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The Vegetarian Option: Lan Café

I'm amazed at both the write-up and the photos in this review, since I had such a vastly different experience at Lan Cafe - everything was dingy, from the restaurant to the food. The service was not intentionally rude, but was more or less absent.

I tried their seitan banh mi (which was mostly bread, very skimpy on the fillings) and some seitan fried with ginger and scallion. Nothing tasted fresh and the fried dish in particular was worse than things I've had out of a jar/microwave. Boring, bland and monochromatic!

I get my veggie Vietnamese fix at V-Nam, around the corner. Much fresher, younger, cleaner and more generous.

djwackfriz at 3:05PM on 08/04/11

Cook the Book: 'The Japanese Grill'

Chicken stuffed with home-grown shiso leaves, burgers stuffed with chili, and LOTS of crispy salmon skin

djwackfriz at 12:53PM on 06/27/11

From Slice

Top This: Momed's Etli Pide

This looks a lot like khachapuri from Georgia... I wonder if they are related?

djwackfriz at 6:50PM on 06/16/11

Lobster Roll Rumble: 18 Lobster Rolls in America

Jesus guys, do you think you might want to amend the title so people don't think this is some end-all list of lobster rolls? I was misled as well, yeesh.

djwackfriz at 3:52PM on 06/12/11

Goodbye, Dumpling

Kenji, I am so, SO sorry for your loss. I am on the edge of tears - I know what it is like to tragically lose a pet. My thoughts are with you.

djwackfriz at 3:46PM on 06/12/11

The Vegetarian Option: Punjabi Deli

I love this place, but one major, MAJOR gripe: they microwave everything in STYROFOAM. They also nuke it for a really long time. This leads to the styrofoam warping, occasionally melting, and presumably leaching all sorts of nasty, terrifying chemicals (as well as a plasticky taste) into their otherwise excellent food. I don't understand why they do this, short of keeping prices down.

If you're not intent on eating it right away, order it to go and have them leave it cold and pack it in plastic. Then you can nuke it safely at home.

djwackfriz at 4:30PM on 06/06/11

Zabb Elee: East Village Newcomer is Best Thai in Manhattan

Kenji, I totally respect your opinions on basically anything, honestly. But don't we have to be careful naming a restaurant that just opened as the "best" ANYthing?

I mean, you said the same thing about Hide-Chan Ramen, and then it took a total nose-dive - the menu completely changed, quality went south and it was universally panned by everyone.

I'm excited to try Zabb after your review, but if it doesn't meet the standard set by Ayada (or even the Queens Zabb location, for that matter), I'm going to think twice about trusting these glowing, first-month-they're-open reviews...

djwackfriz at 1:19PM on 05/13/11

From A Hamburger Today

Astoria, NYC: A Pretty Sweet Burger at Sweet Afton

I live around the corner, have been to Afton many times, and give it a solid "meh". The burger, while quite good at its best, is often NOT at its best, frequently overcooked (I order medium-rare), wayyyyy too bready and swimming in a pool of grease (NOT juice). Just far too inconsistent to give a good review. Maybe it depends on who's in the kitchen? The fries and pickles are nothing to really pee your pants about, either.

Other gripes include the tiny cocktails at Manhattan prices (stick with their good beer selection), the aggressive and ill-trained bouncer (we call him Drago because he looks like he wants to break you), and hipster clientele. If I go, I go early before the girls with camera-shaped handbags and gentlemen with suspenders and curly mustaches show up. Then I head to Sparrow or Irish Rover.

djwackfriz at 7:12PM on 04/19/11

The Vegetarian Option: Cafe Himalaya

Did you check/ask about fish sauce usage in these "vegetarian" dishes? I would love to get involved with those momos...

djwackfriz at 1:04PM on 03/10/11

http://www.tablematters.com/index.php/plate/cu/cufuture

Sugar Rush: Butterscotch Chronic and Marshmallows at ChikaLicious

Yeaaaaahhhh, it's dat chronic!

djwackfriz at 4:39PM on 03/07/11

From A Hamburger Today

Nathan Myhrvold's Modernist Burger

This is an old idea, rehashed.

Marinetti came up with Futurist cuisine a loooong time ago and it's not very different from what we see here.

djwackfriz at 2:35PM on 02/03/11

WHAT'S YOUR SECRET INGREDIENT?

blue fenugreek

djwackfriz at 4:28PM on 02/01/11

Video: 'Ordering the Chicken' Scene on IFC's New 'Portlandia'

seconding @henry.gomes, come on guys

djwackfriz at 10:22PM on 01/28/11

Loreley or Radegast? Which W'burg biergarten do you prefer?

Whichever has the tightest pants, biggest sunglasses and most obscure taste in music.

djwackfriz at 4:58PM on 01/28/11

Flushing recommendations, please.

I only read the title, but my technique usually involves jiggling the handle.

djwackfriz at 2:16PM on 01/20/11

A Sandwich a Day: The Bulgogi Hoagie at Broadway Cafe in Ann Arbor, MI

Ahem... "Bulghoagie"?

djwackfriz at 3:43PM on 01/19/11

Where should 2 Australians eat on Sat. night (mid/downtown)?

uhh... Tuck Shop?

djwackfriz at 11:45AM on 01/13/11

Served: A Spring Full of Business, Drama, and Love

"summer's eve martini"

Sounds... sour?

djwackfriz at 11:33AM on 01/10/11

Freezing meatballs

Since I will probably want to eat them once I thaw them, I freeze about 4 already-simmered-in-sauce meatballs with about 1/2 cup of homemade tomato sauce in ziploc baggies. Then when I get home from work I can dump the whole baggie into a small pan, add a splash of water and let them simmer while I'm in the shower :)

djwackfriz at 11:20AM on 01/09/11

A Sandwich a Day: The Greens and Shallot Sandwich at Cutty's in Boston, MA

seconding a recipe or approximation - is it vegetarian? is it cooked with a hock or a snout?? Gimme SOMEthing dudes!

djwackfriz at 7:01PM on 01/04/11

Spice Hunting: Aji Panca

Love your column Max, keep it up! :)

djwackfriz at 11:25AM on 12/30/10