Pearl is an aptly named oyster bar on Cornelia Street. My lady and I sat at the bar because we were hungry and cold. A nice warm bouillabaisse would warm us up quite nicely. But it wasn't the broth that caught our eye... it was the potato strings. These strings were off the chain. They struck an amazing balance between delicious homemade potato chips and french fries. Very salty. We ate them before our entree along with mussels. The mussels were very good as well, simmering in a wine and lemmon sauce
Five guys and one woman go on a fishing trip. What did they catch you ask? Well, the guys didn't catch anything but the woman came back with a red snapper.
Ahh, red snapper. We ate a pound and a half of fresh red snapper for dinner (please forgive the joke). It was cooked to perfection. Juicy, delicate textures made my tongue do the fandango.
Overall, I would rate Pearl highly. The meal came out to $92 for the two of us (including two beers and two glasses of wine). Oh, and there was an ice cream sunday for dessert. I didn't want to tell you about that.
The ambiance was good. Better than some of the other fish-centric establishments that I have graced with my presence. But Cornelia Street has many fancy options to indulge in and I look forward to testing more waters in the West Village.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Funkee Dream
So last night was an interesting one.
I was late for work and left wearing sneakers, some board shorts and a ratty polo. For some reason, it didn't occur to me that this attire was not going to fly with my bosses. I got around the corner and realized that I had to turn back to change. But to get back to my apartment I had to go through a skate shop and through a side door. Then I had to go through another random door in a bike shop.
I then had to get out of this neighborhood but didn't know my bearings. An Asian lady was putting barbed wire across the street and I couldn't jump over it so I had to crawl. Some major alarm system (city wide alarm system) went off and I couldn't hear myself think. I had to take refuge in the closest house. All of my friends had shown up to hang out but we couldn't talk because of how loud the alarm was.
Anyway, the climax was when this woman who was sitting in a chair confessed to me that she was indeed, a werewolf and that she had to reincarnate herself through me and her children needed to eat my hands. So she brought in her children, who, by then, had transmogrified into various beastly creatures. I found all of this hilarious. Especially the kid who didn't really have a face but rather a huge mouth covered in razor sharp canines.
My hands being eaten from little werewolf kids, I blacked out and woke up in a black and white world where all of the kids had grown up to be one nice leave-it to beaver style family - all of their hands were huge.
The mother, who was old by then - said goodbye - and I woke up.
Oh - so back to reality. I had walked through the SUPREME Skate shop a couple days ago and next door to it is an awesome bike shop.
I was late for work and left wearing sneakers, some board shorts and a ratty polo. For some reason, it didn't occur to me that this attire was not going to fly with my bosses. I got around the corner and realized that I had to turn back to change. But to get back to my apartment I had to go through a skate shop and through a side door. Then I had to go through another random door in a bike shop.
I then had to get out of this neighborhood but didn't know my bearings. An Asian lady was putting barbed wire across the street and I couldn't jump over it so I had to crawl. Some major alarm system (city wide alarm system) went off and I couldn't hear myself think. I had to take refuge in the closest house. All of my friends had shown up to hang out but we couldn't talk because of how loud the alarm was.
Anyway, the climax was when this woman who was sitting in a chair confessed to me that she was indeed, a werewolf and that she had to reincarnate herself through me and her children needed to eat my hands. So she brought in her children, who, by then, had transmogrified into various beastly creatures. I found all of this hilarious. Especially the kid who didn't really have a face but rather a huge mouth covered in razor sharp canines.
My hands being eaten from little werewolf kids, I blacked out and woke up in a black and white world where all of the kids had grown up to be one nice leave-it to beaver style family - all of their hands were huge.
The mother, who was old by then - said goodbye - and I woke up.
Oh - so back to reality. I had walked through the SUPREME Skate shop a couple days ago and next door to it is an awesome bike shop.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
I'm sorry.... so sorry... My own Blog Review
So why the pathetic title? Well, I have not updated you... (you being my blog and you being my reader[z]).
Since this blog is heavy on the reviews, I figured to add some artistic self-reference. Hence, I will now review my own blog!
First thoughts: This blog has not been updated in a while (minus one). But that said, some of its' posts are timeless, so this is not so much of an issue (plus a million).
Second thoughts: The author is an egotistical jerk for thinking that he could review his own blog (minus one). However, to review his own blog and then talk about how this review makes him egotistical only adds further layers of self-reflection (plus a googleplex).
Third thoughts: This blog is going no where fast (minus two). And yet, self-deprecation is so hot right now (plus two point-oh-one).
Good review no?
Since this blog is heavy on the reviews, I figured to add some artistic self-reference. Hence, I will now review my own blog!
First thoughts: This blog has not been updated in a while (minus one). But that said, some of its' posts are timeless, so this is not so much of an issue (plus a million).
Second thoughts: The author is an egotistical jerk for thinking that he could review his own blog (minus one). However, to review his own blog and then talk about how this review makes him egotistical only adds further layers of self-reflection (plus a googleplex).
Third thoughts: This blog is going no where fast (minus two). And yet, self-deprecation is so hot right now (plus two point-oh-one).
Good review no?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Some Bars
Ok - I am going to start documenting some of the bars and restaurants that I go to in NyC. I will try to have an even share of bars and restaurants, just to be fair.
So - first, let me start with Dos Caminos. There are a few of them in NYC. They have incredible guacamole that is freshly made to order... but it costs 12 dollars extra... hay-zeus. Andy and I went there tonight (Monday, March 10th, 2009) and I had these little soft fajitas with some amazing pork and grapefruit mix. The food was damn good. But again, the expenses were absurd... 6 dollars per Pacifico... in Wichita that shit would cost like two bucks. The ambiance was ok. A little cheesy as you could tell it was a chain. But this is a chain with only 3 different Dos Caminos and only in NY. We went to the lower east side for a random bar - which was the...
Blue and Gold Seventy-Nine Bar. Super Divey. It was on seventh street close to first ave. The bartender was kind of a bitch... she wanted to see my id and it took twenty minutes to get a drink.. Then we took a chance and got a pitcher of the house beer. It was shit. Tasted like bud light. Cue in the bad Sting song "Fields of Gold" to make the experience even more confusing. The crowd was a lot of LES dirty hipsters... the more downbeat depressing type.
We played quarters to try and make the other person drink the ill swill. And left soon after the pitcher was kicked.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Amazing knife skillzzzz
I am going to do some practicing... once I git meselph sum fancy dancy knife from the land of the rising sun...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
TOP TEN THINGS TO DO Before YOU DIE
Yea, so a lot of people make lists and they seem unachievable. But the difference with this is... I plan on doing these friggin things. Oh, and they're not in any particular order of importance. After throwing some ideas around - I figured I should group them in their respective temperate zones.
Cold Climates -
1. Climb Mt. Everest.
2. See the Aurora Borealis
3. Howl at the moon in Antarctica (can I even see it there?)
4. Drink Yak's milk from the pail of an indigenous tribe.
Tropical Climates -
1. Make love while SCUBA diving with stingrays
2. Dive the Cenotes in the Yucatan (cave diving and making love would be too dangerous)
3. Learn to skipper my own vessel and sail her around the Caribbean.
Ummm... "other" climates
1. Drink good scotch in Scotland
2. Have a baby or three.
3. Eat sushi in Japan and then protest their whaling efforts
more to come
Monday, January 12, 2009
Lessons about cookware
There is only one knife you need - A large chef's knife that fits your hand. it will cut everything and there is little need for much else.
Brands for knives? Germans are out, Japanese are in. Anthony suggests Global brand.
Pans - Look out for restaurant auctions for good deals. You don't need new pans, just ones that have thick, heavy bottoms. A thin bottomed pan, or woman, is useless.
A non-stick saute pan is essential as well. Don't scratch it with metal tools.
Use wooden spatulas and spoons, they have more soul.
Brands for knives? Germans are out, Japanese are in. Anthony suggests Global brand.
Pans - Look out for restaurant auctions for good deals. You don't need new pans, just ones that have thick, heavy bottoms. A thin bottomed pan, or woman, is useless.
A non-stick saute pan is essential as well. Don't scratch it with metal tools.
Use wooden spatulas and spoons, they have more soul.
THings I have learned from ANthony Bourdain
In NYC, don't eat fish on sunday or monday - the best days are Tuesday through Saturday (note the appropriate capitalization). Anthony claims Tuesday and Thursday the best days to order fish. The weekends have fresh food too, but are busier and hence the preparers will not be as attentive to the meal that you are about to digest.
NEVER eat something with hollandaise sauce, this stuff is filled with emulsified egg and has a higher chance of getting you sick than other things.
The same goes for mussels. These usually sit in their own urine for an elongated period of time. Don't eat unless you're at a very good restaurant.
Rarely eat Sunday brunch - chefs hate brunch for some reason, not the least of which is the fact they got wasted the night before.
"Discounted" sushi means that the sushi is old and bad.
A restaurant's bathroom is a reflection of the cleanliness of its' kitchen.
Most chef's save their toughest meats (i.e. the worst cuts) for those that take the meat well done.
Chef's despise vegans and vegetarians.
Pigs might be filthy animals, but do you really think chickens are raised in better conditions? Chicken has the highest risk of contamination - but I think this statistic is skewed because it is probably the most popular meat of all time. Coincidentally, chicken is also boring and will make the chef think of you as a simpleton.
If a restaurant is very busy then the chances of the food's freshness are practically guaranteed. This is due to the high turnover rate. Don't eat at half-empty restaurants with a varied menu.
more to come
NEVER eat something with hollandaise sauce, this stuff is filled with emulsified egg and has a higher chance of getting you sick than other things.
The same goes for mussels. These usually sit in their own urine for an elongated period of time. Don't eat unless you're at a very good restaurant.
Rarely eat Sunday brunch - chefs hate brunch for some reason, not the least of which is the fact they got wasted the night before.
"Discounted" sushi means that the sushi is old and bad.
A restaurant's bathroom is a reflection of the cleanliness of its' kitchen.
Most chef's save their toughest meats (i.e. the worst cuts) for those that take the meat well done.
Chef's despise vegans and vegetarians.
Pigs might be filthy animals, but do you really think chickens are raised in better conditions? Chicken has the highest risk of contamination - but I think this statistic is skewed because it is probably the most popular meat of all time. Coincidentally, chicken is also boring and will make the chef think of you as a simpleton.
If a restaurant is very busy then the chances of the food's freshness are practically guaranteed. This is due to the high turnover rate. Don't eat at half-empty restaurants with a varied menu.
more to come
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