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Post-Graduation NYC Lunch
Oh shoot, I just realized you said you were looking for lunch - no idea what Blue Ribbon Bakery's deal is for lunch. Sorry! Are you graduating from Columbia? If so, Community Food and Juice is great, but I bet it'll be PACKED...
Post-Graduation NYC Lunch
I had my graduation dinner last year at Blue Ribbon Bakery and it was a big hit. I had a party of 12 and they gave us a lovely private area downstairs at no additional charge. Wide-ranging but not daunting menu (I had vegetarians, pescatarians, people who wouldn't eat vegetables, all with different palates - and everyone was happy), festive atmosphere - and it takes reservations! The only downside is that it's not on the UWS (which is where I graduated as well), but at least it's on the west side?
Caraca Arepas
The tajadas (amazing plantains) and the arepa de pabellon! The papelon con limon drink is also good, and don't forget to try out their seriously delicious hot sauce!
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Win a $1,200 Street Food Dinner for Two to the Citymeals-on-Wheels Fundraiser
Pani puri, definitely. When I was a kid, my parents forbid me from eating Indian street food... which just made it taste even better when an older cousin would take me!
Post-Graduation NYC Lunch
Oh shoot, I just realized you said you were looking for lunch - no idea what Blue Ribbon Bakery's deal is for lunch. Sorry! Are you graduating from Columbia? If so, Community Food and Juice is great, but I bet it'll be PACKED...
Post-Graduation NYC Lunch
I had my graduation dinner last year at Blue Ribbon Bakery and it was a big hit. I had a party of 12 and they gave us a lovely private area downstairs at no additional charge. Wide-ranging but not daunting menu (I had vegetarians, pescatarians, people who wouldn't eat vegetables, all with different palates - and everyone was happy), festive atmosphere - and it takes reservations! The only downside is that it's not on the UWS (which is where I graduated as well), but at least it's on the west side?
Caraca Arepas
The tajadas (amazing plantains) and the arepa de pabellon! The papelon con limon drink is also good, and don't forget to try out their seriously delicious hot sauce!
Thanksgiving Salad?
I bookmarked this salad as a Thanksgiving possibility: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/11/ina-garten-roasted-butternut-squash-salad-recipe.html. It includes Parmesan, but you could see how it tastes with that omitted.
I don't know if I was supposed to eat this
My (Indian) family has always called those seeds "saunf" (pronounced kind of like "soanf"), although I think that may be the name of fennel seeds in general, not the sugar-coated ones specifically.
Chilquiles?
Barrio Chino on the LES (Broome near Orchard) has chilaquiles like those PumpkinBear describes above.
Jury Duty in Manhattan
these links might be helpful:
http://manhattanusersguide.com/article.php?id=388
http://manhattanusersguide.com/article.php?id=649 (scroll down)
Upper West Side, NYC
oh, and how can i forget the bagels at absolute (bway at 107th)!
Upper West Side, NYC
my old neighborhood! i second the recommendations for silver moon bakery (lovely pastries), hungarian pastry shop (skip the pastries, as they tend to be pretty stale and uninspired. also, the adjacent p&w sandwich shop is owned by the same people, so you can bring their food into hungarian - good, basic sandwiches and really friendly service!), community food and juice (same owners as clinton st. baking co.), and flor de mayo.
for grocery shopping, i liked fairway (i'd really recommend the harlem location instead of the one in the 70s - it's not nearly as insane/crowded. plus it has the cold room!); the newly-reopened westside market (broadway at 110th) is also excellent. in addition, i like the shawarma/falafel sandwiches at jerusalem (bway at 104th), the tortas at taqueria y fonda la mexicana (amsterdam at 108th), and the frankies at roti roll (amsterdam at 110th). i also really like pisticci (la salle and bway). i haven't personally been to malecon (amsterdam at 97th), but my catalan prof recommends their bacalao. i've also heard good things about metisse (105th and broadway).
in terms of bars, i used to love ding dong (columbus at 106th) because there was never anyone there (or at least no hordes of college students), but the last time i went by it was superrr packed and just a really weird, loud scene. a lot of my friends like la negrita (columbus at 109th).
Would you rather give up eggs or cereal?
Cereal, no question. I even can't remember the last time I had dry cereal... although I'd miss oatmeal!
Which fruit do you avoid?
grapefruit and papaya. i don't mind bananas plain, but i don't like them as part of a dish (especially smoothies!).
Which vegetable do you refuse to eat?
bitter melon/bitter gourd. it's considered a delicacy in andhra cooking -- unfortunately, i can't stand it!
So, what did everyone have for Thanksgiving?
salad: roasted beets with pears, walnuts, and blue cheese
mains:
roast chicken
cornbread and broccoli rabe strata
sides:
maple butternut squash puree
mashed potatoes with asiago and parsley
sauteed chard with garlic
green lentils with mirepoix and sausage
herb-gruyere biscuits
desserts:
apple pie
flan
untraditional, i know, but so delicious!
What seemingly basic ingredient can you simply not bear?
while i can deal with eating bananas plain, i can't stand the taste of them in any other preparation. when i was younger (and embarrassingly bratty), i used to refuse to go to the local smoothie place for this very reason - i insisted that they didn't scrub out the blenders well enough between orders and that i could always "still taste the banana" from the smoothies made before mine. looking back, though, i'm pretty sure i was just delusional.
If you can't get FAGE yogurt, then substitute with....
i like the yogurt my mother makes at home, or fage. i usually end up buying trader joe's store brand greek yogurt, though, 'cause i'm a broke student. :P
Are most foodies fatties?
My friends and I all love food and are all thin, but I think we have genetics and our youth to thank for that more than anything else. I, for one, have an enormous appetite and certainly don't practice the moderation mentioned by many on this thread, even though I know I should.
Who's your favorite food writer?
BaHa - I didn't have any one category in mind when I wrote the question; I left it open for readers to interpret it as they saw fit. Take your pick, or tell us about them all!
Rachael Ray - love, hate, ignore, pity, envy?
I don't particularly care for her cooking, but I don't hate her the way some people do. Sometimes I find it strangely soothing to keep her on in the background when I'm cleaning the kitchen (that voice has got to be kept at a suitably muted volume, though!).
What's your favorite Chip/Snack and flavor?
toastykitten, my friends and I developed a serious Fran obsession while in Japan in high school. My favorite flavor is Fran Duo - white chocolate layered with dark chocolate, yummmmm.
Favorite Trader Joe's items?
Store brand Greek yogurt (Fage tastes better, but I'm a poor college student and TJ's is cheaper), the curried chicken salad (although I think they make multiple versions, one of which is by far better than the others... and which I can't find anymore), Italian-seasoned chicken breasts, frozen edamame, the list goes on. And ditto on the tomato and roasted red pepper soup - it's fantastic! My roommate and I don't like their store brand soy crisps or pita chips though, which is a bummer because those are our favorite junky/snacky foods.
I love, love, love Trader Joe's, but the lines at the Manhattan location are so ridiculous that I usually just wait for my fix until I'm back in San Francisco.
Do you like company in the kitchen while you cook?
I LOVE having company when I'm in the kitchen; I get lonely without it. I can only really cook together with my mother or my friend Poonam, but I still love having anyone else around just to talk.
Storm Food?
*sugar and whiskey. I knew there was a "preview" button for a reason!
Oh, and my mother's vegetarian chili. Anything hot with lots of lentils and/or beans often sounds good when the weather's bad.
Storm Food?
Eggs on sourdough toast (all fried in lots of butter), oatmeal with maple syrup and brown sugar, mac 'n' cheese (embarrassingly, I only like it out of a box, especially if it's storming out), spinach lasagna, tea with lots of sugar whiskey.
Win a $1,200 Street Food Dinner for Two to the Citymeals-on-Wheels Fundraiser
roasted chestnuts - HK
butter/sugar crepes - Paris
sticky rice in bamboo - Thailand
Win a $1,200 Street Food Dinner for Two to the Citymeals-on-Wheels Fundraiser
in mexico street vendors sell this great salad made from jicama, citrus fruit, queso fresco and chilies it's amazing!
Win a $1,200 Street Food Dinner for Two to the Citymeals-on-Wheels Fundraiser
oh i do so love me my falafels!
Win a $1,200 Street Food Dinner for Two to the Citymeals-on-Wheels Fundraiser
grilled shiskebobs dusted with cumin in flushing
Win a $1,200 Street Food Dinner for Two to the Citymeals-on-Wheels Fundraiser
Malaysian satay with peanut sauce!
Win a $1,200 Street Food Dinner for Two to the Citymeals-on-Wheels Fundraiser
I love a good gyro but a delicious carnitas taco is always my first pick
Win a $1,200 Street Food Dinner for Two to the Citymeals-on-Wheels Fundraiser
Not to knock composite lamb on spit, which has it's time and place in the pantheon of delicious street foods, but in Greece, that rotating log of lamb is made from real slices of shaved, juicy, tasty meat. No ground stuff there. Best gyro in my life.
Win a $1,200 Street Food Dinner for Two to the Citymeals-on-Wheels Fundraiser
Start off with chocolate dumplings from the rickshaw truck followed by paneer tikka kati roti slathered with some raita-chili sauce from the indian cart. then cooled down with a pavlova from the dessert truck!
So much Yummy Goodness in a Truck!
Post-Graduation NYC Lunch
We are going to Tavern On The Green. We went there when my brother graduated from NYU and will be going there for my sister's graduation. Such a great place for a celebration. Outside seating is perfect or indoors with a view of the park!
Post-Graduation NYC Lunch
My husband and I have done a big family meal (the meeting of the parents!) at Zucchero e Pomodoro on the UES. Nothing intimidating, simple but tasty Italian food, lots of choices, always good service. We live on the UWS now but I can't think of anything here that I would recommend as much as Zucchero for your purposes. Congratulations on your graduation!
Post-Graduation NYC Lunch
Congratulations, lovesomething. Looks like there are quite a few of us around SE.
Post-Graduation NYC Lunch
Why don't you give Nice Matin a shot? If you call for reservations now, you may be able to get them. The farther you go from campus, the higher the likelihood of getting reservations.
Post-Graduation NYC Lunch
@kmalladi: I am graduating from Columbia, and would love to do Community Food and Juice, but I know they'll be swarmed and they won't take reservations.
I've thought of doing Carmine's, and there is a good chance we will, but my boyfriend graduated from CU two years ago and did his post-Class Day meal at Carmine's, so the spoiled child in me wants to try and do something a bit different.
Caraca Arepas
Click the link below for photos of the De Pabellon arepa and for 2 other amazingly delicious options not mentioned in this section...
The real key to success is getting the De Pabellon and modifying one of the pre-set arepas to create a well rounded meal of spicy, sweet and savory.
Plus if you like coconut, you don't want to miss clicking the link above
Thanksgiving Salad?
I long ago gave up on serving a cold salad @ T-Giving. No matter how great it was or how accepted it would have been any other day, my beautiful cold salads went untouched on the big day.
It seems to be... the "cold" issue. On a day where we tuck into so many wonderful, heart and soul warming foods, no one at any of my T-Giving tables seemed to appreciate the crunch and freshness of a salad. I began serving hot veggie dishes instead - Broccoli Rabe, Broccoli, Cauliflower, even Brussels Sprouts are more welcome than that crunchy salad.
Thanksgiving Salad?
Just a note of caution, be careful to tell people it has grapefruit. Many people take statins these days and they are counterindicated to have anything grapefruit. I never serve anything grapefruit anymore not even in mixed drinks. I just don't want to make anyone sick.
Thanksgiving Salad?
Don't have link on hand but try looking for a spinach, grapefruit salad with a citrus dressing. Light, bright, and in season.
Thanksgiving Salad?
One of my all time favourites is from allrecipes.com. Every time I make it (which hasn't been in a long time) I do it for a crowd and someone requests the recipe:
Winter Fruit Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing
(My notes at the end.)
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons diced onion
1 teaspoon Dijon-style prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
4 ounces shredded Swiss cheese
1 cup cashews
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 apple - peeled, cored and diced
1 pears - peeled, cored and diced
DIRECTIONS
1. In a blender or food processor, combine sugar, lemon juice, onion, mustard and salt. Process until well blended. With machine still running add oil in a slow steady stream until mixture is thick and smooth. Add poppy seeds and process just a few seconds more to mix.
2. In a large serving bow combine the romaine lettuce, shredded Swiss cheese, cashews, dried cranberries, cubed apple and cubed pear. Toss to mix then pour dressing over salad just before serving and toss to coat.
Modifications from my original notes:
-When I first made this in 2003 I doubled the recipe but instead of using 2 heads of romaine lettuce I used 1 head + 1 bag of spinach.
-I omitted the Swiss cheese.
-Replaced the cashews with toasted pecans.
-Added dried cherries with the cranberries.
I served the dressing on the side but a lot of it was left over, so I made a note to double the salad but not the dressing. I think it worked. I need to make it again.
Thanksgiving Salad?
Sorry! I forgot to credit The Barefood Contessa for the Cape Cod Chopped Salad. This recipe is in her latest cookbook (I'm definitely putting this cookbook on my Christmas Wish List).
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About kmalladi
Location: kmalladi
About:
Favorite foods: chole bhatura, avocados, peas, black bean soup, onion rings, pan-fried pork and chive dumplings, caramelized onions, flan, butter, sourdough bread, steak, pickle relish, lemon sorbet, hot fudge, pani puri, sweet raw corn
Last bite on earth:
Pani puri, definitely. When I was a kid, my parents forbid me from eating Indian street food... which just made it taste even better when an older cousin would take me!