Filed under: Drink, Eat | Tags: beer, BLT Fish, cheap, clams, happy hour, oysters
Per Eater’s DEALFEED, more $1 oysters! This time at BLT Fish Shack in Flatiron. BLT Fish Shack has a pretty well-rounded raw bar and also serves classic New England fish shack fare like chowders, steamed lobster, fried clams, etc. I love $1 seafood!
When: Mon – Fri, 5 – 7 PM; 212-691-8888.
21 West 17th St., New York, NY
Zum Schneider is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a pig on a spit – which you can eat as part of their suckling pig special. Today only, until it runs out. Have a half liter (or liter) of German beer to wash it all down!
Ave C and 7th St, Alphabet City
Filed under: Drink, Eat | Tags: Adams Morgan, aloetini, beer, bo ssam, brunch, cheap, cocktails, David Chang, dumplings, Korean, mandu, Momofuku, NW, soju, spicy, Washington DC
David Chang has a lock on the big feast format of Korean dining, and bless him for all of his family-style Korean fried chicken and bo ssam (pork shoulder/butt lettuce wraps) dinners at Momofuku Noodle Bar and Momofuku Ssam Bar.
But what about those of us who can’t find 6 to 10 like-minded diners? What then? Should we be denied our bo ssam?
Enter: Mandu DC. See how amazing this bo ssam platter looks? They use pork belly and chill it so that the meat is firm to the touch but fork tender, and the fat (largely trimmed) has a pleasant coolness and easy chewiness. The bo ssam platter comes with lettuce leaves (sangchu) for wrapping, spicy pickled daikon radish for a zesty crunchy topping, and ssamjang (wrap dip) for sweetness, spice, and a little funk (from the fermented bean). It’s a truly refreshing summer meal, especially when eaten outdoors on Mandu’s cute little patio.
On the corner of 18th and S in Northwest DC, just off-center from the craziness that is Adams Morgan, Mandu is a lovely gem of a Korean restaurant, perhaps the only of its kind within the city limits. The food here has a home-cooked feel, but with attention to presentation, ambiance, and all of the other things you don’t usually find at Korean restaurants in the States. Sure, there’s great Korean food to be had in Annandale, but then you’d have to find your way out to Virginia, and you wouldn’t even get to have an aloetini! Aloe juice + aloe pulp + soju = delicious x drunk. You do the math.
On weekends, Mandu has an $11.00 Korean Brunch Plate with gimbap (Korean rice & seaweed rolls – like sushi rolls without any fish), Korean omelet, chive pancakes, Korean-style hash browns, and a choice of marinated beef, chicken, pork or vegetables and tofu, all with a side of fruit. They have $4.00 Sojutinis and $4.00 Soju Bloody Marys to boot!
The Mandu Bloody Mary is made with soju, Clamato, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, sriracha, and a cucumber kimchi garnish. It is not for the spice averse, but it will cure your hangover. I felt AWESOME after drinking mine!
Not to be missed at Mandu: the mandu (dumplings) – 6 pieces for $5, the bo ssam – $13 for the platter shown above, the dak jjim (sweet and spicy chicken simmered with potatoes & onions, served with rice), aloetini, Mandu Bloody Mary.
And it gets better… there’s a happy hour! Daily 4-7pm: $4.00 Sojutinis, $4.00 liquor drinks, $2.00 beers, $3.00 mandu (dumplings).
Eat: Mandu (Adams Morgan, NW Washington DC) 1805 18th St. at S St., Washington, D.C. NW (202) 558-1540. Follow mandudc on Twitter.
Hallelujah, it’s sunny again! And you know what that means… cervezas all around! One of my favorite summer beer cocktails is the michelada, as some of you might remember. But for those who are too lazy to track down the Maggi Jugo and Tajin Clasico Seasoning, or too frightened to buy your own Clamato juice, you can simply make your way to the following bars and restaurants to check out their takes on the Mexican bloody mary.
Dear Brooklynites: don’t hate me but I’m not familiar with your individual ‘hoods so I’ve labeled all Brooklyn establishments as “Brooklyn.”
These are grouped by neighborhood, but I have highlighted my personal favorites in bold.
- Cafe Habana (SoHo) 17 Prince St. at Elizabeth St. (212) 625-2002. This wildly popular Cuban/Mexican restaurant serves up Michelada Coronas for $5.95. Be prepared to wait, as the food here is delicious and cheap so there is always a line. Get the Mexican corn slathered with mayo, rolled in cotija cheese, sprinkled with cayenne pepper, and doused in fresh lime.
- Cafe El Portal (SoHo) 174 Elizabeth St. at Spring St. (212) 226-4642. Michelada with your choice of beer. A little salty but not bad for $6.00. The real draw here is the food, which is cheap-ish and authentic. Tongue taco, anyone?
- La Esquina (SoHo) 114 Kenmare St. at Lafayette St. (646) 613-7100. Mexican beer served over ice with lime, chipotle, puree and salted rim $7.00
- Elizabeth (SoHo) 265 Elizabeth St. between Houston & Prince St. Their Michelada sounds a little shishi, and it’s priced accordingly. I don’t really like that, so I haven’t tried their Michelada Hoegaarden with cucumber, homemade hot sauce. $11.00
- Hecho en Dumbo (NoHo/Bowery) 354 Bowery between 3rd St & Great Jones St. (212) 937-4245.
- Barrio Chino (LES) 253 Broome Street at Orchard St. (212) 228-6710. This beloved LES restaurant and bar is known for excellent Mexican food as well as innovative cocktails, and it is always ALWAYS busy. While I’ve only tried their margaritas (excellent), I have the utmost confidence that they make a stellar Michelada. Sexy, cozy (read: tiny) interior, but don’t try to roll up with your entire posse… unless your entire posse is you and one other person. (more…)
Filed under: Drink | Tags: beer, Cafe El Portal, cocktails, EV, Mayahuel, Mexican, michelada, Nolita, recipes
Photo credit: CaboSanLucasVillas.net
When I was in Mexico last November for a friend’s wedding, I was introduced to a fantastically refreshing beer cocktail called a michelada. I drank several over the course of the week in various parts of Mexico: Acapulco, Mexico City, and Veracruz. Each one was slightly different from the last, but we did pick up a shortcut from our bartender in Veracruz: Maggi Jugo.
Basically, a michelada is a savory beer cocktail. It is always served in a glass with the mix at the bottom and the beer on the side, and you pour the beer into the glass when you are ready to drink. In some ways, it’s a lot like a bloody mary. It seems to be more of a daytime drink than a dinnertime drink, and some bars serve the mix with Clamato juice.
There’s no single right way to make a michelada, as it varies by region and by establishment, and it all comes down to personal taste. We experimented with different proportions at home, and this is what we came up with:
- 1 (12 ounce) bottle Mexican beer – it’s a michelada claro if you go with a light beer like Sol or Corona, and it’s a michelada obscura if you choose a dark beer like Negra Modelo or Indio. I prefer the obscura, but it’s all a matter of preference.
- 3 key limes, juice of – juice of three regular lime wedges will do just fine, too.
- 1 tablespoon of Clamato or other tomato juice (OPTIONAL – In Veracruz, they didn’t use any tomato juice at all) – my buddy Jason swears by Mr. & Mrs. T’s Bloody Mary Mix.
- 1 tablespoon Jugo Maggi seasoning – this magical michelada sauce tastes a little bit like soy sauce and worcestershire sauce mixed together, but lighter and more spiced. If you don’t want to go out to the grocery store and pick up a bottle of this stuff in the international foods aisle, you can substitute 1/2 tbsp worcestershire, 1/2 tbsp soy, and freshly ground pepper to taste.
- Tabasco (or other high vinegar hot sauce) to taste
I like to make my micheladas look pretty by rimming the glass with lime juice and dipping it in Tajin Clasico Seasoning, which is described by the manufacturer as a powdered salsa with salt and lime. It’s a little spicy, it’s tangy, and it’s salty. I like to rim beverages with it, or sprinkle it on fresh fruit or black beans or anything that could use a little zing.
Directions:
- Rim chilled tall glass with lime juice
- Dip rim of glass upside down into small dish of Tajin Clasico Seasoning (or celery salt, if you prefer)
- Combine all ingredients except beer in bottom of glass and add ice
- Garnish glass with a lime wedge and/or a peeled cocktail shrimp, if you’re feeling fancy
- Serve glass and bottle of beer separately, allowing guest to add beer as they drink
I understand that Mayahuel in the East Village serves an excellent and spicy michelada, though I haven’t personally checked it out myself. They use a sangrita as the base (spicy drink mix made with tomato juice, orange juice, and spices) plus lime and Negra Modelo. $9. They also serve cheladas, beer cocktails with lime and salt. $7. Cafe El Portal in SoHo also serves micheladas and cheladas for $6 a pop.
Happy Cinco de Drinko!
Filed under: Drink, Eat | Tags: beer, deals, Eater, Fatty 'Cue, pickle back, recession special, Williamsburg
Thank you, Eater. I love your Dealfeed. These late night deals from Fatty ‘Cue in Williamsburg are enough to get my patootie on the L train to Brooklyn.
Where: Fatty ‘cue, 91 S. 6th St. Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. 718-599-3090
The Deal: Fatty ‘Cue’s new late night menu includes a $7 ‘Cue grilled cheese, a $9 banh mi, $10 smoked brisket sandwiches, and drink deals like the Recession Special (PBR tall boy, shot of whiskey, shot of spicy pickle back for $6), the Stimulus Package (1L Asahi, two shots of whiskey for $12), and well drinks for $6.
When: Thursday – Saturday, midnight – 2 AM
Pickle back. Photo credit: NY Barfly
Let’s talk about pickle backs for just a moment. Waste not, want not; it’s a win-win. Restaurants are thrilled to have a use for their leftover pickle juice and to be able to charge people for it. Patrons are apprehensive at first but later enthusiastic about chasing their whiskey (technically Jameson) with a shot of pickle juice. Pickle backs are all the rage. The humble pickle is having its moment.
Filed under: Cook, Eat, Go | Tags: beer, burger, Father's Office, LA, Los Angeles, recipes, Sang Yoon, Santa Monica, sweet potato fries
If you read my post about my favorite LA things, you may have noticed my mention of the ever-so-delicious Father’s Office burger. Because she loves me and wants me to be happy, Deidre sent me a link to a recipe for Chef Sang Yoon’s incredible Father’s Office burger. We’re talking juicy fatty meat with apple wood bacon, caramelized onion, gruyere, Maytag blue cheese, and arugula on a soft but slightly crusty French bun. Heart!
Photo courtesy of Grub Street & Father's Office
I wonder if you can buy the mini shopping carts they serve the sweet potato fries in so you can fully recreate the meal at home…
Filed under: Do, Eat, Go, Listen, Watch | Tags: beer, burger, CA, California, El Taurino, Father's Office, hiking, Hollywood, Hollywood Bowl, hotel bars, LA, Los Angeles, Malibu, Mondrian Hotel, poolside bars, rooftop bars, Roscoe's, Runyon Canyon, Santa Monica, SkyBar, Standard Hotel, Tacos Por Favor, Venice, Viceroy
With the advent of good weather, I’ve been thinking about Los Angeles a lot lately. I especially miss the Mexican food there, and the fact that people don’t look at you like you’re from another planet if you wear PJs to brunch.
Every so often, friends will go to visit LA and they ask me what they should do an where they should eat. Here are my favorites: (I hope that they have held up with time!)
The Getty Center
Places to go an things to do:
#1. The Getty Center. Art (notably, Van Gogh’s Irises) and a sweeping view of Los Angeles, a breathtaking garden where you are allowed to picnic, $6 to park the car, otherwise free. One of my absolute favorite places to spend an afternoon on a clear day. Now there is also a Getty Malibu.
#2. Hiking in Runyon Canyon if you’re into celebrity sightings and sweaty, scantily clad Hollywood types working out.
#3. Snag cheap tickets ($6-$10 for a seat in the back!) to catch a show/concert in the open air ampitheatre Hollywood Bowl. I highly recommend the Sound of Music singalong! (Also saw Buddy Guy, Etta James, John Mayer, Oasis, etc.) Bring your own wine and food and make it a picnic.
#4. Visit the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).
#5. Experience the meat market and sh*t show that is Q’s / Cabo Cantina (Brentwood).
#6. Pack a picnic and head over to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (sounds morbid, but it’s really not) to watch a Cinespia movie screening against the wall of a mausoleum. Starts May 2010 and runs through the summer. You can pay your respects to Marilyn Monroe.
#7. Santa Monica pier in the evening. Ferris wheel and cotton candy. Seriously, what girl doesn’t like that?
#8. Go shopping on Melrose (if you want to buy things you can afford) or on Rodeo Drive (if you would rather gaze lustfully at things you can’t afford).
#9. Get all shishi and go out at night to the SkyBar at the Mondrian (West Hollywood), the poolside bar at the Viceroy Hotel (Santa Monica), the rooftop bar at The Standard Hotel (downtown LA), celeb-filled Chateau Marmont (Hollywood – an Andre Balasz property, it’s hard to get in unless you are a guest!) or Bar Marmont (less exclusive than inside the Chateau), or Teddy’s at the Roosevelt (Hollywood).
#10. Check out the boardwalk at Venice Beach to see some real characters. Skateboarding dogs with green mohawks, rollerblading electric guitar guy, man in Speedo with balls, Muscle Beach, etc. To see surfers, you’ll have better luck in Malibu.
What to eat:
#1. Tacos Por Favor. Cheap, delicious, can’t find it anywhere but LA. I strongly suggest the hard taco with carne asada and any of the burritos, though I favor the shrimp burrito (chock full of avocado and rice and cheese). The pickled carrots, onions, and jalapenos are delicious, and the spicy red sauce has a hint of cinnamon.
#2. Bay Cities Deli. The most delicious Italian deli sandwich you will have in your life. There’s something about the bread that is TO DIE FOR. Be prepared to wait in line, or order ahead. The Godmother is highly recommended.
#3. Father’s Office, Santa Monica (not the LA location). The Office burger… I still dream about it from time to time… Perfect burger on crisp fluffy bun topped with blue cheese and arugula. Don’t miss the sweet potato fries and the garlic aioli dipping sauce. No ketchup here. But trust me, it’s better that way. Also a huge selection of microbrews – Chimay on draught.
#4. In-N-Out burger – I’d get a double-double protein style with fries well done animal style and a neopolitan milkshake. Before you go, read up on the secret menu so you know how to order like an INO pro.
#5. El Taurino, downtown LA. Their carne asada burrito with special hot sauce and horchata always makes me happy.
#6. Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles. Duh! Be like Snoop Dogg and eat there.
Filed under: Drink, Eat | Tags: Alias, beer, chicken and waffles, Clinton St. Baking Co., Crif Dogs, deals, fried chicken, LES, Los Angeles, maple butter, NYC, Pink's Hot Dogs, Roscoe's, waffles, Wednesday
When I moved to LA in 2004, I was told that I should make it a point to eat at legendary Los Angeles eateries Pink’s Hot Dogs and Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles. Now that I live in NYC, I have filled my Pink’s deficit with Crif Dogs, and I have been skating by on a rather delicious but daintier version of chicken and waffles (buttered cornmeal waffle with fried chicken, $10.50, served with apple compote – pictured) from the Alias brunch menu. The Alias chicken and waffles isn’t the artery-clogging, rib-sticking taste explosion of fatkid heaven you get at Roscoe’s, but it’s still mighty tasty and you don’t feel like you’re going to have a heart attack.
The perfect bite at Alias:
Given my enthusiasm for chicken and waffles, maple butter, beer, and Clinton St. Baking Co., when I read on the Strong Buzz that CSBC has now introduced Fried Chicken and Waffles Wednesdays, I jumped for joy. You get buttermilk fried chicken with honey and Tabasco sauce on a crispy Belgian waffle with warm maple butter and a frosty bottle of Rogue Chipotle Ale for $20 on Wednesdays.
Be still, my heart.
Go: Clinton St. Baking Co. (LES) 4 Clinton Street, near Houston, 646-602-6263. Wednesdays only.
Filed under: Drink, Eat | Tags: beer, biergarten, German, LES, Loreley, sausage, Schneider-Weisse
I really like wheat beers. I don’t know if that makes me some kind of beer sissy, but I do. What I discovered on a recent trip to Loreley is that even within the wheat beer category, it’s not all fruit and sunshine and spices. There are some dark and dangerous wheat beers out there. Hold onto your panties, ladies.
This is the Schneider Aventinus Doppelbock. Dark-ruby, almost black-colored and streaked with fine top-fermenting yeast, this beer has a compact and persistent head. This is a very intense wheat doppelbock with a complex spicy chocolate-like aroma with a hint of banana and raisins. On the palate, you experience a soft touch and on the tongue it is very rich and complex, though fresh with a hint of caramel. It finishes in a rich soft and lightly bitter impression. (By the way, I totally cut and pasted that description. My beer palate isn’t quite that refined. To me, it just tasted wheat-y, mildly sweet like caramel, and finished smoothly – a very light dark beer.) At 8.2 % ABV, one of these half-liter bottles got me drunk. Drunk on $8! The draught beers here run $6-$8 for half liter draughts, and bottled beers run $5-$9. If you look at the bottled beers, the Doppelbock and the Eisbock are the ones where you’ll get the most ABV for your buck, if that’s the kind of thing you look for in a beer, you classy broad, you. All draught beers are also available in 1 Liter Mass Steins $14-$16.
I think the Doppelback would pair well with something buttery, savory, and a little sweet – if I had know I was going to order the sausage platter, I would have chosen a more bitter pilsner, but I was tipsy by the time the food came out, so I suppose it mattered not.
