by Ling on November 22, 2008
Hmhmmh…Yogurtland. :) I was intrigued by this concept ever since I saw pictures of multi-colored bits of “fro-yo” on a friend’s Facebook page this past summer. I had been eating increasing amounts of frozen yogurt ever since discovering Pinkberry and Red Mango spring semester. But Yogurtland. It was different. I absolutely loved the self-service aspect and the freedom of choosing which handle to pull as yogurt slowly oozed into my cup. I stepped in, and I was immediately hit by a blast of bright happy light and pinkness.
If you are new to Yogurtland, don’t forget to ask the person behind the counter for some free sample cups! Try before you buy. My favorite flavors include mango, green tea, blueberry, peach, and cookies & creme, and I like to squirt a little of each flavor into my cup for maximum variety. When you’re done with your yogurt selection, it’s time to move onto the toppings! You can garnish your yogurt with a variety of (mostly) fresh chopped fruit, cereal, cookie dough, and MOCHI. *yum yum* You pay by the ounce (39 cents/oz right now), and my cup of frozen yogurt usually costs less than an equivalent cup at other yogurt places. Now it’s time to dig into your delicious, colorful concoction!
Yogurtland is located in the West Village, so if you’re looking for something similar in the East Village, I recommend 16 Handles (slightly more expensive).
by Ling on October 5, 2008
One of the reasons why I love NYC (yes, I have grown from feeling neutral about the city freshman year to liking it last year to pretty much loving it this year) is the variety of food options available. Not everything in the city is expensive, and there are so many delicious, cheap goodies to eat if you know where to look. ;D
The weekly street fairs between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend are fun to walk through, and there has been more than one occasion where I have accidentally stumbled upon a street fair while walking to get somewhere else. The smells of roasting gyro meat and sizzling Italian sausages permeate the air as other vendors market their home-squeezed lemonades (I often find these are too watered down to be enjoyable), crepes, and fresh fruit smoothies. The fairs are pretty consistent as they move from street to street every Saturday or Sunday, and there are many purse, craft (finger puppets!), and $2 jewelry stands peddling their products. I do feel bad for the unfortunate cars that come across the fair and must find alternative routes to get to their destination, especially when the fairs take over busy streets like Broadway and 3rd Avenue.
On one of these journeys, I came across a bulgogi hot dog stand run by cute, fobby Korean girls. Yes, bulgogi meat on top of a hotdog and lettuce and a sprinkling of sesame seeds (other condiments optional). Talk about combining east with west. I love Korean food, and the bulgogi meat wasn’t bad. And hey, a hot dog’s a hot dog. I would get this again if I ever come across a similar food stand. On the same journey where I just happened to have my brick on me, we tried these Maryland crab cakes rested on a bed of mixed greens. Not bad, and the sauce on top definitely added flavor.
Waiting for your return next summer, yummy-smelling street fairs!
by Ling on August 25, 2008
Artichoke. This pizza place first caught my eye during my increasingly frequent walks down 14th St. The place was often graced by long lines of people outside (especially at night), either waiting to get to the counter to order their slices or hanging around afterward with their thick creamy slabs of artichoke pizza, ravenously devouring their food on the streets.
After talking about going there for days, I finally stepped in and ordered an artichoke slice on a warm Saturday afternoon when the place was absent of its usual lines. Wow. Thick, delicious, oozing creamy spinach sauce on a soft, chewy, thick triangular dough greeted my mouth as I bit in. It reminded me of a solidified version of creamy spinach soup. The actual artichokes were well-spread out on the pizza so they didn’t overwhelm the eater with their taste. There were also random blobs of melted mozzarella. I thought $4.00 for a slice was too expensive, but these thick slices are like the equivalent of two regular slices of pizza elsewhere. Not recommended for someone watching their weight, but definitely check it out if you’re looking for a (relatively cheap) indulgence. They also sell regular and Sicilian slices. I can’t praise them to the skies though…I did have another slice the following night (Sunday) around midnight, and the pizza wasn’t as creamy or good. =( The fresher the better.
Artichoke Basille’s Pizza & Brewery
328 E 14th St
(between 1st Ave & 2nd Ave)
I've been told that a certain smile breaks across my face whenever the subject of food is brought up, a smile that radiates the purest forms of delight and happiness. Food transcends beyond the smell and taste of what's presented in front of me; it's an experience to be enjoyed, indulged, shared with those I love. Working and living in NYC continually opens culinary doors, from hole-in-the-walls to upscale (even stuffy) dining. I never take any morsel of food for granted, and I'm often THAT girl at the table found licking her plate at the end of the meal.
