The Wandering Eater

Yesterday morning I went to Whole Foods. Not the one I frequent to in Columbus Circle, I’m talking about the one just opened yesterday on Bowery & Houston on the Lower East Side. Honestly, I think of it more like East of SoHo in my own geographic terms but it’s supposed to be labeled the LES. Anyways, I know this opening since there’s a lot of press coverage on it earlier this week from papers to blogs. So, why not visit there?

First thing to note, this place is HUGE! The layout isn’t so different from the other WFs; you are always greeted with their produce first but this time you have someone at the door asking if you would like to try their rolls. I just passed this offer since I’ve eaten their rolls and I find them decent or good, depending upon which one I have.

Produce section; taken from the second floor

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I know those of you who have been reading my blog for a while are probably getting weary of me due to the fact that every week I’m bound to write something about Bouchon. Well, at least it’s all about desserts. Yeess…the sugary goodness that Bouchon actually excel in most parts (the exclusion is the disappointing French macarons). Since this is about their seasonal stuff, let’s start cracking.

With Easter and Passover coming in less than two weeks, Bouchon has created seasonal menus for both holidays, if you seen their menus near the registers recently, you know what I’m talking about. Yesterday (Monday), I had their Hot Cross Bun (for Easter) and a Flourless Chocolate Cake (that’s for the Passover menu).

Hot Cross Bun

Flourless Chocolate Cake

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I’m not writing an official food post today, just because I’m (supposed to) writing a ten page paper but only up to page three. Woohooo… Enough with my crappy, soul-sucking, academic life, here’s a bit of random announcements that are food related that you may want to know about or participate in.

Those of you who like to participate in voting and write mini-reviews your favorite eating establishments in New York City, go to Zagat and after you’re done voting you get a FREE copy of the 2008 New York City Restaurants guide! Start voting now to May 18th. (Thanks for the e-mail reminder, Michael, who writes the Big Apple Dining Guide).

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Today is too gorgeous to not eat out in an open space. It’s 72 degrees Fahrenheit, warm, and sunny…so why not? Since I have no clue what restaurants actually has good food and a nice outdoor seating, I went back to Shake Shack. I know I went here last week but I changed my order a bit to expand my horizons on their menu.

When I got here at 11:05 A.M., there’s already a line formed unlike last week. The line is actually about halfway to the end of the block on Madison Avenue and 28th Street. It’s not terrible but I had to wait about 15 minutes ’til I got to order. I ended up choosing a Chicago dog ($3.25), a regular sized Arnold Palmer ($2.00), and a double dip chocolate custard ($3.25). Just to let you know what’s an Arnold Palmer, it’s basically iced tea mixed with lemonade. I don’t really know why I ordered it and it doesn’t go with a hot dog, but I did.

I did receive their ShackWand as you have seen from my last post. But this time my order took a shorter time than I have expected. I got my order in about 10 minutes. Here’s my food.

My order

The Arnold Palmer and Chicago Dog (more…)

This is a bit of a backtrack post since I wanted to write about my first Shake Shack experience. So, I’ll start from Monday evening, when Robyn got me some macarons, as you have probably seen or read from this post, and some chocolate bonbons from her Parisian vacation last week. Since I’ve ingested my macarons first, I wanted to try Pierre Herme’s chocolates. Why not? I love his macarons, I’m expecting no less of standards after eating the maccies.

So, here’s the chocolates…

Side view of box

Chocs protected with a plastic cover

Chocolates plated

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I think I’m one of the last few food bloggers and New Yorkers who ate here at Shake Shack for the first time (it’s shameful, I know). It always made me wonder what’s all the hoopla’s about whenever this place open every single year and now, I know what it’s all about.

It’s about 11:35 AM when I arrived to Shake Shack and I’m starving. Thankfully there was no line, since it’s a bit chilly and it’s cloudy out. Only a local businesswoman ahead of me, not that legendary line that forces one to wait for hours on end to get a darn burger. Anyways, when it’s my turn to order, I wanted a Shackburger ($4.75), a Black & White Milkshake ($5.75), and an order of fries ($2.50). After I paid they gave me this new innovation of sorts, which is their ShackWand. The ShackWand is your notification system that your food is ready and waiting at the window; it’s shaped like a remote and it rings like a cell phone in vibrate mode. Take a look…

The back of the ShackWand

Out of boredom, I flipped to the backside of the ShackWand and saw the above photo’s label. I thought it was funny, well, not really. The line is starting to build up, too… (more…)

Today was a bit unusual for me to go fooding with someone since it’s a Monday. That someone was Robyn. She e-mailed me over on Sunday regarding to a favor that I’ve asked for when she went to her food and fun excursion to Paris for her Spring Break (Lucky girl), which is getting me some Pierre Herme’s stuff! I’m getting a little ahead of myself. I’ll just start from the beginning…

We’ve exchanged e-mails wondering where the heck do we eat, meet, and get my PH goodies; eventually we agreed on Korean food at NY Kom Tang Soot Bul Kai Bi. We’ve met during lunchtime (around 12:40 PM) and proceeded to enter the restaurant. It looked somewhat empty and when we asked for seating, the employees pointed upstairs. When we got up and asked for a table for two, we were seated near the windows for a table for six. How odd.

We perused the menu and Robyn decided on ordering a pork stone bowl ($8.95) and I ordered a beef bento box from the lunch special ($8.95).

After waiting a couple of minutes, the waitress gave our banchan, which means Korean appetizers.

Group (food) photo! (more…)

I’ll do this post in chronological order. Back on Tuesday, I went to Bouchon Bakery for dessert. I think this shouldn’t surprise you anymore to the fact that I’m getting a bit monotonous with this place but…I can’t help it. Their stuff is too tasty and pretty not talk about. Anyways, I had their “Le Mont Blanc” ($7.75) and a cup of coffee.

Split in half…

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