Hide chan Ramen

Another ramen shop has opened in midtown east, called "Hide-chan Ramen".
Hide-chan Ramen came from Fukuoka, Japan. Obviously, Hide-chan Ramen is very famous in Fukuoka.

Hide-chan Ramen uses Tonkotsu base for soup, and I ordered "Black Ramen".

It looks like black squid sauce on top of this ramen, but it is not black squid. It is black spicy oil with roasted garlic oil. But it is not as garlicky as I expected. Somewhat soup was a bit sour, but it tastes good. Noodle was very thin, and I hoped it would be thicker noodle. But overall this ramen is worth trying.

My friend ordered "Tsuke Men" ramen, which comes with noodle and soup separately. You are supposed to dip noodle into soup. This soup was extremely spicy, but tasty.

They open lunch and dinner, and dinner closes 2am. I definitely want try dinner time, as they have gyoza dampling.


Hide Chan Ramen
248 E 52nd St
New York, NY 10022
(212) 813-1800

Abe & Arthur's

Well, I wasn't expecting a great meal at Abe&Arthur. Former famous celebrity hangout spot "Lotus" location now became sophisticated restaurant & lounge in Meat packing district.

Decor is elegant and chic, and it is so much different from Lotus.

Food was surprisingly great. Hamachi Sashimi Tartar had a great balance with sweetness and creaminess from avocado and a hint of spicy from jalapeno. Yuzu vinegrate gave a nice acidity to the dish.
Chicken Liver Terrine was also awesome. Very flavorful liver terrine. I could eat this everyday. Seriously. This is dangerous menu before main dish...

Dry Aged NY Strip Steak was also good. You can choose special toppings from roquefort cheese to foie gras... We ordered Peekytoe Crabmeat and Asparagus.
I thought that was unique combination with crabmeat and steak, but actually it turned out to be delish!!!

If I had visitors from Japan now, I would bring them here.... Sophisticated atmosphere with great meal..... maybe celebrity watching too.


Abe & Arthur's
409 West 14th Street
(646) 289-3930

Maialino

Maialino. A new Italian restaurant owned by Danny Mayer in Gramercy Hotel.
Totally renovated from Wakiya, dark and sexy Chinese restaurant.

I went there for lunch time around 1pm during a week day, and I didn't even have a reservation.
It was easy to get in.

But food was very good. Sauce of Rigatoni all’Amatriciana was a bit too salty, but tasty.
It has Guanciale inside of the sauce... I think that makes sauce a bit salty... but you don't want to waste it.. I had to eat 2 extra breads to finish up that sauce.. yummy.


Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(212) 777-2410

Marea

Marea is Italian seafood restaurant located just below Central park.
This is my second time, and came here for lunch.
You can choose primo (first course) and secondo (main dish) for $34.

This is grilled octopus with cous cous. Octopus was very tender and tasty.

I tried this last time, and I really enjoyed it.
Nova scotia lobster, burrata, eggplant al funghetto, basil.
Handmade burrata is perfectly matched with lobster and tomato. You don't really see eggplant much, but this cured eggplant gives a slight acidity taste to this dish.


Everyone ordered this fresh cut semolina pasta, crab, santa barbara sea urchin, basil.
There were tons of sea urchin last time I had.. but I did not see or taste so much of sea urchin this time.. hmmm. is that because of lunch time?? did they run out of sea urchin?

We actually told our waiter that we were expecting more sea urchin flavor, and they took our dishes back to the kitchen, and brought new ones.
This time, we could taste a little better than last time, but not as much as last time.

I really want to try this past again at dinner time, and see if there are any difference between lunch time and dinner time.

Of course it was still delicious, but we got more tomato flavors than sea urchin.

Overall, I like this place, so I will definitely come back and try some other food!!

Marea
240 Central Park South
New York, NY 10019-1457
(212) 582-5100

Window Farm

This is how people enjoy growing own veggies in Manhattan... called window farm. Cool. They grow sweet basil, endive, snap peas...

Hahm Ji Bach

I don't know what to say about this.....

This Flushing Korean BBQ joint looks a very ordinary place from outside.
Most customers are Korean, so it has to be good.

One of our friends suggested to eat "Sam Gyup Sal", pork belly BBQ.
This thick, beautiful pork belly is something I could eat every day... seriously.

Pork belly with grilled Kimchee and garlic, wrapped with sesame leaf. Great way to enjoy this.

Also, try "Kanjan Kejan" and "Kejan". Kejan is spicy cured crab. Kanjan kejan is marinated crab with soy sauce. Both of them are so tasty, and great match with Soju.

I am in heaven. We say "Korean Orgasm".

You can't miss this if you live in NY.


Hahm Ji Bach
4108 149th Pl, Flushing
(718) 460-9289

Ramen Sensation!?

Ramen sensation is everywhere now.
Here is another ramen joint opened in near Park Slope, Brooklyn.

ZUZU RAMEN.

This is very unique ramen place, they don't offer authentic ramen, more like fusion.
But my favorite one was ZUZU Ramen with smoke dashi broth.





















Pork has a lot of smoky flavor, so I think Bonito dashi and Pork smokiness give this broth unique.

Very unique, but irresistible..


I also liked their dumpling, especially the sauce with Shiso seeds.




















Try this unique ramen place. Noodle man is Japanese, but owners are Canadian and Australian... unique enough?

Zuzu Ramen
173 Fourth Ave. at DeGraw St
Park Slope, Brooklyn
718-398-9898