Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City
Before I walked into the cavernous restaurant Lil Chef Mama, newly opened in the Financial District, I saw an older woman through the window cleaning up and getting ready for the lunch shift.
As I entered and spoke to her, I realized this must be the actual Lil Chef Mama. I was a bit starstruck.
When I ordered the moo ping (which sounded similar to the meatballs I had at Wayla), the woman at the register consulted with the older woman and told me it would be a little bit because they were making everything from scratch. It was indeed Lil Chef Mama and she headed back to the kitchen to work on my lunch.
I suppose this personable interaction could have swayed my feelings on the food (which looked like it could have been presented from a nearby food truck). But there was no denying this grilled meat was utterly delicious.
It did take about 20 minutes for Lil Chef Mama to make my lunch but it was worth the wait.
The sweet sticky rice was served beside the moo ping, which are bits of barbecued pork. Thanks to a marinate in coconut milk, lemongrass, fish sauce, and other spices, the fatty pork was full of flavor. And then with an expert hand at grilling, the fatty bits crisped up and were crunchy, sweet, and so tender. The pickled vegetables and aforementioned sticky rice were a nice foil to the sweet fattiness of the meat.
Lil Chef Mama is still gaining a following in the neighborhood. I highly recommend it and make sure you say hello to the lil Chef Mama herself. Because she’ll be the one making sure your food tastes this good. Price: $10
| LIL CHEF MAMA |
| 27 Cliff Street (between John and Fulton Street), Financial District (646) 964-5555 |
| lilchefmama.com |
