Pie Face 1-25-2012

Location: 1691 Broadway

Time: 3pm

People: AP and myself

Feelings: To honor the eve of Australia Day (in fact, they are a day ahead in Australia anyway), we headed to a newly opened Australian meat pie chain, Pie Face. They serve both savory and sweet pies as well as sandwiches, pastries and delicious coffee. When it comes to Aussie pie shops, Tuck Shop and Dub Pies come to mind, but Pie Face is a nice addition only a block away from my work.

As we waited in line, the shop staff told us that espresso is huge in Sydney and that there are coffee shops everywhere. I recall how our Aussie friend, GB was quite particular about her coffee. As suspected, AP's regular coffee was full bodied, rich and delicious, and my decaf Americano was strong with a full of flavor. We'll no doubt be getting our morning coffee here from now on.

There are seven different savory pies ($5.95) to choose from, and they are also available in mini size ($2.95) if you are feeling guilty about consuming the buttery crust. For those who are more adventurous like AP, definitely upgrade your savory pie to a "Stack," ($7.95) which is topped with mash potatoes, gravy and peas. This Stack looks like a savory cupcake and is quite a reasonable meal. "I enjoyed the vegetarian option but found the meat pie flavorful and hearty," said AP.

Each pie has a different face, and the overall packaging is light-hearted and adorable. My "Tandoori Vegetable" was subtly spicy and scrumptious although the dough was not as crusty as I had expected. It is definitely more buttery and doughy compared to other Australian pies I have tried.

One small issue is that when you enter the store, there is a giant glass case. It is filled with cute pie faces, but it is so big that it creates this distance between the customers and the staff on the other side. With a loud traffic from Broadway, I may have to shamelessly shout, "One vegetable pie and coffee please! What? No, not a mini, a large pie!"

The Smile 01-23-2012

Location: 26 Bond St.

Time: 12:30pm

People: RB and myself

Feelings: No matter how hard it tries, Manhattan is not Brooklyn. Such was my thought as I entered The Smile on Bond street. The rustic decor with exposed brick walls and littered with unemployed hipsters scream Williamsburg. Especially the lifeless waiter who was able to mutter, "Hey." Not "Are you ready to order?" or "Can I start with you guys with some drinks?." She just said, "Hey," as if we were in her way. A bit of irony for a place called "The Smile." In Brooklyn, at least in BoCoCa, most servers are extremely friendly and courteous regardless of how hip they seem. It seems the servers in Manhatten are too cool to even be in Williamsburg.

It is a good thing that the waiter was coquettishly cute, and the food was delicious. Prices were also reasonable for the large portion provided. The "Rosemary White Bean Spread Sandwich" ($10.50, with marinated swiss chard, housemade tomato jam on toasted multigrain) was creatively invented, and it is a heavenly option for vegetarians. The sweet tomato jam fused with the smooth beans followed by the texture of the greens created a dynamic flavor. You don't always need to resort to cheese and avocado to create tasty meatless sandwiches.

RB's Harissa Honey Roasted Chicken Breast ($12, with roasted red peppers, manchego and preserved lemon mayo on baguette) was tender and flavorful. Although it seemed like a simple sandwich, there was quite a delicious complexity of flavors and texture.

Both of our sandwiches were served with crispy potato chips and a bowl of delicious pickles. They made me smile, even if the servers were not. We enjoyed the meal and the atmosphere nonetheless.

The Modern at MoMa 01-19-2012

Location: 9 West 53rd st.

Time: 12:45pm

People: FA and myself

Feelings: I am not a fan of fine dining. The pricing has a lot to do with it, but I've never felt fine dining to be romantic or extraordinary. It reminds me of the most stressful moments of finishing school and leaves feelings of distance and unapproachability. I am often bored to tears, and I much prefer cheap eats rather than having one fancy outing. The Modern at the MoMa, however, may have changed my mind.

The Modern, with a view of the MoMa sculpture garden, has contemporary architectural design that would match the museum itself. From each utensil, plate to a napkin holder, it is visually stunning, without the feel of gaudiness or trashiness that can be found at many fine restaurants. The service is impeccable but not over the top, and everything flows so naturally.

The price is not too bad either. At $55 for prix fixe lunch, you get two spoons of amuse-bouches, soup, two courses, dessert and chocolates. It isn't cheap, but if you went to a regular lunch spot and order four-five courses, you would spend about $50.

Every flavor was vibrant. All the senses were awakened on my palate, and there was not a moment of relaxation. It was quite a workout. The Seasonal Greens (goat cheese ravioli, beet carpaccio, and truffle vinaigrette) were light and delicate. The greens were flawlessly fresh, and the portion was bigger than expected. The gentle texture of Slow Roasted Scottish Salmon (poppy seeds, heirloom and sicilian pistachio emulsion) left me speechless. Exquisitely prepared, it was a piece of heaven. No wonder people at these fine restaurants are so damn quiet: the dishes grab your attention and leave you almost incoherent.

Along with La Colombe coffee, I finished the meal with Coffee and Vanilla Sundae, followed with an assortment of chocolates from the chocolate cart. This was an amazing end to our meal. The strong cocoa flavor of the chocolates refreshed and cleansed my palate, and I was ready to take on the rest of the day.

Don't get me wrong--I am still a cheap eat snob. I'd take a bowl of ramen over a French full course any day. But The Modern was able to create an intimate setting with artful dishes...all without losing that soulfullness. Who knows, I may start brownbagging and splurge on The Modern once a month.

Himalayan Yak 01-10-2012

Location: 72-20 Roosevelt Ave. Queens

Time: 7:30pm

People: 15 Ramen and Friends: ALev, MGru, MLev, JT, JBH, BLee, Effie, JLam-MeSoHungry, SaSha (check out here for her Butter Tea report), MaSha, Rich, Merry, Yasmin, RB and myself

Feelings: To celebrate the new year with friends, we headed out to Himalayan Yak in Jackson Heights, located right under the train tracks. With a name like this one, you would think they would be serving yak meat everywhere, but it was quite the contrary. It was present on the menu, but the availability was nonexistent.

Unfortunately, the service was incredibly slow and inattentive - so much so, that we had to pay extra for our babysitter. If you are a parent and going out to Himalayan Yak, make sure that your babysitter is available for an extra hour. Rich does not like being too critical of waiters, stating, "We're a surprisingly large group and I feel like there's language and cultural barriers between us and the people working at the restaurants we like to go to." But even he felt the server didn't know what to do or wasn't paying much attention. Effie noted that they were nice when they were actually serving, however.

Appetizers such as lollipop chicken ($5.99), mung-bean jelly and momos were well received at the table. The momos were ethereal yet greasy, and the skin to filling ratio was excellent. They were not outstanding by any means, but they were tasty regardless.

The three different dipping sauces were the highlight of the meal. "Although the orange one was a little too herbal for me, they each added some interesting flavor and heat if needed," said Merry.

While waiting for our meal, we enjoyed butter tea and tingmo, Tibetan steamed bread. The tea tasted much like a milder version of royal milk tea with a hint of saltiness. The bread was similar to Chinese bun without any filling or flavor whatsoever. It is interesting to taste something without any added flavor, and I enjoyed every bite of it. The American culinary scene is all about strong flavors, so it is refreshing to see subtle, or even nonexistent flavors. With other prominent flavors on the table, this bread provided an excellent ying-yang combination. Just don't let the soft, pillowy texture fool you since this is incredibly filling.

When it comes to entrees, there were mixed reviews. Since it took such a long time for them to serve us, our butter tea was cold, and there is nothing worse than cold butter juice. Even Paula Dean would not dare to drink such a thing. BLee and JBH's meat dishes were cold by they time they arrived. SaSha enjoyed her cauliflower and potato dish (Aloo Kauli Ko Tarkari, $6.99) describing, "had a nice spice and heat to it." Merry also liked the beef tongue ($11.99). "The meat was tender and the sauce was nice--just enough heat."

Gyathuk, the hand pulled noodle soup Yasmin and I ordered ($8.99) were hearty and tasty with subtle flavor. Since other dishes had occasional spunky flavors, this was a nice little break for my palate. The American cheese curry dish we tried was interesting and "tasted like something from Chili's," Rich said.

Overall, as BLee said, we are not sure if they presented a fair demonstration of Tibetan food. "Tibetan food is heavy and starchy because the climate is cold and most people there are engaged in physical labor that requires lots of calories--it was not memorable and not good value," she added. JBH also felt that it was "nothing that we'd specifically come over there for."

I felt that the carb and vegetable dishes here are excellent and well priced, but it would be wise to avoid the meat dishes since most of them were tough and some inedible. Perhaps they only know how to cook yak after all.

Himalayan Yak would be great if you are:

1) with a large group who does not mind waiting and could use some extra time to catch up.

2) a vegetarian who enjoys carb loading.

3) eager to watch interesting Himalayan programming on their TV monitor.

4) in love with butter in a liquid form.

The Tea Set 01-05-2012

Location: 235 W. 12th St.

Time: 12pm

People: Effie, JR and myself

Feelings: Most women, regardless of country of origin or age, enjoy three elements in life: a cute little French cafe, tea, and a buttery croissant. On a chilly Thursday afternoon, this cozy French cafe in West Village was packed with women, warming up to a beautifully brewed pot of tea. The attentive service from a charming French owner doesn't hurt either. If men go to a sports bar to release their overactive testosterone, this would be the place women can expell their estrogen without hesitation.

The extensive menu includes breakfast dishes like pastries, eggs, granola and lunch fare like soup, salad, quiches, and sandwiches. Even escargots can be found on the "Winter Day/Brunch" menu, served from 9am to 5pm. My Veggie Croque Croissant ($10, croissant, organic tomato, cheddar, bechamel sauce, organic salad) was not healthy by any means, but it was superbly constructed. The flaky, buttery croissant softly supported the fresh, tangy tomatoes and the creamy sauce. It was of course on a heavy side, but a pot of tea I ordered, genmaicha, soothed the digestion process.

Effie also enjoyed her Organic Eggs in Whole Wheat Croissant ($12, croissant, bechamel sauce, organic cheese, ham, organic salad) with a pot of "Organic French Kiss" tea (rosehip, orange peel. hibiscus, apple and apricot). The bright red-pink color of the tea matched her pink hair, and it was nice sitting across from such an aesthetically striking image of coordination.

JR tried their soy chai tea, but she was not too fond of the strong aroma. Needless to say, I grabbed and finished the rest of it. Thank you JR.

Overall, The Tea Set is a charming cafe with excellent food and tea. It is conveniently located by the 1 train, so why not relax here during your lunch hour over a warm cup of tea and buttery, heavenly croissant? Places like here make me happy to be a girl in NYC.

Akdeniz 12-29-2011

Location: 19 W. 46th St.

Time: 12:30pm

People: JR and myself

Feelings: Virgo's characteristics: Independent, analytical, organized, cold and fussy. It is hard living as a Virgo. I am constantly trapped in a mental cage and just cannot ever let myself go. If something is not perfect, I get irritated and must fix it immediately or completely abandon it. My old friend JR, a fellow Virgo, understands how insanely fastidious we can be. We often discuss this over lunch and have a good laugh about it.

Today, JR and I met up at a Turkish restaurant, Akdeniz in Little Brazil row in Midtown. The restaurant was packed with tired office workers and cheerful holiday tourists. Don't let the hall-in-the wall vibe of the restaurant fool you. The prices here are not cheap by any means. I ordered humus ($6.50) and lebni ($6.50, thick home made yogurt with walnuts, mint and dill), which were both smooth and creamy but utterly overpriced. I am spoiled by all the amazing yet reasonable places on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, so paying $6.50 for a small plate of hummus does not sound like a good value. But the smoothness of hummus and yogurt went perfectly with their crispy bread, so I forgave the inflated prices.

Unlike my cold appetizers, JR's Greek salad ($8.95, grape leaves, olives, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, feta cheese and olive oil) was a great deal. With tons of cheese, it is something even non salad eaters would enjoy.

Since there aren't many Middle Eastern sit down restaurants in Midtown West, Akdeniz is a solid option for lunch. It is your standard Middle Eastern fare with good service, and if you avoid pricey entrees ($15 and up), you can enjoy salads and various tasty appetizers without spending too much. Overall, it was perfectly acceptable for two finicky Virgos in Midtown.

5 Napkin Burger Astoria 01-01-2012

Location: 35-01 36th St, Astoria

Time: 5:30pm

People: RB, CK and myself

Feelings: I thought about celebrating the traditional Japanese Oshogatsu with RB and CK. I really considered it, but I could not resist my beloved Muppets and Jan Svankmajer (Check out "Little Otik") whose exhibitions are currently held at Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria.

After the visit we were about to explore our old neighborhood, but then I saw 5 Napkin Burger conveniently stood across the street from the museum. The outpost of this Hell's Kitchen burger joint looks much like many suburban chain restaurants: Flat screen TV playing football, giant booth tables, gigantic food portions, and women who dress for men instead of fashion. This would not be an ideal place for RB and I to dine, but it is a perfect place for people with babies. There is even a large playroom for kids in the back, and they actually have a plenty of working high chairs available. Each booth is very roomy --Outback style, so you have an enough space to spread all the baby supplies and toys. This must be why people move out to suburbs.

The menu consisted of burgers, salads, sandwiches and lobster rolls, and for some odd reason, sushi. I am not a big fan of restaurants who do not specialize in one category, so my expectation was not high. But my 5 Napkin Veggie Burger ($11.95, 5N sauce, b&b pickles , lettuce, tomato on multi grain roll), voted as the best veggie burger in Village Voice, was unexpectedly decadent and delicious. Many veggie burgers try to mimic the flavor and texture of the meat, but this one has its own juicy non-meaty flavor. The fresh vegetables, pillowy buns, mayo-tartar like sauce and moist veggie patty created a perfect combination of a harmonious burger that may outdo the meat burgers. Here, veggie burgers are no substitutes.

RB's had the 5Napkin Burger ($14.95, 10oz custom ground beef, caramelized onions, gruyere cheese, rosemary aioli on soft white roll) with tater tots. The burger was as sloppy as advertised and may have exceeded the 5 Napkins mentioned. He wasn't terribly fond of the Gruyere cheese and thought it resembled Hollandaise sauce. Overall, RB felt it was a well cooked burger and a nice bun, with a lot of superfluous bells and whistles.

The service was nice and attentive, but the Outback-esque decor was a bit of turn off especially after seeing the surreal visual work of Jan Svankmajer.

But 5 Napkin Burger in Astoria would be a great stop if you are...

1) visiting the museum across the street and too lazy to wander around.

2) craving delicious veggie burgers.

3) with kids.

4) dying to watch Tebow on TV and want to be greeted by hot hostesses while wiping cheese sauce off of your chin.