My Bites of The Big Apple

No, I didn't eat my way through my week in Manhattan, although it sometimes felt (and looked) like I had.  And yes, I know the theme of this particular post is not going to support my first sentence, but what the hey.....the city is a gastronomic Jezebel and my appetite is its adoring slave.

Here's a quick look at (some of) what I noshed, and where:

Buttery baked pork bun and milk tea at Simply Bakery - 70 Bayard St, between Mott St and Elizabeth St, Chinatown, NY

Fried squid with lemon and chili at Roberta's - 261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206. +1 718 417-1118

The Axl Rosenberg pizza (tomato, mozzarella, sopressata, jalapeno, mushroom and loads of garlic) at Roberta's

One of my favourite Chinese comfort foodie haunts in Chinatown

Roasted meats galore at Big Wong Restaurant on 67 Mott St, Manhattan

Always a classic, especially if done well: roasted duck and BBQ pork with rice at Big Wong restaurant.

Stopping by for pastries at Little Big Cupcake Bakeshop at 30 Prince Street, New York

Sneaking a peek into the busy kitchen of BCD Tofu House in the heart of Korean Town on 5 West 32nd St, New York

Best appetizers I've ever had in a Korean restaurant - the new-ish BCD Tofu House - open 24 hours, no less

My Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap at BCD Tofu House

Excellent naan at the teeny Lahori Kebab on 122 Lexington Ave, between 28th St and 29th St, in the Flatiron district

So good, so spicy: LOVED the tandoori chicken, mutton curry and sekh kabab in this authentic Pakistani hole-in-the-wall

Junior's New York cheesecake : absolute stick-to-the-roof-of-your mouth yum

The hungry horde waiting in line outside Nyonya on 199 Grand St (between Mott St and Mulberry St) in New York

I liked this rojak at Nyonya a lot...the waiter cautioned us that the sauce will taste "fishy."  Well, d-uh, I should hope so.

My delish bowl of pho, complete with beef brisket and a whole lot of tripe, at Pho 32 and Shabu on West 32nd Street

Fresh summer rolls at Pho 32 and Shabu

The wonderful calamari at Porsena at East 7th Street, New York.

Another must-have in the city: durian and lychee ice cream at The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory on 65 Bayard St

My Springtime in New York

After braving the cold, somewhat dreary climes of London and Toronto, and enduring the bizarre rain storms (and snowfall) in Chicago, it was a huge relief to spend a week soaking up the vitamin D in New York City.  Yes, it was a bit chilly but I'd take that any time if I can have cloudless blue skies and gorgeous sunshiny days as a trade-off.  I'm saving the foodie shots for another post, but these are my other favourite images of the city.

 

 

 

 

 

Portrait: My Papa (Part 2)

Photographed on Sunday, 14 April 2013 at Delta Chelsea Toronto.

My Pictorial Essay of Bushwick (and a Wee Bit of Williamsburg)

 

Taking full advantage of the glorious sunshine and an invitation from a new friend, I ventured out of the crowded confines of midtown Manhattan to the industrial and artistic expanse that is Bushwick in Northern Brooklyn.  I didn't really know what to expect as I emerged from the L stop at Morgan and Bogart Streets, but I certainly didn't think I would see that much vibrant graffiti in those orderly grid streets, with stimulating art galleries in converted warehouses, organic food stores galore, a relaxed pedestrian vibe, street booksellers at every corner, excellent pizza joints, and even a man out walking his pet mountain cat.

Here are some of my photographs from that afternoon....some are two images stitched into one.  Such is the visual eclectic nature of this neighbourhood that these morphings look, for the most part, seamless, fitting and best of all, possible.

 

Bite-Size Review: Porsena

It was an unenviable task a few evenings ago for friends Bee and Khai to select a restaurant in all of New York city for us to dine for the first time since we last got together four years ago.  These kinds of decisions rank way up there in complexity and stress levels as pushing a nuclear warhead button, buying your first home, and debating to wear Louboutin versus Blahnik.

Khai perusing the menu

Fortunately, they picked Porsena, an unassuming trattoria tucked away in the East Village.  Cozy and comfortable - there are only two rooms and a bar - Porsena is billed as a "pasta restaurant" but their appetizers are as much of a highlight as their carb cousins listed below on the menu.  My particular fondness is for calamari, and Porsena's version (the spice is a definite plus) is among the best I've ever had.

Here are the highlights of our excellent dinner:

My favourite dish of the evening: spicy seared calamari with lemon, olive oil and bread crumbs

Green beans fennel with celery, toasted almonds and pickled red onions

Pasta al Pomodoro - an elegantly simple dish of spaghetti, tomato sauce, basil and parmagiano

Spaghetti con Vongole - manilla clams, garlic, parsley and crushed red pepper

Panna cotta with pistachio and dark chocolate

Porsena - 21 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003, United States.  Telephone +1 212-228-4923