Momofuku Ssam Bar @ NYC

Hearing a lot of good reviews about Momofoku, we paid a visit to their Ssam Bar branch. We arrived around 6:15pm and the place was already packed with diners. We were lucky enough to get a seat after informing the waiter we were here for a quick meal.


Diver Scallops



Country Ham



Market Greens with XO Sauce



Mackerel Sandwich



Whole Boneless Porgy



All the dishes we had were simple but well executed. Favorites of mine included their Mackeral Sandwich and Boneless Porgy. The only dish we did not enjoy was the Market Greens which was very salty.


Food: 4.3/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $$$ (Approximately USD $30 per person)


Contact Information:
Address: 207 2nd Ave, Frnt 1, New York, NY 10003
Tel: +1 (212) 254-3500
Web: www.momofuku.com
Map:

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World's Most Fabulous Cheesecakes @ Junior's Bakery

We had a sudden craving for desserts and paid a visit to Junior's Bakery at their Times Square location to sample the "World's Most Fabulous Cheesecake". There were so many cakes on display and most of them looked so tempting. In the end we chose 3 cakes with the help of our friendly order-taker.





Original Cheesecake



Strawberry Cheesecake




Blueberry Cheesecake



Junior's definitely has some of the best Cheesecakes I've had. Their Cheesecakes were very rich and had an extremely creamy texture. Of the 3 my favorite was their Strawberry Cheesecake.


Food: 4.3/5
Ambiance: 2.5/5
Service: N/A (Take-out)
Price: $ (Approximately USD $8 per slice)


Contact Information
Address: West 45th St. between Broadway and 8th Ave.
Phone: +1 (212) 302-2000
Web: www.juniorscheesecake.com/
Map:

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Chicken and Rice @ 53rd and 6th Halal Cart, NYC

My most memorable meal in NYC during my last visit to NYC was Chicken and Lamb Gyro Rice that was right outside the Sheraton Times Square Hotel. It wasn't something my friend and I planned on eating but we had it twice during our 4 day trip.

Chicken and Rice was listed first on my to-do-list during my second trip to NYC and this time round I had it at the Halal Cart on 53rd Street and 6th Avenue.



The Halal Cart on 53rd and 6th is by far the most famous Chicken and Rice Cart in Manhattan drawing locals and tourists from all over the world. There was a lineup when we arrived but it didn't take long before it was our turn to be served.



I chose the Chicken and Lamb Rice that was served with their secret "White Sauce" and Hot Sauce. Every single ingredient was strong in flavor but yet they melded so well together. The turmeric and spices from the meat to their Hot Sauce that is mellowed down by their famous White Sauce the meal was really satisfying especially when eaten outside in the cold weather. What a way to start my 4 day trip in NYC :)




Food: 4.6/5
Service: N/A
Ambiance: N/A
Price: $ (Under USD $10 per person)


Contact Information
Address: 6th Ave & W 53rd St New York, NY 10019
Tel: N/A
Web: http://www.53rdand6th.com

A visit to a Classic New York Steak House @ Keens Steakhouse, NYC

Before leaving NYC we had to have a meal at a Classic New York Steak House. With so many around we decided on Keen’s which was featured on my favorite eating program “No Reservations: Manhattan Episode”.

Entering Keen’s we were awed at the hundreds of cigar pipes that were on the walls and roof of the reception area. We soon came to realize that back in its heyday Keens was also Pipe Club whose members included General MacArthur, President Roosevelt and many other important and famous figures in American History.






We were led to the relatively small dining area that was dimly lit with dark wood walls that are lined with newspaper clippings probably dating back since its opening more than a hundred years ago.




We were handed a one page menu that included different cuts of USDA House Aged and the usual Surf and Turf combination. This time round we did not ask the waiter for any recommendation because we knew exactly what to order.




Carrot, Pickle, Celery and Olives with Blue Cheese Dip and Bread Basket


This is the first time I was served Raw Vegetables as a complimentary starter in a Steakhouse. I'm not a big fan of Blue Cheese but the dip here was relatively mild. The Dinner Rolls were actually quite good. It was crusty and was served slightly warm


Maryland Crab Cakes

Delicious. The Crab Cakes had the right amount of seasoning and had a lot of chunky crab meat compared to many others I've tried that usually has more bread crumbs than anything else


1/2 Dozen Fresh Oysters

According to our Waiter we were served three types of Oysters; Malpeque, Kumamoto and Bluepoint Oysters. All three types of Oysters were fresh with my favorite being the Kumamoto which taste the sweetest during the Summer Period


Keen's Legendary Mutton Chop



Keens make good steaks but their Legendary Mutton Chops is really something else. Don't expect to see any Rack of Lamb that is fancily plated, at Keens you are served a huge saddle cut that is juicy, tender and very well seasoned. The meat was grilled to give a nice crust and was well marbled with a layer of fat on the side.


Prime Rib of Beef, King's Cut



This was what Zhao Kun ordered. The size of the Steak was definitely for a really big King! It was well seasoned and cooked medium rare as ordered. The only issue we had was that the Steak wasn't as tender as we had expected.


New York Cheese Cake

We had to have this before leaving New York. The Cheese Cake was surprisingly light in texture and had a hint of Citrus Flavor. I would have preferred the crust to be thicker which would have given it a better crunch.


Comparing with other Steakhouses I've had, the Steak at Keens was very good but not the best I've had. The Legendary Mutton Chops however is a "must eat" if you're visiting Keens. Further research into their Mutton Chops has also led me to discover that despite it is called Mutton Chops, it is actually from a mature Lamb because it is hard to source for good quality Mutton.


Food: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $70 per person)


Contact Information
Address: 72 West 36th Street New York, NY 10018, United States
Tel: (212) 947-3636
Web: www.keens.com
Map:

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Italian @ Babbo, New York City

It's been one major eating trip I had with Zhao Kun. So far I think I've gained 10 pounds from all the food we ate despite walking tonnes. And after our fabulous meal at Le Benardin yesterday, lunch at Katz's Delicatessen today, we headed to another popular NYC Restaurant called Babbo for Dinner.



For those that are not familiar with Babbo, this is one of Food Network's famous TV Chef and America's own Iron Chef Mario Batali's restaurant. Like Le Bernardin we had to make a reservation a month in advance to make sure we had a table.

Having our lunch at around 4pm we postponed our dinner till 10:15pm and was shocked to find that the restaurant was not only packed but had some patrons still waiting in line!

Hungry, we ordered our food minutes after we were seated and to our surprise the food all came pretty fast.

Complimentary Starter: Marinated Chick Peas

The Chick Peas were a little sour and spicy and were served with Buttered Croutons. It was a great pallet opener since it was spicy and sour


Bread

The bread was served cold and wasn't crispy on the crust. We weren't given any Balsamic and Olive Oil until after we requested for it. This is not bad service because other tables were not served either


Marinated Fresh Sardines with Caramelized Fennel and Lobster Oil

This was my Antipasti and it was really small as warned by my waiter. I was given two really small pieces of cured Sardines. The Sardines were sour and a little salty and went well with the Sweet Caramelized Fennel. I wished the portions were a little bit bigger


Warm Tripe “alla Parmigiana"

Zhao Kun's Antipasti. The tripe was braised to a very soft texture in the tomato stew and was served with a Pan-Fried Buttered Bread. I loved the texture of the tripe but felt the tomato stew overpowered the taste of the Tripe.


Beef Cheek Ravioli with Crushed Squab Liver and Black Truffles

We were in heaven after our first bite of the Ravioli. The texture of the Ravioli was Al Dente and the filling of Squab Liver and Beef Cheek was accentuated by the earthiness of the Black Truffles.


Whole Grilled Branzino with Radicchio in Pancetta and Lemon Oregano Jam

I was offered the option to have the waiter fillet it on my behalf but I declined. The Fish was finished with some Olive Oil and was seasoned and grilled to perfection. It was stuffed with some Lemon, Thyme and Rosemary and was delicious with the Lemon Oregano Jam. A simple, beautiful and delicious dish!


Rabbit with Peas, Babbo Pancetta and Carrot Vinaigrette

Zhao Kun's main course was also quite good. The Rabbit was moist and tender but it was a little bland except for the Babbo Pancetta which was crispy


Warm Rhubarb Crostata with Spiced Ricotta Gelato and Pine Nut "Crocante"

This was a really good dessert. The berries were sour but went well with the sweet Crostata and creamy Ricotta Gelato. A great way to end our meal!


Petit Fours



Overall the meal was good. The Staff were very efficient and attentive tending to our table without us having to ask twice. Of the dishes we had we really enjoyed the Beef Cheek Ravioli, Grilled Branzino and Warm Rhubarb Crostata. Our bill came to a total of USD $75 per person without alcohol including tips and taxes which in my opinion was not very pricey. I can see why Babbo is always full!

Food: 4/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$$$$ (USD $75 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 110 Waverly Place New York, NY 10011-9102
Tel: +1 (212) 777-0303
Web: http://www.babbonyc.com/home.html
Map:

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Pastrami Sandwich @ Katz's Delicatessen, NYC

Smoked Meat Sandwich is synonymous with Montreal and Pastrami Sandwich is synonymous with New York City. From the eye both these sandwiches share a lot of similarities; they were introduced to the public by Jewish immigrants, usually made with Beef Brisket, served on Rye Bread with Mustard and are eaten with Cucumber Pickle on the side. In fact many people actually find it to be similar tasting.

However ask most Montrealers or New Yorkers if they are the same sandwich with different names and many will say “No” they are not the same and “Yes” their sandwich taste better than the other. And since we have tried Montreal’s Smoked Meat Sandwich, Pastrami Sandwich was next!

In Montreal it was undoubtedly clear Schwartz’s serves up the best Smoked Meat Sandwich but in New York we were recommended two delis, Katz and Carnegie. We decided on Katz after watching it on “No Reservations” Manhattan Episode.




Arriving at Katz one could definitely tell this place has not changed for years and if you think the queue at Schwartz was long Katz was longer and bigger.





Ordering was a little complicated at first because it seemed everyone was just crowding around the counter. However we soon realized that the counters were split between sections for Sandwiches, Burgers, Fries and Drinks and you would have to queue on the section that you would like to place your order.





The restaurant was so packed we decided to split our roles with Zhao Kun ordering the food while I scouted for a table to make sure we had a seat when the food came.

Pastrami Sandwich with Extra Pastrami


At Katz the meat wasn’t piled as high as Schwartz but the deli guy was really nice to give us extra meat for free when Zhao Kun requested for more. The sandwiches in my opinion tasted similar in flavor except Schwartz had a much stronger flavor and spicier mustard. However the meat at Katz was juicier than Schwartz and melted in your mouth. I prefer the texture of Katz and the flavor of Schwartz


French Fries

Hands down Katz wins this category. The fries we had at Schwartz were soggy and flavorless. Here they were thick-cut fries that was crispy but fluffy on the inside. It was also well seasoned!


Pickles

I actually like Pickles and the one's at Katz had a nice crunch and was definitely sour


Brown’s Cream Soda

I remembered Anthony Bourdain having one of these at Katz and we ordered one to try as well. I guess the gassiness of the drink helps make you feel less fat from all the food we had

After trying both Smoked Meat Sandwich and Pastrami Sandwich the seasoning of the Beef tasted similar with Schwartz having a much stronger flavored Brisket and Katz the juicier Brisket. Therefore I would give them both a tie because my ultimate Beef Brisket sandwich would be one that has the juiciness of Katz’s Pastrami Sandwich and the Flavor of Schwartz’s Smoked Meat Sandwich!

Food: 4.5/5 (Sandwich was a tie for me but the Fries were much better at Katz!)
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $$ (Under USD $20 per person)


Contact Information
Address:205 E Houston St, New York, 10002, United States
Tel: +1 (212) 254-2246
Web: www.katzdeli.com/
Map:

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Seafood Heaven @ Michelin 3-Star Le Bernardin, NYC

Le Bernardin is one of a handful of NYC restaurants that was awarded 3 Michelin Stars and has earned many awards and achievements from New York Times, The James Beard Foundation, Gayot and Zagat. It was also rated the 15th Best Restaurant in the World in 2010 by Restaurant Magazine. The Head Chef/Owner Mr. Ripert has appeared on one episode of Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" and is hailed by many to be one of the greatest Seafood Chefs.



With such accolades I made our reservation a month in advance (the restaurant's maximum booking date) to make sure we got our seats. I booked it for 5:30pm leaving us time to eat and head down the street to watch the Tony Award Winning Broadway "Memphis".

Our expectations of Le Bernardin was set even higher because it was the only restaurant throughout our entire two week trip that required us to wear a suit which we had to make room for.

We arrived on time and were seated promptly. The restaurant was already filled with diners busy chatting and eating away. We were given a menu which included a couple of tasting menus and a 3 Course Prix-Fixe Menu. We asked our Waiter what is the best option to take since it is our first time and he recommended the Chef's Tasting Menu which "coincidentally" was the most expensive of the menus.

Amouse Bouche: Crab with Avocado and Potato Froth topped with Crisp Potato

The crab had a creamy texture from the mixture of Cream and Avocado. It went well with the Potato Froth which to me was more like a puree. It was delicious.


Tuna

Our Yellowfin Tuna was smoked giving it a very smooth texture. The sourness of the Japanese Pickled Vegetables and crunchiness of Cripsy Kombu complemented the Tuna really well


Egg-Caviar

My Langoustine came with a Mache and Wild Mushroom Salad that was dressed with a White Balsamic Vinaigrette. The Langoustine was juicy, tender and was really good with the Balsalmic Vinaigrette and earthy Wild Mushrooms. This was a really nice Summery Dish


Monkfish

The Monkfish was perfectly Pan-Seared and was served with some Hon-Shimeji Mushrooms, Turnip-Ginger Emulsion in a Sake Broth. Definitely Japanese in Flavor I was surprised how the Turnip-Ginger Emulsion went so well with the Sake Broth.


Lobster

This was delicious! The lobster was a little chewy but perfectly cooked. I really liked the Citrus a la Nage Sauce which contained the right amount of citrus flavor and a hint of vanilla.


Black Bass

The Black Bass was cooked really well with the skin crisp and the meat still moist. The Hoisin-Plum jus actually went well with the fish and the Mini Steamed Bun was a good mop for the sauce. The only quip I had was the quality of the minced Lap Cheong (Chinese Preserved Meat Sausage) on top of the bun.


Apricot

The apricot Sphere, Fig, Sour Cherry Pearl, Candied Angelica: This was really good! The Apricot Sphere is made like a huge caviar. A break into the sphere releases a Sweet and Sour Apricot Liquid that goes so well with the Sour Cherry Pearl, slice of Fig Slice and Candied Angelica. It was a good balance between sweet and sour.


Hazelnut

The Hazelnut Dessert consisted of Gianduja Mousse, Hazelnuts, Honey, Banana and Brown Butter Ice Cream. It was a solid Chocolate Dessert that had everything that would go well with Chocolate.


Petite Fours

We ended our meal with some Petite Fours two of which were sour in flavor and the other being sweet.


Overall I could see why Le Bernardin is touted as one of America's most influential Seafood Restaurant. The Chef's Tasting Menu had depth as it included Shellfish, Fish and Caviar that were all cooked using various French and Asian Techniques to draw out its natural flavors. Service was also immaculate as the Staff were professional but still had a certain warmth and friendliness.

Food: 4.8/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$$$$ (USD $250 per person including tips and taxes)

Contact Information
Address:787 7th Ave, New York, NY, United States
Tel: +1 212-554-1515
Web: Le Bernardin
Map:

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