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/.

Stop #22: Chocolate

In this post, I would like to share my favorite chocolate from around the world!

Australia

Tim Tam – Manufactured by Arnott’s in Australia, Tim Tam consists of two layers of chocolate biscuit with a light chocolate cream filling, then coated in a thin layer of textured chocolate. I am usually not a dark chocolate fan, but the dark chocolate version of this is amazing! 

United Kingdom

Twirl – Manufactured by Cadbury in the United Kingdom, Twirl is a unique flake-styled milk chocolate bar with smooth milk chocolate covering. This milk chocolate tastes so pure and silky. 

Marks & Spencer – This is just a grocery store brand in the UK, yet their chocolate is above and beyond standard. Their version of Ferrero Rocher is so much better!

Divine Chocolate – Divine Chocolate is a leading Fair Trade brand in the UK and uses cocoa grown in Ghana. 

Italy

Venchi – Thanks to The Chocolate Library in New York City, I have had a chance try this amazing chocolate from Italy. This particular chocolate bar contains Gianduja, which is a sweet chocolate containing about 30% hazelnut paste. It will melt if it is too hot outside, so usually the stores only sell it in cool weather. 

Belgium

Dolfin – Dolfin is a Belgian chocolate company. This milk chocolate bar is more on the bitter side, but it leaves me wanting more with each bite, strangely. That is probably because their recipe contains less sugar, less fat and more cocoa.

Switzerland
Lindor – Produced by Lindt & Sprüngli (more commonly known as Lindt) in Swizertland, Lindor has a hard chocolate shell and a smooth chocolate filling. It melts in your mouth.

United States

Vosges – Based in Chicago, Katrina founded Vosges Haut-Chocolat with the concept of Travel the World through Chocolate. Her chocolate always contain a unique and interesting international flavor, whether it is a nut, fruit or something you would never imagine (i.e. bacon or curry). The chocolate itself is rich and smooth. Mmm, mmm, so good. 

Theo Chocolate – Based in Seattle, Theo Chocolate is the first organic, Fair Trade, bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the United States. 

Stop #21: Chicago, Illinois, USA (Part 3)

Girl and the Goat

I am always wary about going to a famous chef's restaurant. The night usually ends with disappointing dishes and a large bill. But I bow to Chef Stephanie Izard. She has made food into art. Her creativity is immense. She also works with a number of farms in the area to support “local” at the restaurant.

No wonder the reservation is a constant three month out. I went on a Monday night. Arrived a little before 5pm and was seated by 6pm. Not bad! Girl and the Goat had an open kitchen, nice ambiance and professional service! The menu was broken down to vegetable (v), fish (f) and meat (m). All dishes were served small like tapas. Small it might be, each dish entailed inspiring combination of ingredients and sophisticated preparation. How Chef Izard made everything work together was beyond me. Every bite was unfamiliar yet astonishing. Her food took my taste palette to a whole new place. 

Chickpeas fritters – with eggplant-tomatillo caponata and Crave Brother’s mozzarella

Sweet n’ sour cod cheeks – with bacon, potato aioli, tempura broccoli

Seared scallops – with pumpkin brandade, fried brussels, pomegranate, spiced pecans

Grilled pork ribs – with tomatillo-mushroom slaw, grilled scallion vinaigrette

Wood oven roasted pig face – with sunny side egg, tamarind, cilantro, potato stix

Confit goat belly – with bourbon butter, lobster n’ crab, fennel

Blood orange sorbet – with parsnip pot de creme, pistachio cake, and three sisters cornmeal crust

Even the dessert was done with much ingenuity. Stephanie partnered with Black Dog Gelato (a great gelato joint in Wicker Park neighborhood) and created absolutely the most amazing desserts. 

Next time you are in Chicago, do everything you can to eat here. For more information, visit http://www.girlandthegoat.com/

Frontera Grill

This restaurant is on many tourists’ to-eat list. It is Rick Bayless’ most famous restaurants in Chicago. The reservation is a few month out. I arrived around 5pm on a Tuesday and there was already a line forming. Restaurant opened at 5:20pm and they would hold your table till 6pm, giving time for the rest of your party to arrive. If you got there at 5:30pm, your wait would probably be two and half hours. 

Frontera Grill had great Mexican food, but it was nothing amazing or creative. The waiter had an attitude and couldn't be bothered. Maybe it was the hype or maybe it was that ignorant waiter. I was rather disappointed considering how much I loved the sister restaurant XOCO. 

Complimentary spiced nuts

Tamales de Elote – sweet corn tamales (in banana leaves), homemade crema, queso fresco, wood-grilled poblano chile

Trio, Trio, Trio – sampling of Ceviche Fronterizo, Ceviche Yucateco & Coctail de Atun Tropical

Enchiladas de Mole Poblano – homemade tortillas rolled around Gunthorp free-range chicken, doused with Mexicos most famous mole, black beans

Carne Asada a la Oaxaquena – Creekstone Natural Black Angus rib steak (marinated in spicy red chile and wood-grilled), black beans, sweet plantains with sour cream, guacamole

Maybe Elote Asado, an ear of grilled corn topped off with queso fresco and chile powder, would have saved the meal but unfortunately it was not in season. In all fairness, the ceviche was fresh and the food was satisfying. It just did not live up to the price tag and long wait. I did not even bother having dessert here. Went right around the corner and had churros from XOCO. THAT saved the night. 

For more information, visit http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/grill.html.

XOCO

It is still one of my favorite spots in Chicago. No need to go to the glorified Frontera Grill. Just come here for some nice Mexican fare from chef Rick Bayless, much cheaper and much more creative. 

Dipping churros in homemade Mexican vanilla soft-serve, genius!

 

Shortrib red chile soup – braised Tallgrass shortribs, red chile broth, roasted vegetables, epazote, wild arugula, lime

Pork belly torta (Wednesday special) – dark salsa negra glaze, bacon, arugula, queso anejo

Ahogada torta – golden pork carnitas, black beans, tomato broth, spicy arbol chile sauce, pickled onions

Choco-Flan – flan on top and chocolate cake at bottom. It was pretty creative. Did not taste as promising as it sounded though. 

The soups and sandwiches at XOCO are all very flavorful. Churros are a must! For more information, visit http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/xoco.html.

Bongo Room

This is a very popular brunch joint in Chicago and they have opened a second location in Wicker Park. 

Let’s talk about red velvet pancake, what the Bongo Room is famous for. I tried the red velvet pancake at Original Pancake House and it was terrible. It was dry and had no taste. So I was cautious with this one. I did not want to believe the hype. Guess what? This red velvet pancake was fluffy, tasty, moist and savory. The vanilla bean cream cheese and toasted walnuts on top were perfect. I became a believer. By the way, this was a half order, half! Two huge red velvet pancakes. Half order. Seriously.  

The house potatoes and thai chicken sausage with ginger were very tasty.

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

DMK Burger Bar

Saw this place on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and was intrigued by the blueberry BBQ sauce. After looking at the menu, I was intrigued by many more items. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Luckily our waitress was super friendly and gave great recommendations. 

Onion rings or fries? I wanted both. Apparently there was a secret “half size” order for the onion rings. Score! Chili-rubbed onion strings with house ketchup was addicting! 

Hand-cut russet potato fries with parmesan and truffle cream was delicious! I was so glad that I got to try both, because I wouldn’t want to choose between the two. 

Then there were the burgers. All the combinations/toppings on the menu sounded interesting and unique. But burger of the month sounded good too! Eventually picked number four – with roasted hatch green chile, friend farm egg, sonoma jack and smoked bacon. The burger had a bit spicy kick to it. Buns were freshly baked and toasty. It was a good burger overall, though I like my burger a bit more greasy. 

Also got burger of the month. It was basically number five – bison (buffalo meat) burger with fresh goat cheese, pickled red onions and blueberry BBQ sauce – but with a beef patty and a different BBQ sauce. The waitress put some famous blueberry BBQ sauce on the side so I could try it. How thoughtful! 

And speaking of being thoughtful, DMK reminded me why I love Chicago so much. The waitress knew that I was from out of town, so she put in an order of peanut butter milk shake – with vanilla, chocolate, espresso – for me to take to go. Say what? I was in total shock and was so grateful. I left with a smile and would forever remember this place. 

DMK Burger Bar is committed to giving back to the community. Its ongoing philanthropic initiative, 365 

Days of Giving, raises funds for a designated charity every month. For more information, visit http://www.dmkburgerbar.com/index.php.

Cafe Iberico

Tapas. I am really starting to appreciate the idea of it. You get to taste so many different flavors in one meal. Cafe Iberico is popular among the locals and offers really great Spanish dishes. 

Pulpo a la Plancha – grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil

Champinones a la Plancha – grilled mushrooms with garlic and olive oil

Raxo Adobado – marinated pork loin served with homemade fries

Paella Marinera – seafood paella made with shrimp, fish, clams, and other seafood in a special saffron broth

Homemade fries were so good. Mushrooms and pork loin were seasoned and grilled well with lots of garlic and olive oil. Mmm, paella, mmm. It was so yummy that I cleaned out the pan, not even one rice left. 

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

Lou Malnati’s

After tasting most of the deep dish pizzas in Chicago, I can proudly say that I am a fan of Lou Malnati’s. It is not as greasy and the crust is just mad good. 

Tried “The Lou” this time – fresh spinach, mushrooms and sliced tomatoes covered with a blend of mozzarella, romano and cheddar cheese. It actually tasted rather healthy! 

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

Floriole Cafe and Bakery

What a lovely cafe! Huge floor window in front, modern and clean decor inside, it felt cozy yet bright. 

Hot apple cider. Amazing. The flavor was so rich. Nothing beat a freshly brewed hot cider! 

Spinach and cheddar quiche was good at first and then it got really heavy. It was a bit too creamy for me. The crust was very good though!

Almond croissant was dense. I like my croissant more fluffy and crispy. 

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

Sweet Mandy B’s

The cutest cupcake shop ever! It was so colorful and cheery inside! 

Tried the carrot cupcake. The cake was moist and the icing was creamy and not too sweet. Probably one of the best cupcakes I have tasted in Chicago. I now understand why this place is loved by so many Chicagoans.  

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

Luscious Layers Bakery

This place got very good reviews. The cupcakes looked delicate and beautiful. Tried pistachio and pumpkin cupcakes. The cake was dry and icing was hard and too sweet for my taste. I was not a fan, sadly.

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

Hoosier Mama Pie Company

Their pie is delicious, no doubt. They also bake fresh muffins and scones every morning and they usually sell out by the afternoon. I got to try the maple pecan scone this time and it did not disappoint. It was crusty (outside) and chewy (inside) at the same time. A good scone could really make your morning wonderful.

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

See previous posts about Chicago – part 1 and part 2.