Food, Food, and Food, Oh My! or What to Eat in NYC: Four Easy Picks
Monday, November 05, 2007
New York City is notorious for many things: fashion, culture, and especially, food. After a week spent in a lavish affair of steak, french cuisine, korean fried chicken, and yet, another delicious burger, I decided to put together a little guide, or present, if you will, for anyone making an impromptu visit to the city, without any clue of what or where to eat. After many visits, including one wretched time where all we ate was diner food (oh naivete), I realized such a guide would have come in handy. I therefore, present to you a handpicked selection of delicious eats and treats for a cold wintry week, or any week for that mattter, in a place where there are almost too many food options, NYC.
1. Best Korean Fried Chicken: Bon Chon Chicken. The non-descript second story restaurant boasts some of the city's finest korean fried chicken, part of the recent craze talked about in Time Out New York's issue of Best Cheap Eats. Though the name would make you think of a KFC type of joint, the atmosphere of the restaurant is dark and lounge-like: surprisingly upscale for a place that serves fried chicken. Two choices of chicken flavors present themselves: soy-sauce garlic or chile. With its crispy skin and juicy, succulent sweetness, the soy-garlic chicken is to die for. The price, not so much, expect to pay $20 for nine drumsticks.
3. Best New Opening: Back Forty. Opened in November, this welcome addition to the East Village serves food made with quality ingredients. The grass-fed burger is probably the best option on the menu (and garnered a rave review in New York Magazine). The meat is delicate, flavorful and tender -what a good, quality burger should taste like. Also the fries are to die for: just the right consistency of crispiness and softness seasoned with garlic salt (see right). Lastly, drinks at the bar are great. Note to "girly-drink" patrons: stir well your Tequila Sunrise and don't drink on an empty stomach. This I learned the hard way.
Location: East Village, Ave B between 11th and 12th St.
4. Best Unique Dessert: Rice to Riches. Talk about a niche. Rice to Riches serves rice pudding exclusively, in about 40 different flavors with unique names like "Perfectly Legal Pecan Pie," "Gingerbread JoyRide," and my favorite "Sex, Drugs and Rocky Road." Everything about this place is appealing: the white walls and rounded design (tables are curvy, the bowls the rice pudding comes in is curvy, 
everything is round!) makes for a welcoming atmosphere, the names of the flavors are humorous, and you can taste test as many as you'd like. The best part is that the pudding comes in adorable, brightly colored plastic containers that double as tupperware! Cute tupperware that is. There really isn't a single thing to hate about this place.
My Rice to Riches experience involved "The Secret Life of Pumpkin," in homage to the passing
of Thanksgiving , and of course "Sex, Drugs and Rocky Road," admittedly because of the name, but also for its rich chocolate flavor. This was probably my happiest flavor combination moment ever. The deep flavors of the dark chocolate tamed and tempered the cinnamon-sweet spicyness of the pumpkin. Yes, you can call the moment orgasmic. Sex, Drugs and Rock and Rocky Road can, indeed, be addicting. So is Rice to Riches.
1. Best Korean Fried Chicken: Bon Chon Chicken. The non-descript second story restaurant boasts some of the city's finest korean fried chicken, part of the recent craze talked about in Time Out New York's issue of Best Cheap Eats. Though the name would make you think of a KFC type of joint, the atmosphere of the restaurant is dark and lounge-like: surprisingly upscale for a place that serves fried chicken. Two choices of chicken flavors present themselves: soy-sauce garlic or chile. With its crispy skin and juicy, succulent sweetness, the soy-garlic chicken is to die for. The price, not so much, expect to pay $20 for nine drumsticks.Location: Korea town, between 31st and 32nd.
2. Best 24 hour restaurant: French Roast. Craving pate with truffles and toast, at midnight on a Tuesday night? Yep they got it. As well as croque monsieurs (a traditional french sandwich of ham and cheese), grilled steak, salads of goat cheese and beets, and much more. Prices can be high, typical of french cuisine. However, hor d'oveurs are usually priced at ten dollars or less, a steal especially if ordering something like pate with truffles, and the atmosphere is cozy and warm, like a parisian cafe. For the picky insomniac/hung-over/late-night-munching eater, this place is a dream.
Locations:
Upper west: 85th and Broadway
West Village: 11th St and 6th Ave
Location: East Village, Ave B between 11th and 12th St.
4. Best Unique Dessert: Rice to Riches. Talk about a niche. Rice to Riches serves rice pudding exclusively, in about 40 different flavors with unique names like "Perfectly Legal Pecan Pie," "Gingerbread JoyRide," and my favorite "Sex, Drugs and Rocky Road." Everything about this place is appealing: the white walls and rounded design (tables are curvy, the bowls the rice pudding comes in is curvy, 
everything is round!) makes for a welcoming atmosphere, the names of the flavors are humorous, and you can taste test as many as you'd like. The best part is that the pudding comes in adorable, brightly colored plastic containers that double as tupperware! Cute tupperware that is. There really isn't a single thing to hate about this place. My Rice to Riches experience involved "The Secret Life of Pumpkin," in homage to the passing
Location: Soho, 37 Spring St. between Mott and Montgomery
* some photos courtesy of yelp.com, chungfood.blogspot.com, and npr.org
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p.s. the title of the post ended up being an inadvertent homage to Sufjan Stevens
Labels: good eats, ShoutsOfAdoration
2 Comments:
commented by 
Erik, 7:59 AM
Erik, 7:59 AM
shit looks good!
bbqchickenrobot
WideEyedEggplant
The GOOD Pants
2Scoops
El-izzle
I look forward to you reviewing more restaurants in your native OC. We need all the help we can get finding new and interesting things in this surburban paradise.