It was by chance that I came across information for the Museum of Food and Drink in Brooklyn. I visited New York at the end of January this year due to an awesome flight deal, and because I had been there several times, I decided I ought to look up events going on the week I'd be there. An exhibition popped up in part of my search and upon seeing that it was about the science of flavor imitation in foods, my geeky self cried out with a resounding "YES!" The museum itself is still fairly new and definitely one of a kind so I was glad to be in the vicinity (my brother lives in Brooklyn) at the time. If you are in the area and interested in the history and science of food, I highly recommend taking a quick jaunt through whatever exhibition they have going on at the time (it rotates in topics).

77 N 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Neighborhood: Williamsburg)
Pricing - $$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - Japanese, Brunch
http://www.houseofsmallwonder.com/

One of the reasons why I enjoy going to New York is that my older brother lives in Brooklyn so 1) I have a place to stay and also 2) I get to see him! However, because we are both busy busy, it isn't too often that we get to do much together when I'm in town. This trip around, we got to check out a brunch spot that he likes visiting called House of Small Wonder which is a bit of Japanese fusion. Think of a menu that offers the likes of Okinawan Taco Rice, Fig Brie Apple Sandwich, and Croque Madame all at one mealtime. The outdoor area is unassuming with its big wooden slats that hides the restaurant away from the street view aside from its chalkboard menu signs. The inside is certainly in the style of a tiny wondrous house.

15 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003 (Neighborhood: Union Square)
Pricing - $$$ | Dining - Dressy Casual | Cuisine - Japanese
http://15eastrestaurant.com/

One of my missions during my most recent trip to New York was to get Michelin-starred restaurants under my belt but also not overspend. I spotted 15 East on a list of places to try for lunch at a somewhat affordable but quality rate, and when have I turned down the opportunity to have sushi? I made reservations for my friend and me and visited with the intent of just doing a small lunch. Instead, we were tempted in by other options which were definitely had without regret. It is a demure place instead with a subtle beauty to it all, and the quiet, calm environment makes you almost want to whisper to your fellow diner(s) while appreciating the craft of your meal.

179 East Houston Street New York, NY 10002 (Neighborhood: Lower East Side)
Pricing - $$ | Dining - To-Go | Cuisine - Specialty
http://www.russanddaughters.com/

If you go to New York, you have to get a bagel. You also have to get yourself some smoked salmon and even though Russ & Daughters may not have the best bagels in town, you can get cross the two requirements off your list by going there for a mindblowing smoked salmon bagel sandwich. Just bear in mind that it may be a little up there in price but well worth it. When my friend and I traveled to New York recently, this was the first bite in the city that we knew we had to get and no regrets were had. Love smoked salmon? Take your pick at Russ & Daughters.

248 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022 (Neighborhood: Midtown)
Pricing - $$ | Dining - Casual | Cuisine - Japanese
http://www.hidechanramen.nyc/

Due to what seemed a stroke of luck, I came across a very inexpensive way of flight to visit New York for about a week's time recently so jumped on the chance to hop on a jet across the country. I have visited The Big Apple plenty of times before, and it really helped that my brother lives in Brooklyn so I rarely have to worry about lodging. As with other times, the goal was to eat up the city, and thus I started a ramen list. Hide-Chan Ramen was on that list that I was compiling based on other people's accolades and top rated ramen spots. What made it even more perfect for my friend and I to stop into the cozy ramen shop was how brisk the weather was outside. Who wouldn't want a hot, steaming bowl of delicious noodles and rich broth on a cold day?

194 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012 (Neighborhood: Greenwich Village)
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - Casual, To-Go | Cuisine - Indian
www.masalatimesnyc.com

On a recent trip to New York with a friend who has never been, I participated in a nearly full day's walking tour of everything to immerse myself into the history of the area as well as sate the need of my friend to see what the Big Apple was all about. On this tour, our lunch break ended up being in Greenwich Village so we went off to explore what was around. Masala Times was nearby and because of the chilly day, we were completely ready for some Indian food. Upon first walking in and seeing both the bright colors and the cheeky signage, we knew we were in the right spot for lunch.

362 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036 (Neighborhood: Hell's Kitchen)
Pricing - $ | Dining - Casual, To-Go | Cuisine - Bakery
www.schmackarys.com

What attracted me to Schmackary's as I was cavorting about Hell's Kitchen with my brothers on my recent NY trip was the expansive mural-ed storefront. It was white and light blue with an old-fashioned feel due to the artwork and set-up. We had to go in.


How does one easily win my heart? If you crack a grammar joke at me, you've got it. I was first greeted when I walked in with a warm and friendly "How are you?" When I answered "well, how are you?," he immediately said he was doing well and commended me on using correct grammar because "Superman does good." Insta-win to me. Then of course there were the cookies...the rows and rows of classic and not-so-traditional cookie flavors made it difficult to choose just one. We came in saying to ourselves that we'd get one or two but I convinced my brother to split the cost of six with me. The power of cookies!


We ended up with the sweet corn, maple bacon, fluffer nutter, cookies and cream, candied yam, and blueberry cobbler ("way to pick the weirder ones, Minerva..."). The sweet corn was by FAR my favorite one; it was made of corn flour, cornmeal, sweet corn, cranberries, and pecan bits. If you can imagine cornbread in cookie form, you've got this delicious, delicious cookie. I like my cookies soft and these all were very much so. The maple bacon (candied bacon, maple syrup, toffee bits, and sea salt) was too salty for my tasty but that's actually a compliment to how well they preserved the bacon-y taste. The fluffer nutter (peanuts, peanut butter, peanut butter chips, and peanut butter-marshmallow frosting) was a peanut butter lover's dream come true if he/she also had a major sweet tooth. The cookies and cream (dark cocoa, white chocolate, Oreo pieces, and vanilla buttercream frosting) was a delightful take on the classic. The candied yam (corn flour base, sweet potato, brown sugar, cinnamon, and toasted marshmallow) was my second favorite for its smooth, sweet yamminess. Lastly, the blueberry cobbler (oats, blueberries, white chocolate, glaze, and streusel) was a welcome treat with its subtle fruitiness amidst oats.


We could all see what made these cookies lip-schmackin' good, and though I personally don't live in the area, I'm sure my older brother who does live in NY will be back. Hey, maybe I can ask him to bring me some of that sweet corn when he comes back home to visit!

Photography by Minerva Thai.

173 Irving Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11237 (Neighborhood: Bushwick)
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - Casual, To-Go | Cuisine - Mexican
http://monterosgrill.com

It's breakfast time in Bushwick and since my older brother abandoned us in his apartment since it was Monday and he had work to go to, my younger brother and I wandered around town looking for a place actually open for breakfast. Our original choice of seeking out Peruvian chicken was a fail at that hour but luckily for us, Montero's was ready for our consumption. Walking inside, we saw that it was deserted (who eats breakfast on a Monday anyway?) but the staff quick to answer our door opening. Courteous people!


You tell me you serve authentic Mexican cuisine, you better deliver. I grew up in Orange County, CA so there are plenty of other restaurants to compare the food to! My first thought upon seeing the menu is that these were normal casual restaurant prices at about $8 a plate. Okay, I can't argue with the economy on the ground so I'll take that price point at a Mexican joint. My order was for their Huevos Rancheros (two eggs over medium served on top of fresh corn tortillas and their housemade tomatillo sauce, Cotija cheese, and grilled Mexican chorizo). May I say that these were just lovely? Was the presentation nice? No but who cares when the attractiveness happens in my mouth? The tomatillo sauce was bright and the grilled chorizo reminiscent of a welcoming Mexican home I never experienced.The Mexican rice was also oh so wonderful with its tangy tomato flavor. I also had a cup of bean soup (or was it sauce?) that was great too.


My younger brother ordered the Puebla Style Tortas (filled with lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, refried beans, quesillo, mayo, jalapeno peppers, and his choice of carne enchilada for the meat) with a side of fries. This would have made the perfect lunch for me. He only offered me a bite before his teenage self devoured the whole thing (or inhaled?). The meat was tender and well-seasoned; the vegetables fresh. The cheesy melted goodness greatly complemented the bun. The French fries were just about some of my favorite fries ever tasted. Think of a seasoned potato wedge but in fry form - delicious thought, no? We had a good meal there and definitely good service. Eat up here if you can!

Photography by Minerva Thai.

941 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221 (Neighborhood: Bushwick)
Pricing - $ | Dining - Casual, To-Go | Cuisine - Coffee & Tea
http://littleskips.com

Though this is typically a coffee joint, I came here looking for sandwiches for lunch and to take with me on the plane back home from my NY trip earlier this month. It was the only place within walking distance from my older brother's apartment that had fair reviews for their sandwiches. Of course, when you walk into a coffeeshop looking for sandwiches, you get okay sandwiches.


Our first perception when my little brother and I stepped in was that it was fairly hipster. I mean, just looking at the people behind the counter wasn't enough. The place was jam packed (on a Monday oddly enough) with people on their laptops dressed in their hipster gear. This is not a bad thing; forgive me if it comes off that way. I just want y'all to be aware of what you'd typically see there. I liked the space but maybe I'm also more inclined to that style. Oh no - am I a hipster?


[Disclaimer: forgive my poor pictures but we got the sandwiches to-go so there wasn't any pretty set-up.] So my little brother opted for a Special sandwich in addition to the coffee I got him (I spoil him, I know) which was the Frankie (on sliced whole wheat - smoked salmon, goat cheese, apples, spinach, capers, and raspberry Dijon vinaigrette). It was fairly good but considering how strong of flavors both smoked salmon and goat cheese are on their own, I'm not sure they complemented each other as much as they fought for attention. I also learned that I should probably not eat either of those two before I get on a flight because I didn't feel all too good on the plane. Blame my sensitive stomach, hah.


Our flight sandwich was one that I chose for how well it would hold up through the airport - the Italian (a panini of Mozzarella, pesto, tomato, and balsamic vinaigrette with an add-on of proscuitto). I really enjoyed the bread and the freshness of the Mozzarella. There was a tad too much of the dressing though. I mean, it really soaked through the bread. I didn't mind the abundance of pesto however because pesto is just awesome okay? The sandwich held up well during the traveling.


My lunch, however, was one that I had to eat right away considering its ingredients. I had the M Train (sliced whole wheat with goat cheese, pesto, turkey, hard-boiled egg, spinach, tomato, red onion, and honey). It was similar to a mix between the two above mentioned sandwiches. The egg and spinach definitely gave it a fresh taste but otherwise, a standard sandwich.


Just a little note, they give chips per sandwich order. I'm not sure where they get their chips from but I know it isn't housemade. They were delicious though, very delicious. I'm sure that Little Skips is lot more coffee-oriented since they ARE a coffeeshop but hey, if you need a solid sandwich (not bad or super amazing), you can give them a visit.

Photography by Minerva Thai.

690 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036 (Neighborhood: Hell's Kitchen)
Pricing - $/$$ | Dining - Casual, Dressy Casual | Cuisine - Thai

Wandering a while with my brothers in New York (particularly Hell's Kitchen), we were unsure of where to eat but Room Service caught our eyes. Lesson learned was not to judge a book by its cover but we were hungry and the prices looked fair. In we bounced through the aisles of chic, dimly lit seating and over-the-top grandeur. That should have been the first clue to our night's meal but alas, we were curious as to what a fancy-smancy-looking Thai place would produce. All other Thai places we had been in OC or anywhere in general were typically sparse in decor.


Drinks to start were their Thai iced tea (you MUST at any Thai place!) and a cocktail called "Frost in Bangkok Night Market." The Thai iced tea was just okay; the tall glass tried to deceive us about the quantity but anyone could see just how much ice was in there. Skimpy! As for my cocktail, I had wanted to see what a combination of Asian-centric ingredients in a cocktail would taste like; it had pandan leaves juice, vodka, Malibu, Midori, a drop of coconut milk, and jackfruit (as a garnish). What a silly mistake. Not only was the alcohol uncomfortably strong in taste but the pungent smell of coconut-milky jackfruit overrode any enjoyment. I'm glad my older brother helped out with downing the disaster.


For about $6, we ordered the Assorted Golden Fritters appetizer (crispy chicken and shrimp dumplings, blanketed shrimp, corn spring rolls, and sesame tofu with crushed peanut sweet chili dipping sauce). Deep-fried seems to be the way to go when eating with my brothers but it wasn't the best choice to start our appetite. They weren't bad - just okay. I think the one everyone liked most was the blanketed shrimp but that's a simple enough dish in itself. Anyone making that incorrectly would need a firm talking to.


My little brother's entree was the Tamarind Dish (by menu description: "a hot and zesty tamarind-chili sauce with sweet peppers, broccoli, scallions, and cilantro - meats are battered and deep-fried") with chicken for protein of choice and a side of included rice. Mine was the Bangkok Chicken Pumpkin Curry (Thai herbs and spices blended in roasted chili paste with kaffir lime leaves, simmered in coconut milk served with fresh Thai basil) with a side of included rice. Both came out lukewarm. No wonder it had taken so long to get to our table - it had probably been sitting on the counter for a while. His tasted like soggy orange chicken with no heat or zest and mediocre vegetables while mine, though it had a slight heat, was bland and wimpy.


The only redeeming dish of the night was my older brother's Room Service Pad Thai (sauteed glass vermicelli with shrimp, mixed seafood, mangoes, brown tofu, bean sprouts, scallions, and crushed peanuts, purple coconut milk beet sauce wrapped in an egg white crepe) which was explained on the menu to be their most popular dish and a much more traditional approach to the infamous dish. The glass vermicelli noodles were definitely a different take on what I was used to but worked out very well. Admittedly, it was also presented artfully and with a delightfully tangy flavor but in the end, we could tell that when this restaurant decided to put its money towards decor, it forgot to leave some for the food quality. This dish came out lukewarm too...

Photography by Minerva Thai.

1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023
Pricing - $$/$$$ | Dining - Dressy Casual, Dressy | Cuisine - French
www.jean-georges.com

If you're planning on going to Nougatine, don't circle around the Trump Tower a few times like I did as I tried to locate the restaurant based on my Google Maps directions. Pro tip: it's inside. I came to the restaurant as a result of Yelp friend Jordan S. as I was in town and wanted to meet up. When I had finally found the place and him, we stepped into the pre-function area in front of the hostesses and I felt a tad bit of unease. Why's that you say? I best describe it as a scene from a dystopian film where the service staff is straight-backed, clad in nondescript, stiff black uniforms, pale in complexion, and adorned with bright red lipstick except in this case, it wasn't a movie. I'm not saying they were unwelcoming but their low, dulcet tones made me suspicious of entering a sterile, conformist world.



I digress. Let's just say that there were much too many staffpersons with all the same distant (but still courteous) demeanor that made me wonder if this was the world of those upper-echelon diners. The ceiling-to-floor windows by which we sat allowed for an ample amount of photograph-friendly lighting (though whipping out a camera to snap shots of the food seemed a little faux pas) but deeper into the restaurant were some more dimly seating arrangements. I'd say the look was a tad minimalist with a hint of "What are you doing here if you aren't in a certain tax bracket?" Have I gotten across yet that I felt like I should be more elite in society than just a Yelp Elite?

Anyhow, if you take away that overhanging feeling, you come down to the food. My Google Calendar told me I was there for brunch with Jordan but feeling disinterested in the brunch options, I (and he) chose the $32 prix fixe three-course lunch. As compared to the other menu options, this was quite the deal. After putting our orders in, we sat with some slices of bread and I played briefly with my coat check number. The conversations around us made me conscious that I was here for a one-off meal instead of being a regular in their society. I find so much amusement in these situations though - it's fun to poke fun.


All of our food was brought out by two waiters (so much service right?), one of which explained the dishes while the other set them in the appropriate interaction in front of us. I say interaction because my starter was the butternut squash soup with Shiitake mushrooms and when the bowl was set in front of me with its artfully arranged microgreens and tiny cubes of mushrooms, I was surprised by the ruination inflicted upon the delicate fungal tower as one of the waiters poured a steaming flood of the butternut squash soup itself over it. I sadly missed my opportunity to photograph the beauty before the storm but alas, there was no forewarning. The soup itself was less creamy than I expected of a butternut squash soup and a tad too salty but I did quite enjoy the mushroom pieces and bright taste of the greens. Jordan's tuna tartare sat upon a bed of creamy avocado (floor level was a ginger marinade) and was topped by delicately sliced radish. I jabbed at the dish by calling it tuna on guac but it was merely in jest as the tartare was very fresh and soft, the avocado flavorful but not overbearing on the star of the show, the radish crisp, and the ginger marinade sweetly spiced. Curse the goodness.


The entrees came next of which mine was the crunchy baked organic chicken with glazed market carrots and his the cheeseburger with crispy onions, Russian dressing, and a side of fries. Again, a bougey meal is no fun unless you can cheerfully insult your atmosphere so my first remark on my chicken was that it was covered in cereal (see: Rice Krispies). I kid though - it was fantastic. The crunch on the chicken was phenomenal and the juiciness of the meat trapped beneath the crispy exterior made me wish I had had so much more on my plate. I did away with the chicken quickly and worked more mindfully at my glazed carrots but they, being excellent as well, were dispensed of in short time too. Jordan's cheeseburger did not bear the brunt of my bite but he did enjoy it well; unfortunately the French fries did not withstand the elite test seeing as we both found them too similar to fast food fries.


Desserts arrived in all the pomp and circumstance I'm sure was required. My sweet finish was their black mission fig financier with cinnamon ice cream, spiced almonds, and fig jam while his was Jean-Georges' warm chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream (way to make the dessert description as monotone as your waitstaff...). I was glad to have had the cinnamon ice cream to offset my dessert as it was sweeter than desirable; overall, a light end that closed off the meal well. The warm chocolate cake was airy but still heavy in flavor and the ice cream perfect. Overall the meal at Nougatine was a success and I'll definitely remember the juiciness of that chicken; maybe next time I'm around, I'll feel more comfortable there because hopefully by next time, I can afford to throw more money around, hah.

Photography by Minerva Thai.