dim sum.

More likely than not, if I'm going out for a relaxing Sunday brunch, you can find me in Chinatown (or Little Neck/Flushing if I'm back home) for some dim sum! Dim Sum (a.k.a. yum cha) is best enjoyed in large groups, as you can order more dishes and taste more variety (and not feel like a fatty, though I tend to order the same amount in small groups =P). In Hong Kong, there was an awesome tradition of 4AM dim sum, since there was nothing better to do around campus. Though I can't say I had amazing dim sum in Hong Kong, it was always accessable and delicious.

The greesy, oily goodness on the right is wu gok, made with a mashed taro and meat/mushroom filling and fried in a crispy batter. Obviously, with my love of carbs, I am drawn to all the bao's and gao's - carbbbbbssss ::droool:: Some of my other favorites include: shrimp dumplings (ha gao), pork dumplings (siu mai), shrimp rice noodle rolls (ha cheong), pork buns (cha siu bao), phoenix talons (fung zau), intestines (niu du), Chinese sponge cake (ma lai gao), glutinous rice in a lotus leaf (no mai gai), sweet milk buns (nai wong bao), and egg tarts (dan tat)! Ha, and that's just the start of what I order.

You have the freedom to try anything and everything you want (and practice your Cantonese skills...or lack thereof).

Mm goiii!!

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Oh yea. Before I forget.
So, who's cuisine reigns supreme??

Iron Chef John BF!

And luckily, Derrick took it well.

mmm, spice-ay.

After another delicious meal in K-Town this past weekend with the boys, I was thinking, korean food is one of my top favorite cuisines (probably a close tie with Taiwanese night market food - drool). The spicy goodness with the delicate balance of a very light, not-too-oily body is the perfect combination of making Kathy oh-so-happy.

I loveeee the pan chan (side dishes) - tasty snacks to enjoy before and during the meal. Horicha (barley tea) is sooo refreshing. I used to go over my friends' houses just for tea. As for BBQ, bulgogi is my preferred meat, with a nice play of sweet and savory. Being an avid fan of spicy foods, korean food is definitely up my alley.

As for the restaurants in K-Town, I can't really place my finger on an absolute favorite. Every time I've gone to Shila (where the soon dubu pictured above and the bulgogi on the left is from), it's always been a really solid meal. Wonjo is a favorite of some of my friends, most likely because it is one of the cheaper options on the block (though I was never really fond of it). Kum Gan San is probably the most well known chain and has the coolest decor. Woorijip is one of the best pit stops for a cheap and quick meal (that's open late too!). To be honest, to me, most of the restaurants kind of mesh together and it's hard for me to differentiate between them. Any one else have a favorite?

Ah, this is making me so hungry.

momofuku noodle bar

For my official birthday dinner with the family, I wanted some xiao long bao but unfortunately there was absolutely no parking anywhere in Chinatown. =( Instead, we ended up at Momofuku Noodle Bar, a place I've been meaning to try out for a while after reading about it in the Times. We lucked out since we arrived right when they were reopening from their afternoon break and there were just the right amount of seats to fit everyone that pushed their way in. ^_^

The cool thing about this place is how it models its layout after a typical Japanese ramen shop (only a bit more East Village-y). The noodle bar set up is conducive to a quick meal and keeps turnover high. Unfortunately, prices aren't reflective of their Japanese counterpart; the Momofuku Ramen pictured above put a $14 dent in my wallet (or better said, my brother's wallet, haha). For a very salty broth and mushy noodles, I can't say it's really worth the deal. Well, with my dad bickering away in the background every couple bites, complaining about the hipster feel and outrageous prices for about the entire duration of dinner, it probably took away from the overall experience.

Would I go back? Eh, probably not. I've had better bowls of ramen (though they were actually soba noodles) than this place. But it still looks pretty cool.

mussel mania!

In an impromptu pre-birthday celebration dinner, YuShin, Matt, and I headed downtown to a great little bar/restaurant called Essex. They have a couple of specials, most noteable is the Tuesday all-you-can-eat mussel and fries special for $14. Oh man, did we do it up. The mussels were cooked in a tasty and well-seasoned sauce, the fries are crisp and de-li-cious (i loveee fries). We all went through three rounds before declaring K-O. It really hit the spot since I've been craving mussels for about half a year now =P Yummy.

The restaurant also had a bar area, though it was rather cumbersome since it blocked the entrance and path to the bathroom. But, for a Tuesday night, it was pretty packed (probably due to the half off all drinks special). I'd really want to try this place for a Sunday brunch.

S'Mac That.

Now, I'm not that big a fan of cheese, but it's slowly growing on me. After a rather lazy Friday some time ago, Matt and I finally decided to get off our lazy butts and get some fresh air. What better destination then S'Mac, a little place in the East Village specializing in mac and cheese. I've been meaning to go for quite some time, especially after reading about it in the Times.

Naturally, looking at the expansive menu, we had to do at least three "nosh" orders (mind you, one order is more than enough for a single serving). Hey, we were hungry for some mac n' cheese. We ordered the Mozzarella, Cajun, and Gruyere. My personal favorite was the Cajun - spicy, meaty, with just the right kick of Pepper Jack. I only think adding the breadcrumbs made it a bit too salty. But it was still oh so cheeeeese-ily yummy.A cute little shop that hits the spot on a cold winter's day (or a late night...excursion). Hehehe.

I'm itching for some Chicken and Rice. Any takers?

Stand Up!

I had a life changing revelation today. I am going to embark on a grand quest for -drumroll- the perfect burger.

Today, Matt and I finally went to Stand, a new burger joint on 12th Street between University and 5th Ave. I haven't had many "gourmet" or specialty burgers in my day - I usually hit up diner burgers - but this was a delicious popping my gourmet burger cherry first time kind of burger (try to say that three times fast). The meat was moist and juicy; the fat oozing from each bite managed to dribble down my hands or spatter onto the plate (great image, I know). The sauces were homemade and complemented the burger well. They even have Japanese mayo (ooooo). Fries weren't anything unique but at least well made. Overall, a pretty tasty experience.

With Shake Shack opened again for the season, I think the next few weeks will be filled with many more adventures.

Virage || Mediterranean

Virage

118 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003
212-253-8297

Appetizer
Hummus
w. warm mushrooms, tahini, pita

Main Course
Salmon Filet
w. asparagus risotto, sauteed vegetables, yellow & red tomato vinaigrette

My friends took me out to this restaurant for my surprise birthday partayyy two weeks ago. It's open 24 hours and really close to campus (and Veniero's!). The hummus was one of the best I've had in a while, the salmon was really fresh. Being me, I had to try the other entrees, which were all really good as well - Grilled Portobello Sandwich, Linguine w. Mixed Seafood, Grilled Lamb Chops, Grilled New York Strip Steak. Yum. And, for dessert, we had Veniero's cake so there was no chance to try Virage's desserts. I'd definitely go back though =)