The Calm Before Sandy

It was strangely mild in NYC and across the river in Edgewater, NJ on Saturday and Sunday before Hurricane Sandy hit.  The weather was unseasonably warm, not a drop of rain fell, and aside from the occasional gust of wind on Sunday, the air was pretty still.  I wonder if this is what people mean by “the calm before the storm.”  There weren’t even many people out and about in the usually harried city streets.

As the 1,000-mile wide superstorm neared, my friend and I decided to make the most of the days leading up to its arrival, and embarked on an eating tour with some of her pals. Here’s a nod to one aspect of NYC/NJ that makes the area great, and to its resilient spirit that will undoubtedly surface as it picks itself up after the storm.

1|  THE BRESLIN
Chargrilled Lamb burger with feta, cumin mayo (FAVORITE)

Thrice cooked chips.  This is when it dawned on me that the British call fries “chips”…like in fish ‘n chips.  Talk about a Eureka moment.

Poached eggs with curried lentils, yogurt and cilantro

Cornmeal almond cake with quince and vanilla ice cream

Salted lemon sherbert (FAVORITE. I need more.  I want to learn how to make preserved lemons because of this.)

2|  NUM PANG

Coconut Tiger Shrimp Sandwich

3|  BIG GAY ICE CREAM SHOP:  Salty Pimp (Vanilla soft serve injected with salted caramel, with a chocolate shell)

4|  MACARON PARLOUR

Candied Bacon + Maple Cream Cheese

Lemon      Tiramisu      Pistacchio + Pistacchio and White Chocolate Ganache      Red Velvet + Cream Cheese      Passion Fruit + Milk Chocolate Ganache

5|  X’IAN FAMOUS FOODS

Liang Pi (Cold skin noodles)

Stewed pork hand-pulled noodle soup

Spicy cumin lamb burger

6|  AMORINO

Pistacchio, chocolate & passion fruit gelato (FAVORITE.  ALL of them.)

All done.

7|  DONUT PLANT (really wanted to like, but  sadly, was totally underwhelmed :()

Valrhona chocolate yeast donut

Wild blueberry cake donut

Not shown:  creme brulee doughseed donut ( I actually liked this one) and cinnamon sugar cake donut

8|  Vezzo Thin Crust Pizza:  Shroomtown Pizza (FAVORITE), Mondo India, Salsiccia Dolce

9|  Mitsuwa Food Court

Black sesame soft serve (FAVORITE.  SO sesame-y)

Not shown:  Canteloupe Soft Serve

10|  BCD Tofu House:  Seafood and Beef Soondubu (FAVORITE.  Tragically, no pictures)

11|  Dayinin Yeri

Lahmacun (Ground meat, peppers, onions, tomatoes, parsley on a thin crusted dough)

Patlican Tavasi – Fried eggplant and yogurt with a hint of garlic (FAVORITE)

Lamb Kebabs with Yogurt

I need to go back.