A Small but Tasty Flea Market

If you've traveled on 4th Avenue on any recent weekend, you've probably seen the signs for a flea market in the median or at the Al Noor School on 20th Street and 4th Avenue. I've never gone, mainly because my experience at flea markets has proved to feature overly expensive items that I want but can't afford or sad-looking items that I can afford but really don't want. However, perhaps this flea market can offer something more.

According to the Fork in the Road feature in The Village Voice, there are a couple of food vendors that are worth a visit. Check out the article for more info, but I have to say that the hot sauce and chick-pea stall sounds promising. Stop by Eagle Provisions for a beer and Laurentino's for a chocolate covered strawberry or pignoli to complete a pretty decent snack-time.

Not Really New Restaurant has Not Really Vegetarian Options

In a review with a title that begins "Vegetarian Delights of NYC" - you'd think there would actually be vegetarian delights. In fact, it should have read "Vegetable Delights in Chicken or Seafood Broth of NYC." But whatever. When vegetarians go to any restaurant on 5th or 8th (or somewhere in between), they know that any vegetable dish is fair game for animal bits and broth. Places this has happened to me: Nyonya, Mai Thai, Matamoros, several bakeries, and Flor de Piaxtla.

Robert Sietsema has made several visits to Sunset Park's Delights, and he has featured them in The Voice. This latest review is for East Harbor Seafood Palace (you can get the menu from that link) on 65th and 7th Avenue.

Despite the title, Sietsema gives fair warning to vegetarians who were drawn to the review:

At newcomer East Harbor, some of the more interesting dishes fall in the Vegetable category, though beware strict vegetarians that some recipes may deploy a light chicken or seafood broth.

El Bohio #3 Gets the Spotlight

El Bohio moved in a while ago on the corner of 5th Avenue and 45th, and being less than a fan of pork, it hasn't been a stop for me. I have noticed, however, that there are some seemingly great deals for people who want to be social while they eat. The window often has package deals for four or ten people that sound pretty reasonable. It is also getting some Village Voice attention.

So, if you want to have a night of restaurant meals or take out, but your wallet is feeling a little light (and if you eat meat), try this place. It always looks busy when I peek in, but there seems to be a decent amount of seating. Enjoy!

Comfort Food

My students would often pick up Cheese Fries or Chili Cheese Fries at the place across the street from the school. These gooey-soon-to-solidify tins of fries and Velveeta weighed about three pounds and looked like it would disintegrate stomach lining in about 90 seconds. The photo of the Salchipapas at La Cuarta (at 4th Avenue and 28th Street) featured in Fork in the Road from the Village Voice looks a lot more attractive. Before reading the article, I thought the hot dogs were roasted red peppers. That's what I get for being a vegetarian.

Robert Sietsema's description of the dish calls it a "Strange Snack of the World." Are mini-hot dogs, fries, and a hard-boiled egg really that strange? I suppose it's the combination that is odd, but even then, it's not too strange. Here's a sampling of Sietsema's commentary:

And therein lies some of salchipapas' specialness -- the flavors swap off between the two foodstuffs, as the frank fat renders, seeps into the deep fat, and is thereby transmitted to the very core of the admittedly inferior-on-their-own french fries.

He also uses the word "proteinaceously" - which is the first time I've seen it as an adverb. Check out the article at the link above.

Ellis Bar and Eurotrip get Reviewed by the Big Guns

It's quite the week for eating and drinking establishments in what real estate types still insist on calling South Slope (are we really calling it SoSlo?). Ellis Bar is reviewed by The Village Voice, and Eurotrip is reviewed by The New York Times.

Devoting three paragraphs to the dangerous delights and impressive history of Ellis' fry bread, The Village Voice's review of Ellis Bar is appreciative, if confused. The Voice's reviewer was disappointed in the rattlesnake and catfish, but thrilled with the homemade pepper jelly, meatloaf, and (most of) the drinks.

See my neighbor Vanessa's reaction to her meal at Ellis Bar here. She liked the rattlesnake better than The Voice did.

The Times gives Eurotrip a slightly condescending review, that likes the gooey, fried Edam cheese and the Slavik halusky (potatoes, bacon, cheese...), but calls the wine selection a "heartfelt attempt" (can't you picture the pat on the head?) to represent central Europe. The reader is encouraged to stick to the beer and stay away from the wine. "All is forgiven" the reviewer says, if you choose the hot Berlin cider to finish up your meal. It does sound good, but for $8, I'll heat up my own cider, thanks. Perhaps there is a smaller, cheaper version available?

Sunset Park's Bahn Mi in The Voice - Again.

Food, food, food, and more food. That's what Sunset Park is made of. The Village Voice has the latest article about Sunset Park's offerings - and once again my favorite place for a sandwich and Lemon Ice gets attention.

From the Voice's article:

Walk north up Eighth and you'll come to Ba Xuyen, where you can find the best banh mi in the neighborhood (barely surpassing Tan Thanh's). There are also tasty salad rolls and fried spring rolls, and, in the self-serve warmer, you might strike it lucky and find banh beo—tiny, jiggly steamed-rice cakes, with various savory or sweet toppings. The other day, the cakes were crowned with a small dollop of mashed mung bean, fried shallots, dried shrimp, and ground peanuts.

The prices of most of Ba Xuyen's drinks and breakfast sandwiches went up recently, but the Bahn Mi prices stayed consistent at $3.50. I'm glad for the businesses that they are getting all this attention, but I'm not so glad for my rent. I'm also not so glad because the lines have gotten a lot longer in the last five years. Hmph. Still, in the off-hours, it's not much of a wait.

I'm surprised that the Tortas on 4th and 5th haven't gotten much attention. Granted, they are more expensive and not as big. For $5 at Don Paco Lopez (47th and 4th) you get a great sandwich, but for $5 at Ba Xuyen you get a great sandwich AND a Lemon Ice. Mmmmmm. Still, either way it's cheap.

Sunset Park's Chinatown Gets Some Press

Brooklyn's Chinatown had a busy week in two popular publications.

The Village Voice's Robert Sietsema gushes about our Chinatown as being less crowded, less touristy (for now), more sunny and just better than other boroughs. Here is a particularly gushy-gush: "The scene that flanks you as you float northward on Eighth is a salutary one, with vendors selling soft bean curd, miniature Hong Kong cakes, and banana-leaf-wrapped rice meals studded with sausages and dates." I can't say I've ever floated along 8th Avenue, but it's lovely to see some attention given to places other than Pacificana and Ocean Palace. Mr. Sietsema focuses on noodle shops with a passing nod to a Vietnamese sandwich shop in the 50's. Sadly, he didn't make it past 46th Street, so he didn't stop in to Ba Xuyen, but it gets props in the next publication. Check out his mentions of the Hong Kong Supermarket, Lan Zhou, Quickly, Than Da, China Tea, and Yun Nan flavor snack here.

Ears at Ba Xuyen's #1 sandwich get noticed in TimeOutNY's Restaurants & Bars section. It's the second section of "Think Pig" in Issue 659. It comes with a lovely graphic that shows a poor little piggie's edible parts...pretty much the entire pig.