Me Likey "Mikey"
MIKEY LIKES IT ICE CREAM | 199 Ave. A (bet. 12th & 13th) | 212.470.0426 | mikeylikesiticecream.com
Lower East Side
Vanessa's Finesse
VANESSA'S DUMPLINGS | 118A Eldridge St. | 212.625.8008 | vanessasdumplinghouse.com
Sammy Prima
...Both the chicken parm and roast turkey sandwiches excelled, as expected; taste explosions both, yet staying true to form.... [Full Post]
Raining, Katz('s), And Dogs
...The dual textures was a novel thrill, as was the different spice and seasoning components in each of the salami slices. The firmer salami highlighted a slight tang of garlic and paprika, while the softer salami had a more subtle taste, letting the niblets of minced fat lead the flavor charge.... [Full Post »]
Ssäm I Am
...the percentage of lean, slowly roasted duck meat to the slightly rendered, protective layer of fat to the self-basted, crispy skin was outstanding to visually behold as well as slowly consume, enjoying the purity of it all at first that it took me a while to even address the possibilities of adding the condiments.... [Full Post]
Getting My Fill
...The hot dogs were excellent, with casings that snapped loudly through the top of my head with each bite and clear juices full of the layers of its seasonings as spices. The eggplant relish was bright and earthy and a good compliment to the plain hot dog, while a drizzle of sriracha sauce added extra zing on top of the jalapeños that flicker the front and back of my tongue.... [Full post]
Swimming to Cambodia
...Amazingly, after forkfuls and handfuls of these bold flavors, the mackerel dish succeeded in showcasing the inherently more nuanced properties of the warm and light, flaky fish and its crisp, slightly seasoned skin, topping a melange of a colder salad that stood well on their firm textures and naturally clean and earthy aromatics.... [Full post]
Hester Street Flair
... As I fought back figurative fears, the others welcomed the invitation to frenzy feed, making quick work of all macaroons, popcorn, and chocolate-covered bacon. I was able to save a slice for myself, and decided I would only give up one bite of my Porchetta sandwich, since I knew it would be the first thing I'd want to eat once I got hungry again.... [Full post]
Mm, Mm, Mm, All The Way Home
... I can, however, speak to how great it is! Although the initial reference is to piggies, TLPHRB (?!) specializes in the beef that it slow cooks and slices in house. The beef is tasty and tender, highlighted by that clever, familiar zestiness unique to Cheez Wiz, and a true au jus whose flavors and aromas get soaked up into a nice, warm, "cushy" sesame seed roll. I couldn't even stop eating enough to save the half I had promised to deliver to my next door neighbor.... [cont.]
Phaal of Fame
... But this evening quickly became more about Nicole, who even amazed the staff—many of whom admitted they themselves, India natives, could not finish a full bowl of Phaal—with how readily, steadily, and implacably scooped huge server spoons full of the hot stuff into her mouth.... [Full Post]
Temporary Heaven at Permanent Brunch
...And when a neighborhood and its restaurants start to do this well, the homegrown New York City cynic starts to come out of me. I start expecting one of these fancified, well-reviewed newbies to eventually disappoint. You know us New Yorkers; we love to be the cool, forward-thinking, savvy savant that tells everyone to go to a cool, hip place—in this case, the eateries of the East Village—and then snap that "we're over it" when everyone eventually does!... [Full Post]
Curry Up and Slow Down!
...Mainly because they are enjoying a culinary renaissance at the moment, and partly because I used to live in this neighborhood twenty years ago and find it quite amusing how much the area has changed. (I used to live on 13th & Avenue A on a block that saw several busts a week for apartments—like the one I lived in with LM—that were drug dens, brothels, and, more often, both!).... [Full post]
Arepa, Arepa! Part 1
Caracas Arepas Bar | 93 East 7th Street (Bet. 1st Ave. & Ave. A) | 212.529.2314 | caracasarepabar.com
From Gray Bars to Black Iron
....I don't mind busy weeks, especially ones like this week when clients actually pay, and pay on time. And after subsisting on my own cooking, leftovers, and food deliveries the whole week, I pursued the sole yet perfect opportunity to try out another well-received and well-reviewed new food place. Plus, the place is in my new favorite, up-and-coming food neighborhood: the Lower East Side of Manhattan.... [Full Post]
Happy PorkDay To Me
...Pork's universal appeal has always been in its unique collection of a variety of taste properties. Salty in parts, fatty, chewy, crispy, sweet. juicy, tender, meaty, etc.; the porchetta I was enjoying exemplified all of these traits, and winningly so.... [Full post]
