Posts Tagged With: Pinch Chinese

Chicken and the City

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Ziggy

Pinch Chinese Wind Sand

I should have blog posts strictly devoted to Random BQE Thoughts. Thats Brooklyn Queens Expressway if you are scoring at home, or if you are alone. As the traffic reaches new levels these days, so are the thoughts. Not exactly inspirational ones. Other than how is the weather and traffic in say, Denver, this time of the year. More like random silly thoughts like: What do you call a female priest? Why do we drive on a parkway and park in a driveway? Why do I eat so much chicken lately? Is something wrong with me? Am I helping the environment by eating more non-farting animals. Is this the first step to vegan? I had plenty of bumper to bumper guards traffic to think about it this week, and I think I know the answer. Its not me, its you, New York City.

Simply put, the city is in the midst of a crazy chicken renaissance. Gone are the days of playing third fiddle to the beef and pig. The competitive nature of the city these days means chefs all over are trying to outdo each other and can not afford any duds on the menu. Chefs realize that while there’s just so much you can do with beef and other ingredients that are best to leave alone sometimes, its the bird that allows for limitless creativity.

There are countless of articles about Best Fried Chicken, Best Roasted Chicken, Best Wings, etc, etc. Many written in the past three years for the reason I just gave. How about one more. A general, unfocused, random one. These are some of the most creative chicken dishes in NYC today.

Ssam Bar Fried Chicken

Home-style Fried Chicken at Ssam Bar (East Village) – Served only for lunch these days this is a fantastic fried chicken reminiscent of the late Ma Peche Habanero chicken. Although not quite Habanero, its ladened with plenty of chili, and double fried to crispy, juicy perfection.

Chicken at FOB Filipino BBQ (Carroll Gardens) – Impossible to select the best from this chicken paradise. You can try the amazing grilled wings, the air chilled grilled chicken, chicken skewers, and Dad’s incredibly moist overnight chicken Adobo.

Big Plate of Chicken With Bone at Jiang Diner (East Village) – This is an instant hit. I’ve seen versions of the dish before at Biang! and Spicy Village but honestly its been so long I forgot how they taste like. I’ve had this twice already at Jiang. Just ignore their other signature dish, “Big Plate of Chicken Without Bone”

Jiang Diner - Big Plate of Chicken Wind Sand Chicken at Pinch Chinese (Soho)– A tasty rendition of a Hong Kong classic. The whole bird is cooked like Peking duck. Two days of Marinating (cinnamon, star anise, other herbs and spices), drying, spanking, repeating. The skin gets thin and crispy, and the flesh redefines moist. Garnished with the sand like fried garlic which gives it the name. Update: Just made resvs for 4 this Saturday night to have this again

White Pepper Wings at Kawi (Hudson Yards) – If you see wings at a Momofuku, pounce on it like your life is depended on it. You just know that wont be boring. You get three whole crispy, peppery, juicy wings. You will not want to wash your hands for a while after this.

Nori Chicken at Ducks Eatery (East Village) – Leave it to smoking wizard Will Horowitz to figure out how to combat our seaweed invasion. Wrap it around smoked chicken and fry it to Korean style thin crisp and extra crunch. Pair it with the incredible smoked carrots. Duks Eatery - Nori Chicken Pollo alla Diavola at Maialino (Gramercy) – In the sea of Roman pastas and other Italian classics, this is possibly the unsung hero. Heck, after all those years, I needed some help from a reliable insider to discover this gem. The peppery ultra moist beauty comes with a tangy sauce you’ll want to scarpetta the heck out of.

Pollo alla Diavola at Dell’anima (Hell’s Kitchen) – Yes, another Diavola on the list but in a much more relaxed setting (Gotham West Market) and easier on the wallet. This one also features extreme moistness and a nice peppery crust, and comes as a Panini as well.

Yellow Chicken at Wayan (Nolita) – a cute name for a suburb chicken curry. About three pieces if I remember correctly. Some got the crunch reminiscent of the great Perry Street chicken where Wayan owner Cedric Vongerichten is still the chef. Why Perry Street is not on the list you ask? I havent been there in over 10 years.

Seco de Pollo at Nano (Hell’s Kitchen) – I’ve mentioned this dish before, and many of you that took my Hell’s Kitchen tour have even experienced it during the last year. The chicken is cooked with Naranjilla a fruit grown in Ecuador, which gives this “stew” unmatched layers of flavor. Nano Ecuadorian

Categories: New York City | Tags: Dell'anima, Ducks Eatery, FOB Filipino, food, Jiang Diner, Kawi NYC, Nano Ecuadorian, Pinch Chinese, Travel, Wayan | 2 Comments

This Soho Chicken With a Pinch of Sand is Outstanding

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Ziggy

Pinch Chinese Wind Sand Chicken Sometimes in order to find the best dishes, you need come back with friends. Not only you can try more, but you can finally order some of the larger dishes, like the chicken for 2 to 6. Such was the case the other day when we introduced our friends to one of our Soho faves, Pinch Chinese. An invitation that became a little suspicious when I walked in three hours prior to our reservations to reserve the bird while friends waited outside. I should have played it more subtle. As in “Hey, you guys want to try the chicken? I hear its fantastic!”

The Wind Sand Chicken is a Hong Kong classic. It doesnt look whole and not particularly large, but the 4 of us couldnt finish the $51 dish. By trying to leave the best for last (dark meat) we left it on the table. When you taste the flash you taste the labor. The bird is cooked like Peking duck. Two days of Marinating (cinnamon, star anise, other herbs and spices), drying, spanking, repeating. The skin gets thin and crispy, and the flesh redefines moist. Garnished with fried garlic, like sand that the wind brought (Ahhhhh!). Maybe if they closed the door, they wouldnt have this problem

Oh and there were pork soup dumplings of course and terrific spicy Wontons (new to us). And the “Snow Crab in a Chinese Restaurant” with fermented black bean and glass noodles we order each time. And there was a side of porky Sichuan String Beans that is now our favorite side. Not to mention those sick Cumin Pork Ribs. If there was a Fantasy Niman Ranch Pork league, Pinch Chinese would win by three snouts.

Top 10 Dishes of 2017

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Ziggy

Nur Eggplant

Lobster Fra Diavolo at Nishi. A beautiful mammoth mess consisting of 1.5 lb flash fried salt and pepper coated lobster on a bed of garlic, chili and XO infused spaghettoni (emphasis on the chili). Lobster comes cracked and ready to easily fish out perfectly cooked meat, while the escaped crunchy Tempura flakes adds some texture to the pasta. Its a $62 triumph.

Nishi - Lobster Fra Diavolo

Chicken Paitan at Ivan Ramen – Not the Ramen that made Ivan famous, but the one that may convert the nonfans. The richness and deliciousness of a Tonkotsu without the heaviness that follows sometimes. The only dish other than the classics that broke the rule and became available in both Ivan Ramen locations.

ivan-ramen-chicken-paitan

Chengdu Fish Fillet With Pickle Vegetable at Legend of Taste – A spice loving family of 4 can easily share this outrageously delicious Szechuan soup. I shared it with 6 and 4 in different visits. Plenty of flaky flounder and chewy Enoki Mushroom. Pleasant heat sneak up at you. Even good an hour later when it cools down. Only problem with this legend is that its in Whitestone, Queens.

legend-of-taste-chengdu-fish

Smoked Goat Neck at Ducks Eatery – A revelation of sorts. Dont know why it took me so long to try it. It may sound like something that is not everyone’s cup of goat, but once you see what goes into this dish, it may be hard to resist. It redefines tenderness, succulence, and simply outstanding all around. The only restaurant in NYC that serves this dish.

Ducks Eatery Goat Neck

Skate Wing at Gloria – Very few things in life can be as satisfying as a well cooked Skate. Seems like once a year or so these days I score a good one. At Gloria the skate is simply seared with butter and sprinkled with magic dust. Opened by two Contra alumni, Gloria is the best thing that opened in Hell’s Kitchen since Gotham West Market.

Gloria Skate Wing

Eggplant Carpaccio at Nur (top)– Maybe the best looking dish out of the bunch, and the only vegetarian this time. Like a Baba Ganoush gone wild. Smoky, creamy, crunchy at times, and something you just want to “Scarpetta” the heck out of. Not every spoonful is the same. Chef Meir Adoni is sort of a legend in Israel opening his first in NYC, and just knows how to handle those veggies.

Snow Crab in Chinese Restaurant at Pinch Chinese – This is one of those dishes that you continue to think about months later, sometimes even at inappropriate moments. Glass noodles with heaps of crab, dressed with an outrageously delicious fermented bean sauce with chilies and scallions. The crab was plentiful but almost plays second fiddle to the noodles with sauce. Pinch is an underrated gem in Soho

Pinch Chinese Crab in Chinese Restaurant

Sizzling Sisig at Pig and Khao – East Village and Lower East Side is slowly transforming into Sisigville (pig’s face parts come sizzling and topped with egg yolk). And the best Sisig I had is at this Filipino inspired celebrity chef Leah Cohen’s flagship. Very nice depth, flavor packed, and not as strong tasting as other Sisigs. No additional sauce needed for this one.

Pig and Khao Sisig

Laab Ped Udon at Ugly Baby – Maybe the best thing to open this year is this fiery Brooklyn Thai from an old Brooklyn friend. And this larby Duck Salad is one of the classics early on. Complex, addictive heat, and unlike any Larb or larb-like salad you will ever have. Spice level is fairly high in all dishes here, but in particular in those that have words like “Spicy” in the description.

Ugly Baby Duck Salad

Fromage Blanc Island “Cheese Cake” at Chikalicious Dessert Bar – Best dessert I’ve had this year came from an oldie but goodie. Its delicate, elegant, and super light. Like delicious fresh cheese mixed with cloud. Its worth just going in order to meet the master Chika Tillman herself. But if this dessert scene is a little foofoo for you, try the faster Dessert Club across the street and go for the Nutty Professor ice cream.

Chikalicious Cheese Cake

Other Noteables: Soy Keema at Indian Accent, Goi Hed at Somtum Der, Spicy Lemongrass soup at Ginger and Lemongrass (new Lower East Side location)

Happy and Healthy New Year to all my readers and all the fun people I met over the year. Thanks for a great 2017!

Categories: New York City | Tags: Best Dishes, Chikalicious Dessert Bar, Ducks Eatery, food, Gloria NYC, Ivan Ramen, Legend of Taste, Nishi, Nur, Pig and Khao, Pinch Chinese, Travel, Ugly Baby | Leave a comment

Z-List Update

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Ziggy

FOB Chicken Adobo

Its that time of the year. Game of Thrones season. I got my GOT beer and i’m ready to rock and roll through what seems like a terrible winter. Or just winter! I’m not quite sure what “terrible” means in GOT standards but it sounds like pretty bad-ass. As in more than two months of 10 inches of snow total.

Its also time to update the legendary, ultra exclusive (according to Harvard) Z-List. That is 50 of my favorite restaurants in the city. If it looks rather random to some, good. Thats the point. Eater’s Essential List doesnt seem very Essential either. Its simply my way of answering “what should we eat while in NYC” to 99% of those questioning. None of these costs more than $100 or less than $10 so that eliminates a good chunk. The changes:

In – Pinch Chinese, Gloria, FOB, Via Carota, Hearth, Timna

Out:

Biang! – Closed (miss it terribly)

Annisa – Closed

Empellon Taqueria – Just dont care for it as much as I used to.

Mission Chinese food – A little too hit or miss for me these days

Nargis Cafe – Still great, but out of reach for most of my audience

Zizi Limona – Stopped going pretty much since Mesika left

Congratulations to the winners and the entire 2017 class. You did it!

Click here for the complete list

Pinch Chinese Crab in Chinese Restaurant

Pinch Crab in Chinese Restaurant

Categories: New York City | Tags: FOB Brooklyn, food, Gloria Hell's Kitchen, Hearth, Pinch Chinese, Timna, Travel, Via Carota, Z-List | Leave a comment

Pinch Chinese – Soho Gets her Groove Back

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Ziggy

Pinch Chinese Crab in Chinese Restaurant

July 30th, 2018 Update:

In Praise of the Wind Sand Chicken

March 28, 2018 Update:

Pinch Chinese is clicking on all cylinders. There’s something about sitting there at dinner time looking through the glass at that kitchen. Like watching a team of physicians conducting a well orchestrated surgery. If they would be making cupcakes I would be probably standing on a line for cupcakes, hoping they come with a side of soup dumplings.

Boy those bite size seafood/pork soup dumplings are explosive. And the flavors on the room temperature cumin ribs really come through nicely. Hard to try new dishes here when its just the two of us, and you want to eat the same things again. But the Steak fried rice featuring a tender ultra beefy Wagyu sirloin, is the one big addition to the list.

“Snow Crab in a Chinese Restaurant” is still fantastic, and a good source of vitamin Crab, with those silky glass noodles. The Peking Duck here is becoming very popular, and looks rather scrumptious. In previous visits for lunch I enjoyed the Taiwanese Beef Noodle soup, a current NYC trend it seems. This is a major go!

Pinch Chinese Steak Fried Rice

May 16, 2017 Post:

As the wise Yogi once said… “Its so crowded, nobody goes there anymore”. Have you been to Soho lately? Spring and Price are giving Times Square a run for its money. I wonder whats the rent like these days. On the flip side, I was picking up visitors from Sixty Soho on back to back mornings for a Brooklyn Tour, and I couldnt believe how charming and quiet that area can be in the morning. I heard cab drivers singing and birds making mating calls (or is it the other way around). Even Dominique Ansel had no queue! It was as shocking as your spouse telling you out of the blue, “I didnt know the Bee Gees were all male”. Pince Chinese

Pinch Chinese is sticking out of Prince Street like a zebra in a nudist colony. There’s nothing like it in the area, serving solid elevated Chinese in a comfortable setting. One of the partners is a veteran of the famed Taiwanese chain Din Tai Fung, known for their soup dumplings (Xiaolongbao). Inside, once you look passed the seriously focused crew behind the glass, its quirkiness galore. From the menu, quoting Yelp reviewers, to the bathroom, warning employees about the consequences of not washing hands. A lot of effort into the decor. We ate…

Seafood/Pork Dumplings – Smaller than your average soup dumplings, but more concentrated and potent. Wife was wishing for bigger (what else is new) but I thought they carried enough spark. Something I would definitely order again

House Special Shrimp – Fine! No issues with the perfectly cooked tiger shrimp and sauce, just nothing new and exciting flavor wise.

Niman Ranch Cumin Ribs – “tender, fall-off-the-bone – jocelyn on yelp” menu description is spot on. But to me its all about the dressing of these babies that made us eat the leftovers with a spoon. One of those rare awkward “Are you done with that” moments. And it just goes to show you how flavorful Chinese Cumin lamb or pork can be without the numbing heat Pinch Chinese Ribs

Dan Dan Noodles – Yet more pinches of brilliance. And more Niman Ranch pork, with heat this time, and hints of star anise. Its a peanuty sauce a la Han Dynasty.

Snow Crab in Chinese Restaurant – A dish of the year nominee. Something Jocelyn and all her Yelp colleagues missed out on (I didnt see any mentions of it when I ate there). Glass noodles with heaps of crab, dressed with an outrageously delicious fermented bean sauce with chilies and scallions. The crab was plentiful and delicious, but it almost plays second fiddle to the noodles with sauce. I would even order this without the crab

Eggplant in Garlic Sauce – Exactly what it says. A regular, but solid, Chinese style eggplant in garlic sauce

Pinch Chinese
177 Prince St (Sullivan/Thompson), Soho
Rating: Three Z’s (out of 4)
Stars range from Good to Exceptional. Simple as that.
Recommended Dishes: Seafood/Pork Dumplings, Cumin Ribs, Dan Dan Noodles, Wind Sand Chicken, Spicy Wontons, String Beans, Snow Crab in Chinese Restaurant, Steak Fried Rice, Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup (Lunch)