courtney.hami's Recent Activity
Chowhound Post
cheap indian food in manhattan
My new go-to is Touch of India on 37th st btwn 7th and 8th aves, south side of the street.
They have an extensive veggie entree menu as well as a column and a half of dosas and other tastiness. Often, the restaurant is completely empty and the service is awful, but the servings are big and for the right price (less than $10 each/ veggie entree). I hear the chef used to be the chef at Dimple if curry hill (if you've lived here a while you'd know what I was talking about). To boot- it's only a quick skip and a jump to korea town where you can pick up some take out pre-prepared food at wooru jip.
Bonus for pregnant ladies? there's a yoga place with ma yoga classes across the street.
The food tastes great after a vinyasa, I can't even imagine how good it would taste after exercise when preggers...
Chowhound Post
PANCAKES! in Park Slope Area.
I live on 4th Ave and 10th street, and I'm more than happy to walk a dozen blocks for good food.
I love pancakes, but with one caveat: due to blood sugar reasons, I should only eat buckwheat, oatbran, or whole wheat pancakes (though I do cheat occasionally for buttermilk). And no matter what, I have to eat the pancakes with plain (unsweetened) yogurt... Any suggestions?
I had an excellent plate of buttermilk pancakes at Stone Park with a side of Fage greek yogurt-- but it's hard to justify spending $18+ on a plate of pancakes.
All suggestions welcome (historically I've been a huge fan of the pancakes at Polonia in the East Village, but alas I don't live there anymore)
happy fourth and happy eating!
Chowhound Post
we've got salsa, now what?
I tried some of your suggestions-- I marinated some tiger shrimp in the salsa for 24hrs then cooked them halfway in a frying pan and used them in manchego/monterey jack quesadillas served with guacamole... yum!
also worked as good marinade for onion/spinach quesadillas.
Chowhound Post
we've got salsa, now what?
all of this sounds delicious. I hadn't thought about the indian idea, but that would probably work really well!
Chowhound Post
we've got salsa, now what?
the boyfriend made some delicious (and painfully hot) tomatillo/ tomato salsa two days ago. And as much as I love using chips as a vehicle for the tomatoey hotness, there's just too much to go through via noshing.
So my friends-- what are your suggestions? We're open to everything creative involving fish or poultry, but I'm not a fan of the 4 legged animals, so sadly you'll have to skip the carnitas recipes.
Thanks! I look forward to hearing about your yummies!
Chowhound Post
Must eats in Cobble Hill?
I'm headed to Cobble Hill/ Park Slope tonight. Any suggestions for good dinners for two for less than $20? (went to Song last time, loved it).
I'm fine with holes in the wall. Only requirements are delicious and chicken or veggie options on the menu.
Chowhound Post
Tacos in Chelsea, for lunch... today?
Hi all,
I'm have an uber craving for good tacos (hopefully cheap) walking distance from W20th and 6th ave. I'm looking for corn tortillas, and tasty ingredients. I only eat things with two legs or less-- so sadly I cannot look into any al pastor suggestions.
Let me know! (I'm getting sick of Moe's!)
Chowhound Post
El Atazcon - new taqueria in the EV
I just signed on to chowhound to see if people were talking about this place. (no place for reviews yet on menupages... oh well). I've been to Atazcon twice this week... I'm somewhat addicted, though it's not entirely cheap as people say above (downtown bakery still takes the award for cost/value). I've had the shrimp tacos twice (yummy, though too much garlic the 2nd time), tortilla soup (good), as well as the hot coco and the guacamole (both are delish and well worth the $4-$6). My boyfriend gave the al pastor tacos a thumbs up.
Since it's been snowy and no one is leaving their apartments to try new things I've had the chance to talk with one of the owners about the restaurant both visits-- we spoke about portions and quality (two topics brought up here). He told me his theory was that he wanted lots of small plates, like in mexico, so that people can eat a variety of different things in one sitting and promised me that he chose top quality meats and that they were cooked fresh for each order-- hence the $3 tiny tacos.
like most people in NY I'm squeezing by these days and would love to spend less than $15/day total on food... I think Atazcon will be a weekly indulgence for a while... as a girl I can eat two tacos and a soup and be good for the night... good eating and let me know what you guys think!
Chowhound Post
carrots: sauces, dips, recipes? strange sauce or dip for veggies?
I love the soup (the carrots make it taste creamy even though it's basically fat free). If you're moving into baking for winter, I also have a bastardized recipe for carrot cake muffins which i swear by. I posted it on my work blog, so, rather than cutting and pasting... you can find it here: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/cha...
Chowhound Post
HELP! recipe for virgin Le Creuset 3.5 qt french oven
Indonesian ginger chicken? yum! definitely going to try that one.
Chowhound Post
Peking Duck - URGENT HELP!
I've heard that the peking duck at peking duck house can be a little disappointing (mixed reviews)... look at this thread for alternatives: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/318500
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/257158
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/490901
Chowhound Post
carrots: sauces, dips, recipes? strange sauce or dip for veggies?
For a Iron Chef type dish (that you know, celebrates the flavor of carrot) I like to do a spicy tomato carrot ginger soup.
butter/oil for initial saute
garlic
ginger
crushed red pepper flakes
shallots or a 1/2 a mild yellow onion
1 can of crushed tomatoes or 1 container of the pomi tomato puree (enough to just cover the carrots in a soup pot)
lots of carrots, chopped
take butter/oil warm in bottom of soup pot over medium heat. add finely chopped ginger, shallots, garlic, and a dash or two or three of crushed red pepper flakes. saute until fragrant/ onions are getting translucent. add carrots and toss them around in the pot. Then add tomato puree and a bit of water (use your judgment) and salt/pepper or a bit of buillon for depth of flavor. (ok fine, you can also use chicken broth). simmer until carrots are easily mushed with back of spoon.
puree soup in a blender or preferably puree the soup by using a food mill (italian: passa verdura).
serve.
Chowhound Post
HELP! recipe for virgin Le Creuset 3.5 qt french oven
Hey Chowhounders,
My lover (who, mind you, I now love appreciably more) just surprised me with a 3.5 qt french oven by LC, in red. meow.
So now the big question is... where do I start off?
I'm a dutch oven virgin, but willing to try anything and everything. I'm hoping to set the standard by making my first LC meal one to remember. Got any suggestions?
I LOVE duck, chicken, shrimp, risottos and and most veggies. only limitations: I don't eat anything with four legs. They creep me out. (no pork, beef, lamb, etc)
Please, give me all you got. With any luck, standards will be set high and I'll be driven to try them all.
Chowhound Post
Papusas [Split from Manhattan Board]
okey then.... if I can't find them in manhattan... where's your favorite place that serves them a subway ride away?
Chowhound Post
Papusas?!?!?
I'm craving them. the gooey salty delicious salvadorean treats.
I've found them in williamsburgh, I've heard that they exist in park slope... but anyone know where i can find them in manhattan?
Last weekend I went on a tour trying all the mexican corn i could find in manhattan,.. just walking from restaurant to restaurant. I'd like to do the same with zucchini papusas-- so remember, there is no such thing as too many suggestions!!
(or home recipes ;)
Chowhound Post
Nice Green Bo - still don't get it
my boyfriend loves the place... but the one time he took me there... let's just say that even he couldn't deny that it was worse than most chinese takeout restaurants.
he did claim that it was because we didn't focus heavily enough on meat dishes... but what can i say, sometimes you should judge a restaurant by its weakest dish!
Chowhound Post
1 day in the city...just to eat...can you help?
oh yea and don't forget sugar sweet sunshine on the LES!
Chowhound Post
Best Vegetarian in NYC
If you go to Downtown bakery, get the R&B burrito with everything... it costs the same and makes the dish oh so delicious. their chipotle sauce is rad, my bf likes the tomatillo but beware: it could burn the your tongue off.
I'll let you know if I come up with any other dish ideas..
Chowhound Post
1 day in the city...just to eat...can you help?
ice cream: Australian (st marks btwn 1st and ave A)
other desserts: for in budget eats go to chicalicious' puddin' storefront. get either the bread pudding or the SERIOUSLY chocolaty dark chocolate puddin. 10th btwn 1st and 2nd ave.
Japanese owned italian (yea seriously!): Dieci 10th st btwn 1st and 2nd ave. get any one of their risottos, or their cavatelli with eggplant and tomato. the salad with apples and gorganzola is also good. all are a good cost value. if anything tastes off, just let them know and they'll redo the dish for you without hesitation!
korean ($15-20 range pp): in korea town area go to Kunjip (get the soon dubu stew, or one of their other well done non-redmeat dishes) or in the east village Dok Suni (1st ave and 7th st) has many many veggie and non-red options.
Japanese ($10/pp if you order right): go to Natori on St. Marks between 1st and 2nd avenue for their Yasai Don, or their early bird special (till 7pm, the chicken katsu don is to die for, avoid the udon), Uminoie is slightly more expensive but has the best homestyle japanese and most amazing dashi ever (3rd st btwn 1st and 2nd ave)
wings: there is only one choice: Birdies on 1st ave and 9th st. get their burning hot wings and okra dipping sauce. avoid their baked chicken and order with care, their other stuff can be sub par.
tibetan: cafe himalaya (houston btwn 1st and 2nd aves) great curries, and momo, avoid the noodle soups. cheap! less than 10 a head without any effort.
mexican: downtown bakery 1st ave at 4th street (ish)-- rice and bean burrito with everything ($6) enough food to feed two and addictive. the chicken tamales are great with sauce, but dry without, avoid the veggie tamales.
dim sum: dim sum go go on catherine street in chinatown. amazing. go in the morning around 11am for the freshest dim sum and the shortest line for a table. a filling meal should run you about 10- $12/pp
vegetarian chinese: buddha bodai (also in chinatown) a happy haunt of local buddhist monks. all the meat if fake meat, and tasty!! servings are HUGE, one entree per two people is MORE than enough.
there is more... if you know of what cuisines you're looking at let me know.
Chowhound Post
Restaurants everyone loves--except you
Babbo-- I used to love it... but the last two times I went the food was sub-par, and the bread was burnt!! (what 4* or aspiring 4* serves burnt bread, ever?!)
Hummus Place-- again I used to love it. In it's first few months in the EV I easily brought 20 people there, and ate there 2x per week... but for the past year the hummus has been downright bad. Runny, bland, not at all fresh or even unique like it was when they first opened... clearly they've lost their spark and now are just cruising by on their name... (like... Babbo?)
Chowhound Post
Best Vegetarian in NYC
I found Hanagawi to be overpriced and disappointing... when i want to eat veggie Korean food I get kimchi bokum at Dok Suni 1st ave at 7th st (or their veggie dumplings, or their kimchi pancakes (not vegan))
For veggie and cheap $3 indian/punjabi cuisine (albeit served in styrofoam, ech) I go to Punjabi's Deli (houston btwn 1st and 2nd north side of street, identifiable by all the cabbies).
Veggie/Vegan Chinese? There's only one option: Buddha Bodai (Chinatown) the service SUCKS but even the buddhist monks eating lunch there will tell you, the food is amazing...
Dim Sum is always a hard one, because it's rarely *actually* veggie, but Dim Sum Go Go (Chinatown) is reliably the best Dim Sum in NYC, and their menu: half veggie. Schwing!
For raw food (and a splurge) go to Quintessence (10th street btwn ave A and 1st), it's cold, but it sure is tasty (not bland! yeah!)
Pukk (1st ave, and 5th-ish) is good, but is mostly fake meats. if you go there, get the lunch special, it's huge and cheap.
as for the best veggie dishes in the east village try: Yasai Don $10 at Natori (st marks btwn 1st and 2nd); Hijiki Salad with Tofu $10 (contains egg in the tofu breading) at Cafe Orlin (st Marks and 3rd); any of the "Frankie's" restaurants for their pastas or pizzas; or the $6 Rice and Bean Burrito at Downtown Bakery (Mexican, 1st ave and 5th).
Hummus place, caravan of dreams, counter and several other EV restaurants serve veggie food, but a lot of it sucks (or used to be a lot better when the restaurants first opened and hadn't yet created a name for themselves).
Bon Appetit!
Chowhound Post
Help!! Good for Group Celebration - $50/pp range?
Tamarind-- Flatiron area, can be done for about $50 per person and the food and ambiance is great (try the shrimp konju pappas and the lemon rice!)
Zenkichi (n 6th st in Brooklyn) is TO DIE FOR both for food, and for ambiance. they have a prix fix ($40/pp i think) that gives MORE than enough delicious food... some crazy number of courses. zenkichi.com for images. menupages can give you an idea of the food.
Story Comment
How Green Is Your Takeaway Container?
I started trying to BMyO containers about a year back (when i started working for an enviro group). To be honest, usually I forget, but I have found some guidelines to go by.
Along with comments people mentioned above, (packing your own leftovers at the table etc) I can think of a few others to add.
Reusing a cleaned container that you got from the restaurant in the first place can be easy (particularly if you're a regular) the kitchen staff are often less wary, because they know where the container came from (and can forget they don't know where it's been).
Buffets, and salad bars are also easy lunchtime options-- following the "pack your own" rule, I've found it's pretty easy to re-use my *cleaned* saladbar container several times in a row before I toss it for recycling.
Another forgotten option is to BYO chopsticks (if you can't choose to use house chopsticks ONLY when they're reusable/ bamboo). I love my own chopsticks because they're high quality, and since some people in asia actually DO bring their own, some sets that come with carry pouches..
The last "reuse" idea I love is for those aluminum dish take out containers and it comes from my grandma (of all people). Some decades ago, grams figured out that they work great as free one-time use pie pans, and so she saves them for pot-lucks, dinner parties, and family get togethers. Once she's resused them she recycles them, but at least they get at least 2 go's around before they get chucked!
**note: my favorite mexican place (Downtown Bakery, manhattan, 1st ave and 5th st) now recycles their glass soda bottles and cans. They didn't a year ago. Why the change? Because regulars (like myself) who were chummy with the staff asked them "why not" and reminded them that those bottles come with $$ deposits. Moral: if you want your fav place to become more eco-friendly, sometimes all you have to do is ask.
Story Comment
I’m Vegetarian but I Eat Bacon
pickitarian.
fussitarian
both awesome suggestions to describe someone who doesn't eat most meats, but does eat some.
prerequisite: a readily accessible sense of humor. (maybe you don't have that? but seriously man... you're a veggie but you eat pork? wtf? that's like being a vegan and still eating tripe....)
Chowhound Post
location needed: going away dinner party for boss
Thanks RGR, your suggestion is definately what I'm looking for. I'm looking for restaurant advice. We're more foodies than lushes. ;)
Chowhound Post
location needed: going away dinner party for boss
thanks! where are TAPAS and rent a bar located?
Chowhound Post
location needed: going away dinner party for boss
Our adored media relations guru is departing for another company after 7yrs here. We're an enviro non-profit and looking for a less expensive place where we can celebrate (and roast) the man.
Probably 15 to 25 guests. Price range from $10/pp w. BYOB to $35/pp some drinks included.
Location: anywhere from chinatown to central park.
Cuisine: Italian, Korean, Chinese, Dim Sum, Japanese.... whatever. though at least 1 veggie option on the menu is a must.
HELP.
he gave 2 wks notice on friday.
