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Mom visiting! Help! (NYC)

Posted by potatopunk, April 21, 2008 at 1:18 PM

My dear old (well, not that old) mum is coming to town to visit me from Chicago this weekend. Being a poor college student, I would like to show her some places that are fun and unpretentious, but perhaps slightly more expensive than what I would normally buy for myself. We're both fairly adventurous eaters, but I'm not looking for something with a fussy menu that lists each and every far-flung ingredient the kitchen has. I'm also not looking to break the bank, just something a little snazzy (aiming for $100-150 total, including drinks and tip); in the general downtown area (east side or west), or north Brooklyn. Some places I've never been to and am considering: Momofuku Ssam (though I frequent the Noodle Bar), Spotted Pig, Marlow & Sons. Any help would be much appreciated!

10 Comments | Tagged: downtown, New York City, NYC, recommendations, restaurant recommendations

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood! (NYC)

Posted by potatopunk, April 18, 2008 at 4:56 PM

Oh, it is so nice outside. I just want to eat a burger (a good one, maybe one of those fancy things with the fried egg on top) and drink a beer with friends. Outside. In the general downtown area (east side or west), or Williamsburg. Any ideas?

3 Comments | Tagged: NYC

The Ten Most Recent Comments By potatopunk

Sack Lunch: Cold Sesame Noodles

Whoops! Sorry, I thought I had the html right for that, but I guess I didn't. Anyhow, here's the recipe:
http://www.culinate.com/books/collections/all_books/Super+Natural+Cooking/Otsu+(Soba+Noodle+Salad)

potatopunk at 2:10PM on 07/07/08

Sack Lunch: Cold Sesame Noodles

Cold noodle dishes are my fave for summertime, especially when there's so much good produce to toss in, too. I sometimes make a Japanese dish called Otsu, which is basically cold soba noodle salad with a vinaigrette-style dressing instead of sesame or peanut butter. I try to keep the dressing recipe pretty constant, but the toppings are easy to play around with. Here's a recipe:

potatopunk at 2:06PM on 07/07/08

Serious Sandwiches: The Aussie Burger

Indeed, the egg/beet/ burger combo is hard to beat. The Sunburnt Cow on Ave. C & 9th St. serves a great Australian burger with all of the above, plus grilled pineapple, bacon and cheese (!).

potatopunk at 2:48PM on 05/14/08

Mom visiting! Help! (NYC)

Thanks everyone! As the mothership approaches, I think for new (to me) restaurants we'll be doing Prune and Little Owl, plus I'll take her to some of my old favorites, like Fette Sau BBQ in Williamsburg and Momofuku Noodle Bar (this is turning out to be the Weekend of Pork). I showed her some reviews of wd-50, and she sadly decided it sounded "a little too weird." Maybe next time...

potatopunk at 10:28AM on 04/23/08

Mom visiting! Help! (NYC)

Alaina--I was considering WD-50, but am wondering if it's worth it to go there and order a la carte, as opposed to the tasting menu, which is $125/ pp (making our total meal probably close to $300). Or is the tasting menu large enough to feed two?

potatopunk at 3:28PM on 04/21/08

Serious Sandwiches: Thuet's Smoked Pork Loin and French Toast

Holy shenanigans-- this looks like my Sunday-morning fantasy meal. Can they ship those things down to the States?

potatopunk at 3:37PM on 04/16/08

Responses to Comments by potatopunk

Sack Lunch: Cold Sesame Noodles

I second the comment re: the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (possibly one of the BEST cookbooks ever written). She calls them Szechuan Noodles. So great. It helps to have a blender or food processor to combine the many (pantry staple?) ingredients. I make her recipe with Hodgson Mills whole wheat spaghetti. YUM. Love that Ina Garten.

ChicagoAmy at 7:20PM on 07/14/08

Sack Lunch: Cold Sesame Noodles

I tried this recipe and it was good, however, I found the raw garlic harsh, and it stayed with me the rest of the day. Would recommend sauteing the garlic, ginger, and scallions in 2 TBLS peanut oil for about a minute or two to mellow out the garlic before adding to the rest of the sauce ingredients.

pizcajj at 1:51PM on 07/14/08

Sack Lunch: Cold Sesame Noodles

Altho' this recipe sounds delish, the one I make often is the one from the original Barefoot Contessa cookbook. I'm not at home with my cookbooks so I cannot compare ingrediants or measurements but i know that it has sesame oil and tahini in i too. Yummmm. I think it has sherry or sherry vinegar too. Check it out. When I'm hosting a simple BBQ dinner party and am seeking to do something other than standard hamburgers/hotdogs/steaks etc i'll serve these noodles, a chinese marinated pork tenderloin and a crispy brocolli salad that is a huge hit with all my friends [a sweetened soy/canola oil dressing , crispy ramen noodles and walnuts (sauteed), brocolli and torn up romain].

gloucestermary2 at 11:55AM on 07/14/08

Sack Lunch: Cold Sesame Noodles

yum! i make them with whole wheat udon noodles. gotta be healthy & all that preggo jazz. actually, it's one of the few dishes that work with the texture of whole wheat pasta, i think.

dmarina at 3:11PM on 07/07/08

Sack Lunch: Cold Sesame Noodles

This recipe is so different than the one I'm used to (Moosewood cookbook)! Cold sesame noodles are my very favorite Summer lunch, so I'll try this pronto!

missbhavens at 3:11PM on 07/07/08

Sack Lunch: Cold Sesame Noodles

potatopunk at 2:10PM on 07/07/08

Serious Sandwiches: The Aussie Burger

Billions is right. The burger on the Australia's Finest Burger website is a pale imitation of the real thing.

ndaws at 1:23PM on 05/24/08

Serious Sandwiches: The Aussie Burger

An Aussie once made me a super-tall, crusty buffalo burger on sourdough, and, knowing of a fondness for poached eggs bordering on psychosis, topped it with a lightly poached ova and hanks of tarragon. He said the buffalo was a nod to me, the egg was essential "at home," and that was intercontinental breakfast in bed. The beet sounds intriguing!

HappyHoarfrost at 10:56AM on 05/17/08

Serious Sandwiches: The Aussie Burger

Pineapple has no place on a burger! But I'd say (as an Australian) beetroot has as many fans as it has haters. Plus that restaurant you mentioned seems like one of those upscale burger joints that have been opening all over - touting their rather expensive burgers as a healthy option. Real heads know it's the local fish and chip shop that brings the goods.

billions at 3:01AM on 05/15/08