What’s on Doyers Street?

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

What’s on… Doyers Street?
Chinatown

Doyers

Doyers Street is a historic one block street in Chinatown.  In the early 20th century, the unique street was known as the “Bloody Angle” due to its right angle hooking the street north from the Bowery to Pell Street.  Doyers Street was the site of Chinese gang wars where the sharp angle and series of underground tunnels made the perfect battleground.  It is said that foot by foot, Doyers is home to the most bloodshed in the city

Lucky for us, today Doyers Street has plenty of great stops without the violence!

Roast duck with hand pulled noodle soup at Tasty Hand Pulled Noodle Inc.

Roast duck with hand pulled noodle soup at Tasty Hand Pulled Noodle Inc.

1 Doyers Street – Tasty Hand Pulled Noodle Inc.
Stop by Tasty Hand Pulled Noodle for a huge bowl of freshly pulled noodle soup.  Can’t be beat prices, ranging from $4.50 – $6.50 include everything from beef tendon to roast duck to eel.  Take out is your best bet but if dining in, try to tune out the rather disturbing slapping and pounding noise of the hand pulled noodles being made in the kitchen and enjoy your soup and complementary green tea!
Service isn’t the quickest, but the waitresses are more than accommodating and will do whatever they can to make you feel at home.
*Try the dumplings as well for an equally as tasty treat!

Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles on Urbanspoon


3 Doyers Street – Excellent Pork Chop House
For authentic Chinese comfort food, try Excellent Pork Chop House.  The basic pork chop over rice ($5.25) is always a crowd pleaser, but don’t forget to try the spicy wonton dumplings, or for something a little different, their marinated eggs ($.50 ea.).

Excellent Pork Chop House on Urbanspoon

9 Doyers Steet – Apothéke
The only nightlife destination on the street lies at an unmarked  doorway at 9 Doyers Street.  Modeled after the opium den that once occupied the same address, Apotheke wows patrons with its expertly mixed cocktails ($15 at the bar). The cocktail list is always changing, with standbys like my personal favorite, the Cilantro Paso – a cilantro infused gin with white lillet, agave nectar, lemon juice, and muddled cucumber.
Table service is also available if you’re lucky enough to snag one by reservation or by luck.  Enjoy a selection of aptly inspired Asian hors d’oeuvres or a cocktail off their pricier menu featuring the likes of Ron Zacapa and itching to set your back upwards of $50 each.
Live entertainment featuring DJs and experimental indie rock on select nights is always a draw, but be prepared for a choosy door.

Apothéke on Urbanspoon

11 Doyers Street, 2nd Floor – ???
On some nights above the old location of Doyers Vietnamese at 11 Doyers Street you can see red lights and movement behind drawn curtains on floor #2.  Inside sources say this is a secret karaoke lounge, only accessible by the extremely in-the-know.  Could this be where the Gold Flower Karaoke loung (original location at 9 Doyers, closed in 2007) moved to?  Or could the red lights suggest a different kind of establishment altogether?

Nom Wah Tea Parlor – Currently under renovation

Nom Wah Tea Parlor – Currently under renovation


13 Doyers Street – Nom Wah Tea Parlor
Although currently closed for renovations, Nom Wah, originally opened in 1920 was the first Dim Sum Parlor in New York City.  The Shew My (pork buns) are can’t miss.  Eat like a king for under $10 and leave relaxed, fat, and happy.
We can only hope that the new renovations won’t take away from this historic Chinatown gem!

18 Doyers Street – Sanur
If you’re in the mood for authentic Malaysian food, Sanur is the place to go.  Sanur serves authentic Malaysian and Indonesian specialities like lontong (a compressed rice cake dish) and soto ayam mee fun (a spicy Indonesian chicken noodle soup).
As with all the restaurants on Doyers, the shabby not-so-chic decor can be a turn off, but really do you come to Chinatown for the decor or the food?

Sanur on Urbanspoon

Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

What's on Doyers Street?

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

What’s on… Doyers Street?
Chinatown

Doyers

Doyers Street is a historic one block street in Chinatown.  In the early 20th century, the unique street was known as the “Bloody Angle” due to its right angle hooking the street north from the Bowery to Pell Street.  Doyers Street was the site of Chinese gang wars where the sharp angle and series of underground tunnels made the perfect battleground.  It is said that foot by foot, Doyers is home to the most bloodshed in the city

Lucky for us, today Doyers Street has plenty of great stops without the violence!

Roast duck with hand pulled noodle soup at Tasty Hand Pulled Noodle Inc.

Roast duck with hand pulled noodle soup at Tasty Hand Pulled Noodle Inc.

1 Doyers Street – Tasty Hand Pulled Noodle Inc.
Stop by Tasty Hand Pulled Noodle for a huge bowl of freshly pulled noodle soup.  Can’t be beat prices, ranging from $4.50 – $6.50 include everything from beef tendon to roast duck to eel.  Take out is your best bet but if dining in, try to tune out the rather disturbing slapping and pounding noise of the hand pulled noodles being made in the kitchen and enjoy your soup and complementary green tea!
Service isn’t the quickest, but the waitresses are more than accommodating and will do whatever they can to make you feel at home.
*Try the dumplings as well for an equally as tasty treat!

Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles on Urbanspoon


3 Doyers Street – Excellent Pork Chop House
For authentic Chinese comfort food, try Excellent Pork Chop House.  The basic pork chop over rice ($5.25) is always a crowd pleaser, but don’t forget to try the spicy wonton dumplings, or for something a little different, their marinated eggs ($.50 ea.).

Excellent Pork Chop House on Urbanspoon

9 Doyers Steet – Apothéke
The only nightlife destination on the street lies at an unmarked  doorway at 9 Doyers Street.  Modeled after the opium den that once occupied the same address, Apotheke wows patrons with its expertly mixed cocktails ($15 at the bar). The cocktail list is always changing, with standbys like my personal favorite, the Cilantro Paso – a cilantro infused gin with white lillet, agave nectar, lemon juice, and muddled cucumber.
Table service is also available if you’re lucky enough to snag one by reservation or by luck.  Enjoy a selection of aptly inspired Asian hors d’oeuvres or a cocktail off their pricier menu featuring the likes of Ron Zacapa and itching to set your back upwards of $50 each.
Live entertainment featuring DJs and experimental indie rock on select nights is always a draw, but be prepared for a choosy door.

Apothéke on Urbanspoon

11 Doyers Street, 2nd Floor – ???
On some nights above the old location of Doyers Vietnamese at 11 Doyers Street you can see red lights and movement behind drawn curtains on floor #2.  Inside sources say this is a secret karaoke lounge, only accessible by the extremely in-the-know.  Could this be where the Gold Flower Karaoke loung (original location at 9 Doyers, closed in 2007) moved to?  Or could the red lights suggest a different kind of establishment altogether?

Nom Wah Tea Parlor – Currently under renovation

Nom Wah Tea Parlor – Currently under renovation


13 Doyers Street – Nom Wah Tea Parlor
Although currently closed for renovations, Nom Wah, originally opened in 1920 was the first Dim Sum Parlor in New York City.  The Shew My (pork buns) are can’t miss.  Eat like a king for under $10 and leave relaxed, fat, and happy.
We can only hope that the new renovations won’t take away from this historic Chinatown gem!

18 Doyers Street – Sanur
If you’re in the mood for authentic Malaysian food, Sanur is the place to go.  Sanur serves authentic Malaysian and Indonesian specialities like lontong (a compressed rice cake dish) and soto ayam mee fun (a spicy Indonesian chicken noodle soup).
As with all the restaurants on Doyers, the shabby not-so-chic decor can be a turn off, but really do you come to Chinatown for the decor or the food?

Sanur on Urbanspoon

Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

Beautiful nuances of wines and art merge

BY BETH KAISERMAN

The fine subtleties of three wines paired well with artist L.J. Lindhurst’s exhibit about the little things in life last night at Root Hill Café in Park Slope.

Lindhurst’s exhibit ‘Little Shiny Things’ opened on Oct. 7th and features paintings of tiny objects portrayed up-close– a view not normally taken with these everyday objects. This realistic view of the little things in life adorns the café’s walls until November 1.

Annie pouring wine

Annie pouring wine

Wine sommelier Annie Shapero presented a $9 flight of three white wines, two from Long Island and one from the Finger Lakes, to accompany the Brooklyn-based artist’s exhibit.

The first was a Collina 48 Chardonnay with 10-15% Sauvignon Blanc from Macari Vineyards in Eastern Long Island in Mattituck, where the Obamas order wine from, Shapero said. Unlike most oaky Chardonnays, this one had subtle hints of apple, pear, peach and citrus from the Sauvignon Blanc. Next was a Dry Riesling from Ravines Wine Cellars in the Finger Lakes, clean and slightly spicy with really nice green apple notes. The third was the Cuvee Tropical from Channing Daughters Winery – the most complex of the lineup. This one was dry, clean and very acidic. It was definitely the most interesting and delicious of the three, and Shapero said it would pair nicely with Thai food. This wine really hit the theme of the evening head-on.

Shapero chose the wine list for Root Hill Café, which transitions into a low-key bar at night. It reminds me of a hookah bar with its comfortable couches and chill atmosphere. The café also has a menu made from local and specialty ingredients.

Similar events sponsored by Contaminate NYC will be held at various venues as part of their ‘Outbreak’ initiative. Their goal is to spread awareness of up-and-coming artists in creative environments throughout different neighborhoods.

Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

Root Hill Cafe on Urbanspoon

The new, the old and the delicious – Review of Brooklyn Flea

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

The Brooklyn Flea
Brooklyn
176 Lafayette Avenue (Saturdays, outdoor)
1 Hanson Place (Sundays, indoor)*
brooklynflea.com

The Brooklyn Flea is a year-round flea market in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. With over 150 vendors selling new and vintage items ranging from clothing to furniture to artwork and of course some food finds that can’t be missed.

Asia Dogs! (Front) Vinhi Dog and (back) Ginny Dog

Asia Dogs! (Front) Vinhi Dog and (back) Ginny Dog

My purpose for venturing to this great outdoor market was to find a coffee table (which I did end up finding), but I was pleasantly surprised to find a great selection of local food vendors. [Read more...]

Neighborhood coziness meets epicurean flair – Review of Anima

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

Anima
458 Myrtle Avenue
Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
718-422-1122/animabistro.com

Diavola pizza at Anima Bistro

Diavola pizza at Anima

My new neighborhood of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn surprises me every day as I explore my new surroundings.  Everywhere I happen upon great restaurants and smile to myself knowing that it’s not going to be so hard to get used to my new neighborhood, at least when deciding what to eat for dinner.

Most recently I checked out Anima, an Italian Bistro specializing in wood fired pizza.  My roommate and I sat down in the charming dining room, alive with the character of rustic wood beams and exposed brick.  Candle wax drips down the shelving on the walls to create a relaxed atmosphere with personality.

We started with a very healthy glass of the house merlot ($5) and decided to try out the Pappardelle with Rabbit Ragu on the specials menu ($15.95) and the Pizza Diavola, topped with hot sopressata, black olives, and red onion (personal size for $12.95).

Rabbit Ragu at Anima

Rabbit Ragu at Anima

The rabbit ragu was flavorful and slightly gamey with a subtle tomato base.  It ate like a hearty rabbit stew; quite good but something I had not imagined I would see on the menu at a neighborhood Italian joint, as I rarely see rabbit on any menu.

The thin crust wood fired pizza was light and airy yet crispy.  The homemade mozzarella cheese made by chef “Gigi” was flavorful and fresh, adding a slightly nutty taste to the delicate flavors of the pizza.  It was easy to get lost in the pizza, easy to forget the stress of moving in to a new apartment, and easy to gobble it down without coming up for air.  The pizza was a true delight to consume.

Tiramisu at Anima

Tiramisu at Anima

Tiramisu and Limoncello finished off the meal and I was left smiling from ear to ear.  It could have been the serious glass of wine they served or more likely, the tasty food and comfortable atmosphere right down the block from my new home.

Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

Anima Italian Bistro on Urbanspoon

Soho Chocolate Review and great gift ideas for Mom

“The Sweet Hurt: Soho Chocolate Tour”

BY SARAH IP

Jacques Torres Chocolate Shoe.  Photo by Joe Chan.

Jacques Torres Chocolate Shoe. Photo by Joe Chan.

Who doesn’t love a little chocolate?  Whether it’s chocolate candy bars, hot chocolate or truffles, chocolate holds a special place in many people’s stomachs. Francine Segan, food historian, led a tour of the unique chocolate shops that make New York City such a pleasure to peruse.  This event took place on Apr. 28 and was hosted by 92Y Tribeca (200 Hudson St; 212-601-1000), a cultural and community center that holds lectures, tastings, wellness classes, films and culinary tours such as this one.

Of course, at 11 a.m., it’s essential to begin the day with a jump start: Segan passed around samples of different types of fine Italian confections, ranging from fruit-filled Venchi Giandujotti chocolate to Baci’s signature smooth hazelnut milk chocolate – the Baci was so good I wanted another!  Two lucky winners had the privilege of taking home a box of Tuscan Biscuits with chocolate pieces (Cantuccini Con Pezzi Di Cioccolato).

To start off the Soho Chocolate Tour, Segan gave a brief talk on how chocolate is made and the process of cultivating the beans into the finished product.  She covered tempering, seeding, melting and types of chocolate.

Did you know that…

…chocolate grows on trees and the pods must be plucked by hand?

…chocolate can only grow 20 degrees above and below the equator?

…cocoa beans can be made into wine (but result in a lesser quality chocolate)? [Read more...]

NYC Restaurants celebrate D’Artagnan’s 25 Birthday with Fabulous Degustation Menus

Select NYC restaurants are celebrating a quarter of a century of D’Artagnan’s purveyance of fine French foods and wines from February 18 – 22. Enjoy special offerings and custom degustation menus paired with wines from South West France, created by famous chefs from South West France.
Reserve now to participate in this inimitable offering. Click on image below to find participating restaurants.

Photo courtesy of Tasting Table

Photo courtesy of Tasting Table

Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

NYC Restaurants celebrate D'Artagnan's 25 Birthday with Fabulous Degustation Menus

Select NYC restaurants are celebrating a quarter of a century of D’Artagnan’s purveyance of fine French foods and wines from February 18 – 22. Enjoy special offerings and custom degustation menus paired with wines from South West France, created by famous chefs from South West France.
Reserve now to participate in this inimitable offering. Click on image below to find participating restaurants.

Photo courtesy of Tasting Table

Photo courtesy of Tasting Table

Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

From A to Zeytinz: A Gourmet Deli for all Food Moods – Review of Zeytin

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

Zeytinz
Murray Hill
24 West 40
th Street
212.575.8080/
zeytinz.com

A recent relocation via my day job landed me on a busy corner of Bryant Park.  With no refrigerator or microwave in the office (is that even legal?) I have had to brave the cold concrete jungle in search of lunch every day.  My first day out I happened upon Zeytinz.  At first glance Zeytinz looked like a small, gourmet grocery store.  This immediately caught my attention and I headed in.  I was a little disappointed at first because it was not a gourmet grocery store, but I quickly perked up when I realized that it was, in fact a gourmet deli. [Read more...]

Best Burgers in the Bronx! Share the mystery! – A Review of Pipers Kilt Restaurant

BEST BURGERS IN THE BRONX! Share the mystery! – A Review of Pipers Kilt Restaurant

BY CLAIRE McCURDY

Pipers Kilt Restaurant
170 W 231st St
Kingsbridge, Bronx
(718) 548-9539

BEST BURGERS IN TOWN/THE BRONX!  Truth in advertising.  A sign outside the Piper’s Kilt makes this bold claim and it is born out by the menu and the customers.  And after your eyes get used to the dim near-religious light, you will see a number of happy veteran (local, Irish descent) customers who can attest to the quality of the food and the beer.   It is truly a neighborhood bar—as soon as customers (most of them) come through the door the barman calls out their drinks and one of his progeny scurries to bring it over as they eddy through the crowd.  It’s also very friendly and sociable.  An elderly customer in a bobble hat at the bar was kissed by no fewer than three effusive ladies.

Photo from cheapassfood.com

Photo from cheapassfood.com

The burgers –- with mushrooms, onions, BBQ sauce, bacon, Swiss cheese, chili-topped— are taken for granted—you can order other things (steak, chicken, wraps, even salad) but really, why would you want to?  Especially when the burger menu alone features a full twelve items including the heretical veggie and salmon burgers, and they’re all REALLY good. [Read more...]