Steamed Pork Buns
by Celia Cheng
June 24th, 2007
FATTY CRAB
643 Hudson St
(Horatio & Gansevoort St)
212-352-3592
$$
These are undoubtedly the best pork buns in town! Yes, though I usually have a pretty strong voice, I have not felt this convinced about a dish in years. As a snack on Fatty Crab’s menu, one order serves two buns with thick slices of juicy pork belly. The relish that’s served on the side is meant to be added onto the bun and eaten all together. This includes slices of hard-boiled egg, cilantro, radish greens, pickled radishes, shallots, long green chiles, and a side sauce that’s a mixture of kecap manis (a sweet Indonesian soy sauce) and sriracha (the ubiquitous Southeast Asian hot sauce). The flavors are rich and linger on your tongue for the rest of the day, but it’s the imprint it leaves on your mind that counts!
Posted in Malaysian , Pork , West Village
Piglets in Puff Pastry Blankets
by Celia Cheng
June 24th, 2007
MITCHEL LONDON FOODS
22 E 65th St
(5th & Madison Ave)
212-737-2850
$$$
I must be a glutton for punishment because, despite the consistently rude and unprofessional staff at this chichi gourmet take-out, I can’t stop coming back to Mitchel London for these extremely pricey pigs in blankets. At $1.50 a piece, perhaps the fancier sounding name of “piglets in puff pastry blankets” somehow justifies the Upper East Side price point. Although I have many gripes, the bottom line is that they are delicious, and there seem to be many other masochists out there who will come back withstanding all humiliation just to grab a piglet or two.
Posted in American , Pork , Snack , UES
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Sticky Rice w/ Pork, Chicken & Chinese Sausage
by Celia Cheng
May 30th, 2007
SAMMY’S NOODLE SHOP & GRILL
453-461 6th Ave
(10th & 11th St)
212-924-6688
$
Who would have thought there’s actually something worth trying at Sammy’s Noodle Shop & Grill?! The Chinese restaurant that occupies nearly the entire block certainly has an extensive menu, so after deep digging, and digging and digging, a friend chanced upon the sticky rice appetizer, listed as dim sum (steamed) on Sammy’s menu. This is a rather common dish of steamed gluttonous rice with dried fried shallot and Chinese sausage as the main ingredients that make it so tasty. Sticky rice is extremely dense so even as an appetizer for only $4.50, it makes a copious base for a meal.
Posted in Chinese , Pork , Rice , West Village
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Ham, Gruyere & Egg Crêpe
by Celia Cheng
October 24th, 2006
PALACINKA [CLOSED]
28 Grand St
(6th Ave & Thompson St)
212-625-0362
$
The charming thing about Palacinka is that it’s a high-profile but low-profile joint. What I mean is that it’s laid back and unpretentious, yet it’s also a great place for celebrity sightings. The buckwheat crêpes are thin and compact, and are accompanied by a little side of salad. The ham, Gruyere and egg crêpe is classic, elegant, and delicious. Think about it, who doesn’t love ham, cheese, egg, or crêpe? When you put them all together and enjoy them while chilling out at this endearing crêperie, it just makes for a perfect meal.
Posted in Cheese , French , Pork
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Jaeger Schnitzel
by Celia Cheng
July 31st, 2006
BLAUE GANS
139 Duane St
(W B’way & Church St)
Manhattan
212-571-8880
$$
Oh my God! A perfectly pounded thin slice of pork is breaded and pan-fried in oil, then butter, cream, bacon and mushrooms are added to make the scrumptious sauce. The jaeger schnitzel at Blaue Gans is perfection. The ingredients are supremely fresh and the sauce, though rich, doesn’t feel heavy. Oh, but I forgot to mention that it comes with my favorite spaetzle in town —- I just love Kurt Gutenbrunner’s spaetzle. This dish puts me in a sheer state of ecstasy.
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