Tim Wu » Food

FOOD // Obsession of the Month: Broken English @ Mad Sq Eats

Tim Wu — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:34:00 +0000

Madison Square Eats is back! And while these food vendor fests are usually filled with unfortunately overpriced and undersized fare, there’s a new vendor this year that makes me go, EHRRRRMAGERRRRRRRRRD.

Broken English sells il trapizzino, which are triangles of warm of and crusty pizza dough cut open to form a pocket and stuffed with warm and hearty stewed dishes, like oxtail (pictured belowwww)

They’ve got all sorts of options, from pulled chicken with rosemary and white wine to ratatouille to even beef tongue. The intensely Roman man behind the counter touts, “DIS IS-AH REEL ROMAHN FUD.” Then he showed me his collection of chariots and centurian garb.

The kicker? THEY’RE ONLY 5 BUCKS. Get two and and a soda and you’ve got yerself one of them fancy pants Manhattan lunches you can Instagram to make your out-of-state friends jealous.

Madison Square Eats is only going on until Oct. 19th! Located at 5th and 25th in Worth Square~

FOOD // Yunnan Kitchen and the New York Mag 2012 Cheap Eats List

Tim Wu — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 22:34:00 +0000

Earlier this month, New York Magazine released their Cheap Eats list for 2012. All their coverage is available online on their website, but you can probably still catch this July issue for your bathroom flipping pleasure (WHO SAYS PRINT MEDIA IS DEAD?).

And while the term “modest prices” is delightfully vague, New York Mag certainly has had a history of having a slightly above average definition the phrase, at least to recent graduates who start blogs to distract themselves from finding work and then complain about the lack of work. (SHUT UP MOM, IT’S JOURNALISM)

But alas, while waiting for the 6 train, I flipped through the issue ever-so-semi-casually, every now and then pretending to be dissatisfied with the cosmetic condition of the magazine so I wouldn’t have to buy it when my train came. That is, until I saw Yunnan Kitchen on the list.

Yunnan Kitchen is located around the corner from me on the Lower East Side on Clinton and Rivington, and for my money, was one of the most disappointing meals I’ve ever had. This isn’t to say the food isn’t good, it’s solid. In fact, they have one of the best eggplant dishes I’ve ever had.

// Charred Eggplant with Sawtooth Herb, Crushed Peanuts & Chiles – $9

It’s supposed to be a cold dish, but we got there right when they opened, so the eggplant actually came out still warm, which I think is way better than had it been completely cold. You get a nice crisp from the char with a smooth buttery eggplant interior, which pairs wonderfully with the crunch and bite from the peanuts and chiles.

// Braised Beef Rolls with Mint & Cucumbers – $10

Tender brisket contrasts wonderfully with cool and refreshing cucumber, with just bit of kick from the caramelized minced garlic.

// Stick Rice – $2

Properly prepared with just the right amount of softness and bite.

Again, all these are delightful dishes at an albeit above average price point. SO WHY THE HATERADE? Well, another dish on the menu caught our eye when we were there:

// Fried Pork Belly with Mint and Yunnan Spices – $10

Oooh, pork belly! You can never go wrong with pork belly. Pork is the staple meat of Chinese cuisine, we’re masters of the stuff! Braised, stir-fried, twice-cooked, any way you have it, this has to be delicious! But then they bring us this:

I’M SORRY, YUNNAN KITCHEN, BUT THIS IS JUST A PLATE OF BACON WITH SOME LEAVES SPRINKLED ON TOP.

I’m sure a lot of has to do with growing up with Chinese food at absurdly low price points compared to New York, but charging $10 bucks for two slices of bacon cut up into 2 inch pieces is just plain absurd.

FOOD // The Fun Bun Cart

Tim Wu — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 19:56:00 +0000

FOOD // Tennesse Jed’s COMBO FEAST

Tim Wu — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:26:00 +0000

So the other day a bunch of us went out to Jones Beach way way out in Wantagh to celebrate my friend Natasha’s birthday. Being the small, health-conscious, baby carrot and spelt cake loving lady that she is, us guys in the group decided that the perfect post-beach birthday meal would be A SHIT-TON OF RANDOM MEAT AT A RANDOM BBQ PLACE.

Enter my new best friend in the world, Tennessee Jed.

On every table, you get the delightful soda-crate turned condiment trough of sauces.

The “regular” tasted just like McDonald’s BBQ sauce, so fuck that noise. But the other three, when together on a single plate, form what I like to call THE PERFECT STORM of sauce. You get the kick from the the hot, the tang from the sweet, and the chicken-finger nostalgia goodness of the honey mustard in every bite.

We all know building sandcastles burns about 12,000 calories a minute, SO WE NEEDED TO GET OUR CARBS ON.

Oh, what’s that Tennessee Jed? Tater tots covered in melted cheddar cheese, pickled jalapenos, smoked bacon and a mysterious white sauce? YES, PLEASE.

As filling as the Tornado Tots were (yes, they were called Tornado Tots), we figured we could use a little something extra, just to top off the meal.

Oh what’s that Tennessee Jed? You have a dish that’s a virtual Noah’s Ark of BBQ? Let me think about tha- OH WAIT, YES PLEASE.

From the top:
- 1/2 Smoked Chicken
- 1 Rack of Texas Beef Ribs
- 1/2 Rack of Baby Back Ribs
- 1/2 Rack of St. Louis Ribs
- Texas Links
- Pulled Pork
- Brisket

Forrest back there is from Texas, and he approves.

Oh yeah, and it comes with 4 SIDES.

Creamed Spinach? Awesome. Sweet Potato Fries? Beautiful. Mac ‘n Cheese? Creamy Heaven.

Coleslaw? STUPID AND TERRIBLE BECAUSE NOONE LIKES COLESLAW, GABE.

VICTORY. *Note how the coleslaw has remained untouched.

WE ARE MEN.

Oh yeah, and Natasha got a burger or something stupid like that. Happy Birthday!

—

Tennessee Jed’s
3357 Merrick Road, Wantagh, NY
516.308.3355

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FOOD // Madison Square Eats 2012!

Tim Wu — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:24:00 +0000

Remember that one time it was delightfully sunny one day, but then sad and rainy the next day, but then delightfully sunny again the next day but strangely cold and windy for being so delightfully sunny? SOUNDS LIKE THE PERFECT TIME FOR AN OUTDOOR FOOD FESTIVAL.

Madison Square Eats is back! But only until June 1st. It’s a great collection of food festivalable things from all over Manhattan and Brooklyn that aren’t fried oreos. Check it out in that little triangle plaza next to Eataly on 25th and Broadway.

PHOTO DUMP TIME.

Kafta & Eggplant Wrap (Lamb & Beef, Harissa, Eggplant and Lettuce) and Phoenician Fries topped with Sumac, Salt and Garlic from Ilili. — EAT IT

Pulled Pork Empanada from La Sonrisa — EAT IT

Ground Beef Empanada from La Sonrisa — EAT IT

Pulled Pork and Salsa Verde Sandwich with White BBQ sauce from Mayhem and Stout — EH

Pork Meatballs with African Onion, Tempting Tomato, and Not Your Momma’s Brown Sauces from Mighty Balls – EH

The Norma Arancini (Eggplant, Tomato, Basil, and Ricotta) from the Arancini Bros. – EAT IT

Pork Belly and Beijing Duck Buns from Hong Kong Street Cart – EAT IT

Shaved Milk Snow topped with Fresh Mangoes, Frozen Champagne Grapes and Red Bean from Hong Kong Street Cart – EAT IT

I ATE IT.

Oh yeah, and they have ALCOHOL!