Posted by: Orlick | April 24, 2011

Change of blog – Come back, yahear?

Yooooooooo — See a new address on the address bar? Looks backwards, huh?
I had to change my hosting provider away from wordpress so they wouldn’t hit me with fees for the modifications I want for my site. It’s better for everyone, but my subscribers from the past aren’t currently linked up to the new site (same address).

So, if you will… and if you are a fan of all the stuff I do, please go over to Iwantmorefood.com and subscribe with your email address to the blog. Also, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook too. I have a lot more to say and lots of places to discover, I hope you’ll stay locked with the awesomeness to come,
Jeff

Posted by: Orlick | March 25, 2011

The Future is the Past, Queens Kickshaw

queens kickshaw (49)

I wasn’t a coffee drinker until last Tuesday when I got a preview of The Queens Kickshaw. A mixture of hot chocolate mix x2 in coffee has allowed me to tiptoe the line before, but now my hymen’s broke and I’m a full-on caffeinated giggalo. That damn fresh-ground, pour-over. They also have this machine, it’s the latest, greatest darling of brew obsessives, the La Marzocco Strada. Apart from being a spaceship, it gives them the temperature and pressure controls needed to respect blended and single-origin espressos, staying true to the discerning brewer’s movement, The Third Wave.

————————–They open this Sunday, the 27th——————–

queens kickshaw (39)

queens kickshaw (5)

The owners, Ben Sandler and Jennifer Lim, walk about 10 minutes from their home to the shop. They’ve been doing it for the last year, ever since they took away modern era flooring and unearthed the original planks from the turn of the 19th century. That wood was only the beginning, as Kickshaw’s builders, EcoSystems, and Build It Green provided much of the other repurposed and reclaimed materials that make up the C-bean haven. Rusted coils hold the lights and a carpenter’s level from the Greatest Generation acts as the counter’s edge. In the back room is a 16-foot long, mismatched wood table which is the encouraged communal for sipping, chatting and bringing supplies from the Broadway public library across the street. Around the bathroom door are frames that came salvaged from a neglected 10-foot ladder and inside, for those who can’t hold it, is some mind creeping, MC Escher-like tile work created by Mr. Sandler himself. Look down and it’s a wonder if the speckled flooring means it’s finished or TBA. In completion, Kickshaw looks like the dream pub created by a desperate, ingenious painter.

queens kickshaw (13)

queens kickshaw (9)

queens kickshaw (14)

queens kickshaw (30)

queens kickshaw (27)queens kickshaw (20)

Their grilled cheese sandwiches will consume many megawatts of tumblr, flickr, twitter, Facebook and every other electric social eating experience in the next year. They’re inspired by and sourced from their Greek, Italian and other neighbors – but more to the matter, how do you call Manchego & Ricotta, Minted Eggplant, Capers on Multigrain a grilled cheese? There’s nothing 5th grade about that. And why did I never think of putting egg and cheese inside pandebono before they did??

It will be a while before the outside become proper Kickshaw, but they do have a gold leafed sign in front. It’s such a relief from graphics of every other storefront lately. Isn’t it interesting how we are calling skilled workers artists now? That’s an improvement in branding for them, hopefully not a relief from necessity.

The Queens Kickshaw
40-17 Broadway
Astoria, Queens
Official Site

queens kickshaw (3)

See their menu at Grubstreet

Links:
About the Third Wave of Coffee
Strada discussed in the NYT
New Business Acceleration Team

Here is Betty Chung with her write-up of the Japan Yakitori Ambassador with Yasushi Sasaki. We were very lucky to have him arrange this afternoon, where the chefs at Tori Shin (1193 1st Ave) dissasembled a chicken, showed us the qualities of each section, and explained the intricacies of cooking yakitori. This was one of the few ambassadors that I actually got to go to and felt vindicated in hearing the chefs appreciating the same parts of the chicken that I appreciate (tuchus, crispy skin over the opening, oysters). Thanks Yasushi and thank you Tori Shin for the great experience! —Jeffrey Tastes

yakitori tori shin (14)

And check out Quest of Au Gourmand‘s rundown of yakitori and our demonstration for the day.
Eat Your World also analyzes the Demonstration on their Bittersweet Yakitori

My Photo set
—————————–

A Yakitori Love Story by Betty Chung

He was a large, free range chicken from a Pennsylvania farm. I was hungry girl who had traveled from Brooklyn for lunch. Suzuki, our chef for the afternoon, introduced us and at first sight, I was in love.

yakitori tori shin (7)
yakitori tori shin (12)

After some generous pours of cherry blossom sake, I loosened up a bit and was determined to get to know these chicken parts better. Suzuki took great care to show us the best parts removed directly from the chicken – from the torokawa (skin of the back) to the teba (wing), harami (rib) to the momo (thigh). He then skewered these pieces artfully and deliciously, ready for the grill.

I had the chance to season and grill the object of my desire. Suzuki taught me to baste the yakitori with a sake/seaweed sauce, followed up with three shakes of salt and pepper. I then laid the yakitori on a super hot grill fueled by special charcoal made of oak. At this point, I started sweating and escaped to the other side of the grill and left the rest up to the experts.

yakitori tori shin (45)yakitori tori shin (40)

yakitori tori shin (22)

yakitori tori shin (24)

yakitori tori shin (17)

Eight yakitori were served – starting with a delicious chicken meatball. My favorites were the bonjiri (tail) and the hatsu (heart), and because I couldn’t get enough, I also ordered the reba (liver). We were encouraged to use two types of pepper – spicy or green – and I used a lot of both.

yakitori tori shin (43)yakitori tori shin (54)
yakitori tori shin (58)yakitori tori shin (53)

I had a hot and yummy afternoon with my beloved chicken. And while I knew I would never see him again (because juicy, meaty parts of him were in my belly), I will always remember him as my first yakitori love.

yakitori tori shin (42)

—————————-
Tori Shin
1193 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10065
(212) 988-8408

The Ambassador Program has an expert in a culture lead their dream meal with a group of guests. The guests pay for the ambassador and the experience is written up online so the learning can continue. If you would like to be an ambassador, please find a way to contact me.

Posted by: Orlick | March 15, 2011

It’s Munch Madness!

Just when the NCAA brackets are flying around, here comes my Munch Madness ! To play, just print out the brackets then pick the foods you want the most. It’s not about being the best food, just as the winners of the Final Four aren’t necessarily the best teams; it’s about the food that wants it the most in your mind!

Imagine the greatest version of each food for each bracket. For instance: for the first bracket, it’s Fried Chicken vs Pizza (loaded). So I would imagine some glistening chicken with loads of fried pieces hanging off, and the fat mixed in with the meat just so it melts and crunches when you bite into it. And for me, that would face off against something like the Vodka slice from Salvatore of Soho. EPIC!

Courtesy: Cherrypatter nyc

VS

salvatore of soho (40)

woah, that’s a hard choice. But like every tourney, There HAS to be a winner. This game is not easy. Click the brackets below to download or go to the flickr page. Print out copies and give it to everyone at work. Who wins your bracket?

Munch Madness

Posted by: Orlick | March 14, 2011

Broadway Take Out – Korean Stall off the JH Station

Check out Broadway Take Out (75-24 Broadway, Elmhurst).

They’ve been open since August and are just now getting their footing in the neighborhood starting with a pretty rad sign.

broadway takeout (9)

They serve essentially Korean street food. Most items like bulgogi and spicy pork are combined with kimchi, griddled, then put on top of rice with some cabbage. I love it. My test, the rice, feels great the more I eat and the pork is surprisingly, gleefully fatty. Other items like seafood pancake and K-Toast (egg sandwich), when fresh, can’t miss. There is space for 2 people to sit at the window, but other than that it’s smaller than many LICer’s closets.

This would be great food to be had at 2:30 in the morning, with its bright sign illuminated to guide those stumbling off the train – but they’re not open too late so we’ll have just have to have it stumbling home from work.

Squid rice

ramen

Bulgogi

broadway takeout (6)

broadway takeout (3)

broadway takeout

broadway takeout (2)

Posted by: Orlick | March 9, 2011

Deep Dish Pizza Exploration at L’asso

L’asso (192 Mott) is one of my favorite pizzerias and I was excited to try their version of the deep dish. They brand it New York Deep Dish, which is an accurate and good thing. It’s got great, full crust and the toppings are the quality you’d expect from their kitchen. Here are their 3 pies, Vegetarian with sauce on the side, Supreme and Albondinga (meatball)- each priced at $16. These take around 45 minutes to bake in the oven, so call ahead or start drinking.

l'asso deep dish (2)

l'asso deep dish (13)

l'asso deep dish (9)

l'asso deep dish (17)

l'asso deep dish (14)

l'asso deep dish (5)

l'asso deep dish (8)

Posted by: Orlick | March 1, 2011

Subject: question….

From my Facebook:

Hey Jeff!
Hope you’re doing well! I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to make it out to any of your events lately…they’re always such great New York experiences. So I thought I’d come to you for a little advice about where to take a budding foodie friend whose visiting New York for the week. He’s especially excited about exploring Queens.

Could you recommend maybe three or four places for us to try in Queens this week? Do you know of any exciting events going on? Thanks for your input, and I hope to see you soon!

Jeffrey Tastes February 21 at 1:27pm
Hey David – I actually am in the same situation in 2 weeks, but this person has barely been to any of the city. I will probably take him to Katz’s, maybe an izakaya and will stop at pizza along the way — there’s great pizza in so many places that I don’t think people need to take a special trip for it.
okay, Queens eats…

Go down Steinway, some place from broadway to astoria blvd. there are so many egyptian area places. lots of interesting stuff there.

I, of course, like roosevelt ave walking into Corona. some street food and the restuarants are cool.

I am digging the tibet places on 37th Rd lately, but that’s only places that are contained inside a restaurant. I like Shangri-La but the name is changed and the entrance is in the back on 37th Rd. next to a butcher.

ohh, Murray Hill Queens. The Korean places to eat around the LIRR station. You will get some amazing food here. It’s a bit of a walk from the 7, but it’s great food and a great korean experience. Something in Flushing would be great, like the golden mall as a pregame maybe.

Liberty Ave in richmond hill is also a wild ride. lots of west indian places. I think the A train rides overhead.

Let me know what you end up doing and how it goes. I’m still discovering new stuff all the time here.

not sure of any events. I try to stay out of the loop generally.

Posted by: Orlick | February 23, 2011

The Flushing Mall Grazing Experience experience

The Flushing Mall Grazing Experience was my dream for a long time – probably a year. It was the only way I could try everything the food court has to offer. And while the experience is still not complete, I encourage you to add your own documentation to the flickr group so one day it can be.

courtesy Veronica Chan

Cold Noodle with Chopped Pork (spicy)Chinese BurgerDan Dan Noodles - Chendu SnacksKorean Cream Cakes - Deli ManouLa (?) Garlic Puree streaky (?) pork - Chengdu SnackMala Fermented Bean Curd Noodles - Chengdu Snack

I loved the games we played.
Blend It – Eat It: 4 contestants had to guess what was in each blend. We blended the items on site and had a big poster saying what was in it. First person to guess 1 or 2 ingredients won a prize.

Fortune Cookie Drawl:
Have you ever tried reading the backs of the fortune cookie fortunes to a Chinese person? The transliterations are totally wrong. I asked 3 Chinese people and 6 not-Chinese people to step on the stage. The non-Chinese would read the transliteration and the Chinese would try to guess. They basically couldn’t do it, but I think we all learned something.

Broomstick au-go-go: Groups of 2 came to the stage. One person held a toilet paper roll between their legs, and the other a broomstick. 1st to insert the broomstick into the toilet paper rolls won. I liked this one because it was fast. The people didn’t know what was going on until they were doing it.

Then I had some interviewing games. We had lots of giveaways:
India Cookbook – which came in a cool burlap sack
Thai Street Food Book
Sake from Mike Simkin of MJS Sake Selections
Japanese mayonaise and other sauces from Dainobu
Paulie Gee’s Pizza gift certificate
Andrew Coe’s Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States
Gift Certificate to Table Wine
Gift Certificate to Artopolis Bakery in Astoria
Elegant sugar gift boxes from Chambre de Sucre
Flushing Tour from Joe DiStefano to the people who Stumped him.
Dinner for 2 from Kimchi Taco Truck
Payag Filipino Restaurant gift certificates
M Wells “Over the moon culinary surprise” (!)

All of these prizes were basically hand-selected my me and my inside crew. We only associate with quality companies and would never put our names behind unsavory businesses.

I would have liked the attendance to overwhelm the mall, but it didn’t hit that point. There’s been a good amount of press so far, and perhaps more in the coming week, so I hope this will inspire more to come to Flushing, while being secure in knowing what to order. Also, I hope they (you) will add to the Flickr pool of food photos from the Flushing Mall to further educate the curious public. It is your responsibility to show off what makes Queens and Flushing such a limitless community.

The Chili Sauce Tasting Table has some leftovers. I’m determined that one of these chili sauces will yield revolutionary wings. Do you have a simple base recipe?

What’s next? Did you click on that link to Thai Street Food book? How do we get that on Roosevelt Avenue? That’s what I want. But sooner will probably be more pizza excursions.

Write-ups:
Serious Eats
Stella Dacuma
Edible Queens’ World’s Fare

rabbit-corner-no-writing

Posted by: Orlick | February 18, 2011

More Giveaways at the Grazing Experience

We got even more giveaways for the Flushing Mall Grazing Experience!
To win, you gotta be a participant! We’re doing Fortune Cookie Drawl, Blend It-Eat It, Broomstick au-go-go, and a Singles event (tell your friends who are looking)

I only associate with great companies.
Chambre de Sucre I met at the Asian Feastival. Their sugars are remarkable and should be sold in a jewelry store. Table Wine have nice priced, quality wines and is local in Jackson Heights. Kimchi Taco Truck is the new generation of food trucks and is not annoying, nor dessert. Payag, is in a new class of Filipino restaurants – this is Queens progress. Artopolis is luscious and Flirt is a new singles meeting group – for locals. I like em all.

This is going on Saturday, Feb 19th, 2-5pm. Flushing Mall Grazing Experience.

Posted by: Orlick | February 17, 2011

Sub-Contests of the Flushing Mall Grazing Experience

We’ve got 2 sub-contests in the Flushing Mall Grazing Experience:

Joe DiStefano of Edible Queens’s World’s Fare challenges you to stump him!
The first eight(8) participants whose dish I have absolutely no clue about will win a World’s Fare walking/eating tour of downtown Flushing.

The event decrees that every dish shall be photographed along with their names and which vendor they came from. If you try to stump Mr. DiStefano, make sure he doesn’t see the label!

And this is probably the greatest giveaway ever…
How can you even put a price on it?
We’re giving away one(1) Over the Moon Culinary Surprise from M. Wells.
(These are the words from Sarah herself(!), you know it will be good.)

All you have to do is be the first to answer a question about them correctly.
See you at the FluMaGrEx.

Posted by: Orlick | February 17, 2011

The Grazing Experience: Chili Sauce Tasting

The Chili Sauce Tasting Table will be hosted by Jared Cohee of Eat the World NYC. If you want to talk eating adventures around the city, talk to him. And if you want to get in on the Chili Sauce Tasting Table, give him $5 – he’ll hook you up with a wristband. Why am I doing this? See the Spice Aisle Dilemma.

Sponsors of the Chili Sauce Tasting Table:


Posted by: Orlick | February 16, 2011

Directions to the Flushing Mall. Parking.

Flushing Mall
133-31 39th Ave
Flushing, NY 11354

Food Court is on the lower level

Mass Transit:
7 train to Flushing-Main St (last stop).
North on Main St.
Left on 39th Ave.

Bus: 50,19,66,17,27,20A,20B,25,34,44,65,13,16,28,48,N20,N21

LIRR: Flushing (Port Washington branch)

Driving:
678 Whitestone Expressway
to exit 13 New York 25A E/Northern Blvd
Right on Main St.
Right on 39th Ave.
————-
495 LIE
to exit 23 Main St.
Right on Main St.
Left on 39th Ave.

Parking:
Try your luck on College Point Blvd for free parking. Parking lot on the west side of College Point Blvd and 37th Ave is $3 per hour. Street parking is difficult to generally tough to find longer than 2 hr parking, and the city is on the prowl.

Posted by: Orlick | February 14, 2011

Games & Prizes for the Grazing Experience

The Flushing Mall management gave me a stage and a microphone. Then lots of support came through – So WE’RE DOING GAME SHOWS.

We have lots of giveaways from our sponsors including:

Premium sake from Mike Simkin of MJS Sake Selections
Sauce from Dainobu

—————————————————-

Participate in events like The Fortune Cookie Drawl, Blend it Taste it, Broomstick au-go-go, and a Singled Out-type game (if you’re looking, this is for you). On the tables will be challenges for practicing your chopsticks, and of course, the Chili Tasting Table ($5). — Sign up at the event.

More info at the official page

—————————————

As you may know, this event is like a pot luck but instead of bringing the food from home, each person spends $10 at the food court – then brings it to the common area. It is labeled, pictured, and grazed on. I ask you to order something new, make a mistake.

As me and my team get more prizes for you guys, we’ll assemble more game shows to compete in. Tell your friends, because the BIGGER this event is, the more fun it will be.

People ask me, Why are you doing this???
I just tell them that I want to do something awesome.

rabbit-corner-no-writing

I got the opportunity to interview Rosemary Raposo, the Marketing/Events director at The Village Voice, in anticipation for their Choice Eats event. As you may know, I am always a big supporter of the event (here’s my collection of favs from each of last year’s participants). They are one of the few true trailblazers that keep the integrity of a great event.

Here’s me and Rosemary:

Tastes: Where do you live and why do you live there?
Rosemary Raposo: I actually live just across the river in Jersey City, NJ. Being a born and bred Jersey gal, I like being able to split my life between New York and New Jersey and this year we will actually be welcoming our first Jersey restaurant to Choice Eats – Sol Mar from Newark, NJ.

T: Choice Eats is crazy every year. How are you going to make this event bigger and badder?
Choice Eats makes March my favorite time of year! We are bringing in new restaurants again into the line up – such as Maima’s Liberian Bistro & Bar from Queens (our first Liberian restaurant), Fay Da Bakery, Red Hook Lobster Pound from Brooklyn and O Lavrador from Jamaica (our first Portuguese restaurant – which personally I am super excited about being Portuguese myself). And some of our favorite places will be returning back too like Porchetta, Dirt Candy, Del Posto, The Vanderbilt and Baohaus. Check our website out for more!

Helping make 2011 even bigger we are adding two new elements to the event this year – Choice Streets and Choice Sweets. Upon arriving at the event, Choice Streets Food Trucks will be greeting guests as they wait online to enter with free samples for ticket holders. Some trucks we have invited include Korilla BBQ, Kimichi Taco, Joyride Truck, The Taim Mobile and Wafels & Dinges. We also have Choice Sweets where we have invited some of New York’s tastiest treats for guests to sample, including Baked from Brooklyn, Bee Desserts & Café from Manhattan, Liddabit Sweets and Robicelli’s.

T: You worked for CMJ before the VV, does working with restaurants have any similarity to working with rockbands?
RR: Funny enough, when I came on board to work on the Voice events I thought the experience would be different but at the end of the day it’s just producing a great event in New York. Whether its music or food, it’s all about making the event something that people will enjoy and walk away having a fun experience at.

T: Who are you rooting for to show well this year at the show?
RR: That’s a tough one! We have so many great spots and this year having a Sweets room makes it even harder to choose (having a huge sweet tooth!) but I’m looking forward to trying some wings from Buffalo Boss in Brooklyn and nibbling on meatballs from The Meatball Shop in Manhattan.

T: What’s your idea of an eating adventure?
RR: Anytime I can try a cuisine from a country I haven’t had yet is an adventure to me! We just launched our official Choice Eats Foursquare badge so I’m hitting as many as I can right now! Looking forward to trying out Buka from Brooklyn, our first Nigerian restaurant this year.

T: You work with the Siren Fest too, what would be your ultimate fantasy event to create?
RR: I love music and food and am lucky enough to get to work on two great events here at the Voice that covers those. I also really enjoy a good microbrew so I’m thrilled this fall we will be launching our first ever beer tasting event. Be on the look out!

————————–
Thanks Rosemary! Good luck with this year’s event. Unfortunately, this will be the first year I miss out – but my photog, Dan Post, will be there to capture it! Thanks again.

Posted by: Orlick | February 5, 2011

Spice Aisle Dilemma

pacific chilis (3)

To try every chili sauce in the spice aisle would take a lifetime. Are we really relegated to Sriracha our entire lives? There must be something more.

That’s why we’re doing the Chili Sauce Tasting at the Flushing Mall Grazing Experience. I’m going to get as many chili sauces as I can find and we’re going to get down to the bottom of which is the king of the chilis. $5 to cover costs. All overflow will go to the food truck festival.

pacific chilis
thin bunny w chili

Posted by: Orlick | January 29, 2011

Announcing: The Flushing Mall Grazing Experience

This is my next big event.

thin-bunny-clear

Saturday, Feb 19th
Flushing Mall Food Court
2-5pm

There’s about 10 food vendors at the Flushing Mall, and each stand has at least 30 items on the menu. How can I find my favorite dish of dishes? What am I supposed to order??

The Flushing Mall Grazing Experience is similar to a pot luck, but instead of bringing the food, each person will be required to spend $10 at the food court!

This is going to be an ultimate food adventurist’s event. Imagine tables full of every item on these Asian kitchen’s menus. 10 dollars buys more than one meal, so come at 2, pick something you’ve always wanted try, bring it to the common area and GRAZE.

AND Have you ever walked down the chili sauce aisle in an Asian supermarket and thought, How am I supposed to choose?? —- As an added attraction, we will have a Chili Sauce Tasting Table. For $5, you will get to sample the entire aisle of Chili Sauces. Sounds like fun? Find your taste.

There’s so much to see in Flushing and the rest of the mall. Bring your family and friends, and let’s make this another awesome event.

Check the main page for more details like parking, resources, facebook, etc.

Like, check out the wrap-up Serious Eats did last year. There’s already been a turn-around of stores, so we need to do this research today!

In my final Thank You…

Special thank you to Veronica Chan for her contribution to Trick or Eat.
The work we did together on the Asian Feastival was one of the inspirations for the event. I found that local restaurants were too short-staffed to physically come to Flushing with their food and equipment. Here, we’d make it as easy as possible for them to participate; All they had to do was provide the food, I would even offer someone to hand it out (only two took advantage of this (THANKS TRICIA, MARY, VIV AND JIM KIM!)). Elmhurst is an neighborhood without boundaries. Sometimes the owners are only available way after sundown. Thank you Veronica for doing the midnight recruiting with me.

Thank you Jin and Brandon for their Chinese help. They run the MSG Food Blog. We had difficult times trying to convince the Chinese businesses to participate, but we found there often to be a moment of attention on the owners’ faces when Brandon, a 6-ft tall blond man started talking fluent Mandarin (better than his Chinese counterpart).

And thank you to Sara Under the 7 for being a Spanish ambassador. We have more work to do in the Spring…

Posted by: Orlick | January 13, 2011

Thank You Taxi Gourmet, Judy and Charlee

I first met Layne on the line to Choice Eats. But I knew of her way before that: She has one of the coolest angles of food exploration out there. How she works is that she takes a ride in a taxicab and asks the driver to take her to their favorite food in the city. I have always been a fan of the taxi driver’s tastes – they know the city back and forth and probably where to get the best food of their own country (which is usually something new to me). Plus their food has gotta be cheap and fast. Layne is now a taxidriver herself, and is taking her adventures even further.

Thank you Layne Mosler AKA the Taxi Gourmet for your help as my Spanish Ambassador for Trick or Eat.

Photo by Pablo Mehanna

Layne not only was so sweet and a great talker for the restaurants like Cilantro and Elm Mex Grocery juice stand, she helped much beyond that by introducing me to her friend and my Chinese Ambassador, Judy.

Judy was incredibly valuable because she speaks Mandarin and Cantonese. Not only that, she was cunning, hard-nosed and relentless with trying to sign up the Chinese restaurants. I can tell Judy has incredible drive and will succeed in ways I cannot begin to imagine.

Judy is looking to go to a high profile university next year – So if anyone out there has ties to Yale, Princeton, Harvard, etc (and a heart), get in contact with me. Here is someone that can continue your spirit and will make you proud.

Judy then introduced me to Charlee, my Thai ambassador. He was great with talking to the Thai restaurants, who were all open and happy to participate if possible. Charlee was so nice, but has a couple of years until college. We’ll help him then.

THANKS JUDY, LAYNE AND CHARLEE!

And here’s what Layne is doing now:
I’m working on a book inspired by taxi adventures in Buenos Aires, New York and Berlin. I’m also trying to make my site more interactive: if anyone’s interested in taking off on a taxi adventure and writing/podcasting or putting their food quest on video, I’d love to share it on my blog.

Posted by: Orlick | January 10, 2011

Top of the Bronx: Chipper Truck

Boxty on the griddle,
boxty in the pan,
If you can’t make boxty,
you’ll never get your man

I’m looking for the best, neighborhood food trucks in the city. My travels took me to Katonah Ave in the Bronx’s Woodlawn to see the Chipper Truck.

There were some facts about this truck that had me going wild before I even approached it. First, it’s an Irish food truck – something I’ve never seen before. Secondly, it’s all the way up in the Bronx – an area where no food trucks are on my mental map. Third, and possibly most enticingly, their hours are 1am-5am, every night of the week.
Yes, I can.

Our crew drove up at 2am on Friday night. Despite the freezing temps, as we arrived I was melting from the amount of beautiful Irish pubs we passed. There had to be at least 20 guilded O’Hallahans going from East 233rd street up Katonah Avenue.

photo (10)

There she was. I was amazed that it was true. We walked up and despite the Irish ties to the America I was born into, the list of food was as foreign to me as some mid-Asian menus.

There was boxty, the ultra-rare-in-the-states potato pancake, beer-battered burgers and sausages, and it was littered with terms like beans, gravy, curry and chips.

Here’s what we got:

battered sausage
photo (13)
photo (12)

The battered sausages were surprisingly light and the batter felt good with a vinegar taste to it. It tied for my favorite with the Curry Chips. These were french fries drenched with Irish curry imported from Ireland. But for everyone else in my ride, the favorite was taco chips. It had the usual ground meat and cheese over fries, but it added in a pink sauce which took it to a transcendent level.

This might be drunk food, considering it’s 1am-5am. And you might feel like your back in college when you go. But ding darn it, this is probably my favorite truck in the city.

Find it at:
237th St & Katonah Ave
Woodlawn, Bronx

Chipper Truck Facebook page
Watch the Green episode:
Corned Beef Confidential from Baron Ambrosia’s Bronx Flavor

Posted by: Orlick | January 9, 2011

Trick or Eat Thanks – Zim! and the AAJA

The challenge of Trick or Eat was that the community is so fragmented. There is no central organization of Elmhurst and there are so many languages spoken. I knew I couldn’t do it myself and I’d have to use Ambassadors for nearly every place along Broadway. It’d be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but that seemed fun to me. In the next week, I will post Thank Yous to the people who helped me recruit in person.

HERE’S THE FIRST:

A special thank you to my Vietnamese Ambassador, Zim and the AAJA.

I contacted many organizations for help (especially for the Vietnamese restaurants), but the only one with members that were eager and able to participate was the AAJA (Asian American Journalists Association). They are now in my heart forever. The only person from them, however, to actually walk the streets with me was Zim.

Zim is a professional photographer who helps the public in a much needed way… I know lots of you have your professional cameras that you whip out and cause a scene with before anyone is allowed to touch their food – But do you really know how to use it? And besides reading the manual, what about the techniques that professional photographers use? Zim leads photo tours, helping people learn to use their cameras like a professional. Pretty cool. And Zim is a fun, smart person too. Here’s the link to her site: New York City Photo Safari

Zim

We didn’t get the Vietnamese to participate, but she did teach me that I had too much back-lighting in this picture of her. And that to talk Vietnamese, it helps to speak like a southerner. Ex: Bac== baycke… something like that. Thanks Zim.

Older Posts »

Categories