International Restaurant & Foodservice Show 2013

Jacob Javits Center

The first day of the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show took place last Sunday, March 3, at the Jacob Javits Center. This was my second year attending the show and I had a plan: skip all the restaurant equipment and just try out all food and drink samples while checking out what’s new in the market. The show was just as big but somehow I felt this year’s show was more organized and spacious. There was also no shortage of vendors.

I was greeted with fresh gelato made by the Cattabriga EFFE. It was smooth and creamy. Very good gelato upon first impressions and taste. The machine itself was quite impressive as the gelato maker held out a giant mixing spoon with gelato on it for us to taste.

Cattabriga EFFE

Fresh Gelato!

After that, I made a beeline to the Japan section on the right. This was where there would be a lot of hot food and ramen samples. I was right. I tried a variety of ramen and soba. Myojo's ramen noodles were cooked al dente. They had a bite to them and were not overcooked and soggy. Restaurant Nippon was present to demo their famous soba noodles created by Nippon Owner Nobuaki Kuraoka. The noodles come frozen but can be cooked in just eight seconds. Talk about a meal done in a blink of an eye. They paired their cold noodles with a salad. It was very refreshing.

Myojo

Myojo noodles 

Myojo Shio Ramen

Soba ingredients

Restaurant Nippon Cold Soba with Salad

These savory dishes left me thirsty. Off to find the beverage vendors, I stumbled upon P&H Soda Co., Dr. Smoothie, and spindrift. I was already familiar with P&H Soda Co. since they have a stand at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg and are Brooklyn based. This time I got to sample all of their sodas from sarsaparilla and lovage to lime and hibiscus. I learned that sarsaparilla and lovage are roots. Of all the choices, I liked the grapefruit flavor the most. Dr. Smoothie focused on fruit and veggie smoothies (carrot apple and  mango squash). They were a big hit with the crowd and very healthy. Spindrift was similar to San Pellegrino drinks in taste. They were good on their own but the reps highly suggested to use the beverages as mixers. Prosecco anyone?

P&H Soda Co.

Dr. Smoothie

spindrift Seltzer

There was no shortage of meat and poultry. I tasted duck, steak, and breakfast meats. Esposito and Karl Ehmer were on hand serving slices of sweet and savory sausages. One that particularly stood out was the chicken apple of Esposito. Master Purveyors had a whole collection of cuts to showcase but it was the steak slices Two Rivers Certified Tender that really stole the show. I have never tasted a juicier and flavorful steak before served rare. They offer three cuts: ribeye, striploin, and tenderloin.

Esposito Chicken Apple Sausage

Master Purveyors Inc. Meat

Karl Ehmer Sausages

Two Rivers Certified Tender juicy steak

And now for the fun things at the show. From a Jelly Belly frozen yogurt machine to mascot outfits, amuse and entertainment was in every corner. 

Jelly Belly flavored Frozen Yogurt

Mascot Costumes

Can’t wait for next year’s show!

International Restaurant & Foodservice Show

Jacob Javits Center New York

Advanced Gourmet

Restaurant Nippon

P&H Soda Co.

Spindrift

Dr. Smoothie

Esposito Sausage

Brooklyn: Sledding in Prospect Park

Nemo left us with a foot of snow and I have pictures to prove it. The City dealt with it pretty well. Around 3 o'clock on Friday, everyone started preparing for their journey home. Limited train schedules and subway delays had prompted early dismissals from work. By five, Midtown and Times Square felt like a ghost town. Connecticut had declared a state of emergency and events in New Jersey were already cancelled.

NYC Parks sponsored Snow Day

I took advantage of the snow the next day by heading out to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. NYC Parks was sponsoring a snow day with free hot chocolate, sledding, and snow angel contests. We had our own sleds and did what other New Yorkers did: lugged them on the subway and walked a few avenues to get to the park.

What fun it was. I had never gone sledding before. There is a rush going down the hill and a moment of terror and fear right before taking the plunge. It was amazing to see the range of sleds people had from age appropriate sleds and wooden ones to plastic ones and inflatable tubes. No sled? Some were really resourceful and used plastic tub lids and cardboard boxes to garbage can lids and 8 inch cutting boards.

Prospect Park

Some sledding etiquette I'd like to share:

1) Wait your turn. Don't cut in line. Patience! You won't be standing on top of that hill for more than 5 minutes before sliding down.

2) Wait until your path is clear. Are there children or adults in your way? If so, give them a minute to get out of your way. It is your job to avoid a collision. If you find yourself headed for one, take a sharp turn to stop!

3) After your run, don't walk back up the hill in the path of the sledders. Walk on the side where it is safe.

This was our snow day:

Here we are violating Rule #3!

Here we go!

We survived!

Time to rest.

After sledding we went in search for a good area to make snow angels.

Trudging through the snow.

Snow Angels!

Building our mini snowgirl!

Hello!

Prospect Park was absolutely gorgeous. We made our own snow angels and a mini snowgirl. I even came across a tiny igloo. The snow was great, powdery, and clean. After mucking around for about three hours, it was time to go home. On the way back to the subway we found a little diner that sold fresh donuts and hot chocolate. No better way to end an adventure than with such a sweet treat!

Photography Credits: Desmond Chow

NYC Parks: Snow Days

Prospect Park

2013 Winter Jam - Central Park

Have you ever experienced Central Park laden with snow? It is one of the most beautiful sights to be seen and enjoyed. Children bring their sleds, saucer discs, and cardboard pieces to help them coast down tiny hills. It is surprisingly safe and well organized. The kids are accompanied by their parents and they all take turns gliding down one by one. I have never seen so many children so patient waiting for their turn. Central Park transforms into a mini Winter wonderland.

Sledding

In January, the New York City Parks Department, along with the Olympic Regional Development Authority and Gore Mountain, hosted the 2013 Winter Jam. Winter Jam is an annual event which glorifies snow and Winter sports. I went to check it out and made sure to wear my snow boots.

Gore Mountain provided tons of synthetic snow. You would have never known the snow was fake since it actually snowed the day before and the snowy landscape blended all together. Winter Jam gave New Yorkers a chance to try out a few Winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snowshoeing without having to travel upstate or to any other of the nearby mountains in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. There were snowboarding tricks demonstrated and sponsored by Red Bull, ice sculptures you could sit on and pose with, and a doggie snow zone. The festival had entertainment in every corner. In addition to the sports and recreational areas, there was also a live band, food vendors, free samples, and an animal adoption agency on site. Needless to say, there was a lot going on!

Red Bull Metrorail

The happiest dog ever!

The festival was geared largely to children. There was a Learn to Play Quidditch area through a local Meetup group, Radio Disney on site, and various games to play. I took interest in an educational Winter camping and survival demo. Learning how to shield oneself from the snow and wind while collecting water to boil are important skills to master.

Survival Skills 101

Learn to Play Quidditch

Everyone was required to sign a waiver if they wanted to participate in the activities. The festival was divided into sections. The snowshoeing area had no line. I walked right in and was seated to be fitted into snowshoes. Much to my surprise, snowshoes did not look like tennis rackets! I had watched one, too many cartoons. The snowshoes I tried on snapped onto my boots and when I walked, they moved with me. They looked and felt like they were made out of plastic. They were very durable despite their lightness. The snowshoes gave my boots a larger support surface and I was even able to run in them. Snowshoes prevent you from sinking into the snow. I had a great time stomping around and am now ready for a Winter hike! After snowshoeing, I wanted to try cross-country skiing but the line was a good hour long wait. I took it as a sign to move on. There was much to explore!

Getting strapped in.

Our Snowshoes

I spent a good two hours at the festival overall. I walked through Central Park the rest of the afternoon. I came across Betheseda Fountain. Behind the fountain, the same lake I rowed a boat in had now become iced over. I could not believe this was the same park that was usually green and filled with people in shorts and t-shirts. Now the park looked like a page out of a L.L. Bean catalog, Winter edition.

The Lake

Photography Credits: Roxwriting, Desmond Chow

Winter Jam

5 Napkin Burger- New Menu

5 Napkin Burger has a reputation for being one of the most popular burger spots in New York City. What makes them different is that aside from burgers, they sell other food such as sushi, salads, and small plates which you can turn into a tapas experience. It's kind of surprising. Most would think that if you order other than the namesakes and specialties, you're ordering wrong. At 5 Napkin Burger, if you stray from the burgers, you'd find yourself just as satisfied.

I had the opportunity to sample 5 Napkin Burger's new menu in Astoria, Queens. We were served a few small plates to share, chose our own entree, and then sampled some of their milkshakes for dessert. Genius! From now on, I'm ordering a milkshake for dessert rather than as beverage. Cookies and cream is the way to go!

Here are a few things we ate that night:

Wasabi Deviled Eggs

Crispy Fried Calamari "diavolo" = calamari with fried jalapenos!

Pesto Flatbread

Taco Trio: Grilled Mahi, Pulled Pork, Chipotle Chicken

Skirt Steak Churrasco

Funny, how I went to 5 Napkin Burger and didn't try a burger. I just wasn't feeling it that night. I had gone once to 5 Napkin Burger in Hells Kitchen and tried the burger, so I wanted to know what I was missing. The small plates or appetizers were all good. They'd go great with a drink or as a light dinner. For entrees, the steak churrasco was perfect. If you're ever wondering where you can get a decent priced and decent steak, 5 Napkin Burger. They cook it medium rare and it is bloody good. The tacos were on the dry side so if you get them, stick with the mahi as it is light and tasty not dried out like the pork or chicken.

After visiting the Astoria, Queens location, I find that I prefer it much better than the Hells Kitchen, Manhattan location. It's got more space and there is no wait time! They are also now serving Astoria's SingleCut beers and a $5 burger special for lunch. Who ever said you couldn't get a deal in NYC?

5 Napkin Burger

35-01 36th Street

Astoria, NY 11106 

Pokemon Party

Once in awhile, my friends and I like the have a theme night. We pick a movie to watch and then cook dinner influenced by elements of the movie. Our most recent dinner was a Pokemon party. Did you know there has been 18 Pokemon movies made? That's one too many for me to watch but I did have fun coming up with ideas for dishes to make.

My friends compiled a list of possible dishes. These were not made but they sounded interesting:

- Jiggly Cream Puff

- Machop and Applesauce

- Arancini Bulbasaur

- Pidgey in a Blanket

- Sauteed Swiss Charizard

- Egg and Cheese Rattata

Here are a few pictures of what was brought and made for the party:

Pokeball tomato, olive, and mozzarella cheese

Gotta eat em all!

Fried Magikarp with Chili Sauce

Pokeball Pizza

Ratatouille

Pork Buns

Bulbasaur Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Vanilluxe Ice Cream

Eating was fun and the movie was a little slow but in between both we brought out some old toys to put together and play with.

Pokemon world!

Pokemon at your service!

Pokemon understands how I feel at work.

Before the Pokemon movie we had a bbq and a Phoenix Wright night. What will be our next theme night? Any suggestions?

5 Tips for an Orlando Theme Park Visit

Magic Kingdom

Orlando, Florida is home to a variety of theme, water, and amusement parks. Whether it is Disney, Universal, Sea World, or Wet N’ Wild you are interested in, there are more than enough activities to do and, most likely, not enough days or energy to do them all. Pick wisely and you will have a fun filled vacation with lots of reasons to return. Here are a few things I learned on my weekend trip down south.

1. Transportation- How do you plan to get around? If you are driving your own car or getting a rental, take into account hotel parking fees ($20/day), theme park parking lot fees ($14/day), rental fees ($12-32/day), gasoline cost, and driving through traffic. If you don’t have your own car, it is doable to maneuver without one. Many of the hotels have airport shuttles ($19/person) and a taxi will run about $50 to/from the airport and $10 to/from Downtown Disney or Universal CityWalk. Theme park shuttles run every hour and if you are on Disney property there is always the monorail or ferry. If you are riding shuttles, take note of the schedules and reservation requirements. If you have a digital camera or camera phone, take a snapshot of the schedule. If you lose the schedule, you’ll have a digital copy saved. Weigh your options and go with the one you are most comfortable with. I have stayed on Disney property once and had no issues with public transportation. This time, I was based on the Universal side and had a few issues with taxi and shuttle hours and customer service. Next time I’d look into renting my own car.

2. Accommodations- If you stay on Disney or Universal property there are a lot of perks. These are the newer hotels and have a resort like feel. By staying on Disney or Universal property, you may have early entry into the parks and a Universal Express card key for Universal. Skip the lines! This perk can cost up to $50 extra per person depending on the day you go so if you get it complimentary through the hotel you could be saving some real money.

There are countless budget friendly hotels and motels in the surrounding area. If you choose not to stay on Disney or Universal property, check if your hotel is part of the Disney or Universal partnership. You may be able to get into the parks an hour early.   

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure

3. When to Visit- I have been to Orlando during the height of Summer and Spring Break. Both months (July and April) were humid, hot, and crowded. Temperatures were in the high 80s. This time I went during Martin Luther King weekend (January) and it was still warm (72 degrees) and sunny. The coldest it got was a low of 64 and it rained barely a sprinkle. The crowds were non-existent (line wait times were anywhere from five minutes to 45 minutes). I vow never to go back during Summer or Spring Break. Off peak season is much better.   

4. Theme Park Logic- Study the map of the theme park. Cross off rides and attractions you are not interested in. If there is a FASTPASS available for a ride, get it and return at your designated time to avoid long wait times. While waiting, ride one or two rides or catch a show. Go on rides when people are eating lunch or dinner or watching a parade or fireworks show. If you need a logical path, walk the park clockwise, counterclockwise, or go to the farthest point and then make your way back to the entrance/exit, and take the train if you are tired of walking around the park.

                                                                    

FASTPASSES at Magic Kingdom

5. Birthday- It was my birthday weekend and I went to the Magic Kingdom on my actual birthday. I got a birthday button with my name on it and every time a park employee saw my button they wished me a happy birthday. One employee even serenaded me in Donald Duck’s voice and threw confetti on me. At the new Fantasyland, I was in one of the giftshop candy stores and I got a free chocolate covered marshmallow dipped in hot pink crystallized sugar. It was delicious! I felt really special all day. Universal is also on the birthday bandwagon and distributes birthday buttons as well.

Disney buttons

I had a whirlwind tour of three theme parks in three days. I’ve already planned my next trip and that would be during October when there are even less people. At the Magic Kingdom during Halloween they convert the Haunted Mansion into Nightmare Before Christmas and then overnight the park gets decked out in Christmas decorations complete with fake snow. I definitely want to experience that and will be using the tips I learned this last weekend to maximize my trip to its full potential. Happy theme park hopping!

Magic Kingdom

1180 7 Seas Drive

Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Universal Studios and Universal’sIslands of Adventure

6000 Universal Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32819

Chobani Soho- First Greek Yogurt Store in NYC

Chobani Soho. Dog friendly too!

New York is so fancy pants. What we can buy at the grocery store for a dollar on sale, we need to have sold in a store front that rivals a high end jewelry, optical, cupcake, or macaron shop.

I am pleased to introduce Chobani Soho. Yes, the Greek yogurt you find on your grocery shelf is now served fresh daily in New York City. I laughed a little when I first heard it was coming to town. Now that I’ve seen the following of Chobani and tasted their yogurt creations, I am impressed and glad they opened up a yogurt bar. We are witnessing the Greek yogurt revolution and birth of a new trend. Frozen yogurt out, Green yogurt in. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fage opens up across the street from Chobani next year.

Greek yogurt is an acquired taste. It's not sweet. It's rich. It's is also thick. Although Chobani is more on the thinner side, some Greek yogurt is so thick that if you stuck a spoon in it, it would stand up straight left alone. The yogurt is thick because it is strained of liquid. During this process, most of the lactose in the yogurt is also lost. Greek yogurt is high in protein, has a low caloric count, and when non-fat or low fat it can be a pretty healthful option. There are many reasons why people are buying into the Greek yogurt craze.

The yogurt served at Chobani is not the same variety as the pre-packaged ones sold in the grocery store. For the yogurt bar, Chobani created 10 different recipes and two seasonal flavors. Does dark chocolate and pistachios float your boat? Feeling new age-y and want to jump start your morning? Yogurt topped with blueberries, Chia seeds, and Hemp might do the trick. Need a little something to tide you over before your next meal? Plain Chobani with a touch of honey keeps it simple. It’s also served with pita chips.

I like the Chobani store. They took the conservative, classy, high class route instead of going for a neon pastel plastic look. Chobani Soho suits the area. The store looks expensive with dark colored wood. It’s almost a look don’t touch atmosphere. It’s also crowded with tourists, shoppers, and locals taking a break while walking their dog.

The interior is a little hectic. There is a crowd and only one person to take your order. There are no cash registers at Chobani. Someone casually walks up to you, takes your order, collects your money, and then gives you your yogurt. At the back wall you can watch the yogurt chefs concoct your personalized bowl. The store is decorated with bags of Chobani branded pistachios, honey, water bottles, tote bags, and olive oil for sale. The table in the center is decorated seasonally. The last time I went in, the table was loaded with giant shiny ruby red pomegranates and pine cones.

Chobani interior

Private label Chobani everything

Since there is barely any seating, one is encouraged to take their yogurt to go. The yogurt is covered loosely with Chobani cheesecloth and held in place by a red elastic band reminiscent of Kabbalah. The bowl the yogurt is served in is made of glass, perfectly sized to hold a prepackaged Chobani from the grocery store, and yours to keep. If you eat in the store, they will trade your dirty bowl for a brand new clean bowl and let you go on your merry way. No more sneaking into public bathrooms to wash out your Chobani bowl for safe holding.

Ready to go or ready to eat!

Pumpkin and Walnut

Toasted Coconut and Pineapple

Cucumber and Olive Oil: Avoid! No one likes this one at all!

So far, I’ve tried Fig and Walnut, Toasted Coconut and Pineapple, Pumpkin and Walnut, and Pomegranate and Power. The ingredients are top shelf and plentiful. The toasted coconut and pineapple alone was a tropical experience. If you are a fan of Greek yogurt, I highly recommend trying out the Chobani store. They have somehow elevated the whole experience of eating a cup of Greek yogurt. If it still sounds far-fetched to you, I say, “Only in New York, only in New York”. Actually, I’ll rephrase that by saying, “Only in New York, only in New York. So far.” 

Chobani

150 Prince Street

New York, NY 10012