thesu's Profile
Best Dominican food in Washington Heights? Is Malecon it?
I ordered two mofongos for delivery, and unfortunately they were dry, hard, stringy, and flavorless. They also took an hour to arrive, and I live 15 blocks away. Perhaps their other dishes are good, but I won't be ordering from them again.
Zabar's muffins-surprisingly good
Today I went through the mad rush at Zabar's, as they put all their muffins on sale. I previously had the babka muffin, which was horribly dry. But today I bought the cinnamon, which was surprisingly good. Tender, moist, lots of swirls. Does anyone know if Zabar's makes the majority of their muffins themselves or source it elsewhere? The muffin paper had a swirly design, like this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elisavolpato/5151427816/ I feel like I've seen it before, but I can't place it.
Best Bubble Tea (aka Boba/Pearl/Tapioca Tea)
It's a little pricier, but the bubble tea at Spot Dessert Bar is the best I've had in the city. I just had a black milk tea and there was something about it... I think it's $2 or $3 more than T-Kettle (which I still like).
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Spot Dessert Bar
13 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003
Inexpensive near UN/Grand Central?
I'm meeting three people for dinner near the United Nations. Do you have suggestions for places that are $10/entree, not a dive, and conducive to conversation (so the Grand Central food court probably isn't a good idea)? Any cuisine except Indian is fine. Was thinking about Previti Pizza, but maybe that's a little too casual. Nations Cafe is affordable but I think the food's mediocre.
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Nations Cafe
875 1st Ave, New York, NY 10017
Previti Pizza
122 E 41st St, New York, NY 10165
Colicchio and Sons
Haw anyone gone for brunch? Serious Eats liked it, but http://seouldiva.com/2010/03/18/grub-colicchio-sons-brunch-please-pack-your-knives-and-go/ gave it a bad review.
Reasonably priced near Penn Station, not Korean
I'm in Penn Station a lot and am looking for dinner places within walking distance. Ideally, entrees are $10-15/person, and it's quiet enough for a casual conversation. I've gone to Koreatown many times and would like to try something new. Thank you!
Undecorated gingerbread men -- where to buy?
I'm going to a holiday party and think it'll be fun for everyone to decorate their own cookies. Where can I buy BLANK gingerbread men for a reasonable price, preferably in midtown or the west side? I don't have time to make them. Thanks.
Chocolate "Cigar" Pastries-Where to Find
I like the cigars from the Roxy Deli on Broadway/47 St.
bryant park workday lunch ideas
Second Zaiya and Maoz. Times Square Hot Bagels have my favorite CC cookies. Photos and more info here: http://www.sugoodsweets.com/blog/2009/06/best-chocolate-chip-cookies-in-new-york. iFat, how'd you hear about them? I've been hawking them on Chowhound for years! Also good: Trini-Pak cart on 43 St./6 Ave.
Looking for Crema di Gianduja
My favorite by far is Pralus, found at Murray's Cheese in the W Village. Intense hazelnut flavor paired with one of the best chocolates in the world. They run out quickly though.
Where's a Piemontese supermarket? Crema Novi sounds like a good buy.
Best donut in Manhattan?
Bomboloni at Caffe Falai. The chocolate filling is almost like ganache. Half the doughnut is filling. So rich but so good.
Jacques Torres ice cream-how is it?
So the JT on Hudson St. now has an ice cream stand. How is it? Is it worth the trip? The flavors are pretty standard (chocolate, vanilla, etc.), but I don't mind if it's done well.
Where can I find sweet rice flour?
Dynasty at Elizabeth and Hester (though it might be a Hong Kong supermarket), Kam Man Food on Canal, by Taipan. Any Asian supermarket, such as M2M and probably Yagura on 41 St. between 5th and Mad.
Where to buy fancy "Nutella?"
Oh yeah, when I went to France I made sure to pick up a giant jar. I like how it's not as sweet, and there's no palm oil/hydrogenated fat. That Italian store in Chelsea Market also imports it, but I'm looking for something really over the top.
Where to buy fancy "Nutella?"
That site also has $70 panettone, $15 San Marzano tomatoes, and $7 pasta (all of which I are worth it according to this article: http://www.gourmet.com/food/2009/01/cooking-with-expensive-ingredients).
Forgot about Le Pain Quotidien. Their spread is very good, but I can make something very similar at home.
Where to buy fancy "Nutella?"
I love Nutella, but I'm looking for something more intense, with high-end chocolate and good hazelnuts. Something that's not overwhelmingly sweet. I've tried Rapunzel's Choconut and think it's okay.
I believe Food Emporium by E. 68 St. has Venchi chocolate-hazelnut spread in their chocolate department. Anyone tried it? This spread from La Molina (http://www.gustiamo.com/cgi-bin/front_end/prodotto?id=44049) also looks good, but it's $35 a jar!
Where to find feijoa or pineapple guava
I indeed saw it in a tree in my backyard (in CA), but I've also seen it at Fairway on the UWS. Not sure if it's in season yet though.
Shang, in Thompson LES
It is very good. My favorite is the foie gras on scallion pancakes with grape jelly. Tastes like a sophisticated PB&J. There is also also braised pig cheek or something like that--it's very tender and rich.
Momofuku Milk Bar-this ain't no Dairy Barn
I went on Mon. morning to buy breakfast for my co-workers, and I was appalled at the selection. I got more disappointed as I tried to cobble an order.
"Can I buy a loaf of bread?"
"They're not ready yet, but you can buy a slice of cornbread for $7."
"Cinnamon rolls?"
"We're not making those today."
"Egg sandwich?"
"That's not available yet."
I resorted to the volcanos and a couple cookies. They were DELICIOUS, but what a sad selection. I wish they served more breakfast food during breakfast hours.
baked goods taste
I don't think Payard would have used shortening in the first place. I think stuff tastes much better without trans fats. That means bakeries use natural fats like pure vegetable oil or butter. If anything, the trans fat ban would make things taste better.
canelles -- Bordeaux cake
I had Galaxy Desserts' canelles. Not good. They don't have that crusty outside.
canelles -- Bordeaux cake
Bouley Bakery occasionally has them, and they're crusty on the outside, with vanilla flecks inside.
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Bouley Bakery & Market
120 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013
L'Arte Del Gelato (brief report)
There's a stand outside Duane Park Cafe. I tried a sample and it was good but was almost a pool of liquid. Not a good idea to the stand out in the shining sun.
Has anyone seen the new artisan ice cream truck yet?
I agree that the ice cream is too hard. I ate it 99 degree heat, and it didn't melt. I had the chocolate-hazelnut and it just tasted like cream and eggs. A disappointment for me.
Super-firm Tofu trouble...
Nasoya is horrible. Their extra firm is more like soft, and it always tastes stale. Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and Tofu House brand are good.
Throwing my opinion in the FroYo wars
They have Frogurt at Ben and Jerry's in Grand Central and A Zest Cafe on 41 St/7 Ave.
Need a really great bittersweet chocolate ice cream recipe...
Vetter, it's...
Chocolate Sorbet
paraphrased from Pure Dessert by Alice Medrich
1 cup (3.25 oz) cocoa
Scant 1 cup sugar
2 tiny pinches salt
2 cups boiling water
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tbsp rum (optional)
Combine cocoa, sugar, salt in saucepan and whisk in 1/2 cup boiling water to make a thick paste. Add the remaining water. Stir over medium heat just until tiny bubbles form at at the edges of the pan. Don't cook any longer, as the heat can damage the flavor of the cocoa.
Take the mixture off the heat and add the vanilla. Refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hr. Add the rum. Freeze in an ice cream maker. Harden the sorbet in the freezer for at least 3-4 hrs (it is very soft at first).
The flavor is so strong that you can sub half of the water with milk.
Need a really great bittersweet chocolate ice cream recipe...
This recipe doesn't have chocolate in it, but it tastes like it. Alice Medrich's cocoa sorbet in Pure Dessert.
