March 19, 2012

  • Tuna Salad Sandwich @ Tower Diner

    Tower Diner
    PH: 718-459-7000

    98-95 Queens Boulevard
    Forest Hills, NY 11374

    tower1

    My good friend Craig had been telling me about this place for the longest time, about how good the Tuna Salad was, and that it was the best he’s ever had, and believe you me, i trust him when he says he’s had a lot of tuna salad before. A highschool friend of mine was in town and wanted to catch up. What better place to catch up then a Diner in NYC?

    tower2

    Tuna Salad Sandwich on toast with lettuce with a side of fries and of course, how could you go to a diner without trying the coffee?

    tower3

    The tuna salad was ridonkulously good. Everything melded well together, and the toast was perfect. Fries were eh.

    Summation: My only qualm would be that the booths are a bit tight…my highschool friend and i were playing a little too much unwanted footsie cause the booths were so tight. (don’t worry men, we made up for it by punching each other in the face and then murdering many people in MW3.)

    Other than the tight booths, the service and food were really good. I can’t wait to go back and try more food.

    CHEERS!!!

March 15, 2012

March 12, 2012

  • Lucky Boy puts something in my mouth and makes me happy.

    Lucky Boy Restaurant
    PH: 516-239-9352

    636 Rockaway Turnpike
    Lawrence, NY 11559

    lb1

    Well i was suppose to meet up with a friend but they apparently ditched me for one reason or another, but that didn’t stop me from not going to the restaurant i wanted to try. LOL. I’m perfectly comfortable and fine eating by myself and taking pics of food. The place was very warm and cosy, and pretty packed at an odd hour. So i decided to sit at the “bar”. Parking is right behind the restaurant just in case you miss the “Parking in Rear” sign. lol. Have to thank google for the recommend as i typed in “Good food in Lawrence, NY.” and Lucky Boy is first to pop up.

    Environment:
    lb2
    I look to my left.
    		 lb3
    I look to the front.
    		 lb4
    a little to the right
    (this guy was awesome)
     
    The place was really warm and cozy, and the wait staff was really friendly and helpful. I felt very welcome and not awkward at all (of course i asked first if i could take pictures, which is proper picture taking etiquette in an establishment. you need not state you are a food critic or a tourist or whatever, but it’s always polite to ask if you can take pics first before you do, especially if employees are going to be in the picture.)
    lb5
    More to the right.
    		 lb6
    and all the way to the right.
    (i should have checked out the Costco lol)

    I was going to post pics of the menu, but the entire menu with prices is available on their website!

    FOOOOOOD!:

    lb7

    First up was bread and butter in olive oil.

    lb8

    you can tell they bake their own bread fresh everyday, you get two chunks…crunchy crust super soft inside. (only recommendation would be to serve this warm…that would be AMAZING!)

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    The aroma from the oil and the milky butter was perfect on the bread….soooo goood

    lb10

    Gyro Special (Gyro meat, one stick of pork souvalki, and greek salad on an open plate. Tzatziki and pita bread served on the side) – $11.95

    lb11

    the pork souvlaki was ridiculously good and juicy, NOT DRY AT ALL…so succulent, i couldn’t stop eating it with the bread and tzatziki.

    lb12

    the greek salad was really good, the add the dressing in but you can ask for it on the side.

    lb13

    the gyro meat is cut fresh to order, i was lucky they just put on a new batch so i got a ton of crispy skin with the well flavored perfectly seasoned meat.

    lb14

    fresh warm pita that they make themselves…

    lb15

    tzatziki they make on their own too, what i liked most was they used slivers of cucumbers instead of chunks…which made eating it far more enjoyable and easy…

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    and you put all the ingredients together and its just heaven in your mouth…mouthgasm after mouthgasm….*droooool

    Summation: Sure some may say that $11.95 is too expensive, but it is a lot of food you’re getting. and i like the service. And they’re quick and efficient. And seeing as they make everything fresh, i don’t mind the price at all (a gyro sandwich is $6.95)

    Though it was a bit of a trek for me, and kind of in the middle of nowhere, with Lucky Boy’s faithful local followers, i highly doubt this place will ever be in financial difficulty…

    and i ultimately admit there were lots of items i saw pass by the front of me that i wanted to try ASAP…like mussels…and scallops…and their skirt steak….and their freshly grilled salmon….jeez…mouth watering again….i highly recommend the place if you’re in the area.

    CHEERS!!!

     

March 11, 2012

March 5, 2012

  • Ant Eggs at Playground Authentic Thai Cuisine

    Playground
    PH: 718-779-7912

    71-30 Roosevelt Avenue
    Elmhurst, NY 11377

    playground1

    So i had heard from my friend Vorakarn of an Authentic Thai Cuisine joint that served Grasshoppers and Ant Eggs. it sounded super interesting and i was up for trying new foods…SO WHY NOT!?? I was lucky enough to be accompanied by the lovely Vorakarn to not only order for me but to also eat with me. woot! 

    อาหาร:
    playground2
    I got the thai iced tea, but Vorakarn got a drink made out of palm tree…which was really good…i definitely want to get that next time and recommend it.
    		 playground3
    E-San Style BBQ – Beef
    (grilled beef with Thai E-san spicy sauce)
     oh man this was really really good. the meat was cooked perfectly and i think the lime helped make it really really tender…it quite literally melted in our mouths.
    $9.00

    playground4

    playground5 playground6
    We got some Sticky Rice to go with our appetizer. It came warm/hot and was really good with all of our dishes. $2.00

    playground7

    Red Ant Egg Salad
    (Shallot, onion, mint, lemongrass, seasoning lime juice, fish, chili powder sauce roasted rice.)     This was surprisingly good…i had expected something like roe, but that was not the case. it had a somewhat firm texture and it left like a earthy/woodsy taste. All the seasoning worked really well with it and accompanied by the sticky rice, it was really good. $10.00
    playground8    		 playground9
    Babe Shrimp Salad
    (lemongrass, mint, onion, cayenne pepper, fresh cut saw blade and the rice is indispensable)     This was actually pretty good…but we were kind of expecting the shrimp to be alive and jumping, but they weren’t….also for some reason shrimp shells never sit well with me (or in my stomach) so i didn’t eat much of it.
    $10.00

    playground10

    playground11

    Soft Shell Crab with Mango Salad (Mango, cashew nut, onion, cilantro, tomato, shallot with the sugar, fish sauce lime juice, cayenne pepper) This was really good. take a piece of hot fresh fried softshell crab, then pile on some mango and onions and shallots and as much of the salad as you can get and put it all in your mouth at once. the mixture of temperatures, textures and flavors play a party in your mouth that is an undeniable sinful orgy of goodness and orchestrated oral pleasures. $10.00

    playground12

    playground13

    I couldn’t find this on the Menu and Vorakarn had ordered it. She said the Thai translation meant “A Gathering” and i think she had also mentioned that most likely meant for gathering of all the ingredients…it really tasted like taro ice cream….with corn in it (as seen kernels below) Whatever the case…this “taro” ice cream was ridiculously good…and i’d definitely take this over green tea any day.

    playground14

    Summation: Playground’s food was really good and i highly recommend it, and at late night they even have karoke. lol.

    The items that stood out in order of standing out were the Ant Eggs, Succulent BBQ Beef, Soft Shell crab with the mango (VERY IMPORTANT!! DON’T FORGET THE MANGO!!!) and last but not least the “Taro” ice cream….sooooo goooooood.

    I highly recommend this joint.

February 27, 2012

February 13, 2012

  • Social Eatz’ Bulgogi Burger.

    Social Eatz
    PH: 212-207-3339

    232 East 53rd Street
    New York, NY 10022

    seatz1

    My good friend JW1976 had told me about a joint near my office that served really good interesting food. And since Biandang foodtruck has been closed for the winter, my co-workers and i have been trying different cuisine around our neck of the woods, so WHY NOT?!

    FOOOOOOOD!

    seatz2

    Food didn’t take long and was still warm when we got it. All three of us opted for the Bulgogi Burger. (of course some of us got some sides. lol)

    seatz3

    Toga Rings:
    These were pretty good, onions had a burst to them when you bit, batter was good, but what really caught your attention was the slight bite of the seasoning. YUM!
    $4.50
    seatz4    		 seatz5
    Mac & Cheese: This now becomes the best mac and cheese i’ve ever had in midtown. Their mix of tangy cheese sauce, bread crumb goodness baked on top and garnished with some scallions just makes this comfort food oh so very comfortable in the office….*droool $4.50

    seatz6

    after you break through the smoked bread crumb/cheese goodness you find yourself met with welcome warm gooey cheese mac…a definitely must get the next time i order from this joint.

    seatz7

    seatz9

    This is the cooled cucumber kimchee that comes with the Bulgogi burger. It wasn’t as spicy as i had imagined it to be. but it was really good. and i added it to my burger…which made it even better…with all the flavors and textures popping out at you. YUM!

    seatz10

    seatz8

    Bulgogi Burger: Now for the Main Event all three of us got this. Literaly “fire meat” in Korean, the beef charred, hence the name. Sauced with soy, sugar, scallion, garlic and sesame oil then garnished with cooled cucumber kimchee, kewpee and a japanese mayo (though i thought kewpee was a japanese mayo? *shrug) $12.00

    seatz11

    you could definitely taste the “bulgogi-ness” of the burger char…which was really good, and even better when accented by the thousand islandish like sauce/dressing on the burger…this was a really good fucking burger. it’d give my fave Zeitzeff kobe burger a run for its money.

    seatz12

    Summation: Ultimately, this was a very good burger, and i’d definitely recommend it…but not necessarily all the time…why? the price. 12 bucks for a burger is a pretty hefty price…don’t get me wrong, it’s good…but it’ll definitely be once in a while before i start pounding these suckers left and right.

    the mac and cheese was far superior, and onion rings were aite.

    Though there is definitely a few more items that i def want to try at this joint, like the bimbimbap burger, the imperialist hot dog, and let’s not forget the sloppy ho chi-minh! lol

    CHEERS!

    Monday, March 26, 2012

    BiBimBap Burger @ Social Eatz

    Social Eatz
    PH: 212-207-3339

    232 East 53rd Street
    New York, NY 10022

    seatz1

    After the great experience with the Bulgolgi burger, i was definitely up to try the BiBimBap Burger!!

    FOOOOOOOD!

    eatsoc1

    Got me some onion rings too.

    eatsoc2

    The Toga rings are off the hizzy! soooooo gooooood. $4.50

    eatsoc3

    Extra pickled veggies for your burger.

    eatsoc4

    BiBimBap Burger (Korean for ‘mixed meal’, it’s ground beef with a slow cooked egg, covered in lettuce and served with pickled carrot and cucumber.) $12.00

    eatsoc5

    They also had a lovely bibimbap sauce on the burger. i loved fried egg on anything…or runny yolkie egg….soooo gooooood

    eatsoc6

    Even more pickled veggies on the bottom….This was a really really good burger, and i highly recommend it!

    Summation: ok, don’t get me wrong, this burger is really good…but i feel the bulgogi burger is far better than this burger…not to mention this burger is RIDICULOUSLY MESSY!!!

    and last but not least…these burgers are kind of expensive here…i mean 12 bucks, no fries or anything…so its not something i’d eat every week…let alone every month…perhaps once every 6 months?

    CHEERS!

    February 2, 2012

    • Tina likes it when i put it in my mouth.

      Tina’s
      PH: 212-315-4313

      23 west 56th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
      New York, NY 10019

      tina0

      I’ve actually eaten at Tina’s and Sophie’s a lot, but fail to ever been able to remember to take pics before stuffing my face with such great cuban cuisine. I won’t touch on the history/rivalry/split off/rumors etc..etc about Tina and Sophie. Instead i will will attempt to show off my new cellphone camera…hope you guys find the pics acceptable. YUM! (if not. bite me.)

      *i procured this pic from Tasty Eating, a Food Lover (not a foodie, don’t you dare accidentally label him wrong! )

      Tina’s Temptation:

      tina1

      Porkchops in Red sauce (Chuletas en salsa, available on tues and weds at this location) with yellow rice and cuban potato salad. Tomato based red sauce. This was really fucking good. yup, that’s right, i dropped the f-bomb. that’s how good it was. $9.00

      you get the special of the day and choice of two sides. there’s a lot, and i don’t feel like typing it out, so just go to their menu site and look. If you’re too lazy to google it, you can click here.

      tina2

      Oh good grief, i love Tina’s Potato salad…its soooo gooood.

      tina3

      You get two porkchops, that are cooked to perfection and enough fat to make it really really juicy and tasty and flavorful. (there’s an onion option, they are a tad raw and quite spicy. DADDY LIKES! but it’s not for everyone.)

      My Favorite at Tina’s:

      fooooood

      Available on Monday’s and Thursdays at Tina’s the Ground Beef Stew on yellow rice and beans is to DIE FOR. it’s my favorite thing to get, as you can see its not just ground beef, and the flavoring reminds me of of a hot sweaty sexy day in cuba…(i’ve never been to cuba.) food good. put in mouth. $9.00

      Summation: Since Biandang is closed for the winter, my co-workers and i have had to find somewhere else to stuff our faces to prevent us from stomping around in a circle all day at work. and Tina’s been a great temp fill in (though admittedly we do Andy’s every week also….mmmm braised pork over rice…oops sorry….FOCUS PANDA!

      The Beef Patty (Empanada de carne) $1.50 – SUPER GOOD!

      Mashed cassava with Pork (Croqueta de yuca) $1.50 – imagine a softer knish with ground pork stuffing…SOOO VERY GOOD!!!

      Roast Pork (Pernil – it’s an every day special) $9.00 – this was really good too! not overly dry! very juicy and moist.

      Beef Stew (Carne con papas) $9.00 – didn’t like it…it got really dry at the end.

      Ultimately still love the Ground beef stew the most! soooooo gooooood!! and the little green sauces and mohito sauces are the bomb digs.

      CHEERS!!!

    January 30, 2012

    • MAINE’s Great Lost Bear (yup, back in Maine, WOOT!)

      The Great Lost Bear
      PH: 207-772-0300

      540 Forest Avenue
      Portland, Maine 04101

      glb1

      Polarbear had been telling me about this place, and that it had great burgers, and if i ever wanted to take a break from lobster, it’d be a nifty joint to try out. SO WHY NOT?!?!?!?

      glb2

      Menu:

      glb3

      It was a toss up between the Super Burger…and THE ALMIGHTY CHEESUS BURGER!….i think the ACB was on food network, but Polarbear kept raving about the super burger…so i went for the super burger (only to later find out she’s never had it…instead it was her friend that had it and raved about it to her…sometimes…i just want to strangle her… )

      *click on menu sliver to get to Great Lost Bear’s Full menu on their site.

      Fooooooood:

      glb4

      mmmm root beers and ginger beer….alll goood shtuff.

      glb5

      Food took ok amount of time.

      glb6

      Giant Mushroom Burger: grilled portobello mushroom on a burger with salad option, no fries $10.99

      glb7

      Someone was daring enough to try a fish sandwich at a burger joint. *shrug Grilled Tuna Steak Sandwich: available plain or with cajun seasonings, served on a bulkie roll with lettuce, tomato & Jalapeno mayonaise (she got it without the cajun seasonings and fries) $10.99

      glb8

      Super Burger: 3 cheeses plus cheese sauce, vacon, fried egg, chili, lettuce, onions & tomatoes with salad option, no fries… $11.99
      glb9 glb10
      the egg was overcooked, but i had enough of a mess on my hands with the chili. I put this bad boy all together and took a big bite out of it.
      glb11 glb12
      it was really messy, and i would have preferred the egg to be runny…but it was really fucking good. i mean i couldn’t stop eating it, and ultimately finished it…(along with my salad…which i’m glad i ordered instead of fries, cause i think i fell asleep right afterwards…)

      Summation: I will definitely be going back to try the ALMIGHTY CHEESUS BURGER..that has (instead of buns) two grilled cheese sandwiches….then again i wonder if you could get the super burger with two grilled cheese…hmmm nvm. LOL.

      Great food, great friends…this is definitely the good life.

    January 27, 2012

    • Breakfast on a gloomy nyc rainy day…

      I decided to make some vegetable cream cheese at home.
      Toasted up a fresh costco everything bagel and added in some Cafe Du Monde.
      breakfaster
      Damn this is the good life….now just got to find me some smoked lox.
      TGIF EVERYONE!!!