Fatty Friday, Fourth of July Edition

Hey, sorry I was MIA for a few days *hears crickets*, with the long weekend the Fisherman and I were busy loving America by embracing the various cultures and foods that make this country great (other things could definitely be improved, but that's another post for another day).

So, to kick off Fatty Friday, I finally tracked down Kimchi Taco Truck and had four of their tacos for lunch.

The four choices were grilled Korean BBQ Beef (bulgogi), seared pork, pulled chicken and tofu edamame falafel. The beef and pork were flavorful and juicy, the chicken I could have done without. The falafel took me for a surprise, a really, really good surprise! It made me remember how much I love kimchi!!

 Then for dinner, I took the Fisherman to a local Japanese/Thai/Chinese place, Chopstick, in Elmhurst. I've loved this place since I first found it, and learned the hard way that when they offer all you can eat sushi, it's per roll, not per piece. This was my first sushi experience where you jot down what you want, but it hasn't dampened my experience of the place. I coerced the Fisherman into also doing all you can eat, so we had a SUSHI PAWTY!

Teriyaki wings, really good sauce. Good job Fisherman!

Fried shumai, also nice

My fav trio, spicy crab, tuna and salmon. Zesty!

I forget what this is, but it was amazing. There's also sashimi, eel and fluke. I will update when I look at our report cards :)

Also cannot remember. I tend to read what looks good and go for it!

Same, but it looks beautiful.

I almost want to paint this!

 

 

Then, on Saturday we needed to make a trip to Flushing to take care of some car insurance stuff. We then went to one of my favorite places in the area, Pho Hoang. I love their curry noodle soup so much, I am researching to find a recipe so I can DIY it (and probably die from all that coconut milk, mmmm). I also love the crispy tofu skin. So crunchy, great for dipping in the fiery broth. This one had fishcake stuffed peppers and eggplant, not bad. Next time, more tofu skin.

Here's me at a previous trip, lovin da skin!

Awwww, makes me want some now...

Then, we decided we were going to grill to ring in the Fourth, but the weather decided not to cooperate, so we grilled inside. 

Wings dancing around a burger. OOGA OOGA OOGACHA!

My compromise with the Fisherman; I wanted burgers, he wanted meat bricks.

Our new invention, the Four Corners Burger. A burger with four types of cheese (in this case, muenster, gouda, cheddar and harvati with dill)

Grilling steak on a hubcap, I mean, Korean-style grill. He does make a damn fine steak.

 

 

Then, to really tie it all together, we grab some ingredients and I attempt to make pad thai, again. I made it up in the Great White North while in college (aka, Upstate New York, closer to Canada than NYC) for a dear friend of mine. Now I try again, using this recipe from Mark Bittman, aka The Minimalist.

I found that even after halving the amount of limes used, it was still WAY too sour. Nor did I realize there was a difference between tamarind paste and pulp (I'd appreciate a clarification here!), and the Fisherman claimed there were too many veggies. I might try this again, might use an entirely new recipe. We shall see.

So, that's how we celebrated the Fourth of July, the way it should be done, enjoying what makes America one cool place, for eating, that is.

Going Out, and Cooking In

Usually The Fisherman and I celebrate the weekend by going out to eat. After a long crazy day for both of us at the office, I offered to treat him to a local Thai place, Boon Chu on Broadway, in Elmhurst. He's walked past it a few times and wanted to check it out, and I can't say no to Thai iced tea, so we went to check it out.
First off, if you're claustrophobic, maybe you need to try someplace else. It's small, really small, as in six tables small.

 Naturally I had to have Thai iced tea. Not as strong as I would have liked, but pretty good.

We lucked out and were able to squeeze (and I meant this literally), into a booth. We ordered an appetizer of Hoy Jor (ground pork, shrimp and crab wrapped in crispy tofu skin).  If you like fish cakes, this is right up your alley. Chewy, almost springy, definitely seafoody.

The Fisherman was insistent on ordering pad thai despite my best efforts to convince him to try something less "textbook." I am sorry I tried to steer him away from pad thai. It was very, very good. The portion was a bit small but other than that it was quite good.

I've made pad thai before, in college, for a good friend of mine, in a dorm kitchen, when the lights were having issues. Of course homemade stuff is better, I just might have to dust off/look for the recipe I used in the past, and figure my cats "helping" me will approximate working with the lights flickering.

I agreed to check out the Tom yum soup. I really liked it overall, but we both agreed that the imitation crab meat was a no-no. I didn't like the texture, and The Fisherman just didn't like the idea of fake crab in this. The lemongrass was also too hard to chew, a little dangerous to eat...

So, on Fatty Friday, The Fisherman made a special request for this pasta dish we came up with before, but we ate it before I could photograph it. I think I will dubb it The Fisherman's Fav, perhaps you'll find it quick and delicious as well.

First get some pasta started. The Fisherman is partial to noodles, so I used fettucini. Lots of salt in water, on the stove to boil. Then in a pan (the bigger the better!) I have some olive oil, maybe 1/4 cup and a two tablespoons of butter (for one pound of pasta, don't freak out.) Besides, olive oil is good for you :) Heat it on medium so the butter melts and the fats combine gloriously.

As that's heating up, chop one onion and 3-4 cloves of garlic (I never like to cut half an onion, it's wasteful. Use a smaller one if you're onion squeamish. Same for garlic. Those go in the pan with the butter/oil, and some red pepper flake (2 tablespoons, use more or less as you like), and two tablespoons of pesto (yes, homemade is better, but when I can find pignolis where I live, I'll consider it). Stir and let everything melt, the onions softening and sweetening, the garlic becoming more mellow.

Test the pasta for doneness, and when it's ready, drain. Toss the pasta to make sure it's hot but dry. Then bring the pasta to the pan with the onion garlic yumminess and dump into the pan, carefully. Toss the pasta and the sauce. I tossed it back into the pot because my pot was a little smaller than I'd like. Add some cheese if you're inclined (cheese for me, please!), maybe even a splash of lemon juice to brighten things up.

Talk about being an alchemist! We literally threw this together, and now The Fisherman loves it!

Eating out, and staying in. I don't know which I prefer sometimes. Something delicious you didn't have to slave over, or something made just the way you like it, made with love. Quite the toss up. When in doubt, mangia!

Fatty Friday

I don't usually go out for lunch. I work in Midtown NYC, so food is expensive, the lines are usually crazy long, and usually not all that tasty or healthy. But today I thought for a treat I'd check out Kimchi Taco. On my way up there, before I even get off the block I see a STREET FAIR!!

Usually it's a block (in this case) or so, closed off to traffic, and usually selling clothes, jewelry, knickknacks, this one had a stall selling spices (hmm, street spices...), and of course, street food.

Now, for one block I think I easily saw 4-5 kebob/gyro stalls, 3-4 arepa stalls, two Mexican stalls (psssht, not interested! I live in Elmhurst!!), and maybe 3-4 Italian sausage stalls. Talk about a repeat act!

Despite their repetitive nature, of course I had to check it out, I mean, it's a street fair, right next to where I work!

Now, Rule #1 for eating at street fairs: it's usually a bad idea to eat at the first place you find. One, everyone else is doing that = long lines. Two, you get full before you find the good stuff further down, and three, you might (probably) will find something better once you do a look over of the situation.

I did this, trying not to shove the few unlucky tourists who go in my way and forgot to move forward and rather bobbed side to side like Weeble Wobbles *suppresses urge to bust their knees* and did my assessment.

I had no intention of spending more than $10 (which I allotted for tacos, see, NYC food is $$$!!) but here's another funny thing about street fairs: when you ask how much, they stay quiet unless you actually want to order. Okay, I'll bite, it's a street fair by work, it's once in awhile. $14 later I got a gyro and a corn dog. Oh well. At least now I can tell you to NEVER get a corn dog with a turkey hot dog. Beef or pork, only, or you will be smited. I was, I lost $5 for it!

The gyro, however was quite good. I don't know about $8 good, but I was impressed that the meat was succulent and not dry (despite being shorn from the mothership of meat logitude previously). The tzatziki
 was good too.

Overall, like I said, I eat outside once in awhile while at work, can't say I'd go back. On the other hand, I think that's the nature of these kinds of venues (I won't even tell you how much I fork over at San Gennaro,
I should have frequent flyer points with them at this point!) Besides, it's Friday!

Mangia! Enjoy the weekend!