Iris Cafe 02-19-2012

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Location: 20 Columbus Pl. BK

Time: 3pm

People: RB, CK and myself

Feelings: Residents of the BoCoCa area have certainly witnessed the insane numbers of children and their parents roaming around the parks and cafes on Smith street. We appreciate the area's kid friendliness, but at the same time, we try to avoid it as much as possible. Coming from Japan, I still don't quite understand the American style of parenting, and seeing all of these unexceptionally cheerful parents and hyperactive kids is sometimes overwhelming. So where do we go? We head to Brooklyn Heights and their unpopular parks where there are only a few quiet kids and parents.

Brooklyn Heights and "cool" don't usually live together especially since there are a few notable places to eat or buy coffee. But near my only favorite spot in Brooklyn Heights, River Deli, there is an adorable, cozy cafe that serves Stumpton coffee and all day breakfast menu.

The cafe does not allow laptops or iPads, and rather hip crowds fills the relaxing farmhouse like space. There are sometimes celeb spotting here since Brooklyn Heights is many Hollywood stars' home. Securing a table on weekends may be difficult, so just grab their coffee and breakfast sandwiches and head to park or promenade.

The all day breakfast dishes like "Soldiers" (soft boiled eggs with toast), homemade yogurt, and oatmeal are available as well as rustic sandwiches made to order for more of a lunch fare. With the use of local ingredients, you can get fresh brunch dishes at more of a casual setting. My "Avocado Toast with Soft Eggs" ($9, 7-grain toast with dijon mayo, avocado spread, with 2 soft boiled eggs) was flavorful, and I thoroughly enjoyed the combination of mayo, avocado and eggs. My only complaint is that the price could be $2-3 cheaper. I understand that the it's made with exceptionally fresh ingredients, but $9 for a very small sandwich seems a bit out of my range. RB's ham, egg and cheese bagette was tasty, but a bit too crispy for his liking.

Good, simple and wholesome food and coffee can be found at this sleepy side of town. Comforting food, coffee, park--what else could a family of three want? Well I could definitely use a pair of Prada fire shoes or Dannijo necklace, perhaps.

Court Street Grocers 02-19-2012

Location: 485 Court St. BK

Time: 3pm

People: RB, CK, and myself

Feelings: Latelty, I have been exploring South Carroll Gardens. Since I'll be teaching at Brooklyn Brainery, I have been visiting the area quite often. Near BQE almost at the end of Court Street, Court Street Grocers is my recent favorite. Offering an assortment of grocery items, dairy, baked goods and drinks at this quaint shop with minimalist decor, it could easily dismissed as a just another hipster hangout. But hold your soy horses until you try their sandwiches.

Sandwiches are between $8 and $12, and expect to wait for your sandwiches for about 10 minutes. Take a seat at the adjacent dining space and just relax. I was pleasantly surprised to see two functioning high chairs available. Both customers and store folks were polite, friendly and laid back, which created a serene sense of community in the area. I witnessed three babies, but they were all genuinely calm and happy, including CK.

Perhaps one major reason why the kids are so happy here is due to their sandwiches. My "Veg Loaf #2" ($8, chickpea loaf, roasted tomatoes, pickled carrots, hummus on ciabatta) was a delightfully prepared, eclectic sandwich. Each layer was incredibly fresh with the highest quality ingredients, and it justified the rather steep fare. I have mentioned several times on this blog that I am not a big fan of sandwiches, but if everyone preps sandwiches like they do, I wouldn't hesitate to re-title this blog "Sammich and Friends."

RB thoroughly enjoyed his "Mother-In-Law" sandwich ($10, braised heritage beef brisket, Mother-in-Law's kimchi, roasted broccoli, mayo on ciabatta). What he described as kimchi pineapples were incredibly complex and made for a deliciously interesting and unique sandwich.

I enjoyed their innovative sandwich menu and interesting selection of drinks and condiments, but what makes this place special is the warmth and kindness of people and the relaxed atmosphere. I can sense the owners' passion for food, and most importantly, they take pride in their work. It is really hard to find this type of business ethics nowadays. I will make sure this place stays in business...by eating all their sandwiches!

Hot Kitchen 02-18-2011

Time: 12:30pm

People: RB, CK and myself

Feelings: It seems like the area of St. Marks and second avenue is booming with authentic Asian cuisine. Hot Kitchen, who took over my favorite udon restaurant, Matsukado, offers authentic Sichuan dishes along with the more obvious Chinese American dishes. With a bona fide spot like Hot Kitchen, we may not need the unreliable 7 train any longer.

It is owned by the same people of Old Town Hot Pot in West Village and Grand Sichuan, so you can enter the restaurant without foreseeing any disappointment. The prices are certainly higher than most Sichuan spots in Queens, and if you are looking to relish some hot pots during this winter, there are four tables in the back solely available for that. Make sure to ask the server for a hot pot before being seated.

The menu is extensive, so it may be helpful to review it beforehand. Definitely skip their "American Chinese" section on the menu unless you're dining with palate-challenged friends who only dine at Ruby Foos and Chili's. Here, you come across the liberal usage of the Sichuan peppercorns we experienced at Uncle Zhou in Elmhurst.

The service was a bit strange and slow, and it did not help that CK was overtired nearing meltdown. He is usually better behaved at restaurants, but today, we were "one of those" parents. I sincerely apologize to the other patrons. But there was only time CK was serenely quiet: When we were sharing the tasty vegetable mai fun noodles ($7 for large). It was perfectly seasoned, and if you are not up for fiery, face numbing Sichuan dishes, mild noodle dishes like this one would be excellent.

RB's gui zhou spicy chicken from lunch special ($7 with soup) was crispy and full of the deliciously tingly and spicy-citrus flavor of Sichuan pepper.

I would really like to go back to try more dishes, but I'm afraid I'm already remembered as "that lady with the screaming child!" So please try this place and let me know what other dishes you enjoyed.

Puddin' 02-12-2012

Location: 102 St. Marks Pl

Time: 4pm

People: 11 Ramen and Friends: ALev, MGru, BLee, JBH, JT, Effie, Binx2, Jaimee, RB and myself

Feelings: $7 pudding, anyone? Enter Puddin'- the newly opened pudding shop in East Village, created by Ms. Clio Goodman. Although they do serve non-pudding delights like brownies, cookies and cakes as well as Stumptown coffee and Harney and Sons tea, expect this spot to be completely devoted to the pudding.

After our Japadog outing, we walked a couple blocks down on St. Marks for some serious pudding action. The store is cramped just like the other small bakeries in the area. When 11 of us stormed in, we had no room to breath, but we had a plenty of room for smooth pudding.

Puddings are $5.50 for eight ounces, $1 toppings, and parfaits at a steep price of $6.50 for small and $9.25 for medium. "Yay overpriced pudding!" said JBH with much enthusiasm. "Still in love with my banana parfait (with real banana pudding, graham cracker crumbs, fresh banana cake, dollop of whip cream)." BLee's Lemon Drop Parfait (lemon pudding, crushed ginger crunch cookies, toasted marshmallow creme) was rather disappointing and visually unappealing. "It did not taste lemony enough, and the overall texture was thin and runny, even the marshmallow creme topping, " said BLee. No one wants $7 runny pudding.

Meanwhile, JT enjoyed the layer of rich dark chocolate at the bottom of his caramel macchiato parfait (coffee and chocolate pudding, brownie pieces, salted caramel sauce). He said, "RB looked to have made the best decision in getting a customized single pudding flavor - Chocolate pudding with brownie chunks and chocolate chips."

Effie felt the pudding was good and rich but overpriced. "You would see in a fancy restaurant for pudding. This was served out of a plastic cup, so $7 is a bit hard to justify!"

The service is friendly, and it is a cozy, cute, and delightfully smelling space. They are completely vegetarian, and their coconut flavor is 100% vegan. When you take a deep breath, the almost overwhelming, intoxicating aroma of melting Icelandic chocolate will take you away to the pudding land. If you are feeling nostalgic about your Jello days, Puddin' will satisfy your craving in a clean, gourmet way. I did not grow up here, and my first reaction to Jello pudding was "some sort of grotesque paint supply." Therefore, it is hard for me to review the pudding, but it was luscious and tasty nonetheless. My recommendation here is to get the creamy chocolate or banana pudding with crunchy toppings to contrast the texture.

Japadog 02-12-2012

Japadog: 30 St. Marks Pl

Time: 3pm

People: 12 Ramen and Friends: ALev, MGru, BLee, JBH, Alexis, PMont, JT, Effie, Binx2, Jaimee, RB and myself

Feelings: I was beyond excited for the opening for Japadog, Vancouver's Japanese style hot dog stand in East Village. Japadog combines american street food (hot dogs) with Japanese street food such as teriyaki, okonomiyaki, yakisoba and croquettes.

With friendly service, this new outpost of Japadog has a rather spacious seating area, which is rare for the St. Marks area. It would actually be ideal for large groups and kids. Since their hot dogs are voluminous and could get messy, it's nice to have a table available to thoroughly enjoy the sloppiness of the dogs.

It is cash only, and the combo meal, which includes shaken fries and a drink can range around $7-$14. My negi-miso veggie dog with miso sauce topped with cabbage was subtly flavored, almost to the point of blandness. The bun and the sausage created a stereotypical Japanese hot dog: Soft, super-white bread and non-fatty, boiled sausage. Yes, we Japanese even enjoy hot dogs in a subtle, non greasy way.

I understand that the dogs are the star of this establishment, but I enjoyed their shaken fries more. Many fast food joints in Japan, even McDonalds, offer shaken fries: The delicious bag of fries that come with seasoning of your choice. Since the bag comes pre-mixed, you need to shake it before you dig in. Generous PMont ordered several flavors of shaken fries, and out of all that I tried, butter+shoyu flavor stood out to me the most. The curry flavor was also popular among our table.

Holding the okonomi dog with kurobuta sausage topped with bonito flakes and okonomiyaki sauce, "Reasonably priced and delish. Not too heavy. Interesting flavors," said Effie. JT also enjoyed what seemed to be the most interesting dish, croquette hot dogs. "I enjoyed the starchbomb of the croquette hot dog. The butter fries were also tasty combination of sweet+fat+salt."

BLee also liked her "Love Meat" hot dog with meat sauce and melted cheese. She said, "Despite the meat sauce and cheese, it didn't feel too heavy. They fries were nothing special, but I liked my Aonori topping, and in general that they offer so many different unusual flavors."

At Japadog, hot dogs are treated as sandwiches. JBH stated, "It was kinda lackluster." It is an interesting concept, and while they offer a glimpse of Japanese street food, I am not sure if this is something I'd want to eat too often. No matter how Japanese and light it may be, it is still a hot dog after all. They are quite tasty so definitely worth a try, however.

Ai Fiori 02-07-2012

Location: 400 5th Ave. 2nd Fl.

Time: 12:30pm

People: Effie and myself

Feelings: I am skeptical of restaurant week since I am not interested in fine dining (except, perhaps, The Modern), and there seems to be a less inventive menu available. But since I heard a lot about Ai Fiori from many of my co-workers, I decided to give it a try.

Located in the Setai Hotel, Ai Fiori is not a particularly gorgeous restaurant. It is something your suburban mother-in-law would find it opulent, but for two Rick Owens and Alexander McQueen obsessed gals, it is rather dowdy and uninspiring. I felt it was a cross between a cruise ship and a funeral home. There is a wide view of 5th Avenue, but seriously, is anyone impressed with a view of 36th Street?

The dining was more casual comparatively to other conventional spots. I felt quite comfortable dining here thanks to their warm hospitality. If the interior of this restaurant was more minimalistic and modern, this would be a better fit for the service.

The restaurant week lunch menu ($24) consisted of three courses of appetizer, entree and dessert. All dishes carried the well executed and rustic locavore flavors. The insalata (seasonal greens, local baby carrots, manchego, aged sherry) was fresh and earthy beyond our imagination. Celebrity chef Michael White is known for his pasta, so of course we could not possibly wrong with the Tagliatelle (house made ribbon pasta, funghi ragout). The pasta was thick, chewy, and quite delicious, but the dish overall was rather lackluster. To finish off the meal, the Olive Oil Cake (lemon, espresso gelato) had a nice balance of subtle sweetness and light oiliness. It had a similar texture and flavor to Japanese castella. Effie's Milk Chocolate Cremeux was little too sweet and heavy and overshadowed the meal.

The food at Ai Fiori was quite delicious and modern with some intensely flavored and whimsical dishes. I would love for them to drop this suburban chic decor because I would love to be as far away from Long Island as possible. In the end, however, the food is all that matters.

Shelsky's Smoked Fish 02-05-2012

Location: 251 Smith St. BK

Time: 12:30pm

People: RB, CK and myself

Feelings: I must consume about 300 bagels a year. My nutritionist would yell at me, but I just need my morning coffee and "butta bagel." If it's the bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon you crave, most New Yorkers would head to Russ and Daughters in LES. But us BoCoCa residents do have an option that does not require a Metrocard. We now have Shelsky's Smoked Fish. I think my annual bagel count is about to rise.

A fantastic array of smoked fish, salads and cream cheese are on display as you enter this small, but quaint shop. It feels like old New York, but when you look closely, there are several interesting items that are unique to gentrified Brooklyn. "House cured clementine and ginger salmon" ($11.99), "David Burke pastrami salmon," ($11.99) and a sandwich like "The Tribute" ($13, horseradish cream cheese, smoked whitefish salad and wasabi tobiko) prove that this is quite a modern Brooklyn place with an inventive menu.

I usually despise cream cheese, but when I tried RB's bagel with "Ben's Cream Cheese," all my prejudice disappeared. It was light and airy, and I could not believe it was cream cheese. Tasting more like whipped creamy butter, this cream cheese created a sinful spread of schmear. The bagel from Kossar's was a perfection as well. The crispy outer layer with soft and chewy inside was everything a traditional Brooklyn bagel should be-- I would eat this every morning.

Forget Atkins, forget brunch. Just grab a bagel with scrumptious schmears and stroll around the neighborhood. They have pretty decent coffee as well!

Cafe Bene 01-31-2012

Location: 1605 Broadway

Time: 12:30pm

People: SaSha, AP and myself

Feelings: After Aussie pie spot, Pie Face and Korean coffee giant, Cafe Bene opened near my work, I have a new found appreciation for Times Square. I am completely obsessed with Pie Face's strong Aussie coffee, so it would be difficult for me to go elsewhere at the moment. But we walked in at Bene, hoping to find something for lunch.

It is an impressive, massive space. There is a large seating area in the back and plenty of food options to choose from. Even though this chain reigns from Korea, don't expect authentic Korean food. The most Korean product you could find here is Misugaru, traditional Korean smoothie.

There are savory and sweet waffles, pastries and donuts ($3.25) that looked and tasted suspiciously similar to DOUGH in Brooklyn. Plenty of pre-packed sandwiches, wraps, and sushi like shrimp inari were also available, and in that respect, it seemed quite similar to Pret. Bene, however, is much more reasonable. I got a "Ricotta, Spinach and Egg Wrap" ($4.99, with whole wheat tortilla) and a green tea panna cotta ($2.75), and it came under $9. Since when can we get a wrap and a dessert for under $9 in Times Square?!

Everything here tasted light and subtly flavored. Nothing was too sweet or salty which may contrast with the Times Square's flavor of Applebee's. But with their bold, strong coffee ($1.75 for small drip), I am certain they will attract wider range of audience. Perhaps the end of Starbucks is near thanks to Bene and Pie Face.

Sadie's Kitchen 01-27-2012

Location: 243 Degraw St. BK

Time: 7pm

People: RB, CK and myself

Feelings: Most people would not look forward to oral surgery. For me, on the other hand, it was a mini vacation. I got to take a few days off from work, get some rest and watch terrible TV all by myself-- the kind of time I haven't had since the arrival of CK. Most people also tend to lose weight after dental surgery, but I successfully and sadly prevented this by my drug of choice (besides the Tylenol with Codeine) - mac and cheese.

I was never a fan of mac and cheese, mainly because of my lactose issue, but I also find the flavor to be bland and the texture to be boring. But at Sadie's Kitchen, a 30's style Southern food spot, defies my cheesy prejudice.

"Miss Sadie's," original mac and cheese, ($7, cheddar, stewed tomatoes, potato chip topping) was an amazing concoction of smooth cheese, fresh and tangy stewed tomatoes and perfectly cooked pasta. It was not overly heavy or salty, and it was a perfectly sophisticated portion of mac and cheese.

RB's "Ms Elba's Voodoo" ($10, fried bourbon chicken, cheddar, blue cheese, jalapeno, hot sauce)

was decadent and delightful. Instead of tiny pieces in the dish, he was pleasantly surprised by the large chunks of deliciously spicy chicken served as a topping to the pasta. The flavor of the chicken was amazing by itself, but the combination of the crispy chicken with the creaminess of the mac and cheese with a nice kick of heat was perfection.

The mac and cheese is the signature dish of this cafe, but their buttermilk biscuits ($2 each) are equally scrumptious with flaky outer layers and pillowy inside.

The tooth agony may have subsided, but my desire for Sadie's mac and cheese has not!