A few weeks ago A and I met for a drink after work. In an effort to try new bars we selected St. Andrews near Times Square. Normally I tend to follow the TSR - the Times Square Ratio. The further away the restaurant is from Times Square, the better the restaurant. Example, Guy Fieri's restaurant Guy's American Kitchen and Bar is located in the heart of TS, enough said.
I walked in St. Andrews and found a spot at the bar to sit and wait for A to arrive. I had the juicy, satisfying burger while I sipped on a beer. A arrived and ordered the Scotch eggs.
Then she turns to me with her wide eyes and I know it's time for dessert. They had Sticky Toffee Pudding. Done and done. It arrived hot with plenty of caramel and whipped cream to go around. This warm treat was perfect for that rainy night. Each bite was warm and filling. So for this place, ignore the ratio and go get the pudding.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Momofuku Noodle Bar
When you have to wait in line to find out how long the wait is you know the wait will be too long. As D and I stood in line at Ippudo trying to find out the wait the cute guy in front of me leans back and says "You should try Momofuku" "YES!" I yelled in his face.
D and I made our way around the corner to Momofuku Noodle Bar which has been on my list to go to for a while. You know how in your mind there are those places that for some reason you will be denied entry or have to wait hours to get into? Momofuku was one of those places for me. We walked into this restaurant and walked straight up to the bar and sat down. Way to easy! It was a warm day on Friday and the heat was on in the restaurant so obviously this swarthy beast was very hot. First D and I shared the shrimp buns which had spicy mayo, pickled shallots and iceberg lettuce. A mystery sauce was placed in front of us so naturally I squirted it on my plate and tried it. A little spicy but tangy it added the needed kick to these wonderful little buns.
For mains D had the spicy miso ramen which received good reviews. I had the momofuku ramen which had wonderful pork belly, pork shoulder and poached egg. With this added heat in front of me I had to suck down my Tiger Beer even faster. It was a filling meal that is perfect for a cold night at the end of a long week. Now that I know I won't be turned away it's a place I would go back for a filling meal.
D and I made our way around the corner to Momofuku Noodle Bar which has been on my list to go to for a while. You know how in your mind there are those places that for some reason you will be denied entry or have to wait hours to get into? Momofuku was one of those places for me. We walked into this restaurant and walked straight up to the bar and sat down. Way to easy! It was a warm day on Friday and the heat was on in the restaurant so obviously this swarthy beast was very hot. First D and I shared the shrimp buns which had spicy mayo, pickled shallots and iceberg lettuce. A mystery sauce was placed in front of us so naturally I squirted it on my plate and tried it. A little spicy but tangy it added the needed kick to these wonderful little buns.
For mains D had the spicy miso ramen which received good reviews. I had the momofuku ramen which had wonderful pork belly, pork shoulder and poached egg. With this added heat in front of me I had to suck down my Tiger Beer even faster. It was a filling meal that is perfect for a cold night at the end of a long week. Now that I know I won't be turned away it's a place I would go back for a filling meal.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The Constant: Cheese
F gave me the Smitten Kitchen cookbook for my birthday and I now have the regained confidence to tackle new dishes. Please see my wonderfully (heavy) pasta dish with peas and alfredo sauce. Yummers.
Last week I ventured to Astoria Bier and Cheese for beer bread and two types of cheese. Okay, lie, I got a third cheese for my roommate who was having a tough week. Why do I get the feeling my roommates will suddenly start having really tough weeks, every week? I piled that all together with Divina Roasted Red Peppers and some cipolline onions for a fantastic grilled cheese sandwich that had to be flattened by lining a second pan with foil and crushing it down while it cooked. I'm clever, I know.
Last is pizza. Used the rest of my red peppers, cipolline, sauteed mushrooms, mozzarella, parm, and Mama Lil's peppers. For frozen dough and pasta sauce it was a pretty darn good pizza.
Last week I ventured to Astoria Bier and Cheese for beer bread and two types of cheese. Okay, lie, I got a third cheese for my roommate who was having a tough week. Why do I get the feeling my roommates will suddenly start having really tough weeks, every week? I piled that all together with Divina Roasted Red Peppers and some cipolline onions for a fantastic grilled cheese sandwich that had to be flattened by lining a second pan with foil and crushing it down while it cooked. I'm clever, I know.
Last is pizza. Used the rest of my red peppers, cipolline, sauteed mushrooms, mozzarella, parm, and Mama Lil's peppers. For frozen dough and pasta sauce it was a pretty darn good pizza.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
'inoteca
It was my birthday a couple weeks ago. Obviously I wanted to go out to dinner with my close lady friends. Five of us met down at 'inoteca in the LES on a chilly night ready to eat some Italian food. I had been to this restaurant before and it was because of this great experience that I wanted to return and bring my closest friends to.
Waiting for the last member of our party, 4 of us sat at the large farm table in the middle of the restaurant like the posh diners we were. Then it began. HE came to the table.
HIM: "Water?"
Me: "Yes, please?"
We were then offered sparkling, still or tap. Tap all around. Duh. K was having trouble getting to the restaurant which warranted getting an antipasti platter to hold us over. With longing eyes I searched the room for HIM to help us, to ask us if we needed anything, you know, like food or more wine. Eventually we caught the eye of someone and got our platter ordered. K finally arrived and we seemed to be the only people who noticed because it took quite a while for HIM to come back. FINALLY, he returned and I welcomed him back to the table. Un-apologetically he said "Sorry".
Then it came time to order our food. No recommendations. No serving size guidance. Nada. When I ordered my chicken pate in Italian HE looked at me and said "You know that's chicken pate, right?"
Sigh.
Food arrived sporadically leaving some people without their bruschettas they had ordered while some of us received everything at once. Plates were placed in the wrong place resulting in a massive shuffle with each touchdown of a dish. The food was great, but was overshadowed by that guy that I would have to talk to again.
After food was cleared I expected the dessert menu to be brought over for us. Instead HE stood there and asked if we wanted anything else. Any good restaurant knows they can make more money on dessert. Don't give up at the main meal has left the table. Keep working on getting me to spend my money! IDIOT. Only two meun's were brought over for us to share like we were teenagers. Dessert was incorrectly described to us but we thought, what the heck we'll order a few. K's dessert was the Nutella Panino. Ooo sounds exotic, doesn't it. FALSE, not exotic. Have you ever had toast with Nutella on it? Then you have had the Nutella Panino from 'inoteca. When asked how dessert was I told him that it wasn't him, but to pass it on to the chef that the nutella dessert was a little disappointing. "Ok" He says. Not, thanks for the feedback, I'll pass that on, how were the other dishes...anything.
Eye roll.
It's surprising that one person can so perfectly ruin your birthday dinner. I tip my birthday hat to you and say, you succeeded good sir.
1 Star
Waiting for the last member of our party, 4 of us sat at the large farm table in the middle of the restaurant like the posh diners we were. Then it began. HE came to the table.
HIM: "Water?"
Me: "Yes, please?"
We were then offered sparkling, still or tap. Tap all around. Duh. K was having trouble getting to the restaurant which warranted getting an antipasti platter to hold us over. With longing eyes I searched the room for HIM to help us, to ask us if we needed anything, you know, like food or more wine. Eventually we caught the eye of someone and got our platter ordered. K finally arrived and we seemed to be the only people who noticed because it took quite a while for HIM to come back. FINALLY, he returned and I welcomed him back to the table. Un-apologetically he said "Sorry".
Then it came time to order our food. No recommendations. No serving size guidance. Nada. When I ordered my chicken pate in Italian HE looked at me and said "You know that's chicken pate, right?"
Sigh.
Food arrived sporadically leaving some people without their bruschettas they had ordered while some of us received everything at once. Plates were placed in the wrong place resulting in a massive shuffle with each touchdown of a dish. The food was great, but was overshadowed by that guy that I would have to talk to again.
After food was cleared I expected the dessert menu to be brought over for us. Instead HE stood there and asked if we wanted anything else. Any good restaurant knows they can make more money on dessert. Don't give up at the main meal has left the table. Keep working on getting me to spend my money! IDIOT. Only two meun's were brought over for us to share like we were teenagers. Dessert was incorrectly described to us but we thought, what the heck we'll order a few. K's dessert was the Nutella Panino. Ooo sounds exotic, doesn't it. FALSE, not exotic. Have you ever had toast with Nutella on it? Then you have had the Nutella Panino from 'inoteca. When asked how dessert was I told him that it wasn't him, but to pass it on to the chef that the nutella dessert was a little disappointing. "Ok" He says. Not, thanks for the feedback, I'll pass that on, how were the other dishes...anything.
Eye roll.
It's surprising that one person can so perfectly ruin your birthday dinner. I tip my birthday hat to you and say, you succeeded good sir.
1 Star
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