Attacked on the Train/Salmon Salad!

 Attacked on the Train/Salmon Salad!

Sofrito Lovers,

The world's worst food blogger is back! I start the week off with my latest mukbang. Enjoy my tale of the train brawl I ended up in, and watch me savor some delicious Puerto Rican-style salmon salad with turmeric vegetable rice-a Puerto Rican and Middle Eastern fusion of my own.

Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

SteakRamen with a side of Diabetic Issues!

Steak Ramen with a side of Diabetic Issues!

Sofrito Lovers,

This week's mukbang features a Steak Ramen with green and red peppers, onions, and mushrooms in a delicious broth with springy ramen noodles.  Also, I discuss my diabetes and how I am regaining control of my blood sugar.

Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

Answering your burning questions with Mofongo!

 Answering your burning questions with Mofongo!

Sofrito Lovers,

I give you a weekend mukbang where I answer some of your questions and enjoy a delicious Mofongo with pernil.  It's a fun, personal, and garlicky time!

Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho!

Missing My BearBear with Solula Tostones!

 Missing My BearBear with Solula Tostones!

Sofrito Lovers,

Enjoy this week's Mukbang! Watch me taste test Solula Tostones (Twice fried plantains) and hear me talk about how I miss my BearBear!

Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho!

Let's try some Hamburger Soup!

 Let's try some Hamburger Soup!

Sofrito Lovers,

Hamburger Soup. Yes, you read that correctly, Hamburger soup. A soup made from ground beef (without the lettuce, pickles, or French fries) with the usual veggie medley that makes all soups great.  

At first, I was a bit skeptical, but once I prepared the dish and tasted it, I became an instant fan. The last time I enjoyed a ground beef-based soup was when I made Mexican sopa de fideos (noodle soup), and I thought nothing would come close to that, but the burger soup is a close second.

Tangy, savory, hearty, and tummy-warming good, this soup is worth the effort.  So put aside any hesitation and preconceived notions and give it a try! Watch the video below from Jo Cooks on YouTube and get to cooking!

Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho!

PARENTHOOD? HELL, NO!

PARENTHOOD? HELL, NO!

Sofrito Lovers,

This week's mukbang features Turkey Meatloaf, Broccoli Pasta, and Batata Blanca (Caribbean White Sweet Potato). Watch me enjoy these remarkable leftovers, and talk about how I will NEVER be a parent.

Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

Bronx Night Market to Come Back in the Spring!

Bronx Night Market to return for another season with additional robust programming for the borough!

Sofrito Lovers,

The Bronx Night Market returns in April! After closing in 2023, this remarkable foodie event (which is criminally underrated) will return with food, fun, and festivities! I know I will be there with a napkin tucked under my chin and a fork in each hand.

To be transparent, the market isn't just a wonderful foodie event; it also features all types of retail vendors, artisans, and music.  You can simultaneously shop, listen to good music, and enjoy the various cuisines from restaurants and pop-up shops throughout the Bronx.

During past visits, I have enjoyed reggae music while feasting on delicious Jamaican roti; danced to Puerto Rican salsa, while eating incredible Pernil (roasted pork shoulder); and jammed out to jazz accompanied by scrumptious collards cooked with ham bone.

Slated to reopen in April, the market is partnering up with Bronx Eats, The Fordham Farmer's Market, and The Bronx Vegan Bazaar to promote healthier eating habits and plant-based lifestyle options.

I cannot express how happy I am to hear this news.  The Bronx is an often overlooked food mecca, and this market is one of our borough's hidden gems.  I suggest you read the article below and peruse the Market website, and join me in April.  I know you'll love it.

Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

Click here for the Bronx Times Article!

The Chick Inn: The best place to dine INN for Chicken!

The Chick INN: The Place best to dine INN for Chicken.

Chicken is God’s gift to the taste buds; it’s the food of the gods and mortals alike. What more could I ever say to sing the praises of this much-adored protein throughout culinary history? I won’t attempt it, but what I will do is point you in the direction of an incredible chicken restaurant in West Harlem. It's called “The Chick Inn,” and you’re going to love it.

The Chick Inn is NEST-led in the Hamilton Heights section of West Harlem, specifically at 3508 Broadway. I promise, no more corny chicken puns. Their second location can be found in Kipps Bay at 415 3rd Avenue in downtown Manhattan. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of dining at the Harlem brick and mortar and have since become a devoted fan.

For those of you who appreciate décor and ambiance, you will enjoy the restaurant’s exposed brick white walls, wooden shelves, and long wooden bar. The moderately sized space is cozy and bright, with an interesting mix of rustic and modern styles. There is ample seating on the left and a large, comfortable wooden bar for a solo diner like me to relax and spread out a bit.

Allured by the aroma of my neighbor’s appetizer, I started my meal with the Chicken Tenders appetizer, which you can add fries to if you wish—I decided not to! You can choose between 3 ($11) or 7 ($17) pieces, which are served with a house-made buttermilk ranch dipping sauce. I selected the 3-piece option because I’m finally watching my waist contract rather than its usual expansion. Self-control at a delicious chicken spot is a bitch!

The tenders’ crispy breading was delicious and well-seasoned. It was lightly breaded and crispy enough to give you a wonderful crunch as you bit into it. The chicken itself was moist and flavorful, which, I feel, is a rarity these days. As a self-appointed chicken “tendie” expert, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend where restaurants are serving tendies so dry and hard they could double as hockey pucks. It was wonderfully refreshing to enjoy a plate of tendies that were delicious. The house-made buttermilk ranch they were paired with was pure perfection.

I can’t believe I am doing this, but I must sing the praises of their buttermilk ranch. Let it be known, I am not a fan of ranch sauce at all. I will never understand why this mayonnaise (the devil’s snot), sour cream, and milk nightmare concoction is so popular. Ordinarily, the smell and overpowering flavor of mayo immediately repels me, but there are rare moments where I can see the appeal. The Chick Inn’s house-made ranch won me over with one whiff and bite. It was rich, unctuous, and tangy. It elevated this simple appetizer to another level. I think they need to upgrade this dish to an entrée.

As I finished my tendies, my Chicken with Rice ($19) entrée arrived with my roasted corn and sautéed spinach sides. The chicken with rice meal comes in three distinct options: Pesto, Cilantro, and Spicy Vodka. I chose the cilantro option (very Boricua, I know) and ordered the Roasted Corn and Sautéed Spinach (both $8) sides to complement the rice from the sides' menu.

The aroma from the chicken with rice was intoxicating, and the light green hue was gorgeous. The dish was creamy and had a subtle and delightful flavor. I've had cilantro rice dishes that were so pungent (and unpleasant) that I might as well have been chewing on the raw leaves. As delicious as cilantro is, in large quantities, it’s incredibly gross and off-putting.  This entrée had a wonderful balance of flavors and textures.

The dish featured a combination of white and dark meat, which was soft and well-seasoned. It damn-near melted in my mouth and provided a stunning umami contrast to the cilantro. The fact that it was able to have its own distinctive flavor among all the cilantro further proves my point:  The Chick Inn’s version of this common Latin American dish was well executed and superb.

The sautéed spinach and roasted corn arrived a minute or two after my entrée. The sautéed spinach, prepared with olive oil and slivers of garlic, had a delightful and fatty bitterness. It helped cut the heavy creaminess of the cilantro rice. It was simple and understated, yet it added an extra dimension to the meal. Fortune favors the bold; you never know when a whim will turn out to be pure culinary gold.

Unfortunately, the roasted corn was mediocre and disappointing. I was expecting to enjoy that incredible combination of sweetness and smokiness you get from roasted corn, but it just wasn’t there. This dish was made with non-sweet corn, which was good, but it didn’t provide me with the sweet contrast I was looking for to round out the meal. You can’t win them all, I guess.

Harlem is full of chicken spots, but The Chick Inn stands out in its bold and unique take on God’s gift to the taste buds. So, if you find yourself in West Harlem and are hungry, then walk INN and give the Chicken Inn a try. Okay, so I lied about the bad puns. Despite my sad attempts at comedy, the Chick Inn is no joke, and I’m sure you will love it.

Go taste for yourself.  ¡Buen Provecho!

The Chick Inn

3508 Broadway

New York, N.Y., 10031

www.nychickinn.com

212.234.3084

Happy Taco Life!

 Happy Taco Life!

Sofrito Lovers,

The time has come for me to eat tacos and ramble on about the good things in my life.  Watch me enjoy these three carnitas tacos and listen to me talk about how good 2024 has been to my friends, family, and me!

Like, Share, and Subscribe! Turn on notifications, as well!

Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

Shrimp Fried Rice and Falling on Ice!

 Shrimp Fried Rice and Falling on Ice!

Sofrito Lovers,

Watch me enjoy some Peruvian Shrimp Chaufa (Fried Rice) with roasted vegetables!  Listen to me whine about the weather, talk about how I slipped on ice, and how I laughed at old people slipping on ice as well!

Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

SPAM Rice and that C19 Life!

SPAM Rice and that C19 Life!

Sofrito Lovers,

Watch and enjoy my latest mukbang!  I enjoyed a delicious plate Puerto Rican-style Arroz con Jamonilla (SPAM rice) with steamed vegetables.  My story time includes my recent bout with COVID-19 and return to work.

Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

Puerto Rican Chicken Soup Cures ALL!!

 Puerto Rican Chicken Soup/Sopa de Pollo Cures ALL!!

Sofrito Lovers,

I have been sick for almost two weeks with La Corona (COVID-19), and this time around it truly kicked my ass. I've had stomach issues, fatigue, and fever in different disgusting and uncomfortable combinations. It's been gross, and all I've wanted is some delicious Puerto Rican Chicken soup.

First, we need to be clear that Puerto Rican Chicken Soup (or Sopa de Pollo) is a real-life panacea (cure-all).  The combination of sofrito, adobo, chicken bullion, potatoes, carrots, cilantro, and delicious chicken thighs will cleanse your body of all ailments. I am not a doctor and cannot prove any of these claims, but somehow I know they're correct. Am I biased? Hell, yeah!

The recipe below is from Sweets and Beyond (one of my favorite YouTube channels) and is the closest I have seen to Mami's recipe.  Give it a try! It's helped me a lot.

Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

Happy Birthday to Me! Happy New Year to You!

Happy Birthday to Me! Happy New Year to You!

Sofrito Lovers,

Enjoy my first mukbang of the year! Watch me enjoy my favorite American Chinese foo dish, Singapore Mei Fun, and hear me talk about my holidays and AMAZING BIRTHDAY!

Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho!

Argentinian Beef Stew/Carbonada!

 Argentinian Beef Stew/Carbonada!

Sofrito Lovers,

The freezing cold New York City weather stimulates cravings for anything hearty, delicious, and satisfying.  You can't get more satisfying than an Argentinian Carbonada.  What's a carbonada? Keep reading, because it's going to be life-changing.

A carbonada is a type of beef stew that mixes interesting ingredients (dried fruits or cheeses) with typical beef stew ingredients (carrots, potatoes, and onions) to create a uniquely delicious dish.  Listen, I know that ingredients like cheese, dried fruit, and tablespoons of sugar in a beef stew might turn you off, but you must fight those purist sensibilities and give this stew a try.  

When I (a skeptic and beef stew expert) first heard of the carbonada, I thought it would taste gross, but one spoonful changed this Doubting Thomas into a total fanboy.  I beg you to give it a try-it's a new year, c'mon.

Argentina is world-renowned for its beef and red meat culture, so they know their beef stews-give it a try!  Now watch the YouTube video below (Kevin All Over) and make this incredible dish.  This recipe in particular features cheese as a main ingredient and is served in a hollowed-out pumpkin. What could be more fun?

Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

Chinatown and Little Italy Food Festival!

 Chinatown and Little Italy Food Festival!

Sofrito Lovers,

Happy New Year!  ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! I hope these words find you in good health, mirth, and merriment.  I'm excited about a new year of blogging and sharing my foodie experiences!  I'm starting the year off on a delicious foot by attending the Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest.

If you aren't familiar with the Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest then listen up because this festival is one of New York City's hidden treasures.  It's pretty simple: You get on a bus and are taken to wonderful spots in both neighborhoods to sample mouth-watering meals.  You can have homemade cannolis, savory dim sum, fresh pasta, and piping hot crispy duck all in one afternoon.

This bus tour takes you to out-of-the-way hidden culinary gems that will definitely inspire you to explore these streets on your own.  Last time I attended, I fell in love with Little Italy (I never understood the hype before) and started visiting more often.  This fest is a game-changing and eye-opening foodie experience.

Take a look at the information below and buy your tickets now!  I will see you on the bus!  I'll have some pre-fest snacks on me for you.

Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

For more information click here!  

To Buy tickets click here!