Eater's Digest: Summer 2013

Clearing out the rest of my notes…


Grilled Lemongrass Short Rib Banh Mi Sandwich (Bunker, QNS)
with shiso, peanuts, pickled vegetable, mayo, cilantro, jalapeno, sriracha, and crab chips

Bunker is a Vietnamese restaurant located in the middle of nowhere. You can't go wrong with anything on its menu.

This appetizer is particularly delectable:


Traditional Banh Xeo (Bunker, QNS)
crispy vietnamese crepe, shrimp, bacon, egg, bean sprouts, lettuce


Num Pang is a Cambodian sandwich shop chain. You can't go wrong with anything on its menu either.

This sandwich is my favourite:


Roasted Chicken 'Chimi' Sandwich (Num Pang, NYC)
pickled apple, chili yogurt "mayo"

That the chicken is dark meat is one reason why.



Guacamole "Nam Prik Num" (Xixa, BKN)
avocado, roasted tomato, poblano, puffed rice, jicama, carrot

Oof. I should've looked up what "nam prik num" is (a Thai chile dip) before ordering this guac. It was a struggle to finish, chock-full of poblano, and injected with fish sauce and palm sugar, with no chips (or not enough puffed rice) to offset its gnarly flavour and texture. It's like a crudité from hell.

Two far more successful spins on Mexican food:


"Steak Tacos" (Xixa, BKN)
chilmole tortillas, roasted bone marrow, steak tartare, pepper marmalade

Corn Flan "Tamale" (Xixa, BKN)
blue crab, poblano-garlic cream, bell pepper


Jon's Current New York City Mexican Chip-Food Leaderboard

Chips
1. Empellón Taqueria, NYC
2. Taqueria Tlaxcalli, BRX
3. Mesa Coyoacán, BKN

Guacamole
Mesa Azteca, BKN

Nachos
Professor Thom's, NYC

Mesa Coyoacán also makes a mean steak quesadilla.


Middling curiosities:


Kimchee Carbonara (King Noodle, BKN)
bacon, doritos

Mapo Tofu Chili Cheese Fries (King Noodle, BKN)
american cheese


Pablo Escobar Hot Dog (Los Perros Locos, NYC)
salsa de piña, apple chipotle slaw, potato chips, kewpie mayo, dusting of "perico"


Popcorn Pudding (Sugar Freak, QNS)


Kugel Double Down (Scharf and Zoyer, BKN)
maple farmer's cheese, fried shallots, orange/apricot preserves



Shrimp n Grits (The Shady Lady, QNS)
andouille sausage, crispy hominy grits

The grits, as you can see, are curiously served as a crisp-on-the-outside rectangular block.

It reminded me of Chinese food.



Scuttlebutt Sandwich (Saltie, BKN)
hard-boiled egg, feta, capers, black olive, pickled vegetables, pimenton aioli

On paper, this vegetarian sandwich seems horrid, but it works!


Gold Stars

Eggplant Dip (The Dutch, NYC)

Pimento Cheese (Boxing Room, SF)

Lamburger (Landhaus, BKN)
custom blend of grass-fed lamb and pork fat-back, whipped sheep's milk feta, house-made harissa, grilled onions, and cilantro, on napoli bakery roll

Crispy Lamb Sandwich (Fritzl's Lunch Box, BKN)
yogurt, pickled beets, and onions, with spicy cilantro relish, on flatbread

Pollo Asado Taco (Los Tacos No. 1, NYC)

Jerk Chicken (Exquisite Delight, BKN)
Festival (Exquisite Delight, BKN)

#eatersdigest

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