New York City

Nargis Cafe – Uzbek Beauty With an Attitude

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Ziggy

8/30/15 Update: Another great lunch in one of my Brooklyn faves. You cant get this stuff in Manhattan. The Plov is still Killa! So are the Monti, those giant dumplings filled with cuminy meaty goodness. The chicken kebabs and Lyulya kebab are some of the juiciest tenderest kebabs you will ever eat. Among the starters I particularly like the red eggplant dish (over the green) and the avocado salad. They make Lagman noodles but only offer it in soup (very good). It doesnt look like they have Pilmeni any more but they do offer its fried uzbek cousin Chuchvara. Wash it all down with the Szech draft beer (the second one, forgot the name) or their terrific Kompot (Russian fruit punch). Very busy place, sort of approaching local institution status. You cant get this in Manhattan. Did I already say that? Well I’m saying this again. I just read the post below and I think I must have been high on something…

Original post 9/14/14:

A love hate arranged relationship followed by a happy marriage is a good way to summarize this one. We started dating awhile back, sparks were flying and things got intense. But then she started seeing other people. A lot of them! To the point of having to make an appointment and sharing her while sitting very close to the other people and having to leave much sooner than before. Time for a break, and to check out the rest of the Uzbek fish in the sea. There was Kashkar, Oasis and some other flirts, but I kept thinking about her, my Nargisachka, who pleased me like none of the others. To quote from the great Top Secret, “she took advantage of me in ways I cannot describe” “Oh Nigel, it must have been awful” (Rolling Eyes Smiley)

Anyway, in a town suddenly filled with all sorts of Uzbek action, Nargis is probably my favorite at the moment. You got all the usual Russian/Uzbek goodies here, and pretty much everything is cooked well. Nice little Pilmeni (Russian dumplings) which I particularly like here because of its cumin action. Good eggplant salad, fried potatoes with mushrooms which is a staple among the “Russian” spots in the city. Great Monti, like giant Pilmeni that come covered in a basket. Samsa, the Uzbek bourek is another winner at Nargisachka. Last time they had a Samsa special, a hefty Chicken Samsa surrounding a drumstick. Like a Samsa lollipop if you will. They are known for their Uzbek Plov with lamb, chickpeas and liberal use of fresh scallions. Terrific Tashkent Salad (meat, shredded radish, eggs, fried onions). The kebabs here redefine tenderness and juiciness. Chicken, lamb, veal, Lulya kebabs are as good as you will find anywhere on Coney Island Ave (plenty of competition on this street)

This is a very popular spot with the local families, and its best to come here with a group so you can sample enough.

Nargis Cafe
2818 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn
$$
Recommended Dishes: Plov, Samsa, Tashkent Salad, Monti, Avocado Salad, Kebabs, eggplant salad, Chuchvara

Categories: Brooklyn, New York City | Tags: Brooklyn Restaurants, Brooklyn Uzbek, food, Nargis Cafe, Nargis Cafe Brooklyn, restaurants, Travel | 3 Comments

Best Burgers in Hell’s Kitchen

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Ziggy

*** Please excuse horrible iPhone pictures. I get light headed if I don’t eat the burger right away and I rush the picture taking process. I do think of you audience, but not at that moment *****

First of all, let me just be the first blogger to say this… most likely these are NOT the best burgers in Hell’s Kitchen. There are way too many places providing quality burgers in the area, and contrary to popular belief, I am human and cant possibly eat all of them and/or judge accordingly. This list is also a list of places where you can most likely find locals as opposed to tourists. So no Shake Shack, Bareburger, 5 Napkin, and not even the napkinless Five Guys. That’s not to say my picks cant match against any of those guys. I’m also trying to mix and match different types of burgers even if it means including something that’s not even considered a burger but worth mentioning. Special attention is also paid to the fries and the place itself. Another reason why you wont see Shake Shack. “So why are you calling it Best Burger, Ziggy”? Good question tommy. For the same reason everyone else does. Its much more Google friendly than “exceptional burgers”, or “decent Burgers”, and besides, they might very well be “The Best”

Island Burger and Shakes – Perhaps the obvious one and the place I frequent the most. Great Burgers and.. you guessed it.. Churrascos! Churrascos are chicken sandwiches grilled in over 30 ways – blackened, or spiced any way you want it. The same goes for the top quality burgers where you have all these combinations to choose from including various toppings like Au poivre, pesto and even peanut thai sauce. And 6 types of bread including a fine Ciabatta. But don’t be afraid to try a very simple one with swiss, and perhaps sautéed onions or mushrooms. What separates them from the rest is that they always grill the burgers to perfection (unless you are with a group of 8 as happened to me yesterday). A medium rare is usually a medium rare. Fries here are good but extra, though I usually share them with someone. Oh and I’m noticing lately lunch specials of $10 that includes a plain burger, fries, beer, and a flue shot.

The Marshal – (top) I already discussed The Marshal extensively but haven’t discussed the burger. As with anything else on the menu, attention to detail here is key. An oven roasted fatty patty, a combination of chuck, brisket, and hanger along with kidney fat produces a perfect 80/20 fat ratio. This is the juiciest thing I’ve had since college! No fries here but the duck fat potato chips and slaw make up for it. The menu changes regularly so if you show up and the burger is not on the menu, I suggest you make a scene (how else they gonna learn). Or just have something else for a change

Genuine Roadside – Essentially a Shake Shack fast food burger without any of the pain. Every time I pass by Shake Shack on 8th ave I just want to shake a random German sock and sandals tourist and explain that there’s nothing in the land of pizza and burgers worth standing in line for. Because you can find similar quality just about everywhere. My only visit to this Shake Shack location was as much fun as a Vasectomy. At Genuine, in food mecca Gotham West, you walk in, order, get a beeper, and wait a few minutes at one of the many booths available, instead of the standing room only Shake Shack. Get the Double Stack, with american cheese, sweet pickles and house sauce which is essentially a mayo, ketchup, and mustard blend. The patties are 80% chuck, 20% hanger, on the small side like Shake Shack and generally cooked well. Fries are extra and well worth it. But the one item on the menu I prefer over everything else is the Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich

Brickyard Gastropub – For the health conscious. If you noticed that burgers with diet coke is not helping you lose wait, try beer with Bison Burger. You see what I did there kids? Bison meat is leaner than cow meat and has more nutrients. Brickyard offers regular burgers of course, and bison burgers that are slightly gamy and very tasty. But you must pinky promise that you will order the truffled fries as well. On first look they will seem greasy, but than you suddenly cant stop eating them. A total opposite than my experience with the truffled fries at the super popular Umami. But the burgers at this sport bar are solid overall. And a cute Irish bartenderess that knows her food can only be a major plus

Bulgogi Sliders at Danji – If the overrated Montmartre Patty Melt can be seen on “Best” lists than I’m adding sliders. Its my blog, I make the rules, and those sliders will make you break the rules. In a CNN 2011 reader’s poll of the World’s 50 most delicious foods, Bulgogi, a Korean style marinated beef was voted #23. Soy Sauce, garlic, sake, car keys, and a whole bunch of stuff go into a typical marinade, and you can sample this deliciousness at Hooni Kim’s Danji with a lovely spicy pickled cucumber & scallion salsa. Add the tofu and KFC wings while you at it

Happy eating and stay hungry my friends

Categories: Midtown West, New York City | Tags: Best Burgers in Hell's Kitchen, Brickyard Gastropub, danji, food, Genuine Roadside, Island Burger and Shakes, restaurants, The Marshal, Travel | 3 Comments

When Ziggy Met Zizi {Limona}

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Ziggy

March 9th, 2015 Update

Another fun meal at Zizi with friends. You know that you are eager to get somewhere when you park in front of a fire hydrant and don’t realize it. Like a Bulldog going to his favorite poop spot. Everyone enjoyed the meal. Aunt Trippo is now my favorite aunt by default. My only requirement is the ability to make a decent falafel. I’m very east. Grilled Beets, surprisingly appetizing for a non beet supporter. Crazy Baba is still Meshugenah, and the Shishito with white beans is a fun little snack

The tender Chicken Tagine was a winner, spiced properly with Moroccan spices, with chickpeas and Israeli Couscous (bubbly tiny pasta balls). Some enjoyed their fish with tomato based sauce a la Taboon. My Short rib was as tender as short rib should be if not a little gamey (in a good way). It came with Risotto style Freekeh (a Farro like grain), and tasty wild mushrooms. Nice dish. And speaking of Taboon, they even have their own version of the great Silan, which could use some crunch (nuts of some sort), but it didn’t stop me from a full blown attack.

In true Middle Eastern fashion, you will not find anything bland here. A fun, eclectic menu in an energetic room. Great place to take friends, second dates, or a hot mother-in-law.

September 7th, 2014 Post:

It was love at first chick(pea) at the Israeli Williamsburg neighborhood hotspot, Zizi Limona. Stemming from the two city hummus empires Hummus Place and Hummus Kitchen owners, plus another Israeli chef, the three Israeli amigos opened a very affordable place that every neighborhood should have. Mine has a good shoe repairman, a gas station, and your ordinary Chinese, which is why I sometimes have to eat in other neighborhoods (40 mins away) and pretend I live there. But if I ever need to repair my flip flops while waiting for my gassy General Tso’s, I’m all set. At Zizi on the other hand you can also shop for Pereg seasonings among other products off their shelves. If they could also offer the much sought after refrigerated Pereg stuff like the best S’chug ever made, and repair your flip flops while you wait for your hummus, rent in that hood will skyrocket

Zizi is like Balaboosta light, or a slightly less polished Bar Bolonat. The lunch menu is small but deadly. When it comes to menus, the smaller the better as far as I’m concerned. Drives me nuts seeing reviewers complain about such things. Drinks here, you can tell, are taken very seriously. My “Mosquito” was like a refreshing twist on Israeli “Limonana” (Lemonade with Mint) with Moscato, lime, mint, and soju. Wifey enjoyed her pomegranate Zimosa, and kids claimed “best water this side of the Gowanus!”. But I couldnt help but recall the “Mosquito” fart in the phone app, and when we hid the phone along with a timer at a co-worker desk when he went to the bathroom. “What kind of blog is this” I hear the three Israeli owners asking. The good kind amigos. The kind you dont see on SeriousEats. But lets dive into the food before they stop reading…

The Falafel plate, Aunt Trippo’s Falafel is of the Revelation kind. Who is this Aunt Trippo and what is she smoking? Golden, crisped to perfection balls sitting on top of this brilliant curry Tahini yogurt which I swear I just had this same sauce somewhere but cant remember where. Pickle, and some ultra tasty smoked tomato to round up this little one. I would come back just for this. The next aunt is another Crazy Baba, as in Babaganoush, but this one is “greened” with basil and is spot on. You will be hard pressed finding a better Baba in the city including in Brighton Beach. Rule of thumb in Israeli spots, if you see Grilled Cauliflower, order 17 of those. This grilled beauty included artichokes and did not disappoint. When you find yourself with three plates sitting there where you cant quite decide which direction your fork should go, you either came to the absolute wrong place, or the right one. Loved the apps here.

Baba

grilled veggies

Falafel

The Chicken Shawarma served on thick solid Hummus is what every Chicken Shawarma should taste like. The Cowshuka was far from your ordinary Shakshuka, where much of the tomato stew was substituted with Tahini, with eggs and in this case “I cant believe its not polish sausages” sausages that won me over (top pic). More of their Hummus came in the form of the Hummus Masabacha with eggplant, hard boiled egg, and tahini. For the Brooklyn Challenged, you can also get a nice Masabacha in Nish Nush in the city. We capped this one off with an exceptional Malabi. $90 later, all I can say is that I cant wait to have dinner here. GO! Nice to meet you Zizi. Ziggy

Zizi Limona
129 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn
$$
Recommended Dishes: All of the above, especially the small plates

Masabacha

Shawarma

Categories: Brooklyn, New York City | Tags: food, restaurants, Travel, williamsburg food, williamsburg Israeli, Zizi Limona | 1 Comment

Vasectomy Tips for Foodies

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Ziggy

I believe we already established that this is not your ordinary food/travel blog. If you can find another food blogger that posts about vasectomies I will take you to a restaurant of ~~your~~ my choice and pick up the tab. So while you are busy Googling your way to a free meal, here are some tips and general observations about this most misunderstood procedure. But why for “Foodies”, Ziggy? Well, who else is reading this blog. Certainly not politicians, or health professionals. Unless they are Foodies.

The procedure is misunderstood because its not really much of a procedure. But instead of telling you all about it, I would rather direct you to the place that taught me everything I needed to know about Vasectomy. So now that you are on your way to half-manhood…

Try scheduling the procedure before some major Sporting events like US Open Tennis/Golf, Football Sunday, or anything else you are interested in. So you could at least enjoy the time off. The recovery time is usually 48 hours, but take all the time you need. Remember, this is your time to shine (so to speak, no pun intended. If shining gets really bad consult your dr)

Make sure you are booked for the morning. Some doctors will tell you that the time of the booking will be determined closer to the date, but you need to be on top of this since you will not be able to eat for a while prior to the procedure. So a 2:00 PM procedure for example is almost the equivalent of a Yom Kippur fast.

Office romance is an often overlooked benefit. Look at the overall picture, beyond your original reasons. But before you start looking for any hotels that charge by the hour, and before you start hitting the bars again, you need to wait a few weeks in order to “clean the pipes”

Another big benefit is all the legit “My dog ate my homework” type excuses that come with it….

“Ziggy, can you finish the report by the end of the day” – “Sorry sir, but I have a Vasectomy scheduled for this afternoon”

“Sir, It will be 30 minutes” “Can you make it faster, I have a Vasectomy coming up”

“Dude why are you home watching Ellen” – “I had a Vasectomy”

“Dad, can Jennifer sleep over” – “Sorry not today, dad is recovering from a Vasectomy”

“Can you throw out the garbage” – “Vasectomy!”

Get the picture? You cant get better excuses than this. Use it 3 times a day or as directed.

Use frozen peas instead of Ice pack for easier application to the infected area. And yes, most likely you wont look at frozen peas the same way again.

You dont have to lift anything heavy for the rest of your ~~life~~ marriage

Remember Mr Foodie, this is the equivalent of you giving birth. Make the recovery a little worse than it is. Use phrases like “YOU DID THIS TO ME!!” to get your message across, and you are all set for at least a few months

Coming up next year – Vasectomy Reversal Tips for Foodies

Categories: New York City | Tags: Health Advice, Vasectomy, Vasectomy Tips | Leave a comment

All’onda – New Wave Riding with Giada

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Ziggy

All’onda in Italian means “Wave”, pertaining perhaps to the soupy Risotto Astice prepared All’onda style which will make waves if you tilt your plate (versus drier risottos like in Piedmont). Or it may relate to the new wave style of Asian influenced Italian cooking that chef Chris Jaeckle, formerly with EMP and Ai Fiori, is trying to introduce. Or perhaps 30 years later my obsession with new wave music is not going away anytime soon, and now reflected in my blog post titles. Every restaurant in the world should have Depeche Mode or the Smiths in its soundtrack and just like that the world’s conflicts are solved. With the exception of Pure Thai Cookhouse, who’s funky Thai disco matches the atmosphere and Thai porn posters perfectly.

But I digress. I cant even recall the music at All’onda. All I remember is the food, and the long line to the bathroom upon arrival. The line consisted of roughly 100% of members of my family but still. They found out the hard way that stopping at Starbucks before a long drive from Woodbury Commons is not as brilliant of an idea as they originally thought. Women Schwomen you know what I’m saying?

But I digress, again. I always associate “Venetian Cuisine” with all those beautiful creatures found in the Venetian lagoon. Like the amazing bay scallops you can see in one of my rotating top pictures which you can find just about every day in the greatest outdoor museum on the planet, Rialto Market. So before the meal you could color me ‘I don’t get it’. But after trying some cichetti (Venetian inspired snacks), Risotto Astice, clams, and evidence of Nero di Seppia on a previous menu, I see just enough similarities. Perhaps “Influenced” is the more appropriate word in the description, but it just doesn’t sound as convincing. Although it didn’t finish as strong as I was hoping, this was still an outstanding meal

So we started with the aforementioned Venetian style Cichetti. Perfectly buttery chicken liver, pickled cherries and hazelnuts Crostini worked very well. You got to start with some Crostini as soon as you pull up your gondola on Canal Street. The Arancini here were oozing with flavor and black truffle aroma. They will add Arancini balls as necessary for your party

From the lagoons of Rhode Island, comes this Calamari, fried to perfection with pickled peppers, white wine, and sopressata. I like ordering fried Calamari in places like to make up for all those horrible fried calamari I’ve eaten in the outer boroughs in the nerdy years. Same idea goes for the Clams Casino with pancetta and panko which is Japanese breadcrumbs (made from crustless bread). Problem with the clams is that they are not very shareable, and at $15 for 5 not a whole lot of value.

The pastas here were outrageous. Oversized Agnolotti filled with Mortadella, and topped with pistachios, Soppressata and homemade XO sauce, a fishy (in a very good way) Chinese sauce, this one made with dried shrimp and scallops. Don’t let the fishy part deter you. The sauce, along with the Soppressata adds nice depth to the Agnolotti which in this case would not survive on its own. Get this. The zesty Garganelli with sweet peekytoe crab and tarragon was another winner. peekytoe crab is another one of those recent made up names describing those little crabs the Maine fishermen used to throw out until one NY chef stepped in, added it to the menu, and a market was born. The Lobster Risotto (Astice) came in Venetian style soupy, but toughened up eventually and was quite good.

Here’s where things started to tail off. I ordered the Short Rib for 2 to be shared with all of us. Its $62 for this little beast which is quite reasonable. Upon the first few bites I was transported to short rib heaven, where everyone looks like Giada De Laurentiis and Alba white truffles are available year round, and shaved daily on your pasta, by one of the Giadas.. before she brings the short rib. Ah my Giadachka! Ok, where was I? Oh ye, so I was enjoying this super tender slow cooked Giada meat, until I opened my eyes and realized I was the lone enjoyer. The rest of the family had major issues with the amount of fat content they had to struggle with and just gave up on the meat too soon. Still, I would recommend this for 2 people without children

The desserts were lackluster. Hazelnut mousse was pretty to look at but with zero substance, like Paris Hilton. We all disliked it and gave up on it quite early. Same goes for the Affogato, one small scoop of Vanilla with Amaretto Espresso in an ashtray. I bet Giada can make a killer Affogato, in a glass, like we have every year at our favorite restaurant in the world, Caicos Café in Turks and Caicos.

Giada if you reading, I would like to invite you to All’onda where we feast on Asian flavored pastas, learn how to say Pancetta, and make the Affogato together, wearing appropriate cooking attire

All’onda
22 E 13th St
$$$
Recommended Dishes: Crostini, Arancini, Calamari, Agnolotti, Garganelli

Categories: New York City, West Village | Tags: All'onda, All'onda NYC, food, restaurants, Travel | 2 Comments

Chicken and Wine

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Ziggy

Is the new Pizza and Beer. Sometimes tasty surprises come at the most unexpected times, which is why they are called tasty surprises. I’m in the process of writing about yet another “one of those meals” I had the other day but I’m just running out of time, so instead I decided to write about my day today so far (Yeepee, how exciting! I know, right?)

At noon today I took a wine class with Corkbuzz in Union Square, examining the great reds of Piedmont and Tuscany. While I’m mostly already familiar with Tuscan wines overall, I still learned a great deal about them, such as the story behind bad boys “Super Tuscans”. But it was Piedmont I was mostly interested in, to prepare for my upcoming ~~white truffle orgy~~ trip in the fall. We tasted some fine Brunello (which made me dizzy just thinking about all the zigzagging Ziggy Andretti did on the way to Montalcino last summer which got some of us sick), Super Tuscan, Barbaresco, Barolo and more. All nice and dandy, until master Sommelier and owner of Corkbuzz, Laura Maniec poured a bonus bottle of 2000 Pianpolvere Soprano Barolo Bussia Riserva that made the other Barolo, and everything else seem light and uneventful. Dark, intensely aromatic (I can still smell it as I type) with big tannins, and a beautiful finish. Hints of plum, vanilla, and scallions (I wonder how long it was stuck between my teeth as I didnt have any today). Quite a lovely bottle, and the heaviest one I ever held. This was a very informative class overall and I’m looking forward for more from Laura, but its really just Italian wines I’m into

So I come out and right away I realize that my much anticipated pasta appointment across the street at All’onda is cancelled because they are not open for lunch on weekends. The Chutzpah! So what to do, where to eat. All that truffle talk with my neighbors at Corkbuzz got me in the mood for truffles so I was ready to settle for truffle oil with Pappardelle and sausage at nearby old fave Da Andrea. Oops, DA never open for lunch which I keep forgetting. Perhaps go to Gaia finally? Mighty Quinn’s for wings? Random filthy thoughts fill my mind. Oh what I’d do to that Motorino Pizza right now.

But then I remembered the recently opened Root and Bone and their infamous fried chicken, so off to Alphabet City I Citibike. Let me tell you folks about this crazy bird. Insanity in a basket. Sweet and zesty, dusted with dehydrated lemon powder which looks sort of weird at first. The bird is brined in sweet tea, onions and garlic for 24 hours before drying, and is simply marvelous. Cant get much better than this in NYC. Bike, dont run to Root and Bone folks

Categories: East Village, New York City, West Village | Tags: Corkbuzz, food, NYC, restaurants, Root and Bone, Travel, wine | 1 Comment

Top 10 Reasons to Visit the New NoMad Bar

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Ziggy

Bay Scallops marinated with yuzu & pistachio

10. The place is sort of neat looking. Like what you expect to find at a secret Playboy tunnel

9. They have a Chicken Pot Pie that will make you wish you were Amish

8. Their head bartender has more moves than Nicky Minaj. Try the Start Me Up!

7. Their carrot tartare will make you start eating carrots

6. You now realize that on your previous trip you went to the wrong Nomad. It happens quite often actually. Like 1 out of 10 Asian tourists go to the wrong nomad. Cabbies love it and make bets.

5. Their Bay Scallops will make you start eating carrots (strange, I know)

4. The Cocktail Explosion will make your 15 Instagram followers very jealous (and worried)

3. The meaning of Life, Christmas, and Marriage will instantly be revealed once you try the 28 day Dry-Aged Burger with bone marrow. Except if you are Jewish of course. The meaning of Marriage will be revealed after day two.

2. You could finally say you ate chicken at the NoMad! Although I dont really get why you needed to say that

1. Their Fries will make your kids put their phones away and tell you about their day.

Chicken Pot Pie black truffle & foie gras

Burger dry-aged with cheddar, red onion & pickles

Duck sausage with pickled ramps & cherries

Carrot tartare sunflower seeds & mustard Quail egg

Cookies & Cream ice cream with chocolate crunch, Banana pudding with rum & brioche

Candy Bar, with dark chocolate and caramel

Cheesecake strawberry & shortbread

Categories: New York City | Tags: flatiron restaurants, food, restaurants, The NoMad Bar, The NoMad NYC, Travel | 2 Comments

Ivan the Formidable

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Ziggy

September 22nd, 2017 Update:

I dont usually update a place this soon, but this is kinda important after yet another fine meal at Ivan Ramen LES. Weather is getting chillier (or seemed to be a few weeks ago at least), and I cant think of a better way to start Ramen season. The Chicken Paitan at Ivan is not the Ramen dish that made Ivan famous, but to me it’s right up there with NYC’s best at the moment. As I described 6 months ago when it came out, “the richness and deliciousness of a Tonkotsu without the heaviness”.

A corn on a cob dish always gets my attention, and this one proved to be a wowzer. Its Miso roasted with bonito flakes and some sort of Japanese magic dust sprinkled. The fried chicken, brined perhaps, is another exceptional one. The Coney Island Tofu with that miso mushroom chili has made it’s triumphant return to the menu. Magnifique as always. As is the Triple pork, triple garlic Mazemen (brothless ramen) which has been on the menu since day 1 but somehow eluded me all this time. Being featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table hasnt made it easy, but reservations are doable. Go!

March 5th, 2017 Update:

All sorts of major developments with the Ivan. The Ramen Junkie keeps reinventing himself, and has even given us some bedtime entertainment. Yes, Ivan Orkin is featured in the latest season of Netflix’s highly acclaimed Chef’s Table which I highly recommend. Its refreshing to see someone on the show who you actually know and talk to from time to time. Naturally the show helped revive his Lower East Side flagship in a big way. And so if you havent been in a while, or never, prepare for a possible 2 hour shock on some evenings. Yesterday I heard quotes ranging from 1 to 3 hours, albeit on a Saturday night.

Coincidentally, or not, the menus in both NYC spots have gotten a facelift as of late. At the Slurp Shop however, at the moment looks more like a botched botox job. The great Donburis (rice dishes including top) are long gone, and the sick Breakfast Ramen, changed to Breakfast All Day Ramen after they figured why not, is now gone too. It cameod for a while last month only to see the same results. Why is no one eating the good stuff. Lack of appreciation, or people simply want the goods that made the man famous. I say its the name of the dish. Give it a cute Japanese name like Mocu Mocu and people will drive in forces. Oh wait, they tried it already. With that said, knowing these guys, another homerun is probably on its way. ivan-ramen-trumpet

But at the flagship, things are looking mighty fine these days. I cant get on Instagram without seeing Ivan tease a new dish that looks infinitely better than what I’m eating (I’m looking at you quinoa). Something like the brilliant briny Trumpet Mushrooms sliced like noodles, and served cold that I enjoyed last night. This was a tip I got an hour earlier by the sous chef at Slurp Shop during yesterday’s Hell’s Kitchen tour (there he goes again with the shameless plugs). Another new potential hit is the Dan Dan Noodles smothered with chili infused ground lamb. It is probably the spiciest Dan Dan and one of the spiciest noodle dishes I ever had. By the end I was waving a white flag which turned red by then. It is purposefully dry and while delicious, I was longing for something wet to counter the heat. But the most interesting newcomer is probably the dish I had on a previous night. A bright and gorgeous Chicken Paitan with minced chicken and egg yolk. It has all the richness and deliciousness of a Tonkotsu without the heaviness. Its just like your moms chicken soup! If mom went to culinary school for 10 years, moved to Japan and married the most famous Ramen maker in Tokyo that is.

August 24, 2014 Post:

We all heard the story before hundreds of times. A Jew from Long Island moves to Japan to teach English, moves back to the states, attends The Culinary Institute of America, leaves his heart in Japan so comes back to Tokyo, gets bored out of his mind and learns how to cook Ramen (just about the last thing that crosses my mind when I’m bored). So he opens the first restaurant in Tokyo, finds success and opens another… moves back to NYC to open the Slurp Shop at Gotham West market and the flagship Ivan Ramen in East Village. 10 months later, over a dozen visits to the Slurp Shop and over a dozen whitefish Donburis, two visits to the new joint in East Village, and needless to say… Ziggy is a fan of the Ivan.

The Slurp Shop

I’ve already written extensively about Hell’s Kitchen’s main attraction these days, Gotham West Market, the home of the first Ivan outpost. The Slurp Shop is normally the last stop of my monthly food crawls. Problem is by the time we get here more often than not, tummy is already full. The menu settled down over the year and features some unique staples like…

Slow-Cooked Pork Donburi – Another fun rice concoction with super tender pork shoulder, scallion, salted plum wasabi, and chunky roasted tomatoes proving nice balance and much needed acidity.

Roasted Garlic Mazemen – I must admit the Mazemen here is more exciting to me than the traditional Ramen. Mazemen is almost brothless ramen, but packs in more flavor and intensity. This one comes with Nori, dashi, chicken broth, pork belly chashu, and the same rye noodle as the traditional ramen. Garlic lovers especially may find this dish quite formidable. Yes, I’m officially adding formidable to my vocabulary.

Ramen – I cant find any pictures of any of the Ramen I tried here. Most likely due to the way I attack them once I see them. I believe I tried all of them except the vegetarian one and all are quite good in their own way. The Tokyo classics Shio and Shoyu are cleaner and purer than most of the modern Ramens out there.

Whitefish Donburi – Perhaps my favorite dish in GWM but admittedly not for everyone (what is really). White rice mixed with sweet soy dashi and topped with cucumber, scallion, salmon roe, and beautiful smoked whitefish. Jewish heritage meets Japanese school girl. Or something like that

Ivan Ramen

Lower East Side is the new East Village. I can spend a year here and eat something delicious and different every day. The new Ivan Ramen flagship complicates things even further for those locals that cant decide whether they are in the mood for Burritos, Ribs, Ramen or Israeli Scotch Eggs. This is more of a sit down than the Slurp Shop, which basically means slurping isnt as encouraged here. And the menu is quite different and fuller…

Pickled Daikon – shaved daikon (the radish white milder shy cousine), dried shrimp, scallop chili oil. I expected fishier flavors from the shrimp but it was more reminiscent texture wise of the most freakish tasting bread crumbs ever. Get this!

Chinese Broccoli & Garlic – Another cold winner. You taste the Broccoli with that sweet garlic soy sauce and go “well this is nice..”, but then you taste the pickled garlic and the world suddenly beginning to makes sense again

Pork Meatballs – Its texturally impossible to come up with more tender balls. Garnished with bonito flakes, buttermilk dressing, and Japans official unofficial sauce, Bulldog brown sauce. Marvelous dish! And no, I’m not adding “texturally” to my vocabulary because its not a real word

Tofu Coney Island – A playful and enjoyable take on the Nathan Hotdog. Fried tofu topped with miso mushroom chili, mustard, and scallion. Enjoyed this one

Roast Pork Musubi – The snack size version of the Pork Donburi at Slurp. Not the most shareable dish but a nice tasty snack

Salmon Donburi – Pictured on top. Another must, available for lunch only. Essentially the Whitefish Donburi but with, you guessed it, Salmon

Red-Hot Cold Mazemen – Basically what the name suggests. Hot Cold Mazemen, with 2 gorgeous looking prawns, rye noodles, spicy sesame and hot chili sauce used liberally in true Ivan Ramen fashion. Lunch only

Cheese Mazemen – The Japanese Carbonara, or if you are from the 21st region of Italy, Brooklyn, the Japanese Alfredo. Parmesan, asiago, Pecorino, and cream cheese and your Ramen essentials of dashi, pickled bean sprout, pork chashu with whole wheat noodles. This dinner only dish is Ramen on Viagra. Sorry for the iPhone pic

Triple Pork Triple Garlic Mazemen – Also dinner only. I havent actualy tried it yet but this is perhaps the most popular dish here.

Ankimo Dirty Rice – One of my favorite dishes in Ramen World. Ankino is essentially monkfish liver, which brings a nice richness and oomph to the toasty “Socarrat-full” fried rice. It may be my favorite fried rice dish in NYC at the moment. Sorry for the iPhone pic

Ivan Ramen Slurp shop
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600 11th AveIvan Ramen
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25 Clinton St

Categories: Lower East Side, Midtown West, New York City | Tags: Best Ramen in NYC, food, Ivan Ramen, Ivan Ramen Gotham West, Ivan Ramen NYC, restaurants, Travel | Leave a comment

Tourist in My Own Town – Day 4

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Ziggy

Partially thanks to the new view, I slept like a baby. I woke up every 3 hours needed to be fed and changed. I’m attaching a picture of the “Courtyard View” which I requested over the street view we got last week. We checked out after playing a game we invented called “I spy a courtyard” (I won!) and off we went to Everyman Espresso for another fantastic latte.

We are walkers, especially in the morning, and on this morning we decided to walk all the way to Battery Park passing approx 17 neighborhoods on the way give or take. East Village, West Village, South Village, Greenwich Village, Nolita, South East Village, Chinatown, Soho, you get the picture. Free tip for men: The best time to walk through Soho is Sunday morning where its nice and quiet, and all the stores are closed!

We reach the Irish Hunger Memorial, dedicated to the million Irish killed in the great potato famine around 1850. The great hunger led to millions fleeing to NYC, New Orleans, Australia and the relocation greatly shaped many NYC neighborhoods especially Hell’s Kitchen. Its a memorial, not a museum, so there’s not a whole lot to see, but its fairly unique. Large stones were brought in from the different Irish counties to represent them, and other stones were brought in to replicate a typical 1850 Irish cottage.

The transformation from the hustle and bustle of the city to Battery Park is akin to travelling from Milan to a small unassuming Italian Village with fewer cars, tourists, and more families. We walked by the water toward our main destination of the day passing unique playgrounds, nice looking lawns with stunning settings, beach volleyball, and skateboard courts. Kids here have it all. When I was a kid, all I had was a tiny toy soldier, and a pack of cigarettes (I started smoking at 5, quit when 6, true story). The Times They Are a-Changin’.

It may sound strange to new readers, but perfectly fine to the rest, that I built the entire day around a Lobster Roll. Well, not just a Lobster Roll. The Grand Banks is a Schooner (a ship for the German readers) that is parked off Pier 25 and offers one of the best lobster rolls in town until November when they go south. The roll is done Maine style which means cold, and I’m not the biggest fan of Maine style rolls unless they are done right using the meatiest parts of the lobster. This one features plenty of Maine claw meat with tarragon mayonnaise, cucumbers and worth every penny of the $25. Fries would have been nice but the potato chips are spiced so very nicely. “Is Very Nice!” Borat would have said. The boat rocks by the way. I mean literally. At some point after a few beers, the thought of pirates came creeping in. The Somali type!

We then picked up CitiBikes and rode Hudson River Park a bit toward Chelsea and the Highline. By this point Mrs Z is like a pro, utilizing all her fingers and command of the language. I’m very lucky to have her. The Highline on a Sunday afternoon is Meshugenah! Crazy busy. At some point we were stuck behind a family of 4, a rooster, and a pair of parakeets. It was a zoo!

Real tourists, you are standing on the wrong line. Instead of tacos, you need to stand for the greatest Brisket in the tri-state area, Delaney’s Brisket. It was comical to see no line to this while a long line for the tacos. A trip to Briskettown the flagship in Williamsburg may also be necessary if you are a brisket fan. I once drove for takeout with the Hummus Whisperer to bring back to Staten Island. Also right next to Delaney is great gelato from L’Arte del Gelato and not too far, north is a La Newyorkina stand offering artisanal ice pops. Don’t discount those stands, as this is great stuff folks.

We shared the brisket sandwich, with the 2 great sides, and off we went to the subway to catch the L to cross East to 1st Ave. We then picked up the bikes again and rode them all the way to 60th, and I must say once again, if Mrs Z can do this, so can anyone. And besides, 1st and 2nd avenues are great for bikers and very Obamacare friendly since all the hospitals are right there.

We took the Roosevelt tram to Roosevelt Island. I was there a few weeks ago for the first time and this time came back with Mrs Z for her first time. Again, I went the south route to the new FDR memorial park via the only ruins in the city of New York (Smallpox hospital). FDR has a special meaning for us since we met in FDR high school in Brooklyn (awwwwe!). Cant say enough about New York parks these days

I picked dinner close to the tram and for me it was a no brainer especially after the movie the day before, Moti Mahal Delux. Locals and most visitors may not realize that this is actually part of a world wide empire chain, originating in India. While menu wise it didn’t feel as sexy as a Kokum, Chote Nawab, and some other we’ve visited over the years, this was a solid North Indian fare.

Evening time, we realize we have kids, they are coming tomorrow, and fridge is empty. Back to Union Square and Whole Foods. But right before, we found ourselves singing and dancing with Israel supporters at Union Square Park, which over time became a center for political rallies.

After Whole Foods we loaded the car next to Liquiteria, a new location right in front of the Hyatt which I only noticed on Day 3. Got my favorite juice the Grasshopper, and back home to Staten Island.

And thats all she wrote folks. Now if someone volunteers to take my kids to Aruba (or Turks and Caicos) next year again, I would write another NYC Trip Report. But, until then…Ciao baby!

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Categories: East Village, Gramercy, Flatiron, Midtown East, New York City, SoHo, NoHo, Nolita, TriBeCa | Tags: Delaney's Brisket, food, Irish Hunger Memorial, Moti Mahal Delux, restaurants, Roosevelt Island, The Grand Banks, Travel | 5 Comments

Tourist in My Own Town – Day 3

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Ziggy

Not really needed on one of the best eating days of the year but to ensure proper drool action, lets start the weekend with my Friday lunch with the boys at work. It’s becoming a company tradition where I take my coworkers to lunch like on a school field trip (single file, no holding hands). We call it Eating With Ziggy. This time it was a special occasion so I took them to Danji, a sort of favorite go to spot lately. I got the usual suspects to share… the addictive tofu, KFC wings, Bulgogi sliders (rule number one of fight club – order the sliders) and both bibimbaps. Cant recommend this highly enough. Well, I can, but choose not too. Slightly different menu for dinner where all those dishes are available and more.

This time we left the house at 8 am much to more confusion from the neighbors (where are their kids, why are they stuffing a suitcase in the car again, are the kids in the suitcase). We don’t talk to the neighbors on the left who’s main mission in life is to see all their neighbors suffer. But I digress. Very light breakfast at home was necessary in order to save room for what turned out to be one of the best eating days of the year. Hmm, I believe I already said that.

The entire morning centered around the brilliant Summer Streets. It’s like the biggest baddest block party imaginable. Ok, perhaps not the baddest. For three Saturdays in August the entire park avenue and connecting streets from Brooklyn bridge to around 70th st or so is closed to traffic the entire morning, or from 7 to 1 to be exact. Bikers, walkers, babies, joggers take advantage with the help of volunteers from New York Cares that control traffic, and even try to entertain sometimes while controlling traffic. Some seem happier to do it than others but I give big kudos points to all of them. In addition, you have all sorts of pit stops along the way… Zip Lining, Yoga, Whole Foods giving away free food, concerts, free walking tours, wall climbing, bicycle riding lessons, and much more. A great way to spend the morning with other New Yorkers. We parked near our hotel of choice (more on that soon), and rode the bikes to around 30th st in order to walk inside the Park ave Tunnel to the sound of water and waves. If you ever wondered how Cast Away middle of the ocean feels like, you wont get that feeling here. They choose a different artist every year to for the sounds.

The end of the tunnel you pretty much at Grand Central Station, so like true tourists we took the opportunity to visit it. Their was a wedding couple taking pictures while posing way too proper for the purpose. We tried to take an audio guide tour but couldn’t quite wait the extra few minutes for the audio guide person to come back from her break. It said “will be back in 15” and I swear we waited over 7! Ok, we are not the most patient people. I’m waiting for someone to bring me a Cronut directly so I could finally try it. Right before entering the station we found ourselves at the Grand Hyatt, which felt just (slot machine sounds) shy of a Vegas hotel

We then proceeded to the Public Library Main branch and proceeded to do what every normal parents normally do in town without their kids.. go to a children book exhibit. The ABCs of It exhibit was more interesting than I expected. History of famous children books and their importance. Stories like that of a couple who fled Paris right before a Nazi invasion carrying the drawings of a monkey named Fifi. “Curious Fifi” would have been a better name than Curious George if you ask me. A fun corner depicting the history of Goodnight Moon. Nothing about goodnight Ipad, and my favorite classic Goodnight Schnitzel, but whatever. Goodnight Moon was my favorite book because it was easy to read, short and sweet and I was able to go back to watching the hockey game in no time. And upon exiting the library there was that wedding couple again following us with the same exact pose.

Back to Summer Streets, we walked Park ave a bit to the Whole Foods pit stop where we enjoyed..nothing! due to the lines. Picked up bikes and rode to the lower end of the “festival” where things got a bit more chaotic (in a good way). But just before we picked up the bikes we did what every tourist to NYC must do, eat a hot dog. I havent eaten in like 3 hours and I was starving

Our lunch was at Ivan Ramen flagship in the Lower East Side, with our young friend Victoria who recently moved to the East Village. This is my second visit to this location, but I’ve been to the Slurp Shop in Gotham West many times. They don’t share the same menu. I will try to write a separate review if I have a chance but meanwhile here’s what I recommend to try at the LES flagship

Pickled Daikon – With dried shrimp that taste closer to breadcrumbs than shrimp but quite yummo!

Chinese Broccoli & Garlic – The pickled garlic is what did it for me

Ankimo Dirty Rice (dinner only) – Ankimo is essentially monkfish liver but dont be scared. An absolute must

Pork Meatballs – Perfection. Cant get any more tender this

Triple Pork Triple Garlic Mazemen (dinner) – Didn’t have it yet but perhaps the most popular dish here

Four Cheese Mazemen (dinner) – Rich and flavor packed

Salmon Donburi (lunch) – Like the whitefish Donburi at Gotham West but with Salmon instead. Fantastic dish

Not much dessert here but no worries. One of my new favorite “I cant believe its not gelato” ice cream spots is not too far at the underrated Essex Market, Luca and Bosco. Named after the owners dogs. Two girls, one of whom picked up some valuable trade secrets in the gelato capital of the world, Florence Italy. The Drunk and Salty Caramel with Bourbon is my pick again but I urge you to try the rest

We then walked around East Village with Victoria and made our way to the hotel. I don’t know if it was the beer or lack of sleep but exhaustion hit, and I was craving a hotel bed badly. And yes, we went back to the Hyatt Union Square and THIS time I got the view I wanted, of the brick wall. I suppose a view of the city would make more sense to the average tourist but I rather face peace and quiet. Our room was away from the elevator this time as well, and while the design was a bit different, still the same great king size bed and pillows, decent size, nice shower, and here’s the kicker… “Great Location” is something you see in just about every hotel review, whether the location is UWS, Times Square, no matter. Its a cliché. But, I honestly cant think of a better location than this. You could come up with some other nearby hotels that may be slightly better situated than the corner of 4th and 13th st, but, this is as center as it gets to great dining, great neighborhoods, and everything else pretty much. You can walk just about everywhere from here including Times Square. We walked to Battery Park the next day. Highly recommend this baby Hyatt. From baby Hyatt to baby NoMad…

After some relaxing at the Hyatt we met up with friends and walked toward the most highly anticipated meal of the “trip”, the new NoMad Bar. It was even better than anticipated. Fantastic bay scallop, and carrot “tartar” starters, first rate duck sausage, and as expected a burger that can rival anything in NYC right now. But that’s not all folks. The NoMad famous truffled/foie grased chicken can be had in the form of the most luxurious and delicious Chicken Pot Pie ($36). They bring you the pie with the Foie on the side, and mix it in table side. Needless to say the most extrodinary Chicken Pot Pie you will ever have. But that’s not all. The infamous $110 Cocktail Explosion we shared was a big hit with everyone. One of the most memorable meals of the year.

We then made a tourist mistake. We took a cab to Washington Square Park just to cross it again to reach the next destination. This time they had what looked like a Shakespeare in the Park session which I’ve never witnessed before. Our destination was Comedy Cellar which was sold out of all shows, hence the mistake. Oh well. We briefly considered the Argentinian aerial acrobatics Fuerza Bruta but then settled for plan A, The Hundred-Foot Journey movie which dictated our next day dinner destination (second only to one of the best lobster rolls I ever had)

Day 1

Day 2

Day 4