Paradou

(source aaronetto.blogspot.com)

A couple friends from D.C. came to visit and we met up for lunch with other friends. This place was picked because some people in the group have been here before. This is a French restaurant, but not your typical "shi shi" French restaurant. This place got its inspiration from Provence, which is a lay back region in South France (Take a look at the front door and the back garden and you will know what i mean). Having spent sometime in South of France, I can attest that this kind of restaurants are much more chill than the "white table clothe" counterparts in Northern France, namely, Paris.

(source: new york mag)

The most important question is "how is the food?" Two of their dishes came highly recommended by my friends
"Duck Rueben Sandwich" and "Lamb burger".

I ordered the duck and Lynn ordered the burger.
We shared half of our sandwich.

(source: Natalie F of Yelp.com)

(source: "try anything once" blog)

I must say this, the duck taste exactly the way "roast duck" taste in Malaysia, a flavor that I love. Caramelized onion and melted cheese can be found between the duck and the bread giving sweetness to the sandwich.

Lynn's lamb burger was stupendously delicious too. I don't think I ever had a lamb burger before until trying this one. Although the picture is kinda small, do you see that little "purplish"piece of thing on the meat? Take a guess, what is it? It is funny how such a small addition to a sandwich makes the whole dish memorable.

Conclusion: I highly highly recommend this place. Make reservation in advance.

Food in Maps.

Thanks to the beauty of Google maps I was able to place all the cool places I like to eat around the city.

Mexican food Mainly Upper East Side.


View Mexican Food in a larger map

Saint Marks

Limited list but good enough to eat :)


View Saint Marks in a larger map

Chinatown

In case you have jury duty.


View Chinatown Eats in a larger map

Go eat some more!!!

The Skewer Cart

We have been to it and it was amazing!!!!
I have looked for for a while since September and was nowhere to be found but it so happens that it is here again.
Although I think I built it up in my head to much cause it was not as good as I remembered it.

For those of you who don't have a clue of what I am talking about. This is a cart that makes skewers of squid, lamb, beef, hotdog and chicken cooked in coal.

It is like having your own barbecue grill without the cleaning or dealing with the relatives you rather not hangout with, all that for only one dollar per item.

If you want some, go under the Manhattan bridge (Division and Forsyth). I know, this sounds kinda shady to me too :)


View Chinatown Eats in a larger map

Joe Vs Shanghai

The search for a great soup Dumpling

For the last few years and perhaps more I have gotten my soup dumplings from Shanghai Cafe, call it habit, simply comfort or laziness. Why fix something that is not broken?

So what happens when you dumpling house decides to close for the Chinese new year and you are still hungry and longing for some food. Better men would be loyal to the end and stand stead fast in when the other part of the relationship fails to be there. I on the other hand was meeting a friend for dinner and needed a replacement to my current destination.

Because I was in the mood for soup dumpling I decided to go to a place I had heard about for almost the same amount of time since my relationship started with my other dumpling house. This place was known for its lines for its superior quality and taste, or at least that was the rumor among my friends.

I went late 8ish pm. When I went there , there was no line it was like going to Madison square and finding Shakeshack empty. I imagine this is what food heaven is like. No line just quality food.

We were showed to our table really quick and asked if we wanted soup dumplings before we removed our coats. Of course I said yes but felt rushed. This set the tone for the whole dinner. The employs were nice but seemed to be trained to feed you and send you out.

The thing I love about Shanghai cafe is that you get to go there and stay as long as you like. I never feel pressured.

The second thing that put me off was that once the first soup dumpling arrived it seem to have atleast 3 broken ones. Now you may not think much of this but the reason I go for soup dumplings is to have the sou inside of it. Now the controversial topic here is the thickness of the skin or though of the dumpling. A few of my friends have raved that the dumpling at Joe's is thinner than at Shanghai and that is what makes them better. Nevertheless, if they break on the way how good is that. So I was willing to let that factor go until I bit into one. Where did the flavor go, did it leave with serenity and calmness. They were bland. That is right Deming, Daniel was right. The dumplings are not even in the same league.

In short Shanghai cafe is much better. Joe Shisuan is over hipped and of lesser quality :)

picture from the web.

9 Pell Street
New York, New York 10013


Phone: 212-233-8888
Fax: 212-233-0278

Hours:
Everyday
11am - 11pm

midtownlunch.com

100 Mott St
(between Canal St & Hester St)
New York, NY 10013
Neighborhoods: Chinatown, Little Italy

Taco in Spanish Harlem

Antelmo wrote about a quesadilla stand in Spanish Harlem (August 20th) and SeriousEatsNY came out with an article about Taco stands in Spanish Harlem (August 26).

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2010/08/taco-thursdays-east-harlem-taco-carts-stores-taco-mix-tacos-de-arroz.html.

The Taco stand that both Antelmo and SeriousEatsNY recommended was called "Taco Mix". It is a hole-in-the-wall taco place (they have other dishes too such as burrito, quesadilla, sopes). When Antelmo was ordering Tacos for us, I saw a big pot of meat bubbling in brown liquid behind the counter. Growing up in Asia, that's a good sign of something fantastic is cooking in there. So I asked Antelmo to inquire about the content of the pot.

(reader discretion is required, it might gross you out, be warned)

Antelmo: "it is stuff that you do not want to eat".
Deming: "What is it?"
Antelmo: "pigs ears and other body parts"
Deming: "Dude, get me one of those. Where else in NYC will I ever have pigs ear taco?"

My verdict about this "exotic" taco?  FREAKINGLY AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS.......I will spare you the details on the texture and taste.

I know it is not for everyone. Some people are totally turned off by it, some people "cursed" me for eating such things. However, if you are an adventurous eater, I highly recommend it. I have since returned to the same place twice, ordering the same Taco, which is called Taco Mixto. You can read more about this "mysterious" taco on the SeriousEatsNY link above.


For people who prefer something more normal, order the "Taco Pastor". The meat is sliced off from a huge meat skewer rotating behind the counter (just like those you see on the ubiquitous Halal Food Cart).

Switch Topic

There is a quesadilla stand about 20 feet away from Taco Mix (written up by Antelmo). I had the quesadilla there and I was surprised by how good it is. Antelmo is right, their quesadilla is mom-would-be-proud-FANTASTIC.

When you order quesadilla at a regular place, you would normally see the already-made Tortilla being taken out from a bag, some already-cooked meat is quickly tossed over it and some generic shredded cheese is added. Not this place.

First off, the tortilla at this stand is cooked fresh. Although the meat is already cooked, it is reheated/sauteed on order. Some stringy white cheese (someone please educate me on the type of cheese) is added. That's all.

The result? One very good Quesadilla. Now I know what real quesadilla is.

Next mexican food on the radar.....tamale....Antelmo, let's go!

Continuation of our street food discussion

I have been championing the idea of bringing ethnic street food indoor with communal table settings. Each "vendor" specialize in one food item. In another words, a food court minus the pizza hut, mcD, and panda express. Since we are on this topic, let me update us on two recent development since I wrote the last piece.

a) the opening of "EATALY". 
http://www.nypost.com/p/lifestyle/food/welcome_to_eataly_G5QHOIVyNtzG44tyFb5GVM

The name of this place is a played of two words "eat" and "italy". In other words, it is an italian "food court" opened by Mario Batali, and two other people. I didn't get to explore EATALY, but I have heard good and bad things about it. The bad thing is the crowd. This place is over-run by tourist now. Probably not what Batali had envisioned but it brings in $$$, so I suppose he won't mind as much. I implore you to read more about this place if you are curious. I think this place is taking a step closer towards the "street food indoor" concept.

b) Food vendor at Tavern on the Green.
http://gothamist.com/2010/09/16/food_vendors_coming_to_tavern_on_th.php

Tavern on the Green was a beautiful restaurant in central park serving mediocre food (according to critics, not me). Their license wasn't renewed, so now it is just an empty building within a beautiful setting. So some 'smart' people came together and decided, "why not invite some of the famous food carts that are serving around the streets of NYC to set up shop at Tavern on the Green? Read the article and find out about it more.

24 hr Taco Stand

This may be a response to Deming's word in the previous blog :)

For all of you that live in the top shelf of society and roam about among the pedigree, take a note from those who dine in the street. There is no reason why one should pay 60 dollars for a meal . To quote a friend who shall remain nameless, you only do that in your 25th anniversary or perhaps on valentine's day( to try convince the girl that you just got back together with, after dumping her a month before, that you really missed her). But I digress!!!!

I love Spanish Harlem, it has character charm and most most of all I like the way it makes me feel :) , like a tourist in NYC. When you walk on 116 east of lex the city is alive with young women dancing, kids running, moms yelling, couples having an animated discussion, and preachers yelling the good word through a megaphone as if trying to yell the love of God into you head.

OH good times. This is home. The gray area of life, the place where food is a nourishment for both body and soul at a price that a worker bee can manage.

Here is what you need to know, if you want good street food and are willing to go for the adventure:

Take the 6 train to 116th go east btwn 3rd and 2nd. There you will find a 24hr, yes 24hr, Taco stand where you can get a home made quesadilla with your choice of meat fro 3 dollars.

The full menu is in the second image, but let me just say, I never have spent more than 10 dollars, including tip, to go home complaining of how much I ate.

I love food, simple food, cheap food. Why don't you join me next time ?



Mom would be proud!!!!