Chifa in Pictures

Salty, sweet, savory...beautifully presented and flavors so stimulating, a feeling of guilt hovered over me throughout the meal. Chifa, combining Peruvian and Cantonese cuisine was an amazing adventure for all the senses.

Beyond the pleasant hostess, you enter the lair of intimacy; with sheer curtains cuddling smaller groups of tables, making it warm and cozy for all patrons. You might even be lucky enough to snag the large drawing table at the back if you have a big party...decked out with turntables allowing easy family-style sharing.

Literally plate after plate of decadence arrived seemingly out of thin air; Each with a distinctive look and taste. Rather than try and describe them all, I thought it best to show you the highlights in pictures...


Edamame Salad


Capers with crispy pork rind


BBQ pork buns


Ricotta dessert with citrus


We tried Balvenie, Lagavulin & Oban - winner, no question was Lagavulin (very smokey, if I recall, it was described as "Tastes like Winter")


So the next time you are in Philly, check it out!

In the running for my last meal? I think so...

What 3 items would you bring if you were stranded on a deserted island? Before Friday, I might have answered...a LARGE bottle of Glenlivet Scotch, a knife and a bag of seeds. Although I am slightly convinced I would swap out my seeds for an "Island burger" after my yummy lunch there earlier today.

Island Burger is one of those places where you walk out in a haze of food coma with a side of sauce on your pants...literally. A hole in the wall in Hell's Kitchen, this place is a MUST. It's bustling with meat-hungry customers looking for a tasty bite.

If you are a spicy connoisseur like myself, you will not be disappointed with the vast array of options in upping the hotness factor for your burger. Per a recommendation from former Hell's Kitchen resident and food lover, I ordered the Napalm burger. I must say I was a bit skeptical, given most menus claiming a "hot" entree are vastly disappointing. However, this one lived up to it's name and I was MOST grateful for ordering that strawberry shake to tame the fire in my mouth...

Some of the other guys ordered the Bourbon Street (also located on the HOT section of the menu and pictured here). It looked like a true Southern delight, i.e. a well-worth-it heart attack served up on Texas Toast. While I can't add my personal stamp of approval (as I didn’t taste this one), judging from the silly-happy looks on the faces of those who ate it, I would say it was no let down either!

SO, if you find yourself ravenous, wandering around Hell's Kitchen (specifically 51st Street and 9th ave), pop in and try a burger and shake. Even if you can't handle the heat like we all did, there are plenty of options for all! In fact, most can be ordered with chicken breast instead of the beef patty if you so desire. Either way though, I do believe you will need to put in some good gym time post meal to jog your brain out of food coma (but believe me…it’s WORTH it).

Nanni-tastic

After just arriving back in the city this past Sunday, from a trip back home to Illinois, I have to say I was not ready to be back so soon...something about that fresh air and those rolling hills that kept pulling at my heart strings (especially as I sat in a massive cab line at midnight, dead tired from the trip).

Enter Nanni's...a true gem of an old-school Italian restaurant in midtown Manhattan. "Authentic" doesn't even begin to describe it. We were instantly charmed by our waiter, Gino, who refused to let us open our menus without hearing the specials first. And let's be honest, at a place like this, YOU ORDER THE SPECIALS. He went through them with grandeur, explaining details and telling stories of the "old country" along the way (the peas were fresh in from Belgium in case you were wandering). I was so fascinated by him that I just wanted him to pick an entree for me... I mean, I couldn’t possibly know what’s amazing, so why not handover that responsibility to the expert?

For starters he suggested some angel hair pasta, spinach and fresh ricotta ravioli topped with their famous Nanni sauce (which was a beautiful vodka sauce with fresh prosciutto, garlic, peas, and tomatoes…YUM). Just explaining it here doesn't sound exciting at all, but I simply cannot convey the decadent, yet soft flavor this dish had...I wanted to lick my plate, but I had to refrain as my main course was coming out soon.

I don't know what spell this place has on you, but it literally seems at every turn, there is fresh food in front of you and your glass never reaches the half-empty point. It was either that or the Nanni sauce and Pinot Grigio I was drinking had magical powers (maybe a mix of both?). Actually, in my experience, you know it's a "real" Italian place when they just start serving food without asking what you want. My first trip to NYC back in college, my friend and I wound up at this hole in the wall place in Little Italy and they refused to give us a menu. We were skeptical at first, but everything they kept piling on our plates was so scrumptious, we couldn't take a moment to comment! Ergo, why I just let Gino decide what I would be having for dinner...

The entrees floated out from the kitchen with lingering smells of olive oil and garlic...Silvo the chef even came out at one point to great us and ask about our meals. Among us we got soft-shell crab and chicken in a more tomato-based Nanni sauce. Again, simple words cannot express the fresh flavors wreaking form these foods. Perfectly cooked chicken that I was not allowed to cut with a knife or it would be sent back, three mini soft-shell crabs soaked in garlic, lemon, butter and topped with various Italian seasoning...a treat for the eyes and mouth :) It was all so delightful that I do believe a quiet “hush” fell over the crowd at one point.

Feeling pretty plump and stupid happy by the end of the meal, I didn't think there could possibly be anything else to impress me, but yet again I was wrong. As most of you know, Paul is Eastern European, so I have come to take quite a liking to espresso. It sounds like a simple thing, yet it can so easily taste awful. Their espresso was so smooth and tasty that I wanted to gulp down a large glass full! If I hadn't been in such food comma, I would have asked how they made it (I guarantee it's some old-school contraption that has been around for decades). Oh and the plate of mini biscuits and biscotti was a great compliment :)

Needless to say, I was back to my love affair with New York City in no time flat upon leaving Nanni’s. I would mark this place as a definite must in your near future. Check out the site and read the reviews and as Gino said when asked his name..."You go to the site, you only see one name." Just in case I forget it... Enjoy!

There's always time for a good meal...

MIA? Yes, I realize I have not written a post in quite some time. Quality over quantity though, right? Right…

I was actually pretty sick for a few weeks and couldn't even stomach most food. It was like the worst cold ever with a touch of the flu + a sinus infection. Enough said. My hunger for an appetite was literally a nagging pain and I FINALLY got it back this past week. What better way to celebrate than to hit up a super spicy Sri Lankan place and a trendy fried chicken joint in Harlem?

Enter Sigiri on Friday night. This little charm can easily be missed considering it is squished between about 3 Indian restaurants decked out in flashing and gaudy red pepper lights. If you can get past the "fireworks" and tune out the haggling "hostesses" trying to trick you into one of these places, you can glide up the stairs to this gem. It's a tiny place and there might be a wait, but man, if you can take the heat of spicy food...this is your place.

I consider myself to have a pretty dang high threshold for spicy food, but Paul can pack twice as much heat as I can. We ordered two different main dishes to share and wanted them to both be "Very Spicy" so a 4 on the scale of 5 we were offered. The waiter cackled under his breath and politely suggested we only get 1 super spicy dish and go mild on the 2nd one. Reluctantly, we agreed. If I could tell you this was the best advice ever I would, but my tears and sweaty temples told the story that night... It was WONDERFUL, but they don't joke around with their spices. SO I would only recommend those who like it HOT to attempt this for your next date night out... Although, you can get the lowest level of spice, somehow I feel it is still going to be a lot for some people to handle. BTW - we ordered the Kotthu Rotti with chicken and the beef curry (the Kotthu was amazing...and the waiter also said we should try the Chicken Lamprais).

After Friday night, I needed a spice break (if that is possible in my world) and had recently read an article in New York Magazine about some great spots in Harlem. There was a particular article chatting up "Red Rooster." It had me at fried chicken and apple pie... So for our Saturday night dinner, we ventured up to Harlem on 125th street and Lenox. Walking from the train, the neighborhood appeared quite grimy and deserted. Then out of seemingly nowhere, you open the door and enter an alternate universe that makes you feel like you walked into a cool new spot in SoHo like 40 years ago. The decor and atmosphere are a mix of the 30's, 40's and today...like old school and new school with an aura of "cool" reeking through the velvet curtains in the entrance.

The other interesting thing about this restaurant is that it was opened by a sort of well know chef, Marcus Samuelsson (a Top Chef Masters winner, among other achievements, for you Food Network snobs). He was raised on Swedish cooking and the vibrant menu items definitely bring in some of his Scandinavian upbringing...however the cool part is the mixture with traditional southern cooking. SO think Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes to collard greens and fried chicken. AND those are exactly the two dishes we ordered. Of course we had to get the corn bread to start...slightly crunchy and sweet on the exterior and soft, warm and decadent on the inside. I am sure you can guess that we didn't pass up dessert as the apple pie was a no brainer. The crust has cheese baked into it and although this sounds slightly gross, it complements the pie in this whole new, salty + sweet = mouth wateringly good. Overall, I have to agree with NY Mag, if nothing else, go for the fried chicken and the apple pie…although, I would add AND for the fun atmosphere!

So there you have it, I am back on the food and writing wagon. Thank god as I have been drowning in GMAT studying, triathlon training, work and various other activities…I needed my “fun” thing back in my life! It just goes to show us all that it never hurts to slow down and get back to the basics to find balance.

A New "Travel" Perspective

As I trudged home through yet another blizzard last night, my thoughts couldn't help but wander to faraway places...warm sunshine warming my face by the beach, dust and dirt swiping my face while hiking a trail in the mountains, anywhere but here at this moment. When I arrived home, my roommate must have read my mind, because she was chatting with a friend of hers about an escape trip of their own…possibly including both Thailand and Switzerland. Oh how I would give anything to be in one/both of those places right now!

Then this morning as I was checking my favorite blogs, Cool Hunting did not disappoint...it had an article on an art exhibit in Sweden. One student's view of travel books was quite interesting. The name of her creation was "Anywhere: A Travel Handbook." Her alternative approach included cards with sayings like "Exchange card: Ask someone to exchange something with you (it could be a t-shirt, chewing gum, necklace, a pair of shoes, lunch for a song" and one of my favs, "Ask someone what their favorite street is and go there." What a wonderfully refreshing way to explore a place.

The funny thing about this exhibit though, is that she designed this to be a travel guide for literally anywhere...that means even in your local hood. How fun would it be to act like a tourist for a day in your own city and follow these cool tips? Anytime you close your eyes and open them looking through the view of someone else, suddenly the view changes...so you exchange your necklace with a stranger and explore a new street (or an old one that you didn't take the time to notice before) and it's like you are discovering something profound and beautiful. Suddenly the thought of needing to escape New York vanished and all I needed to do was take a fresh look at the place I am in and develop my own sort of guide.

"Find a place you like, then call someone you miss and describe it."

It's funny how in our low or frustrating points in our life (i.e. trudging through snow and cursing cold weather), something happens that refreshes our view...like this light article that reminded me that I can "travel" and explore my backyard by simply changing my perspective. If only I could tattoo this on my mind...

A Cozy Saturday

Winters are rough in the city. You had a long week and you want to go out with your friends and relax, but that nagging, bitter wind sometimes wins the inner argument you have with yourself, debating whether to face Jack Frost or not... This past weekend, noodles and spiced wine were more than enough to coax me out of my humble abode.

Sometimes I swear I am part Asian considering I tend to eat more Japanese/Thai/Korean food than regular old American cuisine, but I can't help it. The flavors and combination in Asian-inspired food just tickles my fancy more than the average burger joint. As is often the case, I was in the mood for some noodles. However, considering we were on the upper east side, downtown meant a far cab ride away from warmth and comfort, so I decided I would need to make this trip worth the while by hitting up my favorite winter-time bar, Klimat for some "hot" wine.

The noodles at dinner didn't disappoint...full of spices, pork, egg, bamboo shoots, corn and bean sprouts nestled in a pool of steaming broth...there is nothing better on a cold winter's night. As delightful as our main course was though, I have to say the dumplings we had pre-dinner were astoundingly good. Maybe I was just hungry, but they were slightly doughy, filled with shrimp and veggies, not too complicated, yet were the best shumai dumplings I have ever had. Sometimes these sorts of dumplings, the shrimp will be somewhat harder on the inside, but not in this case. Soft, smooth and almost creamy, they melted in your mouth.

Intoxicated by the tasty food and wandering out the door back into the cold, it was a good thing we only had to stumble to get to Klimat for a warm, after-dinner cocktail. If you live in New York and you haven't been to Klimat for their Hot Wine, it's high time to make a pit stop. This tiny Eastern European bar is cozy and delightful anytime of the year, but there is something so wonderful about snuggling up to your significant other with a warm, spicy, sweet glass of mulled wine.

We settled in (almost a little too much) with our warm beverages and got lost in conversation. It's funny how wine and warmth can relax you so much! In the busy-ness of life, it is easy to forget that sometimes the simplest of things can bring immense happiness.

So, even if it is just for a guilty pleasure like noodles and hot wine, it's never a wasted effort to drum up a little warmth and delight in the bitter winter. So next time you think it's wiser to stay in, throw on a comfy sweater and find a corner in a cozy place like Klimat to relax your worries away.

Happiness is just a thought away

As I was lying in bed last night, per usual, thoughts were racing through my mind. At most times I absolutely love and thrive on life's great mysteries...where will the future take me? What wonderful adventures await me? How many amazing people will I meet? Life is great like that, it always surprises you when you least expect it and each moment helps you grow and learn more about yourself and the world.

However, there are also times when I am not so optimistic and that silly worrier deep inside loathes the mysteries of life...will I ever figure out my true passion? Will I settle down and have a family some day? Do I want that? Am I making the right choices now to impact me positively in the future? As much as I hate having things figured out, it sure would be a lot easier sometimes if I did.

Really though, what does it matter? As I am becoming quite accustomed to, things happen, they might suck, but time heals all wounds and something better comes along. I mean, I nearly died in a horrible car accident at age 16 and here I am 10 years later living in NYC with a career in marketing and still pretty darn physically active. Things work out in the end if you have a good attitude. As I got nailed into my head by my old basketball coach (and I even had a t-shirt with this saying on there)... "Everything in life is 80% mental, 20% ability, so get your head in the right place first."

If I could tell you how many times THAT rang true in my life, I would never stop talking. Case in point, I could have easily moped after my accident and never played sports again, but I had a positive attitude (much thanks to family and friends) and I made it back a year later and continue to excel in sports in my free time. Your body can do amazing things when your mind tells it to...believe me, I am the living testament to that.

Now I am not one for new year's resolutions, in fact I think it is more silly than ever to do something because everyone else is doing it. But I do like the idea of coming to a point when you're ready to make a change in your life. I have been there for a while, but for some reason I decided today is the day. So that is what I am going to do. I am going to stop worrying about things that are out of my control and relish in the excitement of the future. My head is officially going to be in the right place and I will "worry" about being happy TODAY and hoping that will lead me to more happiness in the future.

Otherwise, what's the point of living life to the fullest, if we already know all the answers?