CandyBean’s Profile
Recent Comments
Char No. 4: Bourbon, Barbecue, And Pork In Cobble Hill
Went there last month with my boyfriend. We ate the BLT, the brisket sandwich, the cheese curds, the pork nuggets, and the butter pecan ice cream. All were terrific, except maybe the cheese curds. I loved the pimento sauce that came with them, but unless you ate them piping hot, the little cheese bits were a bit rubbery.
Also got recommendations from the staff on bourbon selections, and they did not steer us wrong. I tried an Eagle Rare - nice and caramelly.
One thing not mentioned in the review is how nicely the little bits of house-made relish and pickled vegetables complement the dishes they accompany. The cabbage on the brisket sandwich was just acidic enough to balance the fat, and the side of pickled onions with the BLT helped cleanse the palate between bites.
Cake Shake from Squareburger in Philadelphia
Oh my god. I was in Philly -- IN Franklin Square -- two days ago and did not know this Cake Shake existed. I am so sad.
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
The namesake chocolate bouchons at Bouchon Bakery. It's essentially a two-bite brownie, but the texture is divine -- not dry, dense, or gummy like a lot of brownies, but just moist and rich and amazing. Okay, now I need one.
See more comments by CandyBean »
Recent Posts
Recommendations in Koreatown and Curry Hill?
Posted by CandyBean, August 19, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Where should we eat Thanksgiving dinner in Manhattan?
Posted by CandyBean, September 25, 2008 at 10:38 PM
See more posts by CandyBean »
Recent Favorites
CandyBean hasn't favorited a post yet.
Recent Polls
CandyBean hasn't answered any polls yet.
Recent Quizzes
CandyBean hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Help! Whoopie Pies...
I made those whoopie pies a couple weeks ago, and they turned out great. They made more than a dozen, though - did anybody else have that happen? I think I ended up with enough cookies to make 18 whoopie pies. I ran out of frosting, so for the extra 12 cookies, I made a brown sugar glaze (butter, brown sugar, milk) and sprinkled them with minced crystallized ginger and toasted pecans. They were kind of like muffin tops or mini cakes. Very tasty!
Char No. 4: Bourbon, Barbecue, And Pork In Cobble Hill
Went there last month with my boyfriend. We ate the BLT, the brisket sandwich, the cheese curds, the pork nuggets, and the butter pecan ice cream. All were terrific, except maybe the cheese curds. I loved the pimento sauce that came with them, but unless you ate them piping hot, the little cheese bits were a bit rubbery.
Also got recommendations from the staff on bourbon selections, and they did not steer us wrong. I tried an Eagle Rare - nice and caramelly.
One thing not mentioned in the review is how nicely the little bits of house-made relish and pickled vegetables complement the dishes they accompany. The cabbage on the brisket sandwich was just acidic enough to balance the fat, and the side of pickled onions with the BLT helped cleanse the palate between bites.
Cake Shake from Squareburger in Philadelphia
Oh my god. I was in Philly -- IN Franklin Square -- two days ago and did not know this Cake Shake existed. I am so sad.
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
The namesake chocolate bouchons at Bouchon Bakery. It's essentially a two-bite brownie, but the texture is divine -- not dry, dense, or gummy like a lot of brownies, but just moist and rich and amazing. Okay, now I need one.
Frank Bruni Gone????
Seriously, man. I haven't opened an email or looked at a blog in the past two weeks that didn't have an item about Frank Bruni, his last days at the NYT, his book, his favorites, his thoughts on the Choco Taco, etc. I'm pretty friggin' sick of him.
Recommendations in Koreatown and Curry Hill?
Wow, thanks for the great suggestions, everyone!
Gus and Gabriel Gastropub: The Greek Coffee Shop (Diner) of Our Dreams?
The meatball parm sandwich I had was fantastic, but served with a side of spaghetti marinara, which seemed like overkill. My boyfriend got the bacon cheeseburger and was really impressed with the roasted tomato that topped it. The burger also had some excellent very sharp cheddar. I often find I don't taste the cheese on a restaurant cheeseburger, but with this one it really came through.
We also had the BBQ pork tater tots, and they were extremely tasty. I could have had a double serving of those. The rocky road shake was okay, but all the marshmallows piled up at the bottom and the shake didn't have even a hint of the bourbon that was supposedly in it. The strawberry cheesecake shake was better, but again, we couldn't taste the booze (I think it was supposed to have rum).
I agree with the poster who commented on the noise level - it really does get loud. The service was great, though, and overall it was a good experience. I hate that they opened this place two months after I moved; I used to live a block away and would have been at G&G a LOT. On the other hand, maybe it's better that they WEREN'T open when I was around.
Tim Hortons Comes to New York
Got an iced coffee and some Timbits. Coffee was very bitter, and even though the Timbits box shows chocolate and powdered sugar and other varieties, my selection was 8 apple ones and two plain ones. The best thing I can say for the Timbits is that they aren't overly sweet.
Next time I'm going to Dunkin'.
Cook the Book: 'Bobby Flay's Burgers, Fries & Shakes'
Homemade, with American cheese, ketchup, mustard, and Klaussen's pickle. Mmmmm.
Snapshots from the South of France: Rustic Macarons
Does anybody have a recipe for something like this??
Cook the Book: 'Rustic Fruit Desserts'
Strawberry cobbler. Oh, yum.
Cook the Book: 'Endangered Recipes' by Lari Robling
When my dad's family in rural North Carolina had pig pickin's, my favorite part was always the dessert table. All the women in the family brought cookies, cakes, pies, and "salads" involving Cool Whip and marshmallows and J-ELLO and food coloring. But my favorite thing was my grandma's Pig Pickin' Cake -- three layers of yellow cake with a mandarin orange and coconut Cool Whip frosting. It was always so light and cold -- the perfect thing for North Carolina summer.
Cook the Book: 'Tacos'
In February my boyfriend and I went to San Francisco -- our first big trip together. On our last day there, we rented a VW bug convertible and drove down the coast to Big Sur. We stopped for lunch just north of Santa Cruz and ate the most amazing fish tacos while looking out at the Pacific. It was phenomenal.
Can you recommend a CSA?
SEAtoNYC - what a fun coincidence!
Can you recommend a CSA?
Thanks for all the feedback. I joined the new Sunset Park CSA mentioned above. Can't wait for the ripe tomatoes and cucumbers and lettuces to start rolling in!
Red Hook Ball Field Vendors Will Return May 2
This is a dumb question, but what happens at the Red Hook Ball Field, exactly? Do the vendors just go there and make a food festival or is there baseball or what?
Plan a Healthy Foodie Day Trip!
If you're here on a day that the Greenmarket at Union Square is open, definitely check it out. Loads of great stuff there, including produce, baked goods, dairy products, meats. Many vendors do offer samples. Plus, there's a terrific wine shop, Bottlerocket, nearby (19th St. b/wn 5th and 6th). Have fun!
'The Chopping Block': Do We Really Need Another Cooking Competition Show?
I just got into Top Chef during the last few episodes of this past season, so I watched The Chopping Block to try to combat my withdrawl. It was okay, but I doubt I'll watch it again. As others here have noted, it didn't focus much on the food. The contestants didn't offer much insight during their interview time. Mostly they recapped what we'd already seen onscreen, and with a few exceptions, we didn't get any background on them.
I found the show pretty heavy handed, overall -- MPW's commentary was so melodramatic (he has a "moral imperative" to eliminate the right team? Whatever, dude.) and the graphics were a bit too slick. Plus, we didn't really need to see the salamander thing fall off the wall and the oven glass break TWICE. The repetition just emphasized that the incident was staged for dramatic effect.
Mellow Mushroom: An Unlikely Southern Tradition
Oh, Mellow Mushroom. So delicious. I drove 2 hours to Boone once to get a MM pizza when I lived in Greensboro, North Carolina. Last year my boyfriend (who went to college in Boone and loves MM even more than me) and I moved to New York, and wouldn't you know it? They opened a MM half a block from my boyfriend's old apartment in downtown Greensboro.
Sidebar - downtown Greensboro has a cheesy nightclub downtown with a huge, hideous, flashing marquee. The club touts this spot as "Little Times Square." Ha!
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Zingerman's Praise the Lard Gift Box
I just had a crazy good barbecue sandwich at White Swan in Four Oaks, NC. Tender pulled pork slathered in a nice vinegar-based sauce, topped with tangy, cool slaw on a white bread bun. For less than three dollars. Cheap and perfect. With sweet, sweet tea and complimentary hush puppies!
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Two Peter Luger Steaks
Filet Mignon for me!
Holiday Giveaway: Zingerman's Praise the Lard Gift Box
My boyfriend and I had been dating less than a month when my birthday came around. He invited me to his apartment, poured some wine, served me cheese and fruit to snack on, and cooked the most delicious pork roast with apple and sage stuffing. Not only was it a sweet gesture, but the roast was incredible!
Cook the Book: 'Baked, New Frontiers in Baking'
Hostess Snowballs = hot pink, coconut-covered, cream-filled, devil's food cake awesomeness. I loved them so much I used to shoplift them from the convenience store.
I haven't had one in a few years, but I would eat one right now if I had one.
Candy Corn: Anti Stance
Candy corn is perfect. Also the Indian corn and pumpkins that come with it in Brachs' "Harvest Mix." The trick is, you have to eat it until your tongue is rubbed raw from the sugar. Then you get endorphins, like a runner's high.
Bouchon Bakery's Serious Halloween Treats
It wasn't bat-shaped, but I had one of those TKO cookies a few weeks ago. I liked it, but the cookie was a bit too buttery. It was more like an Oreo-cookie pie crust than a cookie.
Help! Whoopie Pies...
I just made Pumpkin Whoopie Pies from an old issue of Rachael ray's magazine and they came out great. I had to bake them a few minutes more than the recipe said as they were still under done but otherwise they were great. I wonder why this happened to yours. I have no help for you. Sorry.
Char No. 4: Bourbon, Barbecue, And Pork In Cobble Hill
It's sad that you don't have the tongue for whisky because they do have a nice selection. I went there in June after my friend was raving about how great the food is. The food was ok. I wrote a review here:
http://whiskyguild.com/whiskynetwork/blog.php?user=ellie&blogentry_id=438
Char No. 4: Bourbon, Barbecue, And Pork In Cobble Hill
I went there this summer and was really disappointed. The best part of the meal were the starters, but the sandwiches we had as entrees were boring to bad. Wouldn't go there again. Fette Sau in Williamsburg is hands-down the best bbq in all of NYC!
Gus and Gabriel Gastropub: The Greek Coffee Shop (Diner) of Our Dreams?
omg, sounds good, mehungrynow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Red Hook Ball Field Vendors Will Return May 2
Update: The Red Hook vendors expect to stay open until the last week of October (31st through Nov 1st). However, those setting up at the BK flea market will remain open until November or December.
Red Hook Ball Field Vendors Will Return May 2
@fobbyamerican: Good question. I will investigate and get back to you..
Red Hook Ball Field Vendors Will Return May 2
does anyone know when the last day they are open?
Shake Shack UWS Madness On Tap: Let the Frozen Fries Start Flowin' in My 'Hood
I realize that I'm going to upset a lot of people, but I ate here last week, after reading the slew of favorable reviews and truly believe that this place is a triumph of hype over content. I'm from out of town, out of state, in fact out of country, but I've been coming to your fair city for almost thirty years now and I used to rate the burgers at the late lamented McHale's as the best in town, so was interested to try this company's much-lauded offerings. I ordered a cheeseburger, medium, with fries, a root-beer and retired to wait for the pager to buzz. (Side note to the owners: when there's a long line, it doesn't sit well with the other customers when a friend of the serving staff wanders in off the street, goes up to the counter, engages three of the staff in conversation and gets his burger almost immediately while people waiting on line are ignored.) By the time I got my order, I was pretty hungry and found a place to sit and eat. What I encountered was a mouthful of heavily salted greasy sludge in a cheap bun, with the cheese as a fatty and tasteless covering. The fries were also smothered in salt, but otherwise tasteless and if I hadn't already guessed that they were frozen, the guy wheeling the piled-high cartons labeled "Frozen Potato Products" or something similar around the kitchen would have given me a big clue.
The root-beer, despite far too much ice, was actually rather good, but the rest of the meal made me feel decidedly queasy. If this is really what you consider to be a great burger, then I fear for your nation's health. A better name for this place might well be Heart-Attack Shack.
(I should mention that I also find the burgers in Le Parker Meridien's Burger Joint to be overrated, but they don't seem to suffer from the same sort of mania that this place generates and they're far, far less greasy.)
Recommendations in Koreatown and Curry Hill?
I agree with all the recommendations on Curry Hill. A couple of new, more upscale places have opened up. Bhatti is one and Coconut Grove. Dhaba os good too.
If you want to learn how to cook Indian food- take a class at http://www.Indianculinarycenter.com
There is one that teaches how to make your favorite restaurant dishes - that might be a good one to try.
Recommendations in Koreatown and Curry Hill?
i second kang suh, arirang, seoul garden, mad for chkn and gahm mi oak. also reco shilla and madangsui on 35th.
hyo dong gak's jja jang myeon & jjam ppong have gone downhill in the past months and there's better mandoo at seoul garden or kang suh than mandoo bar. i've also been disappointed by wonjo's jjigaes.
Recommendations in Koreatown and Curry Hill?
another vote for chennai garden and seoul garden, i actually prefer their soondubu over bcd
Recommendations in Koreatown and Curry Hill?
my family always goes to kunjip!
Cake Shake from Squareburger in Philadelphia
Yum. I just moved to Philly this week and am excited to hunt down one of these.
And FYI- Flip Burger in Atlanta has a Krispy Kreme milkshake. It, too, is a delicious pastry-infused confection, served boiling with liquid nitrogen. I'd recommend that to anyone.
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners:
cochon
lscrabtr
littlemissnom
Brownie
suthungirl
Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page.
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
dark chocolate
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
Little mini cherry cream cheese treats! That's what I love!
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
My savory bite-sized treat is mini quiche.
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
Mini chocolate chip cookies are my faborite. garrettsambo@aol.com
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
Small brownie squares.
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
I love craisins!
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
Bite-sized brownies
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
Mini chocolate chip cookies are my favorite.
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
Chocolate truffles
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
I love dark chocolate truffles.
Cook the Book: 'Bite-Size Desserts'
I like mini eclairs!
Recent Posts
Recommendations in Koreatown and Curry Hill?
Posted by CandyBean, August 19, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Where should we eat Thanksgiving dinner in Manhattan?
Posted by CandyBean, September 25, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Recent Favorites
CandyBean hasn't favorited a post yet.
Polls
CandyBean hasn't answered any polls yet.
Quizzes
CandyBean hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
I made those whoopie pies a couple weeks ago, and they turned out great. They made more than a dozen, though - did anybody else have that happen? I think I ended up with enough cookies to make 18 whoopie pies. I ran out of frosting, so for the extra 12 cookies, I made a brown sugar glaze (butter, brown sugar, milk) and sprinkled them with minced crystallized ginger and toasted pecans. They were kind of like muffin tops or mini cakes. Very tasty!