Sympathy for the Kettle

Dear Food Diary:

Strolling around the other day, we were cold and in desperate need of a hot drink. I refused to spend a lovely afternoon inside a Starbucks, so we kept walking, and unexpectantly found this cute little place Sympathy for the Kettle.

It was a pleasant surprise, as we walked in, the aroma of the teas danced with our senses. The place is tiny, cozy and adorable, with a distinct personality of its own. We sat down at one of the tiny tables and ordered different pots to share. My favorite was our White Tea and Kyoto Cherry Rose Tea. But the varieties are endless, and you'll surely find one that suits your mood. From Traditional Black Teas, Oolong, Chinese Black and Puerh to Flavored Black Teas, Chai, Green Teas, Flavored Green Teas, Jasmine Teas, White Teas, Herbal Teas and even Mate.

You don't have to be a tea connoisseur to enjoy ur time there. It's just a great place to grab a couple good friends and chit chat while sipping some very delicate and aromatic tea. Let's not forget the sweet treats, small and delicate with tons of flavor. These little pastries were sweet indeed.
It was a great afternoon of good company, conversation, tea and treats. Just thinking about brings this soothing feeling.

P.S.
ChubbyChineseGirl RATING: Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy

109 St. Marks Place
East Village
212.979.1650
www.sympathyforthekettle.com/

Basta Pasta: Japanese doing Italian

Dear Food Diary,

Being a true fan of Iron Chef, I just love the ambiance and concept of Basta Pasta. Open the door and enter a mini version of the infamous Kitchen Stadium. A squeeky clean open kitchen, with steel appliances, pots and pans of all sizes and shapes, condiments, fresh ingredients and chef and su chefs in white working away like bumble bees. There's no battle between chefs, but a mission to satisfy every diner, while a mix of apetizing aromas fill the space.

There's no need to stuff oneself with loads of carb, the menu offers an extensive array of dishes, from antipasti, to primi piatti (pasta), sedondi piatti (protein) to griglia (grilled meat and fish). The portions are just right and the best part is, you can order small portions of the pasta, which I love. It gives me room to taste a variety of dishes.

As antipasti, I really enjoy the Prime Tuna "Tataki " with original wasabi tartare sauce, served with cucumber and tomato salad. It's fresh, slightly creamy with a little kick. The tuna melts in ur mouth, and the veggies give out that extra crunch.
The Black Mussels & Clams, steamed in garlic and white wine is also very good. Don't forget to taste the broth with pepper flakes. It's sweet and a bit spicy. A great way to start any date *wink*.
The Grilled Squid, leek and okra, with mullet roe, endive, pistachio and tomato salad is another tasty choice. But I can be bias on this one, simply because I love squid.

Now to the main event, the PASTA, aka "primi piatti", this is why I go there for. If it's your first time, I would recommend the Spaghetti with Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma prosciutto, served at your table, the spaghetti is tossed inside a half a wheel of Parmesan cheese, it's just fun to watch, not to mention the taste. It's creamy and extra extra cheesy with a hint of saltiness from the prosciutto! Trust me, you'll enjoy it. Thank me later. All the pasta are really tasty, the flavors are matched perfectly, with fresh ingredients and always al dente.

BUT MY FAVORITE IS THE LINGUINE with FRESH SEA URCHIN and basil in pink sauce!!! yuuummm!!! It's sooo good! I love sea urchin(UNI). So what better way than to enjoy it hot and steamy with pasta and pink sauce!!! Sooo creamy, sweet and delicious! I can never order anything else, nothing can replace it.

Usually by now, I'm ready for dessert. But the fish are quite delish if your still hungry. Just remember to leave room for dessert! The Melting Chocolate Inside, served with vanilla gerato is a perfect way to end the meal. Anything with chocolate is good, so i give it thumbs up. Their Almond Flan, homemade gerato are also quite a treat! Sweet indeed.

P.S.
ChubbyChineseGirl RATING: Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy

37 W 17 St.
212.366.0888
http://www.bastapastanyc.com/

Lotus' "Flower" Best Summer Cocktail

Dear Food Diary,

Went to Lotus with the girls tonight, had the best summer cocktail! I highly recommend their LOTUS FLOWER (chunks of watermelon, fresh peach puree, Malibu rum and Stoli vanilla). It was divine. A sip, and you feel the freshness of the watermelon, with that hint of coconut and smoothness of the vainilla. Chilled and sweet so perfect for summer, a very girly drink. It made me feel pretty for some reason. Maybe because it has the right amount of alcohol, not making me tipsy, just smiling and blushing.

In the heart of the meatpacking district, Lotus stands to be the hip, sexy and suave establishment. A pool of lotus' float by the entrance. The decor is simplistic yet elegant and charming with warm dim lights, candles and rich red accents that please the eye.

An asian fusion menu greets it's style concious diners, while a DJ plays his tracks at a corner booth.
There's not much variety on the menu, but my steak sirloin was cooked to perfection, medium rare as i asked. And the taro fries were interesting and enjoyable. The sea bass with coconut was flavorful, but the pork was abit dry. Overall, the dishes and dessert were good but a bit on the sweet side for me. I wouldn't recommend going there for food. It was good, but didn't wow me like it's hefty prices.

If you stay around long enough, at 10PM the downstairs club opens and you can party the night away. If not, just grab a drink at the bar, maybe order some appetizers and just sit back and enjoy. Great for drinks, save your bucks and have dinner elsewhere.

As requested, here is the recipe of the "LOTUS FLOWER:
3-4 chunks of watermelon
1 oz fresh peach puree
1.5oz malibu rum
1/2 oz stoli vanilla
Muddle watermelon,sugar and peach puree in a shaker glass, fil with ice and add liquor. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with slice of fresh watermelon. And Enjoy! cheers everyone!

P.S. (LOTUS FLOWER COCKTAIL ONLY)
ChubbyChineseGirl RATING: Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy

409 W 14th st
212.243.4420
www.lotusnewyork.com/#

Ed's Lobster Bar: Fresh Of Boat (FOB)

Dear Food Diary,

You know I love sweet juicy and fresh lobsters. Well, the lobsters are indeed FOB (FRESH of boat) at Ed's. Sources say they come in all the way from Maine every day. And by how popular and crowded the place was on a tuesday night, I doubt there were any left overs for the next day. They were being sold like hot cakes.

Ed's doesn't take reservations, so the trendy new spot have enjoyed a great opening and days that followed with food enthusiasts eager for a table and willing to wait. No seating until the whole party arrived, tables at the back were limited. So we settled for the stainless steel bar, squeezed into our high chairs and began our lobster feast.

75% of the people ordered his much appraised "Lobster Roll" (which I hear vary very little from Pearl Oyster Bar, Chef Ed's former employer). The roll is buttery and warm, there's no mistake that the lobster is fresh, juicy and sweet. Huge lumps of lobster take center stage, just a touch of veggies almost for garnish and light on the mayo. This is what a lobster roll should be and at $19 i would expected to be.
So much lobster that it falls off the bun, you'll need a fork to help you out. Lots of meat and little bun in every bite, great for us semi-carb watchers. Defineatly a great choice. The order is completed with fries and Ed's own homemade pickles, that are insanely good. Spicy with a tangy punch you'll just have to try'em yourself, it's not like any other pickle this chubby girl have tasted.

I hear the Lobster Pot Pie is worth a try and i tried the $5 lemonade, a bit pricy but it was freshly squeezed and tasty, so I'm letting that slide.

P.S.
ChubbyChineseGirl RATING: Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy

222 Lafayette Street
www.lobsterbarnyc.com/

Mojitos on the go!

Dear Food Diary,

The best gum flavor ever has finally arrived: Orbit's NEW Mint Mojito
No! it doesn't have any alcohol (believe me, people have asked me that when I took'em out), but it's got a great mix of fresh lime and mint. The flavors really compliment and bring out the best of each other. Total freshness in your mouth and just the perfect balance of sour and sweet. Now we can all smile =)

P.S.
ChubbyChineseGirl RATING: Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy

Mara's Homemade: It's like comfort from a southern mama

Dear Food Diary,

There's nothing like walking into a restaurant, and feeling like your going to a friend's for dinner. Mara greets you as you walk in the first of two very small and cozy dinning areas. Sometimes you'll see her husband and daughter helping out and the waitresses are always super friendly and helpful.

The menu includes Cajun Style Seafood, BBQ & Southern Comfort Food. For the more adventurous, the fried gator bites are marinated in Cajun spice, crunchy and tender, if you've never had them, i'll say give'em a try. It's sorta like a cross between fish and chicken. Like the gator bites, the green tomatoes are also coated with cornmeal and deep fried with remoulade sauce. Both are a good choice for starters.

Now to the main event... this needs drum rolls... CRAB FINGERS! yuuuummmmmy!!! This is why I go back again and again for. It should be in it's own category on the menu, cuz it's out of this world. And us lazy ones, no cracking is required. These sweet blue crab claws lay in a bowl of buttery goodness. Yes, of course there's butter, and tons of it. It's not for the faint of heart. They're sauteed in a garlic butter sauce with Mara's secret mix of herbs and spices, I'm not sure how many are in the mix (it's a secret, and I don't feel the need to find that out, just know that it's delish), but a good dozen would be my guess. Dip the soft bread in it, and scoop up some of that mix and let me tell ya'... hmmmmmmm (hold on i need a moment here)...hmmmmmmm it's just so heavenly.

Mara's defeneatly not for the waist conscious. Everything on the menu is pretty good and big portions are perfect for sharing.
I like the BBQ too, it's smokey and tender, rubbed with their own blend of spices, slow-smoked with mesquite wood, and your choice of 2 sauces, Arkansas (spicy/tangy) and Texas (spicy/sweet), great for meat lovers like moi. The blue crab in their spicy boil is also a wise choice, but get ready to get your hands dirty.

It's a great place to go for a casual, fun and flavorful meal. Don't forget to wash it all down with Abita purple haze beer. Raspeberry flavored beer. Great match.

P.S.
ChubbyChineseGirl RATING: Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy

342 East 6th St (Between 1st & 2nd Ave)
www.marashomemade.com/?

Pampano Taqueria: restaurant quality tacos

Dear Food Diary,

I found a hidden gem tucked underneath the Crystal Pavillion's food court on 50th and 3rd Av. Delicious tacos for lunhch!
Pampano Taqueria was born of the modern mexican restaurant Pampano (part of a chain of mexican restaurants) which is located upstairs from the Taqueria next to Smith and Wollensky.

Pampano offers an extensive, high-end and sophisticated menu. The food is extraordinary, but so is it's prices. Which makes Pampano Taqueria a great alternative for us paisanos who are short on cash. Specially during lunch. The food is made to order and it comes directly from the kitchen of the restaurant. So it might take a little longer to get your order, but it's so worth it. It's always fresh and you can taste the quality of the ingredients.

My favorite is the Carne Alambre Taco. Juicy and tender beef cubes, marinated and grilled to perfection, filled with melted Manchego Cheese and green pepper wrapped in their homemade tortillas. The Pescado Taco is also not to be missed. Filled with pan fried cubes of white fish marinated with spicy tomatoe sauce on a bed of crunchy shredded cabbage, the flavors are wonderful and that extra crunch is an interesting texture. To me, these 2 things are must haves!

They also give u a bag of Homemade Tortilla Chips, extra crunchy, so what if it's a bit greasy, they're just too good to resist. By the counter, they provide spicy salsas in large mexican stone bowls, Super Hot, Medium or Tomatillo mild. Mix it up it you like, but be warned that the Super Hot is really really fiery so dip at your own risk. And don't forget to add the chopped tomatoes, onions and cilantro, all for free, how good is that? I always get extra. And if your thirsty, get the Agua Fresca of the day. Usually a fruity flavored water. I like the Melon one the best.

P.S.
ChubbyChineseGirl RATING: Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy

Crystal Pavillion (basement food court)
805 Third Av (between 49th and 50th)
www.modernmexican.com/pampano/

MEGU: ME GUsta this occasional splurge

Dear Food Diary,

I had a truly wonderful dining experience tonight at Megu midtown.
The door opens and your immediately greeted by the very attentive staff. High ceilings, impressive decor and spacious seating. Upon settling down, the knowledgable servers help you go through their menus with ease.

Megu midtown is a splurge, but get ready to take your palette on a ride of intricate and lavish dishes that are plated beautifuly, constructed with depth using fresh, high quality ingredients, and simply taste divine.

The Wasabi (a root, is imported from Okumagi, Shizuoka Japan) is hand grated at our table, to accompany our Blue Fin spicy tuna appetizer, which by the way was a melt in my mouth experience. It's topped with delicately chopped onions and a leaf of fried basil and finished off with a stroke of creamy spicy sauce. Followed by MEGU 's Original Spicy Tuna and Crispy Chu Toro Tuna Rolls. All the flavors were wonderfully combined, and the fish was fresh and flavorful.

Now to the main event! KOBE BEEF (beef made from cows that are fed a diet enriched with beer and massaged lovingly by attendants in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan), this is what they're known for and what we've anticipated the whole night. We ordered the Premium Kobe Steak "Kagerou Yaki" Hennessy Flambee (warmed hennessy is ignited over premium kobe beef. Served on a river stone with slices of milky garlic from Aamori, Japan, yes even the garlic is imported). Our Prime Top Cullote (they have 4 different cuts to choose from, we ordered the most affordable one), now if you're use to Peter Luger portions, let me tell you, this might dissapoint you, at $38 is a mere 6 onces.
Just the presentation itself is entertaining, as the server pours the liquor onto your stone, a high flame formes and the aroma is just so inviting. We couldn't wait to dig in, all to which had to be done very slowly so we could truly savor and enjoy each and every bite. Rare is definitely the way to go. I can still taste it... HMMMMMMMMMMM (i just had to use caps to emphasize)... so juicy and tender... just soooo good...

The double roasted tea was delightfuly pleasing finish. The dessert are so so compared to the food. Even though the Dark Cholate Fondant was quite satisfying, but the 20 layer crepes were not that impressive, so if you're looking to save a buck or two of what's left in your wallet by now, go ahead, your not missing out.

Their precise attention to every minor detail made our dining experience that much more enjoyable. We collectively decided, we must go back again in the very near future. And just an FYI, don't forget to use the restroom, the high-tech toilets amuzed us for a while.

P.S.
ChubbyChineseGirl RATING: Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy Yummy

845 UN Plaza- At 47th St
New York, NY 10017
www.megunyc.com