The Archives
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Alphabet City, East Village, Restaurants
Lunch Specials at El Rinconcito – NYC
I’ve stopped by El Rinconcito a number of times on the way home from work for their Latin-style roast chicken (pollo al homo), which although can be a little dry at times, is extremely budget-friendly at $4.50 for a half a chicken. Yesterday, however, I swung by at noon and not only were the lunch specials equally friendly on the wallet, but also mighty tasty. MORE »
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Small Shops, Sunset Park
Rice Noodles at Yun Nan Flavour Snack – NYC
(The Pujol post in the Mexico City series is coming soon, but first a Brooklyn post for my NYC peeps.)
Many people in New York, myself included, didn’t know much about Yunnan food — a cuisine from the southwestern province of China heavily influenced by Sichuan, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos — until last year when two hip Yunnan-influenced restaurants (Yunnan Kitchen and Lotus Blue) opened in Manhattan. (I’ve been to Yunnan Kitchen and enjoyed it immensely.) It’s a shame, because the food is quite good, and there’s a small shop in Sunset Park called Yun Nan Flavour Snack run by a couple from Kunming (the capital of Yunnan) that has been churning out slippery rice noodle dishes from the region since 2007. MORE »
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Coyoacán, Markets, Small Shops, Street Eats
Quick Eats Around Coyoacán – Mexico City
01.30.13 | Permalink | 2 Comments
I’m back in NYC, but last weekend, David and I took a short trip down to Mexico City (DF for short). It was hectic, tiring, and nerve-wracking at times (beware the shady cabbies!), but also incredibly fun and delicious. MORE »
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Giveaway, Restaurants, TriBeCa
New Korean at Jung Sik & Dinner Giveaway – NYC
12.01.12 | Permalink | 34 Comments
A month ago, I had the pleasure of dining at Jung Sik Dang (정식당), the Korean fine dining restaurant opened by ex-Bouley alum Jung Sik Yim. Located in the old Chanterelle spot, previously one of my favorite French restaurants, the restaurant must have inherited some good food karma (but hopefully not business karma), because it was one of the best meals I’ve had this year. I was surprised it was so good, because prior to going, I’d read several negative reviews online. The crux of the negativity was that it wasn’t Korean enough, which after eating at Jung Sik, I’m baffled. Sure, the food doesn’t resemble anything from 32nd Street, Flushing, or my mom’s kitchen, but this isn’t your typical Korean restaurant. It’s elevated, modern Korean with a European finesse, but Korean nonetheless. MORE »
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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 »
