Late Night Korean Hot Pot.....actually a midnight snack

ban chan: kimchee in the middle surrounded by other marinated veggies - like radish, cucumbers, bell peppers with veggies....


Yukae Jang: Spicy Beef Soup - my favorite hot n' spicy soup; will kill any bug lingering in you.....


Rice dousing is necessary for this savory soup......


If you're viewing this for the first time; I know this might look frightening...but imagine the taste memory of beef stew yet spicy with shredded tender flank steak, chewy noodles, green onions, veggies in a spicy, salty, savory broth tempered with fluffy white rice: HEAVEN


Is it Kimchi Jjigae or Kimchi Jigae? Anyways....took a late night red eye for Kimchi Jjigae a.k.a. Kimchi Stew.....

We found this restaurant only a stone's throw away from Times Square. This was AFTER small bites(!) at Bobby Flay's Bolo (since December 31, 2007 has sinced closed after some 15 years or so :() - we were still hungry! I have to say since my return from nyc; I've been doing a raw foodist thing to get back to mormal. I'll post on that later.

WonJo Restaurant is located in New York's Korea Town area or Korea Way which is located between 5th Avenue and Broadway. It's a narrow passage full of restaurants, shops, Karoake Bars and a Korean grocery store stock full of everything I've missed since I left California.

I found their food hearty, extremely well prepared and close to Korean home cooking (this is hard to say because I come from an extremely versed family of incredible cooks).

After all that eating; I had this intense desire to check out their Karoake scene.
WHY YOU ask? I have no idea - but it was a desire for some reason.

Now the last time I went to Karoake it was probably some years ago when I lived in L.A. It's usually a restaurant/bar that has a Karoake stage for public viewing and participation right? Well we hit two Karoake bars on Korean Way and they only had PRIVATE Karoake ROOMS! What was that?

Basically, the patrons rented out a private room that had a flat screen with mic and their selections of music/videos. There were groups of really really young kids so I realized they probably didn't have their own place to do this. It wouldn't be cool to do this at home in your room while your parents were in the house right?

I realized this is their WAY (the kids) of having their own place with friends to hang out and Karoake.

Interesting.

I'm glad I have my own room.....whether to Karoake or not; but most likely to eat crackers and chocolate in bed :)


WonJo Restaurant
23 West 32nd Street
New York, NY 10001
Tel 212.695.5815

www.wonjo32.com

radically alive @ Momofuku's

steamed bun: shiitake mushrooms with crunchy marinated cucumbers hidden inside......

Hey I'm back and returning to write about more food news about town. My eating trip to New York was a well fed one - yes; it was awhile back ago (s/b December '07). I am ready to blast out savory posts as promised.

I am excited to tell about my anticipated lunch at Momofuku in the East Village.

When my love called and mentioned he was free for lunch that afternoon - I was literally munching on my late morning snack from the mega buffet at Whole Foods @ Union Square. We met up and grabbed a subway to 1st Avenue and found our way to 10th Street.

Once inside, it was alive with patrons hankering over bowls of ramen, steamed buns, gooksu, and roasted brussel sprouts - you gotta love it!

We started with the steamed buns with options of chicken, shiitake or pork. We went with the shiitake bun. We were seated bar side literally in full view overlooking the kitchen in live process. The buns were assembled fresh. First a light douse of their special sauce, thin sliced marinated cucumbers and then the chewy shiitakes before the entire bun was gently rolled over.

My first bite yielded the scent of yeast and rice wine that resonated from the dough. The tender mushrooms met well with the cucumbers that also held it's own. Between bites and a few profanities from the aggravated kitchen manager behind the bar; it was a fine moment that attested my senses.

pork neck ramen: braised neck meat, ramen noodles, scallions, bamboo shoots, roasted seaweed and poached egg

The ramen - it was time for the ramen.

This is what I was waiting for.

Anticipating.

Savoring about.

The highlight of the ramen bowl were the house made noodles - chewy & dense. The braised pork meat - tender and sweet. The poached egg was not an afterthought. It was a well bred poached egg that sweltered with just enough resistance when I broke its sack. Poached to its peak; it went on its merry way to join hands with the rest of the order to celebrate their assemblage.

I have had ramen many times over. I'm a noodle freak - love Japanese style noodles. This was different. It tamed away from the traditional and most often times commercially light cherry brightness of the former Japanese style noodle soups I have encountered. Momofuku Ramen had more of an earthy appeal in its broth. That was fine with me as it reminded me very well of the Japanese restaurants in the side skirted parts of town in West L.A. and Culver City California that served up Japanese homestyle cooking straight from mamasan's kitch.

There was a lotta testosterone behind the bar as we watched the kitchen staff in between our noodle slurps. The proprietor and innovator of it all, Chef David Chang was there and calmly churned out the prize winning fare with his staff.

I was duly impressed with the tight concept of the menu. Inspired by Japanese home cooking, yet harnessed with heavy Korean appeal sewn in between with southern fare like grits, ham, bacon and collard greens.

seasonal pickled vegetables platter: we ate this between bites of noodles and fanfare of pork

All is fair and happy on pork @ momofuku's.

They also offered pork belly with the noodles which I didn't order. I am an ardent fan of pork fat - I have to admit. But I prefer it roasted crisp. Perhaps like bacon with the dripping glazed over. I even love deep fried pork rinds and don't get me started on charcoal grilled pigs feet! The pork belly served up here appeared to be braised and came through with an ample amount of that underbelly fat still gelatinous. I'm sure to try it on my next return though. You've gotta at least try it once or you will never know what your missing.....and what you're missing could be really good.

Ginger Scallion: noodles below with scallions, cukes, collard greens, roasted cauliflower, bamboo shoots and a wedge of roasted nori.

What a combination!

But it all worked out in the end.

I'm glad I went - I didn't want to miss out on this opportunity.

Well.....I kept hearing the word about the chef - David Chang as 'radical' and 'innovative'....... He also garnered the 2007 James Beard Foundation Award for Rising Star Chef and also Bon Appetit's 2007 Chef of the Year Award.

Sounds too resplendent......hmmmm....I had to check it out. I can see why. The menu is tight. The concept is tight. The quality is tight. It was good.

Afterwards we walked about the neighborhood full of more restaurants, dumpling shops, sushi bars, Italian bistros, art galleries and wine bars. We finally stopped at an Italian bakery to graze over hand made cookies and latte.

momofuku noodle bar
171 First Avenue
New York, New York
Tel 212.777.7773
www.momofuku.com

Next post: My late night eating habit gives way at WONJO in Manhattan opening doors to down home Korean fare......

Bolo in Manhattan: definitely a tilt to tantalize

charcoal grilled octopus with grilled lemons, fresh oregano & garlic Oil

DEAR READERS,
Bummer news.....since this post, I recently found out that BOLO served it's last meal December 31, 2007 and has since closed it's doors after something like 15 years of service :( !!!

Yours truly,
Girl About Town

I was on a quest for tapas done right when we arrived to New York.

Often times, I found myself disappointed with what is identified as a TAPAS restaurant or TAPAS menu to be utterly nailed over the head with pre-game fixings (regarding NE Florida - not elsewhere)......

BOLO is located in the Flatiron District on 22nd Street. Once inside, it was as vibrant and becoming as I had imagined with an elegant ease. Service was relaxed, yet impeccable. The bar master was more than versed in the variety of Spanish wine offerings that rolled into an evening that became quite lush.

I had dined at MESA GRILL a couple of summers ago when shopping in the Union Square area. Thereafter, I found myself leaving with 'that' pretense of disappointment. Yet, at present no plans to go forward with a profile since my usual stance is to dine twice if the first try didn't hit the mark.

BOLO was a sensation that I was not expecting and I found myself not in any haste to leave.

The flavors were enlightening.

The visual presentation both keen and dimensional.

In entirety.....I found the evening to be blissful yet challenging to my senses.

The charcoal grilled octopus is a definite invite. When this appetizer arrived I was overwhelmed with its sight and well...........with its size.

I had never seen tentacles that large and intact.

Now I wanted to see the whole thing. You see..........it just NEVER STOPS for me!

It has been a while since I have had octopus as sweet and soft. The tenderness combined with the marinade alone would be enough to convince any person that is an 'anti-tentacles' type of eater to imbibe at least with one bite forward without toes curled or breath held back.......

The first bite down is pillow soft. Then to follow, is an amount of resistance that makes it fun to chew, plus amped with the citrus notes of the grilled lemon and fresh oregano; it was a treat alone to realize this just may be the last high note of our short stay.

But it wasn't.



Tentacles never looked so good



salmon tartare on crisp chickpea polenta cake with red pepper pesto & lemon-chive oil

Whenever I order salmon tartare; I leave the plate with my last bite thinking "Why the heck did I order this? I'll never order this again......."

I always do.

It's either boring - boring - boring - or something along the veins of; hey do you remember those tight jeans during the '70's that had that huge #$(*)%#$ rainbow stitched from the bottom of the cuff, then it arched all the way across your cr*tch area; then back down to the opposite cuff? Well; the salmon tartare appetizers remind me of something awfully contagious yet should be well forgotten.

It's okay to ask me WHAT ROCK, I've climbed from under........

Well, this one was not revived - it must have been re-invented, remade or just plain introduced to society.

Doesn't it look like a painting alone? It reminds me of Mondrian meets Chagall on a sunny day type thing.

And yes - it was just as DIVINE.


from the top: seared sea scallop with hot cherry peppers, piquillo pepper stuffed with raw tuna salad, sauteed squid & bacon with garlic oil

These little tapas style dishes were from the tapas menu. The tapas menu invited the diner to choose 4 of the pretty plates from a selection 13 tapas. Other tapas mentioned: artichoke heart with quail egg & caviar, twelve layer potato with caramelized shallots as well as pan fried duck liver with sherry vinegar, honey & black pepper.


Lamb sausage on oven baked flatbread & black olives

Our dining buds ordered the flatbread. I think everyone; under the conditions of this evening; were being quite covetous about what we ordered. I didn't try this; but it did look inviting.......well essentially, my honey and I were *lambed* out. We scaled down Times Square the other night about midnight and found an all night gyro grub spot SAHARA GRILL and went crazy with a killer gyro.

They even had the audacity to allow fresh cucumber chunks and lettuce intervene....oh.....too welcome of a surprise.


milk chocolate, fig & hazelnut tart with vanilla fig ice cream


This was another dish I didn't try, but it sat coyly across from me saying 'hey girl......'

I just adore figs.

Figs remind me of California. Figs totally remind me of Northern California.

I have always had this fantasy of sitting under a fig tree and eating the figs off the tree right as they are falling off. Then I know I would be able to indulge in the merriest of figs.



frozen chocolate almond mousse & rioja cherries with marscarpone mousse



layers of delight



Check out momofuku and you'll see why i crazed: hot steamed buns with shitake mushrooms just got me going........

This is another story: Oh and momofuku is another must tell. We sat at the bar overlooking the kitchen....literally overlooking the prep work. These buns were coming out freshly packed.

I bit into my bun. Remember when you have a freshly made GOOD steamed bun the first combined scent & taste is of literally what? - - - rice wine..........remember?

momofuku is the next post.

DEAR READERS,
Bummer news.....since this post, I recently found out that BOLO served it's last meal December 31, 2007 and has since closed it's doors after something like 15 years of service :( !!!

Yours truly,
Girl About Town

BOLO
23 East 22nd Street
New York, New York
Tel 212.228.2200

eating in new york city: was it Prometheous....gluttony or the Greek template that set mundane taste buds free?

@ Rockefeller Center a tad touristy but had to see it.....

It was just a four day jaunt to one of my favorite cities. Alongside NYC is San Francisco my home base, but Manhattan will do just fine as my east coast stomping ground to revive my senses again.

I still haven't grown to the taste of 'sweet tea' since living in Florida. Something about syrup over ice: it just doesn't settle well. It's suppose to go well with anything fried. Been there, did that and it still doesn't make the mark for me.

Sort of like uni.

Before we left to New York, I had to map out exactly where, when and what I was going to eat. With the little time I had; I did a few Google searches, made a few phone calls and we were well on our way to extending our palate limitations. When traveling; especially short trips - I prefer to have some sort of general itinerary so I am not idling in confusion about my whereabouts. I have tried letting go and arriving with no destination in hand with more time wasted than enjoyed. Now don't get me wrong - I love spontaneity but I think any well managed traveler will tell you it doesn't hurt to have a few destinations in mind before setting foot. The thought of any organized tour in large hordes absolutely makes me shudder. I would be completely embarrassed to be in an organized tour of any sort. What I do prefer is meeting up with the locals or even a solo tour guide would do just fine.

We had been to Manhattan previously and I was abhorred with all the tourist traps. So this time around I did my darnedest to avoid places and especially dining destinations that housed tourists gratuitously.

This was a last minute trip and I frantically searched for a bed and breakfast or a short stay flat of sorts in the Union Square - Flat Iron district for our stay. Unfortunately to make a long story short we ended up in Times Square which is in the heart of tourist central. Eventually everything worked out and thank God for the subway that was literally next door to our hotel.

My first quest was to dine at one of Mario Batali's more than seeping handfuls of restaurants. I didn't realize how many restaurants he had in New York. I was ultimately grateful that they were not cookie cutter chains (oh so of course not!) and that each one had an intensely soulful identity of it's own. I am just saying this since I reside in chain restaurant haven. Actually, I heard Orlando Florida is the chain restaurant haven in the states, so Jacksonville may be second runner up.

As tried and trued as I could - and I even called a whole month in advanced....they were booked. Both BABBO and LUPA, my top honored choices to revel in his mastery were both: BOOKED.

By chance, and by sheer luck I was having one of those moments when everything just fell into place: I was able to getting dinner reservations at 7:00 o'clock in the evening at Bobby Flay's ever so smokey BOLO. There's more to read on that as I am slightly.....well more than slightly impressed with BOLO.


Farmer's Market @ Union Square Park

Also on my primary list was the Greenmarket at Union Square Park. I had anticipated going to this for so long since I missed the timely and abundant farmer's markets of California this was on top of my wish list during our short visit.

It was the first morning of our stay and I gladly took the subway leaving Times Square for Union Square Park.

I walked up from the subway and found the sun greeting me at the top of the stairs. I had arrived right in the middle of the Greenmarket as anticipated.....

There were rows of gallant apples and pears greeting me.

There were bakers and a glorious bread stalls with freshly baked loaves. More vegetables, hot apple cider, pastries and a rows of more stalls to follow.

Everything from hand sewn bags, to knock off designer duds, leather, gemstones, jewelry, toys, it was an infinite souk of delight.

There were fine artists and musicians.

It saddened me that very little of this is supported in the Jacksonville area that I live.

I was glad to be back in the city.


the sweetest carrots ever....


I bought a bunch that survived the trip home....my kids looked at me like; where are the souvenirs?

Another destination was Whole Foods Market. It was located right across the street from the park. I made my way through the bazaar and enjoyed an awesome lunch there. The endless buffet was welcoming as hardly anything was fried. What a relief I thought to myself.


chicken and rice soup at Whole Foods Market

Pre-made soups always tend to be too salty. This chicken and rice soup was perfectly seasoned. An added plus were the shitake mushrooms.


greetings from the Whole Foods salad buffet o'rama.....

Sprouts, baby peas, sliced fennel bulb, red beets, chinese dumplings, hearts of palm, itty-baby octopus and calamari to name a few.

My *love just had to see Rockefeller Center. It was a perfect stroll at least to knock off some calories.

Prometheus greeted us at the Rock

Okay, I have to take a breath now. I wasn't expecting to be coiled in too deep by BOLO.....but it happened.

DEAR READERS,
Bummer news.....since this post, I recently found out that BOLO served it's last meal December 31, 2007 and has since closed it's doors after something like 15 years of service :( !!!

Yours truly,
Girl About Town

BOLO: oven baked flatbread with lamb sausage & kalamata olives was a plus....

We had dined at MESA GRILL a couple of summers ago and left slightly perplexed.

So I thought to give it a second try at BOLO, since I have been seeking tapas with that untimely twist anyways.....

Tapas that are eventful and something to 'walk about' for.

I was seeking tapas that were hot.

Tapas to write about.

Tapas that would delight into another incarnation of tastes perhaps.....

Well this was quite a becoming surprise.


BOLO: Charcoal grilled octopus with grilled lemons, fresh oregano & garlic oil

More words to follow about BOLO and about outrageous eating in New York in sucha short time.....

Bolo
23 East 22nd Street
New York, New York 10010

Tel. 212.228.2200