odds and ends from nyc

With all the tastiness that was had in January, there isn't enough time to chronicle each meal.  Here's a mish mash of pictures taken over the course of the month with a few words about each.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Rooibos Glazed Ribs and stewed lamb in bread at Braai, a South African restaurant near the theater district.  It had the perfect ambiance, bustling but not crowded, and the dishes were delicious.  The flavors seemed like a mesh of Indian and soul food, so we weren't sure if the fact that it was South African lended anything unique to the taste, but thoroughly enjoyed the meal nonetheless.  It was here that I had Six Hats Sauvignon Blanc, a delicious wine with the start of a riesling and the finish of a sauv blanc.  Since then, I have been on a mad dash to find the wine in stores, to no success at present.

Roast Chicken at the Smith.  Juewon and I met a mash up of our friends at this large East Village location, and though Steph did not enjoy her pecan crusted fish, I very much liked the chicken and bites of Juewon's ribeye steak.  I found the drinks, however, to be overpriced for their size and unmemorable.

Just a few more photos from Jean Georges in case you didn't get enough from Juewon's post.  It was truly an amazing brunch and felt like an intellectual as well as a culinary experience.  Later on in the day, I would remember tastes from brunch and feel very satisfied with those memories.

Tuna carpaccio at Fig & Olive, meatpacking branch.  Juewon and I stopped by for a quick bite and found this to be very tasty.

I worked near a Bouchon and one day forced my co-intern to make a trip there with me.  The taste of this giant pistachio macaroon with a cup of earl grey was absolutely decadent.  It ended up being too much macaroon, but it was absolutely fantastic.

Curry seafood soup at Republic in Union Square.  It's a lively, fun location with a variety of different noodle dishes.  It wasn't overly soul-gratifying or life changing, but definitely very satisfying.  I would come here again.

On one chilly evening, Ana picked me up for a night of bratwurst and mashed potatoes in Long Island.  I usually find bratwurst too salty or chewy or something, but this was sweet, savory, and delicious.  The sauerkraut complemented it perfectly, and I found myself overly full but pining for more.

NYC and Jersey City are the only places I've had Vietnamese grilled chicken served with my pho.  I definitely missed it, and though I am glad to say that Cleveland's Superior Pho makes a better noodle soup, Manhattan's Pho Grand makes an excellent grilled chicken.  The smoothie pictured up top is an avocado smoothie, something everyone at the Jersey City Vietnamese place I used to go ordered.  It was less sweet at Pho Grand, but definitely grows on you.

And now the last night in NYC!  We met friends at Cubana Social in Williamsburg for one final meal.  The food was PHENOMENAL.  This gross flash picture will not convey that, but the flavors were rich and the textures were tender but still had body.  Drinks were also tasty.  Definitely come here!