Chubby's New York Food Diary + some travel eats

Peking Duck House: Chinese New Year Lunch

2012-01-27T15:14:00.008-05:00

Dear Diary:
For Chinese New Year this year, my coworkers and I decided to wear red and have a Peking duck feast for lunch.

We went to the Midtown East location of Peking Duck House, closer to work (food is identical to the Chinatown one). I was anticipating this meal, after all, peking duck is one of my favorite ways to eat duck and the inspiration of my ChubbyChineseGirl sandwich.

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[FLUSHING] New World Mall Food Court: Fire and Icy

2012-01-18T11:45:00.013-05:00

Dear Food Diary:
The doors of Flushing's New World Mall are like a gate at the airport. The minute you take your flight down the stairs, you've arrived in Mainland, this could be any given food court throughout China. From the lights, sounds, smell and people, the 7 train has never transported you this far for a mere subway fare.

So many choices!!! from Taiwanese to hand pulled noodles, sushi to bubble tea, spicy pots to korean and so on and so forth. The Paradox of Choice came to mind the first time I made my round. After a couple visits, I have my Fire and Icy meal all planned out. From drink, appetizer, main to dessert, this can be helpful, specially if it's your first time. (Plus, why Beautiful Memory Desserts didn't live up to their name).

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NY Restaurant Week (yet again... sigh)

2012-01-12T15:55:00.257-05:00

Dear Food Diary:

It seems inevitable at this point that Restaurant ~~Week~~ Month arrives twice a year. You know how I feel about it, but like I've admitted in the article, if friends want to go, I would tag along. Over the years I've had mixed experiences. Some were decent and others simply not worth it. Dinner with wine+tax+tip usually comes to $60+ (I wouldn't call that a steal). I still prefer spending my money and tummy on regular menus.

Regardless, here's my favorite from Winter Restaurant Week 2010 (compliments of StalkerBoy, who selected the restaurants and invited me along). Colicchio & Sons stood out amongst the "just ok" experience at Aquavit (not participating this time) and the totally rip-off Socarrat Paella Bar Nolita who aren't participating this year either. Don't get me wrong, I love the original Socarrat, but for restaurant week, it was the perfect example of what not to do. Portions were small and choices were limited. The paella had less rice than the usual portion, so it was dry and crunchy all around, not in a good crusty way. Since 2 of the 3 aren't participating this time around, here's the best of the 3 and the one that's participating (in case you're making reservations):

LE BERNARDIN: One of my favorite meals of 2011... (pre-renovation)

2011-12-29T15:28:00.005-05:00

Dear Food Diary:
I visited Le Bernardin right before their renovations earlier this year. Regardless of the new decor and trendy bar menu, the food and service I read, remain untarnished. As I looked back at this tasty and exciting year, this dinner was without a doubt top of the list and one I'll surely remember.

There's something nice about old school charm and elegance... I'll miss it. Based on the photos I've seen, the new modern and chic decor is nice, but I'm glad I had to chance to see what it was like...

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Merry Christmas to all food lovers

2011-12-23T15:22:00.001-05:00

Wishing you lots of yummy food this Holiday Season!

Cookies for Santa

2011-12-23T11:17:00.000-05:00

Dear Food Diary:
I'm not quite sure if I've been naughty or nice this year, so I'm just gonna play it safe and leave some really yummy artisanal cookies for Santa, he won't be able to resist and I don't have to spend a fortune (these Fairway cookies were only $7.99 a pound). Win, win.

They come in a gold holiday box, ribbon and all. Great for sharing with friends and family. My box came complimentary from the folks at Fairway. From the top, there's Raspberry Poppy Seed, Chocolate Sea Salt, Pecan Sandies, Holiday Sugar Cookies and Dulce de Leche.

My favorite was the Pecan Sandy. Nutty and crumbly melt in your mouth buttery goodness. Like a shortbread cookie. The Raspberry Poppy Seed was also a winner, sweet and tart with a fresh lemon burst and poppy seeds for texture.

If Santa doesn't show up, I'll eat them myself with milk and tea while shopping online and getting my own Christmas present. LOL.

P.S. Chubby's Rating:

www.fairwaymarket.com (for store locations)

RAMEN MISOYA: "Me So" Salty!!!

2011-12-07T15:50:00.064-05:00

Dear Food Diary:

Yes, winter is here and "ramen season" has started, but is there room on this tiny island of Manhattan for yet another ramen joint? Apparently so. With stores in Tokyo, Kyoto, Silicon Valley and Taipei, I wasn't going to let this one by without a big bowl of steaming goodness.

Ramen Misoya took over that "dummed" spot on 2nd Ave, right around the corner of St. Mark Place. Over the years, this narrow little space has hosted a number of eateries, none memorable. There's a tv screen on the back showing you the kitchen, sort of like an open kitchen I guess? Though nothing beats sitting at Totto Ramen's counter and watching them torch the pork and prep your ramen.

The menu consist of 3 different types of miso (miso paste is made with fermenting rice, barley and or soybeans with salt and fungus. Different combinations/fermenting time/preparation make the types of miso).
• Kome Miso Hokkaido style is a rice miso, the color is more yellowish and is made from boiled soybean (steaming the soybean would darken the color). Mild in flavor, it's the most commonly used.
• Shiro Miso Kyoto style is a white miso that has more rice and barley than soybean, hence the lighter color. It's the most popular since it has a short fermenting time. Sweeter than the darker miso, it has less umami and is mildly salty.
• Mame Miso Nagoya Hagyo style is a soybean miso, it's darker in color, more of a reddish brown. The long maturing of this miso makes it less sweet and stronger umami.

I went for the Shiro Miso CHA-SHU (which is almost $14). Their broth is made with pork and chicken bone (usually is one or the other). It also has garlic, ginger and seaweed kelp. Unfortunately, the broth was super salty (I'm guessing for the amount of miso), so it overpowered any other flavor and topping (They have potato which I've never had). Nothing subtle here. Ultra rich with a layer of fat floating, which I'm ok with, but did I mention it's just overly salty?! It's not like I eat light, low sodium or anything, in fact, my mom complains of my salt intake in general, so if this was salty for me, I'm pretty sure it is. Any doctor would be horrified with this level of sodium.

The noodle was good. Thick and bouncy, but it wasn't enough to balance the saltiness of the broth.

Their homemade pork cha shu was a winner. Nice thick pieces of tender fatty pork. The outside is nicely marinated and flavorful (with their secret marinade), I tasted some soy sauce involved. Perfectly grilled edges. Drooling chard flavors. This is my favorite pork out of all the ramen places, yes, I just said it! My favorite... too bad the broth wasn't a hit.

INNOVATIVE SEASONAL "KONAYUKI" (snow powder) RAMEN

StalkerBoy saw miso, cheese and butter broth on the seasonal menu and couldn't resist. I on the other hand was put off by all of those ingredients together in a hot soup. Separately I love, but fusion like this is not my thing. Yes, that is a dab of butter on top, this is fit for those with the same palate as Paula Deen. The "snow powder" is a visual play on grated Parmigiano cheese. Once the cheese hit the broth, it stuck together and chunks were floating amongst the sea of salt. A big bowl of thick, warm and heart clogging fat. Yeah, this was also very very salty as well. It was definitely a spoonful I would never want to repeat again.

I was hoping love at first slurp... and the long wait for Ippudo and Totto Ramen to the curb, but unfortunately I'll have to get back in line. (sigh). Though I loved the pork cha shu, it wasn't enough to make me want to skip the lines of Ippudo or Totto Ramen and come back for another bowl. In the end...What did the Miso Ramen say? "Me so" SALTY!!! I had to drink bottles of water afterwards, no joke.

P.S. Chubby's Rating:
129 Second Avenue (East Village)
212.677.4825

Gone to Turkey for Turkey

2011-11-21T14:10:00.005-05:00

I'm off to Turkey (Istanbul) for Thanksgiving and my Birthday! will report back with all the eats and more! =)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! if you still need help prepping your dinner or haven't even started planning, here's an idea (semi home made lol)

MASAK: Tiger Beer, Fish Head Curry and more

2011-11-10T18:03:00.039-05:00

Dear Food Diary:
StalkerBoy (a born and raised Singaporean) have described mouth watering meals from his visits back home, but a Singaporean restaurants in NYC? We've been out of luck. Because Singapore is such a melting pot of Asian flavors and influences, it's hard to define what is truly 100% Singaporean. The closest we've come to are labeled Malaysian, places like Nyonya and Penang... Until Masak showed up a couple months ago.

Masak which means to cook, is a "Singapore influenced" small joint in the East Village. Open kitchen, friendly staff and a full bar.

Chef/Owner Larry Reutens is a Singapore native who brings his own interpretation of Singaporean eats with a local and seasonal twist. This place has been on my list ever since their opening, so imagine my delight when Tiger Beer (a Singaporean favorite) invited me to their "Tiger Beer & Curry" promotion. I chose Masak with their Fish Head Curry pairing and brought StalkerBoy along.

TIGER BEER & FISH HEAD CURRY PAIRING

I don't usually drink beer, so this pairing of Tiger beer and curry was new to me. One sip and I knew this was the great union, one I'll unite again and again. Tiger beer is light, bright and refreshing, perfectly balancing the thick creamy curry base and that mild hint of spicyness. The tongue is left with a bit of bitterness that turns sweet after a couple bites.

The curry base, according to StalkerBoy is a bit thicker and creamier than the usual fish head curry in Singapore. Coconut milk and bright lemongrass gives the dish layers of flavor. The eggplant and okra soaked everything up like sponges. Traces of sweet and sour notes in the curry coat the tender fish head. If you never had fish head, I highly recommend it. The meat around the cheeks (my favorite) are some of the most melt in your mouth pieces you'll ever have. The portions was quite big and great for sharing.

If you're feeling adventurous, go for the eyeballs! It might look a bit gross to some, but growing up in an Asian home, this is child's play, literally. My mom made me believe that whatever I ate would "help" my body, in this case fish eyeballs would help with better vision and for some reason make me "smarter". Regardless, eating fish eyeballs is a pretty fun textural affair. It's gelatinous, slimy, slippery and well, tasty in a weird way. I don't go out of my way, but if it's there, why waste! Plus, its sort of interesting when you see the after.

Since the Tiger Beer was only paired with the Fish Head Curry as part of the promo, we decided to order some dishes ourselves.

Chili Crab Dip came with a side of fried mantou (chinese buns). It wasn't as spicy as we expected. The mantou is crispy on the outside, sweet and soft on the inside. Dipping into the crab, you get a bit of tomato and slight sweet and sour flavors. I wish there was more crab though, or a bit thicker. This seems to be a more easy to eat version of the dish than the whole crab version StalkerBoy talked about. I would love to get my hands dirty with whole crabs though, doesn't that sound more exciting?

Quih Pie Tee was totally new and unique to me. Little cups of super thin though (almost like a potato chip) stuffed with different fillings. The shrimp, jicama, egg is traditionally sold in Singapore, I tried the foie gras, seckel pear which was an amazing little bite and surprise. Luscious melt in your mouth foie gras with juicy, tender pear. Savory, creamy and sweet with a bit of crunch from the shell. At $3.50, it might seem a bit hefty but well worth it. I would go back and try them all.

Quih Pie Tee: the crunchy pastry cups explained

Kangkong Belacan is one of my favorite vegetable dishes. The convolous or chinese "water spinach" has really good flavors of dried shrimp paste and fish sauce. It's a bit strong if you're not into fishy and all things salty and spicy, but I love it. Plus the garlic always helps.

They only served jasmine rice (nice and fluffy), though I wanted to ask for "coconut rice" but was afraid they would kick me out and send me to a "Malaysian" restaurant instead LOL.

Teh Tarik has a silky, smooth yet firm keemun tea creme on the bottom, layered with ginger milk froth. This was like condensing a relaxing afternoon in a cup. Sweet pear pearls on top, not only pretty but also a fun textural addition. Sunny meyer lemon strips along the way that made me smile, spoonful after spoonful. So dreamy and fragrant. Not too sweet, just the way I like it.

Tang Yuen Dumplings was on the house. Roasted peanut glutenous rice balls stand firmly along side a sweet chocolate ginger ice cream. The cocoa nib crumbles add a nice crunch contrast to the soft rice balls and offsets the sweetness of the overall dish with a dash of bitterness. A bit fusion, in an interesting way.

Overall I enjoyed our meal, specially the Tiger beer with curry pairing (my new favorite combo). And though prices are a bit higher than chinatown Malaysian restaurants, the food is different enough and worth a try. Specially the Quih Pie Tee.

P.S. Chubby's Raiting:
www.masaknyc.com
432 East 13th St
212.260.6740

2020: get together. give together

2011-11-08T18:08:00.004-05:00

I've had this social/charity idea in my head for a couple years now and finally have it down on "paper". The 20/20 idea came from a Christian Retreat I attended where the speaker challenged us to make small changes that would impact and make a big difference. (Hence the play of 20/20 as date and money amount, plus seeing the world a little differently.)

Since my friends and I get together regularly, I thought this would be a great way to start something good. And because its such a simple idea, anyone can do it.

HERE'S HOW:
On the 20th of each month, a friend hosts a night of food/drinks/fun and each guest contributes $20. The host gives the collected amount to their charity of choice as a way to get together, give together. Ideally, the host would choose the charity in advance and give the guests a little preview of where the money is going and why they believe in the cause.

HOST THE FIRST 2020:

This NOVEMBER 20th would be the official start of the first ever 2020. Please join me in hosting something with your friends for a good cause.

MORE INFO

2020getgive.tumblr.com/

Bell Book & Candle: Worst Brunch Experience ever!

2011-11-07T11:56:00.004-05:00

Dear Food Diary:
I heard about Bell Book & Candles aeroponic rooftop garden and loved the idea of farming in the city, so naturally it got bumped to first spot on my eating list. I couldn't wait to taste for their local, organic and sustainable dishes. 60% of their produce comes from their rooftop, how awesome!

Walking into the charming little basement, music was playing on this chilly Autumn Sunday. Pass the bar and a cozy embrace welcomed us into one of the two casual dining rooms. I was prepared to love this place and StakerBoy thought this was a great choice and glad he invited to friends for their birthday brunch.

Everything seemed ok for the first 10 minutes. BUT those warm and fuzzy feeling and the expectation of a great meal would die out very very fast. One of the biggest brunch disappointments ever. Then the waiters looked flustered. There was no sense of order. A couple parties left since no one was there to seat them. And flagging down a waiter for anything took a while. A table behind us couldn't get a menus since at some point the dining room had no server at all and all the customers just looked at each other in confusion.

Coffee took more than 40 minutes to come. Our food came sporadically, but we didn't even get coffee after 2 appetizers. After asking about it several times, the waitress was apologetic but also looked was in panic mode. They kept telling us there were no clean cups! What?! And it wasn't even good coffee. And as if that wasn't enough, we get charged $1 per person for their filtered "tap water", really?!

Our first appetizer, the Meatballs took a really long time to come. Mind you, during our long wait, there was nothing to munch on, no bread or even crackers (gosh I was hungry). The meatballs themselves were a bit dry and Ikea like, but the creamy sauce on the side saved it from being horrible. Didn't make out what was in the sauce, since at this point, it was about an hour later and I was too hungry to notice.

The Crispy Fried Oysters came like 15-20 minutes after meatballs, after they brought us a wrong order of raw oysters first! unbelievable. Though these were actually quite tasty. The green chile buttermilk dressing on the bottom was a nice bright kick and the crunch from the crispy potato strings on top made it a perfect little bite. Without a doubt the best thing I had during our meal.

After the long wait... this turned out to be one of the longest bad meals ever! my Corned Beef Hash with two poached eggs finally arrived. One bite and I wish it never came.

The "poached eggs" had raw egg white. There was no way I could eat that. I never send food back, mostly out of fear, I'd rather return the dish and go eat elsewhere, BUT this was by now more than 2 hrs later and I was starving.

OMG!!! when my dish came back, I was like, seriously, is there a chef in there? Anyone who has the most basic knowledge of food, I mean even someone like me, who doesn't cook much knows that you can't put "poached eggs" back into the oven to cook the egg white. How hard is it to fire up some new eggs? How can you just serve the one I just sent back? The eggs had a plastic like texture now, I felt it with my finger, it was hard... couldn't take another bite. And as if the corned beef bits weren't dry enough already, now that they spent more time in the oven, they were like fake bacon bits, in the worst way possible. At this point I gave up and sent it back and no I didn't want anything else! Had to grab a sandwich elsewhere around 3 o'clock.

Nothing to sing praises about the other dishes either. Wild mushroom, spinach & goat cheese omelette was pretty regular in taste, but the eggs were overcooked. Even the rooftop herbs couldn't help this one.

Steak & Eggs Benedict was decent according to our friend. The Bearnaise sauce might of helped.

Stalker boy's BBC Burger was ok. The patty was juicy and the grilled onions and cheddar were a good addition. I liked it, but nothing I would go running back for. The "rooftop pickle" seemed more like a gimmick at this point than anything truly farm to table.

It's such a shame when I so wanted to like this place, but it turned out to be the complete opposite. And though some dishes were ok, I couldn't get over the eggs and how amateur that was. To make matters even worse, our bill was wrong and they overcharged us, so that took a while to fix as well... *rolling eyes*

I also noticed that the menu items from brunch didn't seem to fully utilize what they grow year round on the roof. A bit it mixed greens and herbs here and there, but no sight of exciting ingredients like white tomato, eggplant or cauliflower etc.

P.S. Chubby's Rating:
www.bbandcnyc.com
141 West 10 St.
212.414.2355

SWEET REVENGE: New Breakfast Tasting

2011-11-04T17:42:00.004-04:00

Dear Food Diary:
This Greenwich Village sweet spot is known for their unique cupcakes with wine/beer pairings, but owner Marlo Scott invited me to try their latest breakfast creations. The Red Velvet Signature Belgian Waffles caught my attention immediately, so I braved the autumn snow last Saturday and stopped by for a complimentary tasting.

I've never seen a cupcake place with a bar, so that was quite cool. Friendly place with one of those small business stories I love. Marlo got laid off, so she made cupcakes out of the lemons life threw her.

Red Velvet Signature Belgian Waffles with whipped cream cheese, salted caramel syrup and raspberry sauce.

The waffles weren't as crispy as I would of liked, but the flavors were good. The batter was light and fluffly. The whipped cream cheese on top really made it (melt in your mouth goodness) and the contrast of the slightly tart raspberry sauce was great. Not exactly like having a red velvet cupcake, but pretty good, though I've had better waffles.

Scotch Eggs 2 hard boiled eggs wrapped in chicken sausage with black pepper panko crust and a side of roasted thyme potatoes

I never had Scotch Eggs so cutting into this was exciting. But unfortunately it was really really dry. Maybe the chicken sausage was too lean. Or maybe if the yolk wasn't so overcooked, I wasn't expecting runny, but something a bit sexier than this would of been nice and helped adding a bit of moisture.

El Gigante Mornin Burrito with smashed avocado, scrambled eggs, black beans, corn, ham, cheddar, roasted potatoes, tomatoes, onions and cilantro

I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of warm avocado. Everything in theory sounded good, but together it didn't work for me. Maybe there were too many ingredients. A salsa on the side would of been better or even a simple guacamole. Plus, it was moist but in a weird way, with the eggs in between.

I wanted to love the food but I didn't. I felt bad since the place was so charming and everyone was so warm and sweet, but I had to be honest with Marlo and Chef Risa, the food just didn't deliver. They were very humble and open to my suggestions and feedback.

I heard the cupcakes are amazing. Will have to go back for their cupcake with wine pairing.

P.S. Chubby's Rating:
(This review is purely for the breakfast menu)

www.sweetrevengenyc.com
62 Carmine St.
212.242.2240

ChubbyChineseGirl Pumpkin for Halloween

2011-10-28T17:13:00.003-04:00

Just in time for Halloween, I did my first ever pumpkin carving night with my gals C & J.

So much fun! I got a bit more daring after a while of carving and decided to scrape off the face... not sure if it was the best idea, but hey, I tried. Next year, I attempt it again.

Have a sweet Halloween y'all
(If you want treats but you're too old for trick or treating, there's always Economy Candy)

Scharffen Berger Chocolate: Elevate a classic dessert (recipes included)

2011-10-28T15:43:00.006-04:00

Dear Food Diary:
As a true chocoholic, I was more than delighted to receive the invite from Scharffen Berger Chocolate makers a couple weeks ago. An evening with Elizabeth Falkner (Top Chef) and Johnny Luzzini (Former Executive Pastry Chef at Jean Georges and Daniel), showcasing their take on a classic dessert with a hands-on workshop and of course, tasting (my favorite part).

The cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were all chocolate inspired. The fries dusted with unsweetened cocoa powder was interesting. The peanut sauce made perfect sense in what was familiar yet different.

CHEF DEMO

WORKSHOP

We were divided into 2 groups. I was in the kitchen with Johnny, others were learning how to make Elizabeth's sundae. Learning from the chefs hands-on was a fun experience.

Johnny shared a cute story about working under Francois Payard and how he would ask him for some of that "Scooby-Doo" with his heavy french accent Apparently his English wasn't great and he would name things his way, hence the cartoon reference.

Johnny's Scharffen Berger Chocolate Pudding Recipe

Chocolate Pudding didn't sound too exciting at first, but once I read the full description and assembled it in the kitchen, I knew I was in for a treat. The playful textures and sophisticated flavor combos was a step above all other chocolate puddings this Chubby tasted. It's just the amount of sweetness with a kiss of fruity tartness from the passion fruit gelee. The pudding is smooth and rich, with a soft devils food cake in between. Pops of passion fruit seeds appear between bites, while your mouth is busy with the generous sprinkles of chocolate crumbles with cocoa nibs. The fresh raspberries play very nicely in contrast to the freeze dried ones. To top it off, there's chilled chocolate creme fraiche and a chocolate "scooby doo". A perfectly balanced dessert. An unforgettable cup of sweet sexyness. Definitely worth trying it at home.

Elizabeth's Scharffen Berger Chocolate Gelato Sundae Recipe

Not only did Elizabeth elevate the classic Chocolate Sundae with her homemade marshmallow cream, she also took us to the molecular side, using liquid nitrogen to freeze the chocolate gelato. Super cool! There's the spoon licking chocolate sauce, a moist cake and that fluffy marshmallow to top it off. Simple yet satisfying.

P.S. If you love chocolate and baking, here's your chance to win $10,000 (imagine all the chocolate that an buy!) Enter the Elevate a Classic Dessert Contest

This chocoholic was a happy camper. The chefs were such sweethearts. Seriously an awesomely sweet time. I ate so much chocolate (it continued after I got home) I got a little pimple the next day, LOL, totally worth it.

We left with more chocolate in our goodie bags!

"Hi, my name is Cindy and I'm addicted to their 70% BITTERSWEET bar". The bar was big and thick, I couldn't resist, so i bit into like a serious chocoholic would and hurt my teeth. LOL so good though. There's a nice finish and a hint of fruitness, not too sweet at all, just the way I like it. The Milk Chocolate with Sea Salt and Almonds was also quite addicting even though I'm more of a dark chocolate person.

Get yours at www.scharffenberger.com

Amazon.com Widgets

40% OFF dinner for 2 at Le Relais de Venise

2011-10-28T11:20:00.003-04:00

This is quite a good deal. I really like Le Relais de Venise L'entrecote, from Paris to NYC. Yummm, steak and frites!

GET YOUR DEAL HERE

RECIPE: Brunch I return for again and again

2011-10-21T13:07:00.003-04:00

Dear Food Diary:
With such an array of brunch options in this city it's hard to commit to one place. I wouldn't call Recipe my usual, but when I tallied the receipts from last fall till now, this Upper West Side joint won the most visited. Some of my less adventurous days, I just want what I crave, without any surprises and Recipe delivers just that. Plus, their logo is super cute and I dig that.

The place is narrow, small and cozy. It reminds me of Restoration Hardware only warmer, friendlier and a tad more country. Casual, rustic and new American using fresh, seasonal and local ingredients. No matter how busy, you're welcomed and greeted with a big smile. The bar serves the same menu, only closer to the liquor, which is always a plus.

I love small details that make me smile, their tap water bottle is a good example. There's a full bar with wines, cocktails and beers. I usually start with Pear or Strawberry Sparklette which has some ginger and lemon juice along with sparkling wine. Recipe Punch is quite tropical and their Homemade Limeade is sweet/tart and refreshing. Great coffee for the morning as well.

I always start with my favorite Bitter-Sweet Greens which has grilled pancetta! (I wish all salads started this way), walnuts, parmigiano-reggiano tossed in balsamic vinaigrette.

There's a great balance of sweet, bitter, tart and salty. Fresh grassy greens and radicchio have that crunch that is complimented by the chewy salty pancetta and cheese. Different textures that make it fun and mouth watering. If all salads were like this, my diet would have a lot more greens.

Their Vanilla Brioche French Toast could only be described as dreamy. Soft buttery bread soaks up all the maple syrup. Topped with creamy, melt in your mouth mascarpone and enhanced with a seasonal fruit compote. I've had them with berries mostly, which breaks the creaminess with a burst of sweet and tart. Hmmmmm, no conversation is needed for moments like this.

Recipe Pulled Pork Sandwich comes with duck fat chips, yes, I know!!! Sweet tangy bbq sauce coats juicy and tender pork. Soft butter grilled bread holds it all together with some slaw, pickles and gruyere.*Drool*

Poached Eggs with grilled asparagus. crispy prosciutto and bearnaise sauce served with toasted country bread, salad and home fries. Very classic, simple and good.

Their seasonal fruit jams are quite popular. The Hudson Valley Foie Gras Terrine is also not to be missed. Black mission figs, apricots, cornichon and toast. It's so hearty and comforting. So good in fact, I've devoured it and forgot about the photo.

Whether you're in the neighborhood or not, this is definitely a brunch place to check out once or twice or more. I need to go try their dinner one of these days, I can't wait.

One last note, before you leave be sure to check out the bathroom, read the sign as you use the unusual sink and soap.

P.S. Chubby's Rating:
www.recipenyc.com
425 Amsterdam Ave
212.501.7755

Chubby & Wollensky?!

2011-10-18T15:47:00.002-04:00

For those who think, we can't teach an old dog new tricks, Smith & Wollensky just came out with a pretty cool new marketing/advertising idea.

I walked by the other and was like... what?! So apparently for the month of October, you could "pledge allegiance to them" with your reservation of the day, if it gets chosen, your name could be up there! front awning and signs. Pretty neat right? Maybe I'll get Chubby up there!

Smith & Wollensky: Old school steakhouse

2011-10-18T15:31:00.006-04:00

Dear Food Diary:

The carnivore in me feels right at home when I step into a steakhouse. Smith & Wollensky has its old school charm, an army of male staff and USDA Prime Beef, dry aged on premises working for it. Sure, I can appreciate sauces and marinates but nothing enhances a good piece of meat like a dash of salt cooked rare to medium rare.

If you must, order a Caesar Salad. If it were up to me, skip it. Nothing special, I guess you can call it classic or "unchanged" *yawn*.

Fried Calamari and onion rings are also optional here. They are good but I say they take up precious real estate in my tummy. Skip, skip, skip.

Their Maryland Crab Cake is a great way to start. Generous quantity of sweet crab meat with very little filling. Take a bite of the big lumps of crab meat filled "surf" while you wait for your "turf".

Porterhouse for two is my turf of choice, the cut has a bit of everything which I love. Juicy and the beef flavors are prominent. Not as amazing as Peter Luger but pretty close. The texture is a bit different, maybe the amount of butter has something to do with it or the temperature and extremely hot plate they serve it on.

Their Prime Rib is Flingstones size. Very very juicy and tender. The au jus is essential.

I'm usually a porterhouse kinda gal (aka Peter Luger fan), but finding a partner in crime isn't always easy. So Filet Mignon is my turf on those days.

Juicy rare/medium rare. The exterior was seared perfectly. Hints of black pepper and some butter involved. Tender with a bit of chew, just to remind me how much I love beef.

The Hashed Browns on side are not to be dismissed. Bits of crusty potato is mixed with buttery melt in your mouth pieces. Fight for the crusty edges even if it isn't lady like, the brown and crunchy pieces are worth it. Yes, I am a meat n'potato kinda gal.

Creamed Spinach is another great side dish. Not as good as Peter Luger's but this comes close. Creamy melt in your mouth leafy goodness.

If there's room for dessert, their Coconut Cake is my favorite. It's dripping moist with strong coconut flavor, stacked between fluffy cream and a scoop of ice cream on the side. I hear it was featured on the Food Network, one bite and you'll know why.

Another good option are the Profiteroles, not quite like Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecote, but if sweet tooth is calling, this is a good option.

If you really have serious sugar cravings after all that food, well... you're in luck. There are a ton of choices that'll do the job.
P.S. Chubby's Rating:

(more like a 3.75 but not quite a 4)
www.smithandwollenskynyc.com
Original Location
797 3rd Ave
212.753.1530

UPCOMING 10/23: Grub Street Food Festival

2011-10-17T11:35:00.001-04:00

UPCOMING NOV 1-4: Free Macallan Scotch Tasting

2011-10-11T11:06:00.002-04:00

Yeap, this is a free event so sign up early!
There will be an introduction to the brand and their whiskies plus plenty to drink! Cheers!

SIGN UP HERE

Chubby on the Daily News

2011-10-10T11:12:00.003-04:00

Dear Food Diary:

Main St. Imperial Taiwanese Gourmet has been my favorite Taiwanese place for years! Here's my post from a couple years ago. The great thing about this place is consistency. I always know I'll get an amazing meal. Same quality and the flavors from chef/owner Lin.

So when Patty Lee from the Daily News contacted me and asked me to show her my favorite dishes, I was more than delighted to share a yummy meal with her.

READ FULL STORY

Social Eatz: Familiar flavors with a twist

2011-10-07T15:20:00.005-04:00

Dear Food Diary:

I'm a big fan of Top Chef and naturally followed chef Angelo Sosa's season. His American-Korean inspired joint Social Eatz was on my list of casual places to eat at and finally made it there a while back. ( A bit behind on my posts, *sigh*)

In their own words, this is "American comfort foods with an Asian kick". Very laid back, with bright pops of color and the new cheesy cliche of Sriracha sauce on every table. The signature red bottle with green top has become rather popular these days. Anything remotely "asian" inspired/related seem to have some kind of connection to it. Vietnamese restaurants have been using them for decades, I mean, I grew up on this red "joker" sauce (joker 'cuz it seems to go well with everything).

Chili Kissed Tilapia wasn't very spicy even thought it was brushed with thai chili. The fish was fresh and moist. The avocado and green tomato salsa and onions gave it a bright and creamy mouthful. I liked it.

Korean Beef Taco was marinated with a sweet and savory sauce, the taste was aight, but the look of it was a bit of a turn off. The slaw on the side added a nice crunch and hint of spiciness.

Bulgogi Burger was pretty tasty. Charred beef patty with familiar flavors like soy sauce, sugar, garlic, sesame oil and scallions. There's a nice crunch from cucumber kimchi and a nice japanese mayo. This burger felt "lighter" less oily than your usual bistro burger, yet the beef remained juicy. It was pretty good and different. It doesn't replace having a Shack Stack, but its unique in its own way. Stalker Boy liked it so much, he had two, but then again, these weren't very big to begin with. I liked the pickled radish on the side for a sweet and tart kick. I hear the Bimbimbap Burger is amazing, with an egg on top, must go back for that!

No burger would be complete without Crispy Fries. These were perfectly crispy and golden. Some smokey paprika and a very light hint of spiciness, with a turmeric dipping sauce.

Overall I like the place for lunch or after work chill place, with drinks and some bites, so I guess that would be the social aspect of it. Food was good but not amazing or anything.

P.S. Chubby's Rating:
www.socialeatz.com
232 East 53rd St.
212.207.3339

_____________________________________________________________
REVISITED 11/11/11
My friend M read the post above all the way in Cali and requested Social Eatz as her first lunch in NYC today. I also wanted to go back for their Bimbimbap Burger so it all worked out.

Bimbimbap Burger was Winner of the Eater's "Best Burger in America" Competition. First look, didn't resemble the big poster they proudly display right by the door, I sorta had a moment like that scene from Falling Down, where Michael Douglas goes crazy at the fast food joint (about 3:57 into the clip). If you ask me, the egg is essential here and mine came out an big ugly blob and overcooked. Most of the egg white were missing too. I grew up with great "al caballo" (eggs over burger or steak in Argentina) so this was disappointing. Looks aside, the flavors were ok, a little sweet and tart from the pickled carrot and cucumber, but it all hid the natural beef flavors and I missed that good chard from the grill component. I totally disagree with "the best burger in America" win, maybe most unique or different. It's also a bit messy, the juices from the veggies made it soggy. Plus, it didn't really made me think of bimbimbap and the rainbow of colors from mountain vegetables to bean sprouts. I personally prefer the Bulgogi Burger.

Mac & Cheese with an asian twist. Sake cheddar and panko instead of regular bread crumbs. I had two bites and was done. The flavor was a bit off, more sweet than savory. Looks are deceiving in this case. I would skip it.

UPCOMING OCT 13-16: NYC Food Film Festival

2011-10-07T11:14:00.001-04:00

Dear Food Diary:

Last year I had a blast in LIC at the 4th Annual NYC Food Film Festival. While watching the selected food films, we got to sample the dishes that were seen on the screen! Great, since you know how watching food stuff always makes you hungry. Eye and tummy happy together. And all for a good cause, Food Bank for NYC.

This years festival is happening next week, from Oct 13-16. You can choose from 6 events: A cheers to burgers and beers, Edible aventura #3: mistura + more, the tribeca taco takedown, the food porn* party, di fara pizza lunch or farm to film to table. Check out the list of films.

The Sunday evening Farm to Film to Table is looking quite appetizing. I dig the whole farm to table movement, but Truck Farm? now that's extra cool! I gotta see and taste this. Ronnybrook has the creamiest dairy products, love how the family who still operates it is gonna be there. Also The Soup Guy. Yay! farm to film to my tummy night.

BUY TICKETS

"What Happens When" farm goes to table

2011-10-05T11:09:00.004-04:00

I loved my experience at the pop-up restaurant What Happens When earlier this year. But a couple movements later, they closed their doors and I was left wanting more. No, the concept is not coming back, but the chef du cuisine, Hadley Schmitt is joining Northern Spy Food Co. and their simple farm to table in Alphabet City. I've been wanting to go back and this seems like the perfect excuse. Let's see what happens...

www.northernspyfoodco.com

511 East 12 Street (Between Ave A & B)

212.228.5100

CALLE OCHO: UWS Nuevo Latino Cuisine

2011-10-03T12:09:00.002-04:00

Dear Food Diary:

To celebrate the opening of it's new location, the folks at Calle Ocho invited us to a press dinner.

Inside the Excelsior Hotel on the Upper West Side, we got a taste of their version of Nuevo Latino Cuisine.

Starting the night with strong mojitos and sangrias is always a "muy bueno" idea in my book. I preferred the mojito. The sangria was a bit too sweet for me. But I hear from brunch, they offer different flavored sangrias, like lychee.

Their Yuca Cheese Bread was hard to resist. Soft, puffy, chewy, sweet and savory. I could eat this alone and be muy happy.

On the left, Marinated Aji Tuna Ceviche with ginger, cilantro and mustard vinaigrette. Nice balance of flavors and the tuna was really fresh. On the right, Cured Salmon Ceviche with aji amarillo, sour orange and pineapple. I'm not a big fan of the fruit/raw fish combo. Something was just off to me. If the fish is fresh and of quality, less is more.

Bacon Wrapped Almond Stuffed Dates was one of my favorites of the night. I loved the bacon all caramelized with a plump date and crunchy almond. The slightly tart and crunchy bed of hearts of palms was a nice contrast. I was glad the cabrales cheese as on the side, not my favorite.

Colombian Sweet Corn Arepa with Ropa Vieja was a mouthful to pronounce, but not more than that. Average at best, it really wasn't memorable even with the cream and criolla salad. I've had better arepas elsewhere.

Their Roasted Striped Bass, Serrano ham chick pea and Roasted Pepper Sauce vaguely reminded me of the smoked trout with jamon butter i had at Bar Basque, only that had yummy crispy skin and more pops of flavor. Calle Ocho's bass was a bit dry and over cooked. I enjoyed the sides better than the fish itself.

I was totally excited about the Cuban Style "steak frites" with traditional chimichurri, BUT one bite and I was totally put off. The steak was really tough and chewy (not in a good way), i wasn't expecting kobe, but at least a better cut of meat. Since I grew up in Argentina, I know my chimichurri and this wasn't it! Well, also there was so little of it, I was surprised it was even described on our menu.

Dulce de leche ice cream was spoon lickin' good. Deep caramel flavors with creamy texture. I was happy with that alone, but then the Dark Chocolate Cake stood in the way of a good ending. The cake was dry, so I didn't take a second bite.

Overall, Calle Ocho has a nice space, specially for large groups. Food was a hit or miss. Nothing really stood out for me, but since we got a $25 gift certificate, I'll go back and try the brunch everyone was raving about. I had a fun time at dinner, catching up with blogger friends and meeting new ones.

Chubby rating:(close to 3)
www.calleochonyc.com
45 W 81st
212.873.5025

Chubby's New York Food Diary + some travel eats

Peking Duck House: Chinese New Year Lunch

[FLUSHING] New World Mall Food Court: Fire and Icy

NY Restaurant Week (yet again... *sigh*)

LE BERNARDIN: One of my favorite meals of 2011... (pre-renovation)

Merry Christmas to all food lovers

Cookies for Santa

RAMEN MISOYA: "Me So" Salty!!!

Gone to Turkey for Turkey

MASAK: Tiger Beer, Fish Head Curry and more

2020: get together. give together

Bell Book & Candle: Worst Brunch Experience ever!

SWEET REVENGE: New Breakfast Tasting

ChubbyChineseGirl Pumpkin for Halloween

Scharffen Berger Chocolate: Elevate a classic dessert (recipes included)

40% OFF dinner for 2 at Le Relais de Venise

RECIPE: Brunch I return for again and again

Chubby & Wollensky?!

Smith & Wollensky: Old school steakhouse

UPCOMING 10/23: Grub Street Food Festival

UPCOMING NOV 1-4: Free Macallan Scotch Tasting

Chubby on the Daily News

Social Eatz: Familiar flavors with a twist

UPCOMING OCT 13-16: NYC Food Film Festival

"What Happens When" farm goes to table

CALLE OCHO: UWS Nuevo Latino Cuisine

NY Restaurant Week (yet again... sigh)