Local Chili Ingredients in NYC

All - thank you much. I'm planning a few stops on venture: u square, chelsea mkt, essex mkt.

i'll report back next week with the results.

-gy

youngbuck in Manhattan

Local Chili Ingredients in NYC

Thanks, kathryn. I think you're right - they'll be there this saturday. i may end up getting everything at the market.
-gy

youngbuck in Manhattan

Local Chili Ingredients in NYC

I plan to cook up my family chili recipe this weekend and want to do something I haven't done: make it local, or as at least as much as possible.

I have the spices covered, but would love advice/suggestions on a few things:

Ground Chuck - recommendations on the best place in the city? I've been known to mix it up with the meat, so if you have other recs for lamb, etc, I'm all ears.

Sausage - oftentimes I don't use a sausage (just my purist nature), but I figured I could with the excellent ones around the city (e.g. Essex Street Mkt, etc.). Any more?

Beans - kidney are the best, but if you disagree and know others around here, again, I'm all ears.

Peppers - any and all ideas are welcome.

Anything else you want to recommend? As always, very much appreciated...

-gy

youngbuck in Manhattan

Really good sushi for tonight with mom

If you strike out on the "all out" spots, head to Cube 63 and sit at the bar in the back. You can't go wrong. Remember this though: if you take a bottle of sake or wine or both, share with the brothers. You won't regret.

-youngbuck

youngbuck in Manhattan

Really good sushi for tonight with mom

15 East is great. Have to love the traditional Japanese setting and bar seating is great. Although on a Saturday night - maybe not so great. I was there a few weeks ago on a Thurs night and sat for two in an hour upon arrival (~8pm).

In terms of food, I'd go raw, but the octopus is a nice cooked Japanese dish.

Side note: the rice pudding is unique. Very interesting and in my opinion, a fine addition to the menu.

-youngbuck

youngbuck in Manhattan

Fine/Delicious Coffee (to-go) near Bowery and Rivington

I frequently find myself wanted a good cup of freshly brewed drip coffee in a pleasant coffee shop, specifically near Bowery and Rivington (mainly because that's where I live...), but traveling far for it - Oren's near Wash Square, Roasting Plant down on Orchard, Theeee Coffee Chamber, etc).

Please, please, please, someone help me out here. Where can I get good coffee when in the "bowery fringe zone" (in between Nolita and LES / below lower East Village)? Theee is the closest I've come, but still, anything I'm missing here?

And don't say Connecticut Muffin (mediocre coffee in a non-loving environment), Starbucks (if you know coffee, you won't say Starbucks) or Whole Foods, which has good coffee - the Allegro stuff - but it's not a coffee shop, per se.

Sorry for the long post...

-youngbuck

youngbuck in Manhattan

L'impero report

hey gab, i'm heading to l'impero sunday night after next. will report back after. i have a good friend who is smitten over white from his days at Spiaggia in Chicago which, according to him is "still the best Italian food west of Rome." though L'Impero is southern Italian.

he's actually banking on Alto being the better of the two places, being that his strength is northern italian...

i digress. talk after the meal.

youngbuck in Manhattan

Looking for good breakfast sandwich in Lower Manhattan...

** CORRECTION: the Turkey Sausage at Dishes is actually $3.92. I was thinking about some other sandwich in GC. And plus, it's not even in Lower Manhattan. I was in a daze when replying.

youngbuck in Manhattan

Looking for good breakfast sandwich in Lower Manhattan...

billyboy et al - I'm not one for superlatives, but (in my humble opinion), the best breakfast sandwich in the city resides at Dishes in Grand Central (downstairs, west side) - the Turkey Sausage, Egg and Cheese. Please, give it a try, but beware, it's big and it's over $5. There's also another Dishes somewhere in Midtown but I only know this one, since I reverse commute out of GC every morning and walk right past it.

youngbuck in Manhattan

dale and thomas popcorn

I agree, harrison and cackalackie... this stuff is not good. in fact, I would go as far as saying it's awful. don't get me wrong, you walk into their store and it smells like willy wonka's chocolate factory, but when you start munching on it, you get hit with that fake chocolate taste. and if you're like me, that "sweet head-ache" ensues. steer clear of it.

on a similar note (and I'm laughing while writing this), you do know that the "Thomas" in Dale & Thomas is Isaiah Thomas?! I read your post, harrison, and couldn't help but chuckle at that.

youngbuck in General Chowhounding Topics

Spot for Pre-Dinner Drinks in West, West Village

Thanks much for the advice. We're probably going to do Otherroom. Love it in Tribeca and never been in W Village.

youngbuck in Manhattan