chowmeow's Profile
Recipes from Artisanal Bistro's Grilled Cheese Contest
Just made the sandwich - wow! I loved the flavor combination of the 3 cheeses. The cheese crisp is a stroke of genius. A sophisticated recipe that was also easy to make. You def. would have gotten my vote.
Recipes from Artisanal Bistro's Grilled Cheese Contest
This looks so good - can't wait to try it! Thanks for posting this.
Top 5 Most Overrated in Manhattan
Can you recommend a good soup dumpling place? Thx!
Childhood literary chow memories
Ok, it took 4 years, but recently picked up Wind in the Willows at a thrift shop and read it. I was surprised by how adult the themes are. I loved the food scenes. They were depicted w/such warmth! I especially liked the one in which they visited Mole's home. In spite of his worries about his home and larder being shabby compared to his companions', they made a merry feast and helped him feel better about his home. Thanks for the rec!
Where can I find steamed Chinese buns?
Oh no! I'm sad that the Flushing Mall stand doesn't serve it any more! From another CH thread, I learned about a place called Province (iirc) which is on Church St. south of Canal. They serve "sandwiches" on steamed buns. The pork one is a gua bao, or very close to one, and is delicious.
A friend in need
Thanks, Miss Needle. I wasn't sure how to help her, so I'm glad to have your feedback.
A friend in need
Thanks everyone for your great suggestions! I'll definitely look into Pump My friend works at 6th Ave. and 48th St.
A friend in need
Hello fellow chowhounders,
My dear friend's mother is very sick, and she has been spending all of her spare time taking care of her. She also has a very high-stress full-time job which is not cutting her any slack, even during this very difficult time for her. As a result, she's not able to cook and is eating take-out all of the time.
Since she's rarely home, I thought I could help her out by at least having a nice, healthy lunch delivered to her a few times a week at work. Can anyone suggest a delivery service that serves delicious, healthy food, has a flexible schedule, and will deliver to an office? Preferably not too expensive!
TIA for all of your help - I know that CH will come through for me!
34th &6th- Culinary wasteland?
Thanks to CH, I tried Szechuan Gourmet yesterday on 39th between 5th & 6th. Amazing Chinese food. 5 blocks from where you are, but worth the walk if you have the time.
Where can I find steamed Chinese buns?
Actually, the dish Momofuku serves is a Gua Bao, though they call it something else.
Merkato 55 - long
The lobster salad at $17 wasn't a bad deal since there was a comparable amount of meat to a lobster roll, which run at least $20 in NYC. I didn't mind the prices in general b/c I found the portions sufficient and I was happy w/my overall experience.
Merkato 55 - long
Just got back from an enjoyable evening at Merkato 55. The decor was warm and attractive - dark wood with African accents such as lamps made of thin strands of the small white shells that you often see in African jewelry. The upstairs room, where my friend and I sat, was dominated by two enormous bunches of pussy willow branches jutting out of rustic vases.
Our waitress was perky and endearingly eager to please. She described in detail every item on the menu except for the sides - the breads, chutneys, small plates, entrees, etc. We found this unusual and a bit tedious since much of the information was already written. We ordered (much of it based on CH recs - thanks!) the African bread basket, apple coconut yogurt, falafel, lobster salad, chickpea dumplings, lamb meatballs and a side of collards, in case we didn't get enough veggies.
The bread basket came with a spiced corn bread, sesame coated pitas, and a zatar bread. The zatar bread was the best with one side nicely crisped, and the inside chewy. The other two were tasty but ordinary. The apple yogurt was a sweet accompaniment. The falafels were delicate and flavorful, but not special enough to justify $7.
The lobster salad was a treat. There was a decent amount of tender meat mixed with chopped vegetables such as water cress and scallions, and a creamy, slightly nutty base, and topped with a lobster claw and a wedge of grapefruit. Unfortunately, I hate scallions, so I couldn't enjoy the dish as fully as I'd have liked, but it was a minor deterrent.
Next came the chickpea dumplings and lamb meatballs. The chickpea dumplings were fluffly, like good gnocci and nicely charred, so that each bite had a flavor of toasted cumin. They were tossed with swiss chard, smoked chickpeas, tiny cubes of salty potatoes, small round flakes of a grain I couldn't identify, and some herb with a floral flavor. It was a dish with many layers of textures and flavors - great comfort food. The lamb meatballs were also good. They were served on a bed of couscous with a tomato-based sauce, and a fried egg. The meatballs had a strong lamb flavor, and were very firm in a pleasing way. The best part was having runny egg on each bite of meatball. There were also currants in the sauce to provide a fruity contrast to the acidity of the sauce and the richness of the meat.
We were too full for dessert. The service was attentive and friendly from the hostess to the busboys. I'd like to try the pistachio lassi some time. Thanks again Chowhounds for your dish recommendations - they were spot on.
Setagaya Ramen "Blues"
Thanks for your post. Had Setagaya 2 nights ago. Looked forward to it all day based on my memory of it when it had first opened, and what a disappointment! Just like all of the posters, found it salty w/out any other noticeable flavors. Char-siu was super dry. My friend & I left most of the stuff uneaten. The gyoza were OK.
I also noticed the omission of Minca from Chopsticks. I think it's regrettable.
Planning a trip to NZ - what's good to eat?
I don't live in NZ, and have never even been there, but this is a little quirky so I thought I'd mention it. My mom went there a few years ago and kept raving about the Taiwanese food. Apparently there's a significant community of Taiwanese there. There aren't too many places outside of Taiwan where you can get the food, so if you'd like a change ot pace, it might be worth checking out.
Toko Yaki?
They're called takoyaki. Traditionally they're made w/octopus (tako), which is probably why you often have to wait since they're probably making up a fresh batch with new batter. The restaurant Go, on St. Mark's place has them, but I don't know if they'd make them w/out the octopus. Kenka, which is across the street, may also have them.
Where can I find steamed Chinese buns?
If you mean just plain buns w/out stuffing, you can buy them frozen at most Chinese grocery stores. For example, Kam Man on Canal street. Also, I've seen them in many of the other Chinese bakeries packed in bags of 5 or 6. They're not flattened like the ones at Momofuku, but perhaps you could slice them open and stuff them that way.
What is Your Favorite Non-Foodie Thanksgiving Dish?
It is chowish! Just not foodie...
Best noodles in the city (ramen)
Another vote for Minca. I love their rich, porky broth. Like Setagaya ramen as well. I find most ramen broths in NYC to be salty w/out any other flavor.
What's "the" food where you're from?
I'm not from there, but I love a Door County, WI fish boil!
Pio Pio--Amsterdam Ave
Their take-out chicken is the best deal - $4 for half a chicken!
Flurt Frozen Yogurt
I don't are for the flavor of pinkberry either, but was willing to give it another try until I found offensive Asian figures being sold in one of their branches, slanted eyes and all.
Flurt Frozen Yogurt
Oops, just replied to the above post before seeing yours. I'm a fan of Yolato too - especially since I have GERD and regular gelato and ice cream are off limits for me. Love the blackberry yogurt flavor.
Flurt Frozen Yogurt
Have you tried Yolato? It's gelato made from yogurt, so I guess you could call it gelato-flavored yogurt ;-) 2 of their flavors are yogurt, plain and blackberry.
Craziest, but good thing you've ever eaten.
Stinky tofu in Taiwan.
Sweet breads
Chicken hearts grilled at a yakitori joint - lightly salted, tasty and tender
New Yorker visiting Minneapolis / St. Paul [MSP]
I'm not a local, but I'm a New Yorker like yourself and had a wonderful trip visiting friends in Minneapolis recently. I had a lot of great food (happened to catch the State Fair!), but what I remember the most, which I haven't yet found in NYC is deep fried cheese curds. I had them at the fair, but I believe there is a diner (Town Talk?) that serves a them as well + deep fried pickles. The other food I loved for the 2nd year in a row was soft serve at Connie's Creamy Cone - a cute little shack surrounded by kids with ice cream all over their faces. I had a twist w/peanut butter dip - the soft serve is so fresh and creamy it's divine. I never thought that I could get that excited over soft serve!
