Tag: fried fish

Categories
lunch

The Dubliner

I met up with Shonali on Stone Street in the Financial District. Holy moly! I didn’t realize this street existed –cobblestone street full of outdoor restaurant seating. It looks like a European town that you see in the movies!

There are several restaurants. We chose the Dubliner, an Irish pub… because I thought the Fish and Chips looked really good on someone’s plate. Although, I ended up getting the Guinness and Beef Stew $16. Shonali saved the day and got the Fish and Chips, so we could split both. They were both good.

Stone Street is really cool!

The Dubliner – 45 Stone St (btwn Coenties Aly & Mill Ln) New York, NY 10004

Categories
tio wally

Tio Wally Eats America: White Bass are Freakin’ Delicious!

I’m happy to have Tio Wally (long-time Me So Hungry reader) aboard to send in his eating adventures from across America. Here he is in Galena, Missouri.

Greetings from Galena, Missouri
N 36° 47.079’ W 093° 30.350’ Elev. 885 ft.

WARNING: This post contains sexual content of a primal nature.

To some people in the Ozarks the middle of March signals only one thing: White Bass!

The white bass come up the James River en masse to spawn only to be greeted by a phalanx of fishermen. It’s hard to tell which is more primitive: Fish or man? Sort of explains the internationally recognized description for the rabid class of people known as “fisherman.”

The male white bass come up the river first ready to, well, splooge for any arriving females. The males are larger than normal this year, meaning the females will be even bigger. The real question, though, is who’s hornier: The white bass making their way to their spawning grounds or the fishermen with a hard-on for white-bass action?

I’m not from here. But I’ve learned what’s important, what’s essential: White bass are freakin’ delicious!

And humans aren’t the only ones who think so. After the fish are filleted it’s cool to take the guts out back, dump them out and wait for a flock of feathered friends. It only takes about 20-30 minutes for a colony of turkey vultures to show up out of nowhere and discover the gold mine of fish offal. It’s pretty fun to watch them fight over the bounty until, inevitably, the buzzards are rudely interrupted by the dogs. They’re undeterred, however, and keep coming back until their work is done; they do remarkably efficient clean-up.

After an ill-fated first attempt at frying hushpuppies went hopelessly awry, we regrouped. We took the operation inside where the temperature of the oil could be more properly regulated, and, voilà, it worked out splendidly.

The hushpuppies were made with a bunch of stuff: the miracle product Jiffy Mix®, cheese, diced pickled jalapeños, onion, red and green bell pepper, diced bacon, and eggs. They were unbelievable. Spicy with the perfect inner-consistency of cornbread. Good Gawd, y’all, the folks further South could learn something about making hushpuppies here.

We had both white bass and crappie (pronounced “craw-pee”) fillets. The fish were battered in a basic corn meal mix and fried quickly, to perfection of course. And the Duke of Earl made his award-winning homemade tarter sauce; actually it’s just mayonnaise, pickle relish and onion, but it sure goes great with the fish.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get pictures or videos of the fish and hushpuppies frying because the camera battery died. (Note to self: Keep recharging.) Moreover, because of low battery issues, the camera stripped the color out of some of the videos. Such a bummer because I was hoping to show off the beauty of the James River basin in the waning days of winter. Thankfully you can still see it in the still shots.

In all it was a great time, a regular deep-fry bacchanal with great food and great company. But now I need a nap.

And so we roll.

Tio Wally pilots the 75-foot, 40-ton(max) land yacht SS Me So Hungry. He reports on road food from around the country whenever parking and InterTube connections permit.

Categories
seafood travel

Hot N Juicy Crawfish (Orlando)

It’s funny. When I did a search of nearby restaurants on Yelp at my parents’ home in Orlando, all the restaurants were in Universal Studios or Disney World. I did see a restaurant in the strip mall close by called Hot N Juicy Crawfish. Dang. I’m there.

Apparently it’s a chain restaurant with restaurants spread all over the country –Las Vegas, California, D.C. and here in Orlando. Man vs Food TV show did a thing there —http://youtu.be/VbeCuujOvX0

We ordered The Drool bucket (1lb of Crawfish, 1lb of Shrimp, dozen slices of Andouille Sausages, 2 corn, 2 potatoes, 1/2lb of Snow Crab Legs and Calamari appetizer $37.99). They ran out of Snow Crab, so they gave us King Crab Legs. We also got the Etouffee ($6.99) and Fried Catfish Basket with Sweet Potato Fries ($11.99)

The waiter says the crawfish is flown in daily. Dang. That’s a lot of work. They were really juicy and flavorful …and kind of spicy. We got the lowest level of spice (Baby Spice) and that was still kind of spicy. It was the right amount of spiciness. But maybe the “Hot n Juicy Special” seasoning we ordered it with added to that heat. Really flavorful head sucking. I even sucked the heads of the shrimps.

The best deal is the all-day Happy Hour Monday through Thursdays $1 bottled beers! That’s any bottle beer, whether it’s Heineken or Blue Moon. Three per person, but still such a good deal.

Man, I wish there was a Hot N Juicy Crawfish in Brooklyn. But only if they can give me fresh crawfish at $10/lb and $1 beers. Dreamboarding it.

Hot N Juicy Crawfish - 7572 W Sand Lake Rd. Orlando, FL 32836

Categories
restauranting

La Caye Haitian Restaurant

I felt like I needed a reason to get out of the house. Good thing Todd IM’ed me about this comedy show at BAM, Get It Out There. Free show and free Heineken.

I got there way early thinking I could start drinking, but I couldn’t get in until 8. So I went across the street to the Haitian restaurant, La Caye. I’ve always wanted to eat at a Haitian restaurant, but this place is a lot fancier looking than I was thinking. There was a live Latin Jazz band playing. They sat me up front right next to them.

I ordered a beer and the Fritaye, which is a fried platter of your choice of beef, fish or pork with akras and green plantains with a side of pikliz ($12). I got the fish and it was pretty good. Pretty good size plate of fried food. I’m glad I got the fish, because I don’t know how beef would have worked fried like this. The sour pickled veggies (pikliz) worked well with the fried fish. Gave it some flavor.

The fried akras were just okay. I don’t know what they are. Mashed brown something and fried.

I don’t care for the fried plantains  Never been a fan of Tostones. I like grilled caramelized plantains, but never fried. Too starchy and dry. Honestly, I was thinking there should’ve been ketchup with this plate.

This restaurant is alright. I was hoping my first Haitian experience was a little more dingy and cheaper. Maybe if I had the same food in a divey place, I would have thought this was awesome.

The BAM comedy show was fun. The comedians were Sean Donnelly, Jon Glaser, Max Silvestri, Gabe Liedman, Phoebe Robinson, Judah Friedlander. I’ve seen and met a few of these guys before. I think one of them lives across the street from me. I just saw him this morning in front of my apartment. Anyway, I’d go to this show again. Free Heineken and chicks.

La Caye – 35 Lafayette Ave (btwn Ashland & St Felix St) Brooklyn 11217

Categories
restauranting

Pink Tea Cup – Chicken & Waffles

The legendary Pink Tea Cup reopened near 14th St, but it’s not the same old place. Someone bought the name and the Yelp reviews are scary as hell. Sam really wanted to go though. I was still scared, but I went anyway.

There was a bucket in the corner catching the water leak from the ceiling. There was smudges of something on the napkins in the rack. Still scared.

Sam got the Chicken and Waffles and I got the Fish and Grits. They looked decent. The food wasn’t so bad. Better than I expected. Although the breading to the fish was rubbery and hard to cut through –like if it was salmon skin. But I’m pretty sure it was just breading. Weird.

I felt like I was rooting for this place, even though I was scared to eat here …and I always prided myself in eating in the sketchiest of restaurants. I guess if you go in with really bad expectations, it’s okay. Not so scared anymore.

…In a weird way, I felt more assured that the tartar sauce was in packets here.

Pink Tea Cup - 538 6th Ave (btwn 14th & 15th St) New York 10011

Categories
tio wally travel

Tio Wally Eats America: Buckeye Express Diner

I’m happy to have Tio Wally (long-time Me So Hungry reader) aboard to send in his eating adventures from across America. Here he is in Bellville, Ohio.

Greetings from Bellville, Ohio

N 40° 38.872’  W 082° 32.536’  Elev. 1197 ft.

I’ve have trick parking spots scattered around the country and have parked in this particular one numerous times. There’s a McDouche’s and a 24-hour gas station/convenience store not 50 yards away and, on good days, InterTube connections either from the McClown McPalace or a nearby motel.

Whenever I’ve parked here I’ve stared at the train-car diner up on the hill. I always lamented the fact that it was closed, as in “out of business” closed. I thought it’d be kind of cool to eat there even though, due to the novelty of the place, the food would probably be grossly overpriced and would suck.

The last time I was here, however, I noticed a banner saying it was open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. I was simply coming and going at all the wrong times (read: at night/early morning) it seems.

I showed up at about 6:45 p.m. CDT one evening and, as I was securing the yacht, kept hearing the locomotive’s bell ringing. Cute, I thought, thinking it was programmed. A few minutes later I heard the whistle “whoo-whoo.” Cool. I could see a neon “Open” sign in one of the windows of the dining car so I decided I’d check it out. But as I packed my eating gear — book, reading glasses, camera — the place went dark.

At first I thought they’d closed early. Then the SS Me So Hungry’s crack lead navigator Skippy discovered we were in the Eastern Time Zone. They’d closed at 8, just as the banner had predicted. Cue Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks’ “Woe The Luck.”

The next day, just as the banner predicted, it opened again — at 11 a.m. EDT! So I trekked up the hill and checked it out.

My initial reaction was “This place is overpriced and the food is going to suck.” Still, I asked the guy if I could take some pictures. “Sure,” he said, “five bucks.” Huh? “I’ve got a train to pay for,” he said. He was joking, of course.

He was Tony, the owner of the Buckeye Express Diner. Or as he said, “According to the bank I’m the owner. I won’t live long enough to own it but I’m going to try.” Tony’s a lovable card, to be sure, with an acerbic wit that scalawags like me find endearing. Nevertheless, I wasn’t going to eat there.

As I was about to leave I noticed the day’s special was all-you-can-eat fish and chips (Alaskan pollock, hand-cut fries) with “our applesauce” for $8.95. I left. Then I thought, “When was the last time I had fish and chips … in a rail car … perched on a hill … in Ohio?” I can’t remember when. Oh, wait, yeah I can: Never.

So I turned around and ended up having one of the finest fish-and-chips meals I’d had in ages. (Note: I’ve had fish (halibut) and chips from the Fish Shanty in Morro Bay, California back when it was good, so I know my fish and chips. No novice, me.) The fish was lightly battered, perfectly cooked, and virtually greaseless. Good tarter sauce, Heinz malt vinegar. In a word: Perfect. Tasty, tasty.

But the applesauce really made my day. Who serves applesauce with fish and chips? Well, Tony. It was delightfully cinnamon-y with big chunks of apple that made you remember that applesauce is not a pureed, flavorless pablum that we all know too well. It was real. Homemade Applesauce! Yea!!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that not only was the food excellent, the service was as well. As I was leaving, Tony said “If you like hamburgers, we make the best.” While I’m not a hamburger guy, I believed him.

By the way, you can ring the locomotive’s bell all you want for free, but it costs 50¢ to blow the whistle.

And so we roll.

Buckeye Express Diner, 810 State Route 97 & Bellville Johnsville Rd. (I-71, Exit 165), Bellville, Ohio

Tio Wally pilots the 75-foot, 40-ton(max) land yacht SS Me So Hungry. He reports on road food from around the country whenever parking and InterTube connections permit.

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
restauranting

Restaurant Abidjan – West African Cuisine

I met up with Justin near Woodhull Hospital (at the corner of East Williamsburg, Bushwick and Bed-Stuy) for brunch –Ventured out to try someplace new. Here’s a scary looking dentists office we passed …for children.

We ended up walking Southeast along the JMZ line. A few taco places that looked interesting to me. We almost walked into a divey dark bar for Eggs Benedict, but took a chance at a few more blocks. Whoa, what is Abidjan? …a West African restaurants with a big photo menu taped to the window. A lot of good looking stuff and cheap. $3 Spaghetti Sandwich? Dang.

I didn’t order the Spaghetti Sandwich. In fact, I’m not sure if everything on that window menu is available all the time. There’s a shorter menu on the table. It looks like rather than getting a single entree, you also have to get a side for a single larger price. But actually, it’s still the same price if they were separate, but now a combo. (See photo #6. I’m not that good at explaining shit.) Still pretty cheap prices.

Our server, who I assume is also the chef, brought us our own gallon jug of water. And from the sign on the window, the water is specially Kangen ionized and alkalized water. Sounds fancy.

Justin and I split the Peanut Sauce (Chicken Stew) with Foutou (mashed Cassava) $10. The sauce was amazing and chicken so tender. The Foutou has the glutinous/doughy consistency of mochi, but instead of rice, it’s made out of cassava. Justin thought it tasted brothy. Dipped in the Peanut Sauce, the Foutou were like dumplings. Interesting.

We also ordered a Fried Fish with Attieke (Cassava Couscous) $10. A nice sized whole fish –crispy and great with the sauce, oil and onions on the side. The Attieke, also made with cassava, was awesome with the Peanut Sauce.  Looking at the menu, I’m not sure if the couscous is an option with the Peanut Sauce. It should be.

Oh, and the homemade Ginger Juice that the guy makes and bottles himself is amazing. Strong with ginger flavor. Only $2. I bought an extra to take home.

I can’t believe the tables were empty here. It’s so good and nicely good priced. They even have DVDs for sale. I love this restaurant.

Restaurant Abidjan - 1136 Broadway (btwn Dekalb Ave & Kosciuszko St) Brooklyn, NY 11221