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FoodMayhem
Written from New York City (mostly), FoodMayhem.com is all about... food! We love food: talking about food, writing about food, looking at food, taking pictures of food, making a blog about food, and, of course, eating food.
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You Gluttonous Bastard: Beefsteak!
2008-01-19 16:30:00
This just in from Steve...Apparently there was a long standing tradition in the hallowed streets of New York City called "Beefsteak". Wikipedia briefly describes it as:A celebratory dinner, commonly held in New York between about 1870 and 1940, stag until the 1920s, involving the consumption of enormous quantities of broiled steak and beer. Participants were permitted to eat only with their fingers; other dishes served as appetizers at beefsteaks included hamburgers, lamb chops, kidneys and occasionally baked potatoes.Around 2000, Beacon Restaurant Beacon Restaurant reinstated the tradition; this year, Beacon's 8th Annual Beefsteak seems to be already sold out at a slight increase from the original price of $5 per person to a 2008 price of $175 per person, which includes tax, tip, and a $30 donation to Green Chimney's Children Services.There's lots more to read about via Beacon's informational Beefsteak PDF, here's an excerpt:"ALL YOU CAN HOLD FOR FIVE BUCKS"Written by Joseph Mitchell, ...
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Black Napkins
2008-01-19 04:21:00
At dinner tonight, Lily and Eugene told us a story about how recently in Orlando, their real estate broker became somewhat offended when, at Houston's, she was not offered a black linen napkin, and was rather given a white napkin. Our friends found this quite odd, especially when the next day, at another restaurant, the host made it a point to give Lily a black napkin.Knowing that Jessica and I are into food, they asked us about the phenomenon. We hadn't heard of it, but I guessed it had to do with the fact that often white napkins leave white lint on your clothing, which, in fact, happened to me just today at lunch at Markt!Thinking that it may be a Southern thing, perhaps with etiquette, I called my sister and brother-in-law because (a) they know tons of trivia; and (b) Stephen is from Texas. They hadn't heard of it.But by the time I got home, Kasi had done a bit of research and found some interesting discussion about this at Savory Tidbits. Here's an excerpt (go read the whole t ...
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Basta Pasta
2008-01-19 03:47:00
I've walked by Basta Pasta Basta Pasta for years and just written it off because of it's name. I thought it would be some generic pasta place that just pumps out large portions of mediocre pasta dishes. In the last year or so, different people have mentioned how much they love Basta Pasta and I'm glad I finally gave them a shot. It was anything but generic and probably one of my favorite places now.The food is Italian but the service is Japanese. From the moment you're greeted, you notice the attention to detail that the Japanese are known for. The open kitchen is immaculate and you can feel the pride of the staff.As I waited for Lon and friends to show, I munched on a yummy Parmesan bread stick twist as I watched the interesting table side service of a pasta dish. The spaghetti is tossed around in a hole dug into a giant Parmesan wheel before being plated. We didn't order this dish so I'll have to get it next time. Not complaining though since I loved everything we did order: 3 appeti ...
Pasta
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Pipa
2008-01-18 03:07:00
Pipa Pipa is one of the four eateries in ABC Carpet and Home on Broadway. I've eaten there several times in the past and have found it a consistently enjoyable experience of Spanish fare.The decor includes heavy wood tables and chairs on the floor and many antiquated-looking, gaudy chandeliers (with price tags) on the ceiling. Oddly, with so many lights, the large room is always very dark, so much so that Loren and I struggled to read the menu with the flicker of our little table votive. We also struggled with what to order, since everything on the menu sounded delicious (it changes regularly, and the online version is not up-to-date)!We started with the Spanish Olives, a huge plate of Manzanilla, Arbequina, and Nicoise Olives. Then arrived our dish of perfectly sliced, slightly warm Chorizo. The slight heat allowed the smokey aroma of the paprika-spiced, cured sausage to rise to our noses. They tasted wonderful. Another minute or two later the waiter delivered a plate of Crispy Cal ...
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Baking Supplies with Bad Service
2008-01-17 18:35:00
I walked into New York Cake Supplies New York Cake Supplies yesterday since I was in the area. As I neared the back, I hear two customers on line (who did not know each other) start talking about how bad the service is at this store. Apparently they had been standing there for a while as the owner, sitting behind the register, just sat there casually having a conversation on the phone. The two women went on describing different bad experiences they had at the store, mostly about the owners terrible attitude. They both agreed that they would not come here if there was any other store they could go to but he does almost have a monopoly. I thought about it and it's true. There are stores like Broadway Panhandler and Williams Sonoma, with way better service, but they're not really baking stores. They are cooking stores with some baking stuff but not nearly as much as New York Cake Supplies. This allows them to keep up expensive prices too. Meanwhile, the store looks pretty old and crappy. ...
Service
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Beigel's Challah
2008-01-17 00:04:00
Buying Beigel's Challah from BJ's BJ's is the best bang-for-your-buck Challah. The 30 oz package that has 2 braided loaves is $3.79 when just 1 loaf often costs $4.50 to $6.50. It's a darn good challah too. Fluffy, yet chewy, with that beautiful golden sheen, fit to serve. I ate half a loaf as a snack last night around 11pm. I couldn't stop. I had some more today expecting it to taste a day old but it tastes exactly the same as it did yesterday. Love it! ...
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How to Open a Soda Can Without the Tab
2008-01-16 04:20:00
This just in from the Bowen clan...Have you ever had a can of soda (pop) that for some reason lost its pull tab? Well, here's a less than ideal way to get the can open, freeze it!I don't believe that was exactly the intent in this experiment, more likely just to chill the drink; but, as Bob Ross liked to say, this is just a happy little accident.Watch out for sharp edges. ...
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Ivo & Lulu
2008-01-15 14:35:00
I really wanted to like Ivo & Lulu Ivo & Lulu. They had great reviews and low prices, especially for organic produce and free range game. I tried so hard to like this far, out-of-the-way spot, but by the end of the night, I couldn't, and the other three girls didn't seem interested in coming back either.The Smoked Mussels appetizer was an exceptionally ugly dish, but still my favorite since it was the only dish that was well....pretty good. (I don't want to comment on the Grilled Avocado Stuffed with Spinach Mousse since avocado is one of the few things I do not enjoy eating.) Unfortunately, the rest of the meal ranged from poor execution to mediocre. I chose the Duck Breast which was completely cold and very tough, served with flavorless cous cous. There was a generous sprinkling of whole peppercorns on the slices of duck breast which I did not notice initially in the dimly lit room. So when I took my first bite, it was an unpleasant surprise for my teeth. Hilary ordered a Smo ...
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Lady Mendl's Tea Salon
2008-01-14 16:01:00
We held Angie's surprise birthday party at Lady Mendl's Tea Salon Lady Mendl's Tea Salon where the focus seems to be atmosphere and service more than food. They took care to accommodate the surprise and gave us a seat for one friend who would not be eating since she was ill and served her tea without charging extra. Tea was always poured for you and the decor was pretty Victorian style rooms with fresh flowers and dim lighting. Yet, food was really mediocre at best in taste and presentation.The first course was a simple salad of greens, cherry tomatoes, and a niblet of corn here and there. It was dressed in oil with a hint of vinegar. Maybe someone forgot to shake the jar? The next course was finger sandwiches. The curry chicken and goat cheese were on a multi-grain that was hard from being left out in open air too long. The cucumber sandwich had no flavor. I like the smoked salmon and the cranberry, smoked turkey, but they weren't special. After serving you one of each sandwich, they ...
Salon
Tea
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The Science of Spinach
2008-01-13 18:42:00
Do you ever get that funny feeling on your teeth after eating spinach? I had spinach last night and threw some of the left-overs in my lunch today and both times I noticed feeling like something was coating my teeth. I've noticed this before but never thought about it too much but today I felt like I wanted to know why. I looked it up and there is a scientific explanation for that funny feeling on your teeth after eating spinach. ...
Science
Spinach
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Ultra-Intense, Angry Food
2008-01-13 14:18:00
Anyone who has watched one of the many road-trip, food shows has heard of The Weiner's Circle, in Chicago The Weiner's Circle. What those TV shows do not show is just how intense the clerk fighting is. For New Yorkers, we think of local haunts like Peter Luger Steakhouse, where the waiters are complete jerks or Soup Kitchen International, made famous by "The Soup Nazi" episode of "Seinfeld". Well nothing NYC has to offer seems to touch what's happening in the windy city.If you've got the stomach for it, watch drunken idiots order from angry clerks, paid to be angry. This video is NSFW (not safe for work)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo1LPf9mnyU ...
Food
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Japanese Candy
2008-01-13 03:22:00
My childhood best friend, Yumiko, brought two kinds of candy from Japan for us. I love the Matcha Candy. It has the distinct flavor of Matcha Green Tea without being as sweet as American candy.The other candy (pack on the left) is really more for aesthetics. Can you see the detail of the little mice in the pink candy(peppermint flavored)? It's the year of the mouse/rat and the yellow candy has "2008" on it. The brown pieces (butterscotch flavored) have the Chinese symbol for "child" on it symbolizing that this is a New Year candy. It's really amazing how they can make candy with such detail. ...
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Vanessa's Dumplings
2008-01-12 15:23:00
I've mentioned Vanessa's Dumplings Vanessa's Dumplings before but I thought I'd give a more thorough review this time. We've ordered from Vanessa's Dumplings a couple of times and my evaluation is that they make certain things well and there are other items to stay away from. I'd steer away from seafood dumplings because they weren't so fresh but pork and chive dumplings are good, especially for the area. Their wontons are the best I've found that will deliver to us. I can't stand the over-sized wontons with doughy skins that are common outside of Chinatown. Yuck! But when ordering wontons, get the Shrimp, Pork and Watercress Wonton Soup because the soup and noodles in the Wonton Noodle Soup are kind of bland. The Sesame Pancake Sandwiches are pretty good and a really good value at under $3 each. The Beef Noodle Soup is an ok and cheap order also. Lon ordered a Spicy Tuna Roll with Shrimp and Avocado on top. While it's definitely not real sushi, it was a nice sized portion and fresh. I ...
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Calling All Chocolate Lovers!
2008-01-11 18:37:00
I had to share this recipe for a triple layered chocolate cake. Lon says it's the best chocolate cake I've ever made and I agree. My guests loved it and my friend Monica took some home to her parents and they loved it too. Many thanks to Sandy who posted this recipe!! I foresee using this as a birthday cake many many times.I did lower the amount of sugar in the frosting to 3 3/4 cups confectioner's sugar (which is one standard box) because I always do. Most frostings are too sweet for me and this adjustment was perfect. Trust me; it was still very sweet. I also recommend using Pam non-stick spray on the cake pans which lets the cakes out perfectly.Besides the fact that this cake has great flavor and an amazingly moist texture, I just love that each cake comes out so level so you don't have to cut and level the cake. There's no loose crumbs either, which makes it super easy to frost and you won't need a crumb layer. ...
Chocolate
Lovers
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I Love Baking Pans!
2008-01-10 17:58:00
While my goal is to eventually have every shape and size baking pan that exists, I don't yet. I often find baking recipes I want to try but don't have that pan shape/size. I'm sure that happens to a lot of people so I wanted to share this useful page with baking pan size conversions. ...
Love
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Russian Chinese Oxtail Soup
2008-01-09 15:46:00
Fusion food is so popular these days and yet I haven't seen any restaurant with Russian Chinese food. I know it exists too because a close family friend, that I call Grandma Olia, grew up on the border of China and Russia. She speaks Russian, Chinese, and English fluently.Grandma Olia is a second mother to my mom, and she taught her how to make this Russian Chinese Oxtail Soup. I enjoyed this soup frequently as a child and when I got sick this weekend, my mom brought over a whole pot of it. She knew it would make me feel better.Sadly, my mother doesn't have written recipes for anything, but this rustic soup is simple: oxtail, onions, carrots, celery, cabbage, canned beets, and a bit of canned tomatoes. ...
Soup
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When Second Chances Pay Off
2008-01-09 03:33:00
Quite a while back (perhaps over five years ago) I visited Salam Restaurant Salam Restaurant with some co-workers. The food can best be described as "Arabic" because the menu walks around the Middle Eastern region, looking for a home. There is Turkish, Moroccan, and Syrian dishes (plus others). We went for the basics: a few appetizers, grilled meats, and drinks. I left being wholly unimpressed, writing off the place as over-priced, average food with slow service. Fast forward from then to about a year ago, when Jessica started telling about a great restaurant with hearty food, perfect for winter. So last night when Jessica's close, childhood friend, Yumiko, was in town, we decided to check out the place. So off to Salam we went, and I was surprised when I realized it was the same place I had written off so many years ago.We sat in the back of the restaurant and started with some babaganonouj (baba ghanoush), warm pita (not freshly made), and some crisp bread (manakish) liberally c ...
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Love Rivals Mud?
2008-01-08 21:16:00
I've been seeing this new coffee truck lately, on the corner of 14th Street and Fifth Avenue. It looks like a knock-off of The Mud Truck, using similar colors, but it has a LOVE logo. According to some minimal online research, it's due to a split between the founders of Mud, so it's supposed to be the same coffee.I tried the regular coffee twice wanting desperately to like it because Mud was supposed to be good coffee (never tried it) and it's on my corner; but alas, the coffee tastes a bit burnt. Other than that, the prices are good and so is the service. A regular coffee costs $1 and they don't charge extra for steamed milk. The guy is friendly, fast, and serves with a smile.*side note: Starbucks coffee tastes burnt too and it's doing well also. Do New Yorkers just like burnt coffee? I'm disappointed people!! ...
Love
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New Yeah Shanghai
2008-01-08 13:58:00
We've blogged about New Yeah Shanghai New Yeah Shanghai Deluxe before, so I'll try to keep this one short and sweet, just wanted to share some pics this time.Their strong suit is really dumplings skins. The fresh handmade dough is perfectly chewy, not too thin and not too thick. We had Soup Dumplings (above, to the left), Pork and Chive Dumplings, and Vegetable Dumplings (right). I loved all three.Another dish we always order is the Crab, Sauteed with Minced Pork, Soy Beans, and Rice Cakes (shown left). This time the rice cakes were incredible.Fish Head Soup (shown right) is one of my favorite Shanghainese dishes.The flavor of the soup was rich, as it should be, and the tofu and mung bean noodle sheets are standard necessary ingredients. The size of the fish head was a bit smaller than what we've had at other restaurants though.My mother noticed a new dish posted on their board. Pork (with bone) wrapped in some sticky rice, then wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed. I thought it was ...
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Pizzeria Uno Closed, Welcome The Smith
2008-01-07 05:35:00
It seemed like Pizzeria Uno, on Third Avenue and 10th, had been there forever and would remain, even though, honestly, it was filthy. Well, we drove up Third Avenue this evening on our way back from Chinatown and I noticed that "The Smith" The Smith has replaced Uno. The menu (available on Eater as a PDF) looks a bit like a haphazard attempt at newish American bistro. The decor looks interesting, but until we stop by for dinner, we'll have to reserve opinion. ...
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Assorted Chocolates from Jacques Torres
2008-01-07 00:28:00
My friend Sara received a huge amount of Jacques Torres chocolate during the holidays and was sweet enough to share them with us. Lon and I are generally big fans of Jacques Torres. I've had cookies, hot chocolate, and other chocolate coated goodies, always a great treat. My friend Angie is a huge fan of the cookie mixes he sells and I love the atmosphere at the Hudson Street location. Jacques TorresWe're now half way through the box of assorted chocolates and are surprised to find that we're not impressed. The chocolates aren't bad, just not that good either, and definitely not worth $55 per box. We're also surprised at the lack of attention to detail. Several of the chocolates don't even match the pictures with the name and description. Either designs have blurred or just faded.While I wouldn't recommend this product, I still recommend checking out one of his stores. Lots of the stuff is really good. ...
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Dancing Deer Brownies
2008-01-06 04:36:00
Cheryl & Matt bought Kasi and Stephen some "Chocolate Chunk Brownies" from Dancing Deer Baking Co. Holy cow (err, deer) they're delicious!I'm not the biggest brownie fan, and find most fancy shmancy brands (like Fat Witch) passable at best. But I really enjoyed the bite of these brownies. They are very rich, but not too rich. The texture is perfectly dense with slight cakiness, with a few chunks of chocolate scattered about. And the flavor is just excellent.Jessica found the brownies mediocre, tasting too sweet and too fudge-like for her. This is where we disagree. I vote these as some of the best I've had (at least in recent memory). But looking at the purchase price of $19.50 for eight (plus shipping), I'm a bit stunned. I think I'll stick with homemade. ...
Brownies
Dancing
Deer
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Beautiful Food
2008-01-06 01:59:00
All of our senses come into play with food. When we cook we feel the texture and doneness of food with our hands. We use careful pressure to ensure that meatballs are pressed tightly enough and that dough is worked enough. As food cooks we listen carefully for key indicators, the sizzle of protein in a hot pan caramelizing or slowing sound of frying oil. We taste as we cook, ensuring seasoning and overall flavor. And, we smell every step of the process -- who doesn't enjoy a house that has the rich aromas of dinner and dessert? But of all the senses, the eye is most important as the food transitions from the kitchen to the dining room.Chefs do all they can in the last moments to make food beautiful. Garnishes, plate selection, food layout, even the dining setting all matter. One great name for the entire visual experience is "eating architecture", and there's an interesting book by the same name (here's more about the book). Then, it's the eyes of the diner that take over. Does it ...
Beautiful
Food
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Chestnuts, the Low Fat Nut
2008-01-05 17:15:00
My mom knew I was sad about not having chestnuts on Christmas Day so she brought me a huge bag of chestnuts last night. I cringed. I'm supposed to be on a diet now that the holidays are over and I have less than five months to my wedding. Plus, Lon doesn't eat chestnuts.Of course, I started eating some chestnuts last night after my family left. I tried the microwave method and did not like it. So last night I soaked some over night and now I'm boiling a batch (about 50 minutes depending on size). This is my favorite method because if you soak them, you don't have to cut a slit open, which keeps flavor locked in. If you don't have that much time, here are some other cooking methods.I decided to look up the chestnut nutrition facts to see how much damage I was doing. I always thought chestnuts were super high in fat but I just looked it up and they're actually pretty low in fat (1.6 grams in 4 ounces of cooked chestnut) compared to other nuts. Yay! They are still high in carbohydrates s ...
Fat
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Can I Re-write Your Menu?
2008-01-05 02:59:00
I had my family over for T-bone Steaks and sides and a Crustless Cranberry Pie for dessert. The recipe called it a pie but it's not really a pie since the definition of pie includes a crust or shell. It's one of my little peeves when foods are named incorrectly because the name sets expectations and part of the enjoyment of food comes from the meeting or exceeding of expectations. It's baked in a pie dish but the texture is more brownie-like. To be fare, this one is a little harder but I think something like, Cranberry Blondie would be more accurate. As for ratings, it was a hit with my brother and my dad but bombed with my mom and Lon. I was in the middle. It's definitely for someone who likes very tart flavors. ...
Menu
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Rice Krispy Treats for Adults
2008-01-03 22:19:00
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treats were a hit. I didn't write down an exact recipe but here's the gist. It's super easy.Make one standard recipe of Rice Krispy Treats and press it in to a 9x13 pan, sprayed with non-stick spray. I like to use wax paper sprayed with non-stick to help me press in the sticky treat evenly. Let it cool for a few minutes. Then, I spread a thin layer of peanut butter (microwave it to make it more spreadable) and let it cool again. Then make another batch of standard recipe Rice Krispy Treats and press on top. Let it cool for a few hours.Turn out onto a board or clean surface. The treats should come out of the pan very easily. Melt chocolate (I used Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate) over a double boiler and drizzle on top of the Rice Krispy Treats. Let it cool until chocolate solidifies. Cut into square or shapes and serve.Notice that there is no additional sugar added to the peanut butter and the chocolate I used was less sweet. That gives the Rice Kri ...
Adults
Rice
Treats
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Obsessed with Honey Mustard Pretzels
2008-01-02 23:42:00
Just when I thought I could give up processed food (that was almost my New Year's resolution), Lon buys these Honey Mustard Pretzels. I love them! I've been eating them and now I realize, I'm allergic!! It contains Yellow #5. No wonder I've been itchy.Isn't mustard already yellow? I really don't think people would care either if it was brown looking, like a pretzel? So, FritoLay company, can you stop using the artificial coloring? ...
Honey
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Foods That Keep You Warm
2008-01-02 16:33:00
We're not talking hot chocolate. Apparently, milk, eggs, cheese, spicy seasonings, tofu, and sweet potatoes can all help you feel warmer in different ways. Since, we're hitting temperatures below freezing, you may want to read the full article in China Daily. ...
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FoodMayhem's New Year's Resolution
2008-01-02 03:54:00
To ring in the new year, we're adding a new feature on FoodMayhem: Twitter! Now we can share everything we eat with you, even when we're not near a computer. Look for the section called "Recent Eats" on the right side. Thanks to Martin for the great idea!! ...
New Year
Resolution
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Mishima
2007-12-31 16:50:00
Mishima Mishima is a good neighborhood sushi staple if you live in the neighborhood. They have fresh fish for reasonable prices and a clean atmosphere. Everyone was pleased with the appetizers, one of nicely cooked grilled squid, and one of spicy scallop tartar. My sushi sashimi combo came in a generous portion although one or two pieces were a bit tendonous. In the end, there's nothing special enough to travel for but I would probably go occasionally if I lived nearby. ...
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