Peter Pan Bakery 07-26-2009

Location: 727 Manhattan Ave.
Time: 4pm
People: Steven C, RB and myself

Feelings: Steven C wanted to check out Peter Pan in Greenpoint. I heard on some local news that it is a good place for dessert, so we both had to see what the hype was all about. After all, if it's been here for years, it must be good! As soon as we went into this Polish patisserie, it reminded me of American diner themed bakery in Japan. It is straight out of "American Graffiti," which Japanese people have the fixation over, but I had no idea that this was a global phenomenon. I would love to see if every country has an Americana themed bakery.

The shop was full of the locals, some speaking in Polish. Some seemed to be deep in thought and some just sat and enjoyed each other's company while dunking their fluffy non-Dunkin Donuts and sipping their coffee. This is a perfect place for people watching or character studies for your next screenplay or sketchbook, for there are quite a lot of interesting people in various stages of their lives here.

LA native Steven C has never tried New York's cold beverage of choice, egg cream before, so I insisted that he gets one. He analyzed the vanilla egg cream thoroughly and said it tasted like cream soda. He also thought his cruller was tasty and affordable.

RB and I ordered blueberry and cranberry muffins, which were light and fluffy and tasted like what a classic muffin should taste like. Most muffins taste like cupcakes sans icing, so this was a nice surprise. I can't wait to go back and try their other pastries and donuts.

I understand now why Peter Pan has been around for years, maintaining their good flavor and atmosphere. If I lived in Greenpoint, this would be my local staple.

Thank you Serious Eats! 07-31-2009

Feelings: I know I should keep packing and cleaning, but... these are exciting times at Ramen and Friends! Our Polish brunch outing with Steven C was posted on Serious Eats. Thank you Serious Eats!

Farewell Astoria! 07-31-2009

Feelings: Ramen and Friends' home office will be relocating this weekend. Therefore, we will not have access to internet or good food. We will return shortly.

Animation Block Party! 07-25-2009

Location: BAM, (30 Lafayette Ave. Bklyn), After party at 4th Ave Pub (76 4th Ave. Bklyn), After-after party at unknown location on a boat (somewhere in Bklyn/LIC)
Time: 7pm
People: A lot of people

Feelings: We attended the fifth annual Animation Block Party for "Dragon's Claw" screening at BAM Cinematék. It is a beautiful venue without pretention, and we were honored to be a part of the only animation festival in New York. All other selected films and videos were quite impressive, and RB and I were ecstatic to find that "Dragon's Claw" was awarded for the best music video. "To be on the same list as Don Hertzfeldt (who won the best narrative short) is amazing. He's my hero," RB said.

They had an after party at a low-key bar with pretty back yard, 4th Avenue Pub. Free beer is always good, but what was better was ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. Our friend BinX2 brought us a cake that says, "For RB Congrats!" We shared this surprisingly delicious cake with everyone, and it became the centerpiece of the backyard. I had never tried Baskin Robbins' ice cream cake, but this is something I might consider getting again. It came with chocolate sponge cake, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream on top. When the ice cream started to melt, it went incredibly well with the cake. It was not overly sweet and went surprisingly well with free beer! (classy!) Thank you BinX2 for this ice cream surprise!

Our night was still not over, however. OSha led us to a secret boat party located in the middle of Bushwick. From there, we were taken by a van to the boat party. There was a dance party inside the boat, and people were grilling up burgers at the top deck. We had no idea where we were, but with good view, music and people, we finished up this amazing night of animation and food.

Brunch at Golden Cafe 07-26-2009

Location: 615 Manhattan Ave.
Time: 2pm
People: Steven C, RB and myself

Feelings: Steven C wanted to try Polish brunch in Greenpoint, so I suggested Golden Cafe on the Nassau G stop. I noticed that this cafe was populated by local Polish residents, which is always a good sign. It was somehow rather empty at the height of brunch hour, however. Either way, I think we may have been the only non Polish customers, but the waitstaff was friendly and courteous, and I felt she really welcomed us with open arms.

The place offers extremely reasonable brunch at $6 that includes three eggs with two fixings of you choice, hash brown and mixed greens. The portions are quite generous as well, and everything tasted exceptionally fresh. I especially enjoyed their well seasoned hash browns, and I could taste how fresh the potatoes were.

Steven C and RB both ordered $7 "Polish Brunch" dish that came with eggs, kielbasa, and buckwheat. "It IS Golden!" Steven C said. RB thought that eggs were little runny for his taste, but he enjoyed the balance of flavors on the plate.

Golden Cafe has everything people want for brunch: affordability, portion, spaciousness, fresh vegetables, friendly staff, and local flair. If you want these qualities, furgetabout Manhattan. Furgetabout Williamsburg. Don't hesitate, go straight to Golden Cafe in Greenpoint.

67 Burger 07-25-2009

Location: 67 Lafayette Ave.
Time: 6pm
People: RB and myself

Feelings: We arrived early at BAM for Animation Block Party, where "Dragon's Claw" was being shown. We decided to walk around the Fort Greene area and get a quick bite to eat, and we came across famous 67 Burger.

I was intrigued by the beer milkshake on the menu. I especially love how they casually listed it as "milkshakes: vanilla/chocolate/strawberry/oreo/beer 4.25" like it has always been around for centuries. Alas, I did not try it since it was an hour before our important screening, but I am determined to go back for the beer milkshake with pocketful of Lactaid pills.

RB ordered a turkey burger with crumbled goat cheese, which is his healthier version of fat juicy cheese burger. It came on toasted sesame bun with red wine pickled onions. He said this moist and flavorful burger was the best turkey burger he has ever tasted, and this man eats quite a lot of turkey burgers. The buns were perfectly toasted, and the generous portion of creamy goat cheese and sweet onions complimented it well.

I was excited to see they offered curly fries. I have not had curly fries since Arby's in college, so this was a nice reunion. They were nicely seasoned and crispy. They used fresh oil, so they were not overcooked or soggy, and I was able to finish the fries without any heartburn before the screening!

Next time, it will be beer milkshake + sweet potato fries followed with another BAM screening.

Steven's Google Maps! 07-26-2009

My photographer friend Steven C, who not only takes amazing photos but also loves to explore different cities and enjoys food.

Check out this Google Maps of his New York favorite eats!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106271487517917303291.000446494d7648ee718cb&ll=40.797177,-73.976097&spn=0.118776,0.308647&t=h&z=12

You have one too? Send your Google Maps to ramenandfriends [AT] gmail [DOT] com

Casellula Cheese & Wine Cafe 07-23-2009

Location: 401 West 52nd Street
Time: 5:30pm
People: FF, AP and myself

Feelings: There is a cute little wine bar in Hell's Kitchen. This seemed so out of place for the area that I had to stop with FF and AP. Its cozy and rustic atmosphere was decorated tastefully. This seems to be the opposite of midtown aesthetic, but for me it is a welcomed addition to the neighborhood known for its flashy, but uninteresting tourists' spots.

We were overwhelmed by the large selection of wine, beer, cheese and meat, but our friendly waiter was eager to help. He was extremely knowledgeable and professional without being pushy or pretentious. Our waiter's casual attitude and attire helped us feel at ease, and we were able to enjoy our time completely.

One may think ovo-pescatarian such as myself with lactose intolerance issue does not belong in a place known for cheese and meat spreads, but there were indeed plenty of salad and sandwich dishes. I am usually not a fan of salad, or salad as a meal, but I may be a convert after tasting their amazing almond and goat cheese mixed green salad. The creaminess of goat cheese (which has no lactose) and fresh tomatoes with sweet and tangy vinaigrette created the perfect harmony of dense, layered flavor.

FF ordered B.F.M. La Meule beer which had creamy aroma with sweet and spicy taste. FF and AP thoroughly enjoyed their cheese and meat plates that our waiter chose, and we had a fun evening out with good conversations over tasty food and drinks all around. Who knew this was possible without taking a cab downtown?

Hummus Kitchen 07-21-2009

Location: 768 9th Ave.
Time: 12:30pm
People: PeeWee, AP and myself

Feelings: I have been trying to dine in at Hummus Kitchen for a while now, but its limited seating is always filled to capacity during my lunch hour. On this rainy afternoon, we were able to finally have a relaxing lunch with delicious hummus.

Our friendly and adorable waiter was extremely accommodating, and I could see why it is always packed here. The nice lounge atmosphere just makes you want to hang out at the place.

We tried Mixed Platter, where you can choose three mazze (appetizer) for $8.95. AP and I ordered bureka (stuffed puff pastry with feta cheese, eggplant and dry tomato), falafel and hummus along the side of whole wheat pita. The Bureka was flaky and stuffed with feta cheese. It was a little bit too greasy for me, and I was left desiring more flavor. The falafel had a crispy outside with a smooth and delicious inside, and the hummus had a good consistency of creaminess. Both went perfectly well with the warm and fluffy whole wheat pita.

I also enjoyed the hummus platter we shared. It came with four different types of hummus, and I especially enjoyed the mushroom hummus, which was the most flavorful of all.

My favorite hummus spots are still Hummus Place and Taim, but Hummus Kitchen is a solid choice for vegetarian/vegan lunch. Their wonderful service, affordability and cleanliness make this place my midtown choice for hummus and falafel.

Happy 1 Year! at Cho Cho San 07-21-2009

Location: 15 West 8th St.
Time: 7pm
People: ALev, Sassy MGru, BLee, JLam from MeSoHungry, MLev, SamShady, OSha, David, Teresa, GB, KarenO, Sa-Sha, PeeWee, Rich and myself

Feelings: Happy one year anniversary! To celebrate, we had our monthly outing at Cho Cho San with what else...$10 all you can drink sake! I read about this place on several Japanese magazines and newspapers, and I was almost certain that this would be an authentic Japanese restaurant. When I made a reservation, they were extremely accommodating, so I had high hopes.

Upon arrival, I was excited by the spaciousness, and we had two large tables reserved for us. At our monthly outing, we are used to being cramped into a small table and sharing food together, so this was a luxury and perfectly appropriate for our anniversary celebration. We had incredible service, and I was amazed that the waitstaff never once lost a smile and kept us deep in sake, water and hot tea.

Our new member, Teresa said about the service, "They were so accommodating by giving everyone separate checks and not charging us a service fee for being a large party." When I saw them giving us 15 separate checks, I was pretty pleased myself. We often spend over 20 minutes calculating the bill, so this was nice and easy. Most of us are in the media industry and did not do well too well in math, so this was well worthy anniversary gift from the Ramen God. I love Cho Cho San for this. Thank you.

However, the food was questionable. It was unfortunately what Japanese people would call "Americanized Japanese" food. Salad with ginger dressing, sushi rolls, tempura, limited numbers of noodle dishes, tempura ice cream, large portions-- all these together at one restaurant are good signs that they are American Japanese cuisine. And miso soup should never be served with a soup spoon nor should it be served BEFORE dinner. There is absolutely nothing wrong with American Japanese food as long as it's good. Although most of us were happy about their good portions, we thought the flavor was bland, greasy and a bit salty. "Veggie tempura was really greasy," Sa-Sha said. "The edamame potato salad wasn't bad, but it was kinda like mashed potatoes with edamame." MLev added, "The tempura was kind of plain."

The vegetarian members were happy with the veggie options available. This is another hint of American Japanese food. (It's REALLY hard to find vegetarian food in Japan.) Everyone seemed happy with their veggie sushi. GB mentioned, "The shiitake, avocado and ume surshi was all fresh and tasty."

OSha's Obama rolls, consisting of black caviar, salmon and mango, (yeah...obama..rolls... no comment) were presented beautifully. "Obama tasted good," He said. "Only thing was that the fish tasted a bit dry."

I was not happy at all with my zaru soba, and I stopped after three slurps. It was overcooked, and I simply cannot believe I paid $11 for soba out of package. I should have ordered veggie sushi instead.

The big selling point for this place is their $10 all you can drink sake, and for this I would recommend this place for large groups. People who had the sake somehow came back with better impressions of their food. But some of us who did not drink thought the food was mediocre. Sake makes food taste better, for sure.

Tripoli 07-18-2009

Location: 156 Atlantic Ave.
Time: 5pm
People: RB and myself

Feelings: After checking out our new apartment, we stopped at a Lebanese restaurant, Tripoli on Atlantic Avenue. There are so many renowned middle eastern restaurants on Atlantic, but I thought we should give this one a try since it seems least intimidating on the block. Usually that is not a good sign. Also, the completely empty space on Saturday is really not good.

One immediately notices the high ceilings, wooden carved chairs and stairways, murals, and large windows and mirrors. It lives somewhere between elegant dining and a touch of Astoria gaudiness. I am trying to move out from Astoria, and there we were, we found a taste of Queens in my new neighborhood. The servers were somewhat uncomfortable and gave us an awkward vibe but were very attentive and kind. It is also BYOB, which is always a good thing.

I was mainly excited about their large vegetarian selections. I can usually pick one or two dishes at regular restaurants, but here, I had to actually think about what I wanted to eat. Now I understand why people take such a long time to decide what they want to order. I thought they were just being amusingly indecisive. After 10 minutes of using the part of brain I almost never use, I ordered rather uninteresting vegetarian grape leaves, and RB ordered the more exciting shish barak.

My grape leaves were flavorful and not too oily. All the vegetables were extremely fresh, which made the dish very hearty and refreshing. The slices of tomato on my place were unexpectedly delicious and sweet, a rarity of tomatoes these days.

RB's shish barak, small meat-pie dumplings, cooked and served in yogurt sauce made with cilantro and garlic, looked intriguing. The sourness of yogurt made an interesting sauce for the tender beef dumplings. The side of rice was also delicious and perfectly cooked. He said with excitement, "It tastes like what I always wanted Rice-A-Roni would taste like."

I cannot wait to move to the neighborhood and try more of their vegetarian dishes, and RB can have more of his perfect Rice-A-Roni he's always dreamt of.

Bro-Sis Post 07-20-2009

These are truly exciting times at Ramen and Friends:

1) Bro-Sis posting on Serious Eats with JLam from MeSoHungry! No, JLam is not really my brother, but perhaps I've known him long enough. And both our last names mean forest (林), so you can't deny our DNA similarities. I've always wanted a foodblogging-flowbee using-rock star brother anyway.

2) Happy One Year Anniversary! Yes, we've been around for ONE WHOLE YEAR! We are celebrating tomorrow at our secret location in West Village with $10 all you can drink sake.

3) RB's video for JLam's Justice of the Unicorns "Dragon's Claw" will be a part of Animation Block Party premier at BAM Cinematék in Brooklyn this Saturday at 6:50pm. See you there!

Stand4 Burger 07-17-2009

Location: 24 East 12th St.
Time: 8:30pm
People: RB and myself

Feelings: I expected Stand to be some small casual burger place, but when we reached the destination, I was pleasantly surprised by the modern and clean decor and open space. "This place looks expensive for a burger shop," RB said. We double checked the menu outside, and it was not over the top-- around $8-$12 for burger-- and thought it would be a nice Friday night outing after long week at work. The open kitchen, courteous waitstaff, and spacious tables were all nice touch, but I was mostly excited about their eclectic menu. I saw burger salad, burger soup, alcoholic milk shakes, fried pickles, and plenty of beer and cocktail selections.

The beer connoisseur RB ordered Weyerbacher Hops from Easton, Pennsylvania with excitement. RB said, "It is rare I get to order beer at a burger place that isn't a pub." They even have happy hour deal where you get free beer with your burger. We missed that, but that is indeed a great offer. Gingerholic myself ordered their homemade ginger ale without hesitation. It was the best home made ginger ale I have ever tried, even better than the one from Wild Ginger. It tasted like pure ginger juice with a bit of soda and slightly sweetened, which is the ultimate heaven for gingerholic.

It is rare nowadays to order burgers that aren't on brioche buns. But RB's classic burger came with classic sesame buns and heavily seasoned, almost steak-like burger. He said it tasted more like meatloaf, not burger. "It's not a bad thing. It's just not the burger I would expect when I order 'classic' burger."

My salmon burger was also well seasoned but a bit dry. I was not a big fan of their sesame buns. It was too hard and bland, or I must be too spoiled by all the fluffy sweet brioche buns in the city.

The shoestring fries were my big hit, especially with Japanese mayo at the table. Although RB thought it was much too difficult to eat, I liked eating tiny fries with different dips I created. (with mayo, ketchup, mustard, the tar tar sauce from salmon burger) But after about 10 tiny fries, I started to get a major heartburn that not even the strongest ginger juice could cure. I regret eating the large order of shoestring fries, even as I type this post. This was a mountain of shredded and fried potatoes that I could not climb. I recommend you stick to the regular fries.

Stand is cute, modern, and it is perfect for large groups or uncomfortable casual first dates. But the food itself leaves something to be desired.

Tofu Happy Hour at Kyotofu 07-15-2009

Location: 705 9th Ave.
People: MK and myself
Time: 6:30pm

Feelings: I took MK to a vegan friendly dessert and tofu restaurant, Kyotofu in Hell's Kitchen. At 6:30pm on Thursday night, the place was quite crowded with young women enjoying their delicious dessert dishes and pretty cocktails. The waitstaff mentioned that it was happy hour, and all the cocktails were 50% off. If you are not much of a beer and nacho pub person, this would be a notable place to stop with your co workers for unique happy hour.

We skipped drinks and went straight for the savory dinner dishes. MK ordered artisanal tofu salad with yuzu miso dressing. It came with a big smooth chunk of tofu that resembled boiled egg in the middle of salad. MK especially enjoyed the dressing and said the dish was quite unusual and unique.

I ordered warm simmer tofu, which was steamed in a clay pot at the table, and it came with Japanese fixings such as tsukemono (Japanese pickles). I scooped the warm and just barely cooked tofu with a tiny wooden spoon. It was just like butter melting in my mouth but a much healthier version. The smoothness of the tofu was a joyous luxury for my throat-- it went as smooth as Japanese bullet trains. So fast and airy, without a single bump. The fresh nutty taste of tofu remained on my palate, and I begged for the next scoop. The saltiness of the tsumekono complimented the nuttiness for an exciting and intense flavor.

For dessert, we both ordered the non dairy soy milk soft ice cream sundae! MK and I don't and can't eat dairy, so a vegan ice cream sundae is something we always dream of. The deconstructed sundae came with fluffy kuromitsu non dairy whipped cream, mixed berry compote, and soy ice cream with matcha mochi. Each element had amazing texture and flavor, and I did not want to mix them all! I wanted to enjoy every taste. I especially enjoyed the kuromitsu whipped cream, and I wanted to buy a tub of it.

The service is often slow here, but it is perfect if you want to relax, catch up with your friends, sip a cocktail, and enjoy every flavor and texture. Take your time and enjoy your tofu.

Lemon Verbena Soft-Serve from Milk Bar 07-15-2009

Location: 207 2nd Ave
Time: 9:30pm
People: JRath, JV and myself

Feelings: I took my lovely lady friends, JRath and JV to my usual 13th street route, Bistrouge and Momofuku Milk Bar. After enjoying our meal and wine tasting at Bistrouge, I casually seduced them into the buttery heaven of Milk Bar.

JRath and JV tried two flavors of soft-serve: rosemary and lemon verbena. They sounded just like some organic hand lotion from L'Occitane, so I passed on tasting and went straight to my favorite blueberry cream cookies and chocolate-chocolate cookies, which were as amazingly buttery as usual. Both JRath and JV enjoyed the "incredibly refreshing" lemon verbena. "You usually don't find that much flavor in soft-serve ice cream, but I could taste the essential oils of the lemon verbena plant," JV said. "I have no idea how they pulled that off." I wish I had overcome my fear of eating hand lotion and tried this amazingly refreshing soft-serve!

The rosemary soft-serve did not have the same reception. JRath called the tasting experience as one of her personal hells. She described it as "how patchouli would taste if I ever had to eat it." JV also did not think the combination of savory and ice cream was a very good idea. "The rosemary was too buttery, like buttery rosemary. I can see it being served in a restaurant as a palate cleanser between courses, or some kind of experimental thing a chef puts on the side of a fancy appetizer," She said. Was this patchouli-like buttery ice cream supposed to be a palate cleanser for the cookies? Who knows.

Patbingsu from B-Bap 07-15-2009

Location: 830 9th Ave.

Feelings: I have not been able to enjoy the pleasant weather much during this unusually hectic summer. I often go to B-Bap Fusion Rice Bar for a quick lunch take out, but today, I decided to give myself a little summer treat that is patbingsu. B-Bap calls their version, "B-Bap Fruit Icy," and it comes with plenty of fresh fruit and mochi on top of shaved ice.

It took them a very long time to prepare this delicious summer dessert, but when it finally appeared in front of me, its colorful display helped me shed all my workday stress. The condensed milk and syrup perfectly mixed with the ice, and the chewy texture of mochi and fresh fruit blended in my mouth. When the ice started to melt, it was indeed a near perfection of all textures and flavor. Their patbingsu is much more low key than Koryodang's version, but it is a perfectly sized treat for stressful summer afternoon. Many people often reach for chocolate for afternoon pick-me-up, but patbingsu and kakigori are good healthier alternatives that are perfect for this season.

Bastille Day Street Festival 07-12-2009

Location: Smith Street between Pacific/Bergen
Time: 4pm

Feelings: To celebrate Bastille Day two days early, RB and I headed out to Bastille Day Street Festival in Boerum Hill-Carroll Gardens area. Joyous francophiles as well as party loving people were enjoying wine, beer and street food like papa rellena on Smith street with music and dancing. It was incredibly crowded in front of Bar Tabac with people participating in their petanque tournament as they transformed Smith Street into a sandy beach.

Joyeux Quatorze Juillet!

Canadian Invasion 07-13-2009

Location: 761 7th Ave @ 50th St.

Feelings: FREE COFFEE! Canadian institution, Tim Hortons opened in various NYC locations all formerly occupied by Dunkin Donuts. To celebrate, they are giving out free coffee TODAY! The line was not too long at the 7th avenue location, and my iced coffee tastes like free iced coffee, which is always delicious.

$5 Pastry Deal at Cafe Zaiya! 07-10-2009

Location: 69 Cooper Square

Feelings: I often go to Cafe Zaiya for their delicious Japanese baked goods, cake, bento, omusoba and so on. What I most like about them is everyday around 5:30pm, they would start to sell their savory items for 50% off and a package of six pastries for $5. I am not sure what other bakeries do with their leftover pastries in the U.S., but this practice is quite common in Japan.

RB enjoys $5 pastry deal, but they often include one savory pastry (usually gratin or cheese pastry), which makes him insanely mad. He does not enjoy the concept of savory flavor with cold bread and would scream, "Ugh! Not the gratin bread!"

In this economy, this deal is hard to beat. Especially people who want to try different types of Japanese pastries, $5 packaged deal is a great way to start.