Tag Archives: food

Chutzpah

I am reeling from the second half of my cheesesteak sandwich from Chutzpah deli, a large hero sandwich with slices of beef, melted american cheese, green peppers, banana peppers and onions.  It is delicious, and it is also slathered in ketchup which is apparently a Bronx thing.  Earlier in the day, I contemplated ordering a matzo brei and possibly eating it with ketchup.  Josh pointed out that’s a very typical way of eating it for anyone who grew up in the Bronx.

Seeing as how I grew up in Chula Vista, I think that’s great.  One condiment to rule them all, and in the stomach bind them.

I ate the first half, hot and also slathered with ketchup earlier in the day.  Accompanying it was a chocolate egg cream.  Accompanying that was Josh and Lori explaining anything on the menu that I had questions about.

And all of that together, really hit the spot.  After the blizzard kept us in our homes, a day of socializing with food was more than welcome.

Maybe we were all hungry after the long trip to Fairfax, but I don’t doubt that the food was delicious.  The egg cream was rich and chocolaty, and didn’t last very long.  It was made in the traditional manner with Fox’s U-bet Chocolate syrup.  It had a really amazing head of frothed milk that I’ve never been able to replicate at home.

Next time, I’m ordering a matzo brei, maybe some kasha varnishka.  Probably not celery soda though.

Awkward moment of the meal:  I notice a pirate flag when we enter, and I joke that maybe it’s pirate day.  Two seconds later, Lori points out that one of the servers may be wearing an eyepatch for medical reasons.  Oops.

Tagged ,

Ping Pong Dim Sum

Ping Pong Dim Sum: Dumpling Course

Dumplings

I’m snacking on a veggie puff pastry after a cold Yuengling and a sake based bloody mary, when I think to myself, “This wasn’t what I expected.”

I’m at Ping Pong dim sum, a few blocks Northish of the Friendship Gate in Chinatown , and I’m eating what I can only call upscale non traditional dim sum.  Dim sum tapas is an accurate descriptor of this self created niche.

Thankfully, this niche is delicious.

My first experience with Ping Pong was actually the day before, I had spent some time there and I felt it warranted a return trip.

Ping Pong Dim Sum Lychee Rose martini

Lychee Rose martini

It’s a Monday evening, and it’s quiet.  It’s six o’clock and the after work crowd hasn’t come in yet for happy hour, which is four to seven.  Five dollar cocktails, all of which are exotic takes of traditional bar offerings.  For instance, the amaretto sour has wasabi paste in it, and the bloody mary is sake based.  Both were tasty.  I also had a passionfruit amaretto based cocktail which was also delicious.  Also good was the lychee and rose martini.  For the record, I didn’t drink all of these at once.

Elise, our waitress from Sunday is off duty, but hanging out and she recognizes me as I step up to the bar.  She tells me to order the wasabi amaretto sour that I didn’t order on Sunday.

My second cocktail is something with passionfruit and almond in a tall glass.  Sip by sip, Monday is fading.  It’s a new beginning for the evening.

The ramp up from quiet bar to happy hour “spot” is fast, and dare I say, furious.  Bartenders have moved into full production mode, and more than once I’m the target of an over eager muddling of lemongrass, lime, or lychee.

My bar fare arrives, hotter than I’m expecting, so  I sip on my drink to pass the time.

There are actually two bars, but one is actually just a seating area in front of the kitchen where you can watch the food being prepared.  I haven’t sat down there yet, but it does look interesting.

I’ll be coming back.

Tagged ,

Eat First

It’s not quite as cold as it could be, but it’s still cold.

I’m walking the wrong way down 9th street, but at least I got off at the correct exit.  I’m heading to Eat First, which is a smaller restaurant in Chinatown.  I realize I don’t go downtown nearly as often as I should.  Finally get to Eat First and people are waiting because they got there early.

It’s a good day.

Tonight, had a little bit of everything.  Duck, fish, chicken, pork, lotus root, frog, sausage, sprouted something.  Overall a good time, but that may have something to do with the company.

On the ride up, I realized that I enjoyed the Fallout 3 advertising blitz in Metro Center.  The IKEA blitz of Gallery Place, not so much.  I don’t know, maybe I just have a soft spot for video game advertising.

So, anyway, Eat First.  Horrible name, great food.

A+ transaction, would do business with again.  Although it helps to have a guide that knows everyone there and speaks the language.

Tagged

Cleaning House

Dangit. Never really goes like you expect it to. Housecleaning, that is.

So, instead of housekeeping, I watched Shrek a third time and went out for drinks with a few friends. Yes, it’s that good. I guess it’s that good because it goes against the whole “fairy tale” movie cliché. What other movie are you going to see a talking donkey (Eddie Murphy a la Mushu redux) and a female dragon. . . er, yeah. I’m not going to ruin it for you.

Also, despite what people think, Guapo’s in Tenleytown is pretty good mexican food. I didn’t realize it at the time, but damn. Forget that Chichi’s crap. Go to a Guapo’s. Me, I like the one in Tenleytown, because it’s where I go. But apparently, there are three locations.

Tagged ,