Stop #25: Park Slope (and nearby), Brooklyn, New York, USA

Blue Ribbon Brooklyn

This restaurant was bustling at night. It had many different cuisines on the menu – sushi, steak, fried chicken, paella and seafood, just to name a few. Made me wonder how well they made each dish. 

Ox Tail Fried Rice with daikon, shiitake and bone marrow. Oxtail marmalade had yumminess all over it. The bone marrow wrapped in an egg was a nice touch. I really enjoyed this creative dish. 

Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and collard greens. This was their signature dish. It was tasty but I didn't think it was the best fried chicken that I had ever had. 

For more information, visit http://www.blueribbonrestaurants.com/.

Stone Park Cafe

Big plus for this restaurant for being family friendly! And the brunch was delicious!

Short Rib Hash and Eggs (braised short rib, scrambled egg and sourdough toast). Maybe it was a little heavy for brunch but I didn't care. It tasted good and that was all that mattered. The hash was burnt perfectly. I couldn't have enough of it. The sourdough toast was a good balance.

Hangtown Fry (tempura oyster frittata, bacon, Vermont cheddar and white toast). Fried oyster was crunchy and light. But short rib hash won my heart over.

For more information, visit http://www.stoneparkcafe.com.

ChipShop

Hello Fish and Chips in the US! 

Scotch eggs – hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in bread crumbs and baked. Wish it came out baked and warm instead of being served cold. 

Battered Cod & Chips. Happy with this dish because it was a whole fish like it was supposed to be. Though half way through it, I felt like I was covered in grease. 

Beef Shepherds Pie. It was traditional and hearty.

Of course wouldn't miss the fried chocolate dessert, Snickers bar inside!

For more information, visit http://www.chipshopnyc.com.

Hanco's

Want really good Vietnamese sandwich (Banh Mi)? Come here! The warm baguette, the chopped meat, the pickled vegetables and the well-proportioned mayo and butter make their Banh Mi awesome. 

For more information, visit http://www.hancosny.com.

Bergen Bagels

It's hard to find bagels with perfect chewiness or maybe I am just picky. This place offers pretty solid bagels. And they  have tons of interesting cream cheese options. Think tofu cream cheese. 

For more information, visit http://www.bergenbagel.com.

Buttermilk Channel

Oh my, I must have inhaled 5000 calories while eating here. Everything was good but maybe just a bit too buttery. Note that the menu changes by season.

Complimentary Honey Popovers were fluffy and tasty.

Chicken Liver Mousse. Wasn't really a fan of it. Didn't like the liver taste. But the bread was good.

Cornbread with chile-lime butter. YUM.

Slow-Roasted Pork Spare Ribs with fingerling potato salad.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken with cheddar waffles and savoy cabbage slaw.

Duck Meatloaf with celery root creamed spinach , onion rings and star anise duck jus. Had high expectation of this dish but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. To me, the duck had a weird after taste.

For more information, visit http://www.buttermilkchannelnyc.com.

Stop #24: New York, New York, USA (Part 3)

Fatty Crab (CLOSED)

Been wanting to eat here for a long time and finally made it. It did not disappoint! First of all, loved the atmosphere and the service. The waiters were really friendly and down-to-earth. They suggested family-style dining because all dishes were made to order and coming out as ready.

Of course, loved the food as well. Fatty Crab served Malaysian inspired cuisine. I was most impressed with this "Watermelon Pickle and Crispy Pork" dish. The crispy pork is crunchy outside but melts in your mouth inside. Combined with watermelon pickle, fresh herbs and sweet ginger, it was so delicious and refreshing. Such a creative dish! 

Beef Rendang – lemongrass-chili braised short ribs, pickles, coconut rice. Oh my, the tenderness of the beef and the sweetness of the coconut made this dish special. 

Char Kway Teow. Typical Malaysian dish, however Fatty Crab made its own twist. I loved how the wide rice noodle was rolled up piece by piece, yet it was not sticking and becoming a ball. All the fresh herbs and chili made the dish extra tasty. 

For more information, visit http://www.fattycrab.com/home/.

Landbrot Bakery & Bar (CLOSED)
Interesting concept, a German bakery with a bar opens early in the morning and well into the night. I went during the day and tried out their breakfast/lunch offering.

I know this was just simple cafe au lait, BUT it came with a cookie! That's how coffee is served in Europe, always comes with little something sweet. Even better, cookies here were baked freshly in house. The gooey chocolate in the cookie made me happy.

Yes we must talk about their pretzel. This was the salted version. The pretzel was soft and chewy, heated up to the perfect temperature.

I had to order another pretzel and this one came with gouda cheese. Yum!

I thought the warm apple strudel would be the highlight, but unfortunately it wasn't heated up enough. The thin layers of crust were tasty and warm, but it didn't make up for the fact that the inside was cold. What a shame.

For more information, visit http://www.landbrotbakery.com/.

See previous post about New York – part 1 and part 2.

Stop #23: Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA

Coco Asian Cuisine
Finally I found a Malaysian restaurant that serves authentic and tasty food in New Jersey.

Malaysian Satay Chicken and Beef, served with peanut sauce. It was so flavorful and juicy!


Buddhist Yampot Chicken – fried taro shell stuffed with chicken, snow peas, mushroom and nuts. Fried taro shell, HELLO! The best I have had in a long time. That alone can be my dinner.


Char Kway Teow – noodle with shrimp, squid, bean sprouts, chives and egg. It is not bad, but I have had better. Maybe it just needs to be a bit spicier.


For more information, visit http://www.cocoasiancuisine.com/edisonWeb.html.


Noodlelicious (CLOSED)
I guess someone heard my prayers. The noodles are handmade, the beef is tender and the broth is tasty – truly authentic Taiwanese beef noodle soup! I enjoy their side dishes as well, such as dried bean curd, seaweed, brown egg and beef tripe.


For more information, visit http://www.noodleliciousUSA.com.


Jose Tejas
This place is packed all the time. But if you want some good and cheap Mexican fare, this is the place to be.

Taco and Enchilada Combo, Corn and Black Bean Empanadas and Chicken and Chorizo Etouffee. The portions are huge and the food is delicious!


For more information, visit http://www.bordercafe.com/.