FOOD!

[theetruscan]

My friend is the chef at a place in Greenpoint called Manhattan Inn. I didn't realize he'd left the Bouley empire until just now.

EDIT: Also, Faust, it's not a restaurant recommendation, but apparently this is one of the best cookbooks in the last long time, and it's about southeast asian food.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0981633900/ref=nosim/ruhlmancom

[Faust]

/\ Thanks!

[endersgame]

My mom actually grows this. She hallows it out, stuffs it with hand minced pork and noodles and cooks it in a soup. It's delicious, though a little bitter. At least I think it's the same thing.

that stuff tastes like bitter zucchini. i don't like it at all..

[theetruscan]

Anyone else thinking about making space in the kitchen for a Sous Vide Supreme? Am I crazy?

[endersgame]

Also, are those Momofuku restaurants all they are cracked up to be, or are they mostly hype by now?

i've been to all but the nicest one and none of them was worth the money...




i had a chocolate chip cookie at city bakery today..
was probably the best chocolate chip cookie i've ever had in my life..

[Avantster]

Anyone else thinking about making space in the kitchen for a Sous Vide Supreme? Am I crazy?

That actually looks decent although expensive. If you have a rice cooker you could consider the Sous Vide Magic, a device that connects in between the power supply and a rice cooker. A thermometer sits in the rice cooker measuring the temperature, switching the cooker on and off to regulate the temperature of the water bath (around 0.5C sensitivity).

[MoFiya]

Anyone else thinking about making space in the kitchen for a Sous Vide Supreme? Am I crazy?

Did you read the last page? We already own one :> Kinda nice if you really get to use it. I would say, it's only worth the money if you really get used to cooking meals sous-vide e.g. fish, meat and all.
Also good for other stuff like drying tomatoes or such... One can even make your own vegetable stock powder with it. Never tried it though..

[Avantster]

What vacuum bags do you use, MoFiya?
Not sure exactly how you'd dry tomatoes using a sous-vide machine..

[scott.m]

Please throw some South-East Asian (meaning anything sans Indian) and Japanese restaurants recommendations my way. Any kind of cuisine and budget, as long as the food is excellent. Yes, I know about Ippudo. Also, are those Momofuku restaurants all they are cracked up to be, or are they mostly hype by now?

it's garbage E, i would recommend steering clear for the price it is. if you're looking for good noodles in East Village, try Souen on 6th between 1st and 2nd, it's this amazing macrobiotic ramen spot. also, the milk bar at momofuku is good from what i've heard, but very very decadent.

[MoFiya]

What vacuum bags do you use, MoFiya?
Not sure exactly how you'd dry tomatoes using a sous-vide machine..

Well, I don't vacuumize them by myself (such a machine is another expensive purchase if you want a good one afaik) - just ask the butcher.
On the other hand, you can also cook the meat packed in alu foil..

[Avantster]

Hold on, we're talking about sous-vide, right. Surely alu foil wouldn't be water proof - don't you need to use at least a ziplock or preferably a vacuum bag to prevent the water bath from getting into contact with what you're cooking?

[MoFiya]

You don't really have to use a water bath at all.
Some do it because it a lot less responsive to temperature changes e.g. if you open the door (because it's a lot more ... dull - sorry chemistry vocabulary in English = Fail).
But the machine itself keeps the heat circulating around anyway, so you can actually put the meat inside (of course, on a plate which has taken temperature) without any water surrounding it.
It's just a super-sensitive oven....

[Faust]

it's garbage E, i would recommend steering clear for the price it is. if you're looking for good noodles in East Village, try Souen on 6th between 1st and 2nd, it's this amazing macrobiotic ramen spot. also, the milk bar at momofuku is good from what i've heard, but very very decadent.

Thanks! I'll check it out.

[laika]

Please throw some South-East Asian (meaning anything sans Indian) and Japanese restaurants recommendations my way. Any kind of cuisine and budget, as long as the food is excellent. Yes, I know about Ippudo. Also, are those Momofuku restaurants all they are cracked up to be, or are they mostly hype by now?

japanese:

Omen--cozy but elegant food, i love this place.
yakitori totto--more like an izakaya, they do amazing things
with all parts of chicken.
there is also this place, which is one of my regular haunts, if you happen to be in my hood....

[Faust]

Thanks, laika. I've been meaning to check out Omen forever...