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Soho Park: More Than Just a Great Backyard

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

On a sunny Soho afternoon, you’re bound to find the garden of this all-American sandwich and burger joint packed with stylish shoppers. But it isn’t, as is sometimes the case, just for the great outdoor space — the food here is as legit as the labels on the clientele’s wardrobe. I’ve long been a junkie for the grilled cheese, but on a recent visit decided to try out their version of one of my favorite things on the planet…bratwurst. Since serving it on a hot dog bun would just be too boring (don’t worry, Shake Shack, you’re still doing juuust fine), this one is coiled and placed on a Kaiser roll with a delicious whole grain mustard and sauerkraut from Essex Street Market. So simple, but every ingredient shone through so well that it really made the sandwich something special. And alongside some zucchini fries with spicy sambal ketchup and a root beer? It’s one of many perfect summertime lunches that thankfully can be had all year round.

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Price: $-$$
Location: 62 Prince Street (at Lafayette)
Type of Food: American
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.sohoparknyc.com


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Bierkraft: Who Knew All That Could Fit in a Sandwich

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

Bierkraft

I’ve been hearing for a long time about how good the sandwiches are at Bierkraft and I finally made it over this past weekend. The menu offers build-your-own sandwich options of course, but where it really shines is in the sandwich creations.

I opted to get the special of the evening: the meatloaf sandwich. I’ll start with the meatloaf, which was composed of veal and pork wrapped in smoked bacon and seasoned with onions, garlic, and herbs. It was made fresh and was plenty juicy and flavorful. The meatloaf is served up on crispy bread and topped with dijon-spiked mayo, pickled celery and fiddleheads, sun-dried tomatoes, red onions, arugula, and cheese curds. I was particularly excited to try the fiddleheads, which are the unfurled fronds of young ferns. They were crunchy and earthy, though it’s hard to describe the flavor beyond that, as there was so much going on in the sandwich. Each bite was a surprise, a different combination of flavors and textures that made the sandwich a lot of fun to eat. And isn’t a little bit of playfulness what makes for the best kind of meals?

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: meatloaf special sandwich, voodoo kettle chips, Fentiman’s dandelion and burdock drink
Price: $$
Location: 191 5th Avenue (between Berkeley Pl. and Union St.), Brooklyn
Type of Food: American
Veggie Friendly? N
www.bierkraft.com


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Hundred Acres: A Brunch Worth Repeating

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

There are so many great brunch joints around this city, it’s often hard for me to justify going to the same place twice, but this little SoHo gem is most certainly worth making an exception for. The modern two-room restaurant somehow manages to feel a bit old New York despite the décor, and the back room where we were seated was perfectly bright and utterly pleasant for a weekend brunch.

Now, as for the all-important food, it was a hit from the very beginning. To start, we shared orders of biscuits and doughnuts, and … heavens, where do I begin with those? First of all, don’t be fooled into ordering multiple plates of biscuits just because there are “only two.” These are hefty hunks of deliciousness that are only made better by the homemade apple butter and raspberry jam that accompany them. And the doughnuts…oh, the doughnuts. The dough on these suckers seems to have been just fried enough, so that the centers are perfectly gooey, even more so when they’re soaked in the fantastic lemon crème anglaise. For my main dish, the Mexican food junkie in me went straight for the chilaquiles, a baked dish of tortilla chips, tomatillo sauce, fried eggs, pickled radishes and cilantro. Served in an adorable single-serving skillet, the dish is best when you cut up the eggs and mix all of the ingredients together to make the perfect bite. It might have been better had I requested runnier yolks, since the tomatillo sauce is normally great when mixed in with them, but overall it was a lovely, generous finale to a truly pleasant Manhattan meal.

Since my choice of entrée might have been one of the more difficult decisions of my life, with so many mouthwatering alternatives available, I’ll certainly be back here soon. Same time next weekend?

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Order: biscuits, doughnuts, chilaquiles
Price: $$
Location: 38 MacDougal Street (near Prince)
Type of Food: American (mostly)
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.hundredacresnyc.com


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Dylan Prime: A Summer Seafood Feast

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Dylan Prime clam bake

A couple of weeks ago I wrote up some of our favorite lobster deals in the city. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of sampling Dylan Prime’s decadent weekend offering. As I mentioned in the original post, for a mere $39.95, you get two 1.25-pound lobsters, plus clams, mussels, corn on the cob, and potatoes. As you can see from the photo above, that’s quite the feast. Even with my massive marathon-training appetite, I wasn’t able to get through the whole thing, and the more modest eaters at the table strategically saved the claw meat for later lobster rolls.

I realized mid-meal that I’d never had steamed clams before, and I think those were the most pleasant surprise of the meal. The lobster was fresh and flavorful of course, and I wasn’t stingy with the drawn butter. Dylan Prime also offers a wonderfully creative cocktail menu. I opted to get a white peppercorn caiparinha, and was not disappointed.

Surprisingly, the restaurant was relatively empty when we wandered in at 7pm, but was filling up as we left as 9pm, so be sure to book your reservations. The clam bake is every Friday through Sunday, through the end of the summer.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: clam bake
Price: $$$$
Location: 62 Laight St. (at Greenwich St.)
Type of Food: American, Seafood
Veggie Friendly? N
www.dylanprime.com


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Mandoo Bar: Not BBQ, But Still Deliciously Korean in K-Town

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Mandoo Bar
via New York Magazine

Tucked in among touristy gift shops and the occasional tattoo parlor, it’s all too easy to stroll right by this skinny little gem of a restaurant, but I’ll certainly never make that mistake again. Not quite as well-known as other Korean staples like barbecue or fried chicken, the restaurant’s namesake mandoo is a type of dumpling that you’ll see being hand-made as you walk in to find your table.

We chose the kimchee variety, which is stuffed with a slightly spicy blend of kimchee, veggies, pork, and tofu. The combination was delicious, and the dumplings perfectly made, the dough substantial without being too heavy, the texture soft but not fragile (i.e. you don’t end up with delicious filling all over your hand instead of in your mouth). But if dumplings aren’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of other intriguing options. We sampled the japchae, a noodle dish made with sweet potato noodles(!), pork, and mixed vegetables. Sweet potato noodles, you say? I, too, was a bit wary, but the flavor is only nicely hinted at rather than overpowering the entire dish. For those like me with a hankering for all things spicy, the flavorful sauce on the noodles goes quite nicely with sriracha for a little kick.

So next time you’re looking for an alternative to the dime-a-dozen joints on 32nd Street, push past the tourists and into this nondescript eatery, which will surely have you coming back for more.

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Order: kimchee mandoo, japchae
Price: $-$$
Location: 2 West 32nd Street (between 5th and 6th Aves.)
Type of Food: Korean
Veggie friendly? Y


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d.b.a.: Sunday’s the Perfect Time to Check out Tchoup Shop

Friday, August 13th, 2010

d.b.a. Tchoup Shop

I’m not sure I can picture a better way to spend a summer Sunday afternoon, than by lazing on the back patio of Williamsburg bar d.b.a., sipping an oversized Pimm’s Cup, sopping up sumptuous red beans and rice with a homemade biscuit, and watching chef Simon Glenn prepare the day’s seasonal, New Orleans cuisine-inspired menu. Beers are $3, pint-size Pimm’s Cups are $5, and nothing on the menu will set you back more than $10. With prices like that, you can camp out for a long afternoon of indulgence.

As I mentioned, the menu changes every weekend. When my group visited, we sampled wonderful, traditional Cajun cuisine, including Simon’s famous BBQ shrimp, old school gumbo, and red beans and rice. I opted for one of the more exotic menu offerings: the crawfish maque choux. Maque choux is a traditional Louisiana dish composed of corn, green peppers, tomatoes, onion, celery, and garlic, braised, simmered, and seasoned with salt, red and black pepper, hot sauce, and sugar. In Tchoup Shop’s case, the maque choux was also prepared with crawfish and tasso ham. The dish as a whole was rich and complex, but the bacon-like tasso really did it for me. Paired with Cajun-style hot buttered corn on the cob and a fresh buttermilk biscuit, it was the perfect end to a lovely summer weekend.

The Tchoup Shop (pronounced “Chop Shop”) is open every Sunday from 2:30pm until the food runs out and it’s running every Sunday through October.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: crawfish maque choux, hot buttered corn on the cob, famous buttermilk biscuit, Pimm’s Cup
Price: $-$$
Location: 113 N. 7th St. (between Berry St. and Wythe Ave.), Brooklyn
Type of Food: Cajun
Veggie Friendly? Y
Check out the August 8th menu here


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Rickshaw Dumplings and Treats Truck: A Midtown Match Made in Heaven

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Rickshaw Dumplings

Sick of tjhe buffets and fast food that litter the Midtown lunch scene? Try something lighter and much more delicious on the lucky days when these two food truck gems park on the same block, often right next to each other.

Rickshaw’s boxes of six dumplings ($6) might not seem hefty enough for a meal, but paired with one of Treats Truck’s raspberry brownies or any other tasty creation, it may just be the perfect, well-rounded lunch your work day has been missing. On a recent visit, I tried the chicken and Thai basil dumplings and will definitely be back to try the rest. The dough was paper-thin and well cooked so that the tasty chicken inside was allowed to be the real star of the show. The spicy peanut sauce was a nice accompaniment as well, though I personally could have wished for more spice.

And what can I say about that raspberry brownie other than tell you that it’s everything you could hope for from a combination as glorious as dark chocolate and raspberry? Besides, after a light little lunch of dumplings, you totally deserve the indulgence.

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Order: chicken and Thai basil dumplings, raspberry brownie
Location: Varies, check Twitter for Rickshaw Dumplings and Treats Truck locations
Veggie friendly? Y


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Bistro Truck: A Gourmet Lunch on the Go

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Bistro Truck

I’ve heard tell of the Bistro Truck, even seen it cruising around town, but alas, I’ve never been able to try the cuisine from this storied truck. Working in midtown makes it hard to sample anything that doesn’t park in the 40s. Luckily, I stopped by last month’s Food Truck Drive-in. I was lucky enough to sample dishes from the likes of the Red Hook Lobster Pound, Jersey City’s Krave truck, and People’s Pops. But I might have been most excited to finally try Bistro Truck.

In the spirit of the drive-in, the Bistro Truck offered a “taste” of their merguez sandwich, seasoned, char-grilled lamb sausage served on a baguette with french fries, tomato, and greens. The lamb was charred to perfection and wonderfully flavorful. I could have done with a little more lamb and a little less filler but, all in all, the sandwich was filling and delicious. I also tried a bite of a friend’s Bistro Burger. For a mere $4.75, you get a massive burger topped with bistro sauce, cheese, and all the fixings.

No item on the menu is more than $7 and I can attest that all the portions are more than generous. If I ever manage to make it down to the Union Square area during the day, I’ll be sure to sample more from the fantastic Bistro Truck.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: merguez sandwich
Price: $
Location: 5th Ave. (between 16th St. and 17th St.)
Type of Food: Moroccan
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.bistrotruck.com


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Luke’s Lobster: I Tasted Maine … And It Was Delicious

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Luke's Lobster

I’ve been on a bit of a lobster kick this summer and, having sampled the delicious specimens from Montauk’s Lobster Roll Restaurant, Red Hook Lobster Pound, and even Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough (an excellent little seaside shack in Noank, CT that’s worth the drive), I certainly haven’t been at a loss for good meals. But when my friend suggested we seek out lobster rolls for dinner last week, my mind immediately jumped to Luke’s Lobster in the East Village.

Though I’ve seen some buzz around Luke’s in the blogosphere, I was truly intrigued when I read about the place in New York Mag’s excellent lobster roundup in the summer issue. With fresh lobster shipped down from Maine, some light seasoning, and a nice price, Luke’s roll certainly seemed enticing. But what I was most excited about was the “Taste of Maine” menu option. For $20, you get three mini rolls (filled with lobster, shrimp, and crab), plus a pair of Empress claws, chips, and a soda, including offerings from Maine Root (with flavors like sarsaparilla, blueberry, and Mandarin orange). I’m always a fan of options that let you try as many items as possible, so this offering was right up my alley.

And I’m thrilled that I got to try all the varieties of sandwich in miniature, because (and I know this is heresy) I might have enjoyed the crab sandwich most of all. As a caveat, I’m a sucker for crab, but this particular roll was moist, flavorful, and decadent. The lobster roll tasted wonderfully salty and fresh, true to Luke’s fresh-from-the-ocean pledge. To my palate, the lobster roll was a bit on the dry side, but that is easily remedied. Luke’s offers extra butter or mayo, so you can dress your roll to your heart’s desire. Though I thought Red Hook Lobster Pound’s offering did a little better at getting the ratio of mayo to claw meat right, Luke’s will certainly be a favorite for those who prefer little to no noticable mayo on the sandwich. And Red Hook certainly doesn’t boast any sort of tasting package nor is it offered in a convenient location, so Luke’s has the edge there. I’ll happily take a quick trip downtown for another sampling of Luke’s fantastic (and fantastically priced) seafood.

Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: Taste of Maine
Price: $$
Location: 93 E. 7th St (between 1st Ave. and Ave. A) and 242 E. 81st St. (at 2nd Ave.)
Type of Food: Seafood
Veggie Friendly? N
www.lukeslobster.com


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Traif: Get Ready to Lick Your Plate…

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

Traif
via Eater

There are meals, and then there are culinary experiences. Traif is definitely one of the latter. With a menu overflowing with dishes that will make you say “Huh?” and “Hm…” it’s definitely the place to take the more adventurous of your friends. The format is simple: order plentifully and split everything. Though the necessity of sharing can sometimes prove problematic with the mouthwatering dishes on offer here. Take, for example, the strawberry-cinnamon glazed baby back ribs. You’d never guess, but those flavors bring a depth and sweetness to the barbecue sauce that I’d never thought possible. And forget that boring old fried calamari you’re used to — Traif offers a spicy-sweet Thai version that will have you licking the bowl and pondering a second helping. (Or maybe that was just me…) The crispy braised pork belly with tomato marmalade and stuffed corn cakes with shrimp, champagne mangos, and tomatillo sauce were also big hits at the table. While all of these dishes are small plates, Traif also offers a selection of larger dishes perfect for keeping for yourself, but these can also easily be shared with the table. We opted for the fantastic clam pasta, made with New Zealand cockles and shell pasta in a spicy broth with a hint of mint. It was pretty to look at and so sigh-inducingly delicious that hardly a word was spoken until every morsel was gone. Speaking of pretty to look at, there are few things better than enjoying a great meal in a Brooklyn backyard with a garden.

If I have one complaint about Traif, it’s that many of their small plates come with 5 little portions, a number that makes sharing a bit awkward for parties of any less than 5. With dishes as scrumptious as these, tiffs over that last morsel are inevitable!

Posted by: Kim Partrick
Price: $$
Location: 229 South 4th St. (between Roebling St. and Havemeyer St.), Brooklyn
Type of Food: New American
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.traifny.com


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