darn tasty Blueberry Pancakes.

So what did we get? The Blueberry Pancakes of course!


And a side of Sugar Cured Bacon. I’ve never even heard of “sugar curing” but it sounded good. And heck, it tasted gooooood!


The pancakes were darn tasty with just the right amount of Blueberry Sauce. Paired beautifully with their maple butter, the pancakes were light, fluffy, and simply delicious. Their coffee was REALLY good, too. 🙂

Service was quick and efficient and we only waited for a few minutes to get a table. Word to the wise, this spot gets crowded on weekends so if possible, I suggest grabbing a late breakfast on a weekday to avoid the wait.

Clinton Street Baking Company…..it’s goooooood. 🙂

Clinton Street Baking Company
4 Clinton Street
(646) 602-6263

After breakfast we jumped on the subway towards Midtown to spend a few hours at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Below are a few shots of some of my favorite pieces:

“Starry Night” by Van Gough

“Water Lillies” by Monet

Entrance to the Special Exhibit of “Tim Burton”

A few hours later, we had gotten our full of art but our tummies were in need of some sustenance. Where to? Brasserie Les Halles where my fav, Anthony Bourdain is the “Chef at Large”.


The moment we walked in the door, I knew we were going to LOVE this place. No, not just because of the food but because they were BLARING Jack Johnson over the speakers. And this girl LOVES her some Jack Johnson. 🙂

When our server handed us the menus, she informed us of their Monday Special—50% off all wines!! What the?! YIPPEE! So of course being the civic Americans we are, we did our best to add to the economy by ordering a full bottle instead of our original one glass plan 🙂

A quick perusal of the menu and we settled on the Confit de Canard and Steak Tartare avec Frites.

The BF’s Steak Tartare that was mixed table side.

Frites….hands down the best fries of my life. And this girl knows her fries. 🙂

My Confit de Canard. Notice the piece of toast underneath the duck to catch all the goodness?

Our delicious bottle of House Bordeaux.

Friends…..words cannot describe how amazing this meal was. The Confit was so crispy and fall-off-the-bone tender. The piece of toast that sopped up the goodness was genius. As for the Tartare–it was perfect. So well balanced between the mustard, cornichons, capers, etc. And the fries…OH MY GOD, THE FRIES!!!!! Crispy yet somehow tender in the inside–I couldn’t stop eating them! And the bf, who usually doesn’t eat fries that much, said he needed to finish them all. Which we did 🙂

The prices were so affordable–which was so amazing considering the great quality food we enjoyed. If you’re in town, Brasserie les Halles is a MUST DO. Seriously.

Brasserie les Halles
411 Park Avenue South
(212) 679-4111

A few hours later with a very happy tummy, we found ourselves at Top of the Rock to catch the beautiful views and skyline of the city.

Introducing my better half…. 🙂


Here I am doing a quick Yelp search to find our next snackie destination 🙂

Although it was clearly dinner time, the BF and I found ourselves with a bit of a sweet tooth. 🙂 Since we were in the area and it was on our list, we headed straight over to Bouchon Bakery. Yup, I’m one of those folks who is kind of hell bent to have my last meal on earth at the brilliant Thomas Keller’s French Laundry in Napa Valley, California. But, since I can’t afford to drop several hundred dollars on a lunch (although I am POSITIVE it would be worth EVERY penny), I am perfectly content to get my Keller-fix at Bouchon Bakery 🙂

I was like a kid in a candy store when I approached the counter and display case. Everything was absolutely gorgeous and meticulously put together. Cookies, macarons, tarts, eclairs, quiches….even Foie Gras Doggie Treats!



We ordered a selection of Macarons (Chocolate, Pistachio, Caramel, and Coconut), Pain au Trois Chocolat, and Espressos. I have no shame when I say I dove right into each of the pastries, marveling at the complex flavors of each item I bit into 🙂 The Pain was so delish with the chocolate flavors—crisp, rich…yum. And the Macarons–OH MY!!!! Lightly crisp exterior yet chewy in the inside…..with the “feet” that all good macarons should have. Hands down, my favorite two flavors were the caramel and coconut…TO DIE FOR! The caramel was so rich and for lack of better description, it was “caramel-y”. 🙂 The coconut had the PERFECT flavor that didn’t have that imitation coconut taste that many pastries have.

Our beautiful Macarons Selection 🙂

Giving the Pistachio a try 🙂  Verdict? Gooood.

And the whole time I kept on saying to myself, “If this is how his pastries taste, think of how AMAZING the French Laundry would be!” One day….<sigh>……

Bouchon Bakery
10 Columbus Circle
(212) 823-9366

Needless to say, when we went home that night, my tummy and “site-seeing bone” were extremely content. 🙂

Reviews

NYC: Day 2

The Culinary Chronicles4 Comments

Day 2 food-ventures in NYC started off REALLY early. How early? Let’s just say that it could be debated that it was still Day 1 as it was a direct necessity from Day 1 night activities 🙂

After a long night of taking in the city’s nightlife, we were in great need to fill our tummies with something delicious and darn right bad for you. Where to? No place better than the East Village’s Crif Dog. Our group joined the crowds of other late night/early morning Hot Dog goers and convened at this notable local spot. Arcade games decorate the side walls with small sitting tables and bar stools. We ordered the Good Morning (Dog wrapped in bacon, American Cheese and a Fried Egg), Spicy Red Neck (Dog wrapped in bacon, Jalapenos, chili, and Cole Slaw), and Chili Cheese Fries.

One word to describe our food: A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Quite arguably the best dog I’ve had in my life. Super hot, peppery, with that great “snap”when you bite into it. The jalapeno, chili and slaw were the perfect accoutrement. As for the Good Morning, well it’s our philosophy that the fried egg makes anything delish.

Sure, the hot dogs are pricier than the average stand where you can get the Dirty Water Dog fix….but I’m telling you, it’s SO worth it! Plus, what other hot dog spot do you know of that houses a secret bar via a telephone booth from the inside? Seriously, no joke. 🙂

Crif Dogs
113 Saint Marks Place
(212) 614-2728

What most “Manhattanites” know but may not admit is that one can find some wonderful eats in Jersey City for a fraction of the cost it would be in NYC. This held true as we crossed the water to New Jersey to have lunch with some old friends. Per their suggestion we headed over to Skinner’s Loft–a two story restaurant with absolute charming decor and friendly staff. We were promptly seated at an upstairs table in a cozy corner—which I appreciated as we had two little ones with us and needed the room. The menu was quite extensive with EXTREMELY reasonable prices. The BF and I split the Fresh Bacon Tartine and Eggs Benedict–and of course, two Bloody Marys.

The Fresh Bacon Tartine….where do I begin. They describe it to contain fried eggs, aged cheddar cheese, tomato, fresh bacon, aioli spread on a baguette. Unctuous-meaty goodness with a light acidity from the tomato. The Eggs Benedict were so delish on the fresh baked biscuit and the hollandaise—OH THE HOLLANDAISE!!!! Creamy but not overly creamy….perfect 🙂 They also served a delectable “pail” of their baked goods—-an assortment of mini-muffins, biscuits and rolls. So wonderful with their honey butter and a little bit of jam. As for their Bloody Marys….easily one of the best Bloody Marys I’ve had at a restaurant which is saying A LOT as a self proclaimed Bloody Mary snob. Spicy, savory, tangy…perfect.

On top of everything, I loved the little details and special attention they put on things—-from how the sugar was served in small milk bottles to chocolates placed in a bucket with the final bill. It’s all the little things that count and Skinner’s Loft does it well.

By the way….our dishes were only $10 and $12 for the bf and I. You just can’t beat that. That Jersey City has more to it than meets the eye.

Fresh Bacon Tartine
Eggs Benedict

Skinner’s Loft
146 Newark Avenue
(201) 915-0600

Our final meal was at a fabulous Super Bowl Party hosted by friends in their new fabulous digs in the Financial District. Great snackies, finger foods, and wonderful sammies made by the hosts. They also brought in some great Korean Wings and Drumsticks by BonChon–one of the new rages for delish eats in the area. And indeed, they were quite yummy! Surprised that Korean Fried Chicken can be ALL THAT? Don’t be, it really is THAT good.

BonChon
104 John Street
(646) 682-7747

And this was one of the ways we ended our night….with a breath taking view from the roof of our friends’ fab digs. Photo cred goes to my brother as I’m still trying to figure out the whole shutter-speed thing 🙂

Oh NYC….you are gorgeous.

Reviews

NYC: Day 1

The Culinary Chronicles2 Comments

Our travels started off on a great note with a lovely little cocktail at the San Jose Minetta Airport. What did I enjoy? My signature Grey Goose Martini—EXTRA Dirty 🙂

A few hours later we arrived a bit weary yet very excited at the blustery JFK Airport. We settled into our digs at one of the fabulous units in Greenwich Village by Gotham Holidays (HIGHLY recommend it for folks looking for an alternative to Manhattan hotels) and were on the hunt to fill our tummies. My sis-in-law recommended a local spot to us, The Grey Dog’s so we walked a few blocks and found the small, but very cute little spot.

It appeared quite popular as the small little shop was filled to the brim with hungry brunch goers. We were lucky to snag a table for four and placed our order at the counter. I opted for a Croissant Breakfast Sandwich with Sausage and Eggs while the BF had the Breakfast Quesadilla.

My sammy was delish—light fluffy eggs covered with cheese and sausage. A batch of shoestring “fries” accompanied my plate. The coffee was strong but fresh and I loved the overall charm of the shop. Whimsical photos of frolicking pups surround the exposed brick walls while the waitstaff weave in and out of the crowds delivering plates. Yep, if I lived here, I, too would be a regular.

The Grey Dog’s Coffee
33 Carmine Street
212-462-0041

After hanging out with the brother and sis-in-law for a few hours at their sweet condo in the Lower East Side, we were in need for another snackie. Initially, we were going to go big and get a Pastrami sammy from Katz’s but upon arriving, we found it closed for a private event. BUMMER! But the beauty about a city like NYC is that there is always good eats around one corner or another.

We found ourselves at Yonah Schimmel’s Knishes Bakery for some good old knishes. Never had a knish? Well, they’re known to be a common snack amongst Jewish American immigrants. More often than not, it’s a mashed potato mixture that is covered in a light dough—and apparently, Yonah Schimmel’s is as good as it gets.

In an attempt to enjoy the knish in its purest form, I ordered the traditional Potato Knish (seen below):

Turns out knishes also can come be served in a sweet form. My brother ordered the Blueberry (as seen below):

Overall, as a lover of all things potato, I found the knishes to be enjoyable, particularly with the side accompaniment of the pickles. Service and staff were not exactly the best, but when they’ve been making knishes for 100 years, I guess the product can speak for itself 🙂

Yonah Schimmel’s Knishes Bakery
137 E Houston Street
(212) 477-2858

Our last stop of the night brought us to Keste Pizza and Vino. Per our familia’s suggestion, we arrived early enough just to beat the dinner rush and got the last available table. Good thing too because by the time we were done with our meal, the wait was out the door. SUPER charming restaurant with friendly and efficient staff and fabulous hosts with great Italian accents. 🙂

The four of us ordered two pizzas: The Special of the Evening and the Salsiccia.

The Salsiccia was delish–savory and slightly peppery. The Special was akin to a Margherita but without the tomato sauce. The cheese was so creamy and unctuous—divine. Both crusts were thin, slightly chewy and had the great taste that only wood ovens can produce. We also ordered the House Vino which was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Surprised? Believe me, I was too.  🙂

Keste Pizzeria….HIGHLY recommend it.

Keste Pizzeria and Vino
271 Bleecker Street
(212) 243-1500

12 hours and 3 great spots. Not a bad way to begin our vacay 🙂

Miscellaneous

New York or Bust!!!!

The Culinary Chronicles18 Comments

That’s right folks—-the BF and I are headed to NYC tomorrow night for 5 luxurious days of gorging ourselves on good eats and tasty adult beverages. Woo Hoo! We’ve been fortunate enough to have traveled to New York on a few occasions before. Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Trump Tower…..Seen it, done it. Therefore, this trip is solely dedicated to expanding my waistband by diving into some culinary gluttony. 🙂

So many new places to choose from and so many old yummys to revisit. But, on the MUST-GET lists are:

Bouchon Bakery

Brassiere Les Halles

Grimaldi’s

Katz’s Delicatessen

‘inoteca

Joe’s Shanghai Restaurant

Nobu Next Door

Peter Luger Steak House

Trattoria Zero Otto Nove

In the midst of our overindulgence, we’ll also get the chance to spend some QT with the familia and old friends. And, if my inevitable food coma doesn’t keep me away, I will do my best to keep you updated daily on our food-ventures. 🙂

So, to my Foodie Friends….What are your “MUST EAT” spots in the Big Apple????

Poultry · Soups/Stews

“Kitchen Sink” Stew

The Culinary Chronicles6 Comments

 

I must confess that when I started dinner the other night, I meant to make a soup. But after throwing everything in the pot but the “kitchen sink”–it turned out to be more of a stew.

But that’s one of the things I love the most about making soups/stews. You can pretty much clean out your fridge and use all kinds of leftovers to create something warm, comforting, and delicious. Problem is, the next time you try to recreate the same dish, it will most likely be less spontaneous as you try to recollect all of the ingredients you threw in. With that said, I’ve decided to document this one so I wouldn’t forget.

This particular stew turned out wonderfully. The starch from the beans and potatoes added a “heartiness” to the dish and we did not require any accompaniment of bread. Good thing too, because we didn’t have any.  Store bought rotisserie chicken can be a perfect “quick fix” for the protein below, however, quickly poaching some chicken breast in the stock would be just as good.

Enjoy!

______________________________________________

Kitchen Sink Stew
Serves approximately 3-4

Ingredients:

1 Large Leek, finely chopped and thoroughly washed
1 Large Carrot, diced
3 Celery Ribs, diced
2 Yukon Gold Potatoes, diced
1 Can Cannellini Beans, rinsed
1 Cup Broccoli Florets
2 Sprigs Fresh Thyme, stems removed
1 Bay Leaf
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Cup Cooked Chicken, Shredded
4 Cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
½ Teaspoon Chili Flakes
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a heavy pot, heat olive oil. Cook leeks, carrots, and celery until ingredients are softened-but not browned. Approximately 5 minutes. Add thyme leaves, chili flakes, and potatoes. Cook for additional 5 minutes. Add chicken broth and bay leaf. Bring liquids to a boil. Add shredded chicken and Cannellini beans. Cover pot while lowering the heat to a simmer. After 10 minutes, add broccoli and cook for an additional 7-8 minutes with the lid on.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Miscellaneous

An Authentic Italian Bolognaise Contains Little Tomato Probably No Beef & Would Never Be Served With Spaghetti (Guest Blogger)

The Culinary Chronicles4 Comments

**This entry has been submitted to The Culinary Chronicles through our Guest Blogger Contest. **

By: the foodies handbook

The word bolognaise translates as ‘in the style of Bologna’. As well being the regional capital of  the Bologna Province and the Emilia-Romagna Region in northern Italy, bologna is a large Italian styled North American smoked sausage, usually containing a combination of finely ground and seasoned meats including beef, pork, lamb, chicken or turkey. An authentic Italian bolognaise sauce is more correctly referred to as a ‘ragù’, this being a meat based sauce traditionally served with a pasta. Ragù is a phonetical Italian spelling of the French word ragout, which is derived from the old French ‘ragoûter’, meaning ‘to revive the taste’. As with most cuisines methods for bolognaise vary across Italy, but a typical recipe would always begin with a ‘soffritto’ of finely diced onions, carrots and celery. This is fried in olive oil and butter until caramelised, then seasoned with garlic and herbs. Assorted fresh mushrooms are then added and cooked until tender. The meat is then added which is usually a blend of three finely ground meats. Pork, veal and lamb could be used but goose liver is also a popular addition. Next milk will be added, this renders the meat flavours more delicate. Sometimes cream may be used, but only in small amounts. The mixture is then brought to the boil. Red wine and a quality stock is added along with a little tomato paste. The ragù is then seasoned and allowed to simmer gently for around 6 hours. When ready the sauce is served with a fresh pasta such as ‘tagliatelle alla bolognese’. An authentic Italian bolognaise contains little tomato, would not necessarily include beef and would never be served with spaghetti. Spaghetti is a smooth textured pasta and so would not be able to retain any of sauce when served. The sauce would simply slide off the pasta and back onto the plate. A rough textured pasta such as tagliatelle is always used as this retains the bolognaise sauce.

Click here for an authentic Italian bolognese sauce recipe

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