300 West 23 Street
New York, NY 10011
www.Asukasushi23.com
Just wanted to add to previous post about this sushi restaurant that has a nice, laid-back, lounge-type of vibe.
Another amazing roll that MUST be tried is the Chelsea Roll, which is shrimp, avocado, cucumber, asparagus topped with seared tuna. The asparagus gives it a very nice crunch!
Also, needed to note that drinks (cocktails, beer, and sake--note NOT wine) are 2-for-1 daily from 5 to 9 p.m. You can't really beat 2 lychee martinis for $8! Yum!!
The restaurant also serves hot Thai food.
Pros: Fresh, tasty rolls. Yoko Tofu appetizer! And 2-for-1 Happy Hour drinks!!
Cons: Sometimes can be very crowded because of the drink special.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
IPPUDO NY
65 Fourth Avenue
New York, NY 10003
www.ippudony.com
Best. Ramen. Ever.
Tip: Need to know that there is a no reservation rule. Best time to go would be to arrive 15 minutes before restaurant opens for lunch.
Went for lunch at 1pm, was seated rather quickly at 1:30pm. Gorgeous space. Seating was a rectangular communal table at the center of the room. The side-by-side seating with your fellow diner was such that you can have private conversations.
Was pleased that I was not rushed out by the servers. Stayed for at least three (3) hours and had a very leisurely and phenomenally special meal.
Food
Started with Hirata pork buns. Amazing! Not your traditional Chinese roast pork buns at all. The buns are steamed and comes with lettuce and a light-cream sauce that looks like mayo. The way they make the pork is incredibly juicy and soft. Literally melts in your mouth.
Followed up the buns with a huge bowl of the Akamaru Modern with a soft-boiled egg (extra $ for the egg). Again, the pork is just delicious. And the soup was incredible--drank every drop.
Dessert was the Lady M Mille Crepe Cake. Sooooo good. Delightfully light and the presentation was gorgeous.
Drink
Yuzu Citrus Sake: Tasted just like lemonade.
Pros: Food; just writing this review makes my mouth water. Service was also excellent.
Cons: No reservations, and the wait.
New York, NY 10003
www.ippudony.com
Best. Ramen. Ever.
Tip: Need to know that there is a no reservation rule. Best time to go would be to arrive 15 minutes before restaurant opens for lunch.
Went for lunch at 1pm, was seated rather quickly at 1:30pm. Gorgeous space. Seating was a rectangular communal table at the center of the room. The side-by-side seating with your fellow diner was such that you can have private conversations.
Was pleased that I was not rushed out by the servers. Stayed for at least three (3) hours and had a very leisurely and phenomenally special meal.
Food
Started with Hirata pork buns. Amazing! Not your traditional Chinese roast pork buns at all. The buns are steamed and comes with lettuce and a light-cream sauce that looks like mayo. The way they make the pork is incredibly juicy and soft. Literally melts in your mouth.
Followed up the buns with a huge bowl of the Akamaru Modern with a soft-boiled egg (extra $ for the egg). Again, the pork is just delicious. And the soup was incredible--drank every drop.
Dessert was the Lady M Mille Crepe Cake. Sooooo good. Delightfully light and the presentation was gorgeous.
Drink
Yuzu Citrus Sake: Tasted just like lemonade.
Pros: Food; just writing this review makes my mouth water. Service was also excellent.
Cons: No reservations, and the wait.
Birreria
Eataly's Rooftop Beer Garden
200 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.eataly.com/birreria
Housed on the rooftop of Eataly. To get to the beer garden head to the elevators.
Did not have a reservation, but was able to easily get a seat at the bar. The bartender was super nice and the bar was surprisingly comfortable.
Food
Asked for the dessert menu, and ordered the following Formaggi:
Asiago Fresco, Ribiola Bosina (tangy taste), and Taleggio (LOVE stinky cheese).
The cheese were all good and hit my cheese craving, but the best was that it was accompanied with warm freshly baked bread and absolutely delicious frangelico and hazelnut honey. Must have asked for at least three additional servings of bread to sop up every drip of honey.
Drink
Bartender recommended the family red: Fontanafredda Dolcetto 2010. Perfect pairing.
Pros: Frangelico and hazelnut honey; friendly service.
Cons: Hard to find the elevator to return to the lobby.
200 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.eataly.com/birreria
Housed on the rooftop of Eataly. To get to the beer garden head to the elevators.
Did not have a reservation, but was able to easily get a seat at the bar. The bartender was super nice and the bar was surprisingly comfortable.
Food
Asked for the dessert menu, and ordered the following Formaggi:
Asiago Fresco, Ribiola Bosina (tangy taste), and Taleggio (LOVE stinky cheese).
The cheese were all good and hit my cheese craving, but the best was that it was accompanied with warm freshly baked bread and absolutely delicious frangelico and hazelnut honey. Must have asked for at least three additional servings of bread to sop up every drip of honey.
Drink
Bartender recommended the family red: Fontanafredda Dolcetto 2010. Perfect pairing.
Pros: Frangelico and hazelnut honey; friendly service.
Cons: Hard to find the elevator to return to the lobby.
Quick Bite: WARM BODIES Directed by Jonathan Levine
Starring Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer
First ever zom-com film! It's Romeo and Juliet meets zombies, except that everyone (including the zombies) lives happily ever after. The movie even contains the requisite balcony scene.
R (Hoult as the zombie) encounters Julie (Palmer) in a zombie horde attack, and it's love at first sight (after he eats her boyfriend's brain, of course). It takes a while for Julie to reciprocate his feelings, but after he saves her a bunch of times and plays vinyl records for her that expresses his emotions she thinks he might be more human than her cold-hearted father (John Malkovich, who actually reins in the crazy in this role). Their "families" oppose the zombie-boy girl relationship, but both sides realize they have a bigger threat to fight against.
Simplistic in plot, and logic is thrown out the window, the movie is still rather sweet and innocent. Surprisingly enjoyable.
Food: For zombies--brains. For humans after a zombie apocalypse--any canned goods, particularly canned fruit as it'll also hydrate you.
Drink: Bottled water, beer, or soda--just no tap water.
First ever zom-com film! It's Romeo and Juliet meets zombies, except that everyone (including the zombies) lives happily ever after. The movie even contains the requisite balcony scene.
R (Hoult as the zombie) encounters Julie (Palmer) in a zombie horde attack, and it's love at first sight (after he eats her boyfriend's brain, of course). It takes a while for Julie to reciprocate his feelings, but after he saves her a bunch of times and plays vinyl records for her that expresses his emotions she thinks he might be more human than her cold-hearted father (John Malkovich, who actually reins in the crazy in this role). Their "families" oppose the zombie-boy girl relationship, but both sides realize they have a bigger threat to fight against.
Simplistic in plot, and logic is thrown out the window, the movie is still rather sweet and innocent. Surprisingly enjoyable.
Food: For zombies--brains. For humans after a zombie apocalypse--any canned goods, particularly canned fruit as it'll also hydrate you.
Drink: Bottled water, beer, or soda--just no tap water.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Quick Bite: STOKER Directed by Park Chan-wook
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode, and Nicole Kidman
The title inspires thoughts about vampires, but I think the movie is really concerned with the other meaning of the word.
A hauntingly beautifully shot movie directed by cult fave Park in his first English-language film, and written by Wentworth Miller (star of Prison Break), it is a tale about predators and bloodline.
India Stoker (Wasikowska) loses her father on her eighteenth birthday, and then meets Uncle Charlie (Goode), an uncle she never knew she had, at her father's funeral. Thus, begins the hunt--but just who is the hunter/hunted?
Strong, assured acting all around with small, powerful scenes with Jacki Weaver and Dermot Mulroney; moody soundtrack supplied by same musical director of Black Swan, along with a great deal owed to Hitchcock, this movie will prey on your mind many days after the reverse credits roll.
Food: when hunting one doesn't eat, but as there is so much bird imagery in the film, deviled eggs would be a good suggestion
Drink: glass of 1994 red wine
The title inspires thoughts about vampires, but I think the movie is really concerned with the other meaning of the word.
A hauntingly beautifully shot movie directed by cult fave Park in his first English-language film, and written by Wentworth Miller (star of Prison Break), it is a tale about predators and bloodline.
India Stoker (Wasikowska) loses her father on her eighteenth birthday, and then meets Uncle Charlie (Goode), an uncle she never knew she had, at her father's funeral. Thus, begins the hunt--but just who is the hunter/hunted?
Strong, assured acting all around with small, powerful scenes with Jacki Weaver and Dermot Mulroney; moody soundtrack supplied by same musical director of Black Swan, along with a great deal owed to Hitchcock, this movie will prey on your mind many days after the reverse credits roll.
Food: when hunting one doesn't eat, but as there is so much bird imagery in the film, deviled eggs would be a good suggestion
Drink: glass of 1994 red wine
The Gastro Bar at 35th
345 W. 35th Street
New York, NY 10001
www.gb-35.com
Had a gift certificate from Restaurant.com, so perhaps my review is more positive than it otherwise would be.
First, this tapas-style bar (which is basically a step up from a diner) is inside the Tryp Hotel, so no signage out front. Very small space, but had nice comfortable booths.
Food
Had the beet salad, charcuterie and cheese board, and the fish tacos.
The beet salad was good, but the portion size was miniscule (perhaps the rationale for why the owners offer a tapas-style menu) considering the $9(!) cost. The cheese board was okay, but the bread was too hard and I prefer soft breads. The meats tasted a bit rough, too. Fish tacos were interesting, and the avocado was a nice touch.
Drink
Server suggested a tempranillo not offered on the menu.
Cune Rioja Crianza 2009 was a yummy ruby-red wine with a very smooth finish. Excellent suggestion.
Overall, not great, but a good place to have a drink while waiting for a train out of Penn Station.
Pros: Service was great, and so was the wine!
Cons: Had to ask for a card key to use the restroom.
New York, NY 10001
www.gb-35.com
Had a gift certificate from Restaurant.com, so perhaps my review is more positive than it otherwise would be.
First, this tapas-style bar (which is basically a step up from a diner) is inside the Tryp Hotel, so no signage out front. Very small space, but had nice comfortable booths.
Food
Had the beet salad, charcuterie and cheese board, and the fish tacos.
The beet salad was good, but the portion size was miniscule (perhaps the rationale for why the owners offer a tapas-style menu) considering the $9(!) cost. The cheese board was okay, but the bread was too hard and I prefer soft breads. The meats tasted a bit rough, too. Fish tacos were interesting, and the avocado was a nice touch.
Drink
Server suggested a tempranillo not offered on the menu.
Cune Rioja Crianza 2009 was a yummy ruby-red wine with a very smooth finish. Excellent suggestion.
Overall, not great, but a good place to have a drink while waiting for a train out of Penn Station.
Pros: Service was great, and so was the wine!
Cons: Had to ask for a card key to use the restroom.
Quick Bite: THE ALIENIST by Caleb Carr
After having read The Diviners, I felt the urge to revisit this classic thriller by Caleb Carr. Many have credited Carr and The Alienist specifically as igniting a resurgence of interest in historical fiction thrillers (i.e., The Dante Club, Devil in the White City, etc.).
As with The Diviners, we are once again in NYC, which is in the midst of an horrific serial killer whose prey of choice are child prostitutes from the slums of the Five Points. Even more salacious is the fact that he likes to take his victims' eyes and that the prostitutes are all boys who dress up as female. Investigating this case is Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (before he became President) and Dr. Kreizler (the Alienist).
Strengths of the story is following the analysis of the intrepid doctor. And Sara Howard is a strong female as one of the first women serving in the police department.
Weaknesses: the love story between Kreizler and his maid; the final encounter with the killer.
Food and Drink: just follow the menu of Chapter 10's dinner at Delmonicos--begin with platters of oysters and glasses of sherry and bitters; bottle of amontillado; followed by bass done in creamy Mornay sauce accompanied with Hocchheimer; then a saddle of lamb a la Colbert and a bottle of Chateau Lagrange; followed by Maryland terrapin; sorbet Elsinore; canvasback duck prepared with hominy and currant gelee accompanied with a glass of Chambertin; ending with Alliance pears steeped in wine, deep-fried, powdered with sugar and smothered in apricot sauce followed by petits fours.
If the above outlined banquet is a bit much, I'd recommend reading the book with roast beef and a glass of full-bodied red wine.
As with The Diviners, we are once again in NYC, which is in the midst of an horrific serial killer whose prey of choice are child prostitutes from the slums of the Five Points. Even more salacious is the fact that he likes to take his victims' eyes and that the prostitutes are all boys who dress up as female. Investigating this case is Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (before he became President) and Dr. Kreizler (the Alienist).
Strengths of the story is following the analysis of the intrepid doctor. And Sara Howard is a strong female as one of the first women serving in the police department.
Weaknesses: the love story between Kreizler and his maid; the final encounter with the killer.
Food and Drink: just follow the menu of Chapter 10's dinner at Delmonicos--begin with platters of oysters and glasses of sherry and bitters; bottle of amontillado; followed by bass done in creamy Mornay sauce accompanied with Hocchheimer; then a saddle of lamb a la Colbert and a bottle of Chateau Lagrange; followed by Maryland terrapin; sorbet Elsinore; canvasback duck prepared with hominy and currant gelee accompanied with a glass of Chambertin; ending with Alliance pears steeped in wine, deep-fried, powdered with sugar and smothered in apricot sauce followed by petits fours.
If the above outlined banquet is a bit much, I'd recommend reading the book with roast beef and a glass of full-bodied red wine.
Quick Bite: THE DIVINERS by Libba Bray
As soon as the reader is introduced to back-from-the-dead serial killer Naughty John, you are posi-toot-ly hooked!
Set in NYC during the Roaring Twenties, this epic, sprawling supernatural thriller by Libba Bray will satisfy both historical fiction fans as well as those interested in complex, scary yarns a la Stephen King's The Stand.
Seventeen-year-old Evie O'Neill is "exiled" from her hometown of Ohio to live with her Uncle Will (who just happens to run an occult museum in the Upper West Side) in NYC after a scandalous incident occurs. Evie is of course thrilled by this new adventure as she is a force of nature with secrets of her own.
Strongest part of the story is 1920s NYC as a character. Readers will be captivated and feel as if they have been transported back in time.
Weakest part of the story is the heroine, who is exceedingly annoying at times with her selfishness, seeming immaturity, and flippancy, but the strength of the author's writing still has us rooting for Evie.
The publisher (Little, Brown) has marketed this book as a YA title. With the excessive drinking (Evie carries a hip flask containing gin as it amplifies as her powers) and creepy kills, I wouldn't recommend book for anyone under 16.
Drinks: champagne, any cocktail containing gin served in martini glasses; if underage: cherry ginger ale
Food: any hors d'oeuvres served with toothpicks, finger sandwiches, and deviled eggs
Set in NYC during the Roaring Twenties, this epic, sprawling supernatural thriller by Libba Bray will satisfy both historical fiction fans as well as those interested in complex, scary yarns a la Stephen King's The Stand.
Seventeen-year-old Evie O'Neill is "exiled" from her hometown of Ohio to live with her Uncle Will (who just happens to run an occult museum in the Upper West Side) in NYC after a scandalous incident occurs. Evie is of course thrilled by this new adventure as she is a force of nature with secrets of her own.
Strongest part of the story is 1920s NYC as a character. Readers will be captivated and feel as if they have been transported back in time.
Weakest part of the story is the heroine, who is exceedingly annoying at times with her selfishness, seeming immaturity, and flippancy, but the strength of the author's writing still has us rooting for Evie.
The publisher (Little, Brown) has marketed this book as a YA title. With the excessive drinking (Evie carries a hip flask containing gin as it amplifies as her powers) and creepy kills, I wouldn't recommend book for anyone under 16.
Drinks: champagne, any cocktail containing gin served in martini glasses; if underage: cherry ginger ale
Food: any hors d'oeuvres served with toothpicks, finger sandwiches, and deviled eggs
Friday, March 15, 2013
Asuka Sushi in Chelsea, NYC
My favorite Japanese restaurant is Asuka Sushi, located on the following location:
300 W 23rd St
(between 9th Ave & 8th Ave)
New York, NY 10011
My favorite dish is YOKO Tofu. I keep going back for that one dish. It is so yummy!
They also have the special happy hour where you order one drink and you get the second one for free. I love the lychee martini.
The sashimi is excellent. I also love the rolls, especially the soft shell crab roll and the eel avocado roll.
I always get full and forget to leave room for dessert.
Maybe, next time.
Check it out. I forgot to take pictures - maybe next time.
300 W 23rd St
(between 9th Ave & 8th Ave)
New York, NY 10011
My favorite dish is YOKO Tofu. I keep going back for that one dish. It is so yummy!
They also have the special happy hour where you order one drink and you get the second one for free. I love the lychee martini.
The sashimi is excellent. I also love the rolls, especially the soft shell crab roll and the eel avocado roll.
I always get full and forget to leave room for dessert.
Maybe, next time.
Check it out. I forgot to take pictures - maybe next time.
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