Food Adventuring Around NYC
It’s very bizarre. I thought I had put ice cream behind me (at least until the weather warms up again). But there it was on the awning of White Bear, one of the most talked about dumpling spots in Flushing. It says in big green letters: “Ice Cream” and then if you squint you can …
SADLY, FAMILY DUMPLING IS NOW CLOSED. Celebrities don’t excite me much. There are a handful of famous people that have inspired or moved me to the point of awe. But I still wouldn’t necessarily run out and eat at a restaurant that Dustin Hoffman recommended. So I found it strange that once the owner of Family …
Tasty Dumpling, the tiny storefront facing Columbus Park, seems to always be packed with people. And not all of them are ordering dumplings. During the 20 minutes or so I spent inside the shop, I counted at least 5 people that came in solely to use the prominently displayed ATM machine in the middle of …
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but when it’s not intended as imitation and rather as just using somebody else’s novel idea, I’d say it borders on thievery. The cute little dumpling figure outside Plump Dumpling is just a little too similar to the logo of the other East Village dumpling house, …
SADLY, MAHJONG DUMPLINGS IS NOW CLOSED. Most of the dumpling houses I’ve visited on my search for the best in the city are very modest non-English speaking places that have only been divulged to the world thanks to eager food bloggers like myself. The places in Chinatown, Flushing, and Sunset Park don’t have web sites or …
Kai Feng Fu sounds to me like a form of martial arts. I hope I’m not being offensive and I certainly don’t want to piss off anybody who is well-versed in the fighting style. From my limited research, it seems that Kai Feng Fu is a destination in Northern China. Well, it’s also a destination …
Anita Lo has been on TV (most notably Top Chef Masters) enough now to be considered a celebritychef. Yet her food is modest and well-presented and her restaurants don’t garner the crowd-busting lines as places like Del Posto. All the better for us. Annisa recently re-opened in the West Village after a fire shut it …
There are a number of reasons not to eat at Shanghai Café (now called Shanghai Café Deluxe) on Mott Street. First off, they have been undergoing some lawsuits filed by six former employees who accuse the restaurant of breaking certain labor laws. They were paid well under minimum wage, forced to work overtime, and the …
I’m curious what you guys all think. What’s your favorite spot for dumplings in this great city? If I missed a dumpling spot you love, please leave a comment with your favorite.
Two of my weakest subjects in school were history and geography. While I think both are fascinating (I love old movies and I love to study maps), I have a bit of ADD and I tend to lose interest very quickly. So I was baffled when I recently learned that Taiwan is a part of …
SADLY, ETON IS NOW CLOSED. I tend to think it’s a problem when the innards of a dumpling fall out of the skin and never quite make it into your mouth. Unless you have some bad chopstick skills, this is something that should be dealt with in the making of the little pillows. And while I …
A dear friend of mine was in town and we decided to meet up for some dumplings. She was one of my eating buddies for many years until she moved away to Ohio. Who moves to Ohio? I was excited to see her and to get another sampling of soup dumplings. I picked the new …
SADLY, FRIED DUMPLINGS IS NOW CLOSED. When a restaurant names themselves after a specific menu item, it had better be good. I don’t know any pizzeria that touts the name: “Pepperoni Pizza” or “Margherita Pizza”. To name yourself after one dish almost alienates everything else on your menu. I don’t think I would ever order a …
I have a friend who calls bao “soupy dumplings.” I find that endearing – very child-like and fun. Which makes sense, because bao are just that. They’re an adventure to eat and require more interaction and risk than most dishes we encounter on a day to day basis. Most American adults drop that cutesy “y” …
I’ve always known that some of the big chain restaurants adjust their prices based on location. A sandwich at TGI Friday’s in Times Square is going to cost considerably more than it would at a location in Nebraska. And although I’ve never been to Nebraska, I’m guessing the prices are cheaper there than on Broadway. …
SADLY, C & L DUMPLING HOUSE IS NOW CLOSED. \Most of these dumpling houses are so segregated in Chinatown that it’s hard to get much information on them. Trying to find a website, a menu online, a company back story is next to impossible. Besides an entry on yelp and some unhelpful blog reviews (like …
SADLY, PROSPERITY DUMPLING IS NOW CLOSED. My first dumpling venture taught me quite a few things. It taught me that this is going to be much cheaper than any of my previous searches. Even ice cream was running me close to $5 a cone. I think I’ll leave most of the dumpling shops with a loss …
Everybody loves dumplings. No matter where you’re from or what your dietary restrictions are, there’s a dumpling option for you. It’s such a simple concept – a cooked ball of dough. You can stuff it with meat, vegetables, fish. Make the dough from pasta, bread, potatoes. The options are really endless. Which is probably why …