Food

Eatin’ Cheap and Livin’ Well in NYC

Jon Gorga
Friday, July 23, 2010

 

Stop me if this sounds familiar: You moved to New York City sometime in the year 200X because you heard that this city had X, Y, and/or Z thing you wanted, but then the recession hit. Now it feels like you're living in the Great Depression, because we are living in the second greatest depression and it's making you depressed? Well, old Papa Carmine Gorga may be the economist in the family but I think I can help you out some too, because there's a variety of cheap ways to get a belly-full in the Big Apple or in any major metropolis!

As a friend of mine told me when I moved to this city, 'New York is very expensive. Except for the bodegas. Bodegas are just magical.' Bodegas are those little grocery stores in your neighborhood. Bodegas have things like bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches for 2 bucks, bananas for 50 cents, bottles of soda for a dollar. I found some I liked in Washington Heights and in Spanish Harlem when I lived there. They'll make your life far easier than you can imagine if you're not already using these ubiquitous establishments.

Then there are times when you’re in need of a fuller grocery store experience, you know, stores with ingredients you use to cook for yourself? You should have those times as often as you can because there is no question you will save money cooking for yourself. Fellow bachelors, it ain't that hard and it gets easier! MET Foods supermarkets (www.metfoods.com) are a source of pretty good cheap groceries and they are conveniently in all five boroughs, but Trade Fair supermarkets (www.tradefairny.com) are even better--and somehow even more magical than the bodegas. Keep an eye out for the specials at both chains! Pretty much all the Trade Fair locations are either in my new neighborhood Astoria, Queens or outside the city. But all their locations are open 24/7, the locations and the specials are on their respective websites, and most importantly, these products are so cheap you'll think something must be wrong! And sometimes there is. There are a good number of their products that must be remainders because the expiration dates seem a mite closer than at other stores and my housemate claims to have seen straight expired stuff on their shelves in our location. Remember to use your eyes and you'll be fine.

If freshness without double-checking is such a premium to you, the Union Square Farmer's Market may actually be the best deal in town. Actually, you should go no matter what: Cider donuts! With sugar? Just 75 cents! There's your snack for your walk down the farmer's stalls, but what’s even better is the money you're going to save on by buying yummy little McIntosh apples for your breakfast on the run as you shoot out the door for your job interview, at least your potential job interview.

For dinner out, things get much tougher. Technically my advice should be: Don't do it. But I know that I need to do it about once every two days with some friends, or even by myself, just to keep feeling like a human being. I'm sitting at a McDonald's as I write these words! But Mickey D's ain't exactly healthy and, believe or not, you can do cheaper and healthier. There are a few 99-cents-a-slice pizza places around town but they usually aren't including the tax they're going to charge you for their mediocre pizza. At a 2Bros location (which, chances are, is open 24 hours) you'll pay exactly $1 even for a great slice of New York cheese pizza. Ask for the special and you'll have a fine little diner of two slices and a soda for $2.75! There’s a location at 38^th Street and 8^th Avenue, one on 40^th Street and 9^th Avenue, and one on St. Mark’s Place. If you hit the St. Mark's Place 2Bros location enough times, you might just get curious about the nearby down-the-stairs joint called Mamoun's Falafel. $2.50 there gets you a yummy and pretty filling falafel. Feel like Chinese? If you're on a budget, don't go anywhere other than Hop Won on 45th Street near Grand Central. Wonton soup for $1, hot-and-sour soup for $1.25. Hot soup fills you up faster. Listen to that inner-Mommy. Hot soup is good for you!

I mentioned going out with friends earlier. It makes a damn good sense to do that for one reason: free food when you buy drinks. The two places at which I’ve discovered this awesome practice are the Crocodile Lounge on East 14^th Street and the Alligator Lounge in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Both share an owner and a wonderful idea: for every drink, you get a free small six-slice pizza. Everybody leaves happy!

Now as a side note: If you're like me, you can't believe that some banks charge you to store your money, and then charge you to access it too! If you can't escape these fees at the ATM for one reason or another, solve your woes with the "Cash Back" option at supermarkets and convenience stores. Usually Rite Aid does it, Duane Reade doesn’t. But other stores do, too. Politely ask if the establishment has cash back, then pick up something you already need (like those groceries you're going to use to make your lunches) and take a few twenties out of your account to have on hand before you need them... or, you know, at the last minute: "I didn't lose money to the ATM gods and I got a candy bar!" Awesome.

Also, I don't think this is news to anyone reading this but there's this thing called the internet and people use it to communicate with one another in myriad ways and one of those ways is found on a website that was presumably once the "list" of some guy named "Craig" and is now used to post information of various kinds for all to see, in the style of newspaper classifieds. The number of entirely free things offered up on Craigslist on a regular basis will no doubt astound you.

And finally, the single best way to save money on food in a city… Here it comes. Are you ready? Dumpster diving! "Oh, now he's crossed the line!" Not at all. All you have to do is leave your snobbery at the door and be very, very careful. Watch your local bakery, show up at the right time and peek in their trash. Do you see a clear plastic bag full of baked goods and nothing else? If you do, you now have a choice: look a bit crazy and carry home a huge bag of entirely edible and delicious breads, danishes, and bagels to use as you please for FREE or keep your foolish pride and keep paying 4 dollars for a bagel with lox every morning on the way to work. The choice is yours. Now "the right time" is a pretty varied idea, you want to be there just after a bakery has decided to toss what's left of their four-hours-old batch but before the trash man comes and takes away some perfectly edible and plastic-protected food for the landfill. You 'rescue' the food! Truthfully, if you think about it obtaining your food this way is the most ethical way to go about it. It's called freeganism. (Seriously, look it up on Wikipedia.) And yes, you are taking some risks by doing this. What risks, you ask? Well, these baked goods are going to go bad faster on you and there's no label to warn you when that's going to happen, and spoiled food is dangerous. Start getting cautious at three days and very cautious at four days.  But most importantly, inspect your food before biting into it. Honestly, we live in an imperfect world. You should be doing that anyway. Check both the surface and the inside of your free item. Green fluffy stuff on the top? Cobwebby stuff under the surface? Don’t eat it. You can’t be arrested for taking something someone has already thrown away. Don't be a snob, double-check everything, and you'll be okay.

It’s tough in the big city. Use your brain. Use your eyes. Keep an open mind. Be a freegan. Be healthy. Live simple. Please the Buddha. Please your Momma. She wants to see you eating! (Although, perhaps not from the trash...)

Flip Burger

 

Anya Trent
Friday, July 16, 2010

 

Flip Burger, a hidden gem on the bottom level of Bloomingdale’s in “The Lab,” is slightly hard to find but worth the search.  A maze of racks, neat clothing, uptight snobs, and employees dressed in black from head to toe are visions before the aromatic scents waft into your nostrils, exciting your hunger. I was greeted by a friendly face and seated at a small table.  Seems a bit much for a burger joint, right?  But not for Flip Burger, which seems a cut above the rest.  What brought me to this small eatery was a text message promotion code to receive a free order of a burger and fries.  Just a simple text, “flip” to 89800, turned into a hearty and filling lunch on a cool day on the Upper East Side.  

 

Wooden chairs and walls, white tables, and a dash of red paint contribute to this small eatery’s close and intimate appeal. Tiny wooden mannequins line the wall, arranged in a special sequence that simulates a slow motion flip. The tight space is still enough for over 24 small two-seater tables with pull-out chairs and booth seating, along with a small bar and standing area if you’re on the go. But its quiet ambience, calm music, and dim lighting are prefect for a casual date or a lonely lunch.

 

Flip Burger offers appetizers, signature burgers ranging from $16 to $23, an option to create your own burger starting at $10 (including your choice of meat, side sauces, toppings, and bread), along with salads, desserts, and sides. The petite bar has 8 beers on tap, a small wine selection, and an array of liquors. With options like “South of the Burger” (with jack cheese, pico de gallo, and guacamole on an Asiago cheese bun) or the “Benedict Burger” (topped with Canadian bacon, melted American cheese, with a fried egg on organic rye) there is something for everyone.  I opted for the special of the day, the “Patty Melt” ($16).  This consisted of a sweet blend of beef, 2 slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and hickory smoked bacon on white toast with skinny fries. Yum! The bread was golden brown, toasted to perfection, slightly crunchy but still soft.  Cheese oozed out in every direction and was welcomed.  Bite sized chunks of bacon were scattered like puzzle pieces in the melted cheese and warm ketchup.  It was crunchy but not over done or hard.  The light green lettuce was crisp and refreshing amidst the meat and cheese.  Bright red tomato slices were sweet, ripe and juicy.  The succulent beef patty was cooked medium-well, even though I requested well done; the second half of my burger was slightly pink, something I’m not use to and could have done without—a minor dent in the experience, but not a dent in the overall taste.  It was a burst of flavor and the meat was juicy. The aroma of the meat, cheese, and veggies reminded me of a buttery grilled cheese sandwich, which is what it tastes like. 

 

The skinny fries, a mountain of golden potatoes, were served alongside the burger without salt.  The fries were crisp and tasty.  They were very thin so I picked up a few at a time and dunked them into ketchup before devouring them. Flip also offers chubby fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, or mac and cheese for an extra $5.

 

The menu offered a small selection of desserts.  My sweet tooth ached for the “Sweet Slider” ($5), which included a choice of vanilla or chocolate ice cream sandwiched between two mini black and white cookies.  The chilled plate arrived with my sweet treat, semi-soft vanilla bean ice cream wedged between two cookies and garnished with whipped cream topped with a confetti of rainbow sprinkles.  The cookies were hard, obviously chilled, but instantly softened in my mouth.  This simple dessert was sweet but not too sugary, a small but satisfying way to end a big meal. 

 

The staff was minimal but pleasant and attentive.  They served the food in a timely manner and constantly asked if I needed anything.  Though a fork and knife accompanied my meal my utensils for the night were my ten fingers. At first the place was very empty but after 5:00 p.m. more people arrived, possibly the after work rush. Laughter, mild conversations, and grunts and moans of satisfaction filled the air for this small burger joint that won’t dent your pockets but will have you jumping for joy, so good you may even flip. 

 

The Perfect Grown Up Karaoke Meal!
Leah N. Moore

 

Picture this, three sisters singing themselves crazy to 500 of their favorite songs, indulging in the best appetizers and a meal to die for.  The atmosphere set just right for the ultimate girl talk/karaoke session. In between songs the sisters stuff their face with the oooey gooey yummness we like to call Cheesy Baked Ziti. Now I don’t normally share the recipe to my creations with others but this one is too good to keep to myself.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 mins. – 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef (you can substitute this for ground turkey)

1 pound of Italian sausage (sweet)

2 boxes of Ziti noodles

1 tablespoon of Oregano

1 tablespoon of Garlic Powder

1 tablespoon of Onion Powder

1 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper

2 teaspoons of salt

2 teaspoons of Black Pepper

1 large bottle of your favorite Marinara Sauce

1 large bag of Mozzarella Cheese

First you combine your seasonings into a small bowl and put aside. Take half of your seasoning and season one side of your ground beef, you then place a medium sauce pan over medium heat and sear the seasoned side of the ground beef. Then you take the remainder of your seasoning and season the second side of the ground beef.  begin to break up the ground beef with your cooking spoon and while the ground beef begins to brown cut up the Italian sausage into the pan. While your meet is browning, bring your Ziti noodles to a boil and allow to cook for about 13 mins. Or until half way done (remember this dish will finish cooking in the oven). Once your meet is brown add your sauce and allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350°. Drain your noodles and add a half of it along with half of the meat sauce mixture into a casserole dish, add half of your cheese and mix thoroughly. Add the rest of your noodles, meat sauce and cheese and place your casserole dish into the oven. Allow the dish to cook for about 25-30 minutes. Then enjoy.

This meal is not only good for your stomach but for your wallet as well. The meal was only about $25 to prepare and can feed a multitude (about 5-8) or in my case three very hungry sisters. Remember to add your favorite music and surround yourself with the people you love the most and this too can be the perfect meal for you. You can pair this meal with your favorite red wine, but if you are not a drinker then your favorite soft drink will do as well. Enjoy!

 

Nana: Sweet & Savory in Brooklyn

Anya Trent

Saturday, May 15, 2010

 

Located in Park Slope, Nana specializes in an Asian fusion of Thai, Malaysian, and Japanese flavors. With its huge vertical neon sign and gigantic fish-tank in the window, it stands out from the sea of restaurants surrounding it. There is a long draping curtain instead of a heavy door, and a friendly face to greet you upon entering the small bar area. The menu is not exceptionally long, but has a variety of choices, including several vegetarian options.

 

My coworker and I began with Blond miso soup ($3) - a large steaming bowl brimming with a tasty mix of seaweed and tofu - and a side of Roti Canai ($3). Though the texture of the bread itself was light, buttery and flaky, the curry that came with it was more bland than flavorful with only a faint coconut flavor and lacking the spicy hit that curry is known for. I am a sushi lover, but not a fan of sashimi. Recommending the mackerel special, our server assured us that it was fresh and would not have the strong fishy smell and taste that a lesser quality possesses. He was right. Beautifully set on the plate, the mackerel was curved back in a crescent shape and speared with a chopstick, with a bright pink flower as garnish. We feverishly picked at it with our chopsticks until we had devoured every last delicious ginger-infused bite. Nor could we pass up the delectable Maki platter ($11) which included eel, California, and tuna rolls.

 

The Lobster dish ($15) with ginger, scallions, and shallots in a lemon sauce arrived as the main course.  The lobster flesh was diced and displayed as if whole, with a confetti whirl of green scallions and shallots strewn atop the bright red shell. Dripping with a rich brown sauce, its light ginger taste was great, a nice balance of sweet and savory flavors. The drink menu was vast. Who could pass up a drink called the Firefly? This is no weak drink my friends, but a potent potion as green as the restaurant’s neon sign. Both sweet and strong (I admit to a bit of a buzz), the mixture of fresh pureed kiwi was the perfect companion to the spicy richness of the lobster.

 

For dessert I opted for the decadent deep fried vanilla ice cream, cradled in a marble cake-like crust in an apple puree sauce. The marble shell, lightly crisp on the outside but moist on the inside, was the first layer of this ambrosial treat. The chocolate/vanilla crust was warm in contrast to the cold vanilla ice cream that melted instantly in my mouth. The sweet warm apple puree, swirled with a raspberry drizzle was delectable and unforgettable, moist and mouth-watering all in one bite. 

 

Nana is beautiful inside and out, with quiet ambience, kind and attentive service, diverse and an affordable menu. It is a place for dining with friends, dates, coworkers, and family. On warm days, the outdoor garden area is the perfect setting for a meal. The bright green sign and oversized fish tank may tempt you in through the non-traditional door, but the rich atmosphere, lavish ambience, and tantalizing menu options will keep you coming back.

A Fresh Approach on Sweet Treats from People’s Pops
Rowena L.
Monday, May 03, 2010