Stern Dynasty

Celebrating Our Last Assignment with Szechuan!

After we clicked "submit" on our last final, Christine and I celebrated at a favorite restaurant of the Class of 2014 (and smart people everywhere): Han Dynasty (http://www.handynasty.net/). On our walk to the restaurant, we had to take a commemorative photo of the NYU sign that was just put up for graduation festivities!

Freshly Minted Stern MBAs!

NYU Photo? Check! Now, onto a frosty beverage. I ordered a Stella and it arrived in its "chalice" - so corny, but great marketing.

Tea? No thanks. Stella? Yessa!

I don't think you're allowed to come to Han Dynasty without ordering the Dan Dan Noodles.

You must experience these noodles. They should be called Nom Nom Noodles

These noodles are so simple: spicy chili oil, ground pork and noodles. Uncomplicated and delicious!

The last time I came to Han Dynasty, which was my first time, which also happened to be with Christine and Olivia, we ordered the Dry Pot Style Lamb. It is one of the spiciest dishes at the restaurant (10/10), so we ordered it at a 5/10. I think it still numbed my entire mouth, but in a good way!

Spice explosion lamb and Christine's beautiful sweater

I can't wait to come back here again and (maybe...) order something different!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Put the TKettle On!

Bubble Tea Fix on St. Marks!

I was walking to pick up jewelry I got fixed at a great shop in the East Village (http://pilarjewelry.com/services) and passed one of my favorite bubble tea shops on my walk: TKettle (http://www.tkettle.com/). One of my favorite items to order is a Taro slushie with tapioca pearls.

So tasty!

The bubble tea is great here but sometimes I feel like it is too sweet. When I go, I request for only 50% sugar and it is much tastier! I encourage you try this place out - the Black Milk Tea is great too!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Milk Does a Body Good

Dessert as Addictive as Crack

After our wonderful dinner at B4, the girls and I headed to Momofuku Milk Bar (http://www.yelp.com/biz/momofuku-milk-bar-new-york-4) is the East Village. I've had the pleasure of dining here before, so I was full of recommendations on what to order.

First, we started with a pint of the Cereal Milk soft serve. If you get an individual serving, it is $4. The pint (which is easily more than 2x the size of the individual) is $8. Make sure to get the pint layered with cereal crunchies! The salty-sweetness is what makes this dessert a stand out. If you're a fan of things like salted caramel or kettle corn, you will LOVE this! I was too busy eating to remember to take photos, so this is all I have. #sorryimnotsorry

Tasting Portions

We split up the pint into individual servings so we could taste a bunch of things. We also ordered a slice of crack pie (it reminds me of a pecan pie...minus the pecans). It has the sweetness of a condensed milk dessert. So yummy! We also got the birthday cake truffles. If you love that taste, this intense flavored ball of goodness will blow your socks off.

There are several other Milk bars in New York, including the Upper West Side, Midtown West, Williamsburg and Carroll Gardens. Make sure to check it out and you MUST try the cereal milk!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Han Dynasty

So Tasty, it Will Leave You Numb!

I heard so many RAVE reviews of Han Dynasty (http://www.handynasty.net/) that when Liv suggested going to dinner here with Christine, I was thrilled! This lovely Szechuan restaurant has locations in Philly and Cherry Hill, NJ as well. Now that it is in the East Village, there is simply no reason to not RUN here!

This restaurant is quite popular and does not take reservations. However, they have an iPad reservation system, so if you are nearby, stop in and give the hostess your phone number. You can grab a cocktail at any of the nearby bars in the East Village and get a text when you are ready to be seated!

We ordered a bottle of wine for the three of us. The pricing is incredible - we got a nice bottle (Dreaming Tree) of Cabernet for about $30.

To start, we obviously got the Dan Dan Noodles. THESE ARE SO YUMMY!

Dan Dan Noodles

I could have easily eaten the whole bowl myself, but I remember that we ordered other food, so I held back. The spicy level was high (8 out of 10) but it is more of a numbing heat than a hot heat if that makes sense. I've found many times I've had Thai food that is significantly spicier even if it is only "medium" at the restaurant. It is the type of spice that matters as much, if not more, than the quantity!

Aside from the Dan Dan Noodles, we asked for the gentleman that took our order to give us some guidance on what to order. He suggested the Spicy Crispy Cucumber, Dumplings in Chili Oil, String Beans with Minced Pork, and the Dry Pot Style Lamb.  

Spicy Crispy Cucumbers

These were yummy! They had a great bite to them and were a nice contrast to some of the heavier/carby dishes. I highly recommend them.

Dumplings in Chili OIl

SO TASTY! I could eat a bucket of these. You get at least 6 dumplings, so it is certainly enough to share with others, or be selfish and just get for yourself!

String Beans with Minced Pork

These string beans were ok but couldn't compare with the rest of the dishes. The amount of pork wasn't really anything to write home about. Next time, I would order a different veggie dish.

Dry Pot Style Lamb

This is the style of preparation that Han Dynasty is famous for!! The entrée is served in a sizzling mini wok and cooked in a spicy hot pot sauce with black mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bell peppers and Sichuan peppercorns. We were advised to get it with a fattier protein than chicken so we got lamb. It was very tender and delicious! Normally this is the spiciest item on the menu (10 out of 10) and we asked for it at a level 5. I loved eating and could not feel my lips afterwards, so who knows how much the spice was actually adjusted.

This is somewhere I will take my parents when they visit. My dad LOVES spicy food and I know he will greatly enjoy eating here!

Check this spot out and try going during off-times to avoid the lines!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Winter Weather = Short Wait Times

Five Minutes Was All It Took for Some IPPUDO!

Tomorrow was a rollercoaster of emotions. There was a snowstorm (see below) BUT school was not cancelled. After trekking through the wasteland outside my apartment, I arrived on campus to check into my flight to Napa TO SEE IT WAS CANCELLED. I checked to see if there were other available flights to prevent a total disaster of my weekend. There were only flights going out on Friday but, naturally, these were all sold-out...UNTIL SUNDAY!

LOOK AT THIS NONSENSE! Winter, you're not cute anymore. Please stop.

In order to combat this disappointment, Christine suggested we go to lunch at Ippudo (http://www.ippudony.com/) and take advantage of whatever perk terrible weather is; in this case, it is an incredibly short wait time!

We started with the Hirata Buns. They are steamed buns filled with pork or chicken (we picked pork) served with Ippudo's original spicy buns sauce.  

Hirata Buns

These were incredibly delicious! I could have eaten several of them but I didn't want to be a complete animal, so Christine and I split an order and had one each.

While reading the menu and picking what to order next, we each ordered a Sapporo Light.

The shot glass for the beer adds something for sure

Out of the different Ramen styles available, I ordered the Akamaru Chashu. This is the original silky "Tonkotsu" (pork) soup noodles topped with Ippudo's secret "Umami Dama" miso paste, pork chashu, cabbage, sesame kikurage mushrooms, scallions and fragrant garlic oil.

Akamaru Chashu

This was delicious! Ippudo is certainly worth the hype though I am not an expert on Ramen. I have been happy at many other spots, including Ramen Setagaya and Minca, so I'm not sure if I would bother coming back here if the wait was over 30 minutes. It is good but to my unrefined palate it may be a *tad* overhyped.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Spot Stole My Heart

New Favorite Dessert "Spot"

After Scott and I finished up our Ramen dinner, I was ready for dessert! While we walked on St. Marks, I noticed Spot Dessert Bar (http://www.spotdessertbar.com/). I have wanted to go to this place for A LONG TIME but the time never presented itself. Tonight, however, the stars aligned! We didn't ease into dessert either, we ordered four dessert tapas. Clearly, one would have been enough. Though, who thinks clearly when dessert is involved?

Our desserts came out in the order I posted the photos below. As a funny coincidence, the order they came out in was also my preference of the desserts. To begin, the Chocolate Green Tea Lava Cake stole my heart.

Chocolate Green Tea Lava Cake

The cake was heaven on a plate. It was hot and cold - the perfect balance of a straight out of the oven cake and freshly scooped ice cream melting on it. God help me, I need another one. NOW. The warm soft dark chocolate cake is filled with a green tea ganache, green tea ice cream and walnut soil. It is perfection and beautiful. Next, came the Golden Toast!

Golden Toast

The Golden Toast is so completely random yet delicious. It is honey buttered toast with condensed milk, vanilla ice cream, strawberries and whipped cream. This tapa reminded me of French toast without the maple flavor. It was a nice complement to the lava cake. We would have been ahead just stopping with two desserts. However, we already ordered four because we are gluttonous pigs. Next up, Kabocha Brulee Cake - an Asian interpretation of pumpkin pie.

Kabocha Brulee Cake

This was OK. If I had not already enjoyed the lava cake and toast, I would have likely thought this was a better dessert. However, in comparison to two star performances, this one was doomed from the start. This cake is a warm Japanese pumpkin cake (more of a custard though), with walnut "soil" aka crumbs, and condensed milk ice cream.  The final dessert was super disappointing even though it contained Thai Tea flavors, the Thai Tea Crème Brulee.

Thai Tea Crème Brulee

This final dessert was a huge letdown. Frownie brownie. It was a Thai tea infused cream custard with caramelized sugar and served with a cup of hot Thai Tea. Ugh. Wish we didn't order it but sometimes you don't know until it is too late - with dessert and many other things, am I right?

Anyway, you MUST go here. Maybe just get 1 or 2 desserts. Stick with my first two choices and you are golden (no pun intended).

Cheers,

Liz

Hot Ramen. Cold Nights.

Of Course I Ordered Extra BBQ Pork!

In order to escape the polar vortex that plagued NYC last week, my friend Scott and I filled our faces with a hot bowl of noodles otherwise known as Ramen. Scott suggested Ramen Setagaya (http://www.ramensetagayany.com/), located near NYU on St. Marks. I've walked by it many times without knowing it was any good. Isn't that common in this insane city? There are simply too many fantastic options we take for granted.  

Customized Bowls? This place means BUSINESS!

I haven't had a ton of ramen in my life, but the last time I got it, I ordered spicy miso ramen. It was fantastic, so I stuck with that. At this spot, the miso ramen contained many of the typical characters: BBQ pork, salt tasted eggs (I usually pass on that), bamboo shoots, beansprouts, cabbage, corn, and of course glorious noodles. I paid $2 extra for additional pork ("chasyu"). This was a shrewd decision and Scott copied my move. He is a smart one!

Spicy Miso Ramen!

This is a tiny spot, like most Ramen spots, that is worth visiting. I would note that even with paying the upcharge for additional pork, there wasn't that much. Boo!

Cheers,

Liz

Tea for Two at Cha-An

One Last Get Together Before Break!

Before we parted our separate ways for break, Melissa and I got together for one last fun activity! We wanted to meet for afternoon tea and did some research. We ended up selecting Cha-An (http://www.chaanteahouse.com/) after debating among many choices. As my review will show you, we may have not made the best decision!

The Outside is Inviting!

I took a peek at the menu online before we got there. I ordered a dessert set-up: Cha-An's Sweets, with cookies, a fresh baked earl grey scone (the highlight of the visit) and pound cake. This was $16 and I assumed it would included Tea....since it was for Afternoon Tea. I read the fine-print and it was $5 more for tea!! I thought this was a bit expensive for what it was, especially since a tea set-up generally includes tea.

Cha-An's Sweets - earl grey scone on the lower right!

I (unhappily) paid $5 for tea - I got a black tea - Darjeeling 2nd Flush. It was a smallish pot and I drank most of it before my desserts even came. I could get refills of course...but it was $5. Other places I've been for tea, the tea is unlimited. I've been spoiled apparently!

Darjeeling 2nd Flush

There are much better places in the city for tea. I doubt I'll come back. If you stop by, maybe just order a small dessert - the black sesame crème brulee with black sesame ice cream is "famous" there.

Cheers!
Liz

 

Gyu-Kaku Happy Hour for the Win

Desperately Seeking Cocktails

Last week, Melissa and I went to Gyu-Kaku (http://www.gyu-kaku.com/ny/eastvillage.htm) for its fantastic Happy Hour (everyday from 11:00am to 6:00pm and 9:30pm to 11:00pm Mon-Thurs). I ordered the Saketini as my cocktail, a mix of vodka and sake! All cocktails are 50% off - all liquor brands too!

Saketini

We ordered a bunch of plates to share, including the rib-eye, hangar steak, and shishito peppers. If you use FourSquare make sure to check-in so you can get complimentary edamame! Both of us check-in, so we each got a bowl!J

Rib-Eye for BBQ!

Shishito Peppers

We had an awesome lunch! This is such a good spot to go during happy hour, otherwise it is a bit pricey.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Ramen is Only 3 Hours, I mean 1.5 Hours, I mean 30 Minutes Away!

When You Need a Fix, Hit Minca!

One of my good friends, Meredith, visited me from California this past weekend. We met up with some of her friends for dinner. Originally, we wanted to conquer Ippudo. I've lived in the city for over a year and I still haven't gone. There really is no excuse since it is so close to Stern. I haven't wanted to wait. This past Friday was no exception! The wait (at the no reservation restaurant) was over 3 hours! So, we decided to walk over to Momofuku Noodle Bar (which also does not take reservations) which had a 1.5 hour wait.

One of Meredith's friends suggested going to Minca (http://www.newyorkramen.com/) instead, where the wait was *only* 30 minutes for the five of us! We walked over (by this point we had quite an appetite after searching for ramen!) and waited for our table. I have not gone to many ramen spots, so I wasn't sure what to order. The waitress suggested their most popular option: the spicy miso ramen. It was delicious!

The broth had a fantastic flavor, the pork was perfectly fatty without being gross and the noodles were perfectly tender. This meal was for sure a "cheat meal" as I've been doing Atkins for the past month and a half with great success. Sometimes, you need to live on the edge, even if that includes eating carbs. 

Spicy Miso Ramen!

I'm not a ramen expert, so I may not be the best judge. I really loved what I ordered. It was a big bowl and I left very satisfied having only spent $13 on the entree. Also, because this isn't as much of a tourist trap as Ippudo, you likely won't have to wait as long. I only have a sample size of 1 (my own experience) so I cannot guarantee a timely meal. Put your name down and grab a drink across the street at Ace!

Check it out!

Nom,

Liz