Category Archives: BBQ

Ramen Burger at Smorgasburg

27 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by in allium, American, Asian, BBQ, Brooklyn, bucket list, celebrations, Japanese, meat, New York, noodles, ramen, snacks, Williamsburg

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I finally got to try Keizo Shimamoto’s ramen burger on Saturday at Smorgasburg! My friends and I got there at about 10:00AM and then got the burger at about 11:30AM. There were about 60 people ahead of us in line.

While we were waiting, a group of Japanese reporters interviewed Lisa. She jokingly said she drove all the way from Utah just to try the ramen burger. I hope I can find her interview online.

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You can only buy one ramen burger per person and each person must be present. I was number 67.

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The hamburger wrappers are really unique. They have pleats and kind of reminded me of a shower cap from a hotel.

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Here is chef Keizo Shimamoto (in the backwards cap).

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The grill wasn’t level so here are some of the staff members trying to fix it. I’m pretty sure they reserve the fatty drippings from the hamburgers to make the brown sauce that goes on top of the burger (along with scallions). Notice the long, long line in the background.

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The ramen “buns” cooking on the grill.

Chapulines

22 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by in allium, American, autochthonous, BBQ, celebrations, education, foraging, herbs and spices, insects, lactose free, meat, Mexican, Queens, snacks, spicy

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Chapulines are a variety of grasshopper commonly eaten in some parts of Mexico. They are typically fried on a comal with garlic, lime juice, and salt flavored with agave worm extract. This tangy, aromatic snack can occasionally be found at delis and groceries in Corona, Queens.

I was able to sample some excellent chapulines this week when a student brought them in to share with the class. I expected them to be crispy but they were definitely of the juicy side, especially the plump abdomens.

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M. Wells Steak House

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by in American, BBQ, Brooklyn, celebrations, fish, French, meat, New York, Québécois, Queens, snacks, urban, Williamsburg

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There is a rumor going around that Hugue Dufour and Sarah Obraitis from M. Wells Dinette are planning on opening their new steak house this summer in Long Island City. I am very skeptical because… well, remember what happened last time?!

The LIC Post has reported that there will be a 24 square foot concrete trough for holding live trout.

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This is the purported location of the new steak house: 43-15 Crescent Street in Queens. It’s an old auto body repair shop.

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I’m going to check out the location this week to see if I can see anything inside the building!

Mamak

15 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by in Asian, BBQ, bucket list, celebrations, fish, halal, herbs and spices, Malaysian, meat, New York, Queens, seafood, snacks, spicy, urban

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I had one of the top ten meals of my entire life last night at Mamak, a brand new Malaysian restaurant that serves authentic Penang style halal cuisine! It’s the only place in New York City that exclusively features this delectably complex culinary tradition on their menu.

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Mamak is a colloquial term used in Malaysia to refer to Tamil Muslims who operate roadside food stalls, mamak stalls. Above is the udang nasi kandar, a generous portion of succulent shrimp with a spicy mamak style sauce.

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Murtabak is a stuffed and folded savory crêpe. The name comes from the Arabic word “مطبق” (folded). At Mamak murtabak is stuffed with minced beef and egg, and served with pickled red onions. We were blown away by the subtly complex flavors of the beef inside. There was definitely a hint of cumin — and maybe aniseed, clove, coriander, and cinnamon?

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You must try the lamb satay. The meat is so tender it melts in your mouth! Cubes of rice, cucumber, and red onion are served on the side, along with a bit of the most delicious peanut sauce I have ever tasted!

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We got to meet the amazing owner and chef, Nani Yusof Hughie! Thank you, Nani, for such amazing meal! We will be back soon!

Mamak
35-20 Farrington
Flushing NY 11355
(718) 886-4828

Weird Food from St. Louis, Missouri

12 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by in American, BBQ, bucket list, meat, snacks, sweets

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I was in St. Louis, Missouri last weekend for a wedding and, since it was my first (and probably last) time in that city, I set out to try all of the local specialties. Crispy snoots are a unique part of St. Louis BBQ. They are simply the fried face of a pig. In my case, it was a hairy pig that forgot to shave (notice the bristles on the snoot in the photo).

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One of the few places that sold crispy snoots was Smoki O’s, just down the street from the Four Seasons where we were staying.

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The gooey butter cake was, according to the local legend, invented when somebody messed up a pound cake.

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Toasted ravioli are known as T-ravs and typically come with a side of marinara sauce. These were the grossest of the three St. Louis delicacies.