DRAGON GARDEN 12/9/12 Brooklyn, New York

Chinese Tex-Mex has become a staple of New York's cheap eats now for about twenty years (early 90s) and the first place I came across this was in Times Square offering a 99 cent Taco (Crunchy or Soft) so I had to have one (I mean two), first thing I realize is its chinese people making mexican food,.. OK I guess, certainly did not make me walk out. These days lots of chinese take out restaurants offer a full chinese menu and   tex-mex menu to maximize sales and variety, They also make the Tortillas from scratch with a Tortilla pressing machine transforming a ball of Flour and Water into a Bready Pancake made to order as you wait, you can usually watch too.

Pictured above is a Steak Burrito that I ordered late one night (10:30 p.m.) before closing time, when I arrived they kindly informed me that they were out of mexican Rice and would I mind them substituting yellow Rice. I did not mind and it was even more Delicious. 

The counter at Dragon Garden on 18th avenue. All of the chinese take out places in Brooklyn are pretty much modeled this way.

I added some Cracker Barrel Cheddar Cheese to my Steak Burrito and I am aware that partially eaten food does not a good photo make but it was So Good. A chinese tex-mex Burrito is mexican Rice, Beans (black or pinto), Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato and Guacamole with Salsa and Sour Cream on the side.

The Facade of Dragon Garden at night. I am forever grateful to them for feeding my mother Inchu in her last few years, my mom stopped making white Rice daily but would always order Fried Pork Dumplings (Mandu), a half a Chicken (of which the cat got some) and white Rice from them. It was the saddest thing when I stopped in there after my mother's passing and was asked "how's your mother ?"
I will always be loyal to Dragon Garden and their Delicious Food. These days I tend to order tex-mex because I have had chinese Food a million times but have recently taken a shining to the Lunch Special Sweet & Sour Chicken with Pork Fried Rice and a Wonton Soup.

Maneki-Niko the good luck cat.

THANKSGIVING 2012

And It WAS Thanksgiving Central. Jamie prepared Everything for the festive eating army at hand.



I was and always am a large admirer for the Antipasto beginner's portion (with the little olive fork and all) and this was the Beautifully arranged plate before I secured my grubby little hands into it.

one of the florets is NOT. guess and comment below.



OMG, The Sausage Bread, OMG.

What can I say, Jamie's Sausage Bread cannot be beat.
Especially since it doesn't stay around long enough for any contenders to get a chance.



Pumpkin Tortellini in a Cream Sauce, Done To Perfection and Creamilicious.



The Plate Looks sparse Yet Is Dense. As a matter of Fact I would Kill for One right Now!!!!!.
NO, calm, cool and collected.

(clockwise from 9) - Pillsbury (Place and Bake Rounds) Crescent Roll Biscuit, Savory and Juicy Turkey, Sausage Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes with Heinz Gravy center balanced with one (1) Asparagi'.



La Familia and La Korean.



The Korean & The Chef.
(I wore this t-shirt for you Jamie)



gobble, gobble

SILVER STAR RESTAURANT 11/10/12 Brooklyn, New York

There are Cauldrons.

There are Soups.

There are Cauldrons of Soup.

There is Silver Star.

I chose Indian Food as the dinner to celebrate my 47th year but just as we were about to go to press with an Evite Jamie brainstormed Silver Star as a more fitting location and I could not agree moreso. This Old School Chinese Restaurant (.-)) was attentive in the wait staff and even provided us 2 staging areas and an invisible table nearby for our bags and framed autographed photos of Keith Emerson.

I have to give it to Jamie for calling ahead concerning mixed drinks only to find that Silver Star is a B.Y.O.B. establishment, perhaps it is a good thing we didn't know this 30 years ago. Jennie brought a bottle of Champagne and I donated one red & one white zinfandel, the table enjoyed the Zin while Joe and myself polished off the Shiraz.



The Pu Pu Platter.

Even the erosion of time leaves these sterno's conducive and unchanged.



Wise Mr. Frank ordered his usual, Shrimp in Lobster Sauce with Pork Fried Rice and Egg Roll (combination), of note there is an unusually shaped Crispy Noodle above the plate (1 o' clock).



Bob-San enjoyed Spare Rib with Pork Fried Rice and Egg Roll.



Confuscius say "Confusion Abounds Here" as I do not recall who got the Pork with Mixed Vegetables,  my memory tells me that both Dragon Lady Jennie and China Doll Madge both ordered "Chow Mein" but I am obviously Wong and must commit Harry Carry.



Emperor Joe went the right route for an American-Chinese Restaurant and sampled some Egg Foo Young with Gravy, Pork Fried Rice & Egg Roll.

The Emperor walked away happily.



My fellow Asian and PuertoPino friend Manny had a manly plate indeed with Chicken Chow Mein, Egg Roll, Pork Fried Rice AND Spare Ribs.



Madama Jamiefly was wise in her asian ordering and was served the Boneless Chicken atop Mixed Chinese Vegetables which is a Favorite to ALL.

Boneless Chicken ?
How Did It Walk ?



I ordered my mainstay, Roast Pork Chow Mein.
No One makes it this way.

Thanks Everyone for the Birthday Party.




Spike Blows.



There was a Panda with Bok Choy as well but then I was told it was Bamboo.
Oh Wait, BAMBU.



SILVER STAR MENUPAGES

MACARONI AT THE MORONI'S 11/4/12 Brooklyn, New York

Possibly the most telling sign that you are at an Italian Sunday Dinner is a Big Pot Of Gravy on the stove, for those thinking Gravy is the brown stuff you are totally right but to some Italians Gravy is Tomato Sauce as well, in the case of the Moroni family with whom I was honored to have dinner with I think they call it Sauce and Gravy IS the brown stuff.

Here is what Jamie has to say about the "Gravy" conundrum.

Yes we call it gravy. The same ol' debate. Yes Gravy is the brown stuff. Italian's or Brooklyn Italians called gravy because the tomato sauce is cooked with meat (pork, Bracciole, sausage, meatballs). I did have meatballs in it. It's always the same debate for years in Brooklyn - heard it all of my life-- you are not a real Italian if you call it sauce blah blah blah. Thanks for your documentation and check list of what we ate on Sunday minus the rice balls with cheese and yes it was fresh home grown basil on the rav's.

As is always the case Chef Jamie prepared a nice big dinner for her family and I happened to be in attendance.

The Three Food Groups - mini Meatballs with Caramelized Onions, Breaded Pork Cutlets and JUMBO Baked Meatballs.

seven little, eight little, nine little JUMBO Meatballs.

a stack of Breaded Pork Cutlets. Where were you my entire childhood.

Sauteed Onions and Steak done to perfection. Tender, Juicy and (as Carol says) Meaty.

There has to be a Veggie and in this case its the Glorious Broccoli Rabe.

Queen Anne Ravioli with Gravy, Grated Cheese and (probably) Basil.

On the way over we stopped at C-Town for most of this food and I grabbed a bottle of Canada Dry Ginger Ale, container of 4C Panko Chipotle Bread Crumbs and some Prosciutto Balls from the Deli. These were exactly what they say on the container, Ricotta and Meat Breaded and Fried.

FLIPSTERS 11/3/12 Brooklyn, New York

Flipsters has been on the "Try" list for months now and Try we did. Above is the "Flipster" Burger which is Bacon, Mozzarella Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato and Bermuda Onion on your choice of Challah or Whole Grain Bread. I customized my "Flipster" by substituting American Cheese for the Mozzarella and chose to have mine on Challah Bread, I added on Fries for $3 (UGH. and I say Ugh because I feel if a Burger is ten dollars and upwards they should throw the fries in for free) but this is going to be on Challah Bread, this should prove to be interesting. The Challah Bread turned out to be a regular Hamburger Bun, I'm used to seeing the traditional Jewish Challah Bread which is rather formidable and large so was a wee bit disappointed.

I ordered my Burger "medium" and it was a bit bloody for me but it was "medium", Quality Beef and nice toppings, decent Fries that Jamie had to help me with.

Jamie got the Turkey Burger with American Cheese, she enjoyed it but it didn't leave her stuffed.

The facade of Flipsters taken at night in a rush so apologies for that photo.

FLIPSTERS WEBSITE

SUBWAY (86th street) 11/1/12 Brooklyn, New York

Lets face it, most of us do crave fast food at least a few times a year, I can only be thankful its not a few times a week. While not as old an establishment as Blimpie's there is the alternative that subway Sandwiches created some years ago (1965) and they are known for having more topping selection than Blimpie's and they also boast "Fresh Bread" which made Blimpie follow suit with their Bread selections. Anyways, Every now and then there is a craving and this time it was for an Italian B.M.T. hero (Pepperoni, Genoa Salami, Black Forest Ham) but this craving happened at about four o' clock in the morning so I had to wait a bit.

Come the light of day and I made my way to the local Subway and spied the signs outside informing me of the latest deals and menu additions. I see they have added Eggplant Parmigiana to the menu, this would not be my first choice from a fast food shop but next to that poster was this months $5 Footlong The Spicy Italian (Pepperoni, Genoa Salami) so order away I did. Subway Sandwiches has 3 choices of Cheese for their Sandwiches which are American, Provolone and Swiss. I order my Spicy Italian and the kid behind the counter asks "with American Cheese" I reply "No Provolone" and the inner italian in me is thinking "But Provolone is the obvious first choice!!!" 

O.K. now for my choice of toppings.

For my Spicy Italian Sandwich I asked for Bell Pepper Slices, Bermuda Onion, Pickles, Sweet Peppers, Olives, Lettuce and Tomato with Ranch Dressing. My second criticism of this employee, he was a litle chintzy with the Dressing but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and figured he works here, he knows how much Dressing to put, you don't want it to squish out.

Brought my Sammich home and had it over the course of hours, He didn't add enough dressing.

Wanting an Italian B.M.T. but this poster made my mind up before stepping foot into the place.

3/1/13 - Tuna Salad - On Cheese Bread with Olives, Sweet Peppers, Lettuce, Tomato, Spinach, a few Jalapeno Peppers and Extra Ranch dressing.

SUBWAY SANDWICH WEBSITE

FRANKENSTORM PARTY (Hurricane Sandy) 10/28/12 Brooklyn, New York

New York Subway's closed on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. in anticipation for Hurricane Sandy so I got to Jamie's house before the curfew with some supplies (Vodka and Chocolate too).



My first stop was the local Waldbaum's in my neighborhood and aside from long lines at the register the Bread section was decimated, My patience got the best of me and fast so I decided to get on the train (while I still could) and shop at the market by Jamie's house.



Sunday evening and the city prepares for the worst, meanwhile in the kitchen Jamie prepares some fresh Chicken Cutlet's she got from the Turkish store downstairs replete with an impromptu version of Dirty Water Rice, Mesclun Salad and Shredded Cheddar Cheese over the top. Jamie concocted the "Bowl" version as opposed to my "Plate" version so I stole her idea and followed her lead, mine had Franks Hot Sauce on it as well.

We watched "The Green Mile"



Monday it got blusterier as the day went on and we did some shopping at the corner store (Thank God I got Crunchy Cheez Doodles) by early evening Sandy made landfall and we had Taco's during the Hurricane which was mostly wind and flooding on the coastlines and not so much rain, Jamie lives in walking distance of Sheepshead Bay (which contains water) and the next day we heard flood waters had risen to just down her block, Jamie was in Area "B" but they only had to evacuate Area "A".



Tuesday morning and I awoke in the pre wee dawn hours with not much sleep at all and from the looks of it neither did the two newscasters I was watching who were just there twelve hours ago, These hottie chicks must be on blowski.



The wooden construction fence adjacent to Jamie's apartment entrance was toppled during the storm but not much else seemed radically different on her block.



Tuesday evening and the storm had passed us, at 9:13 p.m. there was lights out in Jamie's apartment, this lasted for nearly three hours and after I had left for home as well. Pictured here is the emergency Floodlighting in her hall.

FIVE GUYS BURGERS & FRIES 10/23/12 Brooklyn, New York

Theres not too much to be said, Every time I have treated myself to a Five Guys Burger I am totally satisfied, they are pretty much Burger Perfection. 

As always way too many French Fries even in the Regular sized order but I'm not complaining. Pictured above is the cup of Fries (remember theres an equal if not larger amount in the greasy bag they are served in), complimentary Peanuts, Ketchup, Malt Vinegar and a Bacon Cheeseburger with Pickles, Mayo and Grilled Onions.

FIVE GUYS.COM