Pork Chop

Ingredients

serves 2 people

• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 6 tablespoons bourbon
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 2 thick-cut pork chops
• ground allspice
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

Procedures

1. Combine the broth, sugar, vinegar, and half of the bourbon in a small pan. Turn the heat to medium and cook until the sugar melts. Turn off the heat and set side.
2. Dry the chops off with some paper towels, and then season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of allspice on each side.
3. Add the butter to a large skillet set over medium-high heat. When melted, toss in the chops. Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes a side, until cooked through. Set the chops aside on a plate.
4. Pour in the broth and bourbon mixture. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the bourbon, turn the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring often, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Turn off the heat, and add the mint.
5. Serve the sauce over the chops.

Kimchi Fried Rice

Ingredients

serves 2

• 2 cups cold cooked rice, leftover from the day before if possible
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten together in a bowl
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 cup kimchi, chopped
• 1 tablespoons kimchi liquid
• 1/4 onion, diced
• Oil
• Soy sauce
• Sriracha

Procedures

1. Pour a film of oil into a large wok set over high heat. When very hot, add the onions. Cook until translucent, but not browned. Remove the onions with a wooden spoon and set aside.
2. If there is no oil left, add a bit more. There should still be a film left. Add the beaten eggs. Cook until just set, less than 30 seconds, scrambling them with your wooden spoon. Transfer these to the pot with the onions.
3. Add the bacon. Stir constantly until they are crisp. Remove the bacon pieces and add to the same bowl. Leave as much of the bacon fat as possible. There should be about 2 tablespoons. If there is more, then remove some.
4. Add the rice. Stir constantly, making sure the rice doesn’t stick to the bottom of the wok. Cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, breaking up any clumps.
5. Return the onions, eggs, and bacon to the wok. Add the peas, kimchi, and kimchi liquid. Stir well. When everything is warm, turn off the heat and serve.
   
   
   
   
   

Casellula cheese and wine

A hidden gem in hell's kitchen. This cafe/ restaurant serves wide selection of cheeses, from light to strong, base on each individual taste, sometime it will pair with different condiments to compliment the taste.
Besides its cheese selection, I am a fan of their food. Tapa styles, recommend to share dishes.

Suggest order

- white anchovy

- endive salad

- fish taco ceviche

- pig ass sandwich

dessert

- chocolate cake (slice multi layers chocolate cake soak in fresh farm milk, even for someone doesn't like sweets)

also LOVE their sparkling rose, Elio Rerrone "Bigaro"(from their dessert wine section)

This is another walk in only restaurant, doesn't take reservation. 

Categories: Wine Bars, Restaurants 

401 W 52nd St
(between 9th Ave & 10th Ave)
New York, NY 10019

(212) 247-8137

www.casellula.com

Torrisi (Italian)

The space is small (total no more than 12 tables), does not accept reservation , open at 6pm for dinner (they do serve lunch w different menus, only pri fixe for dinner). I got there around 5:30 in a gloomy raining day and hoping for a short waiting line... good strategy... :)
It's not a traditional new york italian restaurant, more like a little trattoria in Florence. Food are authentic and simple, will definitely pay a regular visit there...

Here are the menu for 8/25/10.. (dinner menu change daily)
Antipasti
Warm Mozzarella, Da Vero, milk thisle cream
Cucumber new yorkese
   Pork fried rice (Bravo for this simple fried rice, mix of sweet corn,    zucchini, pork, egg and top with 2 thin slice of prosciutto)
  Calamari Marinara

Pasta
Frank's Linguine, with little necks clam and hint of tabasco sauce w bread crumb

Main
Skate Frances with white wine butter sauce
they have another BBQ lamb chop, looks good tho... but i am not a lamb eater...

Sweets
assorted home made pastries, not too impressive

Categories: Italian, Sandwiches 

250 Mulberry St
(between Spring St & Prince St)
Manhattan, NY 10012

(212) 965-0955

www.piginahat.com

Marc Forgione (New American)

Michelin 2009 1 star restaurant

Saturday 8/21, we made the reservation for my friend Sonya's bday.. it was a blast..

service: very attentive, chef  himself even came out couple times to make sure we are happy with our meals...

food order: 5 courses tasting menu $76
complimentary appetizers: most amazing one is the "BLT"- Stokes Farms Heirloom Tomato Salad, Crispy Pig Ears, Smoked Onion Remoulade
1st dish: Hiramasa Tartare, Avocado, Sechuan Buttons, Pinenuts, Saratoga Chips (chew on sechuan buttons before dine in Hiramasa Tartare, the numbly taste sensation is quite interesting)
in btwn dish: lamb pasta (for a non-lamb eater, i finished the whole dish)
2nd course: chilly lobster (ahhh.. forgot what ingredient in it... it's very spicy but taste soo good)
3rd course: wild striped bass(another yumm) w deep fried bone chip
4rd course: signature steak (toward this course we were already full... took a bite and wrapped up the rest... it was a delicious lunch the next day :p)
5th the final dessert: i was a bit disappointed at first, cuz they only serve one cup of "sundae" for 2 of us to share.... OMG... turn  out, t was the most satisfying thing to end this meal... it's a mix combo of chocolate ice cream w both fried and chocolate coated banana... love it.....

ps. he is going to be competing for the next iron chef... check out Bravo on 10/03/2010..

Category: American (New) 

134 Reade St
(between Greenwich St & Hudson St)
New York, NY 10013

(212) 941-9401

www.marcforgione.com

ABC kitchen (New American)

Jean George's organic food restaurant..

This is my 3rd time within 4 months back to this restaurant.. spacious, almost everything white ambiance provide customer a casual elegant dinning experience, and of course, food is also delicious...

from the juice bar:
everything seems soo healthy and make you feel good.. i had a celery/ pear/ apple/ ginger mix juice... my usual detox drink

from the dining room:
* crudites w anchovy dips... highly recommend, if you are on a diet but still can't resist gourmet food ...
* chicken liver toast
*mackerel sashimi marinated w ginger and mint
*akaushi cheese burger w herbed mayo, pickled japanese jalapenos and fries (my friend who worked at ABC carpet was bragging about this burger... worth to try)
* black sea bass with chilies, herbs, red bliss potatoes and spinach (this dish is just an okay for me)

dessert
*market strawberries and juice, lime, meringue w sour cream poppy sorbet (if you like sweet with a touch of sourness, this refreshing dessert will be an ultimate choice)

Category: American (New)

35 E 18th St
(between Broadway & S Park Ave)
New York, NY 10003

(212) 475-5829

www.abchome.com

Esca (Italian)

Mario Batali's  italian seafood restaurant

I am a difficult diner when it comes to seafood, can't eat shrimp but lobster, allergic to shell fish but love crab... no no for any tiny fishy smell... but I would totally go back to have a whole feast again at Esca..:)

Food order:  Tasting menu w additional crudo $100

1st Crudo: italian style "sashimi", fresh selection of the day.. each pieces has different combination sauce to pair with.. very refreshing and tasty, even the oyster!!!!

2nd Grigliata: grilled portuguese white anchovies with san marzano tomatoes and house cured green olive tapenade

3rd Moscardino: grilled baby octopus with bitter greens and cipolline

4th Fish Ravioli

5th grilled spanish mackerel with panzanella salad

6th pan seared alaska king salmon

7th final dessert.. love the pear tart

Category: Italian  

402 W 43rd St
(between 10th Ave & 9th Ave)
New York, NY 10036

(212) 564-7272

www.esca-nyc.com