Happy Birthday Kyuta!

My brother is 28 years old! Happy Birthday! It was actually October 20th. I'm late.

Awww!

The time has come. I'm officially poor and super cheap.
I'm sorry Kyuta, but this is your birthday present. A blog post dedicated to you for making it through 27 years of your life. Good luck on the 28th year!

It's the thought that counts right?!

Anyways, my mom made a fantabulous dinner, of course.
The appetizers were a bunch of interesting dishes that she probably saw on her Japanese cooking channel...

Mushroom with "Escargot" Butter


Korean Style Hirame Sashimi and Octopus [spicy and sesame oil-y]


Seaweed & Seafood Salad [Crabstick and Jellyfish!]


Honey and Vinegar Pickled Daikon, Radish, and Cucumbers


Curried Okra


And look at my super OCD plate!


And onto the main course: Teppanyaki!
Meat: Beef, Pork, Cheek, Tongue


Seafood: Scallops and Squid


And veggies... like this sweet potato:

My mom is so cute. She made that smiley face on the left potato!


So all the meats and veggies and seafood were cooked on the griddle type thing called a teppanyaki. And you dip the stuff in yummy sauce. And you eat to much!


But there's ALWAYS room for a Lulu's cake!

A Strawberry Shortcake. So pretty!


OMG..... why do I get so excited looking at food?!


So that's the end of the birthday. And Kyuta, I apologize for making you wait for this "amazing" birthday present. Yeah, maybe I got your hopes up too high?

Lulu Cake Boutique
40 Garth Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Phone: [914]-722-8300

My First Time

Look at this beautiful kitchen!!! My mom really hooked it up when we got the kitchen redone. The kitchen got done maybe like in May? I dunno... it was a realllllly long time ago. But I had never baked anything until now! What a shame.

Of course, I gotta take away this oven's virginity with Chocolate Chip Cookies! I was nice enough though to use another virgin recipe.... Baked.

I bought this book right before we started all the work in our apartment so I never got a chance to bake anything out of this book!


The smell of butter and sugar... OMG I remember why I love baking so much!


Balled and placed on a cookie sheet...


And out of the oven....

So... I'm just gonna say that the directions were not followed precisely. I didn't have 6 hours to refrigerate the dough, so I baked the cookies right after mixing all the ingredients.... which of course made FLAT COOKIES!


They were delicious none the less. Thin, crispy, and super delicate!

Sleep Studies are Delicious

Food makes everything fun! Even sleep studies at NY Presbyterian Hospital on a Friday night when no one else, except for the sleep study technician, is on the whole floor. Creepy, but also a great way to lock yourself in a room and eat leftover Mofongo!

I did a sleep study a few weeks ago because some of my doctors suspected some signs of narcolepsy... hehehehehehehe I still think it's so funny. But not really because now I don't have a car.

So Tiny drove me to Wash Heights early so that we could eat. Earlier that day, he ran 15 miles :training for the NYC Marathon: and I biked along with him, so we figured we deserved to eat whatever the eff we wanted.

A totally random little latin place called El Nuevo Caridad. God, I really hate my iPhone pics. I have the iPhone that came out in 2007.
Tiny got Mofongo with Pork

And I got the Chicken in Garlic Sauce

We got 2 ENORMOUS plates of rice, seriously bigger than Shaq's head, and beans!


I'm obsessed with Mofongo now. I had no idea what it was until this meal. Here's what the Wikimaster says:
"Mofongo is generally made from fried green plantains (although fried yuca or breadfruit are possible) which is mashed together with broth, garlic, olive oil, and pork cracklings or bits of bacon. It is often filled with vegetables, chicken, crab, shrimp, or beef and is often served with fried meat and chicken broth soup.[1] Mofongo relleno is mofongo stuffed with stewed beef, chicken or seafood, with stewed sauce poured over."-Wikipedia

So I went a little bit crazy during this sleep study, and I was pissed that I had glue on my scalp for like 3 days, and I was REALLLY upset that I couldn't have coffee during the sleep study, but I'm glad it's done and over with.


Now the big question is this:
Does Miki have Narcolepsy or not?

Stay tuned for the results!

El Nuevo Caridad
4073 Broadway Btwn 172nd & 173rd St
Washington Heights, New York
Phone: (212)-740-1616

Food For Fuel

I work out a lot. So I need fuel. That's my excuse as to why I eat so much.... but can I just say that I got to the best gym ever?

Westchester Fight Club!

I pump iron and eat the Chirico pasta special....

I get fed at the gym!!! No, not a protein shake. But real, delicious food!



Not to mention this gym dude makes SICK brownies. Baking competition to come.

Westchester Fight Club- MMA Academy and Ultimate Fitness Center
11 S. Division St
New Rochelle, NY
Phone: 914-355-2618

Where is the best Thai restaurant in NY?

I really am no judge of the "best Thai restaurant in NY" because, like, I LOVE Thai food, but I don't know what to base my judgements on. I like Garlic and Pepper in Tuckahoe, but it's because I think it's better than Siam Orchid.

Now I had been hearing about Sri Pra Phai for-ever. I really don't know why i waited so long to come here. I guess I think that anything outside of Westchester is like "too far". Meanwhile, this trip to Queens only took like 2 minutes.

And I went with Miss. Sarah! I just always picture her in like a cute fluffy apron, holding two ginormous Lulu cakes! Tonight she was ZESTY!

She started with this Thai Iced Tea. BIG-ASS-BUBBLES BRO!


We went with some suggestions that we had received before leaving for our big to-do.

Papaya Salad with dry shrimp and peanut


Massaman Curry with Beef


Sautéed Eggplant with pork, chili, garlic, and basil


DESSERT

#1. Coconut Pancakes


#2. Black Bean in Coconut Milk



Everything that we ordered was a winner! But I must say I really, really really loved the Massaman Curry! And the Coconut Pancake thingies were awesome.... they were like mochi patties with coconut in them, and yhen like pan fried. YUM.


SriPraPhai Thai Restaurant
64-13 39th Avenue
Woodside, NY 11377
Phone: 718-899-9599

Paletas!

I'd heard about Paleteria Fernandez in Port Chester for a few years now through Chowhound, but I always thought, OK I wouldn't drive all the way to Po-Cho for a popsicle. The other night, I was in Mamaroneck and I drove by a brightly lit, neon signed Paleteria Fernandex right on Mamaroneck Avenue!



I swear, it was a really nice summery night on Saturday, and there were tons of people walking down the ave. And about 78.9% had paletas from Paleteria Fernandez! I walked in and was overwhelmed by the selection of paletas!

They are all wrapped in a plastic "Paleteria Fernandez" wrapper. They also had regular scoopable ice cream. You also have the option of chocolate coating any of the paletas. They also have chocolate dipped bananas. Basically they have a lot of fun stuff!

They have everything fruity you could ever think of, both milk based and water based. They have American-y flavors like cookies and cream. They have interesting flavors like Pico de Gallo! I went with a good olf Strawberry Milk paletas. OMG. Japanese people love anything that is strawberry flavored and this just totally hit the spot! It was like a strawberry milkshake in a popsicle form. Super creamy and none of that icicle B.S.




Look at the chunks of strawberry! They actually weren't CHUNKS per se but like strawberry niblets.



It's a quite spacious place with about four big table and like three little tables.


Paleteria Fernandez
350 Mamaroneck Avenue
Mamaroneck, NY 10543

Happy Birthday Blog!

Today is 2 YEARS since I started this blog! It's a little bit embarrassing that I haven't been posting regularly but then again, whose reading?! Hi Mom!

I love my blog, and I think everyone who I've come in contact with in the past 2 years knows that. Conversations usually go like this:
"Hi, I'm Miki. I love food and eating and I have a food blog!"
I'm so modest :-)

Anyways, this 2 year anniversary is going to be celebrated with some steak from Del Frisco's! This was a special night for a couple of reasons.
1. It was Tiny and I's first double date!
2. It was the first time Tiny and I saw a movie together (besides our first night hanging out and watching Anchorman)... he really despises my taste in movies so we don't agree much on what we want to see... i.e. Top movies for me = White Chicks, Old School, Mrs. Doubtfire, Liar Liar, and Top movies for Tiny = Good Will Hunting, The Scent of a Woman, etc.

So on this Friday night, we saw Inception. HOLY EFF! I haven't seen a movie in the theaters in years because I don't want to waste $10 to $12 if I am going to fall asleep. But let me tell you, I only fell asleep ONCE during this whole movie, a.k.a. it was THAT good! Plus, it was kinda complex so if you fall asleep and miss an important part, you're gonna be lost.

The four of us then walked our way to Del Frisco's where we had an awesome beef filled night.
Steak, Steak Steak...
Wagyu, Bone-In Ribeye, Filet Mignon, Creamed Spinach, Mac and Chee....
Plus GINORMOUS Onion Rings! DONUT SIZED!


And yes, my favorite hobby is eating meat off the bone...

And of course I suggested dessert, and everyone was like "OMG I'm too full" but everyone helped out :-)
Strawberry Cheesecake


DELISH! But I definitely had to semi unzip my skirt because I couldn't breathe from stuffing my belly!


Del Frisco's
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York , New York 10020
Phone: (212)-575-5129

Hi!

Yes. I haven't updated in like a month. One would think that i was starved! Hardly! I have gained 20 pounds from delicious food. I guess it really DOES go downhill in your mid twenties... where has my metabolism gone?!

Anyways, I have been quite busy and have not had the chance to really go out to eat at any new places. Last night was like my "coming back out" night!

It was girls night with mom!


We first went to see Romeo and Juliet at NYC Ballet at Lincoln Center. It was quite amazing... The girl was insanely flexible.

Then.... drum roll!!! What I was REALLY excited for was dinner at The Mark Restaurant by Jean Georges!!! It is located inside the Mark Hotel. Which is so fun and cool looking!


First thing: If you get a table for two, the tables are gonna suck. You have to strattle them. I dunno, its hard to explain. I was just quite uncomfortable! The food saved it tho! Everything we ordered was fantasmic!

Bread

Oyster Ceviche

Market Beets with Yogurt, Field Mache, Lemon Oil

Steamed Shrimp Salad, Avocado and Enoki, Champagne Dressing (UN-Real!)

Fresh Fettuccine, Meyer Lemon, Parmesan, Black Pepper (UN-Real! This was like my favorite, but get it as an appetizer portion and share because too much of this can be overwhelming. It's very creamy!)

Grilled Lamb Chops, Roasted Baby Vegetables, Black Olive Crumbs (Delish as well, and the meat was so, so, so tender!)

Line Caught Halibut, Radish Salad with Lavender, White Sesame (So Japanese! I love JG! The fish and radish were very simple and then you get the kick with the sesame sauce!)


And of course dessert!
We got a sampler of Banana Shortcake, Chocolate Mousse Thing, and Sour Cherry Craime Fraiche Cheese Cake.... I made a really inappropriate noise after eating the cheesecake. and the banana shortcake. It was that good. The chocolate thing was good too, but nothing that would make me moan.

And the cheese platter which we definitely could not finish. So FULL!


And this is how random I am. I became friendly with the couple that was sitting next to our table, and at the end of their meal, when they were eating the Grand Marnier Souffle and I expressed a creepy interest, they gave me a bite!


Twas a lovely evening with my moms!


The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges
25 East 77th Street (at Madison Avenue)
New York, NY 10075
Phone: (212)-606-3030
Fax: (212)-606-3102

School's Out!

So finally, classes are done! I have finished my second year of graduate school! Actually, I still don't know if I passed the comps so we'll have to wait and see...

School always keeps me super busy so I don't pay attention to my blog unless it's an emergency, i.e. Sattva.

But here's like a little recap of some food I've been eating the past few weeks.


I finally got to Turkish Cuisine in White Plains! It's a super cute place with maybe like 3 tables in the back. I guess it's mostly a takeout place but they do have a seated area. I got the cold appetizer platter to go. It had:

Hummus- Good, nothing crazy
Strained Yogurt with walnuts & olive oil
Roasted Eggplant- THE BEST THING IN THE PLATTER!
Babaghanoush- SUPER smokey, and amazing!
Tabbouleh-It had a kick to it, scallions added a nice touch. I love scallions.

And a special request for a falafel landed me a delicious falafel with a cup of tahini :-)
The falafel was hot, crispy fresh, right out of the fryer. It was spiced really well! I would eat it immediately though because it would lose a lot of crunch and deliciousness if consumed "not immediately".

Oh! And guess what?! Did you know Shiraz has a place in the food court at the Westchester Mall?! Yeah you can get their kebobs, falafels, etc at the mall! Our order took a little while but it was delicious! The meat was juicy, and it came with rice, salad, and the grilled tomato!

Also, P.S.- Sattva is still rocking out! Add Sattva on Facebook to get updates! I recently went to her house again for a Sattva/dad's b-day party and all I can say is, this girl is beautiful, spiritual, and talented :-)

Finally... a shout-out to the Japanese American Association.
1. They give me money for school.
2. They feed me delicious lunch at Hakubai Restaurant in the Kitano Hotel.
3. They feed me delicious dinner at the Harvard Club for the JAA Award Ceremony.
3. They bring in celebs!

Hakubai


Harvard Club... Seriously, the food was pretty good!

Guess who met George Takei?! (from Star Trek!)

Ahhh... the benefits of receiving a scholarship from the JAA!

My life is filled with love, gratitude, and most of all wonderful food :-)



Turkish Cuisine
116 Mamaroneck Ave
White Plains, NY 10601
Phone: (914)-683-6111

Shiraz Restaurant
81 E Main Street
Elmsford, NY 10523
Phone: (914)-345-6111
*Or at the Food Court in the Westchester Mall

Hakubai at the Kitano Hotel
66 Park Ave (@ E. 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212)-885-7111

Harvard Club of New York City
35 West 44th St.
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212)-840-6600
Fax: (212)-827-1270