fat_hot's Recent Activity
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Sushi in South Slope
Suki on 5th Ave near 18th Street is good.
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LIC Waterfront...anything fun?
5 Star Punjabi is excellent if you don't mind Formica and fluorescent lights.
1315 43rd Ave
Long Island City, NY 11109
(718) 784-7444
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Red Hook Ball Fields
Here's the response I got from Cesar Fuentes when I asked him about the ball fields. The English translation is mine and may not be exact.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: cesar fuentes
Date: 2008/5/4
Subject: RE: Red Hook vendors
Estimado Sr. Wilson,
Dear Mr. Wilson,
Gracias por su interes en nuestro evento.
Thank you for your interest in our event.
Aunque afortunadamente ganamos el permiso permanente para poder operar en el parque por los proximos 6 anos, todavia necesitamos aclarar ciertos requerimientos antes de comenzar oficialmente.
Although we fortunately obtained permanent permission to be able to operate in the park for the next 6 years, we still need to clarify certain requirements before officially beginning.
Esperamos comenzar al final de este mes -Mayo, Labor Day Weekend- o en las primeras semanas de Junio.
We hope to begin at the end of this month - May, Labor Day Weekend - or in the first weeks of June.
En nombre de los vendedores, me agrada saber que, asi como ud. hallan muchos hinchas amigos esperando nuestra pronta apertura. Le dejare saber nuestro dia oficial de apertura pronto.
In the name of the vendors, I am happy to know that they find many friends and fans like yourself hoping for our prompt opening. I will let you know our official day of opening soon.
Atentamente,
Sincerely,
Cesar Fuentes
Executive Director
Food Vendors Committee of Red Hook Park Inc.
PO Box 48
New York, NY 10159
http://www.myspace.com/redhookfoodven...
Chowhound Post
Red Hook ball fields - approved?
Here's the Parks Department press release:
http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsro...
I am SO happy...
James
Chowhound Post
Red Hook ball fields - approved?
I just heard on WNYC that the Red Hook food vendors have had their permit approved by the Parks Department, but I haven't found any other confirmation online. Has anybody heard this confirmed anywhere else?
James
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Burmese in Queens?
The Cafe Mingala on the Upper East Side is excellent.
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park slope top ten
For Polish/Czech/Slovak food, you can try Milan's, which is some blocks south of the nebulous border.
http://www.sunset-park.com/mall/MILAN...
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Sunset Park Recommendations?
La Sultana del Valle is a good Columbian place on 8th and 40th, plus or minus a block. There's a good Vietnamese sandwich place a couple of blocks south on 8th on the west side of the street. For Malaysian food, Nyonya at 8th Ave and 54th Street is one of my regular favorites.
James
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Best coffee shop in Brooklyn (to read and study in)
I was saying it's an excellent place to study and hang out.
I haven't had their iced americano, but I do like their lattes and cappuccinos.
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Best coffee shop in Brooklyn (to read and study in)
Has Beans on 5th Ave near 18th Street is excellent and has a nice, friendly mixture of old-time locals and recent arrivals. I go there every morning to study and it's usually pretty comfortable unless there's a huge rush. The baristas and the owner are all sweethearts and don't have the snobby attitude that you find in too many Brooklyn coffee shops. They close at 8 PM, though.
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A good Indian restaurant in Brooklyn?
The Pakistani greasy spoons on Coney Island Avenue near Foster are fantastic if you don't mind grease. :) I used to eat there constantly when I lived in Ditmas Park. Pak Kashmir (I think it's 1223 Coney Island Avenue) was tops, and also one whose name I forget that was just north of Foster. There are also a couple of good sweets shops. The Bangladeshi places on Church and MacDonald are also worth trying, though I haven't been there in a long time and don't remember which ones I liked.
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Burmese fun fair in Briarwood, 2007
I think I had that "noodle" dish too, and the woman told me it was tofu.
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Red Hook Ballfields -- what is terrific this year?
I live nearby and go pretty much every weekend and have tried I think everything without finding anything bad. (Although I dislike seafood and so don't care for the ceviche, although I know I should like it from other people's reactions.) The huaraches (similar to quesadillas, but with beans in the dough) are my favorites, but they're so huge that I need someone to help me eat them, and I'm quite an eater. Definitely try the horchata at the Guatemalan stand. The kebabs from the Colombians (near the ceviche stands at the end) are a little unreliable, but when they're good, they're amazing. Another must-have is mango (or whatever other fruit) with chili and lime, which you can get from the corn and fruit stand right at the corner.
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Sunset Park Chinatown
I've been pretty unhappy with the Vietnamese options in Sunset Park, so if you find a good one please let me know. :)
There used to be a fantastic dumpling place on 48th right near 8th Ave; I haven't been in a couple of years so it may be gone. Another must-visit is Nyonya at 8th Ave and 54th Street, which is a stellar Malaysian place. It's cheaper but otherwise similar to the other branch in Manhattan.
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Burmese fun fair in Briarwood, 2007
I went with two friends, and we all had a blast and agreed that the food was spectacular. We tried quite a bit of the offerings, although mostly the vegetarian ones. Highlights were the chicken curry noodles, the spicy tofu salad, and the green papaya salad (actually prepared by Thais), which was among the better ones I've had in my life. The bread with beans (maybe chick peas or lentils) was nice, but kind of bland, and the vegetable tempura was skippable. We all agreed that the dessert with the ice was bizarre and tasted like bubble gum, but the yogurt and cheese with cane sugar was pretty good.
The people there were really, really nice, and taught me how to say "hello" and "thank you" in Burmese ("mingalaba" and "chisu tamare", roughly). One gentleman informed me that there are two Burmese festivals in July for the New Year and directed me to this web site:
http://www.thingyan.org
Many thanks to the original poster for letting me know about this, this was a wonderful event.
James
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Whole Cardamom Pods?
You should be able to find them in most if not all Arab or Indian corner stores. I haven't been to many of the stores along Atlantic near Sahadi's lately but I'm sure you can find one that carries them.
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New "Burmese Cafe" in Jackson Heights
There's also an uptown Café Mingala, at 1393 2nd Ave (between 72nd and 73rd). I haven't been to the downtown branch but the uptown one is fantastic. I've been there several times and it's consistently wonderful and usually empty.
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Nyonya on 86th
I've never been to the one on 86th, but the one in Sunset Park is one of my favorites. It and the Manhattan branch have a pretty similar menu, so maybe the Bensonhurst branch is also similar. If so, I highly recommend the roti canai, the mee siam (a fried noodle dish), the prawn mee, and the achat (a sort of pickled vegetable dish with peanuts, very delicious). I haven't been very happy with their fish or crabs, though.
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Spicy Mina's -- I ate there -- WOW!
After reading numerous Chowhound endorsements, I went to Spicy Mina's on Sunday evening with some American friends who are well-versed in Southeast Asian culture, and who are big fans of the foods of the region.
Service was very cheerful, and very slow. Mina herself was charming.
These dishes were generally considered excellent to amazing, with one or two dissenters:
fish biryani - this was recommended by the waiter when I asked him for a traditional Bengali dish.
malai kofta - this was another highlight for most of us. A couple of us are mad about malai kofta and this was among the best we've had.
saag paneer - this was quite different than what you usually get, more oily, less like a gravy and more like sauteed spinach. The oiliness was a bit of a turnoff for a couple of us, while others were unreservedly delighted.
While we were eating, the waiter brought out a complimentary dish whose name I didn't catch; it was gingery, greasy chicken with onions and a vegetable that resembled sweet potatoes. For me and for one other person, this was the absolute highlight, but again the oiliness made this a little controversial.
We generally considered these dishes OK, but unexceptional:
shrimp tandoori - a couple of us suggested that it could have used more sides like cooked vegetables and lemon, but it was just served on shredded lettuce.
aloo dum - we were unanimous that this was relatively uninteresting and even kind of bland; since this is normally one of my favorite dishes I was kind of disappointed.
mango lassi
garlic naan
raita - ok, but overly sweet
Overall I'd say that the verdict was a mixed thumbs up. Unfortunately, when you read such glowing reviews on Chowhound, it tends to overly inflate expectations; we went through a similar thing with Sripraphai. :(
I myself now consider it my favorite desi restaurant in NYC, although for North Indian style curries and tandoori I would still rate Punjab Kebab House in Richmond Hill higher. Given that she's Bengali, I'm not surprised that the fish biryani was so good, but I'm beyond impressed with her malai kofta.
James
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El Centenario
Hi, I just want to give you all a heads up on a great Mexican place in that blurry border between South Slope and Sunset Park. It's called El Centenario, at 667 5th Avenue, between 20th Street and 21st. It's mostly a grocery, but has tables and food in the back. I've eaten there twice and have to say it's pretty damn good and very cheap. The mole poblano (with chicken) and tamales jarochos (chicken tamales with green sauce) were fantastic. I've lived around the corner for more than a year and I'm kicking myself for not trying it earlier.
James
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CIA Taquerias?
Not sure where you mean; CIA is pretty long. The little place just north of Cortelyou (maybe Oaxaca? I forget the name) is OK and has good juices. The sit-down restaurant Los Mariachis a little south of Cortelyou is excellent — try the steak with nopales (cactus).
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Just moved to Richmond Hill (JTrain 104th Street)
I was last there about a month ago. On the other hand we only go at night, so have never had the lunch buffet. We typically get the "gravy" dishes like vindaloos and dum aloo.
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Parking Red Hook Ballfields?
It's easy to park within a block or two. Just make sure you obey all the signs because the cops have been cracking down the last couple of weekends.
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Best Middle Eastern in Atlantic Avenue Area/BH
I went to Bedouin Tent on Atlantic once and thought it was excellent.
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Just moved to Richmond Hill (JTrain 104th Street)
Punjabi Kebab House is the best North Indian place I've yet been to in NYC. I wonder what you got there that you disliked?
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REAL Thai food in Brooklyn?
Huh? There's awesome Indian food in Queens. I assume you're opposed to the offerings in Jackson Heights, so have you been to the places in Richmond Hill? Punjabi Kebab House (Lefferts at Atlantic) is the best North Indian place I've been to outside of India or London.
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LOTS happenin' on Cortelyou
I used to live over there. Los Mariachis just south of Cortelyou on Coney Island Avenue is really good. Try the steak with nopales (some kind of cactus).
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Mexican restaurants sunset park brooklyn
There was a discussion on this exact subject recently - search the forum and you'll probably find it. One of the places that was recommended was El Palenque, which I've now been to twice; the mole de olla is fantastic. The Mexican guys who work at my local bagel place and live in Sunset Park recommended Xochimilco and El International to me, but I haven't tried them yet.
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Need suggestions in Astoria
There are several fantastic appetizers like the garlic potatoes and tzatziki. For an entree, try the shrimp with feta.
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Good place to eat lunch by myself on 5th Ave, Park Slope?
Is that a new thing? I never had a problem taking leftovers home from Kinara, but I haven't been there in several months.
As for recommendations, there's a good new Peruvian place "El Pollo" or something like that near 5th and 2nd street. I second the recommendations for Los Pollitos and Tacos Nuevo Mexico. If you can walk down to 6th Street, Thai Sky is a reliable Thai place. And La Villa at Garfield is rock solid Italian but I don't know if they have lunch.
