I don't Make Wise Lunch Decsions Sometimes

I'm not saying this because today's lunch was terrible. I'm saying this because there was too much of it. When you sit at a desk for most of the day, a heavy lunch will mess up the whole of your afternoon. But that's neither here nor there.

I feel like Kimchi Taco and I have been playing a cruel sort of song and dance with each other, much like the one Korrilla BBQ and I were playing for months. Playing a bastardized version of telephone tag with an entire vehicle is extremely frustrating! But today, the truck was close enough to my job, and I decided to indulge. I've been rocking the home leftovers since Monday, and damnit, I deserved a treat!

I got the 3 for 7 buck taco option (they also have 4 for 9 bucks), and chose the classic Korean BBQ beef, seared pork, and pulled chicken.

From left to right: Pork, Beef, Chicken

Finally, SPICY FREAKING TACOS! I had ordered a bottle of water with my meal and promptly forgot it, so my chest was aglow with the happy heat of all those red pepper flakes and tangy doses of kimchi. This was also without bbq sauce, because I forgot to put some on. Look, I was hungry and only had a half hour left of my lunch break, folks! Now, this wasn't so spicy that I was miserable, but the kick is definitely there..so if you're not a fan of spicy food, either ask if they can make it less so...or don't eat here. The beef was my favorite, very well seasoned, tender, and delectable with its slight char. The pork came in at a close second, and the chicken third. The bird was spicy, but was kind of blah. Honestly, I didn't miss the sauce, b/c all of these were incredibly juicy, but I would've liked to at least try the spicy and mild varieties. Next time, I'll make sure to remember to splash some on.

For my side dish, I really wanted to try the kimchi arancini (their variation on the italian rice ball that has mexican mozzerella, panko, kimchee puree, parm, and red pepper paste). However, as soon as I overheard that they were sold out, I chose the spicy rice cake.

Korean Rice Cakes (Tteok)

They were doused in a Korean red pepper glaze and topped with queso blanco and scallions. The texture: kind of like a firmer version of mochi. The cakes soaked up all that tangy, sweet glaze, and even though I wished the cheese was a little bit sharper, I loved the dish as a whole.

Oh, and remember the water I said I forgot? When I went back to the truck (I had lunch in the public plaza across the street), and let the nice guys know that I forgot it, they gave me two bottles to make up for it. Delicious food, and nice service. Good work, Kimchi Taco.

A Thrilla From Korilla....BBQ, That Is.

I FINALLY got a chance to snag a burrito from the Korilla BBQ truck a couple Fridays ago, and boy....was it GOOD. Their route is mostly in Midtown, but never in areas that I can easily get to. The one time they stopped close enough to me (I think it was somewhere in the 30s) was in December. The line was ridiculous; way too long for me to stand in the cold for something I'd never had before.

However, I struck paydirt when I found out that they were going to be on 38th and 7th. I was heading in that direction anyway to run errands, so I could easily pick something up and keep going. When I got to the truck, I was greeted by a beautiful sight: a 6-7 person line. It was going fast too, due to the assembly line way they were putting together the food. I knew EXACTLY what I wanted too: a big fat Porkinator Burrito.

The Porkinator Burrito

Pork shoulder, Korilla BBQ sauce, cucumber, kimchi slaw, bacon kimchi fried rice, jack cheese, salsa, and lettuce. And, it was roughly the size of my head. So many flavors all at once! The pork was super tender and juicy, and the rice was covered in delicious tangy kimchi and bacon fat. The vegetable contingent definitely stood up against the bold/spicy flavors of the meat and sauce, and every bite was meaty yet refreshing. I did lose a bit of the cheese though with all of the sauce and meatiness, but I think I'll just ask for extra next time. As I walked down the street, I nommed, and my arm was dripping with sauce and juices; I loved every minute. 

For 8 bucks, this burrito was a huge and satisfying late lunch...that ultimately left me paralyzed with the worst case of the itis I had ever had. So, if you're gonna do this for lunch (and you BETTER), I would suggest that you do so with caution.  Make sure you have a place to nap afterwards.

My Heart is Melting for Melt Shop

I could also say my cholesterol is going up...but that wouldn't be as nice of a title.

Since it's such a beautiful day, my friend John and I decided to meet up at Melt Shop, a new grilled cheese mecca nestled in the little plaza that makes up the Lexington Avenue/53rd St station. John had spoken highly of a particular sandwich there, and I knew I had to try it.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Cheddar Cheese, Cheese Sauce, Melt Sauce, Red Cabbage Slaw w/Country White Bread

Okay guys. PLEASE NOTE THE ULTRA CRISPY CRUST ON THIS MOTHA! It's just gorgeous. You can tell that Melt Shop is serious about grilled cheese construction. None of the ingredients are falling out and it's super stable. The taste? Well, I think the only phrase I can use is: "it kicks you in the ASS". So many flavors and textures are assaulting your taste buds, that it's almost overwhelming. Almost. The red cabbage slaw is nice and tangy and really cuts through the richness of the sandwich. Vibrant color and crunch are big pluses, too. The chicken breast is super juicy and just seasoned enough, with not too much breading. The Melt Sauce was phenomenal, really creamy and a tad bit spicy. I think it's mayo based, but it was so good I didn't care (I'm not a huge mayo fan). A blanket of creamy cheese sauce and and exceptional sliced cheddar remind you that this is first and foremost, a grilled cheese...and you better not forget it.

John decided to not go into a food coma with me by having the cheddar and maple bacon on sourdough. The bacon actually tasted maple-y which paired perfectly with the sharp cheddar. To go with this stellar sammy, we split an order of tater tots with a side of Melt Sauce. Hot, crispy and perfectly cooked. 

Now I could only eat half of my sandwich, b/c I knew the only respite after eating that whole damn thing would be going straight home and taking a nap. But that only meant I had room for dessert. A sign next to their window said, "Check out our milkshakes!" What sort of person would I be to ignore such a friendly, cheerful sign? An ass. So I got a milkshake.

Coffee Crunch Milkshake

Their Coffee Crunch milkshake is made with delicious Stumptown Coffee, ice cream, and (gulp!), ESPRESSO BEANS! I like my shakes so thick that it gives me a headache to suck them through the straw. This was one of those milkshakes. I was in jittery sugar heaven on my way back to work.

Apparently, they're open for breakfast now, which is pretty awesome. But I really hope they look into delivery...sometimes it's hard to make the time to run up there on my lunch break. Also, I'd really like it if they were open a little later than 5 for dinner, at least for the summer. Imagine yourself relaxing in the twilight of the Citibank Plaza....with oozy cheese running down your chin. Yup, I can see it too.

Hop to it, Melt Shop!

The Home of the Itis? Dinner @Pies 'n' Thighs in Brooklyn!

I can be rather cranky when I have a cold, and trekking around South Williamsburg on a cold, rainy, icy evening (whilst sick!) wasn't the way I'd usually want to spend a Wednesday night.

But, I did it for food.

My friend and I braved the elements to sample the wares of Pies 'N' Thighs in Brooklyn. Slightly salacious name? Check. Hipster location? Double check. But could it deliver the culinary goods, or at least deliver enough to make a sick EB's tummy happy?

Once we were safely ensconced inside, we settled in and prepared to eat the cold away. I ordered the Chicken Biscuit (which I had already tried at the Mulberry Street X-mas Market and fell in love with), and John got the Fried Chicken Box with a side (he chose macaroni and cheese) and a biscuit. Our server suggested that we get the Superbowl pick of sides so we could get a big variety...who were we to disagree? John chose collard greens and hush puppies, and I picked the black eyed peas just so I could say that we had another veg option that wasn't fried and/or cooked with bacon.

I have to admit...I blanched a bit when I saw the size of the portions. When you're sick you lose a lot of your appetite, at least I do. Everything looked so delicious, but I wasn't sure if I could eat it all. Had to give it the good ol' college try, right? And just for good measure, we got two pieces of cornbread.

"Oh Chicken Biscuit...Where have you been all my life? I know you've been off cuddling with your amazingly golden and flaky biscuit...thank you for coming out to play on my plate."

Okay, obviously, I didn't say this aloud. But hot damn, this was good, even better than the first time. Juicy, hot chicken, co-mingling with spicy, sweet sauces; this combination just couldn't lose. In between each bite, I nibbled on the cornbread, which HAD to be cooked on some sort of griddle to get that sexy, crunchy exterior. Amen.

John's fried chicken pieces were equally as tasty....but not served warm. They were sorta room temperature. I know fried chicken can be served at almost any temp, but I like my chix hot straight from the fryer. I'd eat it scalding hot dropped into my mouth if I wasn't scared of burning my mouth into oblivion! The mac and cheese was also good, and very creamy, riddled with scarlet red hot sauce.

The hush puppies were like less sweet versions of the cornbread, but deep fried. I was extremely okay with this concept. So teeny and pop-able! They were drizzled with some white sauce, which I wasn't so crazy about, so I ate the hush pups that were unscathed.

I'm pretty particular about collard greens, these were okay, nothing to blog home about. But, by this point, my hunger had been piqued, and I was shoveling forkfuls of food into my mouth. My taste buds were definitely getting sluggish from all the hot, rich food. Thank God for the black eyed peas! We were thinking that we were getting  a hot side dish, but the the BEPs were dressed with a snappy vingar-y dressing and served cold. It was delicious and so refreshing.

And then...there was pie. You didn't think we could eat much more, did you? Well...we split a piece of Banana Cream Pie, only because I knew if I had a slice to myself, I'd probably split in two. Incredibly tasty thick crust, a layer of bananas, thin layer of vanilla custard, and a cloud of whipped cream. Sweet.Jesus.

No picture because my camera fails at life. Whatever, I didn't even care, the pie was just TOO good. Creamy, cold, sweet, just rich enough to not make me pass out. Good work, Pies 'N' Thighs!


Can I suggest a slogan for you guys, though?

"Pies 'N' Thighs of Williamsburg, Home of the 'Itis!"