ineemeeny's Profile
Silver Spring
I second 8407. I've been twice and the food is very good. The duck breast is my favorite dish there, and their duck fat fries are fantastic.
Handmade noodles and fresh tofu
Ah, I've heard of Arirang. I remember bookmarking it over the winter, but never got a chance to go. I'm Korean myself, but still can't imagine what "dough flake" noodles are! Must try. Thanks again!
-----
Arirang
32 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001
Handmade noodles and fresh tofu
Thanks, tazerowe. I don't know why the whole Chinese noodle scene intimidates me, but I'm gonna have to get over it and look for that restaurant.
Handmade noodles and fresh tofu
Thanks, small h! I'll be right near Menchanko Tei this weekend, so that works out perfectly! And I might check out 15 East for their prix-fixe and of course get their fresh tofu. Thanks!
-----
15 East
15 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003
Kimchi in a Jar
As a Korean, I've enjoyed Hmart's "mat kim-chi" (translate: taste kimchi) by a brand called Tobagi. SeriousEats did a taste test, and it is the rightful winner.
http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/03/what-is-the-best-kimchi-brand-korean-cabbage.html
It's the picture on the top left. This is your standard Korean kimchi.
Handmade noodles and fresh tofu
Hello. I absolutely love handmade noodles, and I only have two weeks left here. I've had every kind of handmade noodle I know of, but maybe there's something I'm missing that I should try before I leave!
I've had...
- Soba at Cocoron and SobaKoh
- Udon at Onya
- Ramen at Ippudo and Momofuku Noodle Bar (I'm assuming handmade?)
- Jja jang myun and jjamppong at Hyo Dong Gak
I haven't really ventured much into the Chinese noodle scene (...yet).
Do you know of anything I absolutely should try before I leave?
I just remembered -- I also love fresh tofu and had never had it before living here. I've enjoyed it at EN Japanese Brasserie, Cocoron and Onya. So far, I liked Cocoron's best. Am I missing anything?
Some parameters: I'm willing to venture out a little into the outer boroughs by subway, but no more than a 30 minute trip from the Financial District, please. As for price, I'm not expecting to pay more than $25 for a dish (though I can be convinced otherwise!). And lastly -- don't hate me! -- I don't like pho. I had it every week in college and can't stomach it anymore somehow. Sorry!
Thanks Chowhounders. You guys are awesome. And for the noodles alone, I love this city!
-----
SobaKoh
309 E 5th St, New York, NY 10003
En Japanese Brasserie
435 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
Hyo Dong Gak
51 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001
Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003
Ippudo
65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003
Onya
143 E 47th St, New York, NY 10017
Cocoron
61 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002
Soba restaurants in NYC
I agree completely with Lau about the differences between SobaKoh and Cocoron and also that they are the best.
I love both, and it's hard to decide if I like Cocoron's modern/innovative take on soba or SobaKoh's more traditional, purist approach. If you're the same way, then here some other factors to consider for your visit: Cocoron doesn't have air conditioning, and doesn't take reservations. SobaKoh does have AC and does take reservations. Hmmmm.
So if your dining partners are the least bit whiny, I'd go to SobaKoh. :) If not, you'll have a fabulous time at either!
-----
SobaKoh
309 E 5th St, New York, NY 10003
Cocoron
61 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002
Fabulous SHO Shaun Hergatt Dinner - Restaurant Week (with photos)
I went during non-RW time (last month, I think) and I experienced the same thing: There were tons of staff on the floor, but only a couple of tables were getting great service. I noticed that they were the ones ordering multiple bottles of wine. When we were the only ones in the room, we got great service, but once it picked up, the quality of service plummeted.
But the food is just fantastic, and the truffle butter is spectacular.
Where can I buy fresh tofu
I'd be very very surprised if the HMart in Koreatown sold fresh tofu. Even their vegetables aren't very fresh. But they do sell silken tofu that you can't find at most grocery stores (as well as firm and medium-firm of course).
Staying for the weekend in Soho/Wall Street area...suggestions?
If it's not too late, Wall & Water (inside the Andaz hotel just down the street from you) is a wonderful restaurant, using mostly local ingredients, for any meal of the day. If you can, request table #1, which faces the open kitchen. $20-30/entree, I think.
Also in your area is the South Street Seaport. A lot of people call this area a culinary wasteland, but I recently went to Barbarini Ristorante and had a really fabulous Italian dinner. It's at the back of Barbarini Mercata (a gourmet Italian grocery shop), and has a romantic dining room with brick walls. Very low-key, but still elegant and romantic.
Both of these restaurants are definitely within walking distance for you. Let us know what you end up doing!
-----
Barbarini Alimentari
225 Front Street, New York, NY 10038
Wall & Water
75 Wall St, New York, NY 10005
Where can I find Tokyo turnips?
I found them! Or, at least I think I have.
My local farmers market (Wall & Water) came out with them for the first time today! They're beautiful! And I guess they're also called Japanese turnips.
As soon as I got home, I tried them raw, sliced & sauteed in butter and also boiled & lightly seasoned, but it doesn't taste all that close to the ones I had at Apiary. I'm pretty sure these must be the ones I've been looking for; I just need to find out the best way to prepare them...
Where can I find Tokyo turnips?
You're right - I looked at the vendor list for February, and it looks like there's still plenty going on! I'm aiming to go next week, and I'll report back. Hopefully I will have found my precious Tokyo turnips! Thanks everyone.
Where can I find Tokyo turnips?
I just did a search for kabu and tokyo turnips, and it sounds like they could be the same thing, though I'm not sure. Does kabu taste kind of buttery? If I could find these at Sunrise, that would be fantastic!
Where can I find Tokyo turnips?
Thanks, Kathryn! I haven't made it out to Union Square Greenmarket yet since I moved here -- a friend tells me that it's not much fun in the winter. But based on that blog, it sounds like there's plenty I'd be excited about! Thanks again.
-----
Union Square Greenmarket
Broadway and E 17th St, New York, NY 10003
Where can I find Tokyo turnips?
I recently had the duck with Tokyo turnips at Apiary, and I fell in LOVE with these little guys and I'd love to cook them myself. I know I'll probably have better luck at farmers markets in the spring, but by any chance, does anyone know if they're available anywhere nearby right now?
If not, but you've seen them at farmers markets, can you tell me at which farmers market you saw them?
I'm crazy excited!
-----
Apiary
60 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Let's talk Cambridge
Con Sol shut down a few months ago, unfortunately. It was fantastic the one time I went last year. A really sad loss. :(
-----
Con Sol
279A Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
Young Schoolteacher and Wife Visiting Boston
I second Scups in the Harbor. It is THE hole-in-the-wall restaurant that you absolutely must try. They do have some vegetarian options, too.
I always suggest Myers + Chang in the South End. It's great for any kind of eater, especially adventurous eaters. They have "cheap date night" every Mon & Tues for $40/couple. They also have tons of vegetarian options - they're known for being accommodating to all sorts of dietary restrictions. It's also a funky-looking place and I love it!
Looking to buy gift certificate for friend
A friend got me a $100 GC from L'Espalier, and I thought it was a fantastic gift! I would never have experienced the excellence of L'Espalier had it not been for that gift card!
-----
L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199
Flat Patties Update
I went to the new Flat Patties last Sunday evening and then this afternoon, and the buns I had were different! On Sunday, it was a lot chewier, but today's was the same as it was before the move. Maybe they had just run out of their regular buns on Sunday evening?
I still like the new Flat Patties!
-----
Flat Patties
81 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Ja Jang Myun in Annandale
I love Da Rae Won! Can't beat their handmade noodles. But beware, they're closed some random day of the week - I think Tuesday or Wednesday.
I always order the gan jja jang, which is jja jang myun with a little thicker and meatier sauce. Everyone I know loves this place.
-----
Da Rae Won Restaurant
5013 Garrett Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705
Bergamot - outstanding!
My husband and I went to Bergamot last night to celebrate my new job, and it was fantastic! I ordered the soft shell crab appetizer that was on the blackboard, roasted lamb loin for my entree, and we shared "That Grapefruit Dessert." My husband had the pea green salad and the monkfish medallions. Everything we ordered was delicious! I especially liked the soft shell crab which was full of flavor and the meaty chunks of bacon and frisee were excellent touches. My lamb loin came with what I think was fava risotto, shiitake mushrooms, and roasted onions, which were a perfect complement to the meaty lamb.
As others are mentioning, the service was perfect. Any time we needed something, our server happened to be right there. Our server was also hilarious, friendly, professional and made us feel so welcome.
Another thing I really appreciated about Bergmot was that even though it was a full house by the time we left, the volume of the chatting wasn't overwhelming, and my husband noticed the noise-absorbing tiles on the ceiling (I think??). I know there are a few CHers to whom noise is an issue, so I thought I'd throw that in there!
One recommendation I have is to order all three courses. Like BobB said, the portions are not Cheesecake-Factory huge, and three courses are recommended, even for this diner with a bird's appetite (sometimes).
Fantastic restaurant!
Fresh English peas at retail?
Yep! I've been getting them from Fresh Pond Whole Foods for the past couple weeks!
L'espalier- $100 gift card
My husband and I had a $100 GC too! I got the seven- (or six?) course degustation, and my husband got the three-course prix-fixe with wine pairings. It came out to around $150, if I remember correctly. The degustation at the time included a cheese course which was huge, and even the two of us couldn't finish it.
We were really happy with our degustation and prix-fixe because we both got to try each other's dishes and every course was amazing!
Like MC said, you'll get a lot more for your money if you go for lunch.
ENJOY!
Need Chinese Rest in MoCo with Party Room; prefer Silver Spring
Not Silver Spring, but Seven Seas in Rockville has a party room worth looking into. Can't remember exactly how big it is, though.
-----
Seven Seas
1776 E Jefferson St Ste 112, Rockville, MD 20852
Birthday Freebies
Great idea!
Fiorella's in Newtonville gives you a complimentary entree if you join their birthday club!
-----
Fiorella's
187 North St, Newtonville, MA 02460
Kumquats?
I saw them yesterday at the Trader Joe's in Fresh Pond.
-----
Trader Joe's
1427 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02476
Restaurant for graduation - have specific requirements
Another vote for Bistro du Coin! Such a bustling, lively (but not not deafening) place with great food, great service and reasonable prices. I love it!
Must Go To Boston Restaurants?
I went to Scup's a half hour after they opened on a very rainy Saturday, and we got seated right away. But I imagine if the weather's decent, you should try to get there as soon as they open: 10am on Saturday.
I'm so glad you've decided on Scup's! You'll never forget it!
Framingham/Natick restaurant recs??
Another enthusiastic vote for Oga's. Looks completely unimpressive from the outside, but it's a beautiful sushi restaurant, that I think is one of the best in the area.
Bulgogi in MD??
Koh's Bulgogi is a really fantastic bulgogi cart run by an older Korean couple who really know their stuff and my favorite place to get bulgogi in MD. They're on hiatus right now but will start serving in April at the Riverdale Farmers Market in PG County on Thursdays from 3pm to 7pm.
Check out their Yelp reviews when they used to be in Rockville! http://www.yelp.com/biz/kohs-bulgogi-rockville
