Just About The Best Falafel And Merguez

I already posted about the ‘best Thai restaurant in New York’ and now I’m posting about the best falafel in New York. Habib’s Place is a tiny hole-in-the-wall on Avenue A between 5th and 6th and we had just about the best falafel and merguez sandwiches there. The owner and chef – Habib [...]

Just About The Best Thai

I’m normally hesitant to talk in superlatives about anything culinary. There are always those who will disagree with any dish, drink, restaurant or chef that I confer the honor of “best of”. But I think many will agree with me that Sripraphai restaurant in Queens is in fact just about the best Thai [...]

Dinners With UNRetirees

We’re really on a roll, eating-wise. We had dinner at Yama, one of the better Japanese restaurants in the city, with Relyn Silva, Abe & Mayu Gonzales. Great fresh sashimi and sushi, not like the stuff you get at many Chinese and Korean restaurants these days, which serve what they call sushi but [...]

Moules And Saison Dupont Beer

These last few weeks have been stellar for this foodie. Last night, Marita, Mark, Jay, Cindy and I had a wonderful mussels dinner. I bought five pounds of PEI mussels and some baguettes at Grand Central Market. Cindy cooked one batch moules mariniere style, using some white wine, and she broiled another [...]

Veal Brains In Jerusalem

It’s been quite a while since I’ve had calve’s brains – or cervelle de veau . The thought of eating brains and other manner of offal is still intimidating to me. But when I saw it on the menu at the La Regence restaurant at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, I just [...]

Siomai At Mei Li Wah

Many Filipinos were heartbroken when Mei Lah Wah, the siopao place on Bayard St in Chinatown was closed by the Department of Health. And no doubt they were thrilled when it was reopened a couple of months ago as Mei Li Wah, with mostly the same menu, but with young waiters and waitresses. [...]

Cooking During The Depresssion

Marita found this delightful series of videos about Clara, a 93 year-old woman who talks about the dishes she had as a child during the Great Depression.  I hope Marita and I are as sharp and as full of life as this dear woman when (and if?) we get to be her age.  Most of the [...]

Pistachio Cake and French Apple Tart

It’s been an excellent week for desserts.  Marita and I were invited to lunch by our good friend Marilyn and I was looking forward to having another taste of her pistachio pound cake, which is the best I’ve ever had (although I only had a few leftover pieces that Marita once brought home from work). 
 

I [...]

Valentine’s Day At Bar Jamon

Marita and I, together with Mark and Cindy, celebrated Valentine’s Day at Bar Jamon, Mario Battali’s tapas restaurant on 17th and Irving Place.   It was a great meal.  We had manchego cheese with membrillo , a paste made from quince which tastes very much like our guava, a $30 plate of jamon iberico bellota, and [...]

Microwaved Crepes = Piaya!

Marita has a good friend at the UN whose mother is a great chef.  He is French-American and he gave Marita some crepes today that his mom made. Well, Marita heated them in the microwave for a little too long and voila! – they came out nice and crisp!  They tasted like a very fine [...]