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brighton312

  • Member since 2010
  • Total posts 27
  • Total comments 79
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brighton312 commented 7 years ago

Yes, Boston_Otter, you've understood me perfectly. Sure, if I had my way, I'd be at an independent coffee shop every day for an amazing cup of coffee I can drink black, but that's not always doable. The tips so far have been great. Thanks, everyone!!! Looking forward to trying them out!

 

I like to get coffee at 7-Eleven. They have quite a few different coffees and options for stuff to put in it. Can you give me suggestions for how to make a good combination?

Coffee types: Hazelnut, Colombian, Pumpkin Spice, Bold, French Vanilla, Decaf, Blueberry, Regular Exclusive Blend.
Syrups: Pumpkin, sugar free caramel, vanilla.
Toppings: Cinnamon, vanilla powder, mini marshmallows.
This machine that dispenses already-made drinks: Hot chocolate, pumpkin spice latte, cappucino, skinny vanilla latte.
A ton of different creamers.

So far I like the Colombian one with light cream. But I would like to try something more elaborate. I like the fancy holiday coffee drinks at Starbucks and stuff. Would love to concoct a low-budget equivalent.

What about you? Do you like 7-Eleven coffee? How do you like yours?

I like to get coffee at 7-Eleven. They have quite a few different coffees and options for stuff to put in it. Can you give me suggestions for how to make a good combination?

Coffee types: Hazelnut, Colombian, Pumpkin Spice, Bold, French Vanilla, Decaf, Blueberry, Regular Exclusive Blend.
Syru...

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brighton312 commented 8 years ago

I have a medical reason (off-topic for this board.) Was hoping someone could suggest something Chowhound-worthy!

 

Hi! Can anyone suggest restaurants in or near Murray Hill that have calorie counts available for their menu? I've found a few so far (all chains).

Best options so far:
Sweetgreen
Le Pain Quotidien

Will do in a pinch:
Pret a Manger
Just Salad
Fresh & Co
Europa Cafe

Do you know of anywhere better/more interesting?
Thanks!!!

 
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brighton312 commented 8 years ago

Having lived in Murray Hill for about nine months now, I think I've eaten my way through most of the options in the area and wanted to report back with some of my results. I tried many of the places suggested in this thread and my favorites are Num Pang, Jaiya, Blue Smoke, Desi Shack, and Penelope. Baoguette is also good. Lamazou and Kalustyan's remain in my regular rotation. And I've had a couple very good cheap lunches delivered from Spice Symphony. Thanks especially to the several people who recommended Penelope - it's become my go-to neighborhood place for brunches, dates, you name it. The food is reliably good and also simple enough to please picky eaters and visiting family.

My favorite wine bars in the area are Terroir and Vanguard (I'm a wine beginner.) I love Waterfront Ale House for their beer selection and atmosphere, but I haven't liked any of the food, so I recommend it for drinks only.

I've also been frequenting two great places that seem to be new to the neighborhood: Mayhem and Stout for well-made sandwiches with braised meats and interesting toppings, and Perk Kafe for really, really good espresso. My other favorite coffee places in the area are Oren's and Lucid.

Murray Hill doesn't have the same density of food destinations as the East Village does, but all in all I'm very happy with the options and feel that I eat extremely well here.

Having lived in Murray Hill for about nine months now, I think I've eaten my way through most of the options in the area and wanted to report back with some of my results. I tried many of the places suggested in this thread and my favorites are Num Pang, Jaiya, Blue Smoke, Desi Shack, and Penelop...

 
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brighton312 commented 9 years ago

I thought about taking it back, but decided against it because it didn't seem like the product was defective. It wasn't spoiled or expired or anything. I just don't happen to like it, and didn't feel like that was grounds for a refund.

 
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brighton312 commented 9 years ago

Thanks everyone! I did what scunge suggested and blended it with yogurt, olive oil, lemon, mint, and dill. It was great - so much good stuff in there that the feta was disguised, but still lent some flavor and protein (and salt!) I served it over sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. Very successful!

 
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brighton312 commented 9 years ago

Thanks again to all of you for your replies. I went to Cuchifritos and it was perfect. I ordered a pound of chicharrones for about $8 and got some maduros with it. Both were excellent. Only problem was I forgot to ask for a lime. Guess I'll have to go eat there again!

 

I bought feta for the first time today. Unfortunately I hate the one I bought. It's called "Treasure Cave" and has an unappealing dry, powdery texture. When I was buying it, I didn't realize that it was not real feta but rather the equivalent of that powdery parmesan in the canister with the green top. Anyway, I don't want to waste the whole tub. Any ideas for what to do with it?

There are some good-sounding ideas in this thread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/880066
Do any of these seem like they might be able to disguise the texture of my feta?

Thanks in advance!

I bought feta for the first time today. Unfortunately I hate the one I bought. It's called "Treasure Cave" and has an unappealing dry, powdery texture. When I was buying it, I didn't realize that it was not real feta but rather the equivalent of that powdery parmesan in the canister with the gree...

 
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brighton312 commented 9 years ago

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions! Yes, I'm looking for the kind of chicharrones that JungMann described, not the kind in a bag. Hot, deep-fried, with a lime squeezed over it - perfection!

 

At midnight on an upcoming Friday night, I will be near 125th and Lex and in need of some delicious, filling, fatty food that will stick to my ribs for as long as possible. Do you know of any specific places that are likely to be open? I could walk to somewhere within maybe a 15-minute radius.

Chicharrones are my top choice but I'm open to other suggestions as well. It needs to be takeout, easily portable, and not drippy. Ideas for carby snacks are also welcomed, I will need some carbs to go with my fried fat. Thank you in advance!!!

ETA: Perhaps not relevant, but I feel like it should be clarified that this post is not about a post-bar binge, but rather needing to have a good filling meal before a long, foodless trip.

At midnight on an upcoming Friday night, I will be near 125th and Lex and in need of some delicious, filling, fatty food that will stick to my ribs for as long as possible. Do you know of any specific places that are likely to be open? I could walk to somewhere within maybe a 15-minute radius.
...

 
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brighton312 commented 9 years ago

Agreed sam1, I had that one in Montreal and it was indeed GREAT. (Fully deserves the caps!)

The DKA at Dominique Ansel is almost as great, but it's a different style. The texture of the DKA is softer and, I think, superior to the texture of the abovementioned Montreal variant. I too am interested in hearing if there are other places that offer it in New York besides Ansel.

 
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brighton312 commented 9 years ago

One more thing - do you know of any grocery/beer stores that sell Eastern European beers like Baltika, Golden Pheasant, Zywiec, or similar?

 
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brighton312 commented 9 years ago

I think I remember having seen other threads on this board about "uncool," overweight, or older people receiving inferior service, being seated at the worst and least visible tables, etc. Maybe this is what the OP is referring to? It seems like this kind of discrimination is more likely to happen at "trendy" or "cool" restaurants rather than upscale ones, though.

 
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brighton312 commented 9 years ago

Thank you all for your ideas so far! I'm very much looking forward to eating my way through these lists. So happy to find out a couple places carry Ceci Cela pastries around here, and that there are good options for pubs, Thai, Middle Eastern, and Chinese. I really appreciate you guys all taking the time to reply!

 
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brighton312 commented 9 years ago

Thanks for the input. Now that you mention it, I've actually been to the Waterfront Ale House and liked it. Good atmosphere and beer selection. Thanks for the reminder.

I am indeed within Num Pang zone - adding it to my list to try!

Believe me, I will be making many trips downtown for the good stuff! Just hoping to make the best of what is right here in our own (culinary desert) neighborhood. :)

 

Hi everyone! I just moved to Murray Hill and need replacements for my East Village standbys.

Local pub (most important)
I was a regular at Klimat and will need a Murray Hill replacement. Key requirements: good comforting bar food, some good beers on tap (Eastern European a plus), laid-back, quiet, not fratty.
I thought Tavern On 3rd might fit the bill but it did not. It was the opposite of quiet and unfratty and they were sold out of all the good beers at 7pm on a weekday.

Lunches and delivery
Key requirements: Fresh ingredients! Can get a good satisfying meal for under $20 (or, ideally, under $10).
My EV favorites were: This Little Piggy, Empanada Bar, Dos Toros, Maoz, Zabb Elee, Korzo Haus, and that new teriyaki place next to Dos Toros.
I already like Lamazou, Kalustyan's, and Pio Pio in this neighborhood. Any other suggestions in that vein? I'm not too interested in all the Indian lunch buffets, have been to a few and none of the food was fresh-tasting.
These two threads are really comprehensive, but 1-2 years old. Some that sound interesting are Latin Thing, Vezzo, No. 7 Sub, Grand Sichuan. Any thoughts on these, or other suggestions?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/783190
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/698399

Salad
Where can I get a really good, fresh salad? I don't have any EV favorites for this one. Clearly I don't eat enough salad.

Thai
Where's the best Thai delivery? So far I've tried Soi 30 Thai (decent) and Jaiya (I really liked it).

Date night/dinners out with friends
This older thread has some good ideas but some of these places are closed:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/540370
I'm looking for entrees $15 or under.

Where to take tourist friends, parents, etc.
I always took them to Veselka because it was a novelty, the atmosphere was fun, and the food was basic enough that even the least adventurous eaters could find something. Is there a good neighborhood place like that?

Croissants: Where are the best in or near Murray Hill? I was a regular at Ceci Cela, Mille Feuille, and Dominique Ansel. If there's no good substitute in Murray Hill, how about in midtown in general?

Thank you in advance for your help!!

Hi everyone! I just moved to Murray Hill and need replacements for my East Village standbys.

Local pub (most important)
I was a regular at Klimat and will need a Murray Hill replacement. Key requirements: good comforting bar food, some good beers on tap (Eastern European a plus), laid-back, ...

 
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brighton312 commented 10 years ago

Believe me, I made very extensive use of the Bixi on my last trip! My favorite way to get around. I am a fellow admirer of the birthday cake truffle. Would love to try Peche Mortel, sounds fantastic!

 
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brighton312 commented 10 years ago

Thanks for the pastry recs and the New York reference points. Dominique Ansel's KA is exactly what I had in mind - I imagine it's hard to top that one, but I'm looking forward to trying a different style and seeing how it holds up.

 
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brighton312 commented 10 years ago

Thank you all so much for your wonderful, helpful posts so far! This is shaping up to be a great day of eating! (Maybe I'll even extend my tour into two days! ;)

Walking up St Laurent sounds like a great idea. Plus little detours as needed (especially now that I know there exists a bakery called Kouign-Amann! It is now imperative that I stop there and sample their namesake.) Unlaced, thanks for that link - I think I'll definitely incorporate at least one or two of those places, plus Guillaume for sure. I'm still in the process of reading through croissants threads too.

I would love to revisit the Jean Talon market. What do you guys recommend I eat there? Last year I tried a lot of local fruits/veg and also got some local honey to take home, but I didn't see that much food besides produce. What should I be looking for?
ETA: I looked at this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/806458 But it's from last year, and I'm sure some vendors and recommendations will have changed. Any updates?

Thank you all so much for your wonderful, helpful posts so far! This is shaping up to be a great day of eating! (Maybe I'll even extend my tour into two days! ;)

Walking up St Laurent sounds like a great idea. Plus little detours as needed (especially now that I know there exists a bakery call...

 

Hi everyone! In May I will be spending a weekend in Montreal and I'd love to go on a self-guided food tour along the lines of this one from the New York City board:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/493333
What I'm looking for is for you guys to help me plan a walk of a couple miles through some nice parts of Montreal with, of course, delicious food along the way! I'm not looking for sit-down meals, but rather places that are easy to stop by and grab something small. I'd like to try a good variety.

I'm from NYC and this will be my second time in Montreal. My first trip was last year and I went to: L'Express, Fous Desserts, St.-Viateur Bagels, Juliette et Chocolat, some other bagel places, La Banquise for poutine, Olive & Gourmando for muffins, Muvbox for a lobster roll, Jean-Talon market for produce, et Le Marche de Saveurs for a lot of maple stuff. I loved everything except Muvbox. I don't dislike any foods in particular and I do speak French if that makes a difference. I don't have any budget in mind but I imagine most food tour stops would be of the cheap eats variety.

Rotisserie Romados, Patati Patata, Schwartz's, Oliver Potier, Le Grand Comptoir, La Goulette all sound appealing, but they're kind of scattered all over the place.

I would like my route to include:
- A croissant place (the ones I had at Fous Desserts were good, but I wasn't blown away.)
- Some macarons or ideally a kouign-amann (these are hard to come by in New York)
- A pub or somewhere to stop for a lunchtime beer
- Something savory- my list already has too many pastries on it.
- What other small bites should I add? Things unique to Montreal? Things I won't find in New York? (I've read some other threads on this but I'm not sure which places might be good for a food tour as opposed to sit-down meals.)

Thanks in advance for your help! :)

Hi everyone! In May I will be spending a weekend in Montreal and I'd love to go on a self-guided food tour along the lines of this one from the New York City board:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/493333
What I'm looking for is for you guys to help me plan a walk of a couple miles through som...

 
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brighton312 commented 10 years ago

$18 borscht! That's 18x what I pay every weekend for my favorite borscht at Streecha!
(But I guess at Pushkin it won't be served in a styrofoam cup...)

-----
Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen
24 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003

 
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brighton312 commented 10 years ago

I never knew that road was open to the public. Thanks for helping me not get lost on the way to my RW lunch!

 
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brighton312 commented 10 years ago

I made reservations for lunch at Maialino and Riverpark! I haven't been to either of them before. Speaking of which, can anybody describe how to get to Riverpark? I looked on their website and on Google Maps but I can't figure out how to actually walk there. I'm in that neighborhood all the time and it looks like 29th Street stops before Riverpark's address. Do I walk down that brick road past the security guards? (I've always been too initimidated to do that!)

 
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brighton312 commented 10 years ago

What a cool idea! I don't have a smartphone, but I went to their website and can see the "stream" of beers people are drinking. Is there a way to narrow it down by location?