So happy holidays everyone! Even though I am temporarily across the country, visiting the folks in Santa Barbara, I still have a few things to talk about.
First up is an account of my last day in New York City 2008 and how it was spent in a beautiful way: holed up in the apartment with some beer and cheap pizza!
Of course my customary late night post airport burrito from Freebird's.
Then is the play by play of my christmas dinner for one.
So my flight out was relatively early Monday morning and Alex wanted to "bro it up" the day before. Unfortunately, it was freezing and we didn't have a solid plan aside from go to the neighborhood bar and have lunch. Instead we decided to avoid the outdoors as much as possible and be hermits. Because we were tired of wanting hot wings pizza and being disappointed when they say "[they] don't make that," we sorted through our pile of menus looking for a better pizza joint. Though Il Forno is usually our go to spot, when we saw what tony's was offering, it was too good to pass up: 1 Large Pie, 1 order of garlic knots, and 1 order of hot wings...all for just 15.00 dollars! We knew that that was the order for us. To settle the matter of beer, and who would make a dash across the street, we put on our gloves and booted up the classic Wii Boxing. Alex cleanly KO'd me in the second round and I snowsuited up! It was rough going but I made it out and back before the delivery guy. And when he arrived it was glorious (because we were starved). Alex and I settled on the couch to the first few episodes of Heroes while we ate ourselves sick. The pizza was hot and floppy, just as cheap pizza should be: you can fold it over itself many times over and make a sort of pizza stack. The garlic knots were greasy and rich. And the only problem were the disappointing hot wings. Not traditional, these more closely resembled the "sauceless hot wings" kfc tried to market as awesome when in reality was dumb. What can I say, I am a traditionalist. I mean they were still fried meat, so it was tasty, just not what one expects. And then we spent the rest of the day watching tv, playing starcraft, and continually eating/drinking.
A side note: the only thing worse than fast food is fast food in an airport. I was secretly disappointed when I couldn't find a burger king in LAX (it has become my traveling tradition to eat shitty burger king while in transit) but McDonald's sufficed. And certainly qualified in the shitty, overpriced area.
But when my plane landed, despite being delayed twice, losing my luggage, and being sicker than expected, it was all made better when my dear mother picked me up and took me for a delicious and hot midnight burrito. Freebird's, while tangentially related to the chain in Texas is unconnected in practice now. This place caters to the Isla Vista/UCSB crowd, knowing being open 24 hours is the best thing for business and serving up burritos bigger than expected. I forgot what it was like, after living in NYC, and even my regular burrito would put the nyc chipotles and qdobas to shame. This thing was a behemoth. Packed with seasoned rice, refried pinto beans (my favorite kind), grilled chicken, sour cream, fresh guac, pico de gallo, and tomatillo salsa, it was heavenly. I took that first bite and it felt like home. It was amazing.
Christmas was a lowkey event here. Because of the dietary restrictions of the folks (coupled with the different natural eating schedules) we parted ways over how to serve Christmas dinner and I was left to my own devices.
My Christmas menu:
Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops (I removed the fruits from the recipe and made it a little more savory, less sweet)
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas (I didn't follow a recipe but this is pretty close to what I did)
Grands Biscuits
IBC Soda (one of my all time favorite things)
Caramelized Apples over Vanilla ice cream (Again I didn't follow this recipe, it just seems an okay approximation of what I did)
How was it? Okay. Something about my kitchen here (maybe because it's all electric) that things never quite turn out how I expect them (mostly the potatoes and dessert). I guess a hot glass surface can never replace a true flame. Or something.
Read More......
Friday, December 26, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Even when it's bad, it's still pretty good
So, Mad and I missed a TNBC meeting because someone (me) fell asleep and skipped his afternoon class and someone (her) had pinkeye. The following week, even though the semester was over, we were determined to keep the tradition. No amount of cold would stop us. Being out of place, up in Peter Cooper Village, by Grammercy, we adjusted our dining selections and settled on New York Burger Company.
The ambiance of the place reeks of the sterile, cookie cutter homogeneity of any fast food place: white walls, static booths, open soda fountain, etc. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing, but it puts one in a certain mindset.
I ordered a basic cheeseburger combo (I was tempted by the Dallas Burger but have started to watch how much I spend after Christmas shopping--ugh. The sauces are free so onion didn't really seem worth 1.25), medium rare. A place sporting such a chain atmosphere, how would they handle it?
In a word, poorly. My burger was a startling combination of bone dry and raw. I'm not sure how that was possible but all of the moisture left the meat without it seemingly cooking. I slathered on a sampling of their sauces to make up for it. The NY burger sauce (their self proclaimed 'steak sauce but better') and BBQ were essentially the same (though they tasted different there wasn't anything distinct about either of them that made them stand out as either type of sauce. A usual fan of mustard, I repeatedly tasted the maple dijon, which was disgusting. I really wanted to like a nice mustard but it was revolting. Mad loved the faces I was making. The Chipotle Honey was okay, as was the Chili Pepper Ketchup, neither too spicy though. The bun, much like the meat, was a little dried out and flavorless. To top it off, it was in my opinion too large for the burger it was accommodating.
The fries, while claiming to be fresh cut, were still reminiscent of freeze dried deep fried varieties. Not that it was bad, but it did not smack of the potato flavor I usually expect out of fresh cut versions.
Mad and I had a good time talking about radio music; New York Burger Company picked quite a good radio station. That is, if like me, you love to feel nostalgic and listen to the Matchbox 20, Fastball, and the ilk of your middle school years. So that was a plus.
So was New York Burger Company a failure? No; despite my harsh criticism, it was fine. It was certainly filling. It just seems, with the menu, to be reaching out for a status that both it's food and decor just don't understand. If you want fast food, it certainly can be out the chains. Which I guess is the market it needs to compete in since Shake Shack is a block away.
Read More......
The ambiance of the place reeks of the sterile, cookie cutter homogeneity of any fast food place: white walls, static booths, open soda fountain, etc. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing, but it puts one in a certain mindset.
I ordered a basic cheeseburger combo (I was tempted by the Dallas Burger but have started to watch how much I spend after Christmas shopping--ugh. The sauces are free so onion didn't really seem worth 1.25), medium rare. A place sporting such a chain atmosphere, how would they handle it?
In a word, poorly. My burger was a startling combination of bone dry and raw. I'm not sure how that was possible but all of the moisture left the meat without it seemingly cooking. I slathered on a sampling of their sauces to make up for it. The NY burger sauce (their self proclaimed 'steak sauce but better') and BBQ were essentially the same (though they tasted different there wasn't anything distinct about either of them that made them stand out as either type of sauce. A usual fan of mustard, I repeatedly tasted the maple dijon, which was disgusting. I really wanted to like a nice mustard but it was revolting. Mad loved the faces I was making. The Chipotle Honey was okay, as was the Chili Pepper Ketchup, neither too spicy though. The bun, much like the meat, was a little dried out and flavorless. To top it off, it was in my opinion too large for the burger it was accommodating.
The fries, while claiming to be fresh cut, were still reminiscent of freeze dried deep fried varieties. Not that it was bad, but it did not smack of the potato flavor I usually expect out of fresh cut versions.
Mad and I had a good time talking about radio music; New York Burger Company picked quite a good radio station. That is, if like me, you love to feel nostalgic and listen to the Matchbox 20, Fastball, and the ilk of your middle school years. So that was a plus.
So was New York Burger Company a failure? No; despite my harsh criticism, it was fine. It was certainly filling. It just seems, with the menu, to be reaching out for a status that both it's food and decor just don't understand. If you want fast food, it certainly can be out the chains. Which I guess is the market it needs to compete in since Shake Shack is a block away.
Read More......
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Happy Holidays!
Starting a couple years back, my friends and I started the tradition of doing a little holiday get together that many know as Secret Santa. I'm not gonna lie, it is one of my absolute favorite annual events of the year. We set it on that fateful day after classes end but before exams begin, to help alleviate some of the stress and to make sure everyone is still in town. And of course we have tons of treats to enjoy.
Starting with a joke from a party I was at my sophomore year, parties tend to include hot wings. And secret santa is no exception. For our 11 person gathering, we ordered the party platter (100 wings) from Atomic Wings to heat up our winter season. We stuck with the classic 'hot' designation of spiciness and I can say we were not disappointed. The wings were drenched in a generous pool of sauce that made sure you only ate these bad boys in the company of friends (because you're gonna look like a messy pig no matter how delicately you try). Thankfully though, Atomic not only packs with these plenty of napkins and plates but also many a wetnap to clean yourself up to open your pressies!
Of course that was not the only delicious treat on hand; though I don't particularly care for it, my roommate Alex made some homemade Egg Nog spiked with Captain Morgan's (instead of the traditional bourbon). It was a big hit and I am proud of him, because he tends to think he can't cook very well.
In this theme (of Egg Nog, not 'thinking I can't cook well'), my other roommate Julia decided to try her hand at Egg Nog Cupcakes. A nice seasonal touch on a classic party dessert. Again, these were a huge hit.
After some deliberation, I decided to try my hand at some Banana Chocolate Chip cookies. I altered the recipe a bit though. I replaced half of the white sugar with brown. After the first batch came out, I decided to add a hint of cinnamon to them. Also the bottoms tend to brown or burn fast so I dropped the oven temperature to 375 after the first batch and immediately moved them to cooling racks. The batch baked on my only air cushioned sheet fared much better and I heard parchment will also help prevent that. All in all though, people liked them; they came out VERY airy and cakelike which I especially enjoyed. Also, to maximize banana flavor, it bares repeating, use as brown as bananas you can find/get/wait for.
My friend Jill (who was the recipient of my gift: How to Survive a Horror Movie, an Insound gift pack, and little bottle of Jameson.) also made an amazing layered mexican bean dip. Though I don't have the recipe right now, I obviously will share it as soon as I get the opportunity. This thing is amazing. It's like bite size mexican food. Tortilla with cheese, meat, or vegetable. But seriously. It is really good.
Even Dunkin' Donuts got in the holiday spirit and gave my friend Tim huge discounts on the donuts and munchkins he brought to the party. That was nice.
For the record, my friend Elizabeth got me, and I received the coolest robot and monster plates and mac and cheese (kind of a thing with us). It was the best secret santa ever.
Read More......
Starting with a joke from a party I was at my sophomore year, parties tend to include hot wings. And secret santa is no exception. For our 11 person gathering, we ordered the party platter (100 wings) from Atomic Wings to heat up our winter season. We stuck with the classic 'hot' designation of spiciness and I can say we were not disappointed. The wings were drenched in a generous pool of sauce that made sure you only ate these bad boys in the company of friends (because you're gonna look like a messy pig no matter how delicately you try). Thankfully though, Atomic not only packs with these plenty of napkins and plates but also many a wetnap to clean yourself up to open your pressies!
Of course that was not the only delicious treat on hand; though I don't particularly care for it, my roommate Alex made some homemade Egg Nog spiked with Captain Morgan's (instead of the traditional bourbon). It was a big hit and I am proud of him, because he tends to think he can't cook very well.
In this theme (of Egg Nog, not 'thinking I can't cook well'), my other roommate Julia decided to try her hand at Egg Nog Cupcakes. A nice seasonal touch on a classic party dessert. Again, these were a huge hit.
After some deliberation, I decided to try my hand at some Banana Chocolate Chip cookies. I altered the recipe a bit though. I replaced half of the white sugar with brown. After the first batch came out, I decided to add a hint of cinnamon to them. Also the bottoms tend to brown or burn fast so I dropped the oven temperature to 375 after the first batch and immediately moved them to cooling racks. The batch baked on my only air cushioned sheet fared much better and I heard parchment will also help prevent that. All in all though, people liked them; they came out VERY airy and cakelike which I especially enjoyed. Also, to maximize banana flavor, it bares repeating, use as brown as bananas you can find/get/wait for.
My friend Jill (who was the recipient of my gift: How to Survive a Horror Movie, an Insound gift pack, and little bottle of Jameson.) also made an amazing layered mexican bean dip. Though I don't have the recipe right now, I obviously will share it as soon as I get the opportunity. This thing is amazing. It's like bite size mexican food. Tortilla with cheese, meat, or vegetable. But seriously. It is really good.
Even Dunkin' Donuts got in the holiday spirit and gave my friend Tim huge discounts on the donuts and munchkins he brought to the party. That was nice.
For the record, my friend Elizabeth got me, and I received the coolest robot and monster plates and mac and cheese (kind of a thing with us). It was the best secret santa ever.
Read More......
Sunday, December 7, 2008
On line or In line?
So there's a lot to mention in the past week or so, food-wise.
1. Thai food ala Lantern
2. Burgers courtesy of Paul's
3. Cool Kid Hot Dogs via Crif Dog
So I guess we should get started?
Lantern exudes that sort of typical New York milieu one imagines, if one is unfamiliar with the city. So it's rather fitting that when Julia's friends from home came for a visit, this is where we dined one night. The soft lighting and sophisticated-casual air of the night time crowd belies the simplicity and honesty of the food; it is easy to see that Lantern, with its tree arrangements and mirrored walls, is striving to go beyond a nice Thai place. With a well designed bar and snappy service, it certainly is getting there. The Lantern lemonade is a delightful Asian twist on a simple drink: the lychee pairs wonderfully with the triple sec in this vodka based cocktail, which isn't too cloyingly sweet.
I went with a simple wok-fried basil chili beef entree, hoping the spice would keep me warm in the middle of this dreaded east coast weather. And while I wasn't sweating bullets, it certainly brightened my palette. Delicious, yet unremarkable or forgettable. Lantern is an excellent way to seek out a taste of exotic, cultured, or chic without overwhelming oneself.
*As a side note: their bathroom is amazing. Check it out.
Tuesday came and marked another meeting of the TNBC (the week prior was cancelled due to the proximity of thanksgiving). Our destination of the evening was the East Village standby, Paul's. I had been here a number of times but my counterpart had not so we decided to pay a visit. Quaint and simple, its open kitchen, vinyl table cloth and (at heart) basic menu harkens back to greasy spoons. To ensure juiciness, Paul's is well known for using metal lids to steam their burgers on the cooktop, and while it doesn't promote the browning (due to the maillard reaction) it does seem to hold in the moisture (I put it to the test by ordering a medium-well burger versus my standby choice of medium rare). At 1/3lbs, it is certainly filling but when compared to the likes of Stand, seems dull. The Wonder Bread buns (of which I took notice a fresh delivery sitting on the counter) are another dull note. But at around $5.50, it's hard to challenge a better quality/quantity ratio (especially in these times of economic hardship).
Crif Dog conjurs everything I expected out of New York (in fact the whole night kind of did): you take a low class object, the hot dog, and hype it with style and hipster goodness. The place is filled with anti-establishment memorabilia, 70s arcade games, and used to carry cans of PBR (for that extra ironic hipster touch). The night began with seeing a movie with my friend Jill. After our plans of eating dinner beforehand were halted by time constraints, our tummies were rumbling even during the scenes of vampire feeding. We headed to late night East Village favorite, Crif Dog. I had my usual, a Chihuahua (bacon wrapped and topped with avocado and sour cream) and a Tsunami (also bacon wrapped, drowned in teriyaki sauce, and topped with pineapple and scallion) washed down with good ole root beer (the beer signs have been taped over, stating BYOB). Deep fried goodness. On reflection, though I love avocado, I think the bacon might be a bit overpowering on the chihuahua. However, on the Tsunami, its savory flavor plays wonderfully with the sweetness of both the teriyaki and the pineapple. Love them to death.
We also had the bonus of watching people watch other people go into PDT. Short for Please Don't Tell, PDT is a speakeasy-esque cocktail lounge that requires reservations which people fight to get into. Also super NYC-y. While I have never been, as I've been writing this, I've decided I really want to go to one of these places soon, just so I can know the experience (and sound way cooler to out of towners). Maybe impress a date there.
SO hey, if you have an at PDT (or Milk & Honey or Angel's Share or any of the other establishments I don't want to embarrass myself in) please take me along.
Read More......
1. Thai food ala Lantern
2. Burgers courtesy of Paul's
3. Cool Kid Hot Dogs via Crif Dog
So I guess we should get started?
Lantern exudes that sort of typical New York milieu one imagines, if one is unfamiliar with the city. So it's rather fitting that when Julia's friends from home came for a visit, this is where we dined one night. The soft lighting and sophisticated-casual air of the night time crowd belies the simplicity and honesty of the food; it is easy to see that Lantern, with its tree arrangements and mirrored walls, is striving to go beyond a nice Thai place. With a well designed bar and snappy service, it certainly is getting there. The Lantern lemonade is a delightful Asian twist on a simple drink: the lychee pairs wonderfully with the triple sec in this vodka based cocktail, which isn't too cloyingly sweet.
I went with a simple wok-fried basil chili beef entree, hoping the spice would keep me warm in the middle of this dreaded east coast weather. And while I wasn't sweating bullets, it certainly brightened my palette. Delicious, yet unremarkable or forgettable. Lantern is an excellent way to seek out a taste of exotic, cultured, or chic without overwhelming oneself.
*As a side note: their bathroom is amazing. Check it out.
Tuesday came and marked another meeting of the TNBC (the week prior was cancelled due to the proximity of thanksgiving). Our destination of the evening was the East Village standby, Paul's. I had been here a number of times but my counterpart had not so we decided to pay a visit. Quaint and simple, its open kitchen, vinyl table cloth and (at heart) basic menu harkens back to greasy spoons. To ensure juiciness, Paul's is well known for using metal lids to steam their burgers on the cooktop, and while it doesn't promote the browning (due to the maillard reaction) it does seem to hold in the moisture (I put it to the test by ordering a medium-well burger versus my standby choice of medium rare). At 1/3lbs, it is certainly filling but when compared to the likes of Stand, seems dull. The Wonder Bread buns (of which I took notice a fresh delivery sitting on the counter) are another dull note. But at around $5.50, it's hard to challenge a better quality/quantity ratio (especially in these times of economic hardship).
Crif Dog conjurs everything I expected out of New York (in fact the whole night kind of did): you take a low class object, the hot dog, and hype it with style and hipster goodness. The place is filled with anti-establishment memorabilia, 70s arcade games, and used to carry cans of PBR (for that extra ironic hipster touch). The night began with seeing a movie with my friend Jill. After our plans of eating dinner beforehand were halted by time constraints, our tummies were rumbling even during the scenes of vampire feeding. We headed to late night East Village favorite, Crif Dog. I had my usual, a Chihuahua (bacon wrapped and topped with avocado and sour cream) and a Tsunami (also bacon wrapped, drowned in teriyaki sauce, and topped with pineapple and scallion) washed down with good ole root beer (the beer signs have been taped over, stating BYOB). Deep fried goodness. On reflection, though I love avocado, I think the bacon might be a bit overpowering on the chihuahua. However, on the Tsunami, its savory flavor plays wonderfully with the sweetness of both the teriyaki and the pineapple. Love them to death.
We also had the bonus of watching people watch other people go into PDT. Short for Please Don't Tell, PDT is a speakeasy-esque cocktail lounge that requires reservations which people fight to get into. Also super NYC-y. While I have never been, as I've been writing this, I've decided I really want to go to one of these places soon, just so I can know the experience (and sound way cooler to out of towners). Maybe impress a date there.
SO hey, if you have an at PDT (or Milk & Honey or Angel's Share or any of the other establishments I don't want to embarrass myself in) please take me along.
Read More......
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