I came with my husband and another couple, who were also eager to taste some American food after spending a month in Asia, eating not much butter, grease or meat in general. The decor is simple yet cozy. Exposed brick walls with whitewashed paint are decorated with antique cabinet and old books on shelves. There are few tables on the main floor and more in the basement. The vibe is casual and welcoming and we were seated comfortably close to the kitchen and bar to see some of the behind-the-scene action.

The menu itself is light weight.  There are no more than 30 items and I identified my target easily – fried chicken with two sides. That sounds like the most logical choice, right? My husband without hesitation got the carnivore choice – BBQ platter, including 3 out of 4 choices of pulled pork, links, ribs and beef brisket. It also comes with two sides. The fried chicken was a big heap and impressed I was. There are 1 drumstick, 1 giant breast and a big  thigh. The birds are surprisingly skinless but they are crispy and crunchy on the outside and juicy and tender inside. They are delicious with their house hot sauce but I think they would be even better with some additional spices. I am just saying.My husband’s BBQ platter is somewhat disappointing. Despite a pile of meat, they appear full and dry and they taste it. The pulled pork are tender but lacks the marinate to keep them in place. The ribs look malnourished and the briskets again are missing the moisture. My friend’s deep fried pork chops look much more promising however. He was pretty happy with them.

Fried Chicken

The real winner to me is this side dish. We both got the Candied Yam and it comes with melted marshmallows on top and meshed yam with brown sugar at the bottom. It is like I am eating flan, rich, sweet and irresistible. Mac n cheese is rather rich but lacks the melted cheese to bond the macaroni together. Instead, the macaroni is somewhat hard and not bonding together like they should. Maybe this is better for my health?!

Devil Eggs

Candied Yam

Overall, I was satisfied with my choice although my husband was let down by his entree. The Cardinal has proved to be good but it can be great. The neighborhood needs a shiny star of Southern Comfort and it is not doing justice just yet.

Although our local friends told us how heavenly the meal is, they also warned us it could be excessively rich. We however, went against the advice and ordered a whole table of entrees with great ambition to conquer them all. We started with the cod fish fritters to share. It somehow tasted like Chinese fish paste deep fried. The cod fish is grounded up with seasoning so it tastes like fish cake fritter. It is crispy and tasty.

Crispy, Fishy Fritters that will appetize!

Then we proceeded with PCD Crispy salad and it comes with a few lettuce but is laden with fried cartilage and crispy pork meat. The flavor and most importantly, fat make the dish undeniable and delicious. We swept the whole dish within minutes. We also got an order of Bison Tongue and that is definitely the most delicious tongue I have ever encountered. I know tongue sounds frightening but in reality it is so tender and it soaked up all the sauces. We declared it a must try here.

Crispy fried pork cartilage over salad

Super Tender Bison Tongue Action

Here, we arrived at the most important moment of our meal at PCD. We patiently awaited the duck in a can. Then, the waiter brought us the famous can with cooked duck, gravy and foie gras over bed of bread and cheese. We watched him open the can and pour the wonder over the plate and we were astonished in awe. It was truly a magic plate. The duck breast was so tender and flavorful. The bread was soaked in the gravy within seconds and cheese melted to add more flavor. I had one piece and then another.

Duck Breast and Foie Gras inside the Can still!

Ready to open the Can!

Duck Breast, Foie Gras, Gravy over butter and Bread

Then, the 2nd entree arrived, the glorious “Pied De Cochon”, aka pig knuckles or pig feet so to speak. Chinese love pig knuckles so I was excited to see how they prepare this dish. To my surprise, when the dish arrived I could not even see them. They were buried deeply underneath tons of cheese gravy sauce. The best part about pig knuckle is actually the skin and they cooked it right alright. It was chewy and tender at the same time. The meat is so tender and about to fall aprt. The sauce makes the dish so rich and delicious I think I reached my cholestrol capacity after two bites.

Pig Knuckle hidden under pile of gravy, cheese and gooeyness!

I started regretting there is another entree coming. My stomach is already protesting. So we still have the blood sausage boutin tart left. I know we won’t even be able to finish them all. Then the dish arrived with piles of cut blood sausage with again gravy on top of a buttery crusty tart. I managed to try a small slice and declared I am done for the night. It was excellent but I am never a big fan of blood sausage. Everyone else really enjoyed the dish as well. In fact, we enjoyed so much the meal we decided to bring the leftovers back to our hotel although we didn’t even have a microwave. They are now back home in my Manhattan apartment, a reminiscent piece of my trip to Montreal.

Blood Sausage with foie gras over fluffy buttery tart

After entrees, the waitress came back with dessert menu but we had to forfeit it unfortunately. To be honest, for 4 people, 2 entrees will be plenty to share along with 2 or 3 appetizers. Certainly, I feel like a pig just as the “au pied de cochon” I consumed. My belly got rounder and my brain was as functional as a piece of bread.

I feel like the pig on the wall

1. Get a Shake Shack: Although it is expanding quite rapidly, Shake Shack is still a NYC Burger joint and it is famous among New Yorkers for its creamy shakes and utmost, juicy and freshly made burgers. Get the double cheese burger and black and white shake.

2. Try New York Pizza: That does not mean Sbarro or 2 Bros Pizza. There are a few probably mentioned on the Tour Guide books such as John’s Pizza, Grimaldi’s and or Lombardi’s pizza. I actually like them all but I would also recommend Artichoke Pizzeria as well. It is going to blow your mind and it will be nothing like any other pizza you ever have.

3. Pastrami Sandwiches at Katz Deli: This is very touristy but locals actually do love Katz too. When Henry Meets Sally was filmed here and their pastrami sandwich was so juicy and tender, you will immediately fall in love with it. It is quite expensive however. 1 sandwich will run you over $15. If you want a good alternative, I recommend going to This Little Piggy Has Roast Beef on 8th and 1st Ave. It is a new establishment but also very delicious.

4. Union Square: There are some shops around the Square and more importantly, there are farmer’s markets every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday till about 6PM. You can get fresh locally sourced produce and even artworks here while you enjoy people-watching.

5. Try Peter Lugers Steakhouse: This is not in Manhattan but it is one of the best steakhouse I have ever had. The steak is aged to perfection. You have to try the Porter House and their cream spinach. Service here is friendly and they make sure you are satisfied.

6. Chinatown Tour: If you come to New York, you will definitely have to go to Chinatown. There are a lot of great food at amazingly low prices. I recommend going to Shanghai Cafe for Shanghainese food, Golden Unicorn for dim sum, Banh Mi Saigon for the ultimate Vietnamese Sandwich for only $3.75.

7. Get cupcakes: If you have watched Sex and the City, you will know to go to Magnolia Bakery in West Village. However, I am more of a fan for Dessert Club, Chikalicious in East Village. It is small but very buttery and the cake is always moist even after a couple days. The frosting is just perfect. I would recommend the mocha, red velvet and triple chocolate.

8. Halal Food Cart: This doesn’t sound exactly appealing or but New York City is well known for its street food vendors and we are proud of it! Among all, there is a really famous Halal food vendor, called the Halal Guys near Rockefeller Center on W. 53st St and 6th Avenue.They have this amazing chicken and lamb over rice that is to die for. If you see a long line, that is it!

9. Get a Weiner: Everyone has heard of Nathan’s Hot Dogs but the hot dog isn’t really all that special. My favorite in the city is actually Crif Dogs on St. Marks and 1st Avenue. They have a great menu and every hot dog on the menu will rock your world. My favorite is their Chihuahua.

10. Eleven Madison Park: Ok this is not your average restaurant and most definitely not everyone wants to spend more than $100 per person on a meal. Nevertheless, you will not regret every dime you spend here. It might take weeks to get a reservation and cost you dearly but the food is perfectly prepared and the service is over the top. This is THE restaurant to celebrate, to propose and just to experience the New York high life.

You will not be disappointed if you complete my top 10 choices.

The cafe is decorated with wooden stools and tables. Wine cellar is occupied by a great selection of Italian wine. Huge Prociutto di Parmas are hung at the bar. Barista is busy making coffee for the patrons and the aroma is omnipresent in the cafe. Our waiter’s Italian accent makes me feel like back in good old Italy once again.

We ordered some prociutto, goat cheese and salume to start. It comes in general portion. The prociutto is so tender and fresh. The cheese is soft, pungent and delicious with the freshly cut meat.

For sandwich, I got the Calabrese, which has soppressata , sun dried tomato and Asiago cheese. I chose the Rosetta wheat bread for my sandwich. My boyfriend ordered the salame with artichoke sandwich. Both paninis are grillled to perfection; warm and crispy on the outside and meaty and flavorful on the inside. The panini also comes with a side of mixed greens with tomato.

Although we were satisfied, we could not resist the homemade tiramisu sitting in their fridge. We decided to share one together and to our surprise, they gave us a huge slice! It was creamy and you could taste the alcohol in the Lady Finger cake at the bottom. The tiramisu is one of the best I have had for sure.

Our waiter told me they also have an amazing Happy Hour deal where you come for their drink specials but the highlight for me is really the free and unlimited supply of appetizers! I am about to drool when I think about it!

The only down side is this place is CASH only. So bring your green and ready to spend on some delicious cold cuts and wine!

Ballaro Cafe Prociutteria: 77 2nd Ave, New York, NY, 10003

Fresh cold cuts and cheese

Calabrese Panini

Gigantic tiramisu

1. Sultana: This hookah bar has roughly 6 tables and is very dark. It is perfect for chilling out with friends and get immersed in the frangrance of hookah and low-key environment. Hookah here is $15 and if you order the special hookah it is $20. What’s even better, this is a BYOB place with a $5 corkage fee.

2. Horus Cafe: This hookah bar has been in the neighborhood for quite some time. It has belly dancers on the weekends and is always vibrant with tons of customers. The price here is slightly higher but they offer alcohol and entertainment. Therefore, it should be justified.

3. Sahara East: This Hookah bar has an outdoor garden and is perfect for summer and spring. Hookah here is also from $15 to $25 depending on the flavors you choose. They also have a variety of food and beverages here to choose from. The only drawback is they tend to rush you.

4. Habibi Lounge: Habibi Lounge is where I go when I want to smoke hookah but also dance to live DJ music on the weekends. They also have really fun and sexy belly dancing performance. The price here is no different to any other lounge. If you want to smoke hookah but also have the luxury of dancing and watching a nice belly dance performance, I would highly recommend Habibi.

Sultana: 128 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003

Horus Cafe: 293 E. 10th St, New York, NY, 100099

Sahara East: 184 1st Ave, New York, NY, 10009

Habibi Lounge: 198 Ave A, New York, NY, 10009

Out of so many dim sum restaurants in New York City, I am a regular to a couple spots. My favorite remains Golden Unicorn on Catherine St but it is a little bit out of the way and almost always has a long line. My second favorite is Jin Fong Restaurant, which is on Elizabeth and Canal Street. It serves delicious and inexpensive dim sum as well. However, I really dread the wait.

Fortunately, one day my friend introduced me to Grand Harmony, another Cantonese/dim sum restaurant right on Mott Street between Canal and Hester. It is actually quite big that it can hold wedding banquets here. Besides, they have good dim sum comparable to the quality of Jin Fong but minus the long wait. Furthermore, you see less non-Chinese crowd here, which proves the authenticity of this restaurant!

Now when you go to a dim sum place, you have to order the chicken feet. I personally do not and have not tasted it but the majority of my Chinese friends claim it is such a delicacy. So, if you have the spirit of Andrew Zimmern from Bizarre Food, you absolutely need to try it. In addition, we ordered the shrimp dumplings, shu-mai, beef meat balls, spare ribs, fried sesame balls, beef tripe with turnip, and sticky rice in bamboo leaf.

You have to try their beef tripe with turnip. they give you a big bowl with tons of tripes and turnips. It is very flavorful and is great with chili oil. Their sticky rice in bamboo leaf is also excellent. It comes in 2 servings and is perfect for sharing. The shrimp dumplings here taste fresh and the skin is thin yet chewy. I also like their roast pork buns but they don’t come around on the cart. You have to actually order it from the waitress or waiter. Get their pan-fried turnip cake too; it is freshly made and is crispy on the outside and silky smooth on the inside.

Overall, Grand Harmony is a great dim sum place that has reliable food and services and requires much less wait time. The average price per person is $10.  If I don’t want to get the headache from waiting for an hour for dim sum on the weekends, Grand Harmony is a perfect choice.

Back Forty's Grass Fed Burger

New York City has a great number of awesome burger joints and many of them are right here in the East Village. Whether you like it greasy and dirty, gourmet-type or innovative, East Village has it all. Here are my top pick!

1. Royale: I absolutely love Royale. It is a bar but I don’t come here for drinks. Their burger menu is the main draw. You need to have their juicy cheese burger with bacon. They gave you tons of bacon and the size is decent. Burger here starts at around $6. Also, order a side of onion ring if you like. It is crispy and fresh!

2. Whitman’s: Whitman’s may be a newcomer but it doesn’t lack in flavor or patrons. It is a tiny place with majority of seats in the basement. I tried both the Juicy Lucy and Peanut Butter and Bacon Burgers. Both are full of flavor and definitely juicy! They are a little bit on the small side though. This is definitely a gourmet burger joint that serves some creative burgers. Each burger is about $11 and up.

3. Paul’s Burger Joint: Paul’s Burger has been in East Village for decades. If you want some mean, greasy and over-sized burgers, Paul’s is the spot. Each burger is from $5 to around $8 with your own creation but the size is definitely one of the biggest I have had.

4. Zaitzeff: Zaitzeff is another gourmet burger joint. What makes it stands out is their Portuguese muffin bun. You have to get the kobe beef burger. They have it at 1/4 or 1/2 lb sizes so if you are a meat lover, you just might find the right place for you! The sweet potato fries here is also very addictive.

5. Back Forty: Another gourmet burger place around East Village. Their burger uses grass fed beef and it is very juicy. Their sesame buns are also firm and didn’t get soggy at all. The burger is $11 but you should pay $2 extra to get the rosemary fries.

I heard there is also another place called Black Iron Burger but I still haven’t got a chance to go. Anybody has any suggestions?

Royale: 157 Ave C, New York, NY 10009

Whitman’s: 406 E. 9th St, New York, NY 10009

Paul’s: 131 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10009

Zaitzeff: 18 Ave B, New York, NY 10009

Back Forty: 190 Ave B, New York, NY, 10009

Coffee plays an important role in many Italians’ daily life but the way they make and consume it is quite contrary to that in the United States.  Unlike always-in-a-hurry New Yorkers, they take their time sipping coffee and chatting with the barista, owner or the nearby customers. The cafes don’t even provide to-go cups. You really have to stand there and finish your coffee before you can go anywhere else.  Besides, they don’t have different sizes for coffee. It seems that Italy’s coffee culture is not just about getting the caffeine doze for the day. It is rather, for the relaxation, the entertainment and finally for the caffeine shot.

I am actually quite jealous of their carefree attitude. I wonder why I seldom sit down at a coffee shop, sipping my coffee. Is it because I am always worried about running late for something? Or because I think I don’t have time for  a cup of coffee? How do these Italians find time to drink coffee before, during and after work at a coffee shop then? If I could do it too, I know I probably don’t belong in New York…

Somehow, this year I got new-found courage and determination to get my eyes fixed hopefully once and for all. I researched extensively online and talked to a few specialists. Among all, I visited SUNY Laser Eye Institute in Manhattan and I was really convinced and comforted by the consultant, Heather there. She gave me a long and thorough exam to make sure I was qualified. Then, she explained to me what the benefits and side-effects are. I weighed my pros and cons and made possibly one of my biggest decision of my life.

10/7 3:20PM Surgery Day

It was a beautiful day in Manhattan. I left work early to go to the clinic alone. I was a bit nervous but I knew I could do it and there was nothing to fear. Dr. Harry Koster was the surgeon and he was very comforting and calming. I was led to the surgery bed sooner than I knew. I lay down and all of a sudden there was some soft brush brushing over some liquid over my right eye. Then, they stabilized my eye lids so I wouldn’t blink during surgery. Doc told me to stare at the blinking laser light while there was also another steady light in sight. For a while, I felt my eye ball was not following instruction and I was afraid they might laser on the wrong part! Good thing I was just too anxious. The surgery was done in no time and it went perfectly well as the doctor said. Then he moved on to the left. After both eyes were done, they put in contact lenses to protect the wounds.

I was then led to another room to meet another eye doctor. She gave me a list of drops I have to use as well as a oversize sunglasses to prevent dirt and lights. She showed me this drop as “Emergency Only”. She stressed that use it only while it is emergency. I didn’t think I would need it and I was kind of happy they gave me all these drops for free since I know other clinics normally ask you to fill out the prescription yourself. At this point, I felt no pain or discomfort. I paid my bill and went home.

On the subway home, the pain started to get to me. It was merely a 20-min ride but it felt like forever. I started tearing up non-stop and was very sensitive to light. I walked as fast as I could to get home without being hit by a car. After I got back, I started the drop ritual. I think I spent the rest of the day trying to put drops in while I fought the pain with all my strength and will power. I thought of using the “Emergency” drop but I hesitated since I didn’t know what emergency she really meant. But at this point, I was so desperate I called the doctor’s cell and left him a message asking for help.

Finally the doctor called me back and told me it is OK to use the E drop and I was so relieved. He also suggested taking pain killers and use cold compress. The E drop took a while to take effect but the pain finally died down. I was much better around dinner time I told my boyfriend, “Let’s go grab some dinner outside.” After 5 minutes of walking down the street, I realized it was a bad idea. My eyes were still sensitive and I could barely keep them open. Good thing we couldn’t get a table at the restaurant we wanted to go so we got home early. I then put more drops in and past out.

Oct 8th, 2010

I was still in a lot of pain and I used a lot of the E drop and took Ibuprofen 4 times a day. I couldn’t help it because my eyes felt like they were pulled and stabbed so many times. I was again, in bed all day. I tried cold compress on my eyes and it seemed to have helped relieve the pain quite a bit. Nonetheless, I couldn’t work nor look at computer or anything for more than 5 seconds pretty much. I spent all day trying to relax and rest my eyes. I didn’t really have an option really.

Oct 9th, 2010

It was a nice Saturday but I couldn’t step out of the apartment. I was in a much better shape. I cut down the use of E drop as well as Ibuprofen. I could see better and longer today. I thought about going outside but was scared of the daylight.  So I tried doing some chores around the apartment and not much else.  I tried checking emails and text messages on my iPhone but it was still too difficult to do.

Oct 10th, 2010

I woke up to better and clearer vision and was able to make calls and see well on my iphone. I decided today is the day to go outside and test my eyes out. I did grocery and later on even went to a BBQ at night. I noticed I was still a little sensitive and my senses are slightly disoriented since my vision has been temporarily weakened. I went to bed at 11 so I would be more prepared at work tomorrow.

Oct 11th, 2010

I was going to go to work on Monday but I realized it would be dangerous and kind of pointless to do so. I couldn’t walk well alone and my eyes need constant rest and I was still slightly dizzy from the blurry vision. I worked from home and had to zoom in my computer screen couple times to perform tasks. I made it through 5PM.

Oct 12th, 2010

I woke up to much better vision and went to my first post-op in the morning. The doctor said I am recovering very well and she checked my vision and it is at 20/25 right now. After that, she removed the contacts from my eyes. Another senior doctor came to check my eyes again. They asked me to look at the chart again and I was surprised my vision got blurry after the contacts were out. He told me it is very normal because my eye tissue will finally have room to heal completely. He mentioned I should use my drops every hour or even more frequently since I work with computer all day.

Oct 13th, 2010

I am stil blurry but slightly better than the day before. I am still zooming in so I don’t strain my eyes too much. I put in drops every 30 minutes or so. After work, I even went to a basketball game at MSG. I was seeing the game fine.

Oct 14th, 2010

My vision continued to improve. I see slighly clearer. I still use drops constantly at work.

Oct 15th, 2010

I feel like my vision got slightly blurrier today. I was a little discouraged but I know this can take up to months. I have been taking omega 3, goji seeds and all the vitamins helpful for the eyes. I can’t wait for my eyes to see clear and sharp again!

I will keep updating my progress once there is new development.

11/16/2010

1 month after my surgery, I can see 20/20 now. my left eye is a little weaker than my right but both can see very well. My night vision has also improved drastically and I don’t notice any difference anymore. Dry eye is still noticeable after working in front of the computer and especially in the morning when I just wake up. My doctor told me to use Restasese for 3 months in the morning and night to improve the symptoms. Overall, I am very happy with the results and treatment I receive at SUNY Laser Institute.