Fried Home-Style Potatoes (assuming your home is Russia)

Another savory recipe from my Belarussian roommate!  Natalya had taken me and several friends to the famed Tatiana restaurant located in Brighton Beach.  This glitzy Russian palace/night club features a dining experience unlike any other.  From the tome of a menu to the constant flow of vodka to the crazy production that is the weekend … Continue reading

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, NYC

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Cuisine: American Traditional, Barbeque Neighborhood: Harlem Price: $30 per person including several rounds of drinks Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is just one of those places that should be one every New Yorker’s bucket list.  My friends and I used to go on BBQ tours around the city, and Dinosaur is one of my top favorite … Continue reading

Russian Salad (Salat)

Another recipe contribution from my Belarussian roomie – Russian salad or salat!  To stick with the whole Russian theme, this salad is a great complement to Holodnik (Russian cold soup).  Furthermore, because the majority of the ingredients are the same, it is very convenient to make both dishes at the same time for an overall … Continue reading

Shrimp and Tofu Pad Thai

Just like with my Thai Green Curry, I went the lazy route by using prepared Pad Thai sauce from the store. The sauce for Pad Thai is much easier to replicate as it requires considerably less ingredients than curry paste.  Most sauces call for some combination of tamarind, sugar, fish sauce, vinegar, tomato paste and … Continue reading

Chinese-Style Steamed Fish

Chinese-style steamed fish is an incredibly simple and healthy dish that is a great alternative to greasier, fried dishes that tend to predominate Chinese restaurant menus.  When my mom came to visit me in NYC, I asked her to show me how to properly steam a fish, including the process of selecting a fish in … Continue reading

Guacamole

My flatmate and I are addicted to guacamole.  It is always our go-to snack, whether it is while we are lazying around on an weekend afternoon or stumbling in at 2am and looking to satisfy the munchies.  And for some reason, we are always motivated to make it ourselves – I don’t think I have … Continue reading

Bohemian, NYC

Bohemian Chef: Kiyo Shinoki Cuisine: Japanese, French, American Nouveau Neighborhood: NoHo Price: $70-80 average per person for food + drinks Attire: Casual **Latest visit: Feb 11, 2011** Yay, new menu items!  It’s getting even more global eclectic with some Spanish tapas-esque influences.  Plus, a fully amazing cocktail list — woohoo for the liquor license! Bohemian, self-dubbed … Continue reading

Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes

Red Velvet cupcakes seems to be all the rage now with super cute and yummy bakeries like Sprinkles Cupcakes around. Last February I made these cupcakes for BF & BFF on Valentine’s day. I got this awesome recipe from pinch my salt . Instead of regular cupcakes I made  them mini-sized for added cuteness. Red Velvet … Continue reading

Thai Green Chicken Curry

Thai curry is an incredibly simple dish to make, assuming you use pre-made curry paste from the store rather than making your own.  Even making your own curry paste is not so difficult, but the multitude of hard-to-find herbs and spices you need to grind up for just a teensy portion was enough inclination for … Continue reading

per se, NYC

per se Chef: Thomas Keller Chef de Cuisine: Eli Kaimeh Cuisine: American Nouveau, French Neighborhood: Midtown West Price: $275 tasting menu (service included) + drinks Attire: Formal, jacket required It had always been a dream of mine to pass through those blue doors (which I discovered to be nonfunctional) and enjoy the culinary crafting of … Continue reading