eat me drink me

Today New York Times writer Manny Fernandez wrote about the 99-cent pizza craze that has been spreading across Manhattan.  But, he isn’t the first one to note cheap, $1 and under food.  About a year ago, I did a round up for Serious Eats that included pork buns, noodles, and sticks of meat from Flushing, Queens’ Chinatown; $1 falafel sandwiches; cheap sushi; and 39 cents an ounce frozen yogurt.  Josh Bernstein has also been rounding up cheap eats by neighborhood for Metromix.  He recently stumbled on the Hell’s Kitchen area and talked about the same pizza Fernandez did in his article.

What’s up with this craze?  Is 99-cent pizza worth it?  Adam Kuban of Slice didn’t say in his cheap pizza battle last year, but he also didn’t say he really liked either pie.  Some things I think work well as $1 items, like ices on the street in the summer, hot dogs, and French fries.  But overall, I would rather pay $2 for a really good slice, then bother with a kind of gross one for less.

Can I just tell you that I love coffee? Love, love, LOVE the stuff, and, because I drink it black, it totally makes my day when I stumble across a really good cup.  At RBC NYC in Tribeca, they have gone all out there. Enter, the Slayer. This variable pressure machine is the only one on the East Coast, and one of 20 in the entire WORLD. Wow. Handcrafted in Seattle, I can see why this beast is so special.  The three level system (which I am writing about for the New York Press right now, so more later), draws out a perfectly smooth, buttery shot of espresso.  I was buzzing so hard core after going there.  Of course, I also sampled a cup of drip Sumatra. Yum.  It’s no wonder the New York Times included it in their great coffee shop round up.  But there was a downfall, all that coffee and no bathroom.

One recent Friday afternoon, I found myself with an hour to kill and was conveniently located near Union Square and its fabulous greenmarket.  Normally I just rush about, wanting and craving everything I see, but either I have no cash, or don’t want to carry my bounty around town.  This time, while the fresh veggies, eggs, and meat tempted me, what really pulled me in was the goat stand.  For about 20 years, Ellie Hushour has owned and operated the Patches of Star Dairy in Nazareth, PA, and her goaty goods are found every week at the green market.  She sells goat milk, yogurt, and cheese, all packaged fresh, with no preservatives, and at reasonable prices.

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photo by Randy Mayor (from Cooking Light)

Man, so about a month ago I took on the task of rounding up the best all-you-can-eat joints in the city.  My results? You can now see them HERE in this week’s Time Out New York! My all time favorite one was Cabrito, mostly because the staff was so nice and their tacos-AMAZING.  Of course, from fried chicken, to piles of meat, to delicate mussels, all these places are good, I tried each one in less then a week.  Still not sure how I did it, I mean, that is a lot of food.  Lucky me, it seems I was born with a second stomach.

Does anyone have a good all-you-can-eat place that I missed? Always looking for more places to gorge.

Tacos at Cascabel

Hey kids, I figure you have noticed I have been slooooooow at posting. I guess the more you write about the food the harder it is to keep up the blog. The good news is, there are tons of reviews for you to read! I have also started writing for Edible Brooklyn, which is pretty exciting.  Anyway, all these restaurants are Mexican themed, my favorite. Click the link to read full review.

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Time to round up some of my latest, tantalizing food reviews for your enjoyment. Yum yum!
MacBar in Soho (New York Press)

“My gang and I dove into six of the options, all sized small, all gooey, all damn tasty. Each of the dishes was baked to perfection, with the insides hot and melty and the top brown and crispy. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to get an order, but every one is made fresh. My favorite of the ones we sampled was the “Mac lobsta’” ($8.99). It surprised me due to its unbelievable lightness, explained by the use of mascarpone cheese instead of a classic cheddar or fontina. Because of the mild nature of the cheese, the freshness of the lobster chunks really came through, and mixed with tarragon and cognac, the flavors eased together to create a rich and delicious combo.”

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A while back I was traipsing around Jackson Heights, Queens, researching sexy spots for a Time Out New York article, when the scent of meat on the griddle wafted into my nose.  My mouth started salivating and my head felt dizzy with anticipation.  I had struck taco stand heaven.  For $2 you can get two, hot corn tortillas piled high with savory, perfectly cooked meat (usually pork for me), fresh cilantro, pickled carrots and peppers, and a sprinkle of chopped onion.  You know a taco is perfect when you don’t have to add any sauce to it, and the one from this stand was key.

As a Colorado native, I really miss out on tacos here in New York.  Though the ones found in this Mexican heavy neighborhood certainly can contend with my beloved home state’s spicy, savory treats.  Bring me tacos or bring me death!  Ha.  But really, with all the new taco places opening up (I told you months ago that tacos would be the new bahn mi, which were the new cupcake), I am shocked more of them can’t get it right.  I won’t divulge my secret top taco spots yet…but in time you will know them too.

There are few things better in life then throwing some balls around, and eating pork.  Lucky for you (and me), that is exactly what you can do at the hip newish venue, Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  At first I was skeptical about a bowling alley that charged $40 an hour to play, but once I checked out their menu by Blue Ribbon, I was hooked.  My appetite instantly picked out the roast pork sandwich ($10) with white queso, poblanos, and sweet onions.  Lets just say I dreamed about this savory, gooey meal for many nights after.

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Antipasti at Angelina Pizza Bar

Don’t let the name fool you—Angelina Pizza Bar offers more then just pizza. This family-friendly restaurant near West 105th Street not only has extensive Italian fare and a decent wine list but Chef Giancarlo Delanzo cooks his crazy creations in a brick oven with a rotating floor. As pies like the Bella Angelina (with zucchini flowers, smoked salmon and goat cheese, $18 or $24) or the Bianco Forte (with garlic, ricotta, mozzarella, spicy sausage and hot peppers, $16 or $22) circle the fire, Delanzo dishes up small bowls with various meats, cheese and vegetables. Within minutes, the pizzas have cooked and the chef has completed an antipasti plate ($6 to $14). A bright-eyed waiter picks it up and the process starts again. (READ THE REST AT THE WEST SIDE SPIRIT)

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Does the headline sum it up?  I was disappointed this weekend when I hit up the Brooklyn Flea for the sole purpose of trying one of Red Hook’s Lobster Pound’s famous sandwiches.  Despite the warnings of long lines and a shortage of food, there was no wait and plenty of food to go around.  I was, however, shocked at the price: $13.
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