You are here: Home / 2010 / Archives for April 2010

Under the Green Tent: Korean Street Food – Review of Pocha 32

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BY SARAH IP

Pocha 32
15 W 32nd St, 2nd Fl
(between 5th Ave & Broadway)
Koreatown, NY  10001
(212) 279-1874

Green Tent. Photo by Sarah Ip.

Green Tent. Photo by Sarah Ip.

Imagine yourself bundled up in layers in the dead of winter, sitting on a stool outdoors under a plastic green tent with gurgling pots of kimchi -infused casseroles, soups and spices mingling around you.  Soju bottle in hand, pouring your sunbaenim (elder, in Korean) a shot and knocking the vodka-like substance back with a hearty “Kanbei!”…followed by a loud, vehement clearing of the throat.  Slurping down ramyun like it was a race to the finish, burning your tongue in the process because you want to eat the noodles while they’re not soggy. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Korean, Koreatown Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

A Landmark Tradition of Finest Quality Meats: Esposito's Pork Shop

April 14, 2010 By 1 Comment

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

Esposito’s Pork Shop
354 West 38th Street
Garment District
212-868-4124/espositosausage.com

In the seemingly desolate area that the backside of The Port Authority Bus Terminal occupies, lie but a few hidden gems.  One of them, a long standing (since 1933 to be exact) butcher shop specializing in homemade pork sausages of all kinds.

Esposito's Pork Shop, courtesy of Smoothjazzy on Flickr

Esposito's Pork Shop, courtesy of Smoothjazzy on Flickr

The exterior of the establishment, unchanged since it’s opening 77 years ago, is inviting with vintage robin’s egg blue lettering and a friendly caricature of a pig.  Look down a few feet and you are greeted by fresh meat hanging and displayed on trays and signs that could not be more utilitarian with block letters notifying passersby of the variety available for the day followed by the price. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Italian, Midtown West Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

A Landmark Tradition of Finest Quality Meats: Esposito’s Pork Shop

April 14, 2010 By 1 Comment

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

Esposito’s Pork Shop
354 West 38th Street
Garment District
212-868-4124/espositosausage.com

In the seemingly desolate area that the backside of The Port Authority Bus Terminal occupies, lie but a few hidden gems.  One of them, a long standing (since 1933 to be exact) butcher shop specializing in homemade pork sausages of all kinds.

Esposito's Pork Shop, courtesy of Smoothjazzy on Flickr

Esposito's Pork Shop, courtesy of Smoothjazzy on Flickr

The exterior of the establishment, unchanged since it’s opening 77 years ago, is inviting with vintage robin’s egg blue lettering and a friendly caricature of a pig.  Look down a few feet and you are greeted by fresh meat hanging and displayed on trays and signs that could not be more utilitarian with block letters notifying passersby of the variety available for the day followed by the price. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Italian, Midtown West Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

"Short of gourmet" – Review of David Burke at Bloomingdale's

April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

David Burke @ Bloomingdale’s
1000 3rd Avenue
Midtown East
212-705-3800 / burkeinthebox.com

When I stumbled upon David Burke at Bloomingdale’s, I couldn’t believe it: an affordable way to enjoy the innovative, award winning gourmet that is David Burke. Engulfed by a plethora of orange objects, my guest and I were escorted to the back past a sleek, modern bar and a few tables. By the time I walked to the back of the small space, I was already visually spent on the overwhelming orange interior (complete with mini basketballs inside the tabletops, March Madness anyone?).

Dumpling Duo at David Burke @ Bloomingdale's

Dumpling Duo at David Burke @ Bloomingdale's

First we were served a softball sized dinner roll that was more croissant than roll and had a cheesy surprise in the middle. For starters, we ordered the Dumpling Duo ($10.50). The duo consisted in the flavors, which were both Asian, and at the same time very American. Nestled in a bath of barbecue sauce, the shrimp, shiitake, and ginger dumpling and chicken barbecue dumplings tasted offputtingly similar, only differentiated by the green onions in the shiitake ginger variation. [Read more...]

Filed Under: American, Midtown, Midtown East Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

“Short of gourmet” – Review of David Burke at Bloomingdale’s

April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

David Burke @ Bloomingdale’s
1000 3rd Avenue
Midtown East
212-705-3800 / burkeinthebox.com

When I stumbled upon David Burke at Bloomingdale’s, I couldn’t believe it: an affordable way to enjoy the innovative, award winning gourmet that is David Burke. Engulfed by a plethora of orange objects, my guest and I were escorted to the back past a sleek, modern bar and a few tables. By the time I walked to the back of the small space, I was already visually spent on the overwhelming orange interior (complete with mini basketballs inside the tabletops, March Madness anyone?).

Dumpling Duo at David Burke @ Bloomingdale's

Dumpling Duo at David Burke @ Bloomingdale's

First we were served a softball sized dinner roll that was more croissant than roll and had a cheesy surprise in the middle. For starters, we ordered the Dumpling Duo ($10.50). The duo consisted in the flavors, which were both Asian, and at the same time very American. Nestled in a bath of barbecue sauce, the shrimp, shiitake, and ginger dumpling and chicken barbecue dumplings tasted offputtingly similar, only differentiated by the green onions in the shiitake ginger variation. [Read more...]

Filed Under: American, Midtown, Midtown East Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The New KFC: Korean Fried Chicken – Review of Bonchon Chicken

April 2, 2010 By 1 Comment

BY SARAH IP

Bonchon Chicken
207 W 38th St
(between 7th Ave & 8th Ave)
Koreatown / New York, New York
(212) 221-3339
 www.bonchon.com/eng/index.php

Original Soy & Garlic Fried Chicken. Photo by Sarah Ip.

Original Soy & Garlic Fried Chicken. Photo by Sarah Ip.

I love KFC.  That’s Korean Fried Chicken (and not that other, Colonel Sanders-style chicken).  No, this isn’t Southern fried chicken with grits and collard greens on the side.  You’d more likely find it served with daikon (pickled radish).  It’s not dipped in batter twice and fried to a crisp.  Instead, Korean fried chicken is made with a delicate soy and garlic marinade, resulting in a light crunch. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asian Fare, Korean, Koreatown, Midtown West, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Small Joint’s Tacos Hit a Homerun: A Review of Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BY BETH KAISERMAN

Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos
271 Starr St.
Bushwick, Brooklyn
718-456-3422

Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos, a little shack in Bushwick, cooks up the cheapest, most delicious tacos I’ve found yet in New York City. The ingredients are fresh, from the house-made corn tortillas to the crunchy lettuce that complements the spicy Mexican flavors. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Brooklyn, Bushwick, Mexican, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
Newer Posts »