Pokoo Sushi & Sashimi

Pokoo Sushi & Sashimi (337 Broad Ave., Paliades Park, NJ) - 10/3/09

We were in the mood for some sashimi, Korean-style, so we headed over to the best spot in town for such a meal - Pokoo Sushi & Sashimi in Pal Park. It is always encouraging to walk into this type of restaurant and find it packed with Korean ahjuhshee's (company men) and families; you've come to the right place. And man, this place is pretty intense. The Cho family came ready to feast. Basically, you order a main sashimi platter of fresh raw snapper, and the meal comes with a spread of about 20 different side tapas items. The place is out of this world. We feasted on the freshness. Lucky for mom & dad, Ella is a brave eater. She's not your average Cho.

Hasaki

Hasaki (210 E. 9th St., NYC) - 9/12/09

It was rainy and a bit chilly, but so what. On this not-so-lovely day, we ventured out to NYC to catch 'Pinkalicious - The Musical' at the Bleeker Street Theatre. It was really fun - for Ella. So all good. Especially since the show is just a few blocks from one of mom & dad's favorite Japanese restaurants. For about 20 years now, Hasaki has been a reliable, go-to spot with consistently excellent food and service. The sashimi is always high quality, and the rice in their sushi is always as it should be -- each grain distinct and part of the whole, with correct chewiness & texture, and skillfully prepared with understated mix of vinegar & sugar. Sushi chefs here have cold hands; we do not dip their rice in the soy sauce. So on this rainy day, we found our table inside and got ready for deliciousness. Hot sake is always good on such days; warms up taste buds and makes mom & dad happy. First came the Aji special. Wow, horse mackeral is good, but this was really good. In fact, it could not have been better. We also enjoyed the eel & cucumber Kanisu; so refreshing -- all sorts of flavors, textures, and consistencies happening here. Ella was enjoying both offerings, as well, and eyes lit up when her Tempura Udon came out (tempura on the side, of course). Actually, there are not too many better udons to be found. There is effort put into this presentation; perfect noodles, broth, and toppings. And the tempura was light and flakey. Then came the Omakase Sushi & Sashimi combination, which included some chu-toro, sea bass, aji, and scallop sashimi; some arctic char, anago, uni, and kanpachi sushi; and a chu-toro & scallion roll. It was a lovely meal. Of course Ella got her Pinkberry afterwards, so she was all smiles.

Ocean House Oyster Bar & Grill

Ocean House (49 N. Riverside Dr., Croton-on-Hudson, NY) - 8/9/09

I think this was our third visit to Ocean House, a cozy BYOB seafood restaurant in Westchester, not far from the city. Mom's friend eats here all the time, and she told us about a crab fest that was being planned for this particular Sunday... so of course we were there! There's nothing like steamed Chesapeake Bay crabs, old bay seasoning and Ommegang Witte Ale (and some Magic Hat, as well). Love it. And we sure did. The crabs were perfect. With hammer in hand, we easily devoured about 10 crabs each! No joke. In addition to refreshing beer to wash down the sweet/salty/spicy deliciousness, mom and dad were treated to the finest vanilla rum for dessert (straight from St. Barths). Ella had the ice cream.

Chung Dam Dong Restaurant

Chung Dam Dong - (118 Broad Ave., Palisades Park, NJ) - 8/7/09

We love discovering great Korean restaurants. Thanks to our friends - the Lee family - we found what has become our new favorite spot in New Jersey! Chung Dam Dong in Pal Park is located on the second floor of a mall-like building... very easy to miss. But it has, by far, several of the best dishes imaginable. Basically, you need to order the following. First, some cold soju. Then order up a few portions of the Chadolbegi (beef brisket grilled at the table) - it is the best in town and the restaurant's choice offering. Then get the sauteed Baby Octopus & Triple-layered pork. Wow, ... so good. The waitress then makes some delicious fried rice at your table using the leftover spiciness. Yes, she does. And this place also has the best Al Jigae (spicy codfish roe stew). Trust us. You will love this restaurant.

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill (308 W 58th St., NYC) - 7/19/09

We love Sundays... a day of rest and fun with the family. On this particular day, we decided to spend the morning at Victoria Gardens (Wollman Rink, Central Park), a nice little summertime amusement park setup for little kids. Coincidentally, the park is walking distance from one of our favorite spots ... Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill:) I'm sure many of you know and love the Blue Ribbon restaurants downtown on Thompson Street and elsewhere. Well this one - in the lobby of 6 Columbus Hotel, across from the Time Warner Center - has now become our favorite location. So after a wonderful morning of rides and games, we strolled over to our chosen eatery for some good food. We were starving. And Blue Ribbon did not disappoint. Mom and dad were thirsty, and there's nothing like a cold bottle of Asahi beer to cool you down and whet your appetite. Yes. With that taken care of, we ordered up some deliciousness. We started with the Kani Sunomono (blue crab wrapped in cucumber with vinegar sauce) and Kanpachi Usuzukuri (amberjack with yuzu peper) - both excellent. We then moved on to the Sushi Deluxe with some additional pieces of our favorites - mirugai, ikura, unagi, and uni. So fresh. So tasty. And then came our favorite... Fried Chicken "Blue Ribbon Style" with a wasabi & honey dipping sauce. Man,... that was good. You have to taste this fried chicken! After pigging out, we strolled over to visit the Pinkberry on the same block. It was a beautiful Sunday.

Matsugen

Matsugen (241 Church St., NYC) - 5/10/09

Mother's Day Sunday was a special treat. To celebrate the best mom ever, we headed over to Matsugen in TriBeca. As you may know, this is a Japanese spot run by a partnership of Jean-Georges Vongerichten and the Matsushita brothers -- it got 3 stars from the NYT's Frank Bruni, which apparently is not easy to get. Sure it is a bit pricey and trendy, ... but we go where the food is good. And we had some amazing selections on that day. For starters, we ordered the Seared Fatty Blue Fin Tuna, which was absolutely perfect. Then came a couple of rolls -- a Sea Eel Cucumber roll and a Soft Shell crab roll. Very tasty indeed, and it got us ready for the next dish... the Kurobuta Pork Belly. Wow, ... talk about heavenly. It's hard to describe how good it was; let's just say that we will order this every time we go back. Another must have is the Kamameshi -- Rice cooked in Earthenware Pot w/snow crab and Japanese mushrooms. As you can imagine, the soft and sticky rice absorbs the aromas of crab & mushrooms and what you get is a subtle and delicious masterpiece. It was the perfect complement to the pork belly. By this time, we were quite satiated, but Matsugen is known for it's home-made soba. And Ella loves noodles. So we finished our meal with two soba offerings, one cold and one hot -- Rin No Husk (Center Of The Soba Delicate cold only) and Kizami (Kitsune Fried Tofu with scallion, in hot broth). Both were so good, with perfect soba texture. By the way, mom and dad enjoyed a bottle of cold sake called Fukui Kokuryu (aka Black Dragon) with the meal; it was one of the more superior sakes we have tasted, and it made mom very happy.

Bar Boulud

Bar Boulud (Broadway & 63rd St., NYC) - 4/26/09

The Cho family attends the Church of Ballet Class and Sunday Brunch. We look forward to Sundays. On this particular day, after a really fun ballet lesson, we decided to visit Bar Boulud. Lucky for us, there was a nice booth inside ready for us as we arrived. The food is always tasty here, but Ella especially loves their bread & butter. Mom and dad love their cocktails, so it was a peach bellini for mom and a bloody mary for dad; dad was certain that this was the best bloody mary he's ever had, but he says that often. For our meal, we started with a small plate of the Chef's Tasting Of Charcuterie Specialties Hors D’Oeuvres, Condiments And Mustards; we recommend this dish as a great way to sample the yummy pates and charcuteries. After this, the waiter brought out mom's fish entree -- the Saumon A L’oseille (scaloppini of scottish salmon, sorel sauce jardinière of spring vegetables). It was cooked perfectly, and the sauce was sensible and not overpowering; the fresh spring peas made the dish. Dad ordered his Steak Frites -- black angus ny steak with french fries "laitue au fromage blanc". He asked the waiter for some of their house specialty mustard, since he likes to have that with his beef. Of course, Ella had a sampling of both dishes; but she was mostly loving the french fries. After the thoroughly enjoyable and delicious meal, Ella was ready for her favorite part... dessert! And since she was so great in ballet class, Ella was treated with 2 different desserts: the Ile Flottante (floating island, praline rouge vanilla créme anglaise) and a 3 scoop swirl of their vanilla/chocolate ice cream platter. Ella was all smiles.

Gam Mee Ok

Gam Mee Ok (485 Main St. in Fort Lee, NJ) - 4/6/09

We eat a lot of Korean food; because we love Korean food. And one restaurant that is definitely on Ella's list will be familiar to any Korean who spent their twenties/thirties in NYC. Gam Mee Ok in K-town was the after-hours spot for the perfect bowl of soothing and healing Sul Long Tang (ox-bone soup with rice & noodles). Definitely a necessary and recommended ritual after a night of heavy drinking. Been there, yes? Then you are also aware of their famously delicious kimchi, which the waiter cuts up for you at the table. Well, fortunately for Ella and family, there is a second Gam Mee Ok located in Fort Lee, NJ. And this one is the one. Because in addition to offering the same menu items as the NYC location, this branch serves up the most amazing Yook Gae Jang (spicy beef stew with shredded beef, scallions, and assorted vegetables). This is mom & dad's favorite Yook Gae Jang - it makes them happy. Along with a cold bottle of soju, we order the Soo Yook (thinly sliced beef brisket with flavored scallions) and a slice of their Bin Dae Duk (fried pancake made of ground beans, vegetables, and some pork). Both dishes are great for anju (food that goes well with drinking). And Ella likes them too. For our meal, we order a bowl of Yook Gae Jang (for mom & dad) and a bowl of Sul Long Tang (for Ella). This hearty meal is good on any day, but it is particularly rewarding when it is cold and rainy outside.

Don's Bogam BBQ & Wine Bar

Don's Bogam BBQ & Wine Bar (17 E. 32nd St., NYC) - 3/29/09

So what's the best Korean restaurant in NYC? Tough to say. But for the past few years or so, the answer has been Don's Bogam BBQ & Wine Bar on 32nd Street. The food is consistently excellent, and the dining experience is enhanced by attentive service and a hip decor/space. Also, the vibe is not as frantic as it is at some of the other spots in K-town -- you know how some can be quite hectic and noisy and rushed... There are 2 things we always order at Don's. Of course the Kalbi (beef short ribs) here is absolutely fantastic; well-marbled beef marinated tastefully and grilled at your table. Always solid. We sometimes order the beef platter, with assorted meats/marinades and such, but we usually decide on multiple portions of their regular/marinated Kalbi. The other must-have dish at Don's is their Dubu Kimchi, which is a spicy, stir fried offering of pork and kimchi with steamed tofu on the side to balance the spicy fire. Okay, so Ella doesn't eat the spicy foods yet, but mom and dad love this dish! And for mom and dad, nothing is better than cold soju & beer to wash down all this flavorful goodness. Can't wait to go back.

Homung Nangmyun

3/11/09 - Homung Nangmyun (Closter, NJ)

"Cold noodles! Cold noodles!" And with that plea from Ella, which we hear more than once a week, we stop on over to the best nangmyun spot around - Homung Nangmyun in Closter, NJ. In Closter, NJ? Yes! And we recommend it highly. Seriously the best nangmyun you can find anywhere - both the noodles (homemade from sweet potato) and the broth (a secret recipe with deep flavor - the kind where you don't need to add any mustard or vinegar, which is usually added at most restaurants to enhance the generic broth). Ella can finish the entire bowl. Other menu items are excellent as well, like their haemul soondubu jigae (seafood tofu stew), potato pancakes, homemade mandu (dumplings), and also their Soo Yook (sliced/assorted beef brisket with garlic & scallions). A nice bonus for mom and dad is that this is a BYO spot. We love BYO. So bring your soju/beer and enjoy the best nangmyun in the world.

The Cheese Store

The Cheese Store (720 Monroe St. in Hoboken, NJ) - 2/15/09

Whenever we get the chance, and especially when we are craving the finest cheeses & charcuteries, we head on over to The Cheese Store in Hoboken, NJ. This gourmet shop is owned and operated by Chung Park, who happens to be one of the most respected experts in the tri-state area when it comes to cheese. Chung opened up his shop in July '07 after a lifetime of cheese related jobs in New York, including an apprenticeship at a Goat Cheese Farm near the Catskills and 5 years spent at Murray's Cheese Shop on Bleeker. When you enter The Cheese Store, you will want to buy all the fabulous gourmet products on display. But what you really need to do is spend the time to talk to Chung about whatever cheeses he is recommending, because he will tell you everything you want to know about his offerings. And taste that cheese. It's the best in town.

Comfort Food

Home - 2/13/09

Sometimes there's nothing like rice mixed with fried eggs & soy sauce, topped with Jang Jo Rim (beef cooked in soy sauce) and white kimchi. Korean comfort food. And one of Ella's favorite meals.

Basta Pasta

Basta Pasta (37 W. 17th St., NYC) - 12/24/08

Ella loves good pasta. And Basta Pasta is the spot, hands down. The Linguine Al Ricci Di Mare (linguine with fresh sea urchin) is pretty unbelievable; if you love uni, then this is a must. The Spaghetti Con Prosciutto E Parmigiano is an understandable favorite here, as well, with the waiter dumping hot spaghetti into their parmesan wheel and mixing to tasty perfection right by your table. Can you imagine how amazing this is? And their classic Spaghetti, Mozzarella, Pomodori E Funghi is absolutely delicious. We could eat here a lot; and we do. Basta Pasta is definitely on Ella's list.

Biak Hwa Restaurant - 백화정

Biak Hwa Restaurant (Koreatown, LA) - 12/6/08

When we find ourselves in Los Angeles, our first stop is Koreatown. It's pretty much agreed that LA has the best Korean restaurants outside of Korea, and this restaurant called Biak Hwa serves up the most amazingly tasty daeji kalbi (grilled pork ribs). Words cannot describe. This is where we pig out. In addition to the grilled pork, a must order is the bo ssam - a platter of boiled pork belly served with oysters, kimchi, green peppers, garlic, and soy bean paste; all for wrapping in cabbage and stuffing in your mouth. Also, their den jang jigae (miso stew) is a fine accompaniment. Of course, as is standard with such hearty Korean meals, mom and dad wash down every bite with ice-cold soju.

Joe's Shanghai

Joe's Shanghai (Pell St. & Bowery, NYC) - 1/24/09

Who doesn't love Joe's Shanghai? Everyone lines up for their famously tasty soup dumplings, in spite of the restaurant's embarrassing decor and uncomfortable eating conditions (squeezing into tight tables with strangers). This place proves that if the food is good, then people will come. And the food is good. Definitely the crab meat soup dumplings to start - get 2 orders, 1 is not enough. Some like the pork soup dumplings, which are also good, but the crab dumplings are superior. Ella likes the jelly fish noodles, as well; she's not your average Cho. And of course we have to order the Shanghai noodles, the baby bok choy, and the kung pao chicken. All with chili sauce from the side, for the adults. A pretty hefty meal for the 3 of us; then we go home and nap.

Kaya Restaurant

Kaya Restaurant (450 Broad Ave. in Leonia, NJ) - 1/30/09

We are constantly searching for the best Korean restaurants, and it is always a joy to run into a spot that makes the list. Kaya definitely makes the list. The place is always packed with Koreans (families, couples, students, businessmen), and there is a palpable energy of serious diners enjoying hearty meals. It also helps that the service is excellent, with waitresses who are friendly and involved. Kaya's specialties include raw crabs marinated in soy sauce and also their ssam special -- an assortment of fresh leafy vegetables that are used to wrap up some daeji bulgoki (grilled pork) along with soy bean paste, grilled garlic, and green peppers. You know what I'm talking about. So delicious.

Ramen Setagaya

Ramen Setagaya (1st Ave. 9th St., NYC) - 1/31/09

We eat ramen all the time. Ella loves ramen. And while there are many fine noodle shops in NYC, we love going to Ramen Setagaya. The noodles are excellent, the best consistency and taste; and the broth is pretty damn good. We also love the oshinko and the soft boiled eggs.

Casa Mono

Casa Mono (Irving Place & 17th St., NYC) - 2/1/09

We celebrated mom's birthday by going to one of her favorite restaurants, Casa Mono. The food was so tasty, as would be expected from Mario Batalli's restaurant. Ella loved all the small dish offerings, especially the sweetbreads with fennel al mono, the quail with figs, and the sardinas fritas. She wasn't crazy about the grilled artichokes with mint and was also not digging the foie gras with cinco cebollas; which was fine, because mom and dad love foie gras. Naturally, Ella's favorite dish was dessert - chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream.

Happy New Year

Ella Sunshine