Best Cheap Eats in the Meatpacking District

In all fairness and in the spirit of full journalistic disclosure this piece was inspired by the recent posting of the top 10 things to eat in the Chelsea Market from the Village Voice article. The thing is when I go food shopping at the Chelsea Market I almost always bounce around the area in general running errands, hitting the High Line, buying something I don't need but want or just popping in to pay homage to I-Gotahaveit  at the Apple Store. Thus this list is geared towards garbing something fast for lunch or just a quick fix to re-charge...
Amy's Bread - Great selection of breads and baked goods. Their Coconut Dream bar is one of my favorite treats in the city...the love child of a menage between a Blondie a Graham Cracker and a Coconut $3.00+
Bill's Bar and Burger - Nice variety of burgers that they do loosely packed and flat...since I like it hot the Mexican Burger (pepper jack cheese, pico de gallo, jalapeño, shredded lettuce, and chipotle aioli) for $7.25 is my choice...add Disco Fries or Onion Rings on the side for $4.50+
Dickson's Meats - Sources their meat from local grass-fed farms. If you need a high protein fix for your inner carnivore or just can't wait to cook up the awesome cuts of meat my favorite Butcher (try their 80/20 burgers...80% beef-20% bacon) in the city has to offer go with their Roast Beef Sandwich to tide you over $8.00+
Eleni's - Offers a wide variety of cupcakes and cookies and specializes in holiday themed treats...ie you need Cinco e Mayo cookies...they make'em...I like the Chocolate Cupcake w/Blue Frosting...just what is it about Chocolate and the color blue that just all so well together? $3.00+
Fat Witches - Great small and dense Brownies...my favorite is the Red Witch (dried cherries) and for something different try their Breakfast Witch (Oatmeal Walnut Coffee w/a layer of Brownie) $2.95
Gaslight Pizzeria -Great selection of speciality pizzas like Buffalo, Cheese Burger, Bolognese and of course good ole pepperoni, meatball etc...$3.00+. Sandwiches and Salads as well.
Hector's Diner - Great old school diner with diner sized menu...I like their Tuna-melt & Fries for $7.95
Ninth Street Espresso -  For my caffeine fix I like the Drip for $2 bucks but they make great espresso's, cappuccino's, etc...They sell whole bean bags of their coffee...
Standard Bier Garden - Giant-Sized Pretzels with spicy and sweet mustard's. I believe it's $8 bucks...however it's huge and the best pretzel in town. Their dark beer is perfect with it. Nice selection of wursts as well.
The Lobster Place - For quality, selection and price this is the best seafood market in the city. Their Scallop & Bacon Chowder $3.50 is one of the best soups in the city and their sushi is great. I love the Spicy Tuna or Yellowfin rolls for $5.25.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Truck - Awesome ultra-high quality Ice Cream served by the cup or cone out of a truck (available in pints at Whole Foods) with your usual suspect flavors as well as Ginger, Pistachio, Red Current and Giandujia (hazelnut & chocolate) $3.50 for a small.

    Stay tuned for my upcoming Best Treats to Eat up on the Highline (remember they extended it)...if of course Sprinter ever turns to Spring or if we get a Summer and don't just go straight info Sumfal...


Amy's Bread is located in the Chelsea Market 75 9th Avenue
Bill's Bar and Burger is located at 22 9th Avenue
Dickson's Meats is located in the Chelsea Market 75 9th Avenue
Eleni's is located in the Chelsea Market 75 9th Avenue
Gaslight Pizzeria is located at 39 9th Avenue
Hector's Diner is located at 44 Little West 12th St
Ninth Street Espresso is located in the Chelsea Market 75 9th Avenue
Standard Bier Garden is located at 848 Washington St
The Lobster Place is located in the Chelsea Market 75 9th Avenue
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Truck is located right outside of 848 Washington St

Best of Guys Gear Guide Spring/Summer 2011

  Spring seems to be just a bit late this year...but maybe just maybe its here to stay. Thus Ladies (yes I'm referring both to the guys this is geared towards..no pun intended & the Ladies as in girlfriends, sisters, friends etc... in our lives) it's time to do some Spring cleaning (Good Will is on 23rd Street and easier to deal with then the S-Army...found that out the hard way) and get some new gear for Spring/Summer. As a guy from a clothing point of view they are for the most part one and the same with the exception of for Summer you add shorts, "swimwear" and flip flops to the mix. Of course if you want to get technical then yes...Linen and White bucks starting Memorial Day...   
    I prefer Soho for a few reasons...aside from all the great places to get everything from Suits to Surfboards you have some of the absolute best people watching in the world... from eccentric native Nu Yawkers to drop dead beautiful foreign women from all over. On top of that some of the best chow in the city and as an added bonus Art that ranges from high end galleries to great street art. So whether you need to to go from the sand to the street, the lake to the lobby or the river to roof-top bar the following places have what you need and more...

EMS - Ourdoorsmen's shop geared heavily towards climbing and camping. A great selection of gear from North Face, Smart Wool, Marmot, Mountain Hardware, etc plus their own line. For trail runners, hiking and trekking boots they have the best selection in the city stocking Merrel, Salomon, Scarpa etc. EMS Employs a knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Icebreaker - I was turned on to this brand at EMS and they have since opened up their own location right across from Patagonia. Icebreaker offers pure merino wool athletic gear out of New Zealand. I started with their Winter gear & they have since added a running, biking, and travel line. Now while some of you may think "wool for running around in the heat...you're nuts"! While that may be true for other reasons wool breathes remarkably well and doesn't hold odors. I just returned from 90+ degree heat in Vietnam and could not believe how well this this stuff performed. I wore my t-shirts and polo over and over. Stay dry and cool while looking like James Bond on a mission...

James Perse - It's between these and Vince for my favorite T-shirts. These are well cut and less fitted while the colors are  generally more muted. Same price points. They also carry a full line of lounge wear, sweaters, shirts trousers and even bed sheets in t-shirt soft fabric.

Lord Willy's - While they do Custom cut suits and shirts, it's their Off the Rack checkered shirts that I buy. They are not cheap...but very well made and cut. They also stand out by using colorful buttons on their shirts (ask and they will give you extras buttons). I've received more compliments on these shirts then any other. Lord Willy himself Alex is a great guy only bettered by his better half Betty.

Michael Andrews Bespoke - With Spring in the air and a hot summer on the way either you need some lighter weight wool suits for your current job or the new one you're interviewing for and you realize that B Bros and the Purple Dino's warehouse sale are not the only places to buy a suit. Michael's price points average  about $1,195 for a custom cut suit with quite a few additional bespoke touches. Shirts start at $165 and up and come in more colors and patterns then you can imagine. They also carry ties, cuff links etc...and are now doing bespoke shoes as well. By appointment only.

Patagonia - Carries their own line of Gore-tex, Capeline, organic cotton and wool clothing for your outdoor needs. Great friendly staff that don't just work in a place that sells clothing to be worn  from the slopes to the surf but more importantly that regularly hit them. They also have a great selection of messenger bags, back packs and a new travel line.

Pull-In - Started out in the South of France making Board Shorts for surfers. They have expanded the line to include lycra & cotton boxers with all sorts of awesome graphics. You may wish she forgot what happened after those boxers come off...but she wil not forgot those boxers. They also have a pretty sweet selection of women's lingerie and bikini's.

Saturdays - Believe it or not a real authentic Surf shop in Soho. Saturday's carries Surf Boards, Leash's, Wax, Fins, and Wet-Suits. They have expanded their line of clothing since opening that includes t-shirts, board shorts, hoodies etc as well as carrying  Bolt, Levi's and Van's. Of special note...they have really good coffee and a big backyard area with loads of seating to chill out. A very cool little oasis in Soho. Try to keep this one to yourself...

Save Khaki - If like me you were NOT genetically blessed with a flat as a board ass plus really wide hips and are sick to death of Khaki's and Cords that make you look like you are...Save Khaki has pants that are cut to fit,  look good and are made well to boot. They also have shirts and sweaters and jackets...but try them on first...they tend to cut small so size up...

Vince - I go here primarily for the awesome colored t-shirts in a variety of unique shades (someone knows their pantones) They are in the $40 range...but very well cut  and made. Please note...they are a bit fitted so go up a size. They also have well cut chino's, jeans, sweaters, sweats etc... I like the Soho location....ask for Nicole but I usually go to the one in the Meat-Packing District...ask for Jasmine

Food Break: For Coffee hit Aroma, Gimme, and Ground Support. For quick bites go to Ben's (Spring St) and Ray's (on Prince St) for Pizza, for Taco's Pinche Taqueria and La Esquina Taco Stand, Cafe Habana (take out next door) and Parisi for sandwiches, Pinkberry (healthy and also loaded w good looking girls gone Soho shopping) and Asia Dogs(ie topped with Mango Relish, Wasabi Slaw, Park Belly, etc..) and last but far from least if you're sweet tooth needs something something... Little Cupcake Bakeshop

EMS is located at 530 Bway (corner of Bway and Spring)
Icebreaker is located at 102 Wooster Street
James Perse is located at 60 Mercer Street
Lord Willy is located at 223 Mott Street
MIchael Andrews Bespoke is located at 2 Great Jones Alley
Patagonia is located at 101 Wooster Street
Pull-In is locate at 252 Elizabeth Street
Saturdays is located at 31 Crosby Street
Save Khaki is located at 327 Lafayette
Vince is located at 16 Prince Street and 833 Washington Street

Coppelia...24hr Latin Diner Review

Coppelia is the latest and greatest from chef Julian Medina of Yuerba Buena and Toloache. Yuerba Buena East & West are two of my favorite Latin Restaurants so when I heard he was going to do his version of a Diner I had to check it out. Coppelia's menu is a bit different then the Greek ones most of us grew up on in the Tri-State area. While the menu may not be 10 pages w/500 plus items...the place-mat menu has over 50+ items to choose from not including the desert menu from Pichet Ong (of P*ONG, Village Tart, etc) The menu is divided up into a variety of sections including breakfast (served all day), snacks, starters, soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees and the Daily Special (each day a different Latin country is represented).

The Menu ranges from empanada snacks for only $2.25 & maxes out at only $16.95 for their Churrasco that comes with 2 sides. I started with a cup of Chicken soup (one of 3 choices) which was loaded w/pollo & continued on with their Cubano Sandwich. While being very tasty...please note it is not as big as most served in town. For an additional $2 bucks you can get a side order of fries (Yuca, Potato, Sweet, etc). I don't believe they currently have a liquor license but I'm sure they are going to get one. In the meantime you can go with a choice of coffee's, Mexican soda's, & Batida's.

Some of the dishes that I need to go back try are the Rita Cubano Burger, their take on Mac & Cheese...w/chicharron(fried pork rinds), Blue Cornmeal w/Blueberries Pancakes, & the Pescado Lo Macho special.

One of the things I really liked about their desert menu was that you could get something as simple as a cookie (ie Mexican chocolate walnut) for only $1.25, a variety of different flavored sorbets & chocolates (ie Apple Mojito, Tequila, Cubano Cafe, etc) 3 for $6.00, cakes for $6.95 or go big with the Banana Tiramisu (can it be as good as it sounds?) for 2 for $9.00.

While Brunch is not currently offered it is coming soon...fingers crossed for their take on a spicy Latin Bloody Mary...

Coppelia is Located at 207 W 14th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves

Best Chilaquiles: The Cure for the Common Hangover...

    With all the "Best Of..." lists coming up now that Spring is attempting to be Sprung I thought I would put together a few off the beaten path starting with Chilaquiles. I love brunch & on a occasion a beverage or so... I discovered Chilaquiles some years back at Cafe Habana. I was looking for something different & the dish described on the menu as "broken up tortillas bathed in tomatillo sauce which I love & topped with chicken, crema, & cotija cheese(the goat-cheese they put on their corn)" had my name all over it & I loved it. At the time I just thought it was something they came up with & didn't realize that it was a Mexican mainstay hangover dish made with leftovers...(ever notice this being a recurring theme with many great dishes?)

    The term Chilaquiles means broken up sombrero & generally consists of broken up tortilla's drenched in a spicy sauce. Generally I've found it topped with shredded chicken, cheese & crema....but sometimes it has eggs & or steak. While I found it first with tomotillo sauce it is usually offered with a fiery red sauce as well(I think it started out that way). The following are some of the best I've found...

Barrio Chino - I love this little place & it has a great version made with a fiery & smoky chipolte red sauce with a choice of eggs or steak up top & black beans on the side. Have it with one of their great margarita's for some of the dog that bit you the night before...try the Habanero Grapefruit if you dare...

  
Cafe Habana - Where I first discovered this great dish. They do it as stated with  sauce & shredded chicken. For another $2 bucks & a protein boost get it Trucker Style (topped w/2 fried eggs). I usually go coffee here but if you're up for a beverage go with their Morita (exactly what it sounds like...combo of Mojito & a Margarita...muy bueno)

  
Hencho en Dumbo - One the one hand this one is served in a really tasty spicy sauce that really had the tortillas drenched in the sauce so that they really soaked it up compared to many of the others. It came topped with an egg & the menu said shredded chicken. Now in all fairness they were very good...but were a little too light on the chicken for me...mas pollo por favor
  
Papatzul- This place has been around a little while now (in the old Lucky Strike space) & I finally hit it this weekend (kicking myself I haven't been here before). While all the versions listed are great these might just be my favorite. They came in a choice of verde (tomatillo) or roja (poblano) topped w/shredded chicken, cheese & crema. What really made these stand out as good as they are on their own are the side sauces you can get (not listed as an option... I just asked about some I saw in other dishes & they gave me a couple). The jalapeno was day-glo lime green & pretty hot for the cucumber of hot spicy peppers. The drunken pasilla sauce was amazing! The best condiment bar none I've had recently...it was delicious & the sauce tasted like it was loaded. They had a good selection of margarita's but I went for Tamarind Aqua Fresca (Spanish for water refreshments blended usually with liquefied fruit) which was delicious & only $3 bucks for a large glass. I'll be back here to further investigate their menu.

    The average price at all the above locations is $12 (some charge an extra $2 bucks for chicken or eggs) & it's fairly filling. So next time you are looking for something a little different hungover or not give this tasty dish a whirl...



Barrio Chino is located at 253 Broome Street
Cafe Habana is located at 17 Prince

Hencho en Dumbo is located at 354 Bowery
Papatzul is located at 55 Grand Street

The Breslin Room - Greek Lamb Feta-Chee-Burgah...!

My brother recently (he is married w/kids & lives on Long Island*) read about the Greek Lamb burger at The Breslin Room & wanted to check it out. He's a big fan of them as is & read that this one was the best. He had a biz meeting in the city tonight so we met up at 7pm. I warned him that there might be a wait & he thought I was crazy "it's a Monday night who goes out on a Monday (see above*). Turned out the wait on a Monday night at 7pm (like who in NYC eats dinner at 7pm?!?) was only 30 minutes. We went into the Ace Hotels bar for a drink since I think it's an awesome space plus we can chill on the couches. Well the place was packed with all the coach space taken up & busy at the bar...plus two smoking hot hostesses were carrying clipboards & working the entrance to some event in the downstairs lounge. I asked him to to look at the space & crowd & said if I showed you a picture of this what night would you guess it was? He answered "Who the hell are all these people...do any of them work (again see above*)?"

The space is one of the better looking versions of a la Gastropub that I've seen which kinda makes sense it it comes from the same folks that run Spotted Pig. Once we sat down we both ordered up the infamous Lamb Burger (comes topped w/feta & red onion on a great bun) it also comes with the twrice cooked fries & a side of cumin mayo for the burger & fries. As a side we shared the broccoli & aged cheddar. It was all very good...the burger being especially juicy... my bro thought the lamb burger was the best he's had... I think a coin toss between this one & the one at Anthos. The thrice (3X) cooked fries were great but it was the broccoli & cheddar appi that I thought stole the show. Overall the menu is fairly limited with about a dozen appi's, 5 + specials entrees (I would like to see a few more entrees), a bunch of sides & a fair amount of desert puddings. Judging by what I saw of our fellow diners plates I'm guessing 80% + order the Lamb burger. For desert we shared the Dark Chocolate Brownie w/Salted Carmel Ice Cream in Bourbon sauce...very good & not as sweet as it sounds in a good way. The Breslin Room also has a great cocktail list & I went with their version of the love-child of a Michelada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelada) & a Bloody Maria (tequila instead of vodka) that they call Bitches Brew...they add Mescal to the mix & used Tecate in a can for the beer...classy plus beer in the can totally worked with the "Hmmmm am I an Williamsburg or is Williamsburg in da house" vibe going on at the Ace Hotel.

The Breslin Room - 20 W 29th St (btwn 5th & Bway attached to the Ace Hotel)

ObamaCare-Grade F...My Day at the Doc's

I recently had a wonderful experience at my Doctors office that I thought I would share. I was low on a prescription for an inhaler that I need on rare occasions (either the poison they release when heat & air ducts are re-opened or dust). I hardly ever need it now but sometimes I do & I'm going away on vacation so I thought better safe then sorry. I called my Doctors office for a renewal & was informed I has to come in. So, I figured fine at least he can see me on short notice...I'll jump on the subway, pay the co-pay for not even having to see him & pick it up at the DR across the street from me(since there is a DR, Chase, & Starbucks on every other street in NYC good luck figuring out where I live). I show up at the Doc's office & I'm asked if I want to pay the $100 at once or spread out? I'm like what, a $100...my copay is like $10?!? I don't even need to see him, I just need a refill on an existing prescription . I am informed that there is a $100 minimum off a $400 of this, that etc... Luckily my Doc is very good & agreed that this was insane & was able to fill my request. As it turns out that while my 1yr annual is still covered I have to meet a $100 deductible until healthcare kicks in. What the hell is the point of my company & I paying thousands of dollars a year if I'm going to have to pay a $100 just to walk in his office to meet a deductible!

Now this isn't the first time I have heard of a like change in one's healthcare plan this year. It seems many plans have. Now one of my good friends did point out that ObamaCare has not passed yet so it's not Obamacare but the horrible American Healthcare system (he lives in Canada....shout out Bro!) Well I have a feeling the Healhcare companies factored in O-care that has driven up all these charges vs. Obama seeing these changes coming but trying to get out in front of it. Sorry but I think....NOT. Especially since I have asked my Docs what my visits would be if I just paid them direct...hint only about a few hundred a years vs thousands...

Now don't me wrong...while I think ObamaCare is a disaster (yes with 2 or 3 very good provisions out of 2000 pages) & has to be repealed...the Healthcare companies are criminal institutions that charge exorbitant fee's due to the fact that Litigation in this country has become a national pastime & of course no Interstate trade...HELLO...free market economy anybody?!?

What sets me off is that if this is where things are going I don't want a Healthcare plan...I'll pay as I go...but ObamaCare is based on everyone pays or is fined. Again I don't care what your politics is but why pays thousands of dollars for hundreds of dollars of service & get hit for $100 a visit when you go to see a Doctor that is supposed to be covered by Healthcare!?!

PS...There is a silver lining to he story...along with not getting hit for the visit...my prescription cost under my Healthcare plan was....$0.00...let's repeal this thing before it goes to a $100 bucks a .03 cent pill:)