Philippines Fest in Brooklyn

Once again, I made my way to the Park Slope section of Brooklyn where a lengthy street fair stretched down 5th Avenue with one portion of it dedicated to Philippines Fest. Throughout summer, this event takes place at various locations around New York City with the intention of bringing “unique handcrafted items by Filipinos into one place.”

The same street fair took place last year, it was my first time attending such a festival, and I’ve been a regular ever since. More recently, I got to browse Philippines Fest, when they were set up near Union Square.

It was a long morning. I was up early, after ending a spell of cat-sitting, had to move stuff back to my apartment, then, from there, made my way to Park Slope—I didn’t have my coffee yet! Luckily, Kapehan ni Roney was on hand.

I knew right away that whatever was ordered was going to be good because their coffee is “traditionally brewed with love.” It’s not just a tagline, it was in clear view that they utilize the classic brewing method with a filtering net.

With their promise to “bring the flavors of robusta,” I went with a basic iced coffee and it was very good!

Coincidentally, after looking up Kapehan ni Roney in preparation for this blog, I found out they have operations throughout Negros Occidental, including my hometown of Bacolod City. Trust me, I will have to visit them again at the next street fair.

Of course, no visit to Philippines Fest is complete without dropping by Boy George Inasal.

At this point, I’ve tried everything and went with their special that day: honey calamansi wings.

The glaze on these wings were fantastic! A little sweet, a little acidic, and all of it very balanced.

Now, I thought this was my first time having these wings but, apparently, I had them last year during the 2023 Philippine Independence Day Parade. They were great then but, I have to say, the crunch was even better this year.

To close things out, I got halo-halo from Pinoy Coolers.

This was the perfect finale!

First off, the colors were out of control. Once I was over the aesthetic, I was digging that spoon all the way down to make sure I had everything mixed properly. All the flavors and the shaved ice, it’s unclear why I don’t get halo-halo at every street festival because, now, it will have to be a requirement.

All things Japan!

A massive celebration of all things Japan took place earlier this month along Central Park West (CPW). The Japan Parade, an event intended to “celebrate, express, and bring awareness to the friendship between New York City and Japan” brought together cultural performances, food, and so much more.

The day began by taking the train to Columbus Circle and walking up CPW. As the blocks brought me further uptown, it was hard to miss the Japan Street Fair and Japan Fes set up along 72nd Street.

Obviously, we will be revisiting this later in the blog.

I continued walking up the street, which, at this point, was closed off to traffic, and spotted the parade preparations from afar. I realized I should have been on the side closer to the park as there were less people waiting and a lot of the benches were unoccupied.

After settling on a spot to watch the event, it was also apparent that the parade was on the move and getting closer.

One of the first sights was four-time Paralympic gold medalist Shingo Kunieda, this year’s grand marshal.

Considered to be “the greatest wheelchair player of all time,” he has won four Paralympic gold medals and 42 Grand Slam titles.

A spinal tumor left Kunieda in a wheelchair at the age of nine. In an interview last year, he told the International Paralympic Committee that it was his mother that introduced him to tennis.

“My mother forced me to go to the tennis club,” he said. “When I went to the place for wheelchair tennis, I saw that the rallies were more intense than I thought and my first impression of wheelchair tennis was that I wanted to try it.”

Another feature that caught my eye was the Japan Village portable shrine, or mikoshi.

Japan Village, a “premier destination for Japanese culture and gastronomy” located within Brooklyn’s Industry City, is a place I visit often and it was exciting to see them represented. Reading up about the traditions of these mini shrines, they are said to contain a deity and used as transport between temples. When presented to the community, such as during festivals, the mikoshi are believed to ward off evil spirit and misfortune.

There were also a wide variety of performers along the parade route.

Meanwhile, there was a VIP that I was looking forward to and soon enough, I saw them rolling up in a their pink convertible…

Hello Kitty!

After the parade, it was time to tackle the street fair!

One of the first items to catch my eye was a Japanese delicacy that I have been curious about for a long time: dango. These are so iconic, they even have their own emoji.

Oh! DanGo serves these skewered mochi dumplings three different ways and I had to try each one.

The balls were soft with with an addictive chewy texture.

The dango with savory soy sauce and seaweed was, as the name suggests, deliciously savory; and the sweet soy sauce and caramel made for a delicious confectionary treat. Despite enjoying all of them, the brown sugar syrup and soy flour was my personal favorite. The soy flour added a welcome texture to the soft and sweet mochi balls.

Next was a stop by Tsukiji Gindaco for takoyaki.

These were a little different from the typical octopus balls as they had more of a firm exterior, which offered a pleasant crunch.

Additionally, the sauce on top, which was a little sweet and tangy, was fantastic!

There was no way of avoiding the green signage for Matcha n’ More and got an iced matcha latte.

Made with oat milk and agave, this was one of the best matcha lattes. That distinct grassy bitterness from the matcha is still there but, once all mixed together, balances perfectly with the agave.

Next time, I’m trying their soft serve!

My time at the fair came to a close with the grilled scallops by Hotate Master.

The line was long but moved quickly. After paying, you wait for your number to be called while gazing at a flat top griddle covered with tons of sizable scallops. You could have shoveled it all on one plate and I would devour them so quickly!

Served in pairs, each one was very tender and the tasty marinade only elevated the flavor.

The Japan Parade and street fair is a fun and delicious event worth going to every year, and is definitely worth a trek up to the Upper West Side.

Bacon, egg, and cheese in Gravesend

While training for a new job, I have found myself in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn every morning for the last couple weeks. Whether exiting at the Avenue U station on the N or walking from the 86th Street/Avenue U bus stop, I’ve taken some of those days to stop by local spots to grab something to eat.

The first instance was at U Gourmet Deli & Grill, which you will spot once you are out of the Avenue U station; just cross the street at the corner with W. 7th Street.

Stepping inside, it’s your typical deli, all kinds of packaged goods on sale and a deli counter. I got a “Good morning, boss!” from the cook and put in an order for a bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll. It didn’t take very long and, after the cook called out “bacon, egg, and cheese,” I paid the cashier and headed out.

Once outside, I cracked open the freshly-made sandwich from its foil wrapping.

Packed right off the griddle, the cheese was beautifully melted and stretching between the two sides of the sandwich. Now, this is a very typical order but I’ve never actually chomped down on one so quickly after receiving it—it was HOT!

However, still very delicious.

As I continued to make my way down Avenue U, the next stop was Grizzly Coffee, which is on W. 6th Street. This place is very cute. Cozy with ample seating, along with various breakfast selections (there was a coconut brownie I was eyeing on one of my visits that I still haven’t tried yet).

While trying to scarf down the sandwich, I got an iced americano.

With the days getting warmer, this was the perfect refresher and pick-me-up for the morning.

On another morning, located a block from the train station is Vinny’s Lunchbox, situated right on Avenue U, between W. 6th and W. 7th Streets. It’s your typical diner, lots of seating and a big counter. The staff are very welcoming and they have a fantastic deal for lovers of that aforementioned sandwich: Bacon, egg, and cheese with a small coffee for $4!

Plus, the coffee is served in one of those classic “Greek-inspired” cups.

The first time I was there, they handed me a menu and everything. By the third time, they already knew my order—they are pros!

What beats breakfast at a lively diner counter? Starting the day off right with some local banter going on all around and Rosanna Scotto on the TV. Vinny’s definitely felt like a neighborhood establishment with a laidback feel and staff members recognizing customers by name. It’s a great vibe.

My most recent breakfast was at Avenue U Bagels, which is right next to the Avenue U station on the F, at the corner with McDonald Avenue. This place ran just like your typical bagel joint: multiple people taking orders simultaneously, line moving quickly, and (somehow) keeping the orders organized.

Here, I started with a large iced coffee.

As usual, I ordered mine black—simple—and it was good. Then, the bacon, egg, and cheese, but this time, on an everything bagel.

It must be said, this place piles on the bacon!

The bagel is delicious and probably one of the best vehicles for this quintessential New York City breakfast sandwich. One of the best and I got to savor it under the morning sun at a nearby park.

With at least one more week of mornings here, while breakfasts have been an overall good experience so far, I should try something other than another bacon, egg, and cheese, right?

A Korean restaurant in Brooklyn’s Chinatown

It was a triumphant day. Dropped by a local Sunset Park pub to catch a soccer game and, after my side came out victorious, I was on a high. The bartender offered a congratulatory pint…

…and I was on my way to find somewhere to eat.

Headed a couple blocks over, near the corner of 7th Avenue and 59th Street, and there is Han Feng Ge, which promises “an authentic Korean BBQ dining experience.” Considering my familiarity with the neighborhood, before being seated, I made sure they accepted credit cards—and they do!

The restaurant is very clean and modern and, for an early midweek afternoon, there were a good number of diners seated.

They have a number of dining options, including BBQ sets for larger parties. While they do have an a la carte menu, I opted for BBQ another day and went with a standard entree.

After putting in my order, the banchan arrived.

Next to the kimchi were steamed vegetables, kongnamul muchim (bean sprout side dish), and sweet potatoes. As usual, I had a little sampling of everything to start and this was a good selection of sides.

Soon after, my starter (something I order on a regular basis) arrived: haemul pajean (seafood pancake).

The pancake was served hot and crispy, and it was delicious—extending my streak of tasty haemul pajeon.

In addition to BBQ, they also serve rice and noodle dishes, casseroles, and chef’s specials. My main dish came from the third category: jeyuk bokkeum, or spicy pork bulgogi.

I spotted it from across the room as it arrived to the table. Served alongside onions and scallions, and dusted with sesame seeds, the dish looked great and smelled amazing.

Needless to say, I also ordered a side of rice.

The pork was tender and flavorful, with a delicious kick from the sauce. I’ve had this at other places and, I must say, this is easily becoming a favorite dish.

Now, I have to do BBQ next time.

First night market of the year

The Brooklyn Night Market is back, recently kicking off its third season at Industry City. The annual event takes place on the last Monday of every month until October. It was my first time (there were plans to go during a previous season but, unfortunately, they didn’t work out) and the number of vendors—especially food sellers—was impressive.

Needless to say, it was a night for a feast!

The market occupies an entire alley between two of the buildings and, anybody familiar with Industry City knows, these buildings are long! I made my way down the entire strip to catch a glimpse of everything and the first spot to draw me in was BarrelHouse NY, a vendor specializing in Colombian barrel-style barbecue.

Calling themselves a “BBQ revolution,” the chicharron is a must!

I got a half-pound helping, which is served alongside potatoes and grilled pineapple. The chicharron had the most incredible crunch! It had a great smoky and savory flavor, which was incredible with the pineapple.

There was a small area to enjoy this first taste and, while eating, I noticed, just across the way was So Sarap, which was selling a variety of inihaw, or Filipino-style grilled meat. There was a sign that said they were offering three sticks for $10, I got pork, chicken, and longganisa.

They state their mission as “[giving] you a taste of what Filipino street food is about” and they delivered. The marinade on the meat was so addicting, I was done with those in an instant. Then, the longganisa—my favorite sausage—was delicious!

Making my way back, I could not help but notice the familiar bright orange hue of Thai tea. Considered “the first Thai Tea Haven in the USA,” Cha Thai is looking forward to setting up their first brick and mortar establishment and, after trying their Triple Thai Tea, I cannot wait to become one of their regulars.

Thai tea, Thai tea cold foam, and Thai tea jelly—this was amazing! If you aren’t familiar with Thai tea, this will make you a believer.

I told a friend about it, who said it sounded “really sweet.” However, the flavor was spot on! The people behind the company had a goal to “create a perfect Thai tea for everyone” and formulated the recipe in their own kitchen. For me, it’s true when they say, “We craft a unique Thai tea like never before.”

The last stop was the Yumbro food truck.

Based out of Yonkers, they specialize in Filipino/Hawaiian fusion.

They were situated right by the entrance and, upon arrival, I knew this was going to be my last meal—the finale of the night. Now, at this point of the evening, they were busy! Orders were being taken at the window and a kiosk, and they were already running out of product!

I knew I wanted sisig and, when my order was ready and they handed me the box from the window, I was surprised at the weight—it was pretty heavy! 

It smelled amazing and, opening it up, seeing the flavorful pork bits served atop rice with a fried egg, alongside a salad; this was definitely going to be a great dinner.

I moved away from the crowds and found a spot to sit at the Industry City food hall, and I tucked in!

The sisig was fantastic!

I must note, while sisig is typically served on a sizzling plate, given the circumstances of a food truck, that wasn’t happening. Although, without the sizzling plate, the sisig at a lot of places end up with a weird coagulated and mushy texture—NOT Yumbro! Every bite was great and there was a subtle sweetness to the pork, and I could not get enough.

I left the night market very full and satisfied. See you next month!

One of my Koreatown staples

This is my second time writing about Tosokchon, the 24-hour Korean restaurant located on E. 33rd Street between 5th and Madison Avenues. The last time mentioning them on this blog was towards the end of fall and what I thought was going to be my last naengmyeon of the season.

I’ve since dropped by a couple times with the most recent visit being last week after running an errand in Midtown. Those walks through Manhattan almost always end up in Koreatown for lunch.

What’s nice about this place is that it’s a block from the main Koreatown street and the sidewalks aren’t as packed.

Once seated, I put in my order and was presented with their standard banchan.

The kimchi and kkakdugi (radish kimchi) were still some of the best in the neighborhood.

One of the items I really enjoy here is soondae, a blood sausage made with beef and bean curd, and stuffed with glass noodles. They serve them with a spicy salt dip and come either as a small or large portion.

That is the small order! I love it because it’s a no frills dish and the flavor is so rich and savory. Also, that salt dip really does elevate the flavor.

I then ordered the yukgaejang kalguksu, which prompted the server to asked if I needed an apron. I was confident enough to decline the offer but, admittedly, did end up needing it.

Knife-cut noodles in a delicious broth with beef and vegetables. This was a massive bowl of noodle soup and something to keep in mind the next time roaming around the city looking for something on a chilly day.

The noodles were plentiful and it tasted amazing. I’m fairly confident Tosokchon is becoming my go-to in Koreatown.

The best yard sale in Park Slope

While riding the bus, a little shop in Park Slope caught my eye. Located along 5th Avenue, between 17th and 18th Streets, is Yardsale Cafe. I was drawn to the sign with words such as “babka” and “cookies”, along with “vintage” and “memorabilia”—baked goods and old stuff are a couple of my favorite things in the world.

The cafe’s website notes: “My passion for the ‘old world’ combined with 12 years in the New York food scene made the path very clear for me.”

Stepping inside, it was quite the sight! I was greeted by the staff and let them know I saw the store from the bus and had to take a look. There were a lot of old school toys (including Happy Meal toys), mugs, baseball cards, pins (a lot of Disney pins), and so much more.

It was a lot to take in!

Then, there were the baked goods. The display had a lovely assortment and it was quite the process to decide on what to get. I eventually narrowed it down to what I wanted and started with an iced lavender matcha to go.

After seeing a spate of cafes rolling out lavender drinks lately, I’ve been diving in and trying them out when seeing them on menus. Must say, this one was particularly good! The matcha flavor was strong without the bitterness and the floral hit from the lavender came in at the end of every sip.

I brought the baked goods home and, given the size of them, I had to decide which one I would enjoy now and save the other one for the next day.

After much self-deliberation, breaking into that “too much chocolate cookie” (that’s the name) was going to happen that day.

The cookie was wide and thick, and had somewhat of a crust as it was a bit raised around the edge. Breaking off that first bite and it was a lot of chocolate (although I would never say TOO MUCH).

The cookie was soft with a firm base (it needed to be sturdy to hold up all that cookie). One of the best cookies I’ve had in a while? Yes!

Then, I was so excited for breakfast the next day because it was going to be this huge cinnamon roll.

When I stopped by the cafe, it was around mid-afternoon and this was the last cinnamon roll in the try. It was gorgeous and called my name. Then, breaking into it… the pastry was flaky and delicious, the icing was perfect—such a fantastic breakfast (and I was enjoying it after getting home from the gym).

Yardsale Cafe is such a cute spot and it’s not just sweets and nostalgia, they also have sandwiches!

Thai Fest!

I recently wrote about Dragon Fest, which was held near Union Square earlier this month. This past weekend, their sister brand, Thai Fest, took place along 6th Avenue, between 29th and 30th Streets. The last time I attended a Thai event was the Amazing Thailand Festival, which took place last year at Oculus Plaza, located by the World Trade Center, and was put on by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The more recent event was a much smaller affair but with plenty of options for food.

One of the first items I had to get was papaya salad—a classic. Somtum Der, which has a location in the East Village (Avenue A, between E. 5th and E. 6th Streets), was serving their tum thai, which includes peanuts, long bean, cherry tomato, lime, and dried shrimp (they do make sure to ask before sprinkling it on top).

This was fresh and tangy, with a heat that kicks in right at the end. Before digging in, there were people next to me coughing from the spice, but that didn’t phase me. There is a pleasant acidity that makes this the perfect starter for any meal.

Next stop was the table run by Sappe, a restaurant I’ve been curious about due to the huge marquee displayed in front of the restaurant, which is on W. 14th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues.

They were serving luke chin tod, or fried chicken meatballs with a spicy tamarind sauce.

Garnished with cilantro and served with some cucumber slices, this was a tasty treat—and it was all about that sauce! With every meatball consumed, it was just a matter of pushing the next one down the skewer and making sure it was covered in that spicy and sour sauce.

They also had thai tea but served as a slush, and with butterfly pea condensed milk.

As usual, the tea was delicious and, aside from being a gorgeous addition, the condensed milk added a sweetness and creamy quality to the drink.

Finally, there was Obao, which has two locations in New York City. One in Hell’s Kitchen (9th Avenue, between W. 45th and W. 46th Streets) and one in Midtown (E. 53rd Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)

They had a selection of noodles dishes and, while waiting in line, saw them drop a fresh batch of grilled pork and had to go with that one. In addition, I also needed a summer roll.

This was a delicious bowl! The noodles were served on top of some greens, which gave it a nice freshness, and the pork was fantastic! Then, the summer roll was packed with ingredients and I could not get enough of the peanut sauce drizzled on top.

Another delicious street fair in the books. Looking forward to the next one!

Bubble tea and Korean fried chicken

For a while now, I have been seeing videos on social media about a certain tea shop and, after a while, definitely grew very curious about Tsaocaa (or “Tsao Cha”). Luckily for me, there was one just a few blocks away.

The company, which was founded on a “near-paranoid pursuit of pure tea,” has locations in several states. They distinguish themselves from other shops because “each loose leaf tea is brewed fresh to order in an espresso-like machine.”

Located near the corner of 59th Street and 8th Avenue in Brooklyn’s Chinatown, there was a kiosk to place orders and a nicely-sized seating area. As I was putting in my order, I saw they also had fried chicken but had no idea it was bb.q Chicken, the fantastic Korean fried chicken franchise that I wrote about last year.

After finally figuring out my order, I took a seat and waited for my number to be called.

For a while now, I have been curious about the osmanthus flavor. I knew it was a type of flower after seeing a video about an osmanthus bubble tea and, previously, dined at a hot pot place that had it on the menu listed as “osmanthus bowels”—interesting imagery there.

Nevertheless, that day came when I ordered the osmanthus oolong tea.

I got my regular toppings of boba and crystal boba, and it all came together very well. There was a pleasant sweetness and a subtle floral kick at the end. I would definitely order it again!

Now, even though the signage for the shop read “Tsaocaa Tea & BBQ Chicken,” I didn’t realize the second half was referring to the actual bb.q Chicken until the box arrived.

The box had a nice heft to it and, while I would typically order traditional wings, I was in the mood for chicken tenders and went with the boneless wings.

As usual, got it in soy garlic flavor.

After picking up my order from the counter, the attendant asked, since I was eating in, if I wanted gloves—yes! Depending on the quality of glove, they can be a nuisance at times (including biting the plastic as it slips off your fingers) but I enjoy eating with a gloved hand—and these were good ones!

The chicken was hot—obviously, freshly fried. They were full of flavor and wonderfully crisp, as I would expect from bb.q Chicken.

It was a very satisfying box of chicken.

While the nearest bbq.Chicken is a quick bus ride away in Park Slope, it’s good to know there’s a location nearby… and with great tea.

Jjajangmyeon is my weakness

I have written about jjajangmyeon, the quintessential Chinese-Korean dish of noodles coated in a savory black bean sauce, on several occasions. There was jjajangmyeon enjoyed at Ejen in Industry City, Hyo Dong Gak on 35th Street, and Shanghai Mong in Koreatown. This time, after running errands along Atlantic Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn, Kuun, located on Livingston Street, between Nevins and Bond Streets, was the day’s lunch destination.

The restaurant has a very clean and modern look, as does their menu. They have a number of shareables, rice and soup, Korean BBQ, and other dishes (including noodles).

Once putting in my order, I was presented with a lovely selection of banchan.

Kimchi, eomuk bokkeum (stir-fried fishcakes), and broccoli—classics.

It’s been documented on this blog, one of the dishes I always order at Korean restaurants is haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) and, at Kuun, they have a selection of jeon, with the choice of kimchi, seafood, or vegetable. Obviously, I went with seafood.

This was crisp and delicious, and even better with the accompanying dipping sauce, choganjang. Like most places, there were some pickles floating in the sauce, including jalapeños. Now, I appreciated how thin it was because it was easy to pick up an entire slice with chopsticks and were especially good taking bite together with one of the pickles.

Then, the star of the show: jjajangmyeon.

Large pieces of pork and a glistening sauce, it was quite the appetizing sight. Also, for jjajangmyeon enthusiasts, there is nothing more exciting than mixing everything together, making sure every inch of noodle is covered in that thick gravy.

This was fantastic! Every bite and slurp was packed with that distinct savory flavor. I’ve written about various food or drink that one is tempted to finish in one bite—this is one of them! Jjajangmyeon is something I could just keep shoveling into my my mouth. It is forever one of the best noodle dishes of all time!

Now, I still have to go back and try some of the other entrees. Bossam, jokbal, tangsooyook—Kuun has all favorites!