Friday, 2 May 2014 – Dinner

 

What did I eat? Korean BBQ

Where from? Mapo Korean BBQ

How much did it cost? $120 for three including tax/tips (ouch!)

How was it?
We heard about this place from a few of our Korean friends who said this was the best BBQ in town. I’m used to my usual K-Town joints or my favorite AYCE Korean BBQ place, Picnic Garden. Mapo is a tiny place with no more than 10 tables. The waitresses were super friendly and had phenomenal service. The grill is unlike other places; they use actual charcoal in the middle of the table. It’ll be good in winter but I can’t imagine how hot it’ll get in the summer.

Now for the food. An order of beef is barely enough for one person. We ordered 2 orders of marinated beef. This is not a cheap place!! $35 for an order of beef which will barely feed me. We also ordered a kimchi jigae. Although the beef was expensive, it was worth every penny! Man… I have never had such good beef at a Korean BBQ place. It was so tender and juicy. AMAZING!! Moreover, the charcoal just adds to the flavor. Next time I go though, I’m going to take a pile of cash and just order like 3 orders of beef for myself! The kimchi jigae was something to write home about too. It’s got a real sour kick to it which I enjoyed thoroughly. I don’t remember other places having noodles in their jigae but these guys had some noodles also which was great. The side dishes were plentiful too, but it’s the usual stuff – fish, pickles, that fluffy steamed egg thing, etc.

The only complaint is the price. Then again, I’ve raved about the meat so it’s probably worth the price you pay. I would expect to spend between $40 and $50 per person here and for some people, that may be a bit much considering it’s not an all you can eat place.

Rate it!
8/10. I really want to give it a higher rating but the value is just not there. Solely on the BBQ, I’d give it like 11/10 but for value it’s like 5/10.

Saturday, 26 April 2014 – Dinner

 

 

What did I eat? Sashimi for me. Random sushi rolls for HH

Where from? TJ’s Asian Bistro

How much did it cost? $50

How was it?
We first came across TJ’s when we used to live in Woodside. They had the best price for sashimi and they still do! $20 for 20 pieces of fish, plus rice and soup. The fish are very good quality too. I’ve had my fair share of Midtown Japanese lunch fish which are so-so but TJ’s is a notch above them. I wouldn’t call their fish Sushi Yasuda quality but for $20, I’ll gladly take what they give.

The disappointing thing about the sashimi deluxe these days is that they changed the presentation of the dish. Previously, they would have all sorts of things happening on your place. Every time I used to eat there, it would be a different arrangement. Sometimes it’s some sort of a garden decor with some bamboo and grass. Other times, there would be like a flower vase with a rose in the middle. But my favorite piece was when they had a piece of dry ice in water in the middle of the plate and it was very foggy. That was hands down the best presentation I’ve ever seen.

The white fish is the tastiest piece of fish in the assortment. I’m still not sure what fish it is but it’s so milky and rich. The salmon was OK. The tuna is mighty fine! The other pieces are also very fresh and tasty. I try to do as Jiro instructs by not dipping in soy sauce but call me uncultured, I still need to dip my fish in sauce with wasabi!

HH had an assortment of rolls. I don’t like these fancy cooked rolls. Just give me my fish raw. Only thing cooked I like is the eel. The rolls were decent if you like cooked stuff. I wouldn’t order them personally.

Rate it!
10/10

Sunday, 13 April 2014 – Dinner

 

 

What did I eat? Steak and sauteed mushrooms

Where from? Made it myself!!

How much did it cost? Under $10

How was it?
I bought this new cut of beef from the Asian grocery store – something loin related. Fantastic for grilling and the marbling is perfect too. It also helps that it’s about $5 for 2 strips so it’s really not expensive. I stay away from buying expensive meats when I grill because I don’t think I can control the heat too well on the gas grill and I tend to overcook the meats a lot. Although I am realizing that the thicker the cut, the better I can grill. I used the Chicago steak seasoning rub from Penzeys spices.

The mushrooms were just small portabella caps sliced and sauteed in butter and Worcestershire sauce with a bit of paprika. I think I used a bit too much butter this time since I ran out of olive oil. That made the mushrooms a bit rich but then again, you can never go wrong with excess butter!

The steaks turned out very well. The triangular piece wasn’t the loin but I think it was a London broil. All of the meats turned out very well. Check out the pink center in one of the photos. I’m only buying those loin pieces now since I can cook them to my taste very well.

Last photo is some noodle salad which the wife made and insisted I add it to this post.

Rate it!
9/10. Would have been a 10/10 meal had I made some mashed potatoes paired with a glass of sparkling apple cider.

Saturday, 12 April 2014 – Dinner

 

 

What did I eat? Double-Cut Prime Rib On The Bone

Where from? Waterfront Crab House

How much did it cost? $35

How was it?
This place has the best steaks at unbeatable prices. That piece of prime rib was just $25!! Unbelievable value for money. As much as I’m a big meat eater, I can never finish the prime rib. I always end up taking it home and reheating it on my skillet for lunch the next day.

The order comes with a salad and a side. The salad is just a regular salad, nothing particularly interesting. For sides, you can pick between onion rings, fries, baked potato or pasta. I wish they made mashed potato though. I had onion rings this time and they weren’t anything special either. Now the prime rib comes with some crispy onions on top and those are delicious!! The prime rib can be a bit fatty though and it’s really wet and juicy. I’m not sure if the fat will turn some people off but if you take the fatty part home and reheat it the next day, trust me, you’ll love it!

Crab House is an old joint from the days when LIC was undeveloped. There seems to be the usual crowd of regulars and they also have valet parking in case you want to drive in. In addition, if you’re in Manhattan, it’s super close to the LIC ferry dock so it’s easily accessible. Take a boat from 34th Street port across East River, take a stroll along the Piers in LIC, have a drink and dine at the Crab House and take the boat back over.

Rate it!
9/10 Best value for money when it comes to meat!

Saturday, 5 April 2014 – Dinner

 

What did I eat? Ravioli Caprese for me. Fusili Amatriciana for HH

Where from? Il Corallo Trattoria

How much did it cost? $25 (that includes tip!!!)

How was it?
This used to be our most frequented Italian/pasta restaurant when we first moved to New York. It was always packed then, and that still hasn’t changed. Only one thing changed, and for the better, is that the mean hostess is no longer there! She used to be a real stickler for groups and always shooed you out once you’re done with your food. I’m glad she’s no longer there because I probably won’t stand for that shit now. Fortunately, the wait staff still seem to be the same cheery guys.

I had ravioli filled with prosciutto, mozzarella and heirloom mushrooms, cooked with basil, tomatoes and herbs. I was hoping it came in a tomato sauce but it appeared to be in just olive oil. HH had fusili with pancetta, olive oil, red peppers in a tomato sauce. The sauce was very good but the pasta retained quite a bit heat even after waiting for some time.

The best parts about the dinner was the speed and the price. The food came out so quick that we weren’t even ready to eat; 5 minutes after we placed the order, the food was ready. Second was the price; $8/9 per dish, plus tax and a generous tip, and we ended up with one of our cheapest dinners ever!

Rate it!
7/10. The food is good for the price you pay. It’s not mindblowingly good but for $9, it’s plenty fine! One of my favorite spots in town for sure.

Friday, 21 March 2014 – Dinner

What did I eat? Brazilian BBQ

Where from? Brazil Grill

How much did it cost? $90 for two (using Groupon deal, plus tax/tip)

How was it?
Before I begin about the food, I should clarify the Groupon deal bit. The Groupon deal said you get a meal with 2, a value of $120 for $60 and it includes 2 all you can eat rodizio, 2 desserts and a bottle of wine up to a $35 value. The tax and tip came up to around $30 so the meal for two basically ended being $90. The Groupon deal is not so bad but I personally would have just gotten the regular priced AYCE rodizio since I don’t drink. Plus the wine they gave was a $5 bottle.

The food was fantastic as usual. The best piece was the top sirloin (middle right pic). The layer of fat surrounding the meat was heaven! Add the saltiness and the blood oozing out, it was amazeballs! My least favorite was the sausage and maybe the chicken. The beef and pork cuts were succulent and just to my level of rarity and saltiness. The meal also comes with an order of fries, rice and beans. I would skip out on those and just binge on the meat.

Rate it!
9/10

Saturday, 1 February 2014 – Dinner

 

 

What did I eat? Hotpot

Where from? Shanghai Tide

How much did it cost? $27 per person, includes tax/tip, also drinks and appetizers

How was it?
Starve yourself the whole day and spend the evening here. 2 hours to eat as much hotpot as you want, paired with “America’s Choice Cola” or Budweiser. They make decent soup dumplings and pork buns too. The downside is that the waiters don’t like to give you too much food after the first hour. They pretend to forget your order or bring you less of the stuff. Just keep nagging them and you’ll be fine.

If you eat a lot of the spicy side, your butt will not be forgiving the next day 🙂

Rate it!
8/10

Saturday, 25 January 2014 – Dinner

 

 

What did I eat? Grilled cornish hen, BBQ spare ribs, brisket, baked beans, collard greens, mac & cheese, banana pudding, German chocolate cupcake

Where from? Hill Country

How much did it cost? Birthday dinner so I’m not disclosing!

How was it?
Going to be a short review since I have many posts to put up before going on vacation. Hill Country has gone down since I last came here. Either that or other BBQ joints in NYC have improved. We came here for a friend’s birthday since they were able to accommodate a large crowd. The place is as crowded as ever, and there’s live music too. The service was very good in my opinion.

The brisket wasn’t that great; the lean one was too lean and the moist one, too fatty. The chicken was so so; nothing to write home about. The ribs weren’t as tender or juicy; they had some sort of seasoning on it, which made it taste almost like Chinese style spare ribs. The mac and cheese was quite good; it was more like penne and cheese. The baked beans are acceptable but could be sweeter and softer. The banana pudding was probably the best part of the meal.

Rate it!
7/10

Saturday, 18 January 2014 – Dinner

What did I eat? Grilled brie sandwich with smoked duck breast and fig jam. Pineapple juice (probably from a cheap bottle)

Where from? Bubble Lounge

How much did it cost? $14 for the sandwich and $3 for the juice

How was it?
We went out tonight to the Bubble Lounge to throw a surprise birthday bash for a friend’s 30th. All I had to eat was the bacon and eggs for breakfast so I was ready to eat. I wasn’t expecting decent food either since it’s not really a restaurant. As the name says, the place specializes in fizzy drinks, ie. champagne. We had reserved space for 15 people and they gave us plenty of room; the only requirement was that we had to spend at least $25 per person, which we easily did. The place also seemed to cater to an older crowd; most of the crowd seemed to be in the 30s, if not older.

I wanted apple juice but turns out they only have OJ, cranberry or pineapple. Pineapple juice became the drink of the night for me; I thought I had 4 of them the whole night but ended up drinking only 3 according to the bill. It was good juice but that’s about it.

The brie sandwich was very good, I must say. I didn’t quite taste the duck breast though. The sweet flavor of the fig jam overwhelmed the duck, in my opinion. Nonetheless, it was a great sandwich. The presentation was a bit deceiving though. The sandwich was cut into strips, like Jenga blocks, and made into a tower with a hole in the middle filled with the leaves. Sneaky bastards! The salad was just a simple lettuce with some balsamic vinaigrette.

Rate it!
5/10 for the juice, 7/10 for the sandwich, 8/10 for the lounge

Friday, 17 January 2014 – Dinner

      

What did I eat? Hotpot

Where from? Homemade. Ingredients from US Supermarket and Sky Foods in Elmhurst

How much did it cost? $50 for the pot, probably $30 for the ingredients

How was it?
This was a spur of the moment dinner. While going to Elmhurst Aunty to get food, we decided that it would be good to have some hotpot. On the way back, we stopped by the grocery store and bought ourselves a steamboat (hotpot pot) and some stuff to boil. I don’t remember the brand of the steamboat but I think it worked out pretty well. The pot is pretty large and we could probably have about 5 or 6 people eat at the same time.

We got some sliced beef, shrimp, assorted fish balls, some mushrooms, pea leaves and some Chinese cabbage, I think. I can’t tell the difference between lettuces and the cabbages; to me, they all look green and same. The beef came in thick slices which gave it a bit of a texture when chewing. The shrimp were unbelievably sweet. Among the assortment of fish balls, my favorite was the tofu fish cake (the yellow cubes in the photo). I should have gotten more mushrooms though; we tend to go through a lot of mushrooms when doing hotpot. We used two soup bases since we have different hotpot connoisseurs at home. HH likes the Little Sheep brand but I think they’re too “spicy”, as in full of spice. I picked a random packet at the grocery store and it turned out pretty good too.

Lastly, on the way back from US Supermarket, we decided to stop by Sky Foods which was on the way. We stopped to buy some beef tendon since HH wanted to put in the hotpot. BAD IDEA! The tendon did not cook well and they all hardened. Maybe we needed to slice the tendon into thinner slices, rather than chunks. Sky Foods will be our Asian grocery store of choice. It’s not busy as US Supermarket and it’s much bigger and cleaner. Only down side is that you can’t access this via subway unless you’re willing to a longer walk.

The hotpot at home was a success and now my stomach is growling from all the spice!!

Rate it!
9/10