szep_ilona's Profile
What brand of coconut milk for Thai curry dishes?
There is, in fact, a vast difference in quality, but good brands are also consistent. Chakoah is great if you can find it, both in terms of flavor and texture. The preservatives are generally citric acid or malic acid, fruit acids that prevent the color and flavor from changing too much in the can.
Milk Not "Off" But Clumps in Coffee?
The clumping is not a function of fat separating, but protein clumping together in curds (curdling). Even though your milk is not "off" yet, as milk ages, the acidity increases, and when you put into something acidic and hot (like coffee), the milk can curdle. Fresher milk will be less vulnerable.
Hungarian Bakery-looking for a scone/biscuit
It's called pogacsa. It's a biscuit that often had bacon or goose cracklings in it. Get them across 2nd avenue from Andres at the Hungarian butcher.
Shwarma in New York City
I also love Beirut Express, more than all the Maroush spinoffs on that street, which are also pretty good. Zaytoons gets my vote for the next best thing, partly because it includes the pickle- it's just so right.
Also, down the street from Zaytoons is zombie hut, which is a tiki bar with not a lot of great bar chat potential, but tropical drinks at reasonable prices. I love zombie hut.
MOCCA IS GONE, WHERE IS HUNGARIAN FOOD?
Sorry, I hate to say it, but Andres is really disappointing and I've given it a lot of chances. The food is sloppy and poorly made.
Does anyone remember Piros Tulipam (Red Tulip?)
I'd love to hear about Hungarian Literary Society if anyone goes.
Sweet Cream Ice Cream
It's really about the quality of the dairy. I haven't seen the Ben and Jerry's one yet! Ronnybrook in Chelsea Market sometimes has it.
woefully seeking la colombe coffee
Also, Chelsea Market Baskets has it and ships as well.
Caramels au buerre sale'???
The have them at Chelsea Market Baskets sometimes, but not always.
looking for authentic hungarian dobos torte in nyc
I have to say I agree about the Hungarian Pastry Shop (on 115th & 116th?) is probably the best around these days.
It's not that hard to make at home, but it takes practice. Your first few might not be that pretty.
Kitchen Arts and Letters
I am from that neighborhood, and they've been a tremendous resource throughout my life and my career in food. In fact, I now work at a Michelin-starred restaurant in England, and I still call them to find me some of the really tough stuff. But it's not all about finding really obscure or foreign books - if you're just looking for a new cookbook or book about food to inspire you, they're the place to go to. And in the age of Amazon and free shipping, their expertise makes them well-worth going to a brick-and-mortar shop.
Bagolyvar cooking classes in Budapest
I love Bagolyvar restaurant in Budapest, and now that they have a website, I see that they have cooking classes. But there are no dates or prices listed, and they haven't responded to an email (a few weeks ago). Has anyone taken one? Know of anything similar in Hungary?
Lisa
What not to miss in Budapest?
My favorite ever restaurant in Budapest- I'm afraid I'm deeply in love with Bagolyvar. I think in comparison Gundel is ridiculously over-rated and oddly Francophilic. Bagolyvar in fact draws its wine selection from the Gundel cellar, and I always order the special (I think they call it family) menu because it never disappoints.
Aquavit Anguish
The Aquavit in NY is MUCH better in my opinion, although not the experience it once was...I'm afraid I've decided that the magic was in Nils Noren, former executive chef, and not Marcus Samuelsson, talented and charismatic though he may be. The good news is that Nils Noren has gone on to teach and do research at the French Culinary Institute, so he's going to bring more struggling culinary grads into the world, Sven, lol.
American Products - Including Pickles
I just replied to a post about this - I see Frank's Red Hot here: http://www.americansweets.co.uk/franks-red-hot-sauce-163-c.asp
Frank's RedHot?
Haha. I'm a New Yorker in Oxfordshire with the same problem. You can sometimes get it at selfridges food hall, but it's also available mail order from a few places: http://www.americansweets.co.uk/franks-red-hot-sauce-163-c.asp
Wow, now I'm fiending for wings.
P.S. - Regarding the comment below about making it yourself, normally I'm all for that, but hot sauces like this are all about the process, i.e., fermentation/cure. etc., so if the real thing is available, I wouldn't attempt to make them any more than I would attempt to "make" prosciutto de parma or armagnac.
New Gourmet dessert truck????????
Treats Truck is so good. It will destroy all of the others, I'm afraid. It might mean drive-bys, the streets littered with brownies.
Must go to foodie places that are NOT restaurants in Manhattan?
Definitely agree about Kalustyan's for spices, indian groceries. DEFINITELY Chelsea Market on 9th between 14th and 15th Streets - check out Buon Italia and Chelsea Market Baskets in there.
Last minute gourmet gift basket?!?
Chelsea Market Baskets in Chelsea Market on 9th Ave. The website is www.chelseamarketbaskets.com
Yonah Schimmel is a disgrace
It breaks my heart, but I agree. I remember having good knishes at YS, but that was ages and ages ago, and yes, only when they were fresh. Zabars is better, but it's scary that it's gotten so hard to find a good knish in New York, whether you agree with me about YS or not.
There is, however, one thing I'm really proud of. Look how many people care about it enough to post!
Items: Missing in US / Missing in UK
This project is really interesting to me as a New Yorker who used to work for a company that imports food from the UK, and as New Yorker who now lives in Oxfordshire and sometimes wants beer from Brooklyn or Skippy peanut butter.
Some things you think you want (i.e., Skippy peanut butter) aren't so necessary once you find out they triple in price by the time they get here.
Anyway, I'm pretty good at finding what I want, but craft-brewed beers from the US have been almost impossible to find. Brooklyn Brewery's Ale and Lager are sometimes available now, as well as Anchor Steam, but I entertain a good deal and if anyone can find me a good source of a wider variety...
Also, coarse cornmeal, huitlacoche, good (american and south american) dried and fresh chiles, Can concord grapes be imported? They might not travel well, but I miss those, too. And maple syrup that's from NY state.
P.S. Another goods source of foods from the uk (higher end brands, though, no mc vittie's) is Chelsea Market Baskets in the Chelsea Market on 9th Ave btwn 15th and 16th Streets.
