Larb Ubol 08-17-2013

Location: 480 9th Ave.
Time: 2pm
People: 15 Ramen and Friends: ALev, MGru, M's Lovely Cousin, MeSoHungry, TrishP&Jay, JB, Kavie, Deborah, Yasmin, MGill, Marce, RB, CK and myself

Feelings: RB and I have been following Ratchanee Sumpatboon since we lived near her Astoria location, Poodam. Forget Ayada, Forget Sripraphai. We were hooked on Poodam's pungent flavors. With her fierce Isan Thai cuisine, Zabb Elee in East Village is a big hit, and now she is about to conquer the American Thai central, Hell's Kitchen's 9th Avenue.

There are meats, meats and more meats including famous sour sausages and crispy pork. The tangy fish sauce drenches the crispy green papaya salad. Fresh herbs, ginger and peppercorn will hit your senses. If you are used to more Americanized Thai spots on 9th avenue, you will see and taste many things that are new to you at Larb Ubol.

The lunch special menu (from 11: 30am to 3:30pm daily) is a great deal and perfect introduction to Isan flavors. The prices are between $8-$12 and served with papaya salad, chicken larb or soda. Dining with less daring folks? Not to worry. They have pad thai and stir fried noodles available. Ba Mee ($9, egg noodle, roasted pork, lump crab meat, yu choy) is chewy, fresh and overall delicious. If you order as "dry," it is served with the soup separately.

"I liked my seafood fried rice. The chicken larb was bleh and not very photogenic at all. But I'd go back," JB says. "The service was great, and the people were really nice and accommodating."

RB thought his sweet sausage and roast pork dish was very tasty, and the various sauces on the table provided an extra kick of spice.

There is also Thai style desserts available if you still have a room after the sizable portions of the meal. With Larb Ubol, you really can forget about other Thai spots in the neighborhood...unless you think Thai food is a greasy, sweet plate of chicken Pad Thai with shrimp spring roll, fruity cocktail and some techno playing in the background.

La Perrada de Chalo + Cannelle Patisserie 04-28-2013

Location: La Perrada de Chalo 8312 Northern Blvd, Jackson Heights
               Cannelle Patisserie 7559 31st Ave, Jackson Heights
Time: 2pm
People: JB, DD, Yasmin, Deborah, RB, CK and myself

Feelings: After my first experience with Colombian hot dog at Los Perros Locos in LES, I had to see what more authentic version was all about. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the R+F crew headed to Jackson Heights on the 7 train. It turns out this section of Northern Blvd, around 82nd and 83rd streets, is quite fabulous. Drag shows, flamboyant bikini shops, over-the-top vibrant colors-- It resembled scenes from many Almodovar films.

Being so authentic, this Colombian "pack of dogs" burger and hot dog spot would of course not have veggie dogs available. Vegetarian dishes are almost nonexistent here, but if you are a hungry carnivore on a budget, this is indeed the place to be. Various types of hot dogs with diced pineapple and crumbled potato chips are all under $4, and some insanely packed burgers and sandwiches are under $9. Their Hawaiian Burger ($4.85) with pineapple and potato chips is the most popular one of all.

I honestly don't know what is all in the hot dogs. RB took a bite from his "con todo" hot dog, and a shrimp fell out! For vegetarians, their yucca fries are decent and not too greasy, and the side of frozen limonada is a refreshing option.

If you are still not convinced on a trip to Jackson Heights, Cannelle Patisserie will make it worthwhile. In the middle of nowhere, deep in East Elmhurst area, a regular suburban style strip mall welcomes you with Modell's, GameStop, and Pearl Vision. Skip the temptation from Carvel, and next to the grocery store's recycling station, there it is-- Cannelle Patisserie, perhaps one of the most classic inexpensive French patisseries in the city. What a view...of a parking lot.

Their Paris Brest is only $3, perfectly filled with airy praline cream. Foret Noire, the French black forest cake is mousse-y and light. Long lines await for the delicate Saint Honore and Napoleon and decadent Red Velvet. "Together there was a good balance of the subtle chocolate in the red velvet cake and the cream cheese frosting. I'd go there repeatedly," said JB.

There is nothing too inventive or new about this spot, but the variety of well executed classic desserts at this price is nothing but a pastry heaven. Thank you, Queens, for your continuous culinary authenticity.

Bab Al Yemen 02-24-2013

Location: 413 Bay Ridge Ave. BK
Time: 1pm
People: 18 Ramen and Friends (Sekita, Yasmin, MeSoHungry, Todd, Sam and Sam, SaSha, MaSha, Kavie, Rich, JB, PMont, JHall, MHall, Effie, StevenC, RB and myself) + 3 Mini Friends (NoaSha, HaSha, CK) + Japanese TV crew

Feelings: Since I live in a neighborhood of quite a few Yemeni restaurants (the best one so far is Yemeni Cafe), I wasn't sure about the hype over Bab Al Yemen in Bay Ridge. Who's trying to take the Yemeni hype from Cobble Hill? But since its opening in 2011, the popularity of Bab Al Yemen is steadily on the rise. To top the curiosity, many young professional types and families are suddenly moving to Bay Ridge. Are they huge Saturday Night Fever fans or is this a sign of the next gentrification?

With the Japanese TV crew on the side, we are greeted with the most hospitable, knowledgeable and cheerful staff. She needs to be cloned and placed at every restaurant, every office, anywhere. She is such a great host/server/manager that I just want her to manage my life. "The service was so warm and friendly. They made you feel as if you were a part of their family," says SaSha.

Unlike many Yemini spots in Cobble Hill that seem like male social clubs, Bab Al Yemen is more family friendly with mainstream appeal. The flavors are more refined and inventive, but the prices remain low. There are also back booths with curtains for those who seek privacy.

They brought out many dishes for us to share. With huge and fluffy, never-ending khobz, Yemeni bread on the side, (as JB called, "never-ending bread that put Olive Garden to shame") the best hummus ($7), babaghanaouj ($7), and pureed fava beans in town are consumed by the peers entirely. With sweet and addictive Shai tea (read more about tea here), the meal is just starting, but we are almost full from the ample portion.

Among many other dishes we tried, the flavors of Yemeni Omelette ($8), Hummus and Lamb Segar ($14), Curry Yamaani ($12) are memorable ones. The omelette served in hot stone bowl is especially flavorful that reminds me of Korean hot stone pot. If you like carbs, Fattah B'Lahm ($17, yemeni croutons soaked in lam sauce) brings a good, sloppy experience. Honestly, who can deny some bread stew?

I had to talk about Fahsah ($14, traditional saltah served in hot stone bowl) in front the camera for the Japanese TV crew. There is nothing more uncomfortable than eating sizzling hot stew and talking about it with a smile.  I have all the respects for Padma Lakshmi now. How does she do it?

The low tab confused us in the end. It came to $20 (including extra tips, taxes) per person after all the food and tea. "I'd go back a thousand times for the service and the food," says JB. Although I live a block away from Yemeni restaurants in Cobble Hill, I too prefer to take the 45 minute R train trip thousand times to Bab Al Yemen for their welcoming atmosphere and excellent service.

Taiwanese Specialties 11-13-2012

Location: 8402 Broadway, Elmhurst
Time: 7:30pm
People: 10 Ramen and Friends: ALev, Yasmin, Deborah, MGill, Jill, Kavie, RoRo, Alexis, RB and myself

Feelings: The winner of the best Taiwanese in the Village Voice 2011, Taiwanese Specialties, formerly known as David's Taiwanese Gourmet serves nothing but that. There is a vast number of authentic Taiwanese foods on the menu, including an ambitious variety of offal dishes.

While the excited friends tried everything from pig's stomach soup ($5.25) to intestine dishes, the pungent aroma of the stinky tofu (fermented tofu) hit our senses hard. "This tastes like the F train," I said, and the others agreed. It was perhaps closer to the G train around 2am. Even as a natto lover, I could not bring myself to fully enjoy this distinct smell. Later ALev mentioned that it in fact tastes much better with the generous amount of sauce and garnish.

They featured many dishes over rice , and considering the brisk weather, hot pots seemed to be very popular among other patrons. Shredded pork and pork chops satisfied everyone at our table, but vegetarian dishes are almost nonexistent at this place. The house special rice cake ($6.25), which was of course accompanied by plenty of pork, was delicious and well flavored. I usually pick out non meat elements from meat involved dishes, but it was incredibly difficult to do so here since every dish had more than little meat. Meat lovers, rejoice! Vegetarians may want to stay clear of this place unless you enjoy licking the floor of the F train.

Reasonable prices, big portions, and fast service keep this place always busy. Taiwanese Specialties seems to be yet another reason for a visit in Elmhurst.

Pier NYC 08-12-2012

Location: 425 Main St. Roosevelt Island
Time: 3pm
People: 15 Ramen and Friends: ALev, MGru, MLev, KikaEats, JB, Ric, Naz, Merry, Yasmin, JLam, JT, Ava, RB, CK and myself

Feelings: Who would have thought Roosevelt Island would be a summer destination spot? Although Roosevelt Island sports the Manhattan zip code with stunning scenery, it has always been known as a  passage between Queens and Manhattan. Now with Cornell's plan for the new campus, the popularity on this island of haunted 'Dark Water' fame is on the rise.

Pier NYC, a waterfront cafe on the West Promenade with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, features some of the ultimate summer fun food: BBQ from John Brown Smokehouse in LIC, seafood from David Santos of Per Se and desserts from Allycakes. And don't forget wine, cocktails and beer.

The seafood, especially the crab cake sandwich ($10) and Rock Shrimp Roll ($12) were excellent. Most of us enjoyed the fresh seafood more than the BBQ, which was not as tender as we have hoped. RB even had his first raw oyster experience here. He'll never forget the summer of 2012.

The desserts, whoopie pies and brownies, were disappointing, however. "MGru and I agreed that the icing should've been cream cheese, not some dry vanilla butter cream," said JB about the dry whoopie pies. I assume the issue was that these desserts were sitting around all day in the heat, not being able to retain the delicious moisture. When JB showed her concerns, the amazing folks at Pier NYC decided not to charge for any of our desserts.

We were all pleasantly surprised by the staff's dedications and amazing service. This is certainly not like any other boroughs or any Tri state area. They were expedient and straight forward, just like any good New Yorkers but with a charm and warmth of proper Southern bells and the kindness and wise manners of Obi-wan Kenobi. "The service was very good. The waitress did a good job, and the manager was very solicitous," said Yasmin. JB added, "Our waitress was really gracious about all requests from the lackluster dessert to splitting up our bill, and the manager was really helpful. I'd go back just for the service myself."

We may not be able to afford Per Se, but we can certainly experience superb service and the view at Pier NYC for all under $15. "I think the spot is very nice-- great change of scenery and a nice outdoor option," said Merry. With a fun tramway ride (You just need your Metrocard, no additional cost), you don't need to go further for your summer adventure. Head to Pier NYC today! This excellent pop up cafe will be open until October 31st.

Excellent Pork Chop House 06-14-2012

Location: 3 Doyers St.
Time: 7:30pm
People: 13 Ramen and Friends: RoRo, Alexis, JLam, JBH & Friend, BLee, RK, CB, Yasmin, Merry, Kavie, RB and myself

Feelings: At our Ramen and Friends group outings, we usually try to venture out to the most exotic, peculiar places, but sometimes all we need is just an excellent place. Such a place is Excellent Pork Chop House. Deep in the alley of Doyers in Chinatown, Excellent Pork Chop House offers a clean, hearty Taiwanese style cooking at an exceptionally reasonable price.

On Thursday night, the restaurant was packed with locals and families, and more and more kept coming. I was worried about the large group, but they were able to easily accommodate us without any issues. The service was possibly faster than any fast food joint. We ordered, and a few minutes later, our dishes started to arrive before our eyes like a magic trick. "The service was super fast. Our food came out within minutes of our order," Yasmin added.

The menu features tasty variety of appetizers, Taiwanese shaved ice, noodles, rice cakes, soups and what else--pork chop. BLee said, "I thought the pork chop lived up to its name: it was excellent, with great flavor. The portions were huge and great value." Merry also thought the pork chop which was seasoned with five-spice was nice and flavorful, but not overpowering.

For appetizers, cold dishes are highly recommended. The jellyfish with garlic sauce ($3.50) was fresh, and the subtle, refreshing flavor certainly would be a perfect dish for the warm months ahead.  The marinated seaweed and dried bean curd ($3.50) was also excellent with noodle like seaweed and chewy texture of dried bean curd.

The portion for my shrimp noodle soup ($5.25) was large, and it was subtly flavored. It was certainly out-shined by various pork chops nearby but quite chewy and tasty nonetheless.

What makes this place stand out more is its Taiwanese shaved ice, which comes with three toppings of your choice. I am almost 34, and I can have dessert for dinner whether the server judges me or not. Although the ice was not as soft and fine as what we had hoped for, there is nothing better than having that special treat on the dinner table.

If you are ever in the grungy street of Doyers, stop by at this excellent, Excellent Pork Chop House for some pork chop, cold appetizers and shaved ice for an introduction to Taiwanese cuisine. They will not disappoint.

Cheburechnaya Night --Did I Spell that Right? 04-17-2012

Location: 9209 63rd Dr. Rego Park, Queens
Time: 7:30pm
People: 11 Ramen and Friends: ALev, MGru, JBH, BLee, Naz, JLam, Will, RoRo, Alexis, RB and myself

Feelings: Living in NYC can be a nuisance. There are so many people who do not respect other boundaries or different perspectives in life. Typically, the people who move to NYC are Type A, highly ambitious, status conscious and deadline driven, and it is extremely difficult to maintain my inner peace sometimes while trying to figure out which subway lines are actually running on a Saturday afternoon. But one of the greatest things about NYC is that I can say something like this: I am going to eat Uzbek food tonight in Rego Park.

I don't know much about Central Asian cuisine. The closest I have gotten to is a Korean-Uzbek restaurant, Elza in Brighton Beach. But since I heard about Cheburechnaya, a popular Kosher restaurant for Russian expats, kids, and Shabbat dinner as well as offal loving foodies and hipsters, I had to bring my Ramen and Friends crew out to Rego Park, Queens.

It is a very spacious spot that is perfect for group dining. There isn't much of a decor, but expect a TV monitor playing random music videos (tonight was Sade's greatest hits) as many Russian restaurants do. There is a bit of language barrier, but they are quite fluent when it comes to credit card transactions, as JBH noticed.

The main attraction of the meal was what else...lamb testicle shish kebab ($5). Somehow it seemed the most appropriate way to eat testicles - Skewered by a miniature sword. There were also lamb hearts ($3.50) and deep fried beef brains ($9, interestingly served with a side of fries). Many of our adventurous food loving friends enjoyed these various meats while I enjoyed some vegetarian options such as samcy with potato ($11), samcy with pumkin ($10) and some fresh salads. Samcy is a baked pastry often stuffed with vegetables or meat. The dough was crispy and flakey, and MGru thought the pumpking samcy was nicely sweet. The potato samcy was even more flavorful, and the smooth texture of potatoes complimented the crunchy outer layers.

The baba ghanoush and hummus here were also excellent, and I might trek to Rego Park just for their fluffy warm bread and a creamy plate of baba ghanoush. The giant matzo bread was also crispy and tasty as well as a good centerpiece for the table. JBH also enjoyed samcy with lamb chops and chicken, and MGru found their whole chicken to be very moist and "chicken-y." Overall, as ALev said, "Although I didn't have the balls, everything else was great! Greasy, kosher, delicious!"

As much as we appreciate the flavoring of Uzbek cuisine, it was a bit too heavy for some of us, especially when we didn't drink alcohol. "I'm always open to trying new foods from different cultures, but maybe Uzbeki food is the limit. Yesterday, my stomach was sore as if it had been repeatedly punched from the inside. The food was so heavy, fried and starchy that my stomach was exhausted all day trying to digest it," said BLee. It seems she is ready to move on from this new adventure of Uzbek cuisine. "...It tastes like affliction."

That's the thing about NYC. "Trying out different former Soviet cuisine" can become a part of our daily lives.  And as MGru said, "I would go back if I was ever craving heavy Central Asian food again." Yes, we know exactly where to go if we ever want to drink, eat heavy food to coat that vodka from your stomach and have a great time with a group of wonderful friends.

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.

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.