We came for Mexican food, we stayed for the murals. Balmy Alley, Clarion Alley, 24th st, the magnificent Women’s Building. You can easily spend half a day here and not see everything. 
The Murals of Mission (San Francisco)
Categories: California
Tags: Mission District, Murals, San Francisco, Travel, travel+photography
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Hellish Update
In my constant pursuit to bringing you the best bites in an area I call Hell’s Kitchen, I present to you this most pressing update. Two in, two out
Out: We fare adios to Bis.Co.Latte who lost their battle with the rising rent monster. This means we are saying goodbye to over 50 flavors of Biscotti, but more importantly Hell’s Kitchen best soups. Best of luck to Holly & Antone with the next venture. Hopefully a soup truck right at my doorsteps.
Out: Co Ba 53. While I wouldn’t be so quick to remove a place closed by the health dep’t, the last couple of meals helped with the decision. I wish them the best, and please if you do reopen, get rid of the stupid tablecloth. It makes you look fancier than you are, and it doesn’t fit the place and the neighborhood (Update: Just passed by them and they already reopened. Oh Well)
In: Otto’s Tacos. The first addition I didn’t even need to try. I’m already well too familiar with their East Village spot, and those shrimp tacos (hmmm, how you doing). But I did of course had my fix on day two of this most important Hell’s Kitchen opening since Gotham West. I’ll be seeing more of them
In: Mocu Mocu. More Japanese goodies in the hood, though there’s really nothing like this in the area. Artsy, nifty but very casual spot that is still trying to find its bearings. Essentially all sorts of Japanese street food and snacks. Takoyaki (octopus balls), Oshinko (homemade pickles), soups like the terrific white bean and Sausage Miso, Okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), Obanyaki (dessert pastries), decent wings. I’ve been here three times already and each time I discover something new. This project is a collaboration of two sisters and Hiroko Shimbo, an acclaimed cookbook author. Unlike the new atrocity across the street El Original, this place hasn’t spent a day on any hot list, while flying under everyone radar. Its all in the marketing, and word of mouth. That’s why I’m here
Buon Appetito!
Categories: Midtown West, New York City
Tags: food, Hell's Kitchen dining, Mocu Mocu, Otto's tacos, Travel
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Montrio Bistro in Monterey – Don’t Fear the Reaper
Chills, confusion, despair, butterflies, who shot Mr Burns, shaking, why is it so cold here. Where the hell are we? Where are the butterflies?
“Mom, what’s wrong with dad? Why is he sitting in the corner, on the floor like that?”
“He just found out the restaurant he picked for tonight is #1 on Trip Advisor. Just give him a moment and avoid eye contact. It happened before.”
I know that voice. Mommy? More chills, hungry, it was Maggie, Maggie shot Mr Burns. How many R’s in Monterey. Where are the freakin butterflies. She says they come in November, but I cant stay that long. I need to visit Big Sur tomorrow. What the hell is Big Sur anyway. So hungry.
“Mom, he is drooling now”
“Don’t touch him! That means he is getting better”
Ok, feeling better. Off we go to the #1 as of this writing and dine with fellow tourists. We are after all tourists as well, and do touristy things like ride cable cars, walk slow, and visit aquariums. How bad can this be. I considered a place called Passionfish, another long timer, near our Butterfly-less Grove, but opted to stick to the script. This vacation is going just great. Stick to the script.
It’s just as I imagined. Packed with visitors from all over the world. I hear French, Italian, New Jersian… chills slowly creeping back. But hey, we quickly get a table and.. crayons. You would think that crayons will make the matter worse, but in this classy looking, mural filled joint its actually quite refreshing. Imagine getting crayons at Aquavit. I’m back to self, and in ordering mode. The menu breathes Best of America. California America! There’s salmon, there’s chicken, there’s short rib. Its a new revamped menu I’m told by a {gulp} British chef, and just about everything sounds orderable. They even have a “Bites” section which suggests this check inflating trend is now nation wide.
We start with what else, popcorn. They come cheesy, mixed with bacon bits. The waitress goes “May I?” “May I what, feed them to me?” No, she picks up the cup and spills all the popcorn on the plate so we could easily pick them up with the chopsticks that come with it. How fun. Mac and Cheese was cheesy alright, and quite good. But the polenta with mixed mushrooms, one of my favorite dishes on the planet fell a little short. Leave that to the Italians. Dungeness Crab cakes tastes like crab cakes should. Wish there were more of that though. Perhaps the fact that its not quite Dungeness Crab season here is to blame. The “Crispy Calamari” comes shaped like chicken tenders, aided by a tangy Romesco (I heart Romesco) and house made hot sauce that came in a nose drop bottle. And then came the Mussels.
The Mussels are paragraph worthy. We are a mussels family, enjoying our east coast mainly PEI (thats Price Edward Island for the German tourists) mussels for years. Yes, I know eating PEI mussels in NYC and in the source is like eating two different kinds of mussels. But here on the west coast, chefs in the know, even British, are loving the mussels coming out of Penn Cove in Whidbey Island, Washington. These mussels, cooked with a mild red curry broth, were some of the fullest, sweetest mussels I ever had.
The mains here did not disappoint either. The last time I ordered salmon and chicken together was 25 years ago when my source of income was tips from pizza deliveries. The chicken was fine for a #1. The salmon (top) I get isnt meant to be eaten by itself. A spoonful of salmon, creamy risotto, Nduja Sauce, and fried brussel sprouts leaves was, I’m using it, divine! And I couldnt find much wrong with that short rib. Damn its super tenderness, and juiciness! A proper finish with a sticky toffee pudding and a waitress recommended bread pudding that is particularly popular here (great for NY standards, average in New Orleans)
Crisis overblown. We enjoyed this one enormously. Kudos to the chef, the waitress, and crayon makers. This did not feel like a tourist trap, but a local established that cares about the product, and what their customer eats.
Montrio Bistro
414 Calle Principal, Monterey, CA
Categories: California
Tags: Best food in Monterey, food, Montrio Bistro, Montrio Bistro Monterey, restaurants, Travel
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit the NoMad Bar
Reiterating Strong Buy after another fun visit with friends. Get the burger, carrot, scallops and call me in the morning. I updated this top 10 to make it less offensive and more corny.
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…
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Categories: New York City
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A Man and His Lake – Tioga Pass (Yosemite)
Earlier this month we spent a day and a half exploring the sites off Tioga Pass road in Yosemite’s High Country. Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows including hikes to see the Soda Springs, and the serene Dog Lake where I practice my Jesus walk above. And since our accommodations were close enough (the amazing Evergreen Lodge) we were able to sneak in another visit to see the Sequoias of Tuolumne Grove. Cant recommend this highly enough, especially Olmsted Point (hike down to the left to the actual point – views from the parking lot arent enough), and Tuolumne Meadows where you can easily spend an entire day.
Olmsted Point
Categories: California
Tags: Tioga Pass Road, Travel, travel+photography, Yosemite National Park
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The NYC Trip Report that Left Me Speechless
And starving. Like, literally starving to death. There was a point where I realized that the safest time to read Aynat’s (Trip Advisor handle) daily accounts of her NY adventure is between 6 and 6:45, before my stomach wakes up from its beauty rest. This was not Aynat’s first trip to NYC, and she already logged countless of great meals under her belt. But this time it became apparent after day two (out of 27) that included a marathon meal at Ko (the best marathon there is), that Aynat picked up her game to almost unreachable levels. From my vantage point (living room, transferring to kitchen soon) this is the Michael Jordan of trip reports. The basketball player, not the chef. Although the chef is pretty darn good too (miss Rosemary’s in Vegas dearly).
I read trip reports on various boards like Chowhound and Trip Advisor on occasion, and it usually doesn’t take long to get a sense of the due diligence involved. Aynat on the other hand, essentially has redefined food research, and is probably already planning her next trip to NYC (best medicine to post vacation blues.. Alcohol. Second best.. rebook). This was 27 days of eating bliss and blissful eating. After her trip was over, I figured it would be criminal not to write something about this on EWZ, but the challenge was how. So I asked Aynat to compile a list of her favorite dishes of the trip and here are the results. Top 20 dishes (comments are mine) with pictures whenever I could find them
Momofuku Ko – Chef’s Multi Course Tasting Menu. Its impossible to pick one dish from this 18 dish ecstasy. Its like asking Evander Holyfield which Illegitimate child is his favorite. Perhaps the best eating experience NYC has to offer at the momeny
Bowery Meat Company – Bowery Steak with Salsa Verde, Whipped Potato. The ribeye cap, arguably the cows most delicious part is rolled into this hockey puck of dreams. One of the most delicious steaks I ever ate. Aynat agrees.
Marta – Carbonara Pizza with Potato, Guanciale, Black Pepper and Egg. I’ve watched Nick Anderer try to perfect this Roman beaut over the first few months, until he settled on arguably the best white pie NY has to offer. Aynat also liked the Rabbit meatballs very much.
Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Bistro – Oxtail Fried Rice with daikon, Shiitake & Bone marrow. Aynat hesitated at first with this one. “Why is he suggesting Fried Rice, in a hotel no less.” Easily made the top dishes mark, along with the brilliantly simple sautéed squid (Ika shuga)
The Marshal – Wood Oven Roasted Meatloaf stuffed with Mozzarella, Squash Carrots and Kale. Sometimes a man just wants to eat meatloaf. Apparently same rules apply for women. One of Hell’s Kitchen’s hidden gems, dishing out proper farm to belly American classics.
Annisa – Barbecue Squid with Thai Basil and Fresh Peanuts (top picture). Aynat asked me about some of my favorite squid/octopus dishes in town and I directed her to one of Anita Lo’s best sellers. Needless to say she liked it.
Ivan Ramen – Pork Meatballs with Buttermilk Dressing, Bulldog Sauce, Bonito. Perhaps it’s the hypnotizing dancing bonito flakes, the tangy Bulldog sauce, or those tender juicy meatballs. Whatever that is, hope this LES Ivan branch keeps it on the menu for a while.
Alta – Shrimp and Chorizo Skewer with Avocado, Garlic and Sherry Vinegar. Another winner at this old tapas staple. Aynat also praised the Brussel Sprouts with apple, Creme Fraiche and pistachios. The dish that essentially made us start cook Brussel sprouts. And many chefs around town followed.
Balaboosta – Crispy Cauliflower With Lemon, Currants and Pine Nuts. It’s not an Israeli meal without a cauliflower dish. (Hmmm, I knew something was missing from my meal in LA last night). This is one Balaboosta must
Nougatine at Jean Georges – Fried Calamari with Basil Salt and Citrus Chilli Dip. Never been to Nougatine so never had it. But I can just taste it…
Root and Bone – Crispy Free Range Fried Chicken, Tea Brined and Lemon Dusted. Perhaps the NYC fried chicken to beat, along with Ma Peche’s Habanero infused bird. The brine and the magic dusting gives it a deeper, lasting flavor. Aynat also really admired the Charred Asparagus with Fire Roasted Tomatoes and Crunchy Peanuts. And talking about deeper and lasting, Root and Bone apparently means something else entirely down under (where half of the owners are from. Coincidence?)
Santina – Guanciale e Pepe. Aynat also hit some of the new kids on the block, and enjoyed Santina’s Cecina as well. I’ve personally been to Santina three times now, so ye.. I’m a fan too.
Rounding the top 20…
The NoMad Restaurant – Suckling Pig with Ramps, Potatoes and Salsa Verde. Been twice, never had it
ABC Cocina – Spring Pea Guacamole with Warm Tortillas
Timna -Lamb Saddle with Persian Lemon Dust, Black Garlic Mousse, English Pea Purée. Along with Fried Cauliflower (doh!) with Homemade Labane, Curried Tahini and Sumac. Top of my to do list
Inti – Ceviche Mixto. Love this dish. They make great ceviche here
Mercato – Gnocchi in Beef and Pork Ragu. Havent had this in a while and got tomorrow free. m..u..s..t r..e..s..i..s..t…
Kati Roll Company – Unda chicken roll. Never had it.
Gazala’s – Sun dried tomato Bourekas with Hummus, salad and olives. Still best hummus in town
Ample Hills Creamery – Salted Crack Caramel. Seriously addictive ice cream (like seriously!) . Aynat also gives major props to the Sullivan Street Bakery Bomboloni and Amorino gelato.
So there you have it. There were many other great dishes Aynat enjoyed in this one, but these are the highlights. This is a great starting point for those researching their next trip. Thanks Aynat for this glorious report
Categories: East Village, Lower East Side, Midtown West, New York City, West Village
Tags: Best restaurants in NYC, food, Top Dishes NYC, Travel
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Gotham West Market Top Eats
Leaving for a couple of weeks yet again, sorry gang. I leave you with an updated Gotham West Market top eats since I havent updated it in a while. Happy eating…
July 31st, 2015 Update: Little Chef is long gone and I miss it dearly. Choza (Mexican) took it’s place, and although my co-workers like it, I rather pay a visit to the many other Mexicans in the area like Tehuitzingo and the just reopened Parada 47 (former HK survival guide member Guelaguetza). The bigger addition to the market is Ample Hills, one of the cities premier ice cream maker. Their Salted Crack Caramel is the closest I will ever get to crack. Add it to the list of musts here. The chicken sandwich at Genuine is still crack like (I’m told), and the whitefish Doburi is now Salmon Donbui. Although I miss the whitefish smokiness, this is still the strongest dish at Ivan’s. Ivan also introduced an incredibly unique morning menu which I’m yet to try. Canibal menu continues to impress and its quickly becoming one of my Hell’s Kitchen…
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Categories: New York City
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Bar Pitti – The Confucius of NYC Dining
Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it – Confucius
The legend of Confucius is so legendary that in modern times he is often compared to Jesus. Both men were great thinkers and preachers whose believes written down well after their death. Confucius, much like Jesus is viewed as a religeous figure. Except that.. he wasnt really. He was a teacher and a great philosopher, but not so much a preacher. Confucius, as the name implies… a misunderstood figure. Even some of his philosophies are either misunderstood or misapplied
Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star – Confucius
Just like great thinkers like Confucius and Donald Trump, I feel that Bar Pitti is misunderstood. Perhaps the most misunderstood restaurant in NYC. If you are to visit NYC and read reviews about this place on Yelp, chances are that you will likely pass on it. Which is fine I suppose. There are plenty of Branzini in the sea. What you will read is mostly about service. “I did not get the special board right away”, “The board was too confusing and heavy”, “The wait staff is hurried and rude”, “We were hurried”. “The owner walks around like he owns the place” I can go on and on. You can read about it yourself.
When you hit the wall, it will hurt for a few days – Ziggy
But the truth of the matter is, Bar Pitti is just about as Italian as it gets in NYC. The owner and the entire staff are Italian. The chalk board is in Italian. Everyone speaks Italian. And if you ever set foot in a true Italian Trattoria in Italy (not Staten Island) you may have noticed the contrast. Italians are more direct. Just like the rest of the world, they dont work for tips. The “wait staff” is not there to “serve” you. It may be the owner, the sister, the cousin that takes your order, brings you the food, and helps you select the wine. But the biggest difference the way I see it, is that the number of workers in a typical Italian restaurant in NYC far outnumber a similarly sized Italian Trattoria in Italy. In another words, they work their ass off. That work ethic translates to “Hurried” by some here. The directness and the language barrier may translate to rudeness. Their policies (like cash only) are… well.. their policies. Its all in the open. If you choose to eat their anyway, you dont have the right to complaint. Its like saying “This Pizza place sucks because they dont sell slices. Only whole pies. AVOID!”
Some girls are bigger than others. Some girls mothers are bigger than other girls mothers – Morrissey
You know who doesnt think there are service issues at Bar Pitti? NY celebrities. Bar Pitti is one of those NY celebrity magnets. Which also means good looking people lining up the sidewalk waiting for a table. Its a places to see and be seen, partly due to that wide sidewalk and prime West Village real estate. Jake Gyllenhaal was in the next room while we dined there the other night, joining a slew of celebrities dining there at some point. Bar Pitti is also one of the only restaurants in its class that has no website. Reservations for four and over are taken like in Italy, the old fashion way… via conversation. which means you can score a table even on a busy Saturday night. Want to stay for a while? Keep ordering. This is not a place to linger, unless you are Jake Gyllenhaal
You can observe a lot just by watching – Yoggi Berra
Yoggi Berra is talking about the specials board at Bar Pitti. That’s where the action is. Starting with the great Pappardelle Rabbit ragu or whatever meat ragu, and ending with the Taglierini with summer Black Truffles. One of the only NYC places offering black truffles the entire summer. The Burrata is another strong board option, and so is the Veal Milanese. This place will also make you question your ban on creamy dishes, starting with the Pappardelle Alla Fiesolana, perhaps the most popular dish of the house. For mushroom lovers, the oyster mushroom app is an absolute must.
Bar Pitti is old school at its best. And I pity the fool who passes on it
Bar Pitti
268 Ave of the Americas
$$$ (cash only)
Categories: New York City, West Village
Tags: Bar Pitti, Bar Pitti NYC, Best Italian in NYC, food, Travel
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Oiji – Men at Work. Korean Men!
First, an apology to you readers, both of you, for the lack of quality posts as of late. Busy with work, family, various projects, avoiding Obama. Yes, Obama visiting the Daily Show the other day causing major havoc to many New Yorkers trying to go home or just go about their business. Have you ever seen an American president stuck in traffic? There’s no such thing. At some point the entire 52nd st was converted to Obama freeway where no cars or pedestrians could cross from north to south. Close to three hour commute. My friend and fellow blogger at Smum County told me today about the commute nightmare of his daughter’s camp that day. Even the homeless guy on 52nd and 11th had to be temporarily displaced, and knowing him and his apparently very annoying invisible friend, I feel sorry for the poor cops that were tasked with that one. And for what? 15 minutes of American entertainment.
But I digress, quickly. Since not even Obama can steal the spotlight of this post about one of the best meals we’ve had lately. No coincidence it was in East Village. No coincidence from young chefs opening their first restaurant. In a way this place reminds me of Tuome nearby. Very young chefs (I was told 12 years old by our waitress but it was a little loud), playful Asian inspired menus, no desserts (I dont consider the chips dessert) and that overall casual, buzzy East Villagy feel. In fact since this was a last minute rezzy, I was wondering if perhaps I was underdressed for the occasion after reading on Chowhound that this was more of a chic, romantic joint. So I asked the guy on the phone if sexy long shorts with sandals (and desperate need of pedicure depending on the light) were ok and he just burst out laughing. As for the food, plenty of hits, and no bad dish in sight
Fried Chicken – Started with a bang. Tapioca flour coated, far from your ordinary battered fried chicken. Shredded Leeks was a nice touch
Cold Buckwheat noodles – Excellent! Pretty much exactly what you expect but with the much added bonus of spring Ramps preserved from the previous spring. Those ramps soaked in a lot of punch
Jang-Jo-Rim – Enjoyed this one. If I have to pick the weakest dish this might be it, though its more of a testament to the other dishes and I still recommend you get it. Buttered rice once mixed in with the egg and everything else had a nice flavor. The King Oysters Mushrooms was my favorite part, but the beef shank could have been a little warmer
Truffle Seafood Broth – Best dish of the night. Mussels, Shrimp, two Crispy Rice “Sheets” that sizzle when the broth is poured table side, need to be softened a little for best taste. But its all about the beautiful, dark, rich broth that makes this a winner. Just a small hint of truffle, perhaps not enough to be part of the name, but just right to round up the perfect broth
Oxtail – Finger licking exceptional good. I was concerned that it would be too sweet but it wasnt. Pick it up and suck on the bones for the true affect. More tasty root veggies here. Really liked the use of veggies throughout the meal. Their mama must be proud
Potato Chips – The most disgustingly addictive thing I ever ate. Apparently a thing in South Korea nowadays.
Go!
Oiji
119 1st Avenue (7/St Marks)
$$$
Recommended Dishes: All of the above
Categories: East Village, New York City
Tags: Best Korean in NYC, East Village Korean, food, Oiji, Oiji NYC, restaurants, Travel
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Santina – Lucca via Miami Beach
Update on Santina…
Update 7/20/2015: Get the Squash Carpaccio people. Whether you are into such veggie dishes or not is irrelevant. Thinly sliced squash with pumpkin seeds adding a nice texture, crème fraiche dropped like Hershey kisses, brown butter, pink peppercorn and other spices and herbs. The peppercorn especially complete this dish. Tastier than many beef carpaccios I’ve had. Another new must is the Potatoes side. Flash fried, then sautéed with onions, hefty amount of chili paste and other goodies. Reminded me in a way of the Momofuku rice cakes with meat. Addcitive stuff. The light and satisfying Santina fusilli is an interesting combination of lamb and the mussels which you wont find anywhere else. The bright red chicken with a tangy guajillo sauce was tender and tasty as well. Don’t overlook this gem when you visit the High Line or the great new Whitney Museum
Original Post 5/9/2015:
A lot of firsts for me at this new Carbone/Torrisi team hot spot. The first time I took a…
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Categories: New York City
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Eating With Ziggy 