rawcuzima's Profile
Washington Hts - your fave ethnic restos around 160th & Bway
I ended up at Punta Cana, a little countertop restaurant on the corner of 162nd Street and Broadway. I had a heaping plate of moist and garlicky pernil on top of white rice and black beans (they serve them already mixed together). The rice and beans were rich with flavor and it was more food than I could finish. All for $7. I chose Punta Cana over other restaurants because they had a Health Department rating of A. The other diners seemed to be local regulars, all of whom spoke Spanish. I had no problem with my limited Spanish and by pointing to what I wanted behind the counter. If I'm in the neighborhood again, I would definitely go back.
Washington Hts - your fave ethnic restos around 160th & Bway
I'll be part of a crew filming around 160th & BWay and Ft. Washington on Monday (I apologize in advance ;-) and am rarely in this part of town. Would love to discover some great new little restaurants/bakeries/delis, etc.
What's a great little restaurant where I can duck in and have a fast-ish (half hour) lunch? Indian, Mexican, Dominican, Peruvian... cuisines hard to find elsewhere are welcome. (Don't need a great slice of pizza)
In addition to lunch, I'm also looking for a bakery or something else where I can buy empanadas or something like that which I can buy a quantity of (100+) as a treat for the crew. Empanadas or some other kind of pastry are ideal because they can be eaten by hand, without plasticware or plates.
Appreciate any recs!
REVIEW w/ pics: Lunch at Natalie Peruvian Seafood
I'm so glad to see this! I recently moved closeby and love Yai Thai, just a door down. Have been curious about Natalie as I've only had Peruvian food a few times but really liked it. Who'd a thunk such an anonymous little strip mall could be the home of 2 great restaurants!
ISO milk-heavy recipe
Thanks, everyone. Will let you know how it turns out. I love dessert but I promised a family I'd come up with dinner and after a milky meal, don't think they want a dairy overload.
ISO milk-heavy recipe
I need to use up 1 - 1.5 gallons of high-quality, straight from the farm 2% milk in the next day or so. Anyone have any savory recipes that require a large quantity of milk? No thanks to clam chowder or french toast. I'm looking for a soup or gratin-y recipe for something I can serve for a family dinner.
Thanks!
Help planning my birthday party this Friday!
It's not in the requested neighborhoods, but since you're having trouble I thought I'd toss in a rec for iCi in Fort Greene. Fabulous, fresh, reasonably priced food (their new chef is the much-lauded Patricia Yeo) and very family-friendly, as the owners Laurent and Catherine also have young kids. It is unusual to go there on a Friday or Saturday night and NOT see kids tucking in to skate in browned butter with their parents. Good luck and happy birthday -- which I'll also be celebrating on Friday. Er, mine that is. ; )
sunset park tips
I'm glad to see someone else is a fan of Thanh Da! I actually love the super porkiness of their special banh mi. And since I live i Boerum Hill, I often call them when I'm about 10 minutes away (driving) and they'll have the sandwiches hot, fresh and ready to go when I get there. All the prepared food I've gotten there has also been delicious. I usually just pick from whatever's on the counter, but have sat and ordered pho a couple times too. The grilled pork chop is amazing.
Grumpy Old Man - Staubitz Guy is really irritating
There's no excuse for that kind of treatment, I don't care how passionate you are about your product. I'm a regular customer at Los Paisanos -- and yes they do deliver, even small orders -- and have found them to be flexible in the extreme. I've tried a number of esoteric recipes, from the likes of Fergus Henderson, etc, and have always found the guys at Los Paisanos to be unblinking and happy to give you what you want.
Last year, I ordered a whole pig from a vendor at the Farmer's Market -- I emphasized it had to be 12 pounds or less to fit in my oven. Instead, they dropped a pig the size of my 7-year-old son on my doorstep. I called Los Paisanos and asked if they would butcher it for me. They said yes, even though it was minutes to closing time. Peter whittled that pig down to size with a few graceful strokes. I asked him what I could pay him, he said whatever I thought was appropriate. I handed him $40 and he said no, that's too much, and gave me back 20.
They won me over for life.
gluten free in brooklyn
I'm surprised nobody mentioned Jill's Cafe on Court Street between Baltic and Warren(?). She serves raw and "gently cooked" food for takeout and eat-in (counter and stools only). I took a friend of mine there last week who has a gluten allergy, she had the rice pasta ravioli with butternut squash and bok choy and it was fabulous! Here's an abbreviated menu:
http://www.jillpettijohn.com/cafe.html
My guess is most of the dishes are gluten-free, including the surprisingly good desserts (esp. the chocoloate ones).
What's your favorite undiscovered gem?
Hosting some foodie friends from another big city this weekend, and want to take them to an off-the-beaten path Brooklyn jewel. Could be Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, Vietnamese, almost anything except Korean, Chinese or Japanese. Definitely want to avoid the usuals: Al di La, Applewood, Peter Luger's, etc. Searching for something special i.e. the best Oaxacan in the city, etc. Can be a dingy little hole in the wall or a grand Russian banquet.
Would love to hear about your favorites!
Thanks.
Anything good near Target in Brooklyn
Around the corner, you're in prime Fort Greene. Try Smoke Joint on So. Elliot between Fulton and Lafayette (http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/the-smoke-joint/) or their sandwich/salad takeout business next door, Lil' Pig. Also, Burger 67 is across the street on Lafayette. My favorite is the Southwestern: chipotle aioli, roasted peppers, jack cheese with scallions. Also, on your way back to the train, stop by Cake Man Raven for a slice of red velvet cake. Personally, I like the version made by Betty Bakery on Atlantic Avenue better, but Cake Man started it all and many still swear by it.
Need recs: got my bo ssam, now what?
Thanks for these recs, very exciting, I'll check them out. You can tell I haven't been out much lately, but was wondering how WD50 is holding up these days? Definitely an "only in New York" restaurant, but, having not been there in years, don't know if the innovation and execution are still exceptional.
Any recent reports?
Need recs: got my bo ssam, now what?
Not Asian, since we're already doing Asian, and while a steak house is a good idea, we're doing that big hunk of pork the night before. But otherwise, we are adventurous eaters looking for a thrill -- not a particular cuisine. Any unexploited gems out there? Is Mamlouk still good? I loved how they didn't have a menu -- just a few fresh choices every night. What are you favorite new discoveries?
Need recs: got my bo ssam, now what?
Friends from out of town will be in NYC next week for a brief visit i.e. two dinners. We've got a res for bo ssam at momofuku one night (already been -- loved it), but want something special for Night #2. My friends are coming from L.A. where they go to good restaurants often. I want to take them to a restaurant that offers something unique to NYC. Can be Manhattan or Brooklyn (as I live in BK). Price isn't an obstacle -- though we are down-to-earth and don't want to go somewhere where everyone else is celebrating an anniversary or getting engaged. Also, privacy a plus. We are not going to see and be seen.
It's short notice, so Per Se, Bouley, and the like are out. Besides, we are looking for somewhere with a more casual vibe like momofuku.
Would appreciate the kind of thoughtful and knowledgeable recs chowhounders are known for!
Thanks in advance.
Sunset Park Mexican -- great chow and/but nice decor
Last week, my husband and I started our search for great Mexican restaurants in Sunset Park. We tried to go to El Palenque, recommended on this board, but found it shuttered. Then, a friend recommended Eclipse, on 4th Ave b/w 43th-44th. We tried it tonight. First, we looked through the window, and almost didn't go in. It was too nice! We were looking for a hole-in-the-wall that would serve authentic cuisine. But, it was freezing out so we decided to give it a go. Good move! The food was authentic, if a bit updated, delicious and reasonably priced.
I ordered Sopa de Mariscos (Mexican Seafood Soup) and it was excellent. Rich broth, boldly spiced (I was asked if I wanted it spicy), and beautifully cooked shrimp, calamari, mussels and striped bass. Very fresh and tender. A far cry from the rubbery and overcooked seafood I often find at inexpensive restaurants. My husband had the Caldo Tlalpeño (Chipotle chicken soup with vegetables), it was great. He also got the huarache (homemade corn tortilla) with suadero (fatty beef). Oh, and we started with the Chicharron salad -- big chunks of fried pork skin over chopped fresh romaine, radishes, avocado, pickled jalapenos. I know romaine is less than authentic, but I find the chunks of 5-day old iceberg lettuce one gets elsewhere dispiriting.
We live in Boerum Hill and it was a 10-minute drive. There is an N and R stop at 45th and 4th Ave, one block away. The owner of the restaurant was lovely. When we mentioned we came from out of the neighborhood, she treated us to a free dessert!
turkey breast - what's a dark meat lover to do?
My husband and I are strictly dark meat, on-the-bone, flavor and fat-loving people and we find ourselves with a (dreaded) boneless turkey breast in our fridge. Does anyone have any ingenious ways to turn this dry, tasteless hunk of blandness into something edible? Possibly even delicious?
Thanks in advance!
Diana
Ft Greene, private party for 40, wintertime?
I had my 40th birthday at iCi last winter. We offered a limited menu of 3 appetizers, 4 main courses, unlimited red and white wine, and an opera cake. It was perfect. The space is warm and intimate but there was more than enough room for my 35+ guests. Owner Laurent Saillard was an elegant and accomodating host, chef Julie Farias cooked with heart, and the waitstaff wasa unobtrusive but ever-ready. My guests felt comfortable and well-cared for. And everyone raved about the food. Fresh, inventive, lively. The evening was well-priced, I'm SURE I would've paid at least twice as much for food and service of that quality in Manhattan. Since you're abroad, you can contact Laurent through iCi's website:
www.icirestaurant.com.
In our experience, we got a faster reply when we called, but since that's an international call for you, you might want to try the website but give him a day or 2 to respond.
Good luck! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
