Ninja New York

Ninja, the restaurant deserves its' very own blog post. It's not so much about the food but rather the whole experience - the ambiance, the ninja-clad waitstaff, the magicians and of course the food theater!

Once you're greeted by the host, you descend via elevator and walk through a tunnel until you are seated at your table. Then you get to do all of these things:

Be entertained by a magician who comes to your table to perform a few interactive tricks just for you! This was surprisingly entertaining and funny. Our performer was great and revealed how the tricks were performed before expecting a tip (of course).

Witness your rib eye steak ($38) being set alight by a bespectacled ninja:

I'm told the rib eye was done as requested (medium) and very tasty. It was served with side pots of roasted garlic cloves, herb and sea urchin butter for your own smothering and something called 'ninja special bbq sauce'.

Eat in a cave like setting with partitioned tables mostly all around. Practice your chopstick ninja skills:

Order a dragon roll and have it literally look like one:

The dragon roll was the largest entree and came with 2 types of rolls which made up the dragon's body and tail being a shrimp tempura roll and a spicy tuna roll, both topped with avocado slices. The dish also came with small rice balls topped with thinly-sliced salmon and on a separate plate, the mother of all rice balls with tuna tartare in the center. All of that was $28 and was enough to feed 2 hungry people, maybe even 3!

Watch as white smoke puffs out of your Ninja Special Roll for at least 5 minutes:

The Ninja Special Roll consisted of 5 types of fish, avocado, cucumber and scallions wrapped with rice and rice paper. You get 8 huge pieces which again could feed 2 people. The fish was fresh so this was my favorite dish of the night for taste even if it wasn't as fun as the other two in presentation.

Watch as a ninja-star is transformed into your Chocolate Mousse Cake! I don't have a photo of this since it was devoured as quickly as it was transformed. It was $10 and rather sensational - a thin base of chocolate cake is topped with a light chocolate mousse and the whole thing was enrobed in a thin layer of chocolate ganache. Forget about the chocolate sorbet - 3 tiny scoops of runny sorbet melt before you for $9.

Overall it was a fun experience and a good place to go if you've never been before, enjoy novelty places and/or have visitors in town. The more you drink, the more you will enjoy this place. The sake flights $30 for 5 or $15 for 3 are good value but once is enough...really.

Brunch is an institution

Brunch in this town is a 'thing'. It's done by both sexes, all age groups and any decent restaurant will have a special menu. Chefs embrace it in their specially-curated menus which generally provide a mixture of breakfast and lunch items as you might expect, but some places do it better than others.

Here are a few of the better places I've been to for brunch recently:

Goat Town
It's probably better known as a bar or gastropub but by day, it's equally nice to sit in the cozy surrounds where the decor is very Brooklyn-esque in that it may be a small space but it has plenty of character. I've been here twice. On the last occasion, I ordered the ribollita, that well-known Tuscan dish described as 'two poached eggs over cannellini beans, kale, parmesan, broth and croutons. Their take on the dish was a lot lighter than the ballsy, stomach-sinking versions I had in Tuscany but perfect not to weigh you down and with a nice smattering of cubes of carrots too.

More recently, I ordered the Housemade Granola described as 'oats, sunflower seeds, quinoa, sesame seeds, almonds, served with milk or yogurt'. It had a very grainy and crunchy texture not dissimilar to birdseed (not that I've tried that before!) but once you get over that, it went very well with the thick and creamy yogurt balanced by the wafer thin apple slices.

Tastytip: They do not have lattes or cappuccinos here or any soy milk. :(

Supper
This is a popular destination for Italian food for celebrities and locals alike. It must be due in part of the warm and friendly service, classic yet refined cooking and homely interiors. What you may not know is that they also serve a great brunch that applies the same level of quality in service and cooking. The omelette with goats' cheese and spinach was expertly cooked so that it was just done in the center. We also ordered some fried eggs on rustic toasted bread with a side of crispy bacon. Our dishes came with a hunk of fresh bread served with a dish of fruity and green olive oil with white beans, garlic, herbs and salt pounded into it. Delish!

Tastytip: They do not have soy milk here but their Americano coffee is freshly made and akin to a long black.

Homespun
The Memorial Day public holiday resulted in a last minute decision to head to Beacon for a day trip to the Dia gallery. Worth it just for the Warhol 'Shadows' series:

Since it was a holiday, only a few cafes were open including this one that was on my list. Great courtyard out the back with potted plants, seating and umbrellas that made for a pleasant dining experience on a sunny day, that is if our food came out. We waited half an hour before we had to ask a waitress who said that she would check on our order but then she never came back. We then went up to the counter and asked another lady who was apologetic and informed that there had been a mix up and we received our meals shortly thereafter from a very friendly guy who said we got a bit of extra of everything.

My Tuna Nicoise luckily, was delicious and screamed freshness and variety and I do not just think this was because they made it extra good. We also ordered the Prosciutto and Blue Cheese salad that came with apple, lettuce and hazelnuts, which was very substantial. What's not to love about those 2 key ingredients? Upon leaving, we were offered free sweets to go and grabbed two 'Bionic' granola bars for the trip home. They were a bit greasy but hey, it's the thought that counts. Overall, I would recommend this place for the food and ambiance.

Kittichai

Whilst it's better known as a swish dinner location that is hard to get a booking at, they have a refreshing brunch menu including Thai twists on typical brunch fare. Eggs Benedict is reinvented with the 2 poached eggs being served with a subtle curry flavor to the Hollandaise. Or how about Kaffir lime leaf pancake with lemongrass butter? This is a spot for the adventurous foodie bruncher. They sweeten the deal with their $25 special that includes unlimited mimosas or bellinis with a choice of 5 brunch entrees. Recommended as a place to take a visiting foodie friend!

ABC Kitchen

Jean-Georges V has quite a restaurant empire but this relatively new place was the first one I've tried, excluding Spice Market where he only consults. It's all about seasonal and fresh ingredients prepared to showcase natural flavors here. My favorite dishes are the roasted carrot salad with avocado, sprouts, sunflower seeds and a sour cream drizzle - the spiced carrots are amazing and the vegetable burger which comes with a wonderful yogurt-based relish that amplifies the juicy veges in the 'burger' patty.

The pizzas are also pretty sensational. They not only get the pizza crust right so that it's crispy on the bottom from the wood-fired oven, yet slightly chewy and thin but generously splatter on the best ingredients. On a recent visit, I tried the bacon, ricotta and shaved asparagus one you can see below and it did not disappoint.

*Tasty Tip: Order a coffee here (they have soy milk) which is also rather good with a naturally sweet flavor and comes served in a beautifully hand-crafted mug. If you like the mug, you can pop into ABC homewares next door and pick one up!

Also, why is it that brunch menus are confined to weekends? Sometimes you just want to eat breakfast for lunch and order a cocktail before noon without feeling tragic. I think Boqueria has the right idea!

Vegetarian cheap eats

Whether you're vegetarian or not, this city has so many enticing vegetarian and vegan options that scream freshness that you won't be able to resist. 

Digg Inn

This place serves seasonal market food. There are a few locations in the city. They have a serious food philosophy centred around real food and real quality which is worth reading here if you care about what you eat and where it comes from. I usually get the small veggie platter ($5.71) which comes with a choice of 4 vege dishes on a bed of white/brown rice or spinach/arugula. My current favourites are the red lentil and edamame, roasted carrots with dried cherries, sauteed bok choy and kale, apple and almond salad. Sure beats just having a Chop't for $10 that's mostly full of lettuce.

Beyond Sushi

Yes, there is even vegan sushi available here in the East Village. Beyond Sushi sets new standards for vegan food. There are 10 or so varieties of sushi including ones with black rice or 6 grain rice wrapped inside-out with seaweed around a variety of vege and/or tofu fillings with a variety of toppings including minced basil-mixed veges and jalapeno minced vegetables. I chose the 'Haricot' which featured black rice rolled around grilled haricot vert and carrot, topped with sliced mango and a sweet miso dressing and a drizzled of soy. It was so delicious that I didn't even dip it into the soy and wasabi mixture I prepared. $6.50 for 8 pieces or they have deals including $7.50 for the 8 pieces and also 2 individual pieces which are usually $1 each. Individual pieces showcase just 1 ingredients such as a snow peas atop rice or enoki. Next time as well as the coffee chia pudding!

Maoz

I couldn't not include Maoz in this list. They also have a couple of locations around the city that are always busy due to their great prices, freshly-cooked falafel and huge salad bar. I get their whole-wheat pita, regular falafelt sandwich ($6), request no lettuce which takes up room for more of the better salad bar options and then stuff it to the brim with everything as you can see. The best bits of the salad bar are the fried broccoli and cauliflower, beets salad and coleslaw. The sauces are also taste-bud smashingly good, especially the mild coriander sauce, garlic sauce and the tahini which I liberally douse on top.

The Hummus Place

Another quality chain store in the city that serves healthy and delicious food. This place is great at any time of day. You can order appetisers or tapas on their own ($3.95) or get 3 ($9.95) as a meal in itself or to share with friends. I recommend the falafel (5 in a serving), beet salad which is mixed with sliced onion, coriander and a tasty olive oil dressing and the labne topped with dukkah and olive oil. Warm pita (white or whole wheat) comes with it. As a shared entree, we ordered the shakshuka ($9.95) a sweet and spicy stew of tomatoes, red peppers with 2 eggs cooked in the pan. Don't forget to ask for the green spicy sauce that adds an extra kick to everything.

Dessert

After all that eating, there's always sweets to be found around town. I was strolling around Midtown on my way late somewhere when I spotted these Elmo cupcakes in a window. I didn't even remember to look at the name of the place as I rushed off but always keep your eyes open for the next great find!

Off the wall

This post is a photo post featuring a number of images that struck me as I was doing what locals do, walking all over the city. Inspiration can strike at any time and here in New York, it happens pretty frequently regardless of whether you're uptown, downtown, out of the city or in a tourist mecca.

Outside '30 Rockerfeller Center'.

Street art somewhere in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

A street scene somewhere on the outskirts of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Side of a building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Side of a wall on E 3rd Street, East Village where the bar across the road projects concerts, movies and screenings on weekends.

Outside of an apartment building in North Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

This image speaks its' location for itself really!

As the wise man, Ferris Bueller said, 'Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it'!

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

New York City is such a big place that whether you're visiting or you're a local, you will have some hits and misses wherever you go. This post is about both because it's just as useful to know about good places to go as it is to know about places to avoid sometimes.

Eisenberg's
Their slogan is 'Raising New York's Cholesterol Since 1929'. If that appeals to you then you should check this place out. Admittedly, I'm a self-confessed health food lover but I have a weakness for pastrami and a certain nostalgia for old school, fuss-free delis. On Yelp! customers rave about the tuna salad melt but I don't like mayonnaise, white bread or cheese much so that was out for me. However, I do like good pastrami which is their second most talked about dish.

For $10, you get a pretty large sandwich served with a pickle. The pastrami itself was sliced very thinly and a bit dry so it could have been pre-sliced and rather fatty. It's definitely not as juicy, thick or generous in size as Katz's but then again it's not $16 and ridiculously large. The dryness and fat in the meat put me off though.

Pho Bang
I love Vietnamese food but my usual order is a grilled pork/chicken or beef bun or cold vermicelli rice salad dish rather than the standard pho and that's what I judge a place by. In Chinatown, I'm yet to find a really good bun. Pho Bang also let me down. This place got 3.5 stars on Yelp! The grilled meat was fatty, dry and only made palatable by drowning it in hoisin sauce. It's $6.75 here which is a bit more than other places like Cong Ly, where the same dish is $5. The best bun I've had so far for juicy, smoky, marinated meat was at An Choi in LES for around $12.

Digg Inn
This places motto is 'Seasonal Market Est. 1997'. If you like eating fruit and vegetables that are in season and cooked freshly each day with a changing menu that you can customise then this place is for you. How does it work? You pick a plate (Small or Large), pick 1 protein (or 2 for large), 1 carb or lettuce and 3 sides. I chose the lemon chicken that was tender and fragrant, arugula lettuce and then 2 hot sides: maple roasted sweet potatoes, thinly sliced and sauteed brussel sprouts with nuts and 1 cold side: beets with goat's cheese, lentils and parsley. For $6.95 this was a light and tasty lunch.

So, I'll let you decide which of these was the good, the bad and the ugly, suffice to say that you get all types in NY but never be dissuaded from trying a new place for that reason. Every meal is an opportunity for your tastebuds to have an adventure!

Unusual and fun finds in New York

There's plenty of unusual and fun finds in New York. One doesn't need to look very far but here are just a few things you may have walked past or not noticed. It always pays to scratch under the surface around here. Be amazed every day!

Ghostbusters' Firehouse in Tribeca

New York Public LIbrary Lego Lions

Emu eggs ($29.99 each) at Whole Foods

Spaghetti-shaped tofu (known as tofu shirataki), 5 grain tempeh and popcorn turned into chips all at Whole Foods

Three types of falafel at Nish Nush

An over-sized tower of Onion Rings at Del Frisco's

Sushi (made with marzipan) on top of cupcakes at Chelsea Markets

Persian Armor at The Met's Armory Section

Gourmet specialty pop tarts, donuts and scones at Stumptown at The Ace Hotel

There's plenty more as everyday seems to yield new unusual and fun finds here in New York so watch out for more of these photo posts.

Holiday season in New York

New York is still an excellent place to visit in Winter or excellent place to live in during Winter despite the cool weather.

Here are some more reasons why NY is great in Winter and during the festive season:

American Museum of Natural History - This older museum on the Upper West Side has some dated exhibits but it remains an interesting place to explore given its' size and the diversity of their displays. It has one of the best taxidermy (or stuffed animal) exhibits I've ever seen where you can see animals that you would never dream of coming face to face with.

*TIP: There is no entry fee but there is a 'suggested donation' of $19. You can pay what you wish though. You do need to pay if you wish to attend a special event. I would recommend the film in the planetarium narrated by Whoopi Goldberg and set in a semi-circular dome with in-the-round seating for $12.

Winter's Eve at Lincoln Center -NY does the holiday season and festive spirit so well. There were tree lighting ceremonies in most major and even smaller local parks. It's just an excuse to gather the community together and sing some carols, despite the frosty temperatures. At the Winter's Eve gathering on the Upper West Side, Suzanne Vega (see below) and other musicians sang to the crowds whilst they noshed on cheap fare from local famous restaurants including Boulud South.

Rockerfeller Center Ice Rink - This place just transforms in Winter with a giant tree, festive lights, crazy wind and an ice-rink. It truly became a Winter wonderland. You can rent skates there but otherwise just soak up the atmosphere with a gazillion others.

Chinatown - Don't miss out on Chinatown for cheap eats. The average price for a huge bowl of wonton noodles or pho that's more than you can eat is $5! I'm yet to find a place that's truly authentic but that's one search that I'm in no hurry to complete. Check out the plethora of bakeries too. I found these cute custard buns shaped as turtles in one of them - a first!

Pop Karma - Head over to the Lower East Side if you're a fan of pop corn that is made of all natural and organic ingredients but still tastes crazy good. They have a classic range of flavors including sea salt and caramel corn but it's their seasonal offerings that get most attention. On my last visit, they had porcini cheddar, Indian masala and bacon apple bourbon caramel (pictured). A 'shot' (pictured) is just $2 and you can get free samples before deciding which flavor will be 'the one'.

Zaro's at Grand Central - This bakery has a few outlets but there are 2 of them at Grand Central including one in the Grand Central Market. Grab a naughty treat for that train journey on the Long Island Rail Road or Metro North or just your suburban subway ride. I say naughty because there range of pastries, brioches, muffins, cinnamon buns and other sticky and sugary treats is huge. Check out their gigantic gingerbread house to see an example of what I mean:

Brooklyn Flea - For Winter, the market has set up inside the stunning former Williamsburg Bank building. It's ornate with original features including the vault door (pictured) downstairs! Pick up lots of antiques and unique finds like toys from your childhood, arty photos, second hand clothes and old wooden tape measure rulers for example.

**TASTY TIP: The food section is downstairs at the back and includes a stand by the Brooklyn company, Mcclures' pickles where they sell individual whole pickles that are usually only sold by the jar in both a normal and a chilli brine.

Barnes & Noble at Union Square - This is no ordinary bookstore. It's huge - 4 floors of books and they have regular book readings, signings and performances on level 4 at a space called 'Upstairs at the Square'. On recent visits, I've seen The Polyphonic Spree and Yo La Tengo. Check their website for listings.

*TIP: I recommend getting there at least half an hour early or more depending on who the guest is. I got there half an hour early to see Jeff Bridges and missed out since the space was full. There is limited seating and standing capacity and once it gets really full, you can only go up if you have purchased the relevant book or CD.

Frick Collection - This small museum is fascinating as much for the collection of paintings and sculptures as it is for the building itself. Interesting films screened on selected paintings too.

*TIP: It is free entry on Sundays between 11am - 1pm but expect to queue up. The line moves pretty quickly though.

You'll see more galleries in the upcoming posts given the weather and New York has some really interesting and unusual ones aside from the more well-known.

New York - fun on a budget

Yes, it's entirely possibly to enjoy New York on a limited budget. It may in fact be one of the best cities for budget travel given all the free events and great cheap eats around town even in exclusive suburbs.

Hudson Falafel - In funky West Village there are some fabulous cafes and restaurants including trendy and exclusive ones but there's also Hudson Falafel, a small and plain looking place nestled amongst those nice boutiques and eateries on Hudson Street. Here there are all sorts of mixed plates you can get including the quarter roasted chicken (with dried chilli on the skin), rice cooked with lentils and butter (much better than it sounds), salad and tahini for only $5.

Festive Markets - around Thanksgiving and Christmas there were festive markets set up in major hubs like this one at Union Square and also Columbus Circle. The stalls set all sorts of gifts, festive decorations and hand-made items.

**TASTY TIP: The one at Union Square included a stall by Momofuku Milk Bar and Toby's Estate Coffee - prices were the same as the actual stores but they were a welcome snack.

Opening Ceremony - the store in NY is 3 stories high and filled with amazing designs from their namesake collection made even more famous by collaborations with Chloe Sevigny, Rodarte and more recently Adidas. Shop here for unique and quirky items for the fashion-lover including these outrageous Adidas sneakers:

Hershey's Shop - The brand's signature store in Times Square sells all their brands and in huge quantities too - check out this 5kg tub of Reese's Peanut Butter! Nothing 'all natural' about that size! They also sell branded merchandise like pillows and gifts in case you want more.

M & M's store - Not to be outdone by Hershey's the M & M's store across the road is even bigger, more interactive and fun. You can customise your own M & M's here in colour and with your initial. There are also mugs, caps, key rings, gift boxes and their own clothing line. It's a fun place to look around but you will likely walk out with a purchase or 200.

Amber - This is the Upper East Side branch of Amber, a pan-Asian restaurant of which there are numerous around NY that essentially serve a range of different Asian cuisines including generally, Thai, Japanese and maybe even Chinese and Vietnamese. Amber is normally a little pricey but they have a great brunch special on weekends where $15.95 gets you an appetiser (shu mai chosen), an entree (sangria roasted duck complete with diced apple!), pickles, rice, a huge salad, miso soup and a large beer.

**TASTY TIP: Most cafes and restaurants have a weekday lunch special as well as weekend brunch menus so you can eat at some great places on a budget. Check out menus online before you go.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - MoMA is always worth a visit or a return visit due to the revolving exhibitions. Recently, I saw a version of Edvard Munch's 'The Scream' which complements his other works that they have on display including Jealousy and Madonna.

*TIP:  I mentioned this in my last post but in case you missed it, MoMA has free entry on Fridays from 4pm. Get there early or later to avoid the queues somewhat.

Zucker's Bagels - Right near Chambers Street station on the 123 line in trendy Tribeca is Zucker's Bagels, a lunch time place that sells an array of their house-smoked or house-cured fish. There is a daily lunch-time special for $6.95 that includes the filling of the day (tuna salad on the day I went) on a bagel of your choice with lettuce and tomato, a pickle (cutely wrapped in greaseproof paper), coleslaw and a soda or water.

Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) - This small museum is free and has a really interesting exhibition about how technology has been integrated in fashion design and production. Anyone with an interest in fashion or cultural history will enjoy this place and it's open until 8pm on most weeknights.

United Nations - The UN offers free tours from its' visitors' centre. Even if you don't have time to make it on a tour, you can sneak in a visit into the visitors' centre that usually has interesting photographic exhibits (currently there is one on the history of quinoa for the foodies!), unique gift shop with UN merchandise and you can send letters and postcards from their very own post office.

*TIP: You're no longer on US controlled land at the UN HQ! The post office in the UN visitors' centre is the only place where you can get a UN-stamp - a unique souvenir!

So, yes it's possible to eat well and nutritiously in nice neighborhoods, see the world's best art and shop at fun and special places in the city where anything is possible: New York New York - so good they named it twice!