soopling's Profile
Ghanaian Food - Authentic
Yah, after this meal I thought Ghanaian food was great, but too heavy for me to want it often. Then a day or two later, I started craving it! SO many interesting things to try…
Hey and don't forget the bofroot/boflot Davine pressed into our hands as we left. Greasy sweet but good.
Mini Egg Custard Tarts, Elmhurst?
Does anyone know where I can get mini egg custard tarts in Elmhurst? I am thinking about bringing them in for my coworkers on Chinese New Year.
Thanks in advance!
Cheers,
S
Mini Egg Custard Tarts?
Does anyone know where I can get mini egg custard tarts in Chinatown or otherwise? I am thinking about bringing them in for my coworkers on Chinese New Year.
Cheers,
S
WELL Equipped Kitchen Cookware
I baked a loaf of no-knead bread in it yesterday and it was fine...there didn't seem to be any further chipping either. Guess it's okay!
Japanese buffet / Watami alike? / Black sesame ice-cream
There's black sesame ice cream at Sobaya, it's delish. There's also honey-wasabi and yuzu.
WELL Equipped Kitchen Cookware
I just bought this (at TJ Maxx) and it was already chipped in several places. I'm not experienced with cast-iron cookware--does this actually matter? Can I prevent the exposed parts from rusting?
Flushing Dumpling Run - Please Advise
King 5 Noodle, at least at the one in Elmhurst, actually has terrible xlb. The meat was actually tasteless, which is sort of an amazing feat (maybe there was cardboard mixed in...ha). I'm fond of the ones at Noodle House on Prince though; they're bigger, I think five to an order, and I think they're pretty good, even if perhaps they don't fit a particular style (whatever Nanxiang Xiaolong Bao is supposed to be like?)
Where can I go for down and dirty steamed crabs?
someone recommended this place recently, but i've never been there. considering it, though.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ow_2FOPRwkhFsvMzPbO6kQ
Karaoke & food?
Japas38 (and other locations?) has a pretty good party package: $30 per person gets you a sushi platter, a bunch of appetizers like edamame, dumplings, fried chicken pieces, etc, two hours of karaoke, and all you can drink beer or sake. I think you have to have at least four people and you also have to reserve in advance. The food isn't stellar, but it's not bad either. They have a bunch of private rooms.
Like Sobaya, but not Sobaya?
My favorite go-to restaurant is Sobaya, on 9th Street, when I'm stuck for a nice-looking, comfortable place to bring out-of-town guests and/or a casual-but-not-too-casual place for dates. The service is discreet and unobtrusive, the food interesting, tasty, and well-prepared, and the bill never goes much, or at all, above my budget. It's not so small you feel cramped or overheard, nor so large it feels cavernous and impersonal. The atmosphere is cozy and never rushed.
The downside to always ending up at Sobaya is that...I'm always ending up at Sobaya. With all of the restaurants in this city, surely there are other places similar to this description that I can add into the rotation? (That's where you guys come in.)
I'm open to all cuisines and neighborhoods. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
S
Cold Summetime Ramen
I just went for the cold duck ramen on Friday. The noodles were pleasantly chewy and the duck slices were a bit tough, but they were flavorful. The broth was great, less sweet than in the Rai Rai Ken cold ramen. Overall, quite refreshing and tasty.
My friend got the Saburi special ramen and seemed to enjoy it a lot. I took a sip of broth and it seemed very Chinese in flavor, in a good way. We also split the soft shell crab appetizer, greaselessly fried and with ponzu sauce for dipping, and the cold almond tofu for dessert. Both were pretty good.
I'm sure this goes against tradition but I kind of wish the ramen strands weren't quite so long. It was hard to mix things around properly, and to eat with any delicacy. I guess that's my problem whenever I eat noodles though.
Cold Summetime Ramen
I had the cold ramen at Rai Rai Ken for lunch last Friday, and I thought it was good, although I agree there were possibly a few too many ingredients. Being a total carb addict, I could have used a much higher ratio of noodle-to-topping. I wasn't fond of the apple slices they threw in there either--aside from being kind of large, indelicate slices, the texture was mushy. I've never had cold ramen anywhere else though, so I don't know if this is normal for the dish. As a whole though I liked it, and I'm looking forward to trying this dish elsewhere.
Cold Summetime Ramen
ha. posted too soon, just clicked on the link above and read all the yeas/nays for you chun. guess i missed that one.
Cold Summetime Ramen
recently had a meal at you-chun (5 west 36th St) of both types of neang-myun. a friend and i split each...we both thought they were really good. they prepare the dish with black arrowroot noodles (possibly even chewier than the buckwheat kind), and the broth is slushy and really flavorful.
Soon-to-be-student here- need cheap eats!
I'm really into Ennju, on E. 17th Street off Union Square. I love most of their rolls and their rice bowls and entrees come with soup, too. The food is fresh and prices are reasonable, and at 9 pm they mark all their rolls and prepared foods half off, making it an even better deal. People tend to line up in the place a little before or at 9 pm to take advantage though, so there's not usually much left by say, 9:15 pm. Gotta hustle!
Max in Tribeca - short review
I WARNED you about the lasagna, bigjeff! When I went to the one on Ave B about six months ago for a group dinner, I was debating ordering the lasagna, but when I tasted someone else's, I was glad I went with something else. The pasta was totally gummy and heavy. I don't think anyone who ordered it finished it. But then again, I'm not sure anyone finished their meal--the portions are quite hearty there (this is awesome considering how inexpensive the prices are too).
Echoing vinogirl212 and bigjeff, the spaghetti with lamb ragu is pretty darn good. The thick, flavorful sauce coats the strands of pasta perfectly. My friend ordered one of the specials that night--all I remember is that it was spaghetti with dollops of ricotta cheese, pesto?, and something else--and it was awesome. Rich, nutty, creamy. Though perhaps a little too rich for one person to eat straight through (we swapped bowls midway through).
What to eat with cottage cheese?
I only buy the whipped kind (Friendship brand) as I'm not so into the texture of regular cottage cheese. Two ways:
1. with lemon juice and chopped fresh dill weed mixed in (good as a dip for veggies, or spread on pita/toast/bagel/etc)
2. pancakes: the batter is lots of finely chopped onion, a cup of almond meal, one or two eggs, and one tub cottage cheese. I think this was some Atkins or other diet recipe for people watching their carb intake.
Your choice for Trader Joe's BEST item
frozen turkey meatballs
frozen spinach
thai spiced cashews
tuna in green curry (packets)
i pack lunches all the time straight from the freezer of brown rice, spinach, and a few meatballs. the tuna in green curry is awesome over rice or when drained, as a sandwich filling. and i had to stop buying the cashews, I was eating too many of them at once. all their nuts seem to be pretty good, and generally much cheaper than you can find them elsewhere.
i like their celery hearts too, in the produce section.
oh and their gingersnap cookies! i brought a tub into the office once, and people couldn't stop eating them.
Things to do with cucumbers?
When I make cold soba, I mix in a pile of grated cucumbers and eat the soba with soba dipping sauce, chopped scallions, and shredded dried seaweed. It's a super-refreshing light meal.
I also make a really simple cucumber and tomato salad: chop up the cucumbers and tomatoes, and add lemon juice, sugar, and chopped dill.
Cucumbers in sandwiches can really brighten things up, too.
Any $1.00 food in your neighborhood ???
la casa del pan (in astoria, queens) has really good cheese breads for about a dollar. Not sure where you can find the same in Manhattan, but it seems most columbian bakeries would have them for about a same...
Finally tried pretzel croissant at City Bakery--disappointed
i like the croissants at city bakery (doughy is good with me) but i don't see all that much difference between the pretzel version and the whole wheat version (i haven't tried the regular version). the pretzel one just seemed saltier on the outside, and the sesame seeds added minimal texture and flavor--not worth the extra buck, in my opinion.
Cuban Sandwich
i agree with clinton restaurant! it's been several years, but i remember it being huge, delicious, and cheap. every time i pass by i want to get one, but i always fear attempting to finish one on my own.
pan fried gnocchi - anyone tried it?
is it possible to do this with those vacuum-sealed packages of gnocci? is there any difference? i have several packs, but i'm kind of thinking they might be too gummy, or something.
Glasgow, Edinburgh recommendations?
I will be in Glasgow and Edinburgh for nine days at the end of February. As I've never been in Scotland before, I'm seeking any and all suggestions for good, interesting, and hopefully cheap food, things I shouldn't miss or wouldn't be able to get here in New York. It doesn't have to be fancy, either; hole-in-the-wall places are fine.
And of course, best haggis? Anything else quintessentially Scottish? Foodstuff I should make a point of smuggling home?
I'm staying in the SAS Radisson on Argyle Street in Glasgow, and on High Street in Edinburgh, if that helps pinpoint my location any.
Thanks!
Lobster Rolls in Portland, ME - winter season
Hi guys, I'm taking a road trip this weekend to Portland, Maine. I know it's not the peak season and many places are closed for the winter, so I'm wondering if anyone has any info on good places to get a lobster roll that are open year-round.
Other dining recommendations would be great too. I've heard I ought to go to Becky's Diner. And, I'm staying in the Eastland hotel, so if anyone knows anything in that area...do tell!
Thanks!
Finally tried a bing!
I've tried the spicy beef bings on two different occasions, as well as a steamed beef bun and a baked bun (I can't remember what flavor). I've been unimpressed with all of them...the bings, like many others have commented, basically slosh out great waves of grease when you tip them to the side after taking a few bites. And, the outside is sort of tough. The meat filling itself is tasty, although I'd say it's more sweet than spicy. Actually, I couldn't taste the spiciness at all, so perhaps I got plain beef ones by mistake?
I had the spicy chicken dumplings though, and those were great. They contained chunks of chicken, which was nice just because it was different (in my experience the meat is usually ground) mixed with some kind of kimchi. They actually seem to be a favorite, as while I was sitting there it seemed like everyone who came in ordered it. For five bucks, the large plate of ten boiled dumplings is a pretty good deal.
Momofuku Noodle bar
I finally went to Momofuku a few days ago. Some thoughts:
1. Buns. Everyone raves about the buns, but...whassa big deal? At the price of nine dollars for two small buns (we ordered the Berkshire pork ones), I can hardly get excited. They were also a bit too salty. I couldn't help but be reminded of the Peking duck that is sometimes offered at higher-end Asian buffets, prepared in approximately the same way (same steamed man-tou bun, same hoisin sauce, but with shredded cucumber and scallions). And I think I actually enjoy those more. I understand the main point might be the difference between the duck and the pork here, and so I can't compare them, but so shoot me, I have.
2. Overwhelming pork fat. Maybe I just need to be an undying pork fat lover to appreciate this place. I like the stuff, just not in the overly heavy way it seemed to permeate everything I ate there. I ordered the Momofuku ramen, which was tasty at first, but then quickly became sickening. The shredded pork mushily blended into the noodles, which was ok, but with the pieces of soft white fat that were the whole pieces of pork belly, I just couldnt bring myself to also eat them after already eating so much straight pork fat in the pork buns.
3. My companions ordered the braised oxtail and kimchi stew entrees, both of which were tasty. Though, I suspect that (as with my ramen) if I had to eat a whole bowl of either of them I'd soon start to find them sickening.
Anyway, I'm glad I went just to see what the fuss was about, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to eat there again.
Cheers!
