Category: seafood

Categories
seafood

Lady Octopus

Sam told me how he used to go to Lady Octopus for fried seafood in the neighborhood –until the older Korean lady insisted that he will get a Chicken Cutlet Sandwich next time he comes in. Sam hasn’t been back two years since, because he really didn’t want a Chicken Cutlet Sandwich …or perhaps he didn’t want to be forced what to order.

He’s not the only one that has had odd interactions with Lady Octopus. The Yelp reviews are hilarious …calling the her the “Soup Nazi of Williamsburg.” A must read.

I finally went to try it …for the experience. Every time I had gone before, it was Sunday and they are closed. I kept forgetting that. I wanted Sam to come along to see if she would make him buy a Chicken Cutlet Sandwich two years later, but he wouldn’t answer me.

I went in with a smile, but anticipating the worst. Then I was totally surprised how nice and cheerful she was. No problem at all. She offered me condiments and made sure I had everything I needed. She was even humming a song.

I ordered the Fried Fish Sandwich ($4) and the Fried Vegetable Dumplings ($1.75). The sandwich was alright. It was like a more plumped up Filet-O-Fish. There was a small bone in it, which makes me think it’s not some processed frozen patty. So that was reassuring.

The dumplings were pretty good. Crispy skin. Although I’m not sure if it was really vegetarian. It kinda seemed like pork filling, but that didn’t bother me. I would have ordered pork dumplings if I saw it on the menu. Maybe they have both kinds and I did get a pork. Or maybe that pork isn’t really pork.

The Fish Sandwich was even better when I dipped it in the dumpling soy sauce.

People started coming in when I was finishing up. I thought “Oh shit. Here’s some hipsters and some black people. Okay, now something crazy is gonna happen.” But she was so nice to them …maybe because they were nice to her. It was the total opposite of the Yelp reviews. Maybe it goes to say that a smile goes a long way.

Lady Octopus - 495 Lorimer St (btwn Grand St & Powers) Brooklyn, NY 11211

Categories
seafood

Handsome Hank’s Fish Hut @ Smorgasburg

I went back Smorgasburg (foodie flea market) after being stuffed at Rosarito Fish Shack. A pretty big crowd of young folks soaking up the beautiful day on the East River Waterfront. It’s pretty funny. I heard several people around me throw around that dirty word, “hipster”. …”So many fuckin hipsters here!” Then I’d turn around and they looked exactly like everyone else. Same thing happened at the table next to me at Rosarito …hipster girl acting like she hated hipsters. Even if they don’t think they’re hipsters themselves, don’t they realize that they’re at a crowded foodie flea market in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn? They didn’t realize hipsters were going to be there?

Hipster is a good thing. Hip, young, cool looking. People should want to be like that. Let’s be proud of ourselves.

Anyway, I met up with Mar in line at Handsome Hank’s Fish Hut. First, I was hesitant about most of these food vendors, because some seemed overpriced or under-portioned, like Dumont’s $6 puny little burger slider. I love Dumont, but I couldn’t believe what Mar’s friend’s Smorgasburg slider looked like (see photo below). However, there were some big portioned food, like the Cemita sandwich stand and Handsome Hank’s Fish Hut. $10 for a big thing of fried fish and fries. I was thinking people would get maybe 1 filet for that price at a thing like this. I was impressed. That looked to be one of the better deals I saw. I had some of it. Well seasoned and fried.

The biggest line I saw was for Mighty Quinn’s BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich. Never heard of it and can’t find too much info on them, but that line went almost half the length of the market.

Now that I’ve finally experienced Smorgasburg, the lines still scare me, but not the hipsters. A great place to watch people. It’s also good to have your friends give you their food that they waited so long for.

Smorgasburg – East River Waterfront (btwn N 6th & 7th St) Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211 (Saturdays/seasonal)

Categories
seafood

Littleneck’s Fried Clam Roll

We were playing a show at Littlefield in Park Slope/Gowanus. Sound check was so early, I had six hours to kill. So I went to check out my friend’s newish restaurant, Littleneck, nearby. Said friend suggested the Fried Clam Roll (Full Belly Ipswich Clam Roll with Tartar and Shredded Romaine — $16).

Dang, this is seriously the best thing I’ve eaten in a long time to my recollection. I’m not saying this because I know one of the owners. I’m saying this as a food blogger.

I was seriously expecting clam strips like from Captain D’s on a hotdog roll. But these clams were huge and creamy. Not chewy or rubbery like when I think of clams –as I told a girl at the show when I was trying to think of the words to describe normal clams. And I was proud, because you don’t realize how long it took me to think of those words when I was talking to her. …Nah, these clams were creamy like eating foie gras. I don’t think I’ve had anything like this before. Delicious!

Brendan came and met me at the restaurant. He also got the same sandwich. It looked the same as mine. So I don’t think I got any special treatment, like I usually like to think I get. But I guess if I did, that’d be silly to intentionally make everyone else’s dish worse because they’re not food blogging. Anyway, Brendan loved it too. He said it was such a good deal compared to a lobster roll, because you get so much more food. It was overflowing with clams.

This dang thing already makes my Best of List 2012. Their logo even looks like “LIN”.

Littleneck – 288 3rd Ave (btwn President & Carroll) Brooklyn, NY 11215

…Oh yeah. I forgot to mention how good the pickles were on the side.

Categories
seafood

Sel de Mer’s Lobster and Fish and Chips

Oh man. Sam was back in town and we grabbed dinner at Sel de Mer. They had steamed lobster on the menu again ($17) with fries. Got that and the Beer Battered Fish & Chips ($15). We split that shit. So dang good. My hands were a mess. I dipped my fries into the lobster head. Green gunk is the new ketchup.

I live so close to this place. I don’t know why I don’t eat here more often.

Sel de Mer – 374 Graham Ave (btwn Conselyea & Skillman) Brooklyn, NY 11211

Categories
product seafood

Frozen Seafood Mix

I’ve never seen anything like this before. You just thaw it and eat? …In your grocer’s freezer.

Categories
seafood

Ben’s Hook, Line & Dinner Season 2 Tonight

Last year, we went to Red Lobster and Ben brought a frickin huge live lobster with him. That was the craziest time I’ve had in Time Square.

His show is back on the Cooking Channel tonight for Season 2 –Hook, Line & Dinner. Last year was really good and I got really hungry.

Categories
seafood travel

Coco’s Famous Deep Fried Lobster (Chicago)

Rusty and I walked around Millennium and Grant Park on our last day in Chicago. Cool bean. Then met up with Ronnie Z for lunch at Coco’s Famous Deep Fried Lobster. I was excited to check it out, because it said it was famous.

I asked for water, but no water. Not even bottled water. I looked at the choices. Only sodas and Arizona Ice Teas. I was so confused. How does a restaurant not have any water …even if I wanted to pay for it? I almost wanted to say something but then saw the sign, “There will be $5 Charge for Whining” on the wall. I suppose it’s supposed to be humorous, but there’s probably a reason why it’s up there.

I ordered the Deep Fried Lobster ($11.25 for the small). Came with fries and a small cup of cole slaw, ketchup and hot sauce. It was pretty good, but I don’t know if it’s better than non-deep fried lobster. The deep frying is pretty much killing it, right? It’s not much different than fried fish chunks, except for the slight shellfish flavor.

Ronnie Z got a small white rice for $2.25. I don’t know who only orders just a small white rice, but this is how it looks at Coco’s (see below). He had one bite and then we left.

All I can think about is “no water.” And according to the signs out front, “No Public Restrooms” and “No Loitering.” …Alright, I’ll stop whining.

Coco’s Famous Deep Fried Lobster - 426 S Clark St (btwn Van Buren & Congress Pky) Chicago, IL 60605

Categories
seafood

$1 Oysters at Sel De Mer

Rusty and I went and tried out the $1 Happy Hour Oysters at Sel De Mer (remember that Lobster & Fries?). We were impressed. The oysters were good and didn’t make us sick.

Happy Hour $1 Oysters are available Monday-Friday 4-6pm.

Sel De Mer - 374 Graham Ave (btw Skillman Ave & Conselyea St) New York 11211