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Restaurants
L’Atelier de JoËl Robuchon - Las Vegas
12.30.08 | Permalink | Comment?

One great thing about traveling is having an excuse to go to a nice restaurant. It’s like, “Hey, we’re in ___________ (enter vacation destination here), we should go to at least one nice restaurant while we’re here.” Basically, it’s just an excuse to overeat. Vacations and holidays are great in that way. I love having a free fat bastard pass. So when David and I were planning for Vegas, I suggested L’atelier de Joël Robuchon. Yes, I know there is an L’atelier in New York, but when are we ever going to go? When we’re at home in New York, it seems too extravagant to go somewhere fancy unless we have a reason. I should really plan a “staycation,” and just enjoy New York one of these days. Perhaps when it’s warmer…

L’atelier offers “counter service” in that you sit at the counter and watch your food being created right in front of you in the open kitchen. This is restaurant theater at it’s best. Robuchon was probably the first to popularize this trend in fine-dining restaurants. Now, everyone does it. I love this concept because it’s fun to watch the dynamics of a kitchen. David likes it because he wants to make sure no one does anything gross to his food. Oh ye of little faith. MORE »
Hell's Kitchen, Midtown, Restaurants
Tacos @ Las Poblanitas - NYC
11.10.08 | Permalink | 6 Comments

Las Poblanitas is a tiny hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant with an unbelievably small kitchen that’s usually filled with Mexican guys having a Negra Modelo at all times of the day. I found it last year on the way to Noodles 36 after seeing a man holding a sign for the place on the corner of 38th and 8th Avenue. Yes, show me a somewhat scary nondescript sign for tacos and I will follow.

Soon after, I was going to Las Poblanitas at least once a week for their delicious fried sopes and fresh tacos. Then one day after multiple visits, I got a bad sope that was reheated and served to me when it really should have been tossed out. I guess I should have forgiven then, since it was just one time, but instead, like a spurned lover, I cheated on Las Poblanitas not once but four times. Last week, after swinging by Ying Du to see if the ducks were back (they’re not and should be back next week according to Midtown Lunch), I found myself hungry and near Las Poblanitas and decided to give them another chance. Perhaps still remembering the bad sope from last year though, I decided to go the all taco route and ordered three tacos: Taco De Chorizo, Taco De Barbacoa De Chivo, and Taco De Lengua (3 for $7.50). MORE »
East Village, Restaurants
Halloween Madness @ Momofuku Ko - NYC
11.03.08 | Permalink | Comment?

I wish I could share some photos of the gorgeous dishes prepared by the chefs at Momofuku Ko, but as you know, David Chang has banned all photography at Ko. Alas, all I have is a photo of this door, and from the looks of it online, it’s becoming the most famous door in America since Jim Morrison. However, before the ban, several bloggers posted their pics, so google away, or just look here or here. So in this post, instead of relying on photos, I’ll do my best to describe my meal at Momofuku Ko with the power of WORDS. Yes, I’ll be getting down and dirty with the alphabet. MORE »
Midtown, Restaurants, Small Shops
Big Bowl Noodles & Noodles 36 - NYC
10.27.08 | Permalink | 3 Comments

Not so strangely, Ying Du is closed again. This time it’s for renovations. I don’t think it’s DOH-related since they aren’t listed on the main DOH site, but who knows. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. I just hope they aren’t planning another price hike. I don’t need ambiance at a Chinese take-out restaurant.

Fortunately, there are other places to get authentic Chinese in Midtown. My favorite is Hing Won, but recently with the cold weather, I’ve been trying to stay west of Fifth Avenue and south of 42nd Street, which is closer to work. Also, I notice there tends to be less suits south of 42nd St, especially west of 7th Avenue. It’s not exactly downtown, but there’s definitely a different vibe, which is nice. I see enough suits and khakis at work. The two places I’ve been going to a lot recently are Noodles 36 and Big Bowl Noodles. MORE »
Hell's Kitchen, Midtown, Small Shops, Street Eats
Tacos Tacos Tacos - NYC
10.14.08 | Permalink | 2 Comments

David and I were talking last week, and considering the global financial markets are all in the crapper, the DOW is at an all time low, and the US dollar is not worth the paper it’s constantly getting printed on, we decided that it might not be a good idea to go on another vacation this year. Sigh…. He also said we’d be entering a severe depression soon and anarchy and mayhem would erupt everywhere like Mad Max and this week we were going to learn how to operate a machine gun so we could defend ourselves when the time came. This part I chose to ignore, because call me stupid, but I have a bit more faith in mankind and my fellow New Yorkers. And besides, my purse is just not big enough for a machine gun. In any case, no vacation doesn’t have to mean no exciting culinary adventurous, especially living in a city as diverse as New York. So last week, as it started getting colder and I started dreaming about warm waters and white sugary beaches, I did the next best thing and ate tacos, many, many tacos. MORE »
Midtown, Small Shops
Tres Tacos from Tehuitzingo - NYC
08.13.08 | Permalink | 4 Comments

Barbacoa (Goat) Taco from Tehuitzingo

I feel like the Internet has been going Mexican crazy the last few weeks. I’ve been reading posts about Mexican food left and right. So last night, right before I went to sleep, I decided to to eat tacos for lunch at Tehuitzingo (Yes, that’s right, I think about lunch right before I go to sleep, I’m not ashamed to admit it.).

Before I left for Tehuitzingo, I checked MenuPages and I knew what I wanted. Pig ear! I mean, I never had pig ear in a taco before, so it just seemed logical. I also got a Barbacoa (Goat) Taco and a Carnitas (Pork) Taco, just for good measure. MORE »
Restaurants
Le P’tit Plateau - Montreal
07.21.08 | Permalink | Comment?

Foie Gras @ Le P’tit Plateau

A month ago, my friend Miguel suggested we go to Montreal for a 3-day weekend. Since I’m always up for a trip where I know there will be good food, I agreed immediately. In the next few days, I convinced David and Sue, and on Friday, after work, the four of us were off on a road trip to Montreal. MORE »