dranore's Profile
Vegetarian Tasting Menus - Anything new this year?
Actually, I did the menu at Kajitsu last year. It was fantastic.
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Kajitsu
414 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009
Vegetarian Tasting Menus - Anything new this year?
Thanks for the suggestions so far. My wife's birthday is five days later, so more suggestions are useful if you're aware of any.
Vegetarian Tasting Menus - Anything new this year?
I have a birthday tomorrow, and I'd like to have a nice meal. Any new vegetarian tasting menu options show up this past year?
Vegetarian Tasting Menu Suggestions?
Oh I had forgotten about Kajitsu... I think I read about it a while back. That sounds perfect. Thank. Feel free to make more suggestions, my fiance has her birthday in six days. hehe...
Vegetarian Tasting Menu Suggestions?
It's my birthday tomorrow, can anyone recommend a good vegetarian tasting menu? I've done Blue Hill's a few times ( which is really fantastic ), and I've done the one at Hangawi as well ( also nice, different obviously ). I'd like to keep the price at >$150 if possible. Any suggestions will do. Thank you!
Tetley (UK) in NYC?
How funny! I went by there today, and I just came on here to let anyone else looking know that they ( Meyers ) does have it now! ( They didn't when I originally started this thread. No one did. ) And I'm sipping on the real deal right now! I am super stoked! Thanks to everyone who has posted so far. Hopefully there stock holds up. I bought 240 bags, so I should be set into winter.
Vegetarian Meats from May Wah!
I've had a few of the products from here now. All-in-all they can nail meat-like texture.
Can anyone else comment on experiences with their products? There is a lot of product and a lot of variation that would take me quite a while to get through, so I'm curious about what others have tried and their opinions. Please include links if you can!
Overall it's seasoned to a Chinese palette, which is fine if that's what you're cooking. But so far of the 4 products that I've tried, 3 have a relatively strong spice flavor that is hard to mask in western dishes. If you know of anything that DOESN'T have this flavor, do share, because I'm mostly interested in western preparations.
The best so far has been...
Tuna - http://www.vegieworld.com/cart/product_pages.asp?id=609
Texture - 4.5 / 5
Flavor - 4 / 5 ( Only 4 because it doesn't taste much of fish, which is actually good as far as I'm concerned, more usable, but since it's suppose to be tuna, I'll mark it down 1 ).
This stuff is pretty great. Nice neutral flavor. The oil works really well with it. Fat is often lacking in vegetarian meat products and the oil does a good job of bringing some of that back. Versatile texture. Did some awesome tuna melts with this and I really like it. Will also be trying this for a BBQ pork substitute soon. Similar texture. I will reliably buy this.
I've also tried...
Ham - Similar too: http://www.vegieworld.com/cart/product_pages.asp?id=581
Texture - 4.5/5
Flavor - 3/5
The spice flavor is not TOO strong. Worked acceptably in an omelet. I've had excellent faux ham before, so I know this can be done pretty neutrally. There are a lot of varieties with very similar names here and packing style. If someone can recommend one over another, I'd sure like to know which is best. Would be great in smaller portions. You have to buy quite a bit at a time.
Vege Pepper Steak - http://www.vegieworld.com/cart/product_pages.asp?id=90
Texture - 4/5
Flavor - 2/5
Had this for dinner last night. The texture is pretty good, but it has a strong spice flavor that won't mask easily. Not particularly beefy. Stick to Asian preparations that complement it.
Vegetarian Salted Pork - http://www.vegieworld.com/cart/product_pages.asp?id=843
Texture - 4/5
Flavor - 3/5
Looks like un-cut bacon. This is really interesting. The "fat" marbling is done really well - it has two distinct textures, fat/meat. The spice flavor is present, but can be acceptably masked, though I don't *think* we would use it again. Used this in all sorts of dishes. Great as a contributing member rather than the focus of a dish. Looks like an uncut version of Vegetarian Bacon ( http://www.vegieworld.com/cart/product_pages.asp?id=804 ), though I imagine the seasoning is different.
Tetley (UK) in NYC?
While I appreciate the info, this isn't actually the British tea. It merely uses the British style round bags.
Tetley (UK) in NYC?
I have tried it. I've been drinking it regularly. It is different. The blends are different for different distributors as they likely have independent budgets for independent markets. English tea drinkers are more finicky than the likes of us.
I'll keep looking.
Tetley (UK) in NYC?
It IS packed in india, but it's packed for the US distributor. ::shrug:: The quest continues.
Tetley (UK) in NYC?
Alas, I have obtained the Tetley from Apna Bazaar last night, and sadly it is the American blend. It's packaged for the US company (despite the English flag), so that isn't surprising. My guess it's a cost cutting technique. Use a cheaper blend that is similar-ish, brand it British-ish and it will be good enough.
Thank you for the lead, but the search continues.
Tetley (UK) in NYC?
Thanks for the tip here. I may venture out there after work today.
Tetley (UK) in NYC?
It does differ. US tetley is just a basic black tea blend, including the "British Blend" which appears to just be 25% more black tea in the English round style pouch. There may in fact be a difference in the blend, but the box doesn't differentiate different kinds of tea.
English Tetley is a blend of Assam, African, and Ceylon.
Tetley (UK) in NYC?
I knew they were part of Tata, but I don't see why that would affect their distribution here in the states?
Can you or anyone else verify presence in any of these establishments before I venture there?
Tetley (UK) in NYC?
So I've done a bit of looking, and I'm having no luck finding English Tetley anywhere. I stopped by Tea and Sympathy's shop and they said they stopped carrying it altogether. Butcher's Block in Sunnyside only had US Tetley for some reason. I looked at Myers of Keswick and they said they wouldn't get any more until around Easter. None of the little Indian markets I've stopped into have it either.
What gives? Has anyone seen any around?
Mulawah
Nope. Fry 'em frozen. It would probably give you a crispier texture if you waited... but I get right to business.
Mulawah
Per spelling, I've seen it spelled every way imaginable. Anywho... Yeah. I've been buying them from Holy Land, I was just hoping to find a spot that was closer.
Mulawah
Obviously that's not how it's actually spelled, pardon my inability to type in hebrew.
Looking for frozen mulawah. PREFERABLY in the area of Astoria/LIC or mid-town. I know of a place down in the east village that has it, but I'm rather addicted to the stuff. However, I'm rarely down there. Anyone know of somewhere closer to Astoria where I can obtain these precious goods?
Must Eat In Astoria/Queens?
General Thoughts:
I'm sure there's some lovely place that I'm forgetting, but that's what's coming to me off the top of my head. There are a couple other decent places whose names I can't recall as well. Perhaps I will amend this later. I could definitely go into detail on each of these, but in the interest of brevity I kept it short and to the point.
I'm sad Emac and Bolio's closed up here on 31st. That's a huge loss. I'm also sad that the McDonalds here just reopened. I was hoping the fire had actually killed it, but sure enough it's grown back :P I hope in the future Astoria gets more eclectic/fusion places like Lil' Bistro, Fatty's, and JJ's. Just restaurants trying to do their own thing rather than rehashing standard ethnic restaurant recipes. Doesn't need to be fancy places, just places with interesting and delicious food. :) I should be asleep. Perhaps more later.
Must Eat In Astoria/Queens?
Eugh, 19-33 Ditmars Blvd? That's over near the park. That's not convenient at all.
Must Eat In Astoria/Queens?
The Good:
Lil' Bistro 33 - I wasn't hot on my entre last time (tofu steak). It was good. But the flavor was just too intense for an entre dish. I'm excited they're moving up to just around the corner. This will definitely be getting more patronage from me. Everything else I had was good, if not a bit pricey. Would like to try their brunch. Looking forward to it.
Sac's - The brick oven place mentioned below. Very good. Too expensive. Pleasant but spotty service in my experience.
Cup - Is a nice little diner down near the movie theater, so I often go after a movie. It's bright and clean and has a nice well rounded big menu. Every thing is on the good side of okay. Nothing exceptional. However, I'm a repeat customer so it's definately decent. Service is generally friendly and good.
Watawa - The sushi place I frequent the most. The fish is reasonably good quality. They try to do some fusion stuff instead of being a fancy-ish american-japanese regurgitation, which I respect. However, they're not of the caliber of JJ's. I've had almost everything on the menu. The blackened tuna appetizer is fantastic. The white tuna tataki is interesting as well. My girlfriend loves the volcano roll. Really goddamn annoying, but the ONLY soda they stock now is Coke, because apparently keeping a few cans of Sprite or Ginger Ale in back was too much to deal with. :P (my only complaint really, which is certainly good) Service has it's ups and downs. Green tea is free if you ask for it!
Go Wasabi - Not as good as Watawa overall. The fish isn't quite as good I find. I miss the cartoons they had on when it originally open. Was a nice touch. The vegetarian options are interesting and some are very good: the veg gyoza for example. Certainly a good option if you want some japanese food and your vegetarian, because they have way more vegetarian options than most american-japanese restaurants.
El Potro - Quite a trek from me on foot, but was really great. Went there on Cinco De Mayo last year. Had the chorizo tacos. They were fantastic. Would like to go again.
Modern Bakery - The fancier bakery further east on Ditmars. I haven't been crazy about the sweets I get from there. They're certainly doing well (or going in to massive debt) because they always have new equipment in the store when I walk by. Everything certainly looks good in the window, I'll give them that.
Brooklyn Bagels - Very busy on weekends. People are stingy with the tables. People sit way longer than they should and keep people with food from sitting and eatting. Good bagels. Good creamcheeses. Whatdoya want? It's a bagel place.
Malagueta - I know people here love it, but they're menu just doesn't have much that appeals to me. I've had a steak dish that was interesting a couple times. It tasted good.
The restaurant is good, but I never crave it. Though my girlfriend liked her food ALOT.
Mikes Diner - The greazy spoon diner I frequent. Open all hours. Has some suprisingly good food and weird abscences from the menu. For example: A reuben wrap, but no sandwich? Same for a philly cheese steak? Qua!? Que!? What!? Anyways, it's what it is, and I like it for what it is. Bigger menu than cup, but less focused. Pretty much a list of everything they can make.
Must Eat In Astoria/Queens?
Holy crap. Half of this just got deleted somehow - of course the good half. Oh well. I'll try to redo. EDIT: Aaaaand the entire most mysteriously disappears... glad I saved it. Guess I'll break it apart.
I'll reply to my own thread just over one year later to make some comments about my experience here so far with food. I've tried a great many of the suggestions here now - I'll comment on the ones I've tried. There's a peudo order of importance going on in this list:
My Favorites:
Fatty's Cafe -
Los Amigos - VERY unassuming mexican place. I LOVE it. Very good food. Fresh chips, fresh salsa. The guacamole is delicious. The tacos are good and cheap. I order the cecina quesadillas pretty much every time. The cecina (salted beef) tacos/quesidillas/anything are good. This place is VERY VERY inexpensive and the food is fresh and delicious. I haven't had El Potro enough to compare... but I don't feel the need to make the trip because this place is so damn good. It's also open till the AM, which is great.
Rizzo's Pizza - Just got a flyer from them recently (apparently they just started delivering). The thin Scicillian pizza that they're 'famous' for is extremely good. It's very differet from alot of other pizza. The crust is very good. Really the best pizza I've had in NY so far IMO - though not NY style pizza.
Italian Bakery??? - Theres a small bakery right next to the drug store on the corner of 35th and Ditmars that has EXCELLENT personal portion deserts for dirt cheap. Mini mango raspberry creme tart, mini cheese cakes (oreo and plain I believe), and mini fruit tarts are all excellent (there are more I believe). There are full portion deserts as well, but these little ones are a fantastic deal. You'd easily pay 2x-4x as much in a restaurant for these things. Really worth checking out. Very nice staff. The place is VERY unassuming, but well worth your time.
Must Eat In Astoria/Queens?
I like Sac's a great deal. It's way too expensive for what you get IMO, and the service has been spotty each time I've been. But the flavor is fantastic. I've also recently become enamored with Rizzo's Pizza at 30-13 Steinway Street. It's wonderful pizza. Though quite different from Sac's.
Must Eat In Astoria/Queens?
That's downright exciting! It was a tad to far for regular visits as it was.... but now it will be around the corner.
Must Eat In Astoria/Queens?
Although I started this thread a long time ago, I figured I'd check in on it. I have had Kebob Cafe many times now (nowhere near enough). You had one bad experience that's holding you back from a world of exquisite food. Really is excellent.
Pita House - Greenville, SC - Spicy Red Sauce
Okay. So I learned to love falafel growing up at Pita House. Now I live in NYC far from beloved falafel... as well as their delicious spicy red sauce. Tahini is no problem here of course, however the red sauce is at least somewhat unique to PH. I recall asking vaguely once what was in it... and all I can remember is eggplant and I think tomatoes... They clearly based the sauce on something, and I know a great deal about sauces... but I really couldn't even begin to reconstitute it for myself... I've done some research looking for it or something like it with no luck. I want to enjoy falafel as I once did... but I need at least a facsimile of my delicious red sauce... can anyone help me!?!?
