Oatmeal CookieBlog

Grub Club: Our Favorite Place and Drinks Fit for Hagrid

On Monday, Pam, In-Young, and I had a bittersweet Grub Club gathering. This was the last time--for a while at least--that we'll be able to meet up and chow down. You see, I'm leaving New York. (I know...cue the sappy Daughtry song.) And we won't be able to get together like we used to. But don't worry...I plan on making lots of return visits! So, where to go? Longtime readers know that Village Yokocho will always be our go-to spot for spicy tuna and takoyaki, or fried octopus balls. Oh, the fun we've had and the food we've eaten. I'm really, really going to miss you guys.

We topped off the night with fancy drinks at Angel's Share, a snazzy cocktail bar right behind Yokocho. I started off with a Serenity. (Because who couldn't use some of that in life?) The "dash of dragon tears" got me hook, line, and sinker.

Grub Club: Pizza Before Beer, Always in the Clear

It seems like forever since our last Grub Club outing, but Pam, In-Young, and I were finally able to get together last night for some beer, pizza, and rooftop fun.

It may have felt like 150% humidity last night and that there would be a downpour at any moment, but--thankfully--the rain held out for us.

In-Young's wanted us to try Honey Moon Summer Ale for a while, and we got our chance. It was good! I know I had more than my fair share. And that's coming from someone who thinks all alcohol pretty much tastes the same: like booze.

We ordered the pizza from Brick Oven Pizza 33, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. (Though all my pizza love will always belong to BR's in Halifax, Massachusetts.) Mmmm...thin crust.

Grub Club: Day of Doughnuts...and Drag

New York had its first sunny, dry Saturday in what must have been over a month. And to celebrate, Pam and I took to the streets of the Lower East Side to soak up some vitamin D and to stuff our faces at Doughnut Plant.

1) Tres leches doughnut. How do they get that delicious cream filling in there? 2) Crème brûlée doughnut. Itty-bitty but so worth it. 3) Cinnamon roll. It was calling my name.

We topped off the day at the Kraine Theater for Thank You For Being a Friend, an all-drag Golden Girls parody/tribute. Doughnuts, friends, laughs, and sunshine. Could it get any better?

Grub Club: Rainy Recession Special

The Grub Club is always on the lookout for good cheap eats. Last night, Pam and I stopped by Vanessa's Dumplings for the ultimate in economical edibles. (I found this place through the NY Recession Specials blog.) Six dumplings for $1.29! We had to check it out. Nothing chases away the rainy Wednesday blahs like a steaming hot plate of pennies-per-piece pork products.

1) Green tea smoothie with tapioca pearls. 2) Fried pork and scallion dumplings. 3) Wonton and noodle soup. 4) Boiled pork and scallion dumplings and a sesame pancake sandwich.

So cheap for so much food. I'm still stuffed.

Grub Club: Rooftop Rummikub Rainout

The Grub Club's plans for a rooftop repast were rained out last night, so In-Young and I headed down to Pam's place for some wine, snacks, and a friendly game of Rummikub. (Well...friendly for me because I won all three rounds. What can I say? Beginner's luck.)

It wouldn't be the Grub Club without some food, and it wouldn't be game night without junk food, so we had the best of the bad stuff. Come on now...admit it! Who doesn't love a Ritz topped with a spritz of Easy Cheese? You know you do. :-)

1) The spread. We also had the linguica rolls I brought home from Mumma's. 2) Ritz and Easy Cheese. 3) Taking it upscale: Ritz, Easy Cheese, and salami. 4) Mini-cupcakes. Because you've got to balance the salty with the sweet. 5) Kicking butt at Rummikub.

Grub Club: My First Falafel

On Monday, the Grub Club headed to the West Village for some Middle Eastern food at Taïm.

The place was wasn't just crowded, it was nuts! The line spilled out the door, onto the sidewalk, and into the street. I guess being featured on Food Network's Throwdown and handily beating Bobby Flay in a falafal-making contest will do that to your business. Good on them!

So, after braving the hungry horde, Pam, In-Young, and I retreated to my roof to eat our falafel--my first!--in peace. I'll definitely be heading back for more...but I'm not even gonna try going back during the dinner rush.

Grub Club: Red Egg Is a Good Egg

Last week, Pam and I met up for some nibbles and happy hour at Red Egg.The food--and the company--were excellent. We ordered a selection of finger foods and dumplings from the dim sum-inspired menu.

1) Steamed pork buns. 2) Crispy shrimp rolls. 3) Sui mai--shrimp, pork, and mushroom dumplings. 4) Beef balls.

Sorry some of these pics are blurry. All the steam fogged up my lens!

Grub Club: When in Doubt, Yokocho

In-Young and I met up with our old work buddy Liz for some cheap eats in the East Village Tuesday night. The original plan was to try some shabu shabu, which I've never had. I was really looking forward to something new. But, alas, the shabu shabu place was out of business.

This isn't the first time a Grub Club destination had closed before we could try it. About a month or so ago, In-Young, Pam, and I thought we were going to have our burger jones cured with a stop at Sassy's Sliders. Not so fast, buckaroos. Sassy's was shuttered.

So...What do you do when your dinner destination disappears? Go to your old standby. And for me--and the rest of the Grub Club--that means Village Yokocho.

Longtime readers are probably tired of seeing these dishes over and over, but I just can't get enough! 1) Spicy tuna. 2) Fried octopus balls.

Grub Club: Lox and Lemonheads, Brunch of Champions

On Monday, Pam and I finished off the long weekend with a walk and, of course, some vittles.

First stop: Schiller's for brunch. 1) Scrambled eggs with lox for Pam. 2) Plain old scrambled eggs for me.

Then to Economy Candy for some sweets. You can find anything here--including candy cigarettes. I picked up a big box of one of my favorites: Lemonheads.

Grub Club: Pork Buns to Go

Pam and I traded one city for another this weekend. On Friday, we took the bus from New York to Boston to spend time with our respective families. Sometimes a change of scenery is just what the doctor orders.

Lucky for me, the doctor also orders you to eat, and Pam came through with some pork buns to nibble during the ride.Thanks, Pam!

I stayed with my brother and sister-in-law in Boston, so I didn't make it down to Mumma's during this trip. But the next time I do, I'm totally bringing back some linguica rolls to share with the Grub Club.

Grub Club: Wicked Cheap 'Wichcraft

For this week's Grub Club outing, Pam, In-Young, and I stopped by 'Wichcraft and took full advantage of a 2-for-$0 coupon Pam had. Yes. You read that right: two dishes and two drinks for free. It ended up costing $6.50 for the three of us. Talk about a recession special!

1) Smoked ham and gruyere with bechamele and mustard. 2) Marinated eggplant with goat cheese and olive tapanade. 3) Meatballs with garlic bread.

We supplemented our dinner with some leftover (Dark) Chocolate Lemon in the Coconut Cookies I had in the freezer and a bottle of wine we enjoyed on the roof. Good (cheap) times!

Grub Club: Kimchi in K-Town

The Grub Club convened this week at Seoul Garden in Koreatown. This was my first Korean meal, so In-Young really helped me navigate the menu. I like spicy, but did I want spicy? Well, maybe not too spicy.

This was also my first time trying kimchi, or spicy pickled cabbage, the national dish of Korea. Pam and In-Young watched closely as I took my first bite. I kind of felt like Mikey from that old Life cereal commercial, but guess what? I liked kimchi! I really liked it and the rest of my meal. I was so full that I had pass up dessert. (There just wasn't any room left for tangomonium fro-yo from the Red Mango across the street.) I think Grub Club will definitely be coming back here for more!

1) Pre-dinner nibbles/Korean tapas: elbow macaroni salad, kimchi, beans, vegetables, bean sprouts, and fish cakes. 2) Beef spareribs.

4) In-young breaking an egg into her bowl of boiling-hot soup. 5) Pam's pot of beef, vegetables, and noodles topped with an egg. 5) My spicy beef soup with vegetables and noodles.

Grub Club: 13th Street Eats

For dinner on Thursday night, and to send In-Young off to her Icelandic vacation in true Grub Club style, Pam, In-Young, and I met up at Spain for tasty tapas and wine. The place is a little divey, but it's the kind of neighborhood fixture you like to be a little rough around the edges. It just wouldn't be the same with a new coat of paint on the walls. We had a great time. Even the ancient, surly waiter--Señor Grumpypants, as Pam calls him--was on his best behavior and kept the plates of meatballs coming. All I have to say is that the meatballs at Spain fall mainly into my belly.

1) Mmmmmeatballs. 2) Spicy potato fries/chips. 3) Torta topped with hot sauce.

After filling up at Spain, we headed east on 13th Street to Momofuku for dessert.

1) Jelly doughnut soft-serve. 2) Chocolate doughnut soft-serve. 3) In-Young having a doughnut-flavored ice cream and cereal-flavored milk shake.

Grub Club: Arepas Near Avenue A

On Tuesday night, Pam and I braved the rain to have some Throwdown-winning arepas at the Caracas Arepa Bar in the East Village. What's an arepa? It's a South American pocket sandwich made with grilled cornmeal cakes. They're crispy/chewy on the outside and soft/spongy on the inside, and they're stuffed with amazing stuff. One is good for a snack, but two are perfect for a meal.

1) De Pabellón: shredded beef, black beans, salty white cheese, and sweet plantains. 2) Los Muchachos: grilled chorizo, spicy white cheese, jalapeños, and sauteed peppers. 3) La Playera: shredded white fish, onions, peppers, and herbs. 4) La Mulata: grilled white cheese, jalapeños, sautéed red peppers, fried sweet plantains, and black beans.

Then we headed up to Momofuku for some dessert...because you need to counter something spicy with something sweet, right?

A shake made with doughnut-flavored ice cream and cereal-flavored milk fit the bill perfectly. It was absolutely delicious.

Grub Club: Burger Hunting on the Upper East Side

On Sunday, Pam, In-Young, and I planned to chow down on some mini hamburgers at Sassy's Sliders on 86th Street, but the place was double-O B: out 'o business. (Even if their site is still up.) Rats. Foiled again!

Still in search of our quarry, we headed south to The Burger One, a hole-in-the-wall greasy spoon with barely enough space for a few stools and a narrow countertop. The food was pretty good...and cheap!

1) My chipotle cheeseburger. 2) In-Young's (sad-looking) ham sandwich. 3) Pam's cheeseburger.

After lunch, we headed up to Central Park for a much-needed walk...and some time spent sitting on a bench in the sun.

Grub Club: Cheap Eats for a Rainy Thursday

For this week's Grub Club meeting, Pam, In-Young, Jon, and I headed over to Village Yokocho, one of our favorite places for value vittles.

1) My favorite: spicy tuna. 2) Fried octopus balls.

3) Grilled rice balls filled with cod roe. 4) Fried squid legs. 5) Green tea ice cream.

Grub Club: Sloppy Joes and Tater Tots

Pam hosted the Grub Club at her place on Saturday night and made a classed-up version of a school cafeteria favorite: sloppy joes and tater tots. And for a Ditch Plains effect, we also had hot dogs.

Thanks, Pam! Tyler Florence's recipe was a winner. And thanks, In-Young, for these great pics!

Jon and I couldn't bake a cake as tasty as the one Pam and In-Young made for Grub Club last week, so we picked up a strawberry shortcake. And, to make sure we all slipped into a food coma, we took a short walk to Rice to Riches for some rice pudding.

Grub Club: Savory and Sweet at Home

On Saturday night, Pam and In-Young came over to our place for the the Grub Club's first at-home meal.

I made eggplant parmesan, and Pam and In-Young made an awesome cake with a butter-Fluff frosting topped with chocolate meringue cookies. The perfect savory start and sweet ending!

I had three slices of cake on Saturday night and then polished off most of what was left on Sunday. So good! Thanks, Pam and In-Young. And thanks for reminding me of my Fluffernutter Cookie recipe. It's one that I haven't posted but will soon.

Fluffernutter sandwiches--peanut butter and Marshmallow Fluff on white bread--are probably one of the junkiest things you can eat. But they taste so good! They are (or were?) a lunchbox staple in elementary school cafeterias across Massachusetts, so it's possible a lot of you out there--including Jon and In-Young--have never heard of these tasty little guys. Stay tuned for the cookie version.

Grub Club: The Neon Lights Are Bright...on 23rd Street

For the latest installment of the Grub Club, Pam, Jon, and I ate beneath the glow of neon lights at Francisco's Centro Vasco, another of Chelsea's Spanish restaurants. The food was good, but I think it's safe to say that Spain's delicious meatballs and spicy, vinegary fries make it tops in our book.

1) Salad for the table. 2) Veal in wine sauce with Spanish fries. 3) Paella. 4) Lobster in green sauce.

Oh...make sure you get there early. There was a line out the door to get in when we left.

Grub Club: Dinner and a Couple Movies II

For this weekend's edition of Grub Club, Pam and I took in a double feature of Gold Diggers of 1933 and Footlight Parade as part of the Breadlines & Champagne series of Depression-era movies at the Film Forum. There's nothing like a few ditzy comedies about a bad economy to keep you smiling.

Then we met up with Jon at Ditch Plains for some post-movie eats.

1) Combo plate: a "sloppy dog" topped with sloppy joe meat and a "ditch dog" topped with mac 'n cheese. 2) Macaroni 'n cheese. 3) Rice Krispies treats.

Grub Club: Candlelight at Crispo

To celebrate In-Young's return to NYC and the finale of Top Chef (poor Carla!), the Grub Club convened at Crispo for some pre-Bravo TV vittles.

I think I like the little nibbles/tapas at Crispo even better than the main dishes. 1) Hot peppers stuffed with meat and cheese (my personal favorite). 2) Assorted olives. 3) Arancini, or fried risotto balls, and bruschetta with cheese and roasted peppers.

1) Jon's carbonara, with the soft-poached egg and everything. 2) My tortellini en brodo. Growing up, tortellini in chicken broth was one of my favorite foods. (My family and I call tortellini tootalings.) 3) In-Young's spaghetti and meatballs. 3) Pam's octopus salad.

Grub Club: And the Oscar Goes to...Take Out!

For Sunday's installment of the Grub Club, Pam came over to watch the Oscars. Lucky for Jon and me, she brought some macarons (yes,that is spelled correctly) from Madeleine Patisserie. And lucky for Pam and me, Jon picked up dinner from Spain.

1) Chicken and rice (arroz con pollo), meatballs, and spicy potatoes. 2) A tasty--and tastefully arranged--selection of macarons.

I got my fill early of Hugh Jackman confusing the Oscars for the Tonys, but I'll never get my fill of tasty niblets from Spain. Or of those macarons...so good. My favorites were the strawberry and cinnamon and ginger. With such nifty flavors as lavender nougat, caramel and fleur de sel, strawberry-cranberry, and white Russian, we'll definitely be picking up some of these guys soon.(Hmmm...maybe Madeleine Patisserie could be our neighborhood's version of Doughnut Plant.)

Grub Club: Salty Snacks at Saint's Alp

For this week's edition of Grub Club, Pam, Jon, and I headed over to Saint's Alp Teahouse. We've been here quite a few times for bubble tea and post-Yokoch snacks, but this is the first time we've had a full dinner. The food was on the salty side, but it was a nice change of pace and venue. My favorites were the toast with condensed milk and my grapefruit/green tea drink with tapioca balls. The beef soup with rice noodles was pretty good too.

1) Dumplings, chicken wings, and tea eggs. 2) Fried Cuttlefish balls (with salt on the side!?). 3) Fried chicken chunks. 4) Toast with condensed milk.

Grub Club: Dinner and a Couple Movies

For this weekend's edition of Grub Club, Pam, Jon, and I took in a double feature of My Man Godfrey and Easy Living as part of the Breadlines & Champagne series of Depression-era movies at the Film Forum. There's nothing like a few screwball comedies about a bad economy to keep you smiling.

Then we headed around the corner for a late lunch/early dinner at Mr. Dennehy's.

1) Sliders. 2) Buffalo chicken wrap. 3) French onion soup. 4) Shepherd's pie. The food was good, but--as always--the company was even better.

Grub Club: Kiss My Grits!

Pam, my fellow Grub Clubber, and I met up at The Pink Tea Cup in the West Village for a Southern-inspired brunch. It's a good thing it was close to 60° today. We really needed a walk after polishing off our platters loaded with bacon, home fries, and grits. Yes...grits. In New York City! Mmm...I like grits.

Grub Club: East Meets West Meets East Village

For this week's Grub Club outing, Pam, In-Young, Jon, and I met up at Kenka, a Japanese tapas bar, or izakaya, in the East Village. Great food and prices, crazy art and menu items, and cotton candy. Could it get any better?

1) Tako wasabi: raw, salted octopus with wasabi. 2) Yakatori: grilled chicken and scallion skewers. The octopus was salty, spicy, and chewy--a really good bar snack.

3) Niku udon: beef soup with udon noodles. 4) Taiwan ramen: spicy pork soup with ramen noodles and Chinese chives. 5) Buta no kakuni: stewed pork in broth. The soup and stewed pork were the answer for a freezing NYC night. (I guess the big bottle of sake didn't hurt.)

6) Miso yakionigiri: grilled rice balls with miso paste. 7) Dessert: do-it-yourself cotton candy. I think I got as many candy threads on my face, beard, and hat as I did on the chopstick. (I had to crop and smoosh the pic on the right to fit the grid. I'm not that wide...really, I'm not!)

After Kenka, we went around the corner to Cha-An for some post-dinner tea and nibbles. This place is so cozy and relaxing--the perfect way to end the night. 8) Tea (duh!). 9) Black sesame brulee. I love this stuff. (Black sesame has a peanut buttery flavor. Hmm...maybe I should do a black sesame cookie.)

Grub Club: Hitting the Mark on St. Marks

The Grub Club became the Brunch Bunch! On Sunday, we headed over to Café Orlin on St. Marks Place for some tasty East Village vittles.

1) Pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon yogurt. 2) Millet pancakes with a beet salad and chicken sausages. 3) Tomato and goat cheese omelet and potato salad.

The pumpkin pancakes were tasty and substantial. But the star of the meal was the millet pancakes...so light, buttery, and tasty! Whodathunk millet could taste so good?

Grub Club: Hot Diggity Dogs at Ditch Plains

Pam called on Saturday afternoon to see if the Grub Club was up for some nibbles at Ditch Plains. "Sure!" I said, chuckling because I thought she said "Bitch Plains." (Who'd name a restaurant that?)

1) Naked hot dogs. 2) "Ditch dogs": hot dogs topped with...mac 'n cheese(!).

3) "Sloppy dogs": hot dogs topped with chili sloppy joe meat. 4) Ricotta and smoked mozzarella fritters. 5) S'mores.

Grub Club: Dinner at a Pub...Rub-a-Dub-Dub

OK, I know. I'm taking the whole rhyming thing a little too far with this post's title, but this week's Grub Club meeting at Finnegan's Wake Pub, named after a book that, as an English major, I'm sure I should have read at some point, got me in a literary--or at least alliterative--mood.

This past Tuesday night, In-Young, Pam, Jon, and I met all the way up in the undiscovered country of...the Upper East Side. (Just kidding, IY!) For some good, cheap stick-to-your-ribs pub food.

1) In-Young's shepherd's pie. 2) Pam's bangers and mash.

3) Jon's open-faced turkey sandwich. 4) Greg's bacon cheeseburger. 5) Dessert: tartufo, which is pub-speak for chocolate and vanilla ice cream (and a few maraschino cherries) coated in a hard chocolate crust. In other words, as Pam pointed out, it's a hoodsie cup on on a plate.

Grub Club: Around the Corner at Corner Bistro

For this week's Grub Club outing, Jon, Pam, In-Young, and I headed to Corner Bistro, a super-crowded dive bar/burger joint in the West Village. (Only in the West Village could West 4th Street be a block north of West 12th Street, but I digress.) This the place to go if you're in the mood to stand in line for burgers, brewskis (or Diet Cokes), and bar music. Paper plates? This is my kind of place!

The burgers were good, but the company was even better. After nibbles, we headed up to Art Bar, for drinks and Morrissey. Nothing like the jukebox way-back machine to instantly transport you to the summer of 1991. NB: don't order a Rob Roy unless you want booze. I'm just sayin'...

Grub Club: Hangin' Out at Hagi

On Tuesday night, the Grub Club met at Hagi, a Japanese saki/tapas bar between Times Square and Radio City Music Hall. It's a good thing we got there early because there was a line out the door when we left. The food was good (and cheap), but the company was even better. And I even got an idea for a new recipe: a red bean stuffed cookie, to celebrate Chinese New Year.

1) Grilled pork belly skewers. 2) Fried squid legs. 3) Grilled yellowtail collar.

4) Fried chicken with pickled radishes. 5) Crispy chicken skin skewers. 6) Noodles topped with benito. 7) Green tea ice cream with red bean pancakes.

I think my favorite was the grilled pork belly skewers. Mmmm, bacon!

New Category: Grub Club

Last weekend, Jon, Pam, In-Young, and I met up for an Indian buffet lunch. Over that meal, the Grub Club was born. Because what's better than meeting up with your foodie friends and eating?

So once a week we'll all try to get together over some tasty cheap eats. Yum!

Grub Club: Beating the Brrrrrrs at Bukhara

It was too cold and snowy on Saturday to go for one of our marathon walks around Manhattan or over the bridge and around Brooklyn, so Jon and I met up with In-Young and Pam at Bukhara Grill for an Indian buffet lunch instead. 

It was my first time having Indian food, and I loved it! We started with some spicy lamb kabobs and then moved on to the buffet.

I had a little of this and a little of that and then went up for seconds. All the sauces and flavors were excellent, but I think my favorites were the spicy chicken in a creamy red sauce and the vegetable fritters in a medium-hot curry sauce. I'll have to go back again so that I can get the names of all the dishes. Next time, we should top off lunch with a matinee of Slumdog Millionaire.