A spicy lunch break

I used to have an office near Astor Place in Manhattan. That area had an incredible number of restaurants within a close radius, which made lunch breaks a constant adventure. In addition to the multitude of eateries a block or two away, St. Marks Place was also a short walk away and that street offers even more options for lunch.

One of the nearby spots was a small place tucked away along E. 10th Street called Bites of Xi’an.

According to their website, “We are dedicated to providing homemade, naturally-cooked food while keeping flavor at the highest level.”

The place is a semi-basement and, once inside, it’s a lot bigger than one would imagine. I picked up my takeout order and brought it back to the office.

For my first visit, I went with the stewed beef noodle soup, ordered it spicy, and chose the hand-ripped noodles.

Something I really appreciated with Bites of Xi’an was that the broth was packaged separate from the noodles, which keeps the noodles from getting soggy.

The bright green vegetables and the big chucks of beef were an appetizing sight. It was genuinely exciting to pour the soup over.

The noodles were delicious and chewy, and the broth was spicy!

In addition to the noodle soup, I also got an order of dumplings. Now, these weren’t your average dumplings. First and foremost, they were green!

These were delicious pork and chive dumplings, and it also came with hot oil for dipping.

Spicy and delicious; this was one of the best takeout lunches!

In addition to the meal, I had the perfect antidote to the spice: bubble tea from nearby Kung Fu Tea.

Dynasty eats

During my time working for a restaurant group, most of my days included shuttling between properties throughout the Lower East Side. On these walks to and from restaurants, the office, and Union Square station, I would often walk by Han Dynasty, near the corner of 3rd Avenue and E. 12th Street (ironically, down the street from another office where I previously worked).

Before my first visit to the East Village fixture, I had spotted one of their other locations at Dekalb Market before catching a movie; apparently, they also have locations in and around the Philadelphia area as well. Clearly, this place deserved a try.

It was just after the lunch rush, the dining room was fairly empty. However, it was one of those instances where, once seated, there was an influx of customers.

In addition to the menu, the tea arrived to the table almost immediately.

As documented with other Chinese restaurants, I put in an order for a cucumber salad. For me, it’s become one of these essential palate cleansers. The clean taste of the cucumber and the kick from whatever sauce the restaurant chooses to serve them in always keeps the meal moving along.

The dish comprised of fresh cucumbers tossed in sweet garlic chili sauce was refreshing.

Another staple: scallion pancake.

Served alongside a ginger soy sauce, these were light and crispy.

The difficult part of the day was deciding on a main course. There were quite a few choices and, in the end, narrowed it down to noodles—which still left me with a number of options.

I went with an old favorite: cold sesame noodles.

Cold noodles served with sesame paste and topped with sesame seeds, I used to get instant versions of this at the local Asian market in New Jersey. It was also readily available as convenience stores in Taipei. The nutty flavor from the sesame always hit just right with the cold noodles.

The noodles at Han Dynasty were delicious!

Their website notes, “We are committed to sharing the authentic cuisine of the Sichuan Chinese culture and the tradition behind it;” and I can’t wait to try more.

Stumbling upon a ‘palace’

During one of my many visits to the Chinatown in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, I went on a walk to find lunch. I walked into one restaurant—a Chinese restaurant—where I was seated immediately; however, I sat there for a while and nobody offered a menu or served water. After giving them a couple minutes, I walked out and went next door.

Entering Blue Sea Palace was impressive, it literally looked like a vintage Chinese palace.

At the time, there were no customers (it was post-lunch rush) but, unlike the other place, I was provided with a menu right away. To go along with the ornate interior, they also have an impressive menu—but reasonable prices!

After a good review, I went with the scallion pancakes and beef brisket noodle soup.

Following the trend of this blog, I often dine at Asian restaurants and, when it’s on the menu, I (almost) always order scallion pancakes.

For one, I was surprised at how large an order this was. For just under $5, this was a nice-sized plate and the pancakes were crunchy and flavorful.

Another surprising dish was the noodle soup. I am very much accustomed to receiving the traditional bowl of soup, this came out in a long and deep dish.

For $10.50, it’s a great deal!

Blue Sea Palace, aside from the interior, is a very unassuming place. A delicious, diverse menu; great prices; and efficient service (a contrast to the restaurant next door).

Beer and a schnitty

My ongoing tour of Australian spots in New York City, something that began after the closure of The Australian a couple years ago and my recent return to the city, continued following my initial visit to Ruby’s Cafe.

A day before my birthday, my friends planned a long night out to ring in another year on this planet but, before that, I had to grab lunch. I found myself near the Lower East Side and have had Dudley’s on my radar. There was no better time to give them a try!

Stepping inside the restaurant located at the corner of Orchard and Broome Streets, it seemed a bit of the lunch rush was still lingering. Despite that, I was greeted right away and seated.

Looking over the drink menu, I immediately knew I needed a Cooper’s.

It has been ages since I’ve had a Cooper’s. One of my favorite beers and, it arrived to the table with the cap on, so, of course, I had to roll it. A nice, crisp brew—just as I remembered. I ordered a second and it arrived with the cap off. I screwed it back on and spun it around a bit. However, I guess it looked like I needed help getting the cap off and one of the staff came by and asked if I needed assistance.

When it came to food, no matter what I was ordering, I knew I wanted truffle fries.

The fries were crisp and delicious. The smell of the truffle was incredible and the taste was even better—not overpowering, just the right amount. This is definitely a good choice for any meal.

Selecting a main was very difficult. Dudley’s offers quite the variety, whether you want breakfast, lunch, or something else. In the end, I went with a classic: chicken schnitzel.

The dish arrived to the table and it was massive. Served atop creamed corn with a side salad, the schnitty was beautifully golden.

That first slice, the crunch that came from the knife cutting through the cutlet was gorgeous. Then, that first bite, it was wonderful. Some bites were dipped in the corn, others were accompanied by some of the salad—it was all delicious.

As mentioned, there are a lot of tasty-looking treats on that menu.

Their website notes, “Whether it is a bustling Saturday night or a relaxed weekday afternoon, Dudley’s offers refined food”—more visits to Dudley’s will be very necessary.

Brunch after the museum (Part 2)

One Sunday morning, I ventured up to the Upper East Side and visited the Asia Society and Museum, located along Park Avenue, between 70th and 71th Streets, to see “Comparative Hell: Arts of Asian Underworlds,” which runs until May 7.

It’s a very intriguing exhibit, featuring an array of depictions of hell from different countries and by different faiths. Their website calls it “the first comprehensive exhibition in the United States to explore portrayals of hell across the Asian religious traditions.”

After getting through the exhibit, it was time for brunch. I walked a few blocks down to Match 65 Brasserie, situated on 65th Street, between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue.

I took a seat at a bar and began browing the cocktail menu. My eyes were immediately drawn to La Piscine Rosée. Massenez fraise des bois and sparkling rosé strawberry nectar on ice. Something sweet and sparkling to complement the day.

Looking over their hors d’oeuvres, the first item on the list was their yellowfin tuna tartare. I love tuna tartare and, in the prior blog about post-museum brunch, I had an incredible tuna tartare.

The brightly-colored tuna sat atop chopped avocado in a soy seasoning and garnished with gaufrette potatoes. I took a bite with a little bit of everything on top of one of the potatoes, it was so bright and delicious.

Plus, the gaufrette potatoes were the perfect potato chips.

For brunch, I often lean towards the lunch side of the menu but, on this day, there was more of a debate and ended up going with the Eggs Norwegian.

Poached eggs and smoked salmon topped with hollandaise sauce, along with a side salad. That first slice, after allowing the yolk cascade over the salmon, everything tasted amazing and it was definitely the right choice for the main.

On a bright and sunny Sunday, this only enhanced an already-lovely day.

Before leaving, I also ordered an espresso martini. It was the perfect end to a delicious meal.

Finally trying Georgian food

It has been years of curiosity about Georgian food. It all started after catching an episode of “Street Food Around The World” in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Host Ishai Golan introduced viewers to dishes like khachapuri and khinkali. At the time, I was still living in the Philippines and didn’t have anything of the sort nearby.

Since catching that episode, blogs, recipes, and all sorts of media have been recommended to me about Georgian food and it was only until recently that I had the opportunity to give it a try.

Finally, the day arrived earlier this month. I would be having Georgian food while enjoying a co-birthday dinner at Chama Mama, located in Chelsea, near the corner of 14^th Street and 7^th Avenue.

I arrived early for my reservation and was offered a seat at the bar. After browsing the drinks menu, I pointed to one of the Qvevri wines and was informed it was an “amber wine.”

Both red and white grapes are sealed in a qvervi, a type of fermentation vessel used in Georgia for thousands of years. It’s also been named an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

The wine has a slightly sweet, very pleasant flavor. One of the nearby wine shops has a Georgian section, I would definitely give it a browse on the next visit.

My table became available. After the bartender said they would add my bar tab onto my total bill, gathered my things and headed over, which was right in front of a large window looking into the kitchen.

Obviously, the first item on the agenda was khachapuri.

A traditional dish comprised of bread and cheese, Chama Mama serves several varieties, however, considering it was my first time, I went with the the basic adjaruli khachapuri.

Served open face with cheese and topped with a raw egg, the server gave it a good mix before it was ready to consume.

The best description is cheese and bread but it is so much more than that. The bread itself is delicious crusty, and once paired with the rich cheese filling, it is a delicious bite.

There is no doubt I will be returning to Chama Mama try all the different styles of khachapuri.

The other dish featured on the “Street Food Around The World” episode was khinkali. I love dumplings and had been looking forward to trying these out.

We ordered two kinds: one stuffed with beef and pork, and the other with mushroom.

These were delicious (and large). Made with a dough a bit thicker than I am used to, the filling was tasty and included a bit of soup.

Deciding on a main course, we went with the chicken skewers: marinated chicken served on flatbread, alongside tkemali, a Georgian plum sauce.

As it arrived to the table, it smelled amazing and, topped with red onions and pomegranate seeds, it was beautifully presented.

The chicken was delicious and, combined with everything—including the flatbread—this was one of the best dishes!

We closed the birthday celebration by toasting with glasses of Marani white brut, a sparkling wine from a winery based in the Kakheti region of Georgia.

This was an excellent introduction to Georgian food and I cannot wait to continue exploring the cuisine.

Korean comfort food

One morning, I took a trip to Industry City in Brooklyn. There was no particular agenda that day, I only planned to wander around and explore. The repurposed industrial space spans across 35 acres and includes office space, retail stores, and restaurants. While walking around the Food Hall in Building 2, browsing menus, my eyes were immediately drawn to Ejen (honestly, it was the jjajangmyeon promotion on their window).

The place has a pretty straightforward set-up.

There is a main counter with pictures of their menu items, along with a big board above the kitchen. Seating is located along the wall and you can watch as they prepare all the dishes.

Ejen also has a nice selection of drinks. I started with an order of their ginger persimmon tea.

This tea was PACKED with flavor! There was a light sweetness with ginger and cinnamon notes adding a kick to the experience. It was very refreshing.

The first order to arrive was the tangsoo.

Sweet and sour chicken served alongside white rice and pickled radish. The sauce came poured over the chicken, along with sliced vegetables.

This was a delicious meal.

However, the reason I walked in was because of the jjajangmyeon, so, of course, I also put in an order.

The big bowl of noodles arrived with lots of thick and glistening black bean sauce.

Jjajangmyeon is one of my favorite dishes of all time and often have the instant version. It was really exciting to have a fresh bowl.

After giving it a good mix, the sauce coated every noodle and I savored each big slurp.

Now, there was still some leftover sauce after finishing all the noodles. What was the best thing to do? Mix in some leftover rice from the tangsoo.

This was a great lunch! Ejen promotes themselves as “Korean comfort food”… and they’re right!

Jollibee in New York City

After nearly 10 years living in the Philippines, I have been anticipating the chance to try Jollibee in the United States. I previously wrote about how, despite Jollibee being all over Bacolod City, I seldom visited while I was there but there have been enough meals to provide a good basis for comparison; in particular, for their chicken sandwich.

Within the last few months of my time overseas, Jollibee just introduced their chicken sandwich—this came after their American counterparts already offered it on their menus. Already known for their delicious chickenjoy, the sandwiches arrived with a lot of hype (even my Dad, who was never a chicken sandwich person, wanted to try it).

As noted in my earlier blog, “there was a ‘fattier’ quality to the meat” in the Filipino version of the sandwich. Not exactly sure why that is but it was different from similar sandwiches I have tried at fast food restaurants in the U.S.

I had already seen several videos of individuals trying Jollibee for the first time and, aside from learning there was a selection of chicken sandwich options, they all looked so sumptuous.

In the Philippines, there’s only one sandwich. It’s pleasant but just looked like a regular sandwich.

A couple weeks ago, I had movie tickets in Midtown and noticed the theater was only a couple blocks away from Jollibee. Immediately knew this was a prime opportunity to give it a try.

As expected, the place was busy.

After waiting in line for a while, made my way to the cashier and ordered the deluxe spicy chicken sandwich.

First impression: this looked great; miles away from the sandwich I had previously tried. Apart from having a spicy version, unlike the version in the Philippines, this sandwich included lettuce and tomato (my Dad always said a bit of green improved the look of any dish).

This sandwich was delicious. The chicken was crispy, a good kick of spice, and it didn’t taste fatty.

This alone was enough to convince me there would be return visits.

Additionally, I also ordered two pieces of their spicy chickenjoy.

Chickenjoy is some of the best fried chicken one can get in the Philippines and it’s no different in Times Square. Crispy, juicy, spicy—perfection.

Now, of course, I wasn’t leaving without a peach mango pie.

For many who indulge in Jollibee, the peach mango pie is a staple. Putting the McDonald’s apple pie to shame, it’s always so crispy on the outside with a molten hot, sweet, and delicious filling.

On one occasion at a location in Bacolod City, they accidentally served me one of their savory pies. While the tuna pie is fine, it’s pretty disappointing when you were expecting something sweet.

They got it right in NYC.

Between the Philippines and the United States, the fried chicken and the peach mango pie hold up. The same crispy goodness comes through no matter which side of the Pacific Ocean you are on.

However, the chicken sandwich, without a doubt, goes to the US!

The chicken sandwich in the Philippines is fine, but it’s pretty basic (and it usually takes a long time to prepare—the cashier always gave a warning when ordering one). The fact that one has choices on the American menu, then the toppings, there’s no contest.

As mentioned earlier, definitely coming back for more.