Dozka

2011-11-21T18:13:00.000-05:00

What a delight to discover that Gotham Bar and Grill offers a weekday lunch prix fixe! This 3-star New York Times rated establishment has been on my radar for a while. An affordable opportunity could not be allowed to pass by.

The butternut squash soup came with celery root custard and spiced honey crisp cider emulsion. The soup was delicious and creamy. Unfortunately, the custard did not contribute to the flavors for me.

The pan roasted day boat haddock was perfectly cooked with crispy skin and the moistest, lightest flaky fish. It came with a smooth potato puree, escarole and white beans white wine and lemon emulsion. This added a different dimension to the fish and was good enough to drink on its own. Perfectly executed. I could have had another three servings of these.

And speaking of wanting another serving, their chocolate cake is an oxymoron of light chocolatyness. Ice-cream of the day was spicy cardamom, a perfect accompaniment on a fall day.

Excellent service, excellent food using quality produce, great value for money.

Gotham Bar and Grill
12 East 12th Street
New York City

The Tea Set

2011-11-14T18:02:00.001-05:00

The Tea Set is a great concept - cute cafe/restaurant that specializes in a wide variety of teas, organic food and offers a selection of wines. I would like this place to succeed so terribly that I have returned on more than two occasions. However, a cute concept may be all this place turns out to be. The service for such a small venue is haphazard. Variations to orders causes too much confusion.

Like this cobb salad of mine where I had opted for cheddar instead of blue cheese. Initially came beautifully assembled. But when the blue cheese appeared erroneously and had to be sent back, it came back tossed, on a hot plate.

Come to the Tea Set to check out the adorable surrounds. Arrive with lower expectations and you won't be disappointed. Worth one visit.

The Tea Set
235 West 12th Street
New York City

Kittichai

2011-11-07T19:39:00.000-05:00

You readers may now know that I have an obsession with Kittichai. It's one of the few swish places in New York City that serves reasonably priced food, has somewhat of an unlimited drink option and takes reservations. It makes a safe option for a group brunch.

Apart from an unlimited drinks option that comes with brunch, Kittichai has a prix fixe option which we opted on this occasion.

These marinated short ribs were well marinated indeed. It's always a joyous occasion when one gets a good mouthful of sweet marinade when biting into short rib. But not so joyous if the meat isn't quite falling off the bone.

The organic chicken green curry was tasty enough. However, nothing exceptional to write about.

The skirt steak however, was an excellent choice by my dining companion. Tender and well seasoned.

The salmon was over done. Extremely ordinary. However, paired with a most vibrant tasting mango salsa.

The winner of my prix fixe was the coconut creme caramel served with coconut twirl. What a genius idea to make creme caramel out of coconut!

Wonderful enough with the decor, beautiful wait staff, unlimited drinks option and interesting menu to keep visitors distracted enough not realize to that not every single dish is stellar. But for the prices paid, Kittichai is good value for money and continues to be a reliable brunch option.

Stanton Social

2011-10-30T16:36:00.000-04:00

Tapas for breakfast? What a novel idea. At Stanton Social, tapas for breakfast exists in a dimly lit space.

There seem to be no order in terms courses tapas-logy. So if the banana caramel pancakes arrive first, don't be surprised. But if all pancakes come with vanilla brown butter, candied pecans and maple syrup, I'm quite happy to take them first, in the middle and last.

The red snapper tacos with creamy avocado and spicy mango was flavorsome, moist and spicy.

But the star of brunch has to be the onion soup dumplings. Stanton Social is the only place I know that serves these dumplings which encases a flavorsome sweet onion soup, individually placed in a hollowed out ceramic bowl, topped with cheese, baked, and served with a crouton on each of the dumpling. Dangerously hot, once these dumplings have cooled sufficiently for an unsuspecting palette, each slightly chewy bite exposes a quick squirt of the sweet french onion soup. Then following the lingering taste of onion, is the texture of a slightly chewy dumpling, and a crisped rich mound of cheese.

Stanton Social
99 Stanton Street
New York City

The Smith

2011-10-25T03:16:00.000-04:00

The line outside The Smith on an early Sunday afternoon might be an indication of an excellent brunch, or a terribly overbooked and under managed reservation system. Fortunately, both holds true.

The short rib hash with poached egg made the 30-minute wait with reservation well worth it. Falling off the bone, well seasoned short rib that oozes sweet porky juices against the creaminess of an oozing poached egg yolk couldn't have pacified me more.

The venue far too noisy to hear too much of any conversation. Come for food, perhaps even on your own, you might just get seated that little bit quicker.

The Smith
55 Third Avenue
New York City

Cafe El Porto

2011-10-23T00:20:00.001-04:00

A colleague had been raving about some best shrimp taco he's had and these amazing cucumber margaritas. When a foodie Australian friend came to visit New York City for the first time, I knew that this would be the perfect time to investigate Cafe El Porto.

Cafe El Porto is tucked away almost below street level on Elizabeth Street. The place is no nonsense. It seats barely 30 people with almost plastic like decor, our server is friendly and the menu straight forward.

The shrimp tacos that were highly recommended did not disappoint. The shrimp fresh, the salsa flavorful topped off with creamy avocado on a soft tortilla shell. We could have eaten a few more of these.

However, we opted for variety instead of sense in this instance. The pork tacos were cheaper cuts of meat that was not a waste of time but not the star on the menu.

The cucumber margaritas are potent and could do with an extra squirt of lime or two. But when one is halfway through a pitcher of this beverage, these details could be forgotten.

No frills, excellent fresh shrimp tacos.

Cafe El Portal
174 Elizabeth Street
New York City

Jane Restaurant

2011-08-21T16:09:00.001-04:00

When suffering from jet lag resulting in a 6:30am rise, the best thing to take advantage of this early morning obscenity is by heading to a difficult to get in brunch spot.

At Jane Restaurant, while toying with the idea of consuming the well reviewed vanilla bean french toast made with creme brulee batter, the neighboring table took the liberty at eavesdropping at our indecisive conversation and recommending his amazing brunch which is the special of the day.

The slow cooked pulled ribs with poached egg and truffle hollandaise sauce did not disappoint. The meat which had been fallen off the bone and pulled to shreds was well seasoned, melt in your mouth and sweet. The poached egg was slightly too undercooked for my liking but I quickly concealed the slightly clear egg white with the very decadent truffle hollandaise sauce. For those of you who do not know, I love truffle anything. I would eat 2-minute noodles with truffle oil, if I could. However, I suspect that this might be met with throes of abuse from you who will think that it is an insult to truffle. Even the potatoes on this plate was well cooked, fluffy on the inside, slightly crunchy on the outside and moderately salted, which was perfect for mopping up the remaining egg yolk and truffle hollandaise sauce. It took some will power not to wolf down my meal.

My first encounter with Jane Restaurant was very pleasing.The food was amazing, the service was very attentive and brunch items come with a complimentary cocktail, after 12 noon but that is when the crowd shows. The bad news is, this brunch item was on the specials menu.... so I may not spot this another time. Hm.... but there is the vanilla bean french toast.....

Jane Restaurant
100 West Houston
New York City

Gramercy Tavern

2011-06-26T02:12:00.000-04:00

How appropriate that it is amazing food that has drawn me back to blogging about my culinary adventures in this city again. Today's adventure is brought to you by lunch at the Gramercy Tavern.

Although I am not a fan of beets, I was open to the idea of tasting the baby beets with spiced orange and toasted hazelnuts. The flavors of the spiced orange permeated through the beets. But beets are still beets to me.

The duck salad was quite a surprise. What came as a mound of greens was just waiting to reveal slices of warm, tender and wonderfully rich-flavored duck. The pecan vinaigrette was hardly noticed. The slices of grilled potatoes and apple complimented the duck so well. Who would've thought apple and duck would go together?

You know it must be summer when greens are everywhere. This is actually the fried oyster and you may be fooled that it is a salad. Until you bite through the crunchy, crumbly batter coating the meaty flavors of the sea. I absolutely love fried oysters and the Gramercy Tavern has done this so well.

The sea bass with grilled asparagus and mushrooms was delightful. The fish fresh, the asparagus cooked but crisp. The puree has wonderful flavors of mushrooms through it. We would have eaten another plate of this.

We also had a bowl of the seafood broth. Visually unexciting. Unfortunately the dish was not seasoned. Once we salted it, the flavors completely popped. Little chunks of seafood and potatoes but creamy flavors and a little bit of spice.

This was the star of our meal. Listed right at the bottom of the menu as just a mushroom lagsane without any additional description. But perhaps it did not need the additional description. The flavors of mushroom permeated the entire dish which was layered with what looked and tasted like buffalo mozzarella and topped with a demi-glace and slivers of crisped garlic. The slightly sweet, salty and woody flavors that left behind a trail of garlic left us all quite speechless.

The chocolate cake with sour cream ice cream and hazelnut crumbs was very satisfying for dessert. Rich but not too rich and the sour cream ice cream giving it a more interesting body of flavor than the usual vanilla ice cream.

The pistachio brown butter ice cream paled in comparison to the chocolate cake. The bourbon infused blueberries were delicious, but almost required for me, next to the alarmingly tart lemon ice cream.

The service at Gramercy Tavern was flawless. Paired with such well-executed food, this was definitely a culinary success. So much of a success that it's drawn me back to food blogging again.

I am back...

2011-06-26T01:49:00.000-04:00

It has been a good half a year since I have last blogged. My accidental stumble on several food documentaries and a curiosity on books about how food is grown in the United States had converted me to the organic food path. I no longer dined out and managed my three (fine... it really is five) meals a day from my tiny New York City kitchen. I did the best I could to avoid genetically modified ingredients like the plague. But good food is such that it doesn't stop you from leaving. But gently coaxes you back. While I still churn out organic meals from my own kitchen, I have been coaxed into eating out again. How can you not in this fabulous city full of culinary adventures!

So I am back, with more food photography and reviews of new found culinary adventures in New York City.

Yo Sushi

2010-12-30T13:56:00.001-05:00

There's nothing sadder than seeing a sparsely populated sushi belt.

Or semi dried out egg omelette slapped on pre-made rice balls.

Or eel that looks deliciously glazed but cold out from the fridge.

Although the mochi ice cream which likely just came out from a packet like everything else here, was fairly good.

Yo Sushi is the ultimate insult to a wonderful cuisine. Save your pennies and fill yourself up with cider instead.

Yo Sushi
3D Belvedere Road
London
SW1 7GP

Hell's Kitchen Pizza

2010-12-28T20:00:00.000-05:00

A neighborhood buddy dragged us to Hell's Kitchen Pizza after a few drinks. I am always up for supporting businesses in my neighborhood.

The plain cheese slice was crisp and slightly cheesy.

The parma slice was slightly dusted with the smallest amount of parmesan. It's all about the sauce, says John who works behind the counter. But I'm afraid, John may not be right this time.

If you're sober enough, jump on the subway to Pomodoro in Soho instead for the cheesiest vodka slice where cheese is dripping off your slice, and your chin.

Hell's Kitchen Pizza

691 Tenth Avenue

New York City

Quintessence

2010-12-26T20:00:00.000-05:00

On my third visit to Quintessence, I opted for the All American Burger, the third out of three things I wanted to sample from the menu. Flavor of mustard overpowered the burger although it was somewhat tasty. The salad with the house dressing was divine as usual. The tortilla chips were crispy and flavorsome. No non-raw foodist would know that this was not a regular tortilla chip.

One of my dining companion opted for the banana strawberry crepe served with mango cream. The cashew cream was delicious, with a burst of citrus and mango flavors.

My other dining companion's brunch came with caviar. Made of chia seeds and flavored with seaweed. Um... not quite like caviar, but somewhat strangely tasty.

My love affair with raw food continues. Nothing beats good excellent produce that is a burst of flavor.

Quintessence

263 East 10th Street

New York City

Kyotofu

2010-12-23T20:00:00.036-05:00

It's always such a decadent occasion when one opts to visit a dessert restaurant. And one can be forgiven wanting to see interesting and unusual items on the menu. Kyotofu's menu gets me excited. Although the restaurant creates dessert predominantly made of soy, they are interesting and full of flavor.

My ginger sencha was brought to me by the cutest waiter.

My dining companion opted for the warm miso chocolate cake which was served with a strawberry gelee. The cake was slightly crisp on the outside, but warm, moist and gooey on the inside.

After my encounter with green tea creme brulee at Sobaya, I have been on the search for another green tea creme brulee which is just as good. Unfortunately, I did not find this in Kyotofu. The texture of the creme brulee was creamy with the crisp burnt sugar top. But I was disappointed with the lack of matcha in the creme brulee itself.

However, the ginger sorbet that it came with was delightful. Aroma of ginger which was pleasantly mild and sweet. Served with the freshest piece of crisp wafer resting on matcha soy creme and the prettiest ume next to it.

We both received a petit four at the end of our meal. It's the little things that counts!

Kyotofu is such a delight. Both desserts and wait staff are good looking. Tasty soy softserve flavors change daily. Great reasons to return.

Kyotofu

705 Ninth Avenue

New York City

Bocca di Bacco

2010-12-21T20:00:00.019-05:00

My return to Bocca di Bacco saw us seated once again at one of the dimmest spots in the restaurant. However, that was quickly forgotten once the bread basket with the delicious salsa arrived.

My dining companion opted for the tortellini with sage butter. The aroma infused our entire dining table. Food envy I did have as I opted for the seafood raviolli. Al dente pasta and flavorsome, but a little gritty in some parts.

Another visit is essential. But I think this might be more of a tapas and not pasta place.

Bocca di Bacco

828 Ninth Avenue

New York City

Utsav

2010-12-19T20:00:00.020-05:00

I decided to trudge into Utsav for their advertised budget lunch. Two vegetable curries for $7.95 or substitute a vegetable curry for a meat curry for $9.95.

I was met by a queue right next to the bain marie. 10 to 15 minutes later, I opted for my chicken curry and a spinach curry. It came with rice and a salad. That's good value for money for that much food in midtown.

I was craving a mango lassi and decided on one even after being told it's $6. Unfortunately, the lassi took 20 minutes to arrive.

Irate and hungry, I left with my lassi and a mildly warm lunch. Mild my lunch was not. It was rather spicy. The spinach curry slightly over salted. Good curry, but not the best I've had. And definitely not worth all that wait. The buffet lunch is priced at an additional $7, serve yourself, save yourself the wait.

Utsav

1185 Avenue of the Americas

New York City

Phoenix Palace

2010-12-17T20:00:00.000-05:00

In a recent trip to London, I was lured away from my usual dim sum hotspot to Phoenix Palace in Marylebone. They served up crispy yam balls filled with tasty pork.

Rice rolls where dried shrimp and scallions were on the slightly skint side.

And shrimp dumplings which tempted my taste buds although the pastry was on the slightly thicker side. However, I have to say that I have very high expectations of shrimp dumplings.

Interestingly, the scallion pancakes appeared in little parcels.

The pastry was crispy layers on the outside and the filling included scallions and well seasoned mince pork. This was the most interesting scallion pancakes I have had. I was very pleased.

An acceptable dim sum spot to venture into if you're in the area.

Phoenix Palace

5 Glenworth Street

London NW1 5PG

St John's Bread and Wine

2010-12-15T20:00:00.002-05:00

I used to misunderstand that good food in London always had to have an exorbitant price tag. Until my dining companion showed me St John's Bread and Wine in Spitalfields where hearty food comes out from the kitchen that respects seasonal produce at reasonable prices.

The pig's cheeks which was served with a side of salad came with about two inches of fat and a quarter inch of meat. Crispy, aromatic and rich but not greasy, the pig's cheeks were well seasoned and an excellent introduction to a part of the animal I had not previously had an opportunity to sample. The salad had a good dose of horseradish to cut the fat and was a very appropriate accompaniment.

The squash cooked with lentils and topped with home made yoghurt was well done. The lentils were tender but not mushy. Horseradish infused the entire dish - it must be in season at the moment.

This was my absolutely favorite dish of the evening. Oxtail with kale and shaved chestnuts. The meat on the oxtail was cooked for so long that flavors throughly infused the meat that was falling off the bone. The kale was perfectly cooked to give it a slightly springy texture which was finished off with a slight crunch of the shaved chestnuts.

The roasted lop was served with a slice of cracking that was far too hard to chew. Slightly too meaty for me, my dining companion assured me that it was a very excellent slice of roast pork.

The creme caramel was good but had nothing of significant for me to flag. However, the shortbread that accompanied it was warm, flaky and rich.

St John's captures the spirit of good English food with the best of seasonal produce. The flavors here are a treat with prices that won't break the bank.

St John's Bread and Wine
94-96 Commercial Street
E1 6LZ
London

Pure Thai Shophouse

2010-12-13T20:00:00.000-05:00

Living within the delivery zone of Pure Thai Shophouse, I decided on that route instead of waiting in line of this restaurant with growing popularity.

The papaya salad which was ordered mild was on the spicier side for me. But full of crunch from the papaya and aromatic chopped peanuts. And the sweet and sour dressing just makes me salivate as I am blogging about this.

The shrimp and vegetable stirfry did not disappoint. The vegetables were fresh and crisp with generous portions of plump shrimp in a salty sweet and spicy sauce.

Lunch portions are smaller than dinner portions here but at good value for money prices. Pure Thai Shophouse is definitely now a local favorite.

Pure Thai Shophouse
766 Ninth Avenue
New York

HK Cafe

2010-12-11T20:00:00.000-05:00

When a friend asked for brunch in midtown with good food and all you can drink beverages, HK Cafe came to mind. With all you can drink mimosas, bellinis, champagnes or bloody marys for $12.95, even average food become fairly good quickly.

My dining companion's portobello mushroom with peppers, marmalade onion and cheese was quite tasty. Meaty mushroom, sweet onions, sharp cheese on crunchy toasted bread. Possibly one of the better fare that I've had at HK.

My eggs benedict with salmon on the other hand, was quite average. The salmon was rather fishy, and I can't give too much description to the rather non-descript benedict. Especially after eating some very good eggs benedict at Blue Ribbon Bakery and Veselka in the last few weeks. And the home fries? Ask for french fries instead.

Stick to basic food at HK Cafe but definitely take advantage of all you can drink brunch specials.

HK Cafe
523 Ninth Avenue
New York City

Pure Thai

2010-12-09T20:00:00.007-05:00

When I read a blog entry about Pure Thai Shophouse, I had to check out this little Thai eatery on 9th Avenue. The ambience is warm and although the restaurant is larger than some of the hole in the walls I've been to on this avenue, we couldn't help but notice the line that formed in the duration that we were there. That line never quite went away.

My dining companion opted for the Pad Thai. It tasted as authentic as I have had it, and took me to the streets of Bangkok. Even serving sizes are closer towards Thai instead of American here. The Pad Thai was light and tangy, not laden with flavorless sauces like so many other Pad Thais I have had.

I indulged in the Ratchaburi Pork and Crab Dry Noodle. The char siew pork was nicely flavored but slightly on the dry side, reminding me of the roast pork that mum would pick up from the wet markets in Malaysia on Sunday mornings. The noodle was cooked al dente and not over seasoned, although with a very generous amount of white pepper. There was a lovely hint of cilantro and crunch of scallions. The entire dish was quite nostalgic for me.

I also had the shrimp sesame crepe as a snack item. More like a crispy pancake than crepe, it was topped with perfectly cooked shrimp, greens and a delicious lime curd. There was also tiny wedges of lime peel buried in the crepe. It was biting into the crispy pancake, then the springy sweet meat of the shrimp, the aromatic lime curd and sesame. Then as you bite into a chewy wedge of lime peel, it releases its pungent flavors. Quite amazing.

This recently opened restaurant is a must visit again. Lunch time is a good value for money time to visit if you are around the area, with appetizers almost half the price.

Pure Thai Shophouse
799 9th Avenue
New York City

Blue Ribbon Sushi

2010-12-07T20:00:00.000-05:00

A trip to Blue Ribbon Sushi is always an exciting event. We revisited some of our old favorites like this thinly sliced amberjack with yuzu pepper.

And definitely one of my favorites, eel wrapped in thinly shaved cucumber. The refreshing crunch of fresh cucumber while I sink my teeth into the light eel meat that is sweet and a little caramelized.

The octopus in vinegar sauce is so lovely to look at. Very fresh, but I'm fairly impartial to it.

Then there is always the amazing display of fish that comes with the sashimi.

The whole broiled prawns with tamari butter was rich.

The oysters were amazingly fresh and reminded me of the sea - a very different experience to my previous not so pleasant encounter where I thought I confirmed my dislike for oyster.

There's the usual amazing sushi that is always so beautifully displayed.

I love box sushi. And Blue Ribbon Sushi was my first encounter with box sushi.

This time, we had something different - the smoked eel boxed sushi. It was the light delicate sweet meat of the eel, but the distinct flavor of smoke that almost reminded me of bacon. Amazing.

The lobster with miso butter was filled with green gooey goodness for some. However, my true love remains with miso cod.

Blue Ribbon Sushi

119 Sullivan Street

New York City

Ze Cafe

2010-12-05T20:00:00.000-05:00

I trudged to to the very eastern side of midtown to Ze Cafe where the decor, ambience and skylight would remind some of Napa. The coffee is good and the pours generous.

My dining companion opted for the Croque Monsieur which was filled with gruyere and ham in a well toasted sandwich.

I have read much about the french toast and it felt foolish not to savor it. When it arrived it looked nothing like your typical french toast. Stuffed with banana and marscapone, rolled in breadcrumbs and probably baked. Topped with creme fraiche and served with maple syrup. And there is the three breakfast sausage on the side.

The bread was light and fluffy with a light gooey center. The breadcrumbs gave some crunch and the maple syrup gave just enough sweetness. But there was something lacking in depth of flavor. I wanted to sprinkle some cinnamon or something something on my toast.

I've been told that the pastry at Ze Cafe can be amazing. Must return again for a croissant review.

Ze Cafe
398 East 52 Street
New York City

Quintessence

2010-12-03T20:00:00.000-05:00

I was lured back to Quintessence for the second time to see if it would still blow my mind (or palette), like my first raw experience.

My dining companion had the savory crepe, made from sweet yam flax seeds stuffed with baby spinach, fresh chopped tomatoes and scallion vegan cream cheese. This is topped with their caramelized onions which was sweet and chewy. The flavors of this savory crepe was shockingly fresh and alive on my palette. The combination of flavors extraordinary and reminded me of a fresh summer morning.

I opted for the huge Indian platter with the spinach saag that was slightly crunchy with fresh shredded spinach. Extremely well but not over-seasoned with amazing Indian spices.

The chickpea vegetable ball was drenched with almond curry, drizzled with tamarind sauce and mango chutney. The hint of almond was so delicate against the bold kofta flavors. I scraped the bottom of my bowl. I described these two curries as hearty, which almost seemed an oxymoron for raw food.

Dessert was all about the different ice-cream flavors of the day. The pecan ice-cream was still setting but nevertheless quite tasty.

My dining companion opted for her usual - banana split. But with coconut ice-cream as well as parsley ice-cream. While the coconut ice-cream was lovely coconutty, I'd much rather the flavors of parsley be in my morning vegetable juice.

Quintessence continues to live up to my expectations as my favorite gourmet raw restaurant in New York City.

Quintessence
263 East 10th Street
New York City

Pomodoro

2010-12-01T20:00:00.000-05:00

I am embarrassed to say that I have not had a whole lot of pizza since moving to New York City. When a friend offered to show me his favorite pizza spot, I jumped at the opportunity.

Pomodoro is located a block from the well known Lombardi's. However, there were no long queues at our pizza place. The pies looked big and inviting.

A medium sized pie readily fed the three of us and looked bigger then anything I had ever seen served up at my table. We opted for the vodka sauce pizza which I heard much about. The tomato sauce had a slight bite of spice to it followed by creamy flavors of the fresh mozzarella. The crust was thin and crispy. I do not usually eat the end of the crust - I ate everything on my plate.

Pomodoro Ristorante Pizza
51 Spring Street
New York City

Blue Ribbon Bakery

2010-11-29T20:00:00.007-05:00

I have heard so much about brunching at the Blue Ribbon Bakery. The restaurant does not take reservations and a 30 minute wait for a table seemed reasonable for a place so much talked about. The bread basket made up of fruit bread, baguette and challah lived up to my expectations.

The Blue Benedict composed of Serrano ham, Jarlsberg and tomato on challah bread was such a delight. The flavors rich and creamy from the Jarlsberg on light challah bread with a ham after taste tantalized my palette. This may have been one of the best benedicts I have eaten recently.

The smoked salmon was a lighter version. With fresh smoked salmon, eggs that were perfectly poached on hearty rye bread followed by the tang of capers and sweet bite of onions was bliss.

Brunch at Blue Ribbon Bakery was such a delight. A must return.

Blue Ribbon Bakery
35 Downing Street
New York City