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.

Tacos, Outlets, Grooming and Noodles

To continue with the Fatty Friday weekend celebration, The Fisherman and I went out for tacos. Unfortunately, I didn't have the heart to have more than a couple of bites. Now I've been to Taco al Suadero at least half a dozen times, and obviously I kept coming back. But last time I think they had an off day, and I was not feeling great after I ate there last time. Something was off, and I got a bit sick. That can happen sometimes, whether eating at a restaurant, a friend's house, or even your own. I don't fault Taco al Suadero, but if I get sick again, then I usually take it as a sign to not go back.

 These are from the last time we went for tacos.

I think we got steak, al pastor (basically pork cooked like gyro meat with pineapple mixed in to tenderize the meat), goat, chicken. This time we tried buche (pork stomach), not as bad as I thought it would be. Maybe next time Suadero, I'll be ready for your goodness...

Then on Saturday we were uber busy. My dogs needed a haircut, bad, so we took them to the groomer, then out to Long Island we went to go shopping at Tanger Outlets (I really needed sneakers and The Fisherman promised to take me). Unfortunately, for the purpose of this blog, food was typical mall-type fair. And The Fisherman and I were trying not to be pigs in front of his friends so we only ate a little. And I resisted a Creamsicle (why I wanted one, I don't know, nostalgia perhaps?? A poor substitute for morir soñando?)

Shopping ensued, I think fun was had by all, and then back to Queens to drop off The Fisherman's friends, and pick up the dogs from the groomer.

Yaaay for haircuts! Now they won't melt in the heat!!

We brought the dogs to show the Fisherman's parents their new 'do, and we celebrated by going to Lao Bei Fang for soup (just an FYI, there's the old one, on Whitney, and the new one, on Broadway. The one on Whitney makes AMAZING dumplings for cheap, like five for $1.25, while the one on Broadway has the soup and great noodles).

 Wonton soup with noodles. It has so many noodles (and I love noodles!), that I can't finish it. The Fisherman's mom gives him half of her noodles, so I think next time she and I will share.

 Freshly made, hand crafted noodles. SLAP! SLAP goes the noodles on the board. Mmmm, slappy.

 Spicy chili sauce. So mysterious, yet sooo good!

 Scallion pancakes, and spicy tripe and tendon. I love scallion pancakes, and I'm glad The Fisherman's dad enjoys them as well. The latter, I'm getting used to. Cold, chewy, spicy. The key is to not think about what it is, and enjoy the texture and spicy coolness.

While waiting for food I was so thirsty. Then I looked across the street and realized I was across from Quickly, which sells bubble tea. Not having bubble tea YET this spring/summer, I had to go for some. After a long line (and naturally first picking lychee tea, and them naturally not having that), I was triumphant with my passion fruit tea. A little too sweet, but tart and great with the bubbles. Maybe I'm too old for the sweetness, but I'm so glad I got it.

I wish I had pictures of dinner that The Fisherman and I made on Sunday, but we ate it too fast. It was an example of what being an Alchemist is all about: finding what you have and making something delicious.

You'll have to use your imagination, but picture al dente cooked linguini, delicately coated in a sauce of olive oil, butter, some leftover pesto, finely chopped garlic, finely diced onion, and some Parmesan cheese. Simple, but delicious. The Fisherman couldn't get enough, so that's good enough for me. And for dessert, Reese's Peanut Butter Klondike bars.

I'm almost ready for the work week. Almost. Back to the grind, and back to more sensible, but still tasty dishes for the week. Happy Monday, and mangia!