No Horse Play
XI'AN FAMOUS FOODS | 2675 Broadway (bet. 101st & 102nd Sts.) | [no phone yet] | xianfoods.com
lamb
Bare Essential
Bareburger | 514 3rd Ave. (Bet. 34th & 35th Sts.) & Various Locations | 212.579.2273 | bareburger.com
L'Afrique? C'est Chic!
...A plentiful and aromatic dish, this was another tasty winner. You could really taste the melange of flavor influences, a hint of mustard in the marinade, some sweeter spices—nutmeg maybe—mixing with spicier ones, and the barely-on-the-bone lamb, with its deeper but not gamier flavor, possessing the quality of imparting its leaner meat's flavor, as well as its fatty flavors (most meats really heavily on its fat content alone for flavor).... [Full post]
Lunch With The Greeks
...Another successful dish, plump soft dumpling, stuffed with a soft, mellow but "rustic" cheese, buoyed by the rich, just slightly citrusy tomato sauce, grounded by some homey greens, and heightened by the kick in the very tender spicy sausage, which, again, Leo handled with aplomb... [Full post]
No. 7 Serves Shipshape Subs
...I didn't just love my sandwich; I adored it. It was "cute", playful with its flavors and textures yet serious about being a fully realized, filling meal. The lamb was extremely tender, not too gamey, and nicely spiced. The Texas Caviar had a smooth and light firmness and added its innate savory charms.... [Full post]
Hey, Mikey, I Like It!
The flattop-griddled meat was very tasty and had perfect juiciness and texture, wisely only salted just before hitting the heat. On the Mikey, I got more texture from the corn beef hash than corned beef flavor, but the burger's flavor more than made up for it. I erroneously assumed that the satay-style Lamb Burger would have some type of peanut sauce—although nowhere on their menu do they even remotely suggest that—but was very pleased with the bolder kicks of the jalapeño and sweet brightness on the mint, flavors for associated with the "Bao" man.... [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]
A Little Curry Hill in Yorkville
...Earlier today, Tommy and I went there for lunch together and finally noticed the sign of an authentic Indian restaurant: the abundance of India-native patrons summarily chowing down ever-loving spoonfuls of nostalgia. Tommy and I followed suit.... [cont.]
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]
