The Archives

Home Cooking, Palisades Park
Post Hurricane Sandy – NYC & Palisades Park
10.31.12 | Permalink | 4 Comments

Hope everyone is safe after that b*tch Sandy came through town. I thought we’d be okay, but we lost power in the East Village as did the rest of downtown Manhattan Monday night. Losing power was bad, but the worst part was losing cell reception, our only source of information. We had no idea what was happening, and had no idea if we needed to evacuate. It’s funny how I grew up listening to those emergency broadcast announcements on TV all the time, but with no power, it’s all useless. David and I decided to just bunker down with candles, wine, and ice cream. MORE »
East Village, Restaurants
Bo Ssam at Momofuku Ssam Bar – NYC
10.27.12 | Permalink | 3 Comments

Bo ssam, slow cooked pork shoulder (a variation on traditional Korean bo ssam, 보쌈, which is steamed or boiled pork belly eaten in vegetable wraps) is nothing new at Ssäm Bar, but it took me a while to get my hands on one. Why? Because as many of you probably know, eating bo ssam requires much planning. Not only do you have to round up 6-8 people, you also have to secure a highly coveted reservation on Momofuku’s online reservation system (which is a trial in itself), and then make sure the majority of your guests arrive 15 minutes within the time of the reservation. Fail at the last part, and the restaurant gives up your spot and you’re charged $200. If you want to cancel the reservation, you also have to cancel 24 hours in advance of the seating time to prevent the “penalty fee.” Two years ago I made a reservation, but leading up to the day, friends started emailing saying they might be late or they might not be able to make it because of work. The scenario was precarious at best, so I decided to cancel and reorganize for another night. Of course, that didn’t happen. In the days and weeks that followed, new restaurants, new bars, and new foods had to be tried, and bo ssam was quickly pushed off into the far lard-clogged recesses of my mind. That is until a few months ago when my friend, Christina, emailed asking if I wanted to join in on her Ssäm fest. She had already made a reservation and all I needed to do was show up. What had been difficult had become all too easy, and ultimately, oh god, so delicious. MORE »
Atlantic City, Restaurants
More Reckless Spending & Eating – Atlantic City
10.18.12 | Permalink | 2 Comments

It’s funny what happens to people in casinos. I’m not even talking about Prince Harry, but it’s probably related. It’s like all reason goes out the window as soon as you step onto the casino floor. Like me, for instance. I’ve written about The Rim in the Trump Taj Mahal before, and it wasn’t favorable. However, once again, I ended up at The Rim contemplating my losses over a bowl of noodles. MORE »
Bakeries, Midtown
Top Five Cupcakes at Buttercup – NYC
10.16.12 | Permalink | Comment?

Cupcakes have gotten very controversial in New York. On one side, you have the unicorn-loving, Hello Kitty pencil case toting types who obsess over every pastel-colored, sprinkle-covered cupcake. On the other side, you have the snarky New Yorkers who see the popularity of cupcakes as the coming of the apocalypse. Then you have the crazy ex-Disney stars doing god knows what in cupcake shop bathrooms. People need to chill and just eat ‘em when they feel like it. That’s what I do. When I get the urge, I go to Buttercup. Yes, there are fancier cupcakes shops out there, but when I eat a cupcake, I want a simple, sugary sweet reminiscent of my childhood. And yes, I also know that Magnolia and Buttercup use the same recipe (the owner of Buttercup was one of the founders of Magnolia), but I prefer Buttercup. To me, the frosting is fluffier and sweeter. If you disagree, I won’t argue. More for me. My top five Buttercup cupcakes after the jump. MORE »
Rockaway, Seaside, Small Shops
Tacos & Quesadillas at Rockaway Taco – NYC
10.11.12 | Permalink | 2 Comments

Summer is officially over and so is Rockaway Taco for the season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still stare at taco porn (I know what you’re thinking, get your mind out of the gutter). I went to Rockaway Beach for the first time this past Labor Day weekend, and although I had a lot of fun boogie boarding, the real purpose was to eat fish tacos at Rockaway Taco. And I’m happy to report, mission fish taco was achieved. MORE »