Gastronomy Blog by Cathy Chaplin

Restaurant Review

31 Jul 2011

53rd and 6th Halal Cart – New York City

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It was a gamble seeking out “street meat” for dinner the night before my brother’s wedding. There was a slim but real chance that the platters of sauce drenched meat would wreck havoc on our systems, rendering me a useless bridesmaid and my mom a less-than-cheery mother of the groom. Still, we had to take a chance on this New York City classic. The smells emanating from the flat top grills had us primed and ready.

There was a sizable line stretching down the street when The Astronomer, my mom, and I arrived on the scene. With multiple carts claiming to be the real Halal Guys occupying the four-way intersection, I had to text the guru of street meat to confirm the coordinates. The real deal is found on the southwest corner of 53rd and 6th after 6 PM. Thanks for helping a tourist out, Zach!

Before serving the hungry crowd, The Halal guys spent a solid thirty minutes grilling pita breads and mincing chicken and lamb. Lots of preparation was required in order to survive the long night of service ahead.

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Now Closed

28 Jul 2011

Má Pêche – New York City

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Every time I visit New York City, I try to squeeze in a meal at a cutting-edge Vietnamese restaurant. It brings me great pleasure to experience the cuisine I grew up on in fresh and innovative ways, even if it means dropping more change than usual.

On our previous visit to the city, The Astronomer and I lunched on the most delectable banh mi at Chef Angelo Sosa’s Xie Xie. We were hoping to experience the same kind of Midtown magic at Má Pêche, the latest restaurant in Chef David Chang’s Momofuku empire.

Opened in 2010, Má Pêche is located in the basement of the Chambers Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The windowless room is minimally appointed and feels something like a sterile cave. Here, Tien Ho, the former chef at Momofuku Ssäm Bar, dishes up his brand of French-Vietnamese cooking.

While I wanted to try the restaurant’s upscale rendition of bo bay mon (beef seven ways), which is priced at $450 for parties of four to eight, my dining companions weren’t up for throwing down a Benjamin for the experience. So, we came here for lunch instead.

Every table was outfitted with menus, napkins, chopsticks, a squeeze bottle filled with Sriracha, and Maggi seasoning sauce. If you haven’t experienced the umami bomb that is Maggi, you must get your hands on a bottle. It tastes like a dream atop sunny side up eggs.

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Restaurant Review

26 Jul 2011

Dough – Brooklyn

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Following our lunch of Caribbean-style chicken wings in Crown Heights, we hopped into Kara’s ride and drove to Clinton Hill for dessert at Dough. Gourmet doughnuts are taking their sweet little time coming to Los Angeles, so I try to seek them out wherever they are to be found, even in unknown parts of faraway boroughs.

Dough is owned by Chef Fany Gerson, a Mexico City native who studied at the Culinary Institute of America. She has worked in notable kitchens around the world including Akelarre in San Sebastian and Eleven Madison Park in New York City. Dough first came across my radar via an inspiring video produced by Food Curated.

Prior to opening Dough in 2010, Chef Gerson worked tirelessly to perfect the mother dough. She desired a larger-than-average doughnut that was crisp on the outside and light on the inside. After months of trials and tweaks, she finally arrived upon her ideal specimen.

Dough offers a diverse selection of flavors fit for traditionalists and adventurists. There are plain glazed and cinnamon sugar for mild mannered folks, as well as hibiscus and Earl Grey for those seeking a little more flare. Best of all, the doughnuts are made fresh throughout the day to ensure that every customer receives a superior product.

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