gastrodamus’s Profile
Recent Comments
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
dr. konstantin frank's dry riesling (finger lakes) after the sommelier at momofuku ssam convinced me to give it a try. well balanced with a great finish. this changed my perception of NY wines. it's no longer on their list but astor wines carries it.
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.
Recap: City Flavors Couple-It Feast at Blackbird in Chicago
great pics. i've had the rye cannelloni w/the lamb's tongue app and the tater tots w/the duck tatare. mike sheerin and kahan are incredibly talented. i think new yorkers would be quick to embrace blackbird and the publican. paul, please expand the empire to downtown nyc.
See more comments by gastrodamus »
Recent Posts
gastrodamus hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
Photo of the Day: '$169 a Pound'
Posted by Adam Kuban, February 3, 2009 at 8:30 PM
See more favorites by gastrodamus »
Recent Polls
gastrodamus hasn't answered any polls yet.
Recent Quizzes
gastrodamus hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
what about ong's spot?
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
dr. konstantin frank's dry riesling (finger lakes) after the sommelier at momofuku ssam convinced me to give it a try. well balanced with a great finish. this changed my perception of NY wines. it's no longer on their list but astor wines carries it.
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.
Recap: City Flavors Couple-It Feast at Blackbird in Chicago
great pics. i've had the rye cannelloni w/the lamb's tongue app and the tater tots w/the duck tatare. mike sheerin and kahan are incredibly talented. i think new yorkers would be quick to embrace blackbird and the publican. paul, please expand the empire to downtown nyc.
'Top Chef,' Season 6: The Premiere
putting my chips on jennifer to win it all
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
it seems that most cultures outside of US encourage family style, which is how i was raised. where's the fun in hoarding? it seems like such an isolated and incomplete dining experience. luckily most of my friends are sharers.
Raising the Bar: Happy Hour Sandwiches at Marshall Stack
their sandwiches are so good. don't forget the tater tots.
BYOB of the Week: Sigiri, Your Gateway Sri Lankan Restaurant in the East Village
great place. awesome pittu. didn't try the hoppers but looks like a winner.
Photo of the Day: Pork Cracklins From Porchetta
good eye, ernie. there was another chunk behind this one that appeared a lot crispier.
i'd love it if porchetta offered cracklins in a paper cone, almost like a bag of chips. now that would make everyone's stomach weep.
BYOB of the Week: No Love for Ivo and Lulu, Skippable French-Caribbean in Soho
ivo & lulu is hands down the most aggravating dining experience i've had in nyc, possibly in any city.
How do you pronounce bibimbap?
bibim = mixed & bop = rice or meal.
it's pronounced bee-bim-bahp.
you don't stress any syllables but BAHP naturally sounds emphasized b/c of the P sound at the end. technically it's between a B and a P so no need to pop your lips.
once korean syllables are written out in english, you'll encounter numerous ways to spell the same sound; sometimes by stringing three vowels in a row, which only makes the word illegible. consonants are often overcompensated. for ex., kimchi is actually pronounced gim-chee.
Seolleongtang, Ox Bone Broth, from Gahm Mi Oak
love gahm mi oak's sul long tang. they have the best kimchi and kkakdugi (radish) in ktown. i always thought it was less sweet than the rest on 32nd. modum bossam (oysters, pork belly, lettuce), soondae (blood sausage), brisket, tongue and tripe are excellent as well. liver, not so much.
New York Vacation - Where to eat
you can do better than butter. casa mono, lupa, babbo, little owl, kyo ya, degustation, ippudo, blue ribbon brasserie, bacaro and perbacco are in the same (if not below) butter's price range and offer a more memorable dining experience. i second momofuku ssam, l'ecole, jlob and the spotted pig. corner bistro also serves good burgers but not sure if they allow anyone under 21.
Should Restaurants Charge No-Show Fees?
yes, for parties of 6+ or at upscale restaurants where a no show has an impact on their margins and screws up their reservation system. no, for 4 top or less at a place that allows walk-ins and isn't perpetually booked. regardless of a no-show fee, diners should always notify the restaurant if they're no longer able to make it. i also doubt too many restaurants besides per se could get away with a $175 fee with a 3-day cancellation policy.
Can we impeach Frank Bruni as NYT food critic ?
bruni recently gave ko and matsugen three stars (also in his 2008 top 10) and szechuan gourmet, two. on the other hand, he gave ago a horrible review. i find him pretty fair and not necessarily biased toward a certain cuisine. i can't say the same about platt. readers also have to remember that just bc lee is huge in toronto doesn't mean his cooking will translate in nyc.
Valentine's Day Giveaway: Macarons from Itzy Bitzy Patisserie
champagne & strawberry or the experimental pork belly & lamb's tongue
Large-Scale Enticing Food Smells
having worked in downtown kc as well, i recall the aroma of the folgers plant. but somedays there would be an unpleasant odor near the downtown airport, like from an animal rendering plant or something. depended on which way the wind blew.
Photo of the Day: '$169 a Pound'
@The UE & Adam Kuban: yes, despaña is the place. it has become a ritual to make a quick stop for the iberico de bellota any time i'm remotely close to the neighborhood. i highly recommend.
McDee and The Mc rib
the mcrib makes me think of the simpsons episode when krusty burger offers the ribwich.
"the animal we make the meat from is extinct."
"the cow? the pig?"
"no, think smaller and more legs."
i do love the mcnasty.
Artichoke Basille's Artichoke Slice a 'New Classic'?
there are so many better pizza joints in nyc, granted perhaps not by the slice. artichoke is def the most overrated pizza joint in nyc. it's not that good, ppl!
The Gastronauts Invade Flushing's Little Pepper
i'm not a fan of kidneys either, but i agree little pepper's version is by far the best i've had.
Roosevelt Food Court (aka 'Beautiful Food City') Opens its Doors in Flushing
excellent coverage. can't wait to try it.
Marrow- healthy or unhealthy?
i've heard it's both high in protein and fat. i've also heard that beef marrow is high in cholesterol. when you cook it at home, you'll see a considerable amount of fat around the bone so i only eat it once a month.
The Hottest Pepper Ever: Introducing the Really Mean Bhut Jolokia Pepper
just tried a third of a pepper with eggs to keep the flavors neutral. it is by far the hottest thing i've ever tried. even after i washed the pan, the residual oil carried over a lot of heat to my pan-fried veges.
I've lost my taste for chicken, I think
if you're in nyc, try spicy korean fried chicken at bon chon, chicken skin and balls at yakitori taisho, cockles at casa mono and house chicken at congee. otherwise, chicken sucks.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for introducing me to Roasting Plant. I think that these are my absolute favorite in Manhattan.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
told you so (re: dessert club). too bad those cookies used to be 3 for $2. now that they are $1 each, i have no excuse to eat 3 :(
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
Nice work. It is the consensus of my colleagues that you all have perhaps the worst jobs in the world.
I kid. Jealous. :)
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
milk and cookies may not have made the top of the list but those cookies make for a top notch ice cream sandwich :)
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
ok, fair enough. i appreciate the info on your methodology. however, I would contend that there's nothing 'awful' about eating free chocolate chip cookies...;)
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
@klaus ok: Tasters started off with small pieces of each cookie, recorded first impressions, and then went back and forth between samples to compare and contrast. There were 10 cookies up for consideration here, narrowed down through preliminary rounds. It isn't realistic to eat 10 whole cookies in one sitting—especially when some were up to 4"-6" inches across and could easily have fed three. Our judges put their systems through an awful lot for Serious Eats; there's no need to make it worse.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
Agree about Dessertclub cookies and you didn't even mention they go 3 for $2.00 or at least they did when I reviewed them. I missed the roasting plant cookies - thanks. The only contender I would add to your downtown review (I know you can't try them all) was Clinton St Bakery - one of the best for those who like crispy cookies + they have some salty/sweet thing going on too. Anyway, for a second opinion see my unranked listing of NYC's best chocolate chips cookies:
http://dessertbuzz.com/?p=373
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
from the photo it looks like you guys only sampled a bite-size slice of each cookie?!
you've got to eat the whole cookie to decide its the best (IMHO at least)
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
@norman
Quoting the tweet: "Just had a chocolate chip cookie revelation. Awesome, awesome cookie from [location redacted pending publication on @seriouseatsny]"
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
adam said "These are a revelation"?
Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Downtown Edition
just had one of Jack's cookies. while I couldn't discern coffee as an ingredient I was impressed.. I ate it with a glass of water but sure it would pair well with some coffee. btw, what a steal at $1. it's the same size as Pret's cookie for less than half the price.
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
coppola claret by the case at the moment
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
A full-bodied red wine from Portugal called "FP" Filipa Pato "Ensaios", Baga. I found it at Astor Wines
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
I recently tasted my first white Bordeaux. Scrumptious!
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
I dont have a great wine discovery of late, since I tend to just keep trying new ones. My favorite idea of late has been to just buy a different appropriate wine under $12. I have found so many great ones
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
Priorat from Spain blew my mind! Big, tight and tastes like the soil it was grown in. Love love love.
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
Swedish Ice Wine......blergh, a little too sweet for me.
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
I have been having a love affair with the grape tempranillo!
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
sparkly red wines. kinda delicious.
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
Trockenbeerenauslese. It was a gorgeous dessert wine. Too bad I can neither afford it regularly nor pronounce it.
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
Three buck chuck. I also discovered that rose is kinda gross.
New York City Wine and Food Festival: Ticket Giveaway, 'Pulse of the Wine World'
Any wines from the Finger Lakes region around Ithaca - my favorite is Six Mile Creek Vineyard.
Recent Posts
gastrodamus hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
Photo of the Day: '$169 a Pound'
Posted by Adam Kuban, February 3, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Polls
gastrodamus hasn't answered any polls yet.
Quizzes
gastrodamus hasn't taken any quizzes yet.

what about ong's spot?