Initially noticed “Mama Alia’s” Lebanese Cuisine while riding on the local bus on my way home. Walked into restaurant and felt I was entering someone’s home, clean, spacious and inviting. To my delight, I was greeted by the owner/cook. Restaurant has only been in existance for several months however owner has been running a very successful wholesale business with Garden of Eden in Hoboken NJ as well as other supermarkets providing, ready to serve “Homemade Savory Spinach” and “Eggplant Appetizer” might I add I had the pleasure of sampling both are truly savory. Dishes are prepared daily and everything is made from scratch. I started with the lentil soup made from Arabic red lentils, broth is ultra creamy, lucious and pleasing to the palate. Then I had a Shawarma, A middle eastern sandwich like wrap filled with chunks of grilled filet mignon. The complexity of flavor solidifies dish while layering effect is brilliantly done with Baba Ghannouj, lettecue, tomato wedge and Lebanese pickles. From the moment you sink your teeth into the first bit your hooked! Keep in mind, Filet Mignon Shawarma isn’t on the menu so your gonna have to request it.
Dishes are simple and complex in flavor which are a true gift. The average dish is roughly $10.00. Open Tuesday thru Sunday. You must check this place out.

Mama Alias’s Lebanese Cuisine. 1117 New York Avenue. Union City NJ 07087. 201.223.2663

01.01.12
Hot, succulent and juicy are words that come to mind when I think of the Curry Goat I recently ate at People’s Choice Kitchen in Harlem. The curry goat is incredibly tender. The brown rice and peas work well together however the dish is solidified by the richness of the sauce. The shredded cabbage lends a very nice contrast to the spiciness of the meat. An element of sweetness is incorporated by the plantains. Portions are generous. Well worth the $9.00 lunch special. By the way do not forget to order their amazing, Pineapple Fruit Punch Lemonade. You must check this place out! People’s Choice Kitchen. 2733 8th Avenue NY 10030. 212.281.3830

Hot, succulent and juicy are words that come to mind when I think of the Curry Goat I recently ate at People’s Choice Kitchen in Harlem. The curry goat is incredibly tender. The brown rice and peas work well together however the dish is solidified by the richness of the sauce. The shredded cabbage lends a very nice contrast to the spiciness of the meat. An element of sweetness is incorporated by the plantains. Portions are generous. Well worth the $9.00 lunch special. By the way do not forget to order their amazing, Pineapple Fruit Punch Lemonade. You must check this place out!

People’s Choice Kitchen. 2733 8th Avenue NY 10030. 212.281.3830

07.11.11
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Place has the feel of a lounge/night club. Dimly lit, music pumping in the background, Buddha in the center of the room surrounded by a pool. True cosmopolitan feel. Very attentive wait staff. Very inviting atmosphere. Tables with toddlers, hipsters, young and older crowd. Place is just bustling. I had the Thai Spicy Crispy Pork with onions, pepper, baby corn, basil and a side order of coconut sticky rice. The contrast of the coconut rice blends well with the spicy pork belly. Coconut rice is wrapped in a plantain leaf making for a very nice presentation. Give this place a try and bring some friends. Sea. 114 North 6th Street. Brooklyn NY. 718.384.8850

Place has the feel of a lounge/night club. Dimly lit, music pumping in the background, Buddha in the center of the room surrounded by a pool. True cosmopolitan feel. Very attentive wait staff. Very inviting atmosphere. Tables with toddlers, hipsters, young and older crowd. Place is just bustling. I had the Thai Spicy Crispy Pork with onions, pepper, baby corn, basil and a side order of coconut sticky rice. The contrast of the coconut rice blends well with the spicy pork belly. Coconut rice is wrapped in a plantain leaf making for a very nice presentation. Give this place a try and bring some friends.

Sea. 114 North 6th Street. Brooklyn NY. 718.384.8850

13.10.11
Jersey Cares Celebrates: Room for Dessert
10.10.11
Just about anything you can think of fried this place makes it. Alcapuria/Cassava filled with meat, Bacalaitos/Cod fish fritters, Pionono relleno/Meat stuffed plantain, Morcilla/Blood sausage. I ordered “Mofongo al Pilon” hugely popular dish which hails from Puerto Rico. Mofongo is a garlic flavored mashed plantain dish infused with fried pork rinds. Served with a side of broth or gravy to moisten the plantain and bring out the richness in dish. Highly recommend Mofongo, will only set you back $6.00. If you decide to give “116th Cuchifrito” a try get ready to brush up on your Spanish given no one is fluent in English or pressed to pick up a second language:) Would like to thank my lil cousin junior for recommending this spot:) 116th Street Cuchifrito. 168 East 116th Street. NY. 212.876.4846

Just about anything you can think of fried this place makes it. Alcapuria/Cassava filled with meat, Bacalaitos/Cod fish fritters, Pionono relleno/Meat stuffed plantain, Morcilla/Blood sausage. I ordered “Mofongo al Pilon” hugely popular dish which hails from Puerto Rico. Mofongo is a garlic flavored mashed plantain dish infused with fried pork rinds. Served with a side of broth or gravy to moisten the plantain and bring out the richness in dish. Highly recommend Mofongo, will only set you back $6.00. If you decide to give “116th Cuchifrito” a try get ready to brush up on your Spanish given no one is fluent in English or pressed to pick up a second language:) Would like to thank my lil cousin junior for recommending this spot:)

116th Street Cuchifrito. 168 East 116th Street. NY. 212.876.4846

09.10.11
Ok, so I spotted the $4.99 lunch special from across the street. Hook and sinker, I’m in. Tiny spot luckily empty bar stool at counter. The special was quarter rotisserie chicken with rice and side of plantains, I passed. I had my eye on the oxtail stew, so near and dear to my heart. The waitress served a very large portion of brown rice mixed in with beans, drizzled gravy over rice. Gotta tell ya, one mouthful of the rice and I was home! The rice was better than my grandma’s. The oxtail was tasty however felt like it was rationed. Staff and patrons equally friendly. The dish set me back $7.00 although menu is extensive. La Flor De Broadway. 3401 Broadway @138th Street. NY. 212.926.4190

Ok, so I spotted the $4.99 lunch special from across the street. Hook and sinker, I’m in. Tiny spot luckily empty bar stool at counter. The special was quarter rotisserie chicken with rice and side of plantains, I passed. I had my eye on the oxtail stew, so near and dear to my heart. The waitress served a very large portion of brown rice mixed in with beans, drizzled gravy over rice. Gotta tell ya, one mouthful of the rice and I was home! The rice was better than my grandma’s. The oxtail was tasty however felt like it was rationed. Staff and patrons equally friendly. The dish set me back $7.00 although menu is extensive.

La Flor De Broadway. 3401 Broadway @138th Street. NY. 212.926.4190

07.10.11
Chic, dimly lit, really nice vibe. All around terrific dining experience! A couple of their best kept secrets: (1) If you sit at the bar drinks are 1/2 price. (2) Tuesday V.I.P night 50% off all entrees. In order to take advantage of promotion, register for card by visiting the Chez Lucienne website, print and present registration form at restaurant prior to ordering dinner. Of coarse, I dined on a Tuesday evening and the place was packed. I had the poached salmon with string beans, asparagus and cubed potatoes. Dish was light, yummy and satisfying. Whether dining solo, in a group or on a sizzling date, you must check out Chez Lucienne. Chez Lucienne. 308 Lenox@125th Street. NY. 10027. 212.289.5555

Chic, dimly lit, really nice vibe. All around terrific dining experience! A couple of their best kept secrets: (1) If you sit at the bar drinks are 1/2 price. (2) Tuesday V.I.P night 50% off all entrees. In order to take advantage of promotion, register for card by visiting the Chez Lucienne website, print and present registration form at restaurant prior to ordering dinner. Of coarse, I dined on a Tuesday evening and the place was packed. I had the poached salmon with string beans, asparagus and cubed potatoes. Dish was light, yummy and satisfying. Whether dining solo, in a group or on a sizzling date, you must check out Chez Lucienne.

Chez Lucienne. 308 Lenox@125th Street. NY. 10027. 212.289.5555

06.10.11
Dining with kids is always a toss up given you never know if they are going to embrace a dish that they aren’t accustomed to eating. We decided on Malaysian Thai-Chinese in Chinatown. Upon the recommendation of our waiter we started with “Sizzling Beef Cha Cha” Marinated Beef Cubes Sauteed with onion, pepper & butter, although the dish makes for a really nice presentation no one found the entree compelling. On a higher note, the “Singapore Mai Fun” Stir Fried Thin Noodle with Roasted Pork & Shrimp was heavenly. The complexity of the flavor was on the money. Very generous portions with plenty to share and well below the threshold at $6.95. Waitstaff is excellent. You must check this place out. Jaya. 90 Baxter Street. New York, N.Y. 212.219.3331

Dining with kids is always a toss up given you never know if they are going to embrace a dish that they aren’t accustomed to eating. We decided on Malaysian Thai-Chinese in Chinatown. Upon the recommendation of our waiter we started with “Sizzling Beef Cha Cha” Marinated Beef Cubes Sauteed with onion, pepper & butter, although the dish makes for a really nice presentation no one found the entree compelling. On a higher note, the “Singapore Mai Fun” Stir Fried Thin Noodle with Roasted Pork & Shrimp was heavenly. The complexity of the flavor was on the money. Very generous portions with plenty to share and well below the threshold at $6.95. Waitstaff is excellent.
You must check this place out.

Jaya. 90 Baxter Street. New York, N.Y. 212.219.3331

01.10.11
Cooking for a causebrfont size=2iVolunteer to host food prep classes to benefit Jubilee Center/font/ibr
01.10.11
Lets face it, Who doesn’t love a taco? I certainly have an affinity for them :) $7.50 for four tacos makes it that much harder to pass this deal on by. The service is excellent, very helpful staff. Clean and spacious eatery. Plasma TV’s are nice but rather loud! Not 1 item on the menu exceeds $8.00. There are twelve varieties of tacos to choose from. I ordered 2 “Al Pastor” which had seasoned cubed potatoes, chopped white onions and cilantro. 2 “Chorizo” which had bits of mango making for a sweet, tangy and spicy taco, which was nice. The plate was adorned with cooked cactus, slices of radish and lime. Food is certainly edible and satisfying although not the most memorable. If the loud country Mexican music in the background isn’t a deal breaker, give it a shot. Taqueria Veracruz II. 3418 Bergenline Avenue. Union City NJ. 201.7701.0811

Lets face it, Who doesn’t love a taco? I certainly have an affinity for them :) $7.50 for four tacos makes it that much harder to pass this deal on by. The service is excellent, very helpful staff. Clean and spacious eatery. Plasma TV’s are nice but rather loud! Not 1 item on the menu exceeds $8.00. There are twelve varieties of tacos to choose from. I ordered 2 “Al Pastor” which had seasoned cubed potatoes, chopped white onions and cilantro. 2 “Chorizo” which had bits of mango making for a sweet, tangy and spicy taco, which was nice. The plate was adorned with cooked cactus, slices of radish and lime. Food is certainly edible and satisfying although not the most memorable. If the loud country Mexican music in the background isn’t a deal breaker, give it a shot.

Taqueria Veracruz II. 3418 Bergenline Avenue. Union City NJ. 201.7701.0811

29.09.11