Monday, December 8, 2014

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Miss Lily's

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Miss Lily's

Miss Lily's is a Caribbean restaurant in the West Village with amazing Caribbean fare and excellent service.  The restaurant is fun, energetic and the decor is amazing.


The Grilled Jerk corn was delicious!


The chicken sausage in jerk sauce was unique and tasty!


The roasted potatoes were soft, spicy and wonderful.




Thursday, October 30, 2014

Carnitas El Atoradero: Bolivia, Bolivarianism and Burritos!



By Benjamin Ramos Rosado, http://Sofritoinmysoul.blogspot.com


  You never know what is going to happen when you visit a restaurant.  Being an experienced foodie, I visit every restaurant expecting the unexpected, but little did I know that my innocent dinner at Carnitas El Atoradero would become a lesson in international politics and human rights.  Who knew I would learn so much about Bolivia over tacos and burritos?

Located in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx, Carnitas El Atoradero is the restaurant half of two businesses; the other being a Mexican bodega (called El Atoradero) that sells imported products. The restaurant is a small mom-n-pop style eatery with wooden lacquered tables, a large take out counter, and a television mounted on the back wall.  The hideous neon green walls feature a few scattered pictures of Mexico and old newspaper reviews of the eatery.  The décor is nothing to write home about, but the menu more than makes up for the lack of atheistic appeal.

After a LONG and STRESSFUL work day, I hailed a cab and trekked down to the one place in the Bronx I knew I could satisfy that gnawing desire for tacos and relaxation.  Upon entering Carnitas El Atoradero, I noticed it was practically empty with the exception of someone buying take out and a middle-aged man eating alone watching the Telemundo news.  This was strange; Carnitas is usually a beehive of activity. I guess the Columbus Day rain kept some of the usual patrons at home.

Eager to eat my stress away, I sat down and impatiently waited for my server to bring me the menu.  I was going to order my favorite Taco de Carnitas (fried pork), but I wanted to see if anything else on the menu piqued my curiosity.  My server handed me the menu with a big smile and a welcoming, “Buenas” (good evening in Spanish).  The wait staff at Carnitas El Atoradero is always welcoming and sweet.  I’ve always appreciated their attention to detail and customer service.

The menu is divided into 13 sections: Tacos, Quesadillas, Tacos Placeros, Tortas, Cemitas, Burritos, Sopes, Huaraches, Tostadas, Flautas, Pupusas, and Especiales de la Casa.  Hungry and cold from the rain, I decided to order a taco de carnitas as my delicious appetizer; the Sopa de pollo (Chicken soup) to warm my bones; and a steak burrito to fill my tummy.

I noticed the middle-aged man watching the news clapped and whistled when they announced that Evo Morales had been re-elected President of Bolivia. After his sudden out burst, he turned in my direction and apologized for being loud.  We both laughed; I told him that I agreed it was excellent news. I asked him if he was Bolivian and he raised his Jarritos bottle, and proudly replied, “No, I’m a Bolivarian.”

I returned his toast with my Diet Coke and began to eat my taco.  The tortilla was warm, soft and had a wonderful taste of corn meal.  The carnitas was perfectly grilled, well seasoned, and moist.  The radishes and onions were crunchy and added a spicy and sharp flavor to the taco.  The cilantro-my favorite part of any taco-imparted that delicious freshness and herbal flavor that makes it an essential taco ingredient; any taco without is always lacking.


I asked him if he was Venezuelan, because many of them refer to themselves as “Bolivarians” because of their belief in Simon Bolivar’s dream of a united Latin America.  He replied he was Mexican, but considered himself a citizen of all of Latin America and a devotee of Simon Bolivar.  He added he was a political science professor at his university in Mexico; his main areas of study were Venezuela and Bolivia.  For the past 5 years, he traveled to both countries to study their political development and social justice movements. He enthusiastically began to tell me about his experiences in Bolivia.

As I listened, I enjoyed my steaming bowl of Sopa de pollo.  The simple and delicious piping hot broth warmed me through and through.  The chicken was soft and flavorful; the carrots and corn imparted a delightful sweetness that contrasted the onions’ sharpness.  The hearty chayote’s mild squash-like flavor gave the soup an intriguing earthy flavor.  Generously sprinkled with cilantro on top, the Sopa de Pollo reminded me of my mother’s homemade soups, which cured colds and made dreary rainy days tolerable.


I couldn’t believe my incredible luck!  I went to Carnitas El Atoradero for a good meal and ended up getting my own personal class on Bolivian history and politics.  We discussed how Evo’s agrarian reforms were empowering the indigenous population; how the government was working to eliminate illiteracy; and how medical care was becoming universal.  I was so intrigued by his stories that I almost ignored my recently arrived steak burrito. 

Impressed by my order, my new Poli-Sci professor paused mid-sentence to compliment my entrée choice.  He loved Carnitas El Atoradero because of its authentic food; he dined there whenever he visited New York City.  He continued his lecture, but I have to admit I barely paid any attention; I was captivated by my delicious meal.  The steak was soft, well seasoned, and plentiful; the rice and beans inside was savory and filling.  The tangy sour cream and salty white cheese topping gave the burrito a wonderful flavor complexity.  Just to add an acidic bite, I squeezed a lemon on to the burrito and it opened up the flavors even more.


Mid-lecture, the professor looked at his phone and realized he was late for another appointment.  Thinking he had monopolized my time, he apologized for talking so much; I reassured him that I loved our conversation.  I told him his stories had reinforced my desire to visit Bolivia to see its social transformation for myself…and to try the incredible food as well.  As he walked out, I realized how ironic the night had been: It was Columbus Day and I spent the night learning all about an anti-imperialist social movement led by a newly re-elected Indigenous president.

I can’t promise you’ll receive political education, when you visit Carnitas El Atoradero, but I can assure you that you’ll have a wonderful meal.  I hope your first visit turns out to be as amazing as my last.  Go taste for yourself!  Buen provecho! 

Carnitas El Atoradero
800 E 149th St
Bronx, NY 10455

HOURS: Monday-Friday 10am-10pm, Sat. and Sun. 10am-10:30pm
ATMOSPHERE:  Friendly and fun.
SERVICE: Very good.
SOUND LEVEL: Conversational.
KID FRIENDLY: Yes.
RECOMMENDED DISHES: Burritos, Tacos, Sopas, and Quesadillas.
BEVERAGES: Jarritos (Mexican sodas), Agua Frescas (natural juices), and Pepsi and Coke.
PRICE RANGE: $2.50-$15.00

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

The Grange: A delicious trip down memory lane!

By Benjamin Ramos Rosado, http://Sofritoinmysoul.blogspot.com

  
As I entered the restaurant, I couldn’t help, but feel nostalgic.  As a child, I walked into this space more times than I could remember to buy sandwiches for my Catholic school field trips.  Back then, it wasn’t The Grange Bar and Eatery, it was a Blimpie’s.  Long gone are the heroes and potato chips! They’ve been replaced with organic meats, Multigrain breads and bean sprouts; as Bob Dylan once said, “The times they are a’changin’!”

In the 1980s, my section of Harlem (now more commonly referred to as Hamilton Heights) was full of "mom’n’pop" restaurants and small businesses.  These days, gentrification and urban renewal have taken away some of the local fare and substituted it with small cafes, gourmet delis and trendy restaurants.  The Grange Bar and Eatery is one of these new up-and-coming eateries. 

The Grange is a moderately sized restaurant with wooden tables, exposed brick walls, and a coffee bar.  The decor is modern, the ambiance is festive, and the clientele is a mixture of neighborhood locals and City College students and faculty.  I love The Grange’s huge windows, which face Amsterdam Avenue and allow you to people watch as you dine.

As my server handed me the menu, she noticed I was staring out the window and asked me if I was waiting for someone; I replied, “I’m just enjoying the view of my old neighborhood.” She said, “Well, welcome back home!  I hope you have a good visit back!”  The Grange’s servers are always friendly and courteous.  I’ve had several wonderful conversations with other servers on previous occasions; someone there knows how to hire excellent wait staff!

As I looked out the window, I saw an old neighbor of mine walking past the window with a coffee cup in his hand, it was from Café One on the corner of Amsterdam Avenue and W140th. A few doors down from The Grange, Café One is a trendy spot for City College students to read, write papers, and congregate.  What they don’t know is that before these kids had their little cliché café, it was my neighborhood bicycle shop.

When I was ten years old, my father bought my first and only bicycle there.  I loved that bike; it let me explore my neighborhood and was the only exercise I enjoyed.  He was proud of me for learning to ride without training wheels. I racked my brains trying to remember what happened to it, but I couldn’t remember.

Hunger brought me out of my nostalgia, so I reviewed the dinner menu, which is divided into four sections: Fromiage and Charcuterie (Cheese and Sliced cured meats), Appetizers, Salads, and Entrees. Check out the Grange’s menu at: http://thegrangebarnyc.com/#!/menu/dinner/ 

Curious to sample the Fish Tacos, Lamb Sliders and the Grilled Cheese sandwich, I asked my server which of these appetizers was the most popular and she replied it was a tie between the Fish tacos and Grilled Cheese.  As much as I love grilled cheese, the description of the Fish tacos (Tempura battered cod, capered tartare sauce, cabbage, pickled radish and avocado) won me over.

Thinking about the grilled cheese sandwich reminded me of the diner next to my father’s old bodega.  It was owned by a friendly Greek family, which we affectionately referred to as “Los Griegos” (The Greeks in Spanish), who served typical diner fare with classic Greek dishes like Mousaka and Spanakopita.  Growing up, I ate their grilled cheese sandwiches with onions rings all the time.  Unfortunately, the diner closed 2 years ago and was replaced by an Italian restaurant called Coccola, which has become popular with the same crowd that frequents The Grange. 

The amazing smell of my fish tacos snapped me back to the present.  The tempura battered cod was soft, flaky and flavorful.  The cabbage was crunchy and fresh; the sweet avocado balanced the delightfully briny taste of the pickled radish.  The creamy and rich Capered Tartare sauce added a wonderful tangy flavor to the dish. The appetizer was superb and told my server that if they added one more taco to the plate and maybe some pico de gallo, they could serve it as an entree.


Curious to try a new entree, I ordered the Spinach Ravioli (Baby Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli in a Meyer Lemon Poppy-seed Buerre Fondue with shaved carrots and rainbow micro-greens) instead of my standard Roast Chicken or Black Bean Burger (both are also amazing).   

As I waited for my entree, I heard a few City College students talking about a new Indian restaurant opening up two blocks away.  Instantly, I remembered that the Auto-parts store under my mother’s apartment building had closed and that a banner hung on the awning advertising the opening of an Indian restaurant.  The Auto-parts store had been there for decades; the owner was one of my father’s friends.  I loved the dirty jokes and other inappropriate subject matter I learned from the mechanics that hung out in front of the shop.  I guess the spicy language will be replaced by spicy curry and tandoori. 

Before too long, my entree arrived; the moist ravioli had an amazing rich and creamy ricotta filling.  The Lemon poppy-seed fondue sauce gave the dish an enjoyable acidic and savory flavor.  The crunchy rainbow greens and shaved carrots imparted a refreshing sweetness and slight bitterness that perfectly complimented the meal.  The combination of flavors and textures was excellent and well balanced; the genius of this dish was its simplicity.



Businesses in Harlem will always come and go, but my memories of the old eateries and small businesses that gave it character will always be with me. Despite these changes, Harlem remains an incredible place to dine.  Go make some memories for yourself at The Grange.  Don’t take my word for it, go taste for yourself!  Buen provecho! 

The Grange Bar and Eatery 
1635 Amsterdam Ave.
(212) 491-1635 
Website: http://thegrangebarnyc.com/
 
HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 11:30am-4am and Sat.-Sun. 10:30am-4am

ATMOSPHERE: Causal and fun

SERVICE: Excellent

SOUND LEVEL: Conversational

KID FRIENDLY: Not really

RECOMMENDED DISHES:  Spinach Raviloi, Roasted Chicken, Fish tacos, and Black bean burger

BEVERAGES: Soda, wine, beer and other assorted beverages.

PRICE RANGE: Check the menu: http://thegrangebarnyc.com/

poon.com/r/3/1763486/restaurant/Harlem/The-Grange-Bar-and-Eatery-NYC">The Grange Bar and Eatery on Urbanspoon


Sunday, September 14, 2014

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Trattoria Inwood

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life

Tratorria Inwood

Tratorria Inwood is and Italian restaurant located in Inwood with excellent pasta and good service.

I had their Calamari Fritti (Fried Calamari):


I loved their Pene Pasta with Chicken:





Saturday, August 30, 2014

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Cafe de Broadway

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life

Cafe de Broadway

Cafe de Broadway is a New American restaurant located in Inwood.  With good service, excellent decor, and delicious food, Cafe de Broadway is a wonderful eatery in Northern Manhattan.

I loved their Red Quinoa Salad:



The Chimi Burger was excellent:



Thursday, July 24, 2014

A Spoonful of Sofrito: La Nacional

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

La Nacional

La Nacional is a wonderful Spanish restaurant located at 239 W. 14th St., that features an excellent Tapas Menu, entrees and amazing wines.

I love their Caldo Gallego, A Spanish white navy bean soup with sausage and ham.




I also enjoy their Croquetas, which are fried ham croquettes, served with a garlic cream.



Sunday, July 6, 2014

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Tabata!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Tabata

Having Hiyashi Ramen and shrimp shumai at Tabata! Refreshing, delicious, and light! 





Sunday, June 8, 2014

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Lilli's Asian Cuisine and Sushi Bar

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Lilli's Asian Cuisine and Sushi Bar


Lilli's Asian Cuisine and Sushi Bar is bright, open, fun and serves excellent Pan-Asian cuisine.  I recommend the Fried Pork Dumplings, Cantonese Wonton Soup, and the California Roll.  The noodle soups are also amazing.  Next time you're near E. 86th St. visit Lilli's, you won't regret it.

Lilli's amazing Fried Pork Dumplings:



The delicious Sesame Chicken:




The incredible Singapore Mei Fun:




Saturday, June 7, 2014

A Spoonful of Sofrito: La Libertad

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Ristorante La Libertad


A few weeks back, my friend Danny Bolero introduced me to Ristorante La Libertad, a wonderful Salvadoran restaurant in Washington Heights.  With good service, causal ambiance, and excellent food, Ristorante La Libertad is an incredible place to relax and enjoy a good meal.


The wonderful Sopa de Pollo (Chicken Soup):



The amazing Pene Vodka:



The delicious El Campasino (Grilled Steak with Rice and refried beans):




Saturday, May 31, 2014

Jin Ramen: Soup, Sandwich, and Sage advice!



By Benjamin Ramos Rosado, http://Sofritoinmysoul.blogspot.com

After a particularly stressful visit to City College’s financial aid office, I decided to drown my sorrows in a bowl of Ramen.  Not a bowl of that disgusting sodium-full swill you buy 3 for a dollar at the bodega; I’m talking about a bowl of Japanese Ramen filled to the brim with vegetables, noodles, and pork.  A bowl of soup that warms your belly and soothes the soul. The only place to find that type of solace in Harlem is at Jin Ramen.

Recently featured on Eater.com and Serious Eats, Jin Ramen is a chic little Japanese noodle shop, which has become popular with neighborhood locals and City College students. With 9 tables, a noodle bar, and 2 high top family style tables, Jin Ramen is a casual and cozy place to relax, read, and enjoy delicious food. 

Within minutes of my arrival, my server greeted me with a smile and a menu.  Jin Ramen’s servers are welcoming, attentive, and timely.  My only complaint is the number of servers that tend to you.  Sometimes, you get two or three people taking your different orders; it makes it hard to keep track of who is bringing you what and who to tip at the end of the meal.  

As I reached into my book bag to put away my financial aid paper work, I made eye contact with my neighbor to the right, a young Latino City College student. He said hello and I smiled back; he noticed my paper work and asked me if I worked at the Financial Aid Office. I shook my head and told him I was an Undergraduate transfer student starting in September. 

His eyes bulged out of his head and he immediately asked my age.  I must’ve been tired and flustered, because I told him my real age; usually I reply, “None of your damn business.” Apparently, I must’ve been the oldest person he’d ever met, because he kept repeating, “You’re (my age) and still an undergrad?” over and over in full voice.

Resisting the urge to curse him out or flip him off, I explained that I took a few years off to work, volunter with social justice campaigns, and travel.  He replied, “That’s cool!  I bet you’ve been EVERYWHERE IN ALL THOSE YEARS!”  I forced a friendly smile and regretted not cursing him out or flipping him off. 

Hoping to end our encounter, I turned my attention to my menu, but unfortunately he didn’t take the hint and began telling me his life story.  His name was Jason, he was 18 years old, and he mentioned that he didn’t know much about ramen.  I explained that ramen is a popular Japanese soup with Chinese style wheat noodles in a chicken or pork based broth with any type of meat, but usually pork. Intrigued by my explanation, he opened his menu and quieted down for a few minutes.  The silence was exquiste.

Jin Ramen’s menu is divided into 4 sections: Appetizers, Ramen, Starters and Salads, and a section with Additional Toppings (See the full menu here).  Hungry and slightly annoyed, I ordered my favorite appetizer, the Steamed Pork Buns (2 Gua Bao buns stuffed with chashu pork, iceberg lettuce, and spicy mayo), and the Miso Ramen (Miso broth with sauteed corn, leeks, scallions, bean sprouts, chicken sausage, pork belly, bok choy, and nori) for my entree.

Jason ordered the traditional Shoyo ramen, which comes from the Chinese immigrant community of Yokohama, Japan. It’s a brown broth made from a chicken and vegetable stock (blended with soy sauce, garlic and ginger) with noodles, green onions, and slices of pork.

As we waited for our dishes, Jason inquired about my visit to the Financial Aid office; I told him I was there to pick up FAFSA and TAP paperwork.  Immediately, he advised me to apply for FAFSA online, because I’d be able to simultaneously apply for TAP as well.  He walked me through the process on his smartphone.  He also showed me a few scholarship sites and assured me there had to be money out there for “old people” like me returning to school.  

I overlooked the insult and continued to listen as my server placed my Steamed Pork Buns in front of me.  Jason's eyes bulged out of his skull again; I could tell he wanted to taste one of the buns.  I offered him one, but he said no.  I placed one on a small plate and told him to consider it a thank you for his advice.  He grinned ear to ear and eagerly bit into it.

Steamed Pork Buns are a Taiwanese street food that have become popular in many Asian restaurants.  The buns, known as Gua Bao, are made by steaming dough in Bamboo steamers, which gives them a uniquely soft and moist texture.  The sweet and fluffy buns were stuffed with chashu (braised) pork, seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, mirin and other spices.  The chashu pork was soft and perfectly seasoned.  The crunchy Iceberg lettuce had a refreshing clean flavor and the spicy mayo added a wonderful hint of heat to the dish.  Jason loved the bun and thanked me for my generosity.  As I finished my last bun, he showed me some apps I could download for further financial aid information.



Before I knew it, our wonderfully aromatic ramen bowls arrived.  The steaming miso broth was rich and salty; the leeks, bok choy, scallions, bean spouts and leeks were crunchy and well cooked.  The corn added a delightfully sweet contrast to the briny broth.  The pork belly and chicken sausage were soft, savory, and flavorful.  The noodles were delicious and fun to eat; there’s nothing like slurping ramen noodles.



Jason thought his Shoyo Ramen was delicious and said, “It was WAY better than Top Ramen!” High praise, indeed!  He assured me he would be back with his friends. 

As we both prepared to leave,  I thanked Jason for his advice and he thanked me for his crash course on Japanese food.  It just goes to show you, that when people of different generations listen to each other amazing things can happen.  Now listen to one of your elders -I’m really not that old-and go have an amazing bowl of ramen.  Don’t take my word for it, go eat for yourself!  Buen Provecho! 

Jin Ramen
3183 Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10027
646-559-2862

HOURS:

ATMOSPHERE: Friendly, energetic and fun.

SERVICE: Good.

SOUND LEVEL:  Conversational.

KID FRIENDLY: No.

RECOMMENDED DISHES:  The ramen section of the menu is amazing.  Check out the menu: http://www.jinramen.com/menu

BEVERAGES: Soda, Japanese Beer, Sake, Infused Sakes, and cocktails.  Check out the bottom section of the menu: http://www.jinramen.com/menu


PRICE RANGE: Check out the menu: http://www.jinramen.com/menu

Jin Ramen on Urbanspoon