adventures in food

The only thing better than having people visit me in NYC is taking these people around and showing them how New Yorkers do food. It might seem daunting to the faint-hearted, but totally worth all the indigestion and heartburn in the world. Once you get past the pangs of constant digestive discomfort, you will find that you are more resilient than you thought... and that they make Tums and elastic waistbands for a reason.

Exhibit A (above) a Vietnamese sandwich--aka a Bouguette--aka the most delicious sandwich you'll ever eat.. ever, conststing of layers of cucumbers, pickled diakons, jalapenos, and a mystery meat that goes by the name of "terrine." In my life, I follow the motto of the wise Andrew Zimmern: "If it looks good, eat it."
The Bouguette stand, located on St. Mark's, is reminiscent of the outdoor food vendors of actual Asia minus all the smelly, stray dogs. Notice my two friends, full and content... and embarrassed because I'm taking an insane amount of pictures.

Who wants bubble tea?
I fuckin' do! Who'd want tea with the Queen when you can have BUBBLE TEA with Ten Ren? Tapioca Pearls so sweet, nestled in a frothy bed of taro milk tea.

Next stop, New Yeah Shanghai in Chinatown. And yes, it tasted just as good as it looks.

The waiters were nice during the minuscule moments that I actually understood them, apparently the salted eel is "deee-rishous." Must make a mental note of that one! yeeah!


Shame on me for eating half of the goddamn tub before I managed to get a good picture. That's how tasty it is, ladies and gentlemen.

New day, new menu. What are these people waiting in line so anxiously for? Beyonce concert tickets? SNL showing? No, no, no. Something much better..
SHAKE SHACK! The charm lies in the fact that it's located in the middle of a beloved NYC park and that you can get smashed outdoors. Shackmeister is on tap and Fawn is in the B-line. Only 45 more minutes of waiting to go.

To the left is your basic "ShackBurger," juicy beef patties, tomatoes, onions, cheese, and shack sauce embraced by a warm potato bun. To the right is your "'Shroom Burger," portabella mushroom dipped in cheese, battered, then deep fried. I would turn vegetarian for this burger, and that's saying a lot. The middle are your essential cheese fries. They are krinkle cut and crispy as hell. You'll be temped to get your own, but just take it easy and share... you need to save room for custard.
Mint's 'Shroom Burger ante first bite. Cheese= muenster and chedder. Fawn= drooling.
Shack Burger ante bite. Can't believe I managed to stop stuffing my face for even a second to take this picture. It is a huge feat, believe you me.
I told you there'd be frozen custard. Each day has a new flavor: corn, coconut thyme, and dark and stormy to name a few. This time, it's just chocolate. Boring? maybe. Delicious? Y-E-S.
I use to live a block away from this place on First ave and 14th st.. Only positive thing about moving away: losing weight. Artichoke Pizza has enough standing space for about 3 and a half people, hence the line oozing out of the restaurant. Your quintessential "hole-in-wall" pizza joint indeed.
The crab pizza which I am impartial to due to my impartial-ness to seafood.
and the star of the show: ARTICHOKE Pizza. Spinach artichoke and cheezy goodness all gooped onto a crispy piece of dough. My lame picture does it no justice, but I'm not here for food porn purposes anyway. Note my friend Mint in the background in my lame attempt to be artsy. Fail.
This is Cafetasia (8th and University). Dislike the name and the trendy decor (looks like Hogwarts up in there with all the plastic floating candles), but the food is decent and the waiters are actually Thai. One of the better Thai food places in NYC, I must say. My friends look really happy because I hooked them up with some free Thai Ice Tea. It pays to be bilingual, thank you very much.
Whoever said Magnolia cupcakes are overrated have never had them put in the fridge to moisten overnight. The butter cream frosting is the perfect companion to the jasmine fragrant-ed cake. Located West Village (aka my future home).

The next series of pictures are of cupcakes as well, although they might not look like it. I hate it when pastries try to be something they're not. Taken at the Chelsea Market
Why does this burger taste like a cake? You're confusing me. Why don't you just decon already.
no. no. NO!
This is eerily realistic and reminds me of my cousin's old puppy Lucky. I can't possibly eat you, Lucky. Those eyes... so haunting. *shudder*
Okay, well I'd hella eat these cookies. Everyone who knows me, knows that I'd purchase anything with a penguin on it. I have issues.
Barnyard cookies? mmmmmmm yum???
Stand on University and 8th. Drawn by the fact that they have a BFF special (burgers and fries forever). How could I NOT go in?

Roasted Marshmallow Shake=nummy. Roasted Marshmallow Shake + Rum= Hell to the YEAH!

And now we end the blog in the same fashion that we end most nights. At CHICKEN AND RICE on 53rd and 6th Ave. 6 dollars for a poo poo platter of indistinguishable meat on saffron rice topped off by a conspicuous "white sauce." And of course, there is a line here too.

More adventures to be had in NYC, which for me, stands for Now You Chow! Until hunger strikes again!