UPCOMING EVENT 3/15: Roman Feast

Island Burgers & Shakes: I wanna be Lost on this yummy Island!

Dear Food Diary:

Walking into Island Burgers & Shakes, I wasn't sure what to expect, but my imagination was held back since the name says it all... or does it?

Real laid back atmosphere, sunny Californian backyard meets surfer lover's bedroom. This ain't your typical burger, fries and shakes, same old same old kinda place. Dude, if that's what your into, go to a diner. To call them creative would be an understatement, mad and burger obsessed seems more fitting. Different breads, sauces, toppings, the variations of a classic beef patty between 2 pieces of carb were endless. Peanut butter? Curried sour cream? Chives? Pesto? Blackened? Fun names, outrageous combinations, my kinda place.

One huge con though, NO FRIES!!! what?! yeah, exactly, that was my reaction too! What on earth? How do you open a Burger joint and not have fries!? Well, when the owners first opened they didn't have enough mula for a fryer, later on when things got better, they just never bothered having one, this is there thing. Only bagged Dirty potato chips are available or baked ones if your interested, I skipped. Don't be turned off though, they really make it up with da' burgers and shakes.

Strawberry Milkshake. Think Haagen Dazs' strawberry ice cream (the best store bought strawberry ice cream in my taste-pinion). Thick, creamy, icy and sweet, yummy. Made me no miss the lack of fries... ok, maybe it didn't, but this was like a summer's dream, fresh strawberries and cream through a straw.

After much pondering, thai peanut butter was fascinating, but my tummy called for Raoul's (Au Poivre Sauce, Swiss, Mushroom on a Ciabatta) and whatever my tummy wants, my tummy gets.

Look at that sexy babe! I've had my share of Steak Au Poivre aka Peppercorn sauce, but never on a burger, genius! Why didn't I think of that to spice those usual BBQ burgers!? Note to self.

I ordered it Medium and it came perfect. Lean, super duper juicy. A stream of beef juice flowed as I cut it open, all soaked by the sponge like bread, topped with this thick, brandy infused, cracked black pepper sauce on top of perfectly melted, oowy goowy swiss cheese. Add to that sauteed mushrooms and some red onion for an extra layer of flavor and texture, love the slight crunch from the onions. Oh! this is as good as it gets in my book.

My dinner buddy on the other hand had Patty Melt, zzzzzzz... I know! I tried to persuade him into something different, rye, swiss and onions isn't exciting any way you look at it, but he enjoyed it and well, that's all one can ask for. Boring but satisfying or classic if you want to be PC.

I feel obligated to mention that if hamburgers aren't your thing, not sure why it wouldn't, but just in case, they also offer sandwiches, salads, grilled chicken sandwich and churrasco(grilled skirt steak).

In the end, without fries, it all seemed a little incomplete even though I fully enjoyed the burger, so I had to deduct a yummy rating. If only this place and Pommes Frites got married... what a match that would be huh? That said, I'm totally going back for the burgers again and maybe try the churrasco, red meat is totally my thing, puts me in a good mood. Looking forward to all the other flavor combos, peanut butter is pretty up there on the list, must try or at least convince someone to try it with me.

This was an amazing burgerlicious dinner, who cares about the calories, those got lost once I entered their doors of flavorful goodness. Plus, if you still have room for dessert after dinner, Kyotofu is right across the street! Oh yeah, they also deliver, extra plus.

P.S. Chubby's RATING:

www.islandburgers.com

766 9th Ave (between 51st &52nd)

212.307.7934

Adobe Photoshop Cook: By far the COOLEST video I've seen in a long long time

Thanks akadandy for sharing! I had to show you guys, it's amazing:

Adobe Photoshop Cook from Lait Noir on Vimeo.

So darn creative! I sit here and work on Photoshop all day long, this brought out - File - Big Smile.psd

Yuan Xiao (Chinese Lantern Festival) & Tang Yuan (Glutinous Balls in Soup)

Dear Food Diary:

On the 15th day of Chinese New Year we celebrate Yuan Xiao. In the old days, as children entertained themselves with paper lanterns of all shapes and forms, grown ups would solve riddles and puzzles, while others worked in the kitchen, preparing the glutinous rice flour to make Tang Yuan (glutinous ball in soup), meticulously filling each and everyone of these white balls.

As a chubby toddler, I looked forward to playing with Rabbit Lanterns every year. Some traditions have been lost over the years, kids don't put down their video games for these old school kind of fun, it's truly a shame. Bright colorful lanterns can only be seen in busy shopping areas now a days, at least in Shanghai. Thankfully the eating part has been some what conserved in each family, though most likely store bought rather than made from scratch.

Tang Yuan (glutinous ball in soup, served HOT) is eaten to symbolize "togetherness". Tang means soup, Yuan means round, but also reunion/being together, hence the idea of eating this "round" ball with your loved ones so that during the year, everyone stays close to one another. It's such a heartwarming tradition that most families keep it alive.

Tang Yuan comes filled with a variety of sweet and savory options. Black sesame is my favorite and also the most popular, but you can also find them with red bean, peanuts and a savory pork (not sure if it's Shanghainese thing). They're the perfect dessert year round.

Chubby Style Yuan Xiao with Black Sesame Ice Cream "non-Tang Yuan"

This year, as I wondered the Chinese super market on Kissena (Flushing), looking for some Tang Yuan, these Black Sesame "Ice Cream" Non-Tang Yuan (or mochi) screamed ma'name. It's not your traditional hot Tang Yuan in soup, but my Yuan Xiao had nothing traditional to begin with, so this was perfect.

Deep fragrant black sesame ice cream is covered with a soft stretchy glutinous wrap. Just the right amount of sweetness and a fun-filled texture sensation of icy cold with a nice chewyness, it's really an awesome dessert to share with loved ones on Yuan Xiao or any other day of the year.

P.S. Chubby's RATING:

UPCOMING EVENT: 3/21 " COCHON 555" – 5 Chefs, 5 Pigs, 5 Winemakers

Of all the upcoming events, this def takes top spot. While I'll be in my hometown eating "Asado" you guys in NYC have a chance to experience an over the top everything pork feast! Not for the faint of heart. 4 hrs of fatty, crispy, tender juicyness... Ohhhhhh i wish I was here. I would of totally planned my trip around it if I didn't have my tix already.

VIP $175, hefty, but you can't put a price on porkaliciousness!

FOR DETAILS AND TICKETS

P.S. If you end up going please share pics and if anyone is up for it, my blog is open for any guest writers, this event sounds too awesome and needs to be shared =)

JUST IN: The Chubby Chinese Girl will remain on Cer Te's menu as a Thursday Special!

I went in to order my own sandwich the other day. Friendly workers at Cer Te stopped by to say hello, they were amused I showed up for a late lunch and giggled at the name of the blog/sandwich =)

They only had 2 Chubby Chinese Girls left, so we decided to share and leave the last one to a lucky customer. Chef Ed gave us a lobster roll each on the side, yummy! lot's of lobster meat. I love the purple coleslaw, tangy and sweet. Pineapple strips were a good way to finish the meal. If you have room try their brownie and wash it all down with a lychee lemonade (not all that lychee-ish but sweet and refreshing )

Here's a look of my 1/2 sandwich, yummy!

Now you can order it every Thursday! Hooray to that!

This was TAKE 2, first take they were much more excited, but I ran out of battery, of course that had to happen =/

It's been fun having a sandwich creation made into reality. Cer Te has done a tremendous job. Took some orders around the office the other day and we got it delivered, just as good, but if you can, I would suggest eating there.

P.S. Chubby's RATING:

www.certenyc.com

20 West 55th Street

212.397.2020

Urban Lobster Shack: Where's the meat!?

Dear Food Diary:

A big giant red lobster handed me the menu for an Urban Lobster Shack while passing through 3rd Ave the other day. What a great idea, Crystal Pavilion already has Pampano Taqueria but as any food loving blogger, I was ready to welcome this new addition with open arms. So much so, that I started following them on Twitter.

I grabbed my Lobster Roll virgin co-worker Nancy and headed over for the $10 special, 1 lobster roll, cole slaw, caesar salad. We also shared a Spicy Crab and Sweet Corn Chowder for $6. Sitting by the modern waterfall (which makes me a little dizzy if I stare for too long), my expectation and excitement were hard to contain.

Spicy Crab and Sweet Corn Chowder had a lot more corn and veggies than crab meat. Not really spicy, very thick and cornstarchy and did i mention I could hardly see any crab meat? I had better crab soup at Devon and Blakely, 'nough said. Disappointing, but this wasn't the main even, so I moved on. *drum rolls please* (or in this case lobster roll, get it? LOL, I know super cheesy, I tried real hard not to type that... but I lost)

The roll part was awesomely yummy, grilled and totally emerged in butter, it would make Paula Deen proud. The lobster on the other hand, had a little too much mayo. If only Luke's and this place could combine, it would be perfect. Mayo aside, this "lobster" roll had an even bigger mystery... where's the lobster meat!? After digging around, I found no more than 4 pieces.

I know lobster isn't cheap and $10 seems like a good deal, but I want lobster chunks in my lobster roll, not shredded lobster mixed with some crab meat, then masked with mayo. I'd rather pay a little extra for non-filler lobster rolls please! This was soooo disappointing and I really wanted to love this place.

As if that wasn't enough, the caesar salad came with stale croutons. I would of been happier without. The coleslaw was aight, nothing worth describing.

After this experience, I've been avoiding that big red lobster on street corners. An Urban Lobster Shack in midtown... I knew it was too good to be true. I had to stop following them on Twitter, it's sad, but what can I do.

P.S. Chubby's RATING:

www.urbanlobstershack.com

805 Third Ave (lower level of the Crystal Pavilion)

UPCOMING 3/22 Village Voice's 3rd Annual Tasting Event

I'll be away, but this seems like another cool event, VIP tix are $75 and general are $45, again... I say go for the VIP. GET TIX/MORE INFO.