East Village

Apr 19, 2012

Top Ramen (not the 6 for $1 stuff): Ippudo

I finally had a chance to visit Ippudo for a late birthday lunch, a month ago. I cannot believe that I never posted a review about the highly acclaimed (and rightfully so) ramen sanctuary. Thus, I will spare you the minutiae and get right to the point. This Japanese chain (there are 30+ in Japan) made its debut in the States in late 2008. With homemade ramen noodles and specifically paired broth and toppings, it is no wonder that there is always a wait. But, the flavorful bowl(s) of steaming hot ramen are well worth the wait. You will leave fully understanding why Ippudo’s founder, Shigemi Kawahara was named the “King of Ramen” on a 2005 cooking competition in Japan.

The bar wall

Drinks at the ramen-lined bar, in the front, while we waited for our table.

Hirata Buns, steamed buns filled with eggplant and eringi mushrooms served with Ippudo's original spicy sauce: fluffy and soft buns with an incredibly delicious filling. The exceptional sweet and spicy sauce makes the dish.

Avocado and Tofu Tartar, avocado and tofu with kelp beads, served with a side of sesame and kuromitsu (brown suger syrup) sauce: a blend unlike any we'd tried before. The textures take some getting used to and the dish relies heavily on the sauce and the kelp beads, without which, it would just be a bland mush.

A close-up of the Avocado and Tofu Tartar

Wasabi Shoyu Ramen, soy sauce and vegetable based noodle soup, topped with bean curd, wasabi, menma, nori, scallions, and wasabi infused oil: (unfortunately) the only veggie ramen option on the menu. The noodles were precisely cooked and the broth was fragrant, flavorful, perfectly spicy, and oh-so comforting.

Torishio Ramen, Ippudo's "Chintan" clear chicken based soup, menma, kaiware radish, shiso leaf, daikon radish, and an addition of a poached egg: Maithil needed to add a bit of soy sauce and wasabi to help this bowl of ramen reach its full potential.

Complimentary Green Tea before dessert.

Green Tea Ice Cream: cool, refreshing, delicious.

Ippudo, we'll be back soon

Recap: always a wait; great bar in the front to get drinks while you wait; quick, helpful service; amazing ramen; lots of options besides ramen; vegetarian friendly (for appetizers and specialty dishes; there is only 1 veggie ramen); bustling, very lively atmosphere

Food Tally: Sapporo Light (2), $6 each; Shochu Ginger Cocktail, $8; Vegetable Hirata Buns, $8; Avocado and Tofu Tartar, $10; Wasabi Shoyu Ramen, $15; Torishio Ramen+a poached egg, $15+$2; Green Tea Ice Cream, $6. Total (without tax) = $76.

Score: 4.25/5

Address: 65 Fourth Avenue, between 9th and 10th Street, NYC; www.ippudony.com

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: A Date, Bar, East Village, Food, Lunch, New York City, Restaurant, Snacks Tags: avocado, bar, green tea ice cream, Ippudo, NYC, ramen, service, soy, steamed buns, tofu, Vegetarian, wasabi

Mar 29, 2012

Birthday Tradition: Motorino & Big Gay Ice Cream Shop

Kenzie and I have a fantastic tradition for our birthdays. We take the other out to dinner. We also have another tradition of sorts. We love visiting new pizza places (new = at least one of us has not been there before). For my birthday dinner, Kenzie took me to Motorino in the East Village. We started with a bottle of, as described on the menu, “the perfect pizza wine,” the Grangnano, Cantine Federiciane, Naples, Italy. Served cold, this semi-sparkling, light bottle of plum red was, in fact, the perfect companion to our meal.

We skipped the appetizers and got right to the good stuff. We ordered the Cremini & Sweet Sausage Pizza, minus the sausage, as well as the Margherita with an addition of Brussels sprouts and olives. I am not usually a big fan of a white pizza because it tends to lack a bit of flavor and can sometimes be a tad dry. The cremini mushroom pie with fior de latte, garlic, thyme, pecorino, and gaeta olives proved me wrong. The interplay between the ingredients made for earthy and fragrant bites. The thyme really pulled out the sweetness of the garlic and the sharpness from the pecorino.

The Margherita was a traditional Neapolitan with a twist due to the interesting toppings. The crispy Brussels sprout leaves along with the olives added texture and depth to a classic pie. Most importantly, the crust for both pies was consistently chewy and airy, making you feel full at the end of the meal without feeling a sense of heaviness at the pit of your stomach.

After our pizzas, we continued our never-ending conversation with a leisurely walk to the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop. It is a fairly new addition to the East Village and partly due to the warm weather, there always seems to be a line. Kenzie, a frequent visitor and thus a pro at ordering, suggested one of her favorites on the menu: the Monday Sundae. I had no idea what I was in for. This is the ultimate for an ice-cream/chocolate/dessert lover. It all starts with a waffle cone which is lined with nutella, then filled with chocolate/vanilla twist soft serve ice cream and topped with whipped cream, a generous dulche de leche drizzle, and a sprinkle of sea salt. W-O-W, beyond wow. That about sums it up. This is a must try. Also, a note to the wise: Eat this on a slightly empty stomach because it is impossible to finish after a meal.

Recap: small, casual pizza place; good food and service; great wine; good for small groups or a meal for two; vegetarian friendly

Food tally: The Perfect Pizza Wine, $32 (bottle); Cremini & Sweet Sausage Pizza, $17; Margherita+toppings, $15+$6. Total w/o tip = $70. Monday Sundae, $6.50, worth every penny

Score: 4/5 for Motorino; 5/5 for the Monday Sunday at Big Gay Ice Cream Shop

Address: Motorino – 349 East 12th Street, between 1st and 2nd Ave.; Big Gay Ice Cream Shop – 125 East 7th Street, between 1st Ave. and Avenue A, NYC; www.motorinopizza.com; www.biggayicecream.com

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: A Date, Dinner, East Village, Events, Food, New York City, Restaurant, Snacks, Trends Tags: Big Gay Ice Cream Shop, birthday, Dinner, East Village, ice cream, Motorino, NYC, pizza, wine

Mar 21, 2012

Happy Birthday

It was my birthday over this past weekend. For some reason, 26 did not put me in the mood to have a grand celebration or really any celebration for that matter. Instead, I am having one-on-one dinners with my closest friends throughout this week. Maithil and I spent the majority of my birthday together. He woke me up at 9am on Sunday with a thoughtful and funny card (a tough to find combo) and a very sweet present. After quickly visiting with my mom, we headed into the city for what ended up being a mini food crawl of sorts, starting with a late lunch at Ippudo, followed by a walk around the East Village and a snack at Caracas Arepa Bar. We topped it off with a cupcake from Butter Lane to-go because I literally could not eat a crumb more. Our time together was filled with laughter and dancing (as we got ready for the day) and conversation and admiration for the gorgeous weather. My day ended with the consumption of the delectable cupcake and falling asleep on the couch as we started watching The Adventures of Tintin. It was an unexpectedly wonderful birthday.

Sapporo Light at Ippudo

Vanilla cake with sea-salt caramel chocolate frosting from Butter Lane

Flowers from Elizabeth at work

Flowers from my boss

Surprise cupcakes from my team at work, from Billy's Bakery

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: A Date, Bakery, East Village, Events, Food, Lunch, New York City, Restaurant, Snacks Tags: arepas, Billy's Bakery, birthday, Butter Lane, Caracas Arepa Bar, cupcakes, East Village, food, Ippudo, lunch, ramen

Feb 21, 2012

The New Veg: Dirt Candy

Although it has been a few weeks since my visit to Dirt Candy, it is never too late to write about the overall experience. While I won’t go into the too much detail for every dish, I can tell you that Dirt Candy will leave you thinking about vegetables in new and different ways. Chef Amanda Cohen’s innovative, cozy spot is not the easiest place to get a reservation, so book a couple of weeks in advance.

The not-so-large interior with an open kitchen towards the back (courtesy of NY Magazine).

A compact menu. Each dish is named after the main vegetable ingredient.

Mushroom: portobello mousse, truffled toast, pear and fennel compote. We were very excited for this dish, but the pâte-like mousse left us underwhelmed.

Pepper: yellow pepper soup, grilled orange pepper jam, jalapeno chips. Tasty, wish the portion was larger.

Chard: chard gnocchi, grilled chard, garlic granola, goat cheese sauce. The most inventive dish of the night with perfectly cooked gnocchi and a midly bitter-sweet sauce with a crunch in every bite.

Corn: stone ground grits, tempura poached egg, corm cream, pickled shitakes. Our favorite dish (along with the dessert), a creative balance of textures and hearty flavors. Definite comfort food.

The ice cream Nanaimo Bar - layers of sweet peas, mint and chocolate. Never have sweet peas ever tasted so good. An easy favorite.

Recap: great for a date or a group of four; small space; innovative dishes; knowledgeable service; smaller portions (especially dessert); not cheap

Food Tally: Glass of wine and a beer, $9 each; Mushroom, $13; Pepper, $12; Chard, $19; Corn, $18; Nanaimo Bar, $11. Total w/tax = $99.08.

Score: 4/5

Address: 430 East 9th Street, between Avenue A and First Ave., NYC; www.dirtcandynyc.com

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By: Pooja Desai Patel
Category: A Date, Dinner, East Village, Food, New York City, Restaurant Tags: chard, corn, dessert, Dinner, Dirt Candy, East Village, goat cheese, mushrooms, NYC, pepper, vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian

Sep 11, 2011

The Secret Sauce: Caracas Arepa Bar

The first time I visited Caracas Arepa Bar in the East Village, we had to wait an hour and a half for a table for two. Thankfully, when Kenzie and I arrived at 7pm on a weeknight, we were seated within fifteen minutes at the bar-for-two in the back. This always packed, hole in the wall serves up homemade Venezuelan slightly crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, baked corn pockets, aka an arepa, filled with a variety of toppings with a side of pleasant service.

We started with a plate of Tostones Mochimeros, fried green plantains topped with a savory green mojito mayo, crumbles of white cheese and cilantro. Crostini-like, they were crunchier than expected but just what we needed to tie us over until the main course. They were especially good with the addition of the phenomenal secret house sauce, the most magical blend of sweet, tangy and spicy flavors. The only ingredient in the sauce that our host told us about was “a mix of many different peppers”.

Tostones Mochimeros

And now, to the main part of the meal. Kenzie had the De Pabellon, an arepa with shredded beef, black beans, white salty cheese, and sweet plantains. The plantains provided just the right amount of sweetness to the filling dish and generous squirts of the secret sauce gave it that extra pick-me-up. I devoured my favorite from my previous visit, a La Mulata, an arepa filled with grilled white cheese, jalapeños, sautéed red peppers, fried sweet plantains, and black beans. One bite into the thick layer of grilled cheese mixed with the sweet and spicy interplay between the plantains and the jalapeños and I was mmmm-ing my way into satisfaction just like Kenzie. The secret sauce was once again the cherry on top of a delicious arrangement.

Arepas: La Mulata (left), De Pabellon (right)

From past visits, we knew that one arepa, especially the ones stuffed with a few toppings, is just enough to make you pleasantly full and a second is only required if you have skipped a couple of meals. My only complaint is that I wish there was one closer to my office so I could have one for lunch!

Recap: tiny space; good service; take-out and delivery are available; often has long waits; plenty of vegetarian options (baked tofu is available to replace most meats in the arepas); consistent; reasonably priced; amazing secret sauce; Note: The natural juices (I have previously tried the mango and the passion fruit) are a refreshing way to wash down your meal.

Food Tally: Tostones Mochimeros, $5.75; De Pabellon, $7.50; La Mulata, $6.50. Total (w/tax) = $21.50

Score: 4.25/5 (5/5 for the secret sauce)

Address: 93 ½ East 7^th Street, between 1^st Ave. and Avenue A, NYC; www.caracasarepabar.com