Cousin Leroy & Arlo’s Soft-Serve Ice Cream
by Celia Cheng
August 25th, 2008
MOMOFUKU NOODLE BAR
171 First Ave
(10th & 11th St)
212-777-7773
$
Momofuku Noodle Bar’s soft serve is the perfect low-maintenance dessert solution for this bustling eatery. The rotating flavors, however, reflect careful composition and a departure from traditional (i.e. boring) flavors. Most recently, I’ve been enjoying the seasonal blueberry and smoked peach twist with crumble topping. Thanks to the texture of the fruit, this ice cream is so light that it seems more like frozen yogurt or sorbet. And I love the fact that the cone is almond flavored. I may not have the patience to wait in the long line for a bowl of noodles, but I’m always happy to duck in for a quick soft-serve pick-me-up.
Posted in American , East Village , Ice Cream
Noodle Salad (freshly made noodles & greens w/ grapefruit dressing)
by Celia Cheng
July 28th, 2008
IPPUDO
65 4th Ave
(9th & 10th St)
212-388-0088
$
The Japanese are good at creating salad noodles for summertime. It makes sense. It’s hot out, you want to have a meal, but pure carbs are too heavy, and a salad might not do it, so the Japanese combine the two as in the noodle salad at Ippudo. A much lighter option than the signature ramen, the slightly thicker egg noodles used for tsukemen are cooked then chilled and dressed in a soy sauce and mustard based mixture. The salad is mesclun with sliced bell pepper, daikon, tomato, grapefruit and grapefruit jelly. The contrast between the pungent mustard and the aromatic grapefruit is a delight. It’s topped with deep-fried thin strips of gobo (burdock root), and comes with a soy, grated radish and ginger sauce on the side. I find this additional sauce unnecessary, adding too many elements to the already vibrant noodle salad. Nevertheless, each time I finish this dish, I feel sated but light and totally refreshed.
Posted in East Village , Japanese , Noodles , Salad
Prosecco Lychee Martini
by Celia Cheng
June 18th, 2008
GRAFFITI
224 E 10th St
(1st & 2nd Ave)
212-464-7743
$
At $7, the prosecco lychee martini at Graffiti may be one of the best steals in town. It’s so good that it’s justified as the only cocktail on the menu. Served in a large glass that resembles a martini glass without the stem, the blend of homemade lychee sorbet and prosecco make a refreshing pairing. These two parts act as the sweet and tangy complements of this “martini.” This cocktail appears on the food menu as it is yet another of Chef Jehangir Mehta’s tasty creations. But it’s just to get you started; the rest of the menu and the adorably tiny (seriously tiny) restaurant make the entire dining experience such a treat.
Posted in Drinks , East Village , Fusion
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Lunch Box
by Celia Cheng
February 19th, 2008
SURA
105 E 9th St
(3rd & 4th Ave)
212-982-6390
$
The Korean lunch boxes at Sura are a great deal. I’m a beef fan, so I usually go for the bulgogi (thinly sliced sirloin beef marinated in sweet soy sauce) or the kalbi (marinated rib eye beef grilled on charcoal). In addition to the main, the lunch box is served with a salad, (over)dressed in carrot miso dressing, two small pieces of mung bean pancake, two pieces of California roll, white or multigrain rice (go for multigrain as you can get white anywhere), spinach miso soup, and a roll of kimchi. It’s a copious, well-balanced meal, all for just around $10. Who wouldn’t crave that?
Posted in Beef , East Village , Korean , Lunch
Pumpkin Pancakes
by Cristy-Lucie Alvarado
December 17th, 2007
CAFÉ ORLIN
41 St Marks Pl
(1st & 2nd Ave)
212-777-1447
$$
With a menu that includes creamy hummus, gooey chocolate cake, and insanely generous breakfast specials, it’s no wonder Café Orlin is a dine-out staple for most East Villagers. For this windy winter season, I heartily recommend the pumpkin pancakes — part of the breakfast menu served till 4pm daily. The five fluffy pancakes, dressed in cinnamon yogurt, are carelessly piled on top of each other and garnished with split orange rings. They are served with butter and a side of maple syrup, but I didn’t need either of them. The pumpkin’s sweetness is balanced by the slightly sour yogurt, and the cinnamon adds just a dash of spice. Next time, I think I’ll request some extra yogurt for proper dipping. Mmm, a nice comforting breakfast for these cold winter mornings.
Posted in Breakfast , East Village , Eclectic , Grains
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