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Their refugee story seemed a little weak (forced to eat beef in Bhutan?!), but the food looks like no joke. Wish them the best.

@ CheesyBite, I'll think you'll find that they are an overwhelmingly young male demographic here which leads to a certain skewing of the cuisine here in New York. You don't see much of the real "abuela" type of dishes prepared with the care I'd like to see, but I'm open to suggestions from your world beyond the blogosphere.

People have always enjoyed these. Used very successfully at a Superbowl party:

Wings:
2 dozen chicken wings, about 3 1/4 pounds, rinsed and patted dry
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted in a skillet over medium heat until lightly browned
Leaves from 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
Teriyaki Sauce:
1 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 cup grapefruit juice
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 fresh, hot red chile, halved
5 garlic cloves, halved
2-inch piece fresh ginger, smashed with the side of a large knife
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Season the chicken wings with salt and pepper and drizzle a little olive oil on them to prevent sticking. Lay the wings in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes or until the skin gets crispy and the wings are cooked through.

Meanwhile, combine the teriyaki sauce ingredients in a large saucepan. Simmer over low heat and reduce until slightly thickened. Pour the sauce into a large bowl. Dump the wings into the bowl and toss to coat them with the sauce. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with the sesame seeds and cilantro. Serve hot.

Probably my favorite columnist on here. It's a rare thing to see a food blogger write about various cuisines and come across as experienced and informed in a natural and unpretentious way. But then I'm biased to the cuisine of Queens!

Kinda curious why one would go looking for Mexican ingredients in a "South American" market. Anyway, if that picture is any indication, this is the world's saddest mole. Do yourself a favor and just buy a can of Dona Maria instead.

I grew up in and around the area, and appreciate you giving the culinary tradition some attention. It makes me reminisce for the huge tri-tip dinner fundraisers my family used to go to when I was a kid. The best tri-tip BBQ there ever was from a gentlemen named Buster who used to sell from from grills on the side of the road in Saticoy where a freeway now runs. The hot BBQ sauce gave me a heat tolerance that I would serve me well for the rest of my life. After he got displaced he opened up a brick and mortar place in Ventura, but it looks like his wife got it in a divorce. That palace is still churning out meat if you're heading south down the coast: http://www.yelp.com/biz/just-bbq-ventura?large_photo=1

If you're heading far North, a few minutes of internet research reveals Buster is back at it up in Calistoga, and would be a good candidate for your next "this guy" photo. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jem8ynMBXKVOFYc0c1009Q?select=tdCXN4zUqSn-98UhuXdCRw

Anyway, thanks for the memories. One nit, I think most people would say Santa Maria is part of the central coast, as the region is called, even if it's not physically ON the coast.

@ averagebetty, it's called coffee cake because it's traditionally served with coffee. Yeah, "lol."

Anyway, call some of us crazy for being curious thinking it might be interesting to find out how a seemingly regional Chinese-American food term originated.

RIO SUPERMARKET 32-15 36 AVENUE, Astoria, would be a good place to start.

http://www.riosupermarket.com/

Shake Shack caters my idea of tourist hell. It's just where the tourists who look down on the people at Ruby Tuesday eat.

There's actually quite a variety of food within a few blocks fo the theater. Not far on 42nd, there's Dafni, an underappreciated little Greek spot. If your husband is looking for something a bit more meaty, Shorty's has decent philly cheesesteaks around the corner. You could always just walk up 9th ave and before 45th St. you'd run into Indonesian food (Bali Nusa), City Sandwich (Portugeuse sandwiches), Five Napkin Burger (for those who prefer their burgers less effete than Shake Shack's), and about 10 mediocre Thai spots.

@ petey, California pizza? As a Californian, I'm not sure I get it. I understand them to be going for Louisiana pizza of some sort, hence the two boots of their name (Louisiana and Italy). Whever it's from it makes me want to "boot." I can't stand cornmeal coated pizza. They do have one slice with the jalapeno pesto that I might have once in a blue moon though, just because it brings some heat.

Ate here again on Mexican independance day weekend and had a great meal. I usually don't order the tacos, but I don't think the ordering system is nonsensical as you suggest. There chips and guacamole are fine, though they give you an option between a chunky and more pureed styles of guacamole.

Anyway, I got the carnitas en salsa verde and opted for the addition of nopales. Some of the better mexican I'd had in New York in quite some time.

Eh, lots of people in lots of parts of the country prefer overcooked meat. You could just as well ask why the parking lot of the local Applebee's is packed.

I do take issue with one part of the review, however: "tasteless iceberg lettuce." Are you saying all iceberg is tasteless? Or this particular iceberg? I find the latter hard to comprehend, and the former spits on lots of burger tradition. I think it's enough just to note they put way too much on.