Author: Jason Lam

Food blogger since 2008. Hair model since 2003.

Categories
sandwich

They’re right! Publix Subs are Freakin’ Awesome!

I grew up in Florida, where Publix was one of the main grocery stores. I’ve had friends that worked there in high school and in college. They always told me that the subs were so good there. I never had one and couldn’t imagine it would be that amazing. Then I saw a Buzzfeed article a few years ago that talked about how awesome Publix subs are. It made me wish I tried them back in the day …because I trust the Internet more than my friends.

So I went to Florida last Christmas and my sister and mom were going to Publix and asked if I wanted anything, while I was setting up the new HDTV and Apple TV for my parents. I said, “Yeah, get me a Publix sub.” My sister brought me back a Turkey Sub. She said they took a lot of care into building it. A real sandwich artist.

Dude… It was so awesome. So fresh. So much better than Subway.

Speaking of Subway, my friend always thought Subway smelled liked wet B.O. towels. I always thought Subway smelled good  when I walked by …with the fresh baked bread. And recently I looked it up. That’s a thing. Some people find Subway bread to smell repulsive. Just Google it. There are too many links for me to link. Well, here’s a screenshot…

Subway smell

Also speaking of Subway, why didn’t Jared ever lose more weight? I know he lost a shit load of weight initially before he became the spokesman. But to me, he was still overweight. Like if your only job was to be skinny and get paid a lot of money, you’d get skinny or be in great shape. But maybe he was preoccupied by other things. I don’t blame Subway for Jared being a piece of shit. I kind of like Subway. But I feel like Subway really should have nudged him to get into Hugh Jackman shape. Because he was still kinda fat, right?

Anyway, Publix subs rule. I ate the second half on my plane ride home to New York. Everyone was like, “What’s that smell?” Dude, it’s my Publix sub.

Categories
mexican

Guadalajara De Dia 2’s Mole Poblano

This small Mexican grocery/restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens is pretty cool. Mexican soap opera on the TV above a religious shrine on the wall. There’s money in the shrine. I don’t know why.

I ordered the Mole Poblano ($10.50), side of guacamole ($2) and a beer (I don’t remember how much that was).

The mole sauce is awesome. Rich and thick with a nice bit of heat.

The chicken, however, is boiled. I’ve noticed this is the common preparation in the Mexican taqueria restaurants in the area. I’ve seen these restaurants pull out these pieces of chicken from the pot and it looks gray and kind of gross. Good thing the awesome dark brown mole sauce covers it up.

I’ve also been to Guadalajara De Dia 1 in Bushwick on Wyckoff Ave. Very similar. Great sauce. Nasty looking chicken before they add the sauce. I think if you didn’t know it was gray, you’ll be good and think it’s delicious. Maybe just forget the last couple of paragraphs here.

Guadalajara De Dia 2 – 566 Seneca Ave. Ridgewood, NY 11385
Guadalajara De Dia 1 – 134 Wyckoff Ave (b/t Dekalb Ave & Stockholm St) Brooklyn, NY 11237

Categories
asian recipe

Mom’s Chinese Ginger and Scallion Sauce Recipe

My mom showed me how to make Chinese Ginger and Scallion sauce. It’s great with shrimp, crab and steamed chicken. The best!

Categories
travel treats

Williams Plum St Snowballs (New Orleans)

After our lunch at Liuzza’s By the Track, Jay took us to Williams Plum St Snowballs. Looks cool, I guess because it old …since 1945. This place is officially called Plum St. Snoballs (without the “w”), but I’ll call it Snowballs, because the sign on the building says so.

A group of older college professors enjoying snowballs outside. Two excited teenagers taking orders and making snowballs inside.

Snowballs can come in a paper cup or a Chinese take-out carton. I got the Orchid Cream Vanilla. It was really creamy and cheap!

Williams Plum St Snowballs – 1300 Burdette St. New Orleans, LA 70118

Categories
travel

Liuzza’s By the Track (New Orleans)

Our buddy Jay picked us up at the airport and headed straight to Liuzza’s By the Track based on his recommendation. This place is cool. It’s very laid back and they have a bar. But I guess there’s always a bar in New Orleans.

Their signature dish is the BBQ Shrimp PoBoy. But it’s not really a sandwich. It does have bread, but it’s really a plate of shrimp with their heavy rich buttery garlic sauce over bread. It’s good, but way too rich for me. Plus I’m not supposed to eat so much shrimp because of the gout.

I really did love the Oyster PoBoy. I can’t tell if it’s really anything special here, but I know it’s just good.

I feel like I’d come here a lot if I lived in New Orleans.

Now to be clear, there is another Liuzza’s in New Orleans that not related and has a different menu (Italian food and Muffalettas). This one By the Track is more PoBoys and Fried Seafood plates. Who is Liuzza? Why did two restaurants name themselves after her?

Liuzza’s By the Track – 1518 N Lopez St. New Orleans, LA 70119

Categories
fast food taco

Qdoba Knockout Tacos

Qdoba invited me to check out their new Knockout Tacos a few weeks back. At the last minute, I couldn’t make it. So asked me if I still wanted to try it and they could send a gift card. I accepted.

01 FedEx Alcohol Special Delivery Instructions

Then I got a big box left on my desk at work that had FedEx Special Delivery Instruction labels all over it because it had alcohol in it. It says to check the recipient ID that they are over 21. Also “Do not deliver to an intoxicated person.” Why can’t you? Just because they are drunk, doesn’t mean they are going to open it up and drink my alcohol. I don’t think.

Anyway, inside the box was…
– A Mexican Wrestler Mask
– A spin the wheel card with Knockout Tacos
– A plastic case with taco shells in it and a small hammer. I think I’m supposed to smash the case.
– A rubber chicken
– A metal tray to hold tacos
– A USB thumb drive that has the press release and press photos on it
– A gift card to try the new Knockout Tacos
– A mini bottle of Patron tequila. Pretty cool. But I was expecting a lot more alcohol with all the labels on the box.

So I went online to see where Qdoba is. Turns out all the ones in Manhattan have closed down. Bummer. I didn’t realize that.

Anyway, since they were nice enough to send me a box of weird stuff, here’s what the Qdoba’s new Knockout Tacos are:
– Drunken Yardbirdâ„¢ is made with tangy tequila lime chicken, hand-smashed guacamole, salsa verde, cilantro, minced onion, and cotija cheese.
– Mad Rancherâ„¢ is filled with grilled chicken, bacon, hand-smashed guacamole, picante ranch, lettuce, pico de gallo and cotija cheese.
– Two Timerâ„¢ features pulled pork, salsa roja, shredded cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, and a crispy taco wrapped in a flour tortilla spread with 3-Cheese Queso.
– Triple Threatâ„¢ is comprised of juicy steak, bacon, 3-Cheese Queso, fajita veggies, pico de gallo and cotija cheese.
– The Gladiatorâ„¢ has steak, bacon, pico de gallo, lettuce, Mexican Caesar dressing, cilantro and cotija cheese.
– Bohemian Vegâ„¢ is covered in shredded cheese, black beans, corn salsa, hand-smashed guacamole, salsa verde, minced onions, cilantro and cotija cheese.

…I really don’t understand the rubber chicken.

Categories
indian lunch

Haldi Indian Unlimited Lunch Special

This is a good alternative to Bhatti Grill in Curry Hill. It’s now a little cheaper at $10.95, they have beer specials during lunch and it’s very easy to get a table. It’s similar to Bhatti Grill in that it is unlimited food, but not a buffet. They bring the dishes out to you and they give a lot, even before you have a chance to ask for seconds.

Of my two recent visits, the food was a lot better the first time. Still good the second time though, but not as amazing. The naan can be super pillow-y and nice and the curry sauces very rich.

I think considering all the factors compared to more busier restaurants in the area, this is a great option. “I’ll be back.” –Arnold

Haldi – 102 Lexington Ave (b/t 27th St & 28th St) New York, NY 10016

Categories
restauranting

SoCo’s Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Red Velvet Waffle

I’m a fan of Chicken and Waffles. I remember the first time I’ve ever heard of Chicken and Waffles, I was in Atlanta as a teenager with my mom and sister in the early 90’s. We kept driving past Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles restaurant. I was like what? So my mom let me out to go in to get an order. It turned out to be an upscale restaurant with mostly an African American clientele. So it probably seemed really weird for a young Asian boy to walk in with shorts and a t-shirt. I bet they thought I was lost.

Anyway, I wanted to try this Fried Chicken and Red Velvet Waffle ($20) that looks so good at SoCo in Clinton Hill. It’s an interesting take, because of the Red Velvet Waffle. Pretty good overall. It works. I guess it’s slightly sweeter than regular waffles. But I’m going to put syrup on it anyway. So it’s going to be sweet.

The Mardi Gras cocktail reminded me of those sweet bottled Looza fruit juices.

SoCo – 509 Myrtle Ave (b/t Ryerson St & Grand Ave) Brooklyn, NY 11205