Filed under: Drink, Eat | Tags: Asian, brisket, Eastern Alley, fried chicken, fusion, LES, oxtail, pea shoots, sake, Sean Scotese, steamed buns
Eastern Alley is the new Pan-Asian restaurant helmed by Bao emperor Michael Huynh’s former right-hand man Sean Scotese in the old Thailand Cafe space on Clinton St., right next to Clinton St. Baking Co. When I called to reserve a table for Saturday night and the guy who answered said, “Yes, we allow BYOB,” I was sold. It’s just until they get their liquor license in a couple weeks, so get there soon. East Village Wine & Liquor on Stanton/Clinton is just around the corner and had a bunch of chilled sakes ready for immediate consumption. (We picked up the Gekkeikan Black and Gold for $18.99 and it paired wonderfully with the Asian flavors.)
I wasn’t sure what to expect when we went in for dinner because Pan-Asian fusion can mean just about anything these days, and I hadn’t yet seen a menu. What I found at Eastern Alley were traditionally Asian ingredients and flavors cooked with a more Western hand: the soy-braised oxtails with yucca cake was an unusual combination where the sweetness of the yucca really balanced out the saltiness of the meat; the pork loin and pea shoots in the sweet sesame mustard sauce (the Japanese kind that is only slightly sweet and slightly mustardy with whole sesame seeds) were very nice and light (recommended for dieters) though the adobo potatoes that came with seemed a little disjointed in terms of flavor and heft; the extra crispy fried chicken thighs with curried green lentils were flippin’ amazing – think boneless Southern fried chicken with Indian spices and bacon thrown in; the ginger beef brisket with taro and miso (shown below) must have been awesome too because there was absolutely nothing left on that plate, not so much as a single drop of sauce.
You can order a side of jasmine rice, rice cakes, or steamed buns to share for $2.50 to sop up whatever meats and juices are left on your plate, or to make little sandwiches. Totally worth it. We got the steamed buns, but I’m very intrigued by the idea of eating my meat with rice cakes… I wonder if they’re Korean style?
The dessert menu will be served starting tomorrow. I’m excited (I want to try the Salted Ice Cream and Black Pepper Marshmallows). Apps are $6-$9, mains run $14-$18 or so, and desserts are $5 – pics of the full menu below! (more…)
Filed under: Cook, Eat | Tags: Asian, chicken, coconut, comfort foods, curry, Malaysian, recipes
My friends and I have a monthly potluck, and when it was Sara’s turn the first time around, she decided to cook Malaysian chicken curry for us. It tastes a little like a spicy Massaman Thai curry, but not peanut-y and better. Since that first fateful taste, we have forced her to make it for us four more times, potluck or no potluck. Finally, I thought maybe I should stop torturing her and learn how to make it myself. She asked me if I wanted the from-scratch recipe or the easy from-a-package recipe. I opted for the easier version. Adapted from Sara’s e-mail to me:
Simple Malaysian Chicken Curry
Serves 41 packet yellow curry paste (can be found at Asian groceries)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 large onion, finely chopped
2-3 medium sized potatoes, rough 2 inch dice
8 pieces of chicken, dark meat is richer, but white meat will do
1 can coconut milk
Ginger or sesame oil- Boil potatoes in large saucepan until just cooked, drain, set aside
- Sautee garlic and onions in ginger oil or sesame oil in a large skillet
- Add chicken to pan on medium-high heat to brown, but don’t cook all the way through
- In saucepan, add curry powder/paste, half a can of coconut milk (200 ml), and 1 cup of water. If you want a sweeter, flavor, use less water, add the whole can of coconut milk, 400 ml, and a half cup of water.
- Bring curry to a simmer and then add potatoes and chicken
- Simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are softShe sometimes adds carrots as well, in which case you’d cook them along with the potatoes.
Serve with rice (I like jasmine or coconut rice) or warm roti.
Filed under: Drink, Eat | Tags: Asian, cheapish, EV, fried chicken, Korean, Momofuku
Upon learning that Momofuku Noodle Bar was going to be launching online rezzies for its new fried chicken dinner (or lunch, as it turned out for me), I was ecstatic. There are few deep fried things in life that I dislike, and the thought of triple fried anything makes me swoon a little. Glowing reviews from those lucky enough to partake in the Momofuku dinner only whetted my appetite, and I suffered three excruciating weeks after making my reservation that I finally got to experience David Chang’s chicken wraps in their full glory.
We were warned before ordering that it was going to be a lot of food. Internally, I scoffed. This little waitress has no idea how much we can eat. Fool. Still, I took heed of her warning and refrained from ordering a la carte right away. You can always order more later.
Joe and Natalia decided to try something new and got the steamed buns with pork, chicken, cucumbers, and shiitake mushrooms. They said it was amazing, although I didn’t try it in order to save myself for the triple fried goodness.
Filed under: Eat | Tags: Asian, Astor Place, Chinatown, dumplings, EV, hotpot, Korean, LES, sandwich, Vietnamese
It’s been a while since my family got together: mom, dad, brother, me. They’re in town this weekend, and it’s going to be full of good, homey-feeling Asian food at equally good prices. Here’s the plan, ranging from Chinese (soft shell crab, hotpot, soup dumplings) to Vietnamese (banh mi, bun) to Japanese (izakaya) to Korean (and why I hate eating Korean food that is not cooked by my mother):
Great NY Noodle Town (28 Bowery at Bayard, Chinatown) – Soft shell crabs (my dad’s fave) are in season! *Thanking lucky stars* At $16 for two large, meaty, salt-baked soft shell crabs, you really can’t go wrong. The Cantonese noodles with beef are also good ($6.95), and I’m a huge fan of the Sauteed Pea Shoots ($9.95). It’s open late-night in case you’re ever craving shrimp wontons in noodle soup after a night out downtown ($5.95).
Grand Sichuan (125 Canal Street between Chrystie St & Forsyth St – Chinatown/LES) – Local hotpot joint for groups of 4 or more. We’ll be getting the half spicy, half mild broth with beef, Chinese cabbage, Udon noodles, enoki mushrooms, and fried tofu. (more…)
