eataly

eataly, eataly, eataly! 

when living in a place where certain foods are not allowed, one can't help but to crave those things more. especially when you come from a history of having had enjoyed such ... (now) delicacies. let's face it, there's very little like delicious cured meats, especially to accompany some fancy cheeses. what do i think of? eataly.

friends had been surprised that i'd never been (i surprised myself, even). so when C, K, and i decided to do a weekend in nyc, eataly was one of the first places we visited.

right as we walked in, we all grabbed a glass of wine and started walking around (the rose was delicious, of course). we looked at the variety that eataly had to offer, as it is a cross between a department store of italian delicious-ness and a food court, all in a way fancy and yet comfortable way. when we couldn't stand all of our salivating and drooling any longer, and as we tried to figure out how the place "worked," we finally found poached a table and made ourselves comfortable. we ordered food, we ordered wine, we talked a lot, we laughed a lot, we did a lot of people watching. best. night. ever.

we started with a combination of cured meats and cheese and finished with breaded/sauteed shad roe - thinking about it (and reviewing the night via photos) is making my mouth water. the smokiness/saltiness of the cured meats, the creamy cheese, the dense and yet light shad roe (i hadn't had it prepared this way!), all very delicious. as we anticipated a long night of eating ahead, we didn't fill up completely at eataly, though we could have stayed for many more hours. a part of me, i'll admit, wanted to stay. that part super duper looks forward to the next trip to eataly. sigh.

i don't know why i thought it was so funny to eat with a napkin around my neck, but there i am. and there ya go. considering how clumsy i am, it makes a lot of sense that i do it and should, in fact, do it more often ...

eataly, i can't wait to visit again ... !!! among other things, it'll mean that i'm with great friends in a great city enjoying great food!

online: http://eatalyny.com

westside brewery

westside brewery
340 amsterdam avenue, between 76th street & 77th street), new yrk, NY 10024
tel: 212) 721-2161

what was consumed: beer, a burger ... on an english muffin! ... side salads, onion rings, sweet potato fries, regular fries ... yum~

so, christine, willie, and i head to nyc, the big apple, for a weekend of fun in the big city. we get into the city pretty late, get settled in our "hotel," then head out to christine's old hood for some good eats. willie told us of a place he had been to before, as did christine, that had good beer, sweet potato fries, and burgers on english muffins! i was totally looking forward to trying it out.

of course, dinner didn't start as soon as we had liked. much like everything else in nyc, we seem to remember the location of things just a bit differently from where or how they actually are. we walked around and around and around, looking for the wetside brewery. we finally found it (hooray!) and got a chance to stop by the money store (aka atms) which was also convenient.

by the time we sat down at the brewery, we were starving. luckily, we already knew what we wanted and ordered right away, in addition to a number of beer. if i recall correctly, they had quite a nice selection of beers, as is the nyc way. i remember the food being delicious, but i think my overwhelming hunger prevented me from enjoying the culinary aspects of my food more ... but that's ok.

yelp.com says that the wetside brewery is now closed. is that true? i mean, it has been 1 1/2 years since the fateful trip, but ... so sad ... we'll just have to find another place to enjoy burgers made with english muffins and sweet potato fries~ -sigh-

'wichcraft

’wichcraft
397 greenwich (at beach), new york, NY (there are a number of different locations, but i visited the tribeca location – check online for details)
tel: 212) 780-0577
hours: monday-friday 7am-8:30pm; saturday-sunday 10am-6pm

what was consumed: roasted turkey warm sandwich

i love new york city. things seem so accessible and while some things seem so far away (yes, queens IS far from “the city”), other things seem so close. on the way back down from a wedding in Connecticut (seriously, my friends david and nurys had one of the best weddings i’ve ever been to), christine (sister) and i stayed in NYC for a couple of night. monday was a holiday, but not all of my friends got the day off (it was one of those holidays where those working for/with the federal government get the day off, but those working for/with private companies don’t). so, when sharlene invited me out to lunch at ’wichcraft, i of course couldn’t say no – lunch with shar and a first-hand experience with tom colicchio’s place? i’m there. besides, i was indeed curious to see what ’wichcraft would be like.

when i first walked in, i didn’t really think anything of it. i’ve been to my fair share of sandwich places, cafes, and the like. the place was clean, not too much seating (from the sound of things, many people order their meals to go while on the run), and while it didn’t have the sense of warmth that many of the cafes i’ve been to had (maybe it was the weather – it was a rainy day), I did like the simplicity of the décor. i didn’t stand in line right away as i wanted to take in the entirety of the menu, to consider the combination of the flavors, to ... okok, fine – everything looked so good i was being my indecisive self and couldn’t decide on what i wanted to get. i ultimately chose a warm sandwich and agreed with christine to share our selections (seriously, that’s the best way to go – sharing IS caring!).

now, i am not an expert on flavors and i’ll be the first one to admit that i do not have the most sophisticated of palettes. things either taste good or they don’t (and most things taste good). but there was something about these sandwiches that really did place them above the sandwiches from other eateries. while i still enjoy other sandwiches, the rich flavors of those at ’wichcraft brought such joy to my taste buds. some people may say, “heck, i paid $10 for a sandwich – it had better be good!” but that’s exactly it. many a sandwich have i had that cost even more than that and tasted no where near as good. in fact, i probably would have paid more, knowing that the sandwiches would be so delicious (though i probably wouldn’t frequent ’wichcraft as often provided that it’s an option). my point is, the ingredients of the sandwiches really are as top notch as the chefs/restaurateurs intended them to be (in my opinion, of course – what do i know!?). next time, i will have to try the soups ...

a little side note: while a side of fries would have overwhelmed the meal and taken away from the grand flavor of the sandwiches (which wasn’t an option anyway – no fries), i have to admit that i would have ordered some had they been an option. heck – everything is better with fries ^_^

until next time, ’wichcraft, until next time!

***edit***

868 mission street, san francisco, CA 94103
tel: 415) 593-3895

what was consumed: the reuben (yum!)

during my trip to SF, i visited 'wichcraft. i had enjoyed my visit when in nyc and wanted to know if there were any differences on the west coast. now, the person i spoke with on the phone when i called their hotline (for information) wasn't too informative, though i supposed that's neither here nor there about the SF location because the hotline is for all locations. anyway, parking in SF always super sucks so my friend and i parked in the lot near the metreon. we walked into 'wichcraft (after visiting another friend at the jewish contemporary museum - what a great museum!) and was delightfully surprised by the large dining area (i.e., we didn't have to scope out a place to sit as we did in nyc). that was a nice change. the sandwiches came out in a timely fashion and were as delicious as i remembered. this time around, i ordered the 'rueben' which was good (per usual). friend had the pulled pork which was additionally good because there was a spicy flavor that brought out the delicious pork flavor. when i go to 'wichcraft next time, i think i will get that. yes, i'm still all about sharing (which is how i got to try it!), but still ^_^

online: http://www.wichcraftnyc.com/

dinosaur bbq

dinosaur bbq
646 west 131st street, new york, NY 10027-7948
tel: (212) 694-1777
hours: tuesday-thursday 11:30am-11pm, friday-saturday 11:30am-12am, sunday 12pm-10pm

what was consumed: bbq! and lots of it ... oh, and fried green tomatoes and chili

christine lived in nyc for a number of years and spent the majority of her time up in the upper west side ... or rather, the harlem area - so much goes on there! one of the great things up there was dinosaur bbq. on one of my visits from seoul to nyc, she insisted that we go there. now, at this time, i was new to bbq and was mostly preoccupied with eating all things american (remember, i had been in seoul for a while by now). "american" means bbq, right? haha - some version of that anyway.

now, christine warned me about their large portions of deliciousness. their large menu was overwhelming, so i left all of the ordering up to her. salads, fried green tomatoes, chili, bbq platters ... all of those things began to come out of her mouth as she began to order all of the different things for the few who were at our table. most definitely, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs (i.e., we ordered WAY too much food), but let me tell you, all of it was so delicious! the meat was seasoned well, the sauce was delicious (though i'll probably order sauce on the side the next time around - i'm not really a sauce person, as you know), the fried tomatoes were crisp, the chili was just a bit spicy (i like my chili a bit spicier, but i'll deal) ... oh, delicious bbq! the servers were also friendly and the rustic ambiance of the interior made eating bbq feel that much more appropriate.

since then, i have tried a number of different bbqs and am even intrigued to try more! but i will always remember the "early" days with my time at dinosaur bbq.

when christine and i went to nyc with willie, we made sure to visit dinosaur bbq again. now, i may go to the extent of saying that willie is a bbq aficianado. he knows good bbq (as well as good food, of course), so we wnated to see what his reaction was (i guess to make sure we weren't just a couple of korean american girls with carnivorous tendencies - haha). willie gave his thumbs up (woohoo!) and we often still speak of the bbq experience in nyc. the last time i was at dinosaur bbq, though, was with christine and willie - since then, the folks that i've been with in nyc have been more preoccupied with the southern parts of the city. but don't fret, dear dinosaur bbq - we will make it back! hee hee ...

oh, and just another note: for dinner, i've heard this place packs in quite quickly (and quite full). if possible, making reserverations is recommended (but for some reason, i feel as though making reservations wasn't an option? hmm ... i've forgotten). nonetheless, i'd say that if you're craving bbq, it's totally worth the wait!

online: http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/

carmine's

carmine's
2450 broadway new york, NY 10024-1103
tel: 212) 362-2200
hours: sunday-thursday 11:30am - 11pm, friday-saturday 11:30am - midnight

what was consumed: salad, pasta, bread ...

there are lots of great eats in NYC. additionally, there are lots of great italian places in NYC. but how do you know what is good and what is not? my solution? ask. haha ...

the first time i went to carmine's, it was to meet my friend, paul, who is a long time NYC-er. christine was in school at the time and she didn't venture down anywhere south of midtown (she was in the upper westside). i was on holiday in nyc, on holiday in the states in fact (i was in seoul at the time). while i had had lots of good (a relative good, of course) korean-ized italian food, i could always use some GOOD italian food (especially italian food that was not sprinkled with kernals of corn - long story). paul suggested carmine's - and i'm glad he did.

there's something about italian food - pasta, pizza, etc. angela hair, spaghetti, linguie, etc. there's nothing like a large portion of pasta with a delicious sauce, coupled with some sort of protein-ous greatness. there's also something about consuming large mouthfuls as at time - the joy of the taste, the sense of it going to your stomach, the feel of contentment as it fills your empty belly. i often leaving such meals longing for more and looking forward to my next visit.

now, don't think about going to carmine's with a small group. their portions are large (family style) and you, for sure, want to try lots of different things (unless, of course, you're looking into massive amounts of leftovers, which still taste great by the way). yum ... let's go eat italian!

online: http://www.carminesnyc.com/

bon chon

bon chon
314 5th avenue 2nd floor, new york, ny 10004
6653 little river turnpike, #h, annandale, va
tel: 212) 221-2222; 703) 750-1424

what was consumed: large special chicken with half and half sauce

fried chicken in korea is awesome. i can’t exactly pinpoint how it’s different from the fried chicken in the states, but it is ... a little bit. but hey – don’t be surprised! koreans love to eat (myself included, of course). sometimes, i long for some korean-style fried chicken along with the slightly pickled radish and shredded cabbage topped with ketchup and mayonnaise (i know – sounds gross, right? “homemade” thousand island dressing. but let me tell ya, after buckets of the ketchup/mayonnaise concoction on top of your shredded cabbage, there is nothing else that goes so well. i am still NOT a fan of thousand island dressing, but ... ) that always accompanied an order ... of course, along with a cold pitcher of (albeit crappy, but DELICIOUS) korean beer.

while in seoul, i frequented a place called “kyochon chicken,” which they apparently have in queens, NY (maybe there are other locations in the states ... i should totally look it up ... later ...). they have this “special” way of frying their chicken, have a special sauce, and even have spicy varieties which i absolutely love.

people say that the US equivalent to kyochon chicken is bonchon (which may be true, but then that would totally go against the appearance of kyochon chickens ...). in any case, when my friend suggested that we go there (to appease my love/hate relationship with koreatowns), i couldn’t resist! just the thought of such lovely and tasty treats! even now, just the thought of it makes my mouth salivate just a little. the chicken is fried up in the same special way (something about it being double fried for extra crispiness) and you have the option of either light soy and garlic sauce or a spicey hot pepper sauce. you can get a smaller order or a larger order ... and usually they are really accommodating when you ask for “half and half” with the sauces. i will have to say, though, that the chicken is a little bit on the pricey side. that is, i’m sure you could get some pretty ok fried chicken elsewhere. but the chicken is really really good and worth the money (in my opinion, anyway). for me, nostalgia is an added bonus~

there are other franchise locations closer to me, but i have yet to visit the one in virginia or the one in maryland. friends have told me that it’s good there as well. next time!

*an edit of addition*

i've since also visited the site in annandale, va. similar to the nyc location, bonchon was a cross between the korean "sool-jib" and a restaurant (just the way we like it - haha). i don't know what it was about the time that i went, though, because the service could have been better and our chicken came out cold :( i still very much enjoyed it and will most likely be back, but i will be on the lookout for better performance ...

online: http://www.bonchon.com/ (korean and english options available)

cafe habana

café habana
229 elizabeth street, new york, ny 10012-5518
tel: 212) 625-2002
hours: 9 am-midnight, 7 days a week

what was consumed: cuban sandwich, salad, mexican corn, margaritas

i remember, a few months ago, stacey told me about a place she had gone to while in nyc. i remember her saying that she enjoyed the food that that when i made it out to nyc one of these days, i would have to go as well. when i finally got out to nyc a few months later, a friend of a friend also mentioned this place with mexican corn and about how i had to go there during my short stay. they were talking about café habana. well, my time has come!

over labor day, making a sort of last minute trek up to the big apple, christine, willie, and i were trying to decide what to do for the day. the conversation from the night before about mexican corn sorta suck out in all of our minds. so, we left the grimy and dingy existence of the “hotel” we were staying at and head toward soho (elizabeth and prince, to be exact) to this “café habana.”

by the time we got to café habana, the place was already packed with saturday morning brunch-goers. the entire restaurant probably holds no more than 40 people, but we were hoping that people were on the last legs of their meals (especially because there were about 4 parties ahead of us ... luckily, we didn’t have to wait too long).

café habana looks like one of those old time diners with a bar and then a few tables and a few booths. despite the space crunch, such tight quarters added to the charm of the eatery. we ordered our food (which came out in a timely manner) and indulged in such goodness!

first were our drinks – margaritas (yes, margaritas during lunch. we’re on holiday – leave us alone!), nice and strong, just the way we like it. they also have frozen margaritas normally, but not on the day we were there (which i was bummed about because i wanted a strawberry one – oh well). then came our mexican corn (note: one order of the corn yields 2 ears. now, in retrospect, i think i could have had just an order and half of corn – totally delicious!), grilled deliciously and covered with all sorts of goodies, such as chili powder and cheese (hooray for cheese!). finally came my cuban sandwich, which was delicious, with lots of goodies on the loaf of bread (pictured). i got mine with a salad, though it normally comes with fries (i ate willie’s fries – don’t worry, fries were still a part of my meal). i definitely ordered too much food, but most of it still ended up in my stomach (oh, how temporarily content i was~). delicious ...

the servers definitely looked like they enjoyed being there, dancing to the music, chit chatting with the customers, and overall looking quite happy to be there. i can see how this sort of working environment would be happy – happy customers, good food, good music, and all of this in the big apple!

café habana also has a “to go” area right next door. seeing the popularity of the place explains such an establishment as well as its success.

i look forward to more encounters with mexican corn here at café habana. hooray!

online: http://www.ecoeatery.com/