Sour Cherry Vareniki (dumplings)
by Celia Cheng
April 28th, 2007
CAFÉ GLECHIK
3159 Coney Island Ave
(Brighton Beach Ave & Brighton 10th St)
Brighton Beach, Brooklyn
718-616-0494
$
Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? The sour cherry dumplings at Glechik are a real treat, but there are twenty-five of them to an order. Sour cherries enwrapped in dumpling dough in just the right way — not too thin and not too heavy — already wets my palate but topping it with sour cream is like adding a cherry to a sundae – ecstasy! I totally expanded my waistline in one meal. That’s because I did have the other goodies and potato and mushroom vereniki as well. Next time I will share instead of hogging. But sometimes when you’re eating something good, you just can’t part with it.
Posted in Brighton Beach , Dessert , Dumpling , Russian
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Pilaf
by Celia Cheng
September 18th, 2006
CAFÉ KASHKAR
1141 Brighton Beach Ave
(Brighton 14th & Brighton 15th St)
Brighton Beach, Brooklyn
718-743-3832
$
Uighur cuisine is my dream come true — a combination of Chinese and Turkish influences. Café Kashkar’s pilaf is a mixture of fried rice, carrots, lamb and spices. The rice is rich and flavorful with a bright orange-yellow tint. Unlike many pilafs that come out exceedingly dry, this one is almost buttery, and the spices and generous use of cumin give it a full essence. The lamb (on the bone) is perfectly tender. In addition, accents of chickpeas and the well-cooked, soft shreds of carrot make the sum of this dish the best pilaf ever.
Posted in Brighton Beach , Chinese , Lamb , Rice
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