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!