Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Cheap Eats - Seva
All of this sub-zero BS weather has given me a real hankering for some spicy ass Indian food (and I do mean spicy ass). I headed to an audition early yesterday morning thinking I could resist the temptation, but who was I kidding, I knew I'd fall victim to the call of Seva's weekend brunch buffet.
Last time I headed the call of the curry, I straight up went by myself and ate like a sad, fat kid. I didn't even care, because it was so damn delish. But today was different. I had my trusty (however, bitchy about Indian food) companion, my Lars.
Seva is by far the best Indian food in Astoria, and their weekend buffet is great for a quick bite. It takes place every Saturday and Sunday from 12 PM - 3 PM. I prefer the Delhi Heights buffet in Jackson Heights (they do a Manchurian style Indian with more Chinese influences which I love), but it's a bit of a trek when Seva is just on the corner of 34th St and 30th Ave. We bundled up and headed down the street to stuff our faces, and subject ourselves to the dreaded meat sweats.
The food is solid and it's a decent level of spice, especially for a buffet. I've noticed that Indian joints tend to tone it down for those people who I will now call "punjabies" because it sounds like a dirty word, but isn't. That really gets my curried goat. I still want the stuff to make me warm from the inside out. Indian food without heat is like Milo without Otis. Sad (but not as cute). Seva boasts all the basics - basmati rice, naan (indian flat bread cooked in the clay oven), chicken tikki marsala (chicken marinated in yogurt then cooked in a tomato/cream sauce), chicken korma, chicken vindaloo (vindaloo means hot! It's chicken in a spicy tomato/pepper based sauce) and lamb rogan josh (lamb cooked in a rich tomato/yogurt sauce with curry, garam masala and other key Indian spices). For veggie lovers, they don't go cheap on the saag paneer (cheese cubes in creamed spinach with Indian spices) or the chana marsala (chick peas in a tomato/wine sauce). You have your tamarind, mint and mango chutney sauces handy, and you're good to go!
It's all-you-can eat, so as my dad always used to say, "strap on the feed bag, kids". Seva does a great job of keeping the food fresh and hot. They never let the naan or rice get dried out. Unfortunately, the chicken often becomes a bit of an overcooked casualty due to the nature of the buffet serving style. It will overcook after sitting out for a bit, so keep your eyes open and pounce when the new food is laid into the serving pans. The chicken vindaloo was my favorite meat dish. It had a very rich flavor and was still spicy enough to do the job. My vote for best dish on the buffet definitely goes to the saag paneer though, which is always super yummy (though I would order it spicier if I were getting an individual serving). The cheese is cooked perfectly, and the spices are well-balanced.
This picture below is my plate after a second trip to the buffet where you can see the charred, chewy naan, spicy chicken vindaloo, saag paneer (check out those cheesy chunks!), chana marsala and mint chutney, over basmati rice. So yum, y'all. My first plate looked essentially the same but with the other chicken varieties which were good, but I liked VINDALOO HEAT, SON! (that sounds like a racist hipster band name). Lars tried the lamb and said it had a great flavor and texture.
We both finished up with Kheer (sweet rice pudding with raisins/spices/nuts) which was also featured on the buffet. It was a little mushy, but the flavors were there. Another con of buffet style serving. We gulped down a sh*t ton of water because 1.) the food was spicy and 2.) the waiter was like OCD about making sure our cups were full. (Sidenote: I love the metal cups that they use at Indian restaurants? Is that an overstock warehouse that has these? WHERE CAN I FIND THEM FOR MINE OWN!?) Oh well, I'm not complaining. The service here is always great, and for the price you really cannot beat it. On the way out, I knocked over a full glass of water because as Lars says, "I have no spatial awareness". The servers just laughed at me. I tried to help clean it up, but they wouldn't let me.
This place gets you in and out, gives you tons of water and will have you full for the rest of the day. I made a smoothie for dinner because I was still pretty satisfied from lunch. And the best part, it's only $10 for all-you-can eat! SO AWESOME.
THE DAMAGE: $13 per person (with tax and tip)
Last time I headed the call of the curry, I straight up went by myself and ate like a sad, fat kid. I didn't even care, because it was so damn delish. But today was different. I had my trusty (however, bitchy about Indian food) companion, my Lars.
Seva is by far the best Indian food in Astoria, and their weekend buffet is great for a quick bite. It takes place every Saturday and Sunday from 12 PM - 3 PM. I prefer the Delhi Heights buffet in Jackson Heights (they do a Manchurian style Indian with more Chinese influences which I love), but it's a bit of a trek when Seva is just on the corner of 34th St and 30th Ave. We bundled up and headed down the street to stuff our faces, and subject ourselves to the dreaded meat sweats.
The food is solid and it's a decent level of spice, especially for a buffet. I've noticed that Indian joints tend to tone it down for those people who I will now call "punjabies" because it sounds like a dirty word, but isn't. That really gets my curried goat. I still want the stuff to make me warm from the inside out. Indian food without heat is like Milo without Otis. Sad (but not as cute). Seva boasts all the basics - basmati rice, naan (indian flat bread cooked in the clay oven), chicken tikki marsala (chicken marinated in yogurt then cooked in a tomato/cream sauce), chicken korma, chicken vindaloo (vindaloo means hot! It's chicken in a spicy tomato/pepper based sauce) and lamb rogan josh (lamb cooked in a rich tomato/yogurt sauce with curry, garam masala and other key Indian spices). For veggie lovers, they don't go cheap on the saag paneer (cheese cubes in creamed spinach with Indian spices) or the chana marsala (chick peas in a tomato/wine sauce). You have your tamarind, mint and mango chutney sauces handy, and you're good to go!
It's all-you-can eat, so as my dad always used to say, "strap on the feed bag, kids". Seva does a great job of keeping the food fresh and hot. They never let the naan or rice get dried out. Unfortunately, the chicken often becomes a bit of an overcooked casualty due to the nature of the buffet serving style. It will overcook after sitting out for a bit, so keep your eyes open and pounce when the new food is laid into the serving pans. The chicken vindaloo was my favorite meat dish. It had a very rich flavor and was still spicy enough to do the job. My vote for best dish on the buffet definitely goes to the saag paneer though, which is always super yummy (though I would order it spicier if I were getting an individual serving). The cheese is cooked perfectly, and the spices are well-balanced.
This picture below is my plate after a second trip to the buffet where you can see the charred, chewy naan, spicy chicken vindaloo, saag paneer (check out those cheesy chunks!), chana marsala and mint chutney, over basmati rice. So yum, y'all. My first plate looked essentially the same but with the other chicken varieties which were good, but I liked VINDALOO HEAT, SON! (that sounds like a racist hipster band name). Lars tried the lamb and said it had a great flavor and texture.
We both finished up with Kheer (sweet rice pudding with raisins/spices/nuts) which was also featured on the buffet. It was a little mushy, but the flavors were there. Another con of buffet style serving. We gulped down a sh*t ton of water because 1.) the food was spicy and 2.) the waiter was like OCD about making sure our cups were full. (Sidenote: I love the metal cups that they use at Indian restaurants? Is that an overstock warehouse that has these? WHERE CAN I FIND THEM FOR MINE OWN!?) Oh well, I'm not complaining. The service here is always great, and for the price you really cannot beat it. On the way out, I knocked over a full glass of water because as Lars says, "I have no spatial awareness". The servers just laughed at me. I tried to help clean it up, but they wouldn't let me.
This place gets you in and out, gives you tons of water and will have you full for the rest of the day. I made a smoothie for dinner because I was still pretty satisfied from lunch. And the best part, it's only $10 for all-you-can eat! SO AWESOME.
THE DAMAGE: $13 per person (with tax and tip)
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Cheap Eats - Corner Bistro
Lars and myself made plans to see a foreign film at IFC Center on Saturday night, and despite the fact that he kept saying things like, "You're going to hate it," and "It's not going to have a narrative so you're probably not going to care," I committed anyway. I rarely go out in the West Village, so I figured it would be a good opportunity to finally check out that theatre, and hey, guess what Lars? Despite your initial thoughts, I actually LIKED Holy Motors. (Me both enthralled and confused below).
(Okay to be honest, I had no idea what the eff was going on but I'm still thinking about it today, so that has to count for something. There was one actor who played the majority of the characters in the movie. He engaged in a scene where he gets into a sexual situation with a contortionist in a CGI suit, then for some reason animated aliens boned, this was then followed up by some kind of leprechaun man character that steals Eva Mendes from a fashion shoot, like straight up hauls her away on his back, then she sings to him in a cave? So much crazy stuff went down . . . Anyone who says they know what this movie is about is full of sh*t . . .)
But that's not why you're here. We can talk about French cinema forever, but I would rather talk French fries, and badass burgers, because that's what's going down at the legendary Corner Bistro located on the corner of Jane and West 4th St. I originally heard about this place from some friends, then saw the sloppy burger featured on Food Network's Best Thing I Ever Ate. This place doesn't usually steer me wrong, so I gave it a try a couple winters ago. This was actually my third time at Corner Bistro, but I was very excited to introduce Lars, who was intrigued to say the least. (See Lars being intrigued below).
Corner Bistro has been in the same location since the beginning of the 20th Century, and they claim that the interior is remains mostly unchanged. I love the hustle of this place. Walk inside, get in line for a table, grab a couple of $3 McSorley's darks to slug during the wait, and then salivate before ordering one of the best burgers you can get in NYC. When you approach the front of the line (you should be slobbering at this point) the waiter will come get you and lead you to the next open table. Try to sit in the back, as you'll have a little more room to hang back. It tends to get a little busy near the bar. But at the same time, eff it, take what you can get. This place gets PACKED.
There's not much of a menu here, but it doesn't matter, because you're going to order the Bistro Burger and a side of fries. Period. Just don't bother messing with perfection. It's a half pound burger with classic American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle on a crispy toasted bun. Do yourself a favor and request a side of mayo. It's perfection with the Dijon mustard you'll find on every table. And that's what we did - two Bistro Burgers, with a side of fries (I hear they cook these in bacon fat) and then we ordered another three rounds of McSorley's dark to wash it all down. The fries are not all that special, but I will say they are salty and complement the burger just fine. It's not that their is anything unique about the burger. It's pretty basic, but it's just really effin' good. Perfect level of salt and fat. It's so juicy, and so addicting. I guarantee you'll gobble it down and want another one despite the fact that you're already stuffed.
If you're a big stupid idiot, and you decide to pass up the Bistro Burger (burger blasphemy!) they also offer a grilled chicken sandwich, grilled cheese or chili, but really, why would you do that? Just don't. You come to Corner Bistro because you want a damn good burger, some old school beer and a taste of history. And you also know you're getting a damn good deal. Don't forget - It's cash only!
THE DAMAGE: $24.00 per person (including tax + tip) And this was with six beers y'all.
(Okay to be honest, I had no idea what the eff was going on but I'm still thinking about it today, so that has to count for something. There was one actor who played the majority of the characters in the movie. He engaged in a scene where he gets into a sexual situation with a contortionist in a CGI suit, then for some reason animated aliens boned, this was then followed up by some kind of leprechaun man character that steals Eva Mendes from a fashion shoot, like straight up hauls her away on his back, then she sings to him in a cave? So much crazy stuff went down . . . Anyone who says they know what this movie is about is full of sh*t . . .)
But that's not why you're here. We can talk about French cinema forever, but I would rather talk French fries, and badass burgers, because that's what's going down at the legendary Corner Bistro located on the corner of Jane and West 4th St. I originally heard about this place from some friends, then saw the sloppy burger featured on Food Network's Best Thing I Ever Ate. This place doesn't usually steer me wrong, so I gave it a try a couple winters ago. This was actually my third time at Corner Bistro, but I was very excited to introduce Lars, who was intrigued to say the least. (See Lars being intrigued below).
Corner Bistro has been in the same location since the beginning of the 20th Century, and they claim that the interior is remains mostly unchanged. I love the hustle of this place. Walk inside, get in line for a table, grab a couple of $3 McSorley's darks to slug during the wait, and then salivate before ordering one of the best burgers you can get in NYC. When you approach the front of the line (you should be slobbering at this point) the waiter will come get you and lead you to the next open table. Try to sit in the back, as you'll have a little more room to hang back. It tends to get a little busy near the bar. But at the same time, eff it, take what you can get. This place gets PACKED.
There's not much of a menu here, but it doesn't matter, because you're going to order the Bistro Burger and a side of fries. Period. Just don't bother messing with perfection. It's a half pound burger with classic American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle on a crispy toasted bun. Do yourself a favor and request a side of mayo. It's perfection with the Dijon mustard you'll find on every table. And that's what we did - two Bistro Burgers, with a side of fries (I hear they cook these in bacon fat) and then we ordered another three rounds of McSorley's dark to wash it all down. The fries are not all that special, but I will say they are salty and complement the burger just fine. It's not that their is anything unique about the burger. It's pretty basic, but it's just really effin' good. Perfect level of salt and fat. It's so juicy, and so addicting. I guarantee you'll gobble it down and want another one despite the fact that you're already stuffed.
If you're a big stupid idiot, and you decide to pass up the Bistro Burger (burger blasphemy!) they also offer a grilled chicken sandwich, grilled cheese or chili, but really, why would you do that? Just don't. You come to Corner Bistro because you want a damn good burger, some old school beer and a taste of history. And you also know you're getting a damn good deal. Don't forget - It's cash only!
THE DAMAGE: $24.00 per person (including tax + tip) And this was with six beers y'all.
Bands to Watch - WALK THE MOON
This weekend has been baller as hell. It started with a great show on Friday night. I went to see Cincinnati rockers Walk the Moon on Friday Night at Music Hall of Williamsburg with my buddy Rachel. These guys took down the effin' house.
Seriously, the energy that they brought to Music Hall of Williamsburg (or Williamshall of Musicburg as I mistakenly called it after a few glasses) was unbelievable. They played through their entire premiere album, I Want! I Want! and went on to introduce us to some of their new tunes off their Tightrope EP. Highlights for me were definitely when they played my new fave song (of the moment) Tightrope (video below) and when they closed out the night with Anna Sun before coming back for a more than generous encore. Below is a little snippet of Tete A Tete. (That awful squaking in the background is my tipsy self trying to sing along to words I barely know. You're welcome.)
I would have loved to hear that tantalizing new cover of Burning Down the House that they released on Spotify, but no worries because me and Rachel just sang it the whole way home. We decided it was our duty to give Brooklyn that performance in lieu of Friday's headliners. I have to say, we put that red wine to good use.
Walk the Moon's sound is so cool and eclectic. So fun without being pretentious. I adore seeing artists who love being on stage (this is a follow-up to my blog from earlier this week). These guys were having so much fun, and Nicholas Petricca (who I've lovingly been referring to as "The Mayor of Bonertown" because dayum he's adorbs) sounds just as good on stage as he does in the studio. Very satisfying . . . VERY SATISFYING! And now I feel like such a dope because I didn't realize that they were from Cincy! Turns out I'd even met some of them back at the Fringe in 2010. Here is my favorite moment of realization:
me: Did you realize you're friends with the singer of Walk the Moon on FB?
11:09 AM Karim: ! He took a clown workshop I taught at fringe. So yeah, that happened, apparently.
Seriously, the energy that they brought to Music Hall of Williamsburg (or Williamshall of Musicburg as I mistakenly called it after a few glasses) was unbelievable. They played through their entire premiere album, I Want! I Want! and went on to introduce us to some of their new tunes off their Tightrope EP. Highlights for me were definitely when they played my new fave song (of the moment) Tightrope (video below) and when they closed out the night with Anna Sun before coming back for a more than generous encore. Below is a little snippet of Tete A Tete. (That awful squaking in the background is my tipsy self trying to sing along to words I barely know. You're welcome.)
I would have loved to hear that tantalizing new cover of Burning Down the House that they released on Spotify, but no worries because me and Rachel just sang it the whole way home. We decided it was our duty to give Brooklyn that performance in lieu of Friday's headliners. I have to say, we put that red wine to good use.
Walk the Moon's sound is so cool and eclectic. So fun without being pretentious. I adore seeing artists who love being on stage (this is a follow-up to my blog from earlier this week). These guys were having so much fun, and Nicholas Petricca (who I've lovingly been referring to as "The Mayor of Bonertown" because dayum he's adorbs) sounds just as good on stage as he does in the studio. Very satisfying . . . VERY SATISFYING! And now I feel like such a dope because I didn't realize that they were from Cincy! Turns out I'd even met some of them back at the Fringe in 2010. Here is my favorite moment of realization:
me: Did you realize you're friends with the singer of Walk the Moon on FB?
10:55 AM God he is so fooiiinnneeeee
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Cheap Eats - One Mile House NYC
Ever since I wandered into One Mile House NYC while waiting for the Moon Taxi show back in December, I have been curious about this place. First of all, how did I not notice that there is a cool pub right next door to Bowery Ballroom? And it's been open almost a year? I guess by the time I reach the front door of the BB I've been pre-gaming elsewhere, and my vision has been too hazy to realize it. Well tonight was different. I was on a mission, and with a Christopher Owens (of Girls fame) show in my future I was ready to grub and booze up before groovin' out to that sultry jazz flute (I snapped a couple of pics at the show which you can check out below).
I didn't have a chance to try the food last time I went to One Mile House NYC, but I was intrigued by their menu which had included playful shared plates like Cheddar Bacon Matzoballs and Buffalo Fried Frogs Legs plus wood-fired pizzas among your typical bar food favorites. That said, when I came back there were no Buffalo Fried Frogs Legs on the menu anymore (Not to mention no Oyster Sliders, no Salt & Vinegar Pork Rinds . . .you guys really need to change your menu online! You had two disappointed ladies in house on Monday night!) BUT it was okay we made do with what we had.
The menu still boasted a few interesting dishes, and HOLY SH*T! CHECK OUT THAT TAP LIST! The beer list alone makes this place worth visiting. Another fun fact: If you use Foursquare on your phone, you can "Check In" and get a free 12 oz. beer of the bartender's choice. This was especially lucky for me on Monday when my friend Rachel decided she was too hungover to drink her freebie. Score 2 free Foursquare beers for me! The one downside is, I have no idea what the beer was! I will tell you it was deliciously hoppy and seemed to have a nice alcohol content because I was feeling good by the time we headed next door for the show.
For food, we settled on the Shortrib Stroganoff Pierogies ($12), a veggie bar pizza pie ($11) and an order of the Mexican flatbread ($9). The portions on these were pretty good for the most part. The Pierogies were a small dish (which was a bummer because they were the best bite of the night), but our waitress thought to warn us about that. We must have looked hella hungry. These were so yummy. The dough to meat ratio was perfect, the outside was just crispy enough without being too greasy, and the Porcini cream and herbs on top were dope as hell. DOOOPE.
I didn't have a chance to try the food last time I went to One Mile House NYC, but I was intrigued by their menu which had included playful shared plates like Cheddar Bacon Matzoballs and Buffalo Fried Frogs Legs plus wood-fired pizzas among your typical bar food favorites. That said, when I came back there were no Buffalo Fried Frogs Legs on the menu anymore (Not to mention no Oyster Sliders, no Salt & Vinegar Pork Rinds . . .you guys really need to change your menu online! You had two disappointed ladies in house on Monday night!) BUT it was okay we made do with what we had.
The menu still boasted a few interesting dishes, and HOLY SH*T! CHECK OUT THAT TAP LIST! The beer list alone makes this place worth visiting. Another fun fact: If you use Foursquare on your phone, you can "Check In" and get a free 12 oz. beer of the bartender's choice. This was especially lucky for me on Monday when my friend Rachel decided she was too hungover to drink her freebie. Score 2 free Foursquare beers for me! The one downside is, I have no idea what the beer was! I will tell you it was deliciously hoppy and seemed to have a nice alcohol content because I was feeling good by the time we headed next door for the show.
Next up was the Bar Pie. I liked this dish fine, though it was definitely not the best pizza I've ever had. This pizza had a nice char on the crust which I appreciated, and the toppings were generous. It featured tomatoes, portabello mushrooms, spinach, ricotta, provolone cheese and cracked black pepper. The portion on this one is awesome for sharing and could have easily been split between three people if you were getting another dish. That said, me and Rach are effin' fatties and left one piece behind (which I considered eating, but opted to be a lady instead.) This pie could have benefited from some spice. It was lacking the heat I wanted, but I think the fresh veggies were awesome and it was a really nice looking pizza, especially for a bar.
The last dish was recommended by our waitress (who's lack of enthusiasm was somehow endearing. No seriously, this chick was like, so chill about everything, that at first I thought she hated her station in life. But then I thought, "Maybe she's just been listening to Tame Impala all day?" She was an enigma, much like the idea of those elusive buffalo fried frogs legs that I would never have a chance to understand. This is just a roundabout way of me saying, we liked our waitress. GREAT JOB!) Personally, I liked this dish okay (Rachel wasn't a fan), but again it needed some oomph. It just wasn't all that special. It was basically a quesadilla with chihuahua cheese, tomatoes, black beans and corn salsa. The crunch on the outside was great, and the chipotle lime sour cream was my JAM. Also, extra points for presentation! It has some seriously awesome notes, but overall, the dish fell a little flat. It's too bad, I really wanted to dig that one.
Overall, it was a fine meal. Nothing too amazing, and nothing too disappointing (other than the lack of the buffalo fried frogs legs - yes, I am bringing it up again). It was definitely way above average for a bar in both the food and atmosphere department, so they should be pleased considering it's their first year in existence. I also noticed that they had a special for a Guiness and 6 oysters on the half shell for $11. This place has potential for greatness, but they just have to up their game a little bit. The deals are pretty good too, and I would definitely consider going back before or after a show at Bowery Ballroom because it's convenient, and the beer selection is insane. Apparently they also have a notable happy hour from 4-7 and 11- Close that offers $4 pints. Worth it. I think this place has a long life ahead.
And as for Christopher Owens, the show was cool. He played all of Lysandre from start to finish, and followed it up with a damn solid cover of Cat Stevens' Wild World. I feel like I got what I wanted from the show but I wouldn't scramble for tickets to see him again in the future. You see, the thing is, I have a real problem with artists who don't act/look at all excited to be practicing their craft for a crowd of screaming fans. Half of his band looked straight up miserable. Look, I know we were on the LES and we're way to cool to geek out about how effin' baller it is that you're headlining Bowery Ballroom, but still, a little enthusiasm goes a long way for me! That said, your new album, Lysandre IS A REVELATION. Just tell those girls on stage to smile once or twice and I'll show you some more love.
THE DAMAGE: $21 dollars per person (including tax + tip) DAMN! That's cheap. The Foursquare Freebies definitely helped in this department!
OTHER DAMAGE:
- Christopher Owens concert ticket $24.97
- Brooklyn IPA at BB - $9.00
- Dead iPhone because after installing FourSquare, my phone notified me every time my friends "Checked In" somewhere for the next two days. (I figured out how to turn it off, but seriously, that is as rapey as it gets.)
- Sinus pressure as a result of having to freeze my balls off while smoking a shitty rolled cigarette that I'm complaining about now even though a stranger was nice enough to give it to me because I'm a TERRIBLE PERSON.
"Bill" by Matvey Ficks
I shot this with some kids from SVA. It's a short film called "Bill" which follows the life of a dollar bill in NYC. I'm only in it for a minute, but it was a cool, little project. Check it out!
Monday, January 21, 2013
2012 POSTAL SERVICE REUNION! THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!
Okay, so this image cryptically appeared on The Postal Service's website this morning, and Billboard.com is claiming that The Postal Service has already been booked for the upcoming Coachella Valley 2013 festival (among other tour dates). Holy crap guys! Is this an official reunion notice for Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello? Does this mean I have a brand new album to cry with in 2013? I sure as hell hope so.
HUGE PEOPLE. THIS IS HUGE. Like if i had a nickel for every time I sobbed uncontrollably in my car while driving home from my ex-boyfriend's house in 2008 while blaring "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight", I'd have two nickels.
Here's to college nostalgia and a promising year for break-ups everywhere!
Cheap Eats - Philly Edition - Effie's BYOB
I will go ahead and admit that moving to Astoria has turned me into a Mediterranean food snob. It comes with the territory of living in the Greek-influenced neighborhood (and the fact that I squat in the basement of an authentically Greek family.) Because of this, I was slightly tentative about trying Effie's in South Philadelphia on Saturday night. The restaurant boasts that it is the only authentically Greek restaurant in Center City, and that the recipes come direct from Effie's family. I must say our group (including fellow Astorians Karim and Carrie) was pleasantly surprised
I hadn't eaten since our morning pig out sesh at Green Eggs Cafe, so 12 hours later, I was ready to violently eat someone's face off (a la Bath Salts). We walked into what seemed like a tiny Greek restaurant, and my heart sank a bit. It was completely packed. "You don't have a reservation?" asked the owner (Effie herself!) who seemed incapable of smiling. Oops. Would we be able to eat, or would be turned back into the street wine bottles clanking, looking for a BYOB establishment that would take us under their wing? This could have turned into a Joseph and Mary at the inn situation (only drunker, and no one was preggers . . . okay, so really it was nothing like that.) "It will be 5 to 10 minutes" she said in a heavy accent. I looked around at the crowded interior, and was skeptical.
We stepped outside for a few, and sure enough, a young bearded dude came valiantly to our rescue (after oddly staring at us for a few minutes through the window in the door). He led us through the room we had already seen, then outside again, and then into another structure that was separate from the restaurant altogether. Where the eff were we? (Sidenote: I later had to use the restroom and was directed upstairs to another dining area floor. The restaurant spanned the interior of an entire house! This was very cool in my book.)
I sat down and yelled "THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING." The exposed brick was a nice touch, and it took away from the fact that we were actually just sitting on metal patio furniture. Some very drunk girls next to us slammed their wine before getting up to leave. "Heeey. Heeeeeeyyyy! Didyagiesjusgetere?" When I responded yes, they handed us the rest of their unfinished double bottle of red wine. I forgot our waiter's name (but it was something super manly and awesome) so I will call him Odysseus for the remainder of this entry. Odysseus returned with some empty water glasses (not wine glasses, but I didn't give a sh*t) and fluffy warm pita that I began to eat ravenously. This dinner was off to a promising start.
Also, I couldn't ignore the fact that the huge group of people behind us were celebrating a 30th birthday.
(Sidenote: We took their cake. This was foiled when one of the men came back to leave a tip on the table and saw us sticking our fingers in the frosting. This was further foiled when the old Greek ladies got effin' pissed that we left with said cake, and in an act of love, we brought it back to them after leaving. They accepted, no questions asked. No cake for us.)
The menu was limited but covered the bases as far as Greek favorite's go. We settled on GDolmades, Spanakopita and a large Greek salad to start. The GDolmades were very well flavored and the grape leaves were tender. I covered mine in lemon juice and went to town. The Greek salad was well portioned and I appreciated the anchovies and peperoncinis that were included in the mix. The Spanakopita was tasty enough, but arrived to us a little cold in the middle. The filo was perfectly crispy though.
Odysseus came back to take the order for our mains. Our choices spanned the menu - Chicken Souvlaki (grilled chicken skewers), Gyro Platter (slices of lamb), Makaronia (pasta with bacon, kessari and keflotari cheese), Grilled Octopus Salad and Shrimp Santorini (shrimp stewed in a garlic tomato sauce with chives). The Chicken Souvlaki and Gyro Platters were well portioned and pretty basic. Nothing too special. I did like the stewed tomatoes and peas that came as the veggie of the day. The Tzatziki was also the consistency that I like (1 point for Effie's).
The Grilled Octopus Salad was probably the most beautiful dish. It had a great char and was cooked quite well. This had a great level of acid as it was accompanied by these tasty little marinated cherry tomatoes. The Shrimp Santorini was probably my favorite dish. These shrimp were well cooked and the sauce was rich without being too salty. I didn't try the Makaronia, but Karim seemed to dig it. The portion size on that one was a little insane though.
I hadn't eaten since our morning pig out sesh at Green Eggs Cafe, so 12 hours later, I was ready to violently eat someone's face off (a la Bath Salts). We walked into what seemed like a tiny Greek restaurant, and my heart sank a bit. It was completely packed. "You don't have a reservation?" asked the owner (Effie herself!) who seemed incapable of smiling. Oops. Would we be able to eat, or would be turned back into the street wine bottles clanking, looking for a BYOB establishment that would take us under their wing? This could have turned into a Joseph and Mary at the inn situation (only drunker, and no one was preggers . . . okay, so really it was nothing like that.) "It will be 5 to 10 minutes" she said in a heavy accent. I looked around at the crowded interior, and was skeptical.
We stepped outside for a few, and sure enough, a young bearded dude came valiantly to our rescue (after oddly staring at us for a few minutes through the window in the door). He led us through the room we had already seen, then outside again, and then into another structure that was separate from the restaurant altogether. Where the eff were we? (Sidenote: I later had to use the restroom and was directed upstairs to another dining area floor. The restaurant spanned the interior of an entire house! This was very cool in my book.)
I sat down and yelled "THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING." The exposed brick was a nice touch, and it took away from the fact that we were actually just sitting on metal patio furniture. Some very drunk girls next to us slammed their wine before getting up to leave. "Heeey. Heeeeeeyyyy! Didyagiesjusgetere?" When I responded yes, they handed us the rest of their unfinished double bottle of red wine. I forgot our waiter's name (but it was something super manly and awesome) so I will call him Odysseus for the remainder of this entry. Odysseus returned with some empty water glasses (not wine glasses, but I didn't give a sh*t) and fluffy warm pita that I began to eat ravenously. This dinner was off to a promising start.
Also, I couldn't ignore the fact that the huge group of people behind us were celebrating a 30th birthday.
(Sidenote: We took their cake. This was foiled when one of the men came back to leave a tip on the table and saw us sticking our fingers in the frosting. This was further foiled when the old Greek ladies got effin' pissed that we left with said cake, and in an act of love, we brought it back to them after leaving. They accepted, no questions asked. No cake for us.)
The menu was limited but covered the bases as far as Greek favorite's go. We settled on GDolmades, Spanakopita and a large Greek salad to start. The GDolmades were very well flavored and the grape leaves were tender. I covered mine in lemon juice and went to town. The Greek salad was well portioned and I appreciated the anchovies and peperoncinis that were included in the mix. The Spanakopita was tasty enough, but arrived to us a little cold in the middle. The filo was perfectly crispy though.
Odysseus came back to take the order for our mains. Our choices spanned the menu - Chicken Souvlaki (grilled chicken skewers), Gyro Platter (slices of lamb), Makaronia (pasta with bacon, kessari and keflotari cheese), Grilled Octopus Salad and Shrimp Santorini (shrimp stewed in a garlic tomato sauce with chives). The Chicken Souvlaki and Gyro Platters were well portioned and pretty basic. Nothing too special. I did like the stewed tomatoes and peas that came as the veggie of the day. The Tzatziki was also the consistency that I like (1 point for Effie's).
The Grilled Octopus Salad was probably the most beautiful dish. It had a great char and was cooked quite well. This had a great level of acid as it was accompanied by these tasty little marinated cherry tomatoes. The Shrimp Santorini was probably my favorite dish. These shrimp were well cooked and the sauce was rich without being too salty. I didn't try the Makaronia, but Karim seemed to dig it. The portion size on that one was a little insane though.
At this point we had gone through about three bottles of wine and it was past closing time so we figured it was time to head out. Overall, the service was friendly. Odysseus never once used his immortal powers to rush us in the least, so that was pretty baller. And the price was effin' right. Man, we gorged ourselves and drank to excess without breaking the bank. That's a win in my book, even if the place isn't Taverna Kyclades (but no place ever is). Overall, a nice BYOB in the South Philly/Center City area that's worth checking out. Not knock your socks off insane, but pretty solid just the same. Hell, I'd go back.
I hope those b*tches enjoyed their cake.
THE DAMAGE: $28 per person including tax/tip. Plus BYOB!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Cheap Eats: Philly Edition - Green Eggs Cafe
One of my favorite things about going to other cities is being reminded that brunch doesn't always have to be a pretentious event. In fact, I'd say at Green Eggs Cafe in Philadelphia, PA, it was a downright pleasant, no-nonsense experience. I've become so used to waiting an hour for a seat at any "farm to table" hotspot in New York, that the measly 20 minutes I waited at this place seemed almost unfair. My main home girl Emily Althaus (who is doing a show called Assistance at The Wilma Theatre) suggested this place after hearing rave reviews from other cast mates and Philly locals. We decided to take the foodie adventure this morning, and man, we totally won brunch. (See Emily winning below.)
The main room of the restaurant was expansive with an industrial inspired feel. You can see the steel beams supporting the structure. You get a clear view of the kitchen while the line cooks are working their magic in the back. And you can judge the waiters who look like they belong in Bushwick until you realize how attentive and enthusiastic they are about the craftsmanship of the menu and the vibe of the space (Toto, we're not in Brooklyn anymore).
We were visited by several of the workers who stopped to chat about the food and the restaurant. The restaurant prides itself on using local ingredients, and many of their herbs and spices are grown in their rooftop garden (watch out Roberta's). Their takeout boxes are 100% biodegradable, and they prohibit the use of any plastic or styrofoam products. Overall, I'd say their mission is pretty clear, and I have seen the light. (See me "seeing the light" below.)
Now, on to the important stuff: THE FOOD. Me and Emily have a ritual of ordering multiple dishes and sharing. We eat like lovers in that sense (#womensthemes). It makes the experience more fun, and you get to try a little bit of everything without feeling like Chris Christie at a CiCi's Pizza (low blow). We ordered "The Kitchen Sink", which was recommended to us by our adorbs scruffy, waiter (who looked like he belonged in an Eels cover band), and one of today's specials, the "Banana Bacon French Toast" (Yep, seriously).
First of all, I want to start by saying that the pictures above should give you an idea of the sheer magnitude of these portions: EFFIN' HUGE. The Kitchen Sink skillet was a frittata gone cray. Absolutely chock full of yummy hunks of green and red bell peppers, yellow onions and russet potatoes and then smothered in Gruyere cheese and sausage gravy, this was a true country dream (see also: Poak Chops). The fluffy buttermilk biscuit on top put it over the edge for me. I'm confident that even my dad couldn't have finished this meal. The dish could have benefited from some salt, but there was Cholula hot sauce on hand, so I give them a pass. Overall, The Kitchen Sink was a balanced dish with enough ingredients to keep the flavors interesting, without being too busy. But seriously, who can eat all of that? That's rigodd*mndiculous.
Next up was the star of the meal, IMHO. Bacon & brown sugar compote, y'all. Need I say more? A big ass smattering of sweet, salty, bacony goodness sat upon the creme brule battered French Toast. Carmelized bananas added a rich sweetness to this already succulent dish. I think the syrup was of a maple/pecan variety. The homemade whipped cream was TOTALLY overkill but TOTALLY appreciated (thank you!). I was amazed at how much I loved this sh*t. I am never one to order a sweet meal in the morning hours (or any hour for that matter, you put pineapple on my pizza, and YOU DIE) but holy crap this was a breakfast miracle. I would shudder to find out what kind of calorie count this thing boasts. BUT THAT ISN'T WHAT WE CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT, IS IT MEGAN? SHUT UP ABOUT IT MEGAN. And I digress . . .
This was one of those restaurants that made me wish I spent more time in Philly so I could go back and try more of the dishes (and try to guess which indy films are the servers' favorites). We were never rushed despite the line of folks waiting to come in and feast on the delightfully unique, sustainable menu items. In one sentence fragment: "Was 'BOUT IT!"
P.S. - The other thing I love about going to other cities is realizing that only in New York do we find it totally reasonable to pay $25 for a single plate of eggs. We're straight up dumb in that sense. But we're pretty and like soooo metropolitan, so eff everyone.
THE DAMAGE:
The main room of the restaurant was expansive with an industrial inspired feel. You can see the steel beams supporting the structure. You get a clear view of the kitchen while the line cooks are working their magic in the back. And you can judge the waiters who look like they belong in Bushwick until you realize how attentive and enthusiastic they are about the craftsmanship of the menu and the vibe of the space (Toto, we're not in Brooklyn anymore).
We were visited by several of the workers who stopped to chat about the food and the restaurant. The restaurant prides itself on using local ingredients, and many of their herbs and spices are grown in their rooftop garden (watch out Roberta's). Their takeout boxes are 100% biodegradable, and they prohibit the use of any plastic or styrofoam products. Overall, I'd say their mission is pretty clear, and I have seen the light. (See me "seeing the light" below.)
Now, on to the important stuff: THE FOOD. Me and Emily have a ritual of ordering multiple dishes and sharing. We eat like lovers in that sense (#womensthemes). It makes the experience more fun, and you get to try a little bit of everything without feeling like Chris Christie at a CiCi's Pizza (low blow). We ordered "The Kitchen Sink", which was recommended to us by our adorbs scruffy, waiter (who looked like he belonged in an Eels cover band), and one of today's specials, the "Banana Bacon French Toast" (Yep, seriously).
First of all, I want to start by saying that the pictures above should give you an idea of the sheer magnitude of these portions: EFFIN' HUGE. The Kitchen Sink skillet was a frittata gone cray. Absolutely chock full of yummy hunks of green and red bell peppers, yellow onions and russet potatoes and then smothered in Gruyere cheese and sausage gravy, this was a true country dream (see also: Poak Chops). The fluffy buttermilk biscuit on top put it over the edge for me. I'm confident that even my dad couldn't have finished this meal. The dish could have benefited from some salt, but there was Cholula hot sauce on hand, so I give them a pass. Overall, The Kitchen Sink was a balanced dish with enough ingredients to keep the flavors interesting, without being too busy. But seriously, who can eat all of that? That's rigodd*mndiculous.
Next up was the star of the meal, IMHO. Bacon & brown sugar compote, y'all. Need I say more? A big ass smattering of sweet, salty, bacony goodness sat upon the creme brule battered French Toast. Carmelized bananas added a rich sweetness to this already succulent dish. I think the syrup was of a maple/pecan variety. The homemade whipped cream was TOTALLY overkill but TOTALLY appreciated (thank you!). I was amazed at how much I loved this sh*t. I am never one to order a sweet meal in the morning hours (or any hour for that matter, you put pineapple on my pizza, and YOU DIE) but holy crap this was a breakfast miracle. I would shudder to find out what kind of calorie count this thing boasts. BUT THAT ISN'T WHAT WE CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT, IS IT MEGAN? SHUT UP ABOUT IT MEGAN. And I digress . . .
This was one of those restaurants that made me wish I spent more time in Philly so I could go back and try more of the dishes (and try to guess which indy films are the servers' favorites). We were never rushed despite the line of folks waiting to come in and feast on the delightfully unique, sustainable menu items. In one sentence fragment: "Was 'BOUT IT!"
P.S. - The other thing I love about going to other cities is realizing that only in New York do we find it totally reasonable to pay $25 for a single plate of eggs. We're straight up dumb in that sense. But we're pretty and like soooo metropolitan, so eff everyone.
THE DAMAGE:
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Cheap Eats - Artichoke Pizza
I know what you're thinking. "WHAT THE EFF? SHE HAS LIVED IN NYC FOR THREE EFFIN' YEARS AND NEVER HAD ARTICHOKE PIZZA?" Look, I'm the worst. Also, I fell pray to the free pizza (albeit sh*tty) across the street at Crocodile Lounge. Well I decided to lose the ol' v-card this past weekend and headed over to Artichoke Pizza on MacDougal in the West Village before heading to the Yelp Elite Holiday Hangover event on the Hudson (yeah, that's right, I'm Elite b*tch).
This place is pretty bare bones. Much smaller than the newly expanded East Village location. I was pleased to see an homage to a holiday favorite before pulling myself up to the pizza window and doing what I came here to do.
I ordered the original artichoke slice, because I pretty much had to. I'm not usually a fan of white pizza, but I wanted to eat this Artichoke Heart (#ThomYorke). The first thing I noticed was the thickness of this pizza. I've gotten so used to the light load of the New York slice. Well this piece was hearty, and I was pretty damn into it.
The level of garlic and salt on their slices was pretty perfect too. I have to say, it was one of the more balanced pieces of pizza I'd had in a while. Overall, a nice bite, especially for the price. I'd like to try one of their more traditional slices. I'm still not sold on the whole white pizza thing, but I'd definitely recommend Artichoke to anyone looking for a quick and tasty nugget of New York in the East or West Village. It was also quite filling, so there's that.
THE DAMAGE: $4.75. It might sound expensive when you can grab a 99 cent slice around the corner, but you get what you pay for, and this place was pretty legit. It's also a staple of Hipster NYC, so just try it already. You're not a real New Yorker until you do. It's true. I heard some guy say that on the street once. He was wearing a Smiths T-Shirt.
This place is pretty bare bones. Much smaller than the newly expanded East Village location. I was pleased to see an homage to a holiday favorite before pulling myself up to the pizza window and doing what I came here to do.
I ordered the original artichoke slice, because I pretty much had to. I'm not usually a fan of white pizza, but I wanted to eat this Artichoke Heart (#ThomYorke). The first thing I noticed was the thickness of this pizza. I've gotten so used to the light load of the New York slice. Well this piece was hearty, and I was pretty damn into it.
The level of garlic and salt on their slices was pretty perfect too. I have to say, it was one of the more balanced pieces of pizza I'd had in a while. Overall, a nice bite, especially for the price. I'd like to try one of their more traditional slices. I'm still not sold on the whole white pizza thing, but I'd definitely recommend Artichoke to anyone looking for a quick and tasty nugget of New York in the East or West Village. It was also quite filling, so there's that.
THE DAMAGE: $4.75. It might sound expensive when you can grab a 99 cent slice around the corner, but you get what you pay for, and this place was pretty legit. It's also a staple of Hipster NYC, so just try it already. You're not a real New Yorker until you do. It's true. I heard some guy say that on the street once. He was wearing a Smiths T-Shirt.
Bear Facts: Baby shower
Here is a sketch that I wrote with my wonderfully talented team, The Mannequin Room. P.S. - It was totally my idea to make the pregnant woman play with raw meat.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Cheap Eats - Mission Chinese
DISCLAIMER: I was pretty damn drunk when I consumed the food at Mission Chinese. I refuse to take full responsibility as this can be 100% attributed to the atmosphere presented by the restaurant. Details to follow.
It's no surprise that Mission Chinese is a hot topic for foodies. With the introduction of a New York location in 2012, people have been excited to finally experience the hyped up cuisine compliments of renowned west coast master Danny Bowien. After gaining quite the reputation on Mission St. in San Francisco, expansion was the next logical step, and oh how thankful I am that the fates have spoken. The result is an authentic, amazing hot spot at 154 Orchard St, right off the 2nd Ave. F stop.
I walked into what looked like any crummy Chinese takeout joint (except for the fact that it WAS PACKED) at approximately 8:10 PM on a Friday evening. "No, we can't take any more names until 9 PM", I was told by a hostess who was sweet but seemed slightly overwhelmed. I walked to Todd's Mill down the block for a glass of wine (P.S. Todd's Mill has a Veal Tongue Burrito so that has been added to the list of places to review, because whoa, WTF. We're doin' it!). At about 8:55 PM I walked out to the street and noticed that a line had formed outside the door leading to Mission Chinese. "Uh, six people? Well that's going to be a while. Maybe someone won't show up?" Not the most promising answer I could have received from the hostess, but I didn't care. I was in for the long haul.
I was now allowed to stand inside, and what a treat this was. FREE BEER TIME! Okay, it was sh*tty keg beer. But it was FREE. Also, the hallway that we waited in was adorned with Pearl Jam and Michael Jordan posters. As I was pumping the keg, filling my little SOLO cup, I almost felt like I was hanging at the Delts house again. Except in this case I didn't have to hang out with any Delts, and this was preferable. (Belvo needs to send me the photo he took of me in front of that Eddie Vedder poster because it's so badass.)
Not gonna lie - we probably waited about an hour and a half in this hallway. Considering the amount of time I had already waited before I could put our names in, this was approximately a 2.5 hour wait for a table. It was Friday, and I had been warned. To aid in killing time there was a very special bathroom surprise (See organic video below). I wasn't bitter. Instead, I was just getting increasingly more excited by the intoxicating smells wafting from the kitchen full of hipster chefs.
And then it was time. "Megan, I can take you guys back." And this was when the real magic happened. What seemed to be an unassuming takeout storefront turned into a hipster style den full of gourmet mystique. At this point I was almost two hours deep in keg beer so it gets a bit blurry, but I can tell you about several of the dishes that stood out like champions in my inebriated brain. Also, the food came out quickly. The iPhone clock don't lie.
The stars in my mind - Salt Cod Fried Rice (perfect level of seasoning, and awesome for cutting the heat. This is Szechuan cooking after all - see also: CRAZY EFFIN' HOT.), Kung Pao Pastrami (savory, salty cubes of the Jewish Deli favorite accompanied by spicy peanuts. So baller!), thrice cooked bacon (the best dish of the night. Spicy, smokey bacon accompanied by the chewiest rice cakes I've ever had. Delicious sauce, daring heat. A must for any adventurous pork lover. Photo below.) The Ma Po Tofu was so awesomely spicy. The peppercorns in this achieved that numbing feeling that I crave so desperately when nomnoming on this type of cuisine. This one sealed the deal for me. I was in love. We ordered some tasty greens as well, because you need the veg. Not super memorable, but at the point I don't know that memory was even in play, so there it is.
We also ordered some kind of vinegar peanut which was worth trying if it's your first time there, but not my favorite bite of the night. The one dish I absolutely would not recommend was the pig ear terrine (photo below). Though beautiful to the eye, I did not enjoy the flavor or texture. Then again, maybe I'm just not a terrine girl. It wasn't awful; I just didn't care for it and would rather fill my mouth with more of that thrice cooked bacon.
This place offered me a reminder of why New York is so effin' awesome. Only in NYC can you attend a restaurant that rocks the atmosphere and also has insanely unique food to back it up. I am thrilled to have had this experience. Three days later, I cannot stop talking about this place. I am already eager to share this with my friends, particularly the out-of-towners. This is one of those game changers. Everyone should try Mission Chinese. And believe me when I say, IT'S WORTH THE WAIT. I have smiles to prove it. (See photo below.)
You guys aren't going to believe this. Zagat named this one of the top 10 restaurants in the world in 2012.
THE DAMAGE: $30.00 per person including tax and tip. (+ FREE BEEEEEER).
Other damage: I walked to UCB East and creepily stood in a corner and texted when I didn't see anyone that I recognized. After that, I took a cab to Brooklyn instead of going home to Queens ($14.90). I bought a PBR tallboy at a bodega ($1.50) which I took about three sips of before falling asleep at my friend Rachel's place. That was a weird choice. #noregrets
It's no surprise that Mission Chinese is a hot topic for foodies. With the introduction of a New York location in 2012, people have been excited to finally experience the hyped up cuisine compliments of renowned west coast master Danny Bowien. After gaining quite the reputation on Mission St. in San Francisco, expansion was the next logical step, and oh how thankful I am that the fates have spoken. The result is an authentic, amazing hot spot at 154 Orchard St, right off the 2nd Ave. F stop.
I walked into what looked like any crummy Chinese takeout joint (except for the fact that it WAS PACKED) at approximately 8:10 PM on a Friday evening. "No, we can't take any more names until 9 PM", I was told by a hostess who was sweet but seemed slightly overwhelmed. I walked to Todd's Mill down the block for a glass of wine (P.S. Todd's Mill has a Veal Tongue Burrito so that has been added to the list of places to review, because whoa, WTF. We're doin' it!). At about 8:55 PM I walked out to the street and noticed that a line had formed outside the door leading to Mission Chinese. "Uh, six people? Well that's going to be a while. Maybe someone won't show up?" Not the most promising answer I could have received from the hostess, but I didn't care. I was in for the long haul.
I was now allowed to stand inside, and what a treat this was. FREE BEER TIME! Okay, it was sh*tty keg beer. But it was FREE. Also, the hallway that we waited in was adorned with Pearl Jam and Michael Jordan posters. As I was pumping the keg, filling my little SOLO cup, I almost felt like I was hanging at the Delts house again. Except in this case I didn't have to hang out with any Delts, and this was preferable. (Belvo needs to send me the photo he took of me in front of that Eddie Vedder poster because it's so badass.)
Not gonna lie - we probably waited about an hour and a half in this hallway. Considering the amount of time I had already waited before I could put our names in, this was approximately a 2.5 hour wait for a table. It was Friday, and I had been warned. To aid in killing time there was a very special bathroom surprise (See organic video below). I wasn't bitter. Instead, I was just getting increasingly more excited by the intoxicating smells wafting from the kitchen full of hipster chefs.
And then it was time. "Megan, I can take you guys back." And this was when the real magic happened. What seemed to be an unassuming takeout storefront turned into a hipster style den full of gourmet mystique. At this point I was almost two hours deep in keg beer so it gets a bit blurry, but I can tell you about several of the dishes that stood out like champions in my inebriated brain. Also, the food came out quickly. The iPhone clock don't lie.
The stars in my mind - Salt Cod Fried Rice (perfect level of seasoning, and awesome for cutting the heat. This is Szechuan cooking after all - see also: CRAZY EFFIN' HOT.), Kung Pao Pastrami (savory, salty cubes of the Jewish Deli favorite accompanied by spicy peanuts. So baller!), thrice cooked bacon (the best dish of the night. Spicy, smokey bacon accompanied by the chewiest rice cakes I've ever had. Delicious sauce, daring heat. A must for any adventurous pork lover. Photo below.) The Ma Po Tofu was so awesomely spicy. The peppercorns in this achieved that numbing feeling that I crave so desperately when nomnoming on this type of cuisine. This one sealed the deal for me. I was in love. We ordered some tasty greens as well, because you need the veg. Not super memorable, but at the point I don't know that memory was even in play, so there it is.
We also ordered some kind of vinegar peanut which was worth trying if it's your first time there, but not my favorite bite of the night. The one dish I absolutely would not recommend was the pig ear terrine (photo below). Though beautiful to the eye, I did not enjoy the flavor or texture. Then again, maybe I'm just not a terrine girl. It wasn't awful; I just didn't care for it and would rather fill my mouth with more of that thrice cooked bacon.
This place offered me a reminder of why New York is so effin' awesome. Only in NYC can you attend a restaurant that rocks the atmosphere and also has insanely unique food to back it up. I am thrilled to have had this experience. Three days later, I cannot stop talking about this place. I am already eager to share this with my friends, particularly the out-of-towners. This is one of those game changers. Everyone should try Mission Chinese. And believe me when I say, IT'S WORTH THE WAIT. I have smiles to prove it. (See photo below.)
You guys aren't going to believe this. Zagat named this one of the top 10 restaurants in the world in 2012.
THE DAMAGE: $30.00 per person including tax and tip. (+ FREE BEEEEEER).
Other damage: I walked to UCB East and creepily stood in a corner and texted when I didn't see anyone that I recognized. After that, I took a cab to Brooklyn instead of going home to Queens ($14.90). I bought a PBR tallboy at a bodega ($1.50) which I took about three sips of before falling asleep at my friend Rachel's place. That was a weird choice. #noregrets
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A Boombastic Gluten Free Italian Bake Recipe!
Tonight is probably the first time I've been alone in over three months . . . AND IT'S EFFIN' AMAZING. As much as I love having my Lars to come home to, I've got to get some me time every once in awhile. TONIGHT IS ALL ABOUT ME. After work, I scurried off to Anthea Yoga and Healing Center, and had an AMAZING class with Melissa. In fact, I was the only one there tonight so I got a private session. It was so relaxing, and I even got into a headstand (against the wall, but still that's not bad!) And just so you know - they are running a special until the 15th - 10 class card for only $69!
Then I got home and started making my dinner. I picked up some cabbage and Swiss chard from the produce stand last night, and I knew these would make the perfect base for my Italian inspired bake. Seriously, who needs pasta when you have this stuff! This is a great alternative if you're looking to cut out gluten, or up your green intake. I MADE THIS RECIPE UP OUT OF MY BRAIN BITCHES. Recipe below:
Ingredients:
1 small green cabbage (about one lb)
3 cups chopped Swiss chard leaves
1 large yellow onion
1 large green pepper
1 8 oz pack of sliced baby portobello mushrooms
4 cloves of fresh garlic
1 1/2 cups part skim ricotta cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/4 Parmesan cheese
12 oz. tomato pasta sauce of your choice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tsp red chili flakes
Pinch of Italian seasoning
Salt and Pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Start by chopping the onion, green pepper, and garlic. Add to a saute pan with the olive oil and cook until onions start to become tender. Add the red chili flakes, Italian seasoning and mushrooms, and continue to cook until onions are translucent. Add the pasta sauce to the vegetables and simmer on low. Add salt and pepper to taste (you won't need much if you use a prepared pasta sauce). Meanwhile, coarsely chop the cabbage and Swiss chard leaves. Throw away the cabbage core. Place the cabbage and Swiss Chard into a glass baking dish. Pour the sauce mixture over the cabbage and Swiss Chard. Add the ricotta cheese and half of the Parmesan. Mix everything together in the dish until the cabbage and chard are covered in sauce and ricotta. Flatten the mixture with a spoon, and sprinkle the top of the dish with mozzarella and the remaining Parmesan.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until cabbage is tender but still has a little bite to it. For a crunchy topping, put the dish in the broiler for an additional 3-5 minutes.
It's ballin', and the best part, GLUTEN FREE! If you're avoiding wheat this is a great alternative that's still super hearty and similar to a pasta bake. You may want to add ground meat to the sauce as well. I found that the mushrooms were enough for me. NOTE: It does get a little watery because of the moisture the greens release. Try not to add too much sauce the casserole for this reason.
Then I got home and started making my dinner. I picked up some cabbage and Swiss chard from the produce stand last night, and I knew these would make the perfect base for my Italian inspired bake. Seriously, who needs pasta when you have this stuff! This is a great alternative if you're looking to cut out gluten, or up your green intake. I MADE THIS RECIPE UP OUT OF MY BRAIN BITCHES. Recipe below:
Ingredients:
1 small green cabbage (about one lb)
3 cups chopped Swiss chard leaves
1 large yellow onion
1 large green pepper
1 8 oz pack of sliced baby portobello mushrooms
4 cloves of fresh garlic
1 1/2 cups part skim ricotta cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/4 Parmesan cheese
12 oz. tomato pasta sauce of your choice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tsp red chili flakes
Pinch of Italian seasoning
Salt and Pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Start by chopping the onion, green pepper, and garlic. Add to a saute pan with the olive oil and cook until onions start to become tender. Add the red chili flakes, Italian seasoning and mushrooms, and continue to cook until onions are translucent. Add the pasta sauce to the vegetables and simmer on low. Add salt and pepper to taste (you won't need much if you use a prepared pasta sauce). Meanwhile, coarsely chop the cabbage and Swiss chard leaves. Throw away the cabbage core. Place the cabbage and Swiss Chard into a glass baking dish. Pour the sauce mixture over the cabbage and Swiss Chard. Add the ricotta cheese and half of the Parmesan. Mix everything together in the dish until the cabbage and chard are covered in sauce and ricotta. Flatten the mixture with a spoon, and sprinkle the top of the dish with mozzarella and the remaining Parmesan.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until cabbage is tender but still has a little bite to it. For a crunchy topping, put the dish in the broiler for an additional 3-5 minutes.
It's ballin', and the best part, GLUTEN FREE! If you're avoiding wheat this is a great alternative that's still super hearty and similar to a pasta bake. You may want to add ground meat to the sauce as well. I found that the mushrooms were enough for me. NOTE: It does get a little watery because of the moisture the greens release. Try not to add too much sauce the casserole for this reason.
Monday, January 7, 2013
A Slammin' Butternut Squash Mac N' Cheese Recipe
On Saturday, I may have been the biggest boozer, but last night was the season premiere of The Biggest Loser on NBC. Lars and I have been so stoked for this. Like seriously we believe we just function better as a unit when this show is on the air. Guys, Jillian Michaels is back and she is already being a total b*tch. And oh DAYUM, there's another two hour episode tonight. I AM IN "PEOPLE FALLING OFF OF TREADMILLS" HEAVEN!
We had our friends Carrie and Karim over to watch, and I decided to bake up my own healthy take on an otherwise indulgent dinner. Now as much as I love ordering a greasy pizza and nomnoming while the people on TV throw up in buckets, I decided I'd take the cue and try to cook on the lighter side. I settled on a butternut squash macaroni and cheese recipe. I had tried something similar before but this time I used a few personal twists. I omitted the bacon (Carrie's a veggie after all) and decided to throw in chives instead. The end result: F-yeah, that's some tasty Mac. Pics and recipe below!
Megan's Butternut Squash Mac N' Cheese
Ingredients:
1 small butternut squash (about 1.5 lbs after seeded and skinned)
1 box of 100% Whole Grain Rotini
1/2 Cup Part-Skim Ricotta Cheese
1/2 Cup Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
3/4 Cup Mild Cheddar Cheese
4 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese
1/4 Cup Bread Crumbs
1 Cup Vegetable or Chicken Broth
1 1/2 Cups Skim Milk
1 medium yellow onion
4 cloves of fresh garlic
1/2 cup diced chives/green onion
1 tbsp olive oil
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
Salt and Pepper to taste
Preheat over to 375 degrees F. Cut the butternut squash in half long ways and scoop out the seeds. Next use a potato peeler or paring knife to remove the skin on the outside. Cut the butternut squash into one inch cubes and place in a saucepan with the skim milk and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer until squash is tender and can be mashed easily with a fork (about 10-12 minutes).
While the squash is cooking, bring a large pot of water with salt to a boil. Place entire box of whole grain rotini into the pot and cook for 13-15 minutes or until desired tenderness. When cooked, drain then transfer to glass cooking dish. At the same time, dice the yellow onion and finely chop the garlic. Cook in a small pan with olive oil until onions are soft and translucent. When finished, transfer to the same glass baking dish.
Chop the green onions and place to the side.
When squash has finished cooking turn off the heat and then mash the mixture with a fork until you get the desired texture. I like mine a little chunky so you can really see the bits of butternut squash. Add the mozzarella cheese and stir until smooth. Add cayenne, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Transfer mixture to the glass baking dish.
Now you will mix the ingredients together in the glass baking dish and add the ricotta, chives, and some of the Parmesan and cheddar. Reserve enough of the cheddar and Parmesan to sprinkle on top of the pasta. Sprinkle the top of the pasta with bread crumbs, then cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes. You may want to put the dish in the broiler for an additional 3 minutes to achieve a crunchy brown topping.
Remove glass dish from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes, then DIG IN! This recipe is a great alternative because it skips the butter and uses the butternut squash as a base in lieu of flour and other heavy cheeses. It's also a great way to sneak veggies into a hearty meal. NOM NOM NOM NOM.
We had our friends Carrie and Karim over to watch, and I decided to bake up my own healthy take on an otherwise indulgent dinner. Now as much as I love ordering a greasy pizza and nomnoming while the people on TV throw up in buckets, I decided I'd take the cue and try to cook on the lighter side. I settled on a butternut squash macaroni and cheese recipe. I had tried something similar before but this time I used a few personal twists. I omitted the bacon (Carrie's a veggie after all) and decided to throw in chives instead. The end result: F-yeah, that's some tasty Mac. Pics and recipe below!
Megan's Butternut Squash Mac N' Cheese
Ingredients:
1 small butternut squash (about 1.5 lbs after seeded and skinned)
1 box of 100% Whole Grain Rotini
1/2 Cup Part-Skim Ricotta Cheese
1/2 Cup Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
3/4 Cup Mild Cheddar Cheese
4 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese
1/4 Cup Bread Crumbs
1 Cup Vegetable or Chicken Broth
1 1/2 Cups Skim Milk
1 medium yellow onion
4 cloves of fresh garlic
1/2 cup diced chives/green onion
1 tbsp olive oil
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
Salt and Pepper to taste
Preheat over to 375 degrees F. Cut the butternut squash in half long ways and scoop out the seeds. Next use a potato peeler or paring knife to remove the skin on the outside. Cut the butternut squash into one inch cubes and place in a saucepan with the skim milk and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer until squash is tender and can be mashed easily with a fork (about 10-12 minutes).
While the squash is cooking, bring a large pot of water with salt to a boil. Place entire box of whole grain rotini into the pot and cook for 13-15 minutes or until desired tenderness. When cooked, drain then transfer to glass cooking dish. At the same time, dice the yellow onion and finely chop the garlic. Cook in a small pan with olive oil until onions are soft and translucent. When finished, transfer to the same glass baking dish.
Chop the green onions and place to the side.
When squash has finished cooking turn off the heat and then mash the mixture with a fork until you get the desired texture. I like mine a little chunky so you can really see the bits of butternut squash. Add the mozzarella cheese and stir until smooth. Add cayenne, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Transfer mixture to the glass baking dish.
Now you will mix the ingredients together in the glass baking dish and add the ricotta, chives, and some of the Parmesan and cheddar. Reserve enough of the cheddar and Parmesan to sprinkle on top of the pasta. Sprinkle the top of the pasta with bread crumbs, then cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes. You may want to put the dish in the broiler for an additional 3 minutes to achieve a crunchy brown topping.
Remove glass dish from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes, then DIG IN! This recipe is a great alternative because it skips the butter and uses the butternut squash as a base in lieu of flour and other heavy cheeses. It's also a great way to sneak veggies into a hearty meal. NOM NOM NOM NOM.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Cheap Eats - Karczma
Last night proved to be another cultural adventure that fits in perfectly for my Cheap Eats series, and holy sh*t was it dope. I decided to venture out to Greenpoint to meet my friend Sean for dinner at the local Polish joint, Karczma. We've been talking about getting together forever, but you know how it goes in New York. Brooklynites and Queenspeeps are WORLDS apart, or at least it feels that way the most of the time. Well, I wasn't going to let the boroughs of our fates keep up apart any longer. I headed toward the dreaded G train, determined to make it happen.
We arrived at Karczma which is conveniently located right off of the Greenpoint G stop on Greepoint Ave. As soon as we stepped in, I totally dug the vibe. The interior has large wooden tables and other rustic features. It's made to look like the inside of a Polish farmhouse complete with a watering well. All of the waitresses were in traditional Polish wear, eastern European beer on tap, it was meat and potato time, fools.
We were told there would be a 25 minute wait (this place was packed at 7:30 on a Saturday night) so we grabbed two stools at the bar and ordered a couple of Heffeweizens. Wait, are you serious? The half liter beers are only $5.50? This had cray written all over it.
We were seated soon after and began to peruse the menu. The first thing I noticed is that the prices were VERY reasonable, cheap even. Some of the specials were in the $15-$20 range but all of the platters and sandwiches were $12 and under, and judging by the portions I saw on other eaters' plates, this was going to be a full on feedbag situation.
I started with the "Pickle Soup" for $3.50. I knew it would be too much food for me to eat with everything else I was ordering, but I just had to try it. I LOVE PICKLES, and this was in SOUP FORM? WTF. This came out in probably two minutes, and the bowl was huge! It was hot, creamy and whoa, it really tasted a hell of a lot like pickles. I couldn't tell if there were actual pickles in the broth but I could see all of the dill and pickling spices. It was so sour and salty. I could eat this stuff everyday. And I mean that.
Both Sean and I decided to order the Plate of Polish Specialties ($11.50). I figured this would give me a good overview of traditional Polish fare. I was delighted to read the list and realize that many of the foods were ones that I used to eat at home all of the time as a kid. I'm sure this comes from the Italian side of my family where my Nona was huge on making European style dishes. The plates included a piece of kielbasa (a smokey, cured sausage grilled to perfection), two big fried potato pancakes, three pierogies (chewy dough pockets filled with meat/cheese/mushrooms then lightly fried on the outside), hunter's stew (a thick, savory beef and cabbage stew) and a big cabbage leaf stuff with ground pork, rice and spices topped with tomato and basil sauce (tasty, but still not as good as my Dad's). Wow, though. Everything was absolutely delicious. So hot and filling - really perfect for a cold winter night. I had to box up most of the stuffed cabbage and the potato pancakes as I was stuffed. I also had to leave room for a few more of those brewskis.
Other notable events of the night - I went outside to bum a cigarette at the bar across the street. A Polish man named Muirek handed me a cigarette then attempted to kiss me on the lips and give me a $20. I refused the money and he told me he was in love with me. Later during my dinner he wandered in and saw me with Sean. This must have upset him as he flipped him the bird and then stormed out of the restaurant. Laughter ensues. I am a heart breaker. Sean was confused.
After several more beers - it was time to go (and hit up The Mark Bar where we would start an Earth, Wind and Fire dance party. Did I dance on a Ski Ball Machine? Yes. Can you blame me? No.) I would definitely come back. It was well worth the money and Lars was thrilled to eat my leftovers. He said "WOW. YOU HAVE TO TAKE ME THERE!" and take him there I shall. Until next time, Karczma.
And oh yeah - THE DAMAGE:
We arrived at Karczma which is conveniently located right off of the Greenpoint G stop on Greepoint Ave. As soon as we stepped in, I totally dug the vibe. The interior has large wooden tables and other rustic features. It's made to look like the inside of a Polish farmhouse complete with a watering well. All of the waitresses were in traditional Polish wear, eastern European beer on tap, it was meat and potato time, fools.
We were told there would be a 25 minute wait (this place was packed at 7:30 on a Saturday night) so we grabbed two stools at the bar and ordered a couple of Heffeweizens. Wait, are you serious? The half liter beers are only $5.50? This had cray written all over it.
We were seated soon after and began to peruse the menu. The first thing I noticed is that the prices were VERY reasonable, cheap even. Some of the specials were in the $15-$20 range but all of the platters and sandwiches were $12 and under, and judging by the portions I saw on other eaters' plates, this was going to be a full on feedbag situation.
I started with the "Pickle Soup" for $3.50. I knew it would be too much food for me to eat with everything else I was ordering, but I just had to try it. I LOVE PICKLES, and this was in SOUP FORM? WTF. This came out in probably two minutes, and the bowl was huge! It was hot, creamy and whoa, it really tasted a hell of a lot like pickles. I couldn't tell if there were actual pickles in the broth but I could see all of the dill and pickling spices. It was so sour and salty. I could eat this stuff everyday. And I mean that.
Both Sean and I decided to order the Plate of Polish Specialties ($11.50). I figured this would give me a good overview of traditional Polish fare. I was delighted to read the list and realize that many of the foods were ones that I used to eat at home all of the time as a kid. I'm sure this comes from the Italian side of my family where my Nona was huge on making European style dishes. The plates included a piece of kielbasa (a smokey, cured sausage grilled to perfection), two big fried potato pancakes, three pierogies (chewy dough pockets filled with meat/cheese/mushrooms then lightly fried on the outside), hunter's stew (a thick, savory beef and cabbage stew) and a big cabbage leaf stuff with ground pork, rice and spices topped with tomato and basil sauce (tasty, but still not as good as my Dad's). Wow, though. Everything was absolutely delicious. So hot and filling - really perfect for a cold winter night. I had to box up most of the stuffed cabbage and the potato pancakes as I was stuffed. I also had to leave room for a few more of those brewskis.
Other notable events of the night - I went outside to bum a cigarette at the bar across the street. A Polish man named Muirek handed me a cigarette then attempted to kiss me on the lips and give me a $20. I refused the money and he told me he was in love with me. Later during my dinner he wandered in and saw me with Sean. This must have upset him as he flipped him the bird and then stormed out of the restaurant. Laughter ensues. I am a heart breaker. Sean was confused.
After several more beers - it was time to go (and hit up The Mark Bar where we would start an Earth, Wind and Fire dance party. Did I dance on a Ski Ball Machine? Yes. Can you blame me? No.) I would definitely come back. It was well worth the money and Lars was thrilled to eat my leftovers. He said "WOW. YOU HAVE TO TAKE ME THERE!" and take him there I shall. Until next time, Karczma.
And oh yeah - THE DAMAGE:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)