NYC Food Frenzy March 3-11

I realized this week, that I have not updated my Blog in a few weeks.  I also realized, that the original intent of my Blog was to document my coast to coast travels, adventures with my friends, and any insights I gain in between. 

Unfortunately, in the past few weeks, I’ve hibernated in NYC, where I’ve been working insane hours, in an effort to make my client happy.  I have no new insights, no new travels, and the only adventures I seem to have these days are of the gastronomic variety. 

So this issue of my blog will be to chronicle the last 2 weeks of my NYC Food Frenzy. 

• Tuesday, March 3, I ate at Ruby’s in Nolita, followed by B-Bar in the East Village;
• Wednesday, March 4, I ate at Momofuku Noodle Bar in the East Village;
• Thursday, March 5; I ate at Joe’s Shanghai (again) (See post below);
• Friday March 6, I ate at Peasant in Nolita;
• Sunday March 8, I ate at Café Bianca on Bleeker, followed by a bunch of bars I can’t recall.
• Tuesday, March 10, I ate at Inoteca in the LES, followed by Schillers, Sugar Sweet Sunshine and Donutplant (a busy night)!
• Wednesday, March 11, I ate at Seoul Garden in Korea Town

Ruby’s Cafe and Bar | 219 Mulberry Street @ Spring | Nolita

On the way to Ruby’s last week, my cabbie got into a car accident.  I was so hungry and late that I just jumped out of the car and ran in Ruby’s to meet my friends Ben and G.  Ben used to live in Nolita and he chose the place.  Owned by an Austrailian ex-pat who has one or two other restaurants in the City, Ruby’s was a cute little gem in the heart of Nolita on Mulberry and Spring Street.  

Walking in, there were only about 4 tables there.  It was small and cozy and crowded.  Ben and G were already there and we were all starving.  Ben and I each ordered a glass of house wine, and G a beer.  To share, we started with a delicious arugula salad with goat cheese, pine nuts, squash and the magic ingredient, pumpkin, all drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette.

For dinner, Ben ordered the creamy chicken penne pasta, G the Bronte burger, and I had the pesto chicken pasta. Ben’s dish was scrumptious (can’t really go wrong with cream).  Both pasta dishes were served in big, overflowing bowls, and as people were walking in, they were admiring our bowls of carbs.  The chicken was tender and plentiful.  The pasta perfectly al dente.  I didn’t try G’s burger, but he said it was pretty tasty.  The total bill was only about $75 for 3 people.  Not bad, for 3 entrees, 2 rounds of drinks and a shared appetizer.

After Ruby’s G headed uptown to mid-town and Ben and I went a few blocks over to B-Bar.  

West Village Stomachache or a Gastronomic Delight?

You tell me.

After a long day in the office, my friend and fellow foodie / eater Mohan asked me if I felt like Pomme Frites in the East Village.  I always love Pomme Frites (especially late night after a few too many with the Chipolte Ketchup) but I needed something a little heartier and the falaffel place next door to Pomme Frites just wasn’t going to cut it for me.

After volleying back and forth (Patsy’s Pizza, Lombardi’s Pizza, Curry Row) our stomachs and thoughts landed on Kati Roll.  I had only had Kati Rolls 2 other times late night, but both times were impressed with the Indian-esq style burritos filled with your choice of chicken, beef, paneer, aloo (potato), and / or egg.  Mohan (who is Indian) claimed that he had never had Kati Roll before and after doing some recon online, agreed to the excursion.