As the last hoorah of my b-day celebration, I took yesterday off to celebrate it like the holiday it is. It was a perfect day: I caught up on my DVR'd shows, read/people-watched in the park, and enjoyed a burger.
Burger spot brgr opened their 2nd outpost this weekend, and it is conveniently located around the corner from my apartment. I didn't know they had health on the brain, and if I did, I probably would have dismissed the restaurant. I think of neither my health nor the planet's well-being when eating a burger. I'm usually too concerned with devouring delicious red meat to think of such things.
brgr uses only grass-fed cows with no hormones. This uses half as much fossil fuel as the grain-fed counterparts and results in beef with higher omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E levels. Ok, so maybe it's not "healthy", but it's something different and makes me feel a little better about stuffing my face.
The menu is not huge, but they have some interesting toppings/combos. I had the Rainforest Burger with gruyere, avocado, and herb mayo. The avocado was placed atop the patty in large slices, which I much prefer to the thin layer of guac offered at most places. I also added grilled mushrooms and onions - a good choice, if I do say so myself. It was a good, greasy burger. I'll definitely have to try the burger topped with a fried egg, because I find it intriguing. My only complaint is that the meat was not as rare as I typically like.
I could not decide which fries to get, so I ordered The Trio: russet fries, sweet potato fries, and onion hay (thin frizzled onions). The regular fries were a little greasy and extra soft (I know that's a turnoff for most people, but I love flaccid fries). On the contrary, the sweet potato fries could have been cut a little thicker. The onion hay was good, but there's only so much of that I can eat. Next time, I'll probably stick with the original fry.
Although my thighs may not agree, I am pretty happy Jamba Juice vacated the space to make room for brgr. It's still no Shake Shack or JG Melon, but it is a very welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Birthday Bash: Crossing Two More Places Off My List
It's official. I'm entering my mid-20s. I am a quarter century old and that scares me a bit, but that just means I had to make my celebration memorable. My birthday may be Monday, but that's not a great night to celebrate, so I had my party last night. Before the shindig actually got started, I went with a few friends to dinner at Cienfuegos. If you've been keeping up with the blog, you've read my praises of Death and Co. and Mayahuel. Three weeks ago, the good folks behind these two establishments opened Cienfuegos and I've been drooling ever since. While Mayahuel is Mexican themed, Cienfuegos is all about Cuba, from the food to the rum based drinks to the lack of strong AC.
Everything we had was amazing:
After dinner, it was time for the party to get started so we headed to one of my favorite bars, Madam Geneva. I suppose secret places were the theme of the evening because you have to walk through the Double Crown restaurant and push through a wall to get to the bar. Gin is the name of the game at Madam Geneva's, but they have a stocked bar for non-gin lovers. Their specialty is the selection of housemade jams. The jams rotate regularly and reflect what's in season. Last night, there was a pineapple and vanilla bean, apricot and spice, and rhubarb. You tell the bartender which jam you like and whether you prefer vodka or gin. They'll return with your poison of choice in a tumbler with a spoon of jam perched on top so you may mix your drink to your liking. The pineapple/vanilla was the favorite of the evening.
Once it started to get hot and crowded, we headed across the street to Bowery Electric, which was packed so our hot/crowded problem was not really alleviated. We lasted long enough to have a drink or two and take some pictures in the photo booth before we decided it was time for a more relaxed atmosphere. Onto Pulino's which was conveniently about two blocks away.
If you've been reading any of the big food blogs lately, you'll have heard about Pulino's, the hot new pizzeria/bar by the guy behind Pravda, Pastis, Morandi, Minetta Tavern, Balthazar, and Schiller's. The reviews spurred heat from the restaurant community, so I had to check it out for myself. From the moment you walk in, it's evident you're dealing with the Schiller's crew. Same black and white floors, lighting, and liquor bottles used as wallpaper. Since it was 2 AM by this point, we figured we were entitled to another feeding and ordered two pizzas. The first had mushrooms and pancetta, the second was topped with meatballs. Both tasty, though I much preferred the former. Loved the sauce and cheese, but the crust could have been a tad crispier and the meatballs could have used a little more spice. Definitely not my favorite pizza in NYC, but it was a great place to relax after the crowded, sweaty bars that dominated the majority of the evening. The best part was easily the bathroom. Separate doors for men and women, but as Matt and I learned when we walked into our respective WCs at the same time, they led to the same big bathroom. It was highly confusing. Thankfully, I did not have to stand next to a boy at a urinal because there are two more doors, and this time, the signs indicating gender assignments didn't lie.
Birthday party officially deemed a success.
Everything we had was amazing:
- Chickpea and Chorizo hash with a crispy poached egg (this was my favorite)
- The cumin lamb chop special with soaked orange segments and avocado
- Beef Empanadas with some sort of vinegar scallion sauce
- Vegetable Empanadas with guacamole (surprisingly, I liked these better than the beef)
- Crab Croquettes with guava
- Drunken shrimp over sweet plantain mash
- Sloppy Joe sliders (made with pulled pork)
- Sandwich sampler (included a sloppy joe slider, a cuban sandwich, and a turkey/ham/strawberry sandwich)
- Flan - some of the best I've had. It was thicker than usual, making it like a combination of flan and my absolute favorite dessert, creme brulee)
- Tres Leches - The cake was a little dry, but it was topped with some amazing meringe that made up for it
After dinner, it was time for the party to get started so we headed to one of my favorite bars, Madam Geneva. I suppose secret places were the theme of the evening because you have to walk through the Double Crown restaurant and push through a wall to get to the bar. Gin is the name of the game at Madam Geneva's, but they have a stocked bar for non-gin lovers. Their specialty is the selection of housemade jams. The jams rotate regularly and reflect what's in season. Last night, there was a pineapple and vanilla bean, apricot and spice, and rhubarb. You tell the bartender which jam you like and whether you prefer vodka or gin. They'll return with your poison of choice in a tumbler with a spoon of jam perched on top so you may mix your drink to your liking. The pineapple/vanilla was the favorite of the evening.
Once it started to get hot and crowded, we headed across the street to Bowery Electric, which was packed so our hot/crowded problem was not really alleviated. We lasted long enough to have a drink or two and take some pictures in the photo booth before we decided it was time for a more relaxed atmosphere. Onto Pulino's which was conveniently about two blocks away.
If you've been reading any of the big food blogs lately, you'll have heard about Pulino's, the hot new pizzeria/bar by the guy behind Pravda, Pastis, Morandi, Minetta Tavern, Balthazar, and Schiller's. The reviews spurred heat from the restaurant community, so I had to check it out for myself. From the moment you walk in, it's evident you're dealing with the Schiller's crew. Same black and white floors, lighting, and liquor bottles used as wallpaper. Since it was 2 AM by this point, we figured we were entitled to another feeding and ordered two pizzas. The first had mushrooms and pancetta, the second was topped with meatballs. Both tasty, though I much preferred the former. Loved the sauce and cheese, but the crust could have been a tad crispier and the meatballs could have used a little more spice. Definitely not my favorite pizza in NYC, but it was a great place to relax after the crowded, sweaty bars that dominated the majority of the evening. The best part was easily the bathroom. Separate doors for men and women, but as Matt and I learned when we walked into our respective WCs at the same time, they led to the same big bathroom. It was highly confusing. Thankfully, I did not have to stand next to a boy at a urinal because there are two more doors, and this time, the signs indicating gender assignments didn't lie.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Captivated by Kefi
Dave knows how to keep me happy throughout my bday weekend - help me cross more restaurants off my list! I'm rarely in the UWS, but we had to run and errand and found ourselves hungry for lunch in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Since we were in the mood to explore, we decided to walk around until we found something that struck our fancy. When I spotted Kefi across the street I had a "duh" moment - how could I have forgotten?!
As a huge Greek fan, I have been told by many that this is the place to go - I just never remember to make plans to try it. Not only was I told the food is great, I heard it is reasonably priced - difficult to find when it comes to good Greek food. Everything I heard was true. Great food, very do-able prices, and a casual, airy atmosphere. The menu offered more refined dishes than the simple gyro without feeling stuffy (ie: hostess and wait staff were in t-shirts and jeans).
We started with a plate of four spreads. The portion was supposed to be for two, but it could have easily satisfied four diners (for a mere $9.95!). Don't worry, we ate it all ourselves because each spread was too delicious to waste. We also had the grilled octopus, which was served atop a salad of chickpeas and black eyed peas. The octopus was a little salty but perfectly grilled. I'm not sure how they were able to cultivate the yummy crust on the outside while keeping the meat so tender. For his entree, Dave ordered the chicken souvlaki sandwich that was served with a heaping pile of chips and a small salad. I had the sheep's milk dumplings with tomato sauce, sun-dried tomato, spinach, feta, lamb sausage, and pine nuts. Yum central. The dumplings were like the Greek version of gnocci. Basically, I was eating delicious little clouds. A dish like that at any other restaurant would have easily been at least $22, not the $13.95 we paid.
Overall, I loved it. I'll be back - hopefully for dinner next time.
As a huge Greek fan, I have been told by many that this is the place to go - I just never remember to make plans to try it. Not only was I told the food is great, I heard it is reasonably priced - difficult to find when it comes to good Greek food. Everything I heard was true. Great food, very do-able prices, and a casual, airy atmosphere. The menu offered more refined dishes than the simple gyro without feeling stuffy (ie: hostess and wait staff were in t-shirts and jeans).
We started with a plate of four spreads. The portion was supposed to be for two, but it could have easily satisfied four diners (for a mere $9.95!). Don't worry, we ate it all ourselves because each spread was too delicious to waste. We also had the grilled octopus, which was served atop a salad of chickpeas and black eyed peas. The octopus was a little salty but perfectly grilled. I'm not sure how they were able to cultivate the yummy crust on the outside while keeping the meat so tender. For his entree, Dave ordered the chicken souvlaki sandwich that was served with a heaping pile of chips and a small salad. I had the sheep's milk dumplings with tomato sauce, sun-dried tomato, spinach, feta, lamb sausage, and pine nuts. Yum central. The dumplings were like the Greek version of gnocci. Basically, I was eating delicious little clouds. A dish like that at any other restaurant would have easily been at least $22, not the $13.95 we paid.
Overall, I loved it. I'll be back - hopefully for dinner next time.
Tasty Tamarind
I kicked off my birthday weekend (it's a big birthday - I deserve a whole weekend) by crossing a restaurant off my list. After hearing Susan talk/blog about Tamarind, the Indian restaurant was added to my ever lengthening list of must-trys.
I don't usually connect Indian fare with fine dining, but Tamarind takes Indian food to a new, sophisticated level. I had a good feeling about the food from the amuse bouche. This nan pizza thing was amazing. It quite literally melted in my mouth and was a great way to start the meal.
The menu pulls from many Indian regions, so we felt the need to try a little of everything. Instead of ordering on our own, we went family style to taste as much as possible. After reading the following list of what we ate, you'll understand why I had to go straight home to lay down after dinner.
I don't usually connect Indian fare with fine dining, but Tamarind takes Indian food to a new, sophisticated level. I had a good feeling about the food from the amuse bouche. This nan pizza thing was amazing. It quite literally melted in my mouth and was a great way to start the meal.
The menu pulls from many Indian regions, so we felt the need to try a little of everything. Instead of ordering on our own, we went family style to taste as much as possible. After reading the following list of what we ate, you'll understand why I had to go straight home to lay down after dinner.
- Appetizers:
- Scallops in a coconut mint sauce
- Bass and crab cakes
- Lamb patties
- Entrees:
- Tandoor Chicken (very moist - dried out tandoor chicken is my biggest source of disappointment in Indian restaurants)
- Chicken Tikka Masala
- Another chicken dish in delicious sauce...I wish I could remember what was in it
- Saag Paneer
- Lamb Shank
- Halibut in a coconut ginger sauce - Halibut is the last thing that comes to my mind when I think Indian, but this was my favorite dish of the night
- Rice and Nan
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Spice is Nice
I know I've mentioned this hardship before, but it is very difficult for me to live so far from a Chick-Fil-A. This handicap became more obvious this week as my precious Chick-Fil-A debuted the new spicy chicken sandwich. Forget the fact that I couldn't register for my free sandwich like everyone else; I just wanted to try it.
Well folks, thanks to my new hero, Patrick, I got my very own spicy chicken sandwich today. You see, Patrick went to UGA, a school that takes children and turns them into brilliant adults. So in the absence of a local Chick-Fil-A, Muhammad went to the mountain - or more accurately Paramus, New Jersey - via Zipcar to pick up a slew of the special sandwiches. Never did I think I would use "special" and "Jersey" in a sentence together, but it looks like the Dirty Jerz has gained a cool point or two after supplying me with Chick-Fil-A (aka: crack).
As a consolation for missing my upcoming b-day party, Patrick met me in the middle of Times Square with a sandwich and a full cup of sweet tea. For those non-Southern readers, sweet tea is the nectar of the gods that for some unknown reason is not available anywhere in the North. Yankees are silly. I guzzled the sweet tea amidst a swarm of tourists photographing M&M World but saved the sandwich for dinner to truly savor the experience. Now that I've tried it, here's my official review: yum. Way spicier than I imagined, but I can handle it. They kept the pickles in there, which tasted even better on the spicy sandwich than the original. I'm a fan. Thanks to Patrick, the birthday gift bar has been set pretty high. Boyfriend and parents, take note.
On Monday I'll be 25 and, therefore, able to rent a car. Road trip to Paramus, anyone?
Can't figure out how to rotate the pic, but you get the idea
Well folks, thanks to my new hero, Patrick, I got my very own spicy chicken sandwich today. You see, Patrick went to UGA, a school that takes children and turns them into brilliant adults. So in the absence of a local Chick-Fil-A, Muhammad went to the mountain - or more accurately Paramus, New Jersey - via Zipcar to pick up a slew of the special sandwiches. Never did I think I would use "special" and "Jersey" in a sentence together, but it looks like the Dirty Jerz has gained a cool point or two after supplying me with Chick-Fil-A (aka: crack).
As a consolation for missing my upcoming b-day party, Patrick met me in the middle of Times Square with a sandwich and a full cup of sweet tea. For those non-Southern readers, sweet tea is the nectar of the gods that for some unknown reason is not available anywhere in the North. Yankees are silly. I guzzled the sweet tea amidst a swarm of tourists photographing M&M World but saved the sandwich for dinner to truly savor the experience. Now that I've tried it, here's my official review: yum. Way spicier than I imagined, but I can handle it. They kept the pickles in there, which tasted even better on the spicy sandwich than the original. I'm a fan. Thanks to Patrick, the birthday gift bar has been set pretty high. Boyfriend and parents, take note.
On Monday I'll be 25 and, therefore, able to rent a car. Road trip to Paramus, anyone?
Can't figure out how to rotate the pic, but you get the idea
Gleecap: 6/1 Episode
Though I am sad to have just learned of Rue McClanahan's recent passing this morning (that saucy minx was my favorite Golden Gal), I am cheered by the fact that this week's Glee was a goodie. The Diva-meter recap is as follows:
- There are [multiple] Ohio show choir blogs? +1
- Sue wears a track suit and pearls to her date with Shu. +3
- Sue gets a placenta mask. +4 because only divas and pageant moms can make impossible spa treatments happen and have no shame in exploiting babies.
- Before Jesse pelts Rachel with an egg, the female lead in Vocal Adrenaline says "Do it Jesse. Are you with us or not?" -1 because it was a little too "gee willakers" peer pressure after-school special.
- +3 for returning to the good ol' days of picking songs that fit the moment vs. a force fit into a Mr. Shuster assignment. "Another One Bites the Dust" works with Vocal Adrenaline's intimidation message and Quinn's problems are perfectly channelled through her raspy James Brown performance. -1 for regressing with the irrelevant "Good Vibrations" moment.
- Preggo gals rubbing their bellies and swaying in the background of Quinn's number while practicing lamaze to the beat creeped me out. -3
- Sandy is always a pleasant surprise. Less when he's dealing Chronic Lady, more when talking about his internet girlfriend, wearing a mini kimono, or in the case of this week's episode, screaming about needing rose pink. +2
- Ew. Terri is sexually attracted to Finn because he's basically a 16 year old Mr. Shuster. -2 for potential disturbing plotline.
- Terri: "I thought Jews were supposed to be smart?" +1 because we are.
- Where's Emma? I miss her mental instability...and her stellar wardrobe. -2.
- Sue's favorite CarboGels flavor is appletini. +1 for this quick mini surprise. I would have imagined her flavor of choice to be something weirder and more sinister, like rocky mountain oysters.
- Kurt storms out with the boys to defend Rachel's honor...and then is the first to retreat when given an easy out. +1 because that diva is really one of the girls.
- Terri helps Finn with his Glee assignment by using the iTunes. +2 because out of touch grown ups always add "the" in front of words that never require it.
- Kurt's high kick after winning Nationals: +1, just 'cause.
Incredible Indy
Wife beaters, jean shorts, and turkey legs - oh my! No, I wasn't in Florida this weekend - I was at the Indy 500! It was white trash central, and I loved every second it.
Andy was pretty much the best host ever. In addition to housing us, he set us up with ridiculously amazing seats directly across from the top drivers' pits. Not only did I love the excitement of tire changes (yes, it actually is exciting), I loved the people watching. I saw enough sunburned beer guts and girls walking around in cut offs and bikini tops to satisfy my own personal Jerry Springer quota for the year. The spectacular seats also means we were directly across from Dario Franchitti Mr. Ashley Judd's pit and in perfect view of his win.
Did you know you can bring anything into the track? Really - anything as long as it's not glass! That means that after a couple hours of tailgating, we each strapped a cooler to our back and headed to our seats. Not only does this make for an incredibly fun event, it makes everything much cheaper.
I think this may have to be an annual event and I suggest you consider it, too.
Andy was pretty much the best host ever. In addition to housing us, he set us up with ridiculously amazing seats directly across from the top drivers' pits. Not only did I love the excitement of tire changes (yes, it actually is exciting), I loved the people watching. I saw enough sunburned beer guts and girls walking around in cut offs and bikini tops to satisfy my own personal Jerry Springer quota for the year. The spectacular seats also means we were directly across from Dario Franchitti Mr. Ashley Judd's pit and in perfect view of his win.
Did you know you can bring anything into the track? Really - anything as long as it's not glass! That means that after a couple hours of tailgating, we each strapped a cooler to our back and headed to our seats. Not only does this make for an incredibly fun event, it makes everything much cheaper.
I think this may have to be an annual event and I suggest you consider it, too.
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