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?