Monday, August 24, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
The Spotted Pig and Live Squid
Do you guys remember that scene in Old Boy when the main character devours an entire squid? The squid's tentacles writhe all over his face in an attempt to escape his throat but he barbarically crushes the life out of it with his molars.
With this in mind, Andy, Sarah C, Sarah V, and I went out to eat live squid on one of our last nights in Korea.
I'm sad that I can't put videos on this blog...I took a great one of the little pieces wriggling around on the plate. I didn't know that the tentacles suction onto the inside of your cheek until I tried my first piece and freaked out as the little suckers started hanging on for dear life. You have to chew really hard and beat the squid pieces into submission! I'm not sure if I would eat it again, but it was an interesting experience, I guess.
Sarah and Andy!
Sarah and I are shocked.
The prawns, thankfully, were not alive.
The Spotted Pig! Oh ye famed, michelin-adorned gastropub of the west village!
This set-up reminded me so much of 8th grade art class...Do you remember those projects where you had to put your hand behind a glass of water and sketch how it got distorted, and then use some sort of weird greyscale shading to make it look realistic? Mine never looked realistic.
The prosciutto and ricotta tart.
Cheeseburger with shoestring fries.I haven't had a good burger in a while so it was blissful being reunited with the triumvirate of cheese, bread, and meat. However, I found the roquefort cheese too overpowering so the burger might have been better without it. The spotted pig gets bonus points for not trying to put any wimpy vegetables on the burger and even extra bonus points for toasting the bun beforehand. One word of caution for future diners- this burger and fries entree is rather massive and might induce severe food coma if eaten at one sitting.
Inside the belly of the beast that ended up in my belly.
I think I have to go to the Spotted Pig several more times to see why it merited a Michelin star. In any case, the waiters pressed me to order wine several times so I'm guessing that they don't care what age you are!
The Squid Place
Somewhere in Hongdae, Seoul
The Spotted Pig
314 W 11th St # 1
New York, NY 10014-2369
(212) 620-0393
With this in mind, Andy, Sarah C, Sarah V, and I went out to eat live squid on one of our last nights in Korea.
I'm sad that I can't put videos on this blog...I took a great one of the little pieces wriggling around on the plate. I didn't know that the tentacles suction onto the inside of your cheek until I tried my first piece and freaked out as the little suckers started hanging on for dear life. You have to chew really hard and beat the squid pieces into submission! I'm not sure if I would eat it again, but it was an interesting experience, I guess. 
Sarah and Andy!
Sarah and I are shocked.
The prawns, thankfully, were not alive. 
The Spotted Pig! Oh ye famed, michelin-adorned gastropub of the west village!
This set-up reminded me so much of 8th grade art class...Do you remember those projects where you had to put your hand behind a glass of water and sketch how it got distorted, and then use some sort of weird greyscale shading to make it look realistic? Mine never looked realistic.
The prosciutto and ricotta tart. 
Cheeseburger with shoestring fries.I haven't had a good burger in a while so it was blissful being reunited with the triumvirate of cheese, bread, and meat. However, I found the roquefort cheese too overpowering so the burger might have been better without it. The spotted pig gets bonus points for not trying to put any wimpy vegetables on the burger and even extra bonus points for toasting the bun beforehand. One word of caution for future diners- this burger and fries entree is rather massive and might induce severe food coma if eaten at one sitting. 
Inside the belly of the beast that ended up in my belly.I think I have to go to the Spotted Pig several more times to see why it merited a Michelin star. In any case, the waiters pressed me to order wine several times so I'm guessing that they don't care what age you are!
The Squid Place
Somewhere in Hongdae, Seoul
The Spotted Pig
314 W 11th St # 1
New York, NY 10014-2369
(212) 620-0393
Happy Days
:)
I think I've pretty much adjusted to being back home...Korea was brilliantly fun but it's also lovely to be back in ny and amongst english speakers. Here are the photos that I never got to put up before I left!
So here is my beloved Sarah in front of Batali's Otto.
Vongole pizza with clams, garlic and mozzarella- wonderfully crisp and flavourful without being too heavy. Though I have a personal dislike of clams and mussels because their texture makes me feel like I'm nibbling on a human ear, the clams on this pizza weren't like that at all. I'm sorry if that clam/mussel description disturbed you, but this blog is my soapbox and I will say what I will!
I tried the potato, ricotta, and anchovy pizza two nights ago and it was quite tasty as well, but the anchovies tasted somewhat strange to me.
The rigatoni with sausage and escarole. This photo really doesn't do this dish justice...the pasta is somewhat salty from the sausage but is nicely balanced out by the escarole and the aromatic garlic flavors. Another plus is that there's no danger of splattering sauce on oneself because there isn't any! Score~
The gelato at Otto is reputed to be one of the best in the city, so I had high hopes when Sarah and I first ordered it, but I think I've reached the conclusion that I am just not a gelato girl. I would much rather prefer a dessert that isn't so plain...maybe something that is tall and goes on fire and combines crunchy, smooth, hot and cold elements! But then again I am asking too much of a simple dessert...
Dim sum with Amy!
I love roast pork buns with all my heart! I prefer the steamed ones because the kind that are encased in flaky pastry, like these, are slightly too oily for my taste, but you gotta love 'em anyway. My mom doesn't like pork buns because she finds the neon pink pork somewhat disturbing, but I actually like the color contrast between the pale dough and the bright filling.
I have no idea what this is!
Nor this!
Last dim sum picture!
Otto
1 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10003
(212) 995-9559
I think I've pretty much adjusted to being back home...Korea was brilliantly fun but it's also lovely to be back in ny and amongst english speakers. Here are the photos that I never got to put up before I left!
So here is my beloved Sarah in front of Batali's Otto.
Vongole pizza with clams, garlic and mozzarella- wonderfully crisp and flavourful without being too heavy. Though I have a personal dislike of clams and mussels because their texture makes me feel like I'm nibbling on a human ear, the clams on this pizza weren't like that at all. I'm sorry if that clam/mussel description disturbed you, but this blog is my soapbox and I will say what I will!
I tried the potato, ricotta, and anchovy pizza two nights ago and it was quite tasty as well, but the anchovies tasted somewhat strange to me.
The rigatoni with sausage and escarole. This photo really doesn't do this dish justice...the pasta is somewhat salty from the sausage but is nicely balanced out by the escarole and the aromatic garlic flavors. Another plus is that there's no danger of splattering sauce on oneself because there isn't any! Score~
The gelato at Otto is reputed to be one of the best in the city, so I had high hopes when Sarah and I first ordered it, but I think I've reached the conclusion that I am just not a gelato girl. I would much rather prefer a dessert that isn't so plain...maybe something that is tall and goes on fire and combines crunchy, smooth, hot and cold elements! But then again I am asking too much of a simple dessert...
Dim sum with Amy!
I love roast pork buns with all my heart! I prefer the steamed ones because the kind that are encased in flaky pastry, like these, are slightly too oily for my taste, but you gotta love 'em anyway. My mom doesn't like pork buns because she finds the neon pink pork somewhat disturbing, but I actually like the color contrast between the pale dough and the bright filling.
I have no idea what this is!
Nor this!
Last dim sum picture!Otto
1 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10003
(212) 995-9559
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)