The Chiconomist

tsukiji fish market

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:32:00 +0000

At the crack of dawn on Friday morning, we raced to the most popular sushi restaurant at the Tsukiji fish market. I can't really tell you what it's called because as you can see on the picture, the name is in Japanese. But if you ever go to Tsukiji, it's the rightmost restaurant on sushi row. You'll know which one it is because there's always a line, with people waiting for up to two and half hours if you get there after dawn. We arrived in front of the store front at exactly 4:26AM and there were already two people waiting in line. Within the first two minutes that we were standing there, the line swelled to this size:

What a difference a few minutes made! The sushi restaurant only seats 12 people so we were soooo glad we made into the first seating. You do not want to be that guy who almost but didn't quite make it in, and therefore had to spend at least another hour staring into the window longingly at the people enjoying their ultra-fresh sushi. So glad we came early! Tsukiji has an electric atmosphere at the crack of dawn, with guys in small vehicles zipping around delivering cartons of ultra-fresh sushi to waiting trucks and restaurants. You gotta keep your wits about you if you don't want to end up getting sideswiped.

After what seemed like the longest 30 minutes ever, the doors finally swung open and we were seated. My eyes gaped and stomach grumbled at the sight of the piles and piles of otoro on the counter. This is the freshest and undoubtedly the best sushi you can get in Tokyo.

I never used to give much thought to tamago, the Japanese omelette that's made into sushi and commonly served at restaurants. Everywhere I've been outside of Tokyo, it's pretty nondescript. But apparently, a sushi restaurant's expertise can be measured by how it makes its tamago. In fact, it's considered rude to order tamago first when you're at a sushi restaurant because it's like telling the sushi chef that you're measuring him up right away. It was just one more sign that we were in for a treat when we saw this massive slab of fresh, steaming tamago laid on the counter. Oh sweet Jesus ...

We ordered the Omakase, which mean's chef's choice. I strongly recommend you do the same. The first thing that landed in front of us were these slices of octopus. It was cleaned extremely well so that there isn't a trace of sliminess to it, and was so fresh that we just crunched through every bite.

Next we were given this seemingly innocuous bowl that just blew our minds. I can't tell you exactly what this is (lost in translation as we are) but it sounded to me like this is called sharaku. In any case, our friend Mikki compared this to foie gras and that's a pretty close approximation of what it tastes like. The texture is creamy and silky, and the taste really quite similar to my favorite treat. Incredible.

Next, a succulent piece of oyster that has quite possibly ruined me forever. I may never enjoy another oyster again after having had this wonderfully juicy piece with scarcely the taste of brine.

And then, the awaited tamago,which was of course hearty, pleasantly sweet, and completely comforting. A sign of more amazing things to come.

And come they did. After asserting their superiority with the fabulous tamago, the much awaited o-toro was laid in front of us.

Isn't that just a beauty? Otoro comes from the fattiest part of the tuna belly and is the most prized part of the tuna. The sushi chefs serve the otoro already seasoned with soy sauce and wasabi so that all you have to do is pop it into your mouth and marvel at how the beautifully marbled meat just melts in your mouth. We were in heaven after that piece.

This next plate was not part of the Omakase but we spied it at the party seated next to us and just had to give it a try. I'd hazard the guess that it's monkfish liver inside a sliver of hamachi. Whatever it was, it was just brilliant. I strongly recommend being a copycat at this joint.

Then came some more excellent sushi: some ultra-fresh yellow tail and a truly satisfying piece of maguro.

After those two very yummy but staid pieces of sushi, the chef laid a shocker on us. This piece of squid was, I kid you not, still moving. Seriously. Mika was talking to his sushi, saying, "Hey, stop moving so I can eat you!" Mine literally squirmed in my mouth. Not for the faint of heart, but if you're an adventurous soul, it is delicious.

Another wonderful piece ... Was it red snapper? I don't know. This place has flipped what I thought sushi tastes like so I can't be sure ... But it was amazing. Mika was trying to convince me I didn't want it. Uh, yeah, in your dreams buddy.

And then, a piece I had been waiting for with bated breath: the uni! It was velvety and succulent, so fresh and devoid of that fishy taste. Oh heaven ... Mika had one and declared that he still did not like uni. Blasphemy!

Then, a piece of horse mackerel that rocked my world. I had eaten mackerel sushi before but it never tasted remotely close to this. It was so fresh that the flesh was still deliciously oily and tender. Mackerel tends to spoil quickly and so it is usually cured, and can have an off-putting fishy smell. But not this fresh-off-the-boat baby here. Oh it was just utter perfection.

Then some white shrimp sushi. Photogenic? No. Delicious? Hell yes. That was followed by what I guess was some hamachi, then some amazing salmon roe, and incredibly delicious fresh water eel. The mere thought of the sweet, meaty eel is making me salivate right now.

At the end of the meal, the chef asks you what your favorite was and they'll give it to you to cap off the meal. We picked otoro of course. Oh it is just so good ...

While we were eating, our friend Mikki told the sushi chefs that Mika just won back-to-back US Open 9-ball tournaments and is in Japan to defend his Japan Open 9-ball championship from last year. They were quite impressed so before we left, Mika took the sponsor patches from his shirt and gave them to the chefs as souvenirs. I had to take a picture.

By the time we got out it was around 6AM and the line was long. But if there's one meal worth waiting for, it is definitely this. Dreaming of my next visit to Tsukiji already!

random tokyo doorways

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:43:00 +0000

It's amazing what wonderful meals you can get from just walking in random doorways in Tokyo.

Last Tuesday, after taking a much needed beating at the gym, we strolled out of our hotel in search for a quick lunch. We were thinking sushi but were lured into this doorway by the sight of people contentedly slurping up ramen.

The ordering and paying process in this joint is pretty cool. You "order" your ramen by putting money into this vending machine and selecting your desired ramen. The descriptions were in Japanese but it's fairly easy to make a selection based on the pictures. We had some help from a very patient waitress who did her best to explain to us in limited English what the difference between the soups were.

I picked a soy-based soup while Mika picked a miso-based soup. I think mine was better *evil grin* The ramen was pretty good, we thought. The noodles were al dente and pleasantly chewy, the soup brimming with flavor, and the pork tender enough that it would flake off with a nudge of a chopstick. We should've shared one bowl since it was really more than enough for both of us. And a bowl of ramen is just about 9000 yen (approximately $9) and way better than David Chang's—take that Momofuku Noodle Bar!

That night, we were roaming the streets of Roppongi after having dropped a small fortune for a couple of glasses of wine at the Hyatt (yes, we have our moments as suckers too). Again, we were searching for sushi but ended up instead at this place where all sorts of yumminess are served up from the grill.

Everyone inside was Japanese (always a great sign) but thankfully they were able to scrounge up an English menu for us. We ordered scallops, black cod and chicken drumsticks. I thought it was pretty cool to see how they cooked the scallops.

But it was even cooler, of course, to actually eat the scallops. The scallops were cut into thin slices, with each one perfectly tender and flaky, and having that delicious, light sweetness you get when scallops are cooked just right. I'm not sure what exactly was in that soup but it was slightly buttery and delicious enough that we didn't spare a single drop of it.

Next we got the chicken drumsticks, which there was surprisingly quite a lot of. The meat was coated in that delectable sweet yakitori sauce and grilled the perfect amount so that the chicken remained juicy. Chicken in Japan, just like every other ingredient, is incredibly fresh and that much more tasty.

Then, the piece de resistance was laid in front of us: the black cod. Our eyes gaped in amazement when we took our first bites. The cod was cooked perfectly, of course, so that the succulent flakes effortlessly slid off each other. The meat had that rich, sweet taste and the texture was just unbelievably moist and velvety. "Nobu Next Door has nothing on this cod," I kept repeating. Well ok, maybe Nobu Next Door can one-up them with Sarah Jessica Parker sightings while you have your cod, but as far as just the food goes, this place wins hands down.

After we polished off the cod, we still had some Kirin and sake left so Mika ordered clams cooked in sake. Of course, they were yummy too.

The most amazing part was that the entire meal, drinks included, cost exactly as much as our two glasses of wine at the Hyatt! So it definitely pays to wander out of the hotel and into random nooks and crannies in search for good (and inexpensive) food.

The end!

teppanyaki

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:17:00 +0000

Last night, I had one of the best meals of my life. Our incredibly generous friends Mikki and his amazing wife, Murayama Yuka, who is a famous Japanese author, treated us to a truly amazing meal at the Imperial Hotel's Teppanyaki Kamon, which they deem the best teppanyaki spot in Tokyo. I'm not going to lie, that meal cost a nice chunk of change (21,000 yen or $210 per person), but I tell you, this is a life-changing meal truly worth saving up for.

The meal began with an amuse bouche of scallop paste on a thin crostini, then an appetizer with some savory flan, a sliver of yellow tail, and duck. Just a little something to whet the appetite.

And then they brought out the big guns. The lobsters were, I kid you not, still twitching in front of our very eyes. Kinda freaky yet awesome.

On the left, some deliciously marbled sirloin to be cooked up for Mika and I. Center, some beautiful filets for our hosts. And on the right, yes my friends, those are indeed heaps and heaps of foie gras just waiting to be seared. We could barely breathe from the anticipation ...

The chef seared the foie gras very quickly but it was almost torturous breathing in the delicious scent and waiting to descent on the goodness ... Those were quite possibly the longest 5 minutes of my life ...

And then, it landed in front of me. I almost swooned from joy.

I bit into the caramelized, lightly crunchy outer layer and into the creamy, succulent goodness and was in sheer bliss. There was a large cooked grape served with the foie gras that cut into the richness between bites and kept me coming back for more. These are the plates that make life worth living for.

Next up, the chef works on the lobster ...

The last time I recall having good lobster was on a candlelit dinner on the beach at Amanpulo. The thing is, it was sensory overload then with the powder-fine white sand, sky exploding with stars, and the sound of waves crashing on the shore ... so I can't be entirely objective about how amazing the actual lobster was. So I think this lobster below is the best I have ever had, objectively speaking:

The meat was scrumptiously sweet and so perfectly cooked that it was tender, juicy and flaky. I completely ignored the tartar sauce made from scratch because I couldn't tear myself away from the more superior sauce concocted out of melted butter and lobster brain. Oh. My. God.

Next up was a pretty breather of starches with colorful yams and potatoes. The Japanese are suckers for a nutritionally balanced meal, after all.

And finally, that beautiful sirloin. It was cooked a perfect medium rare, and was just exquisitely tender from all the delicious marbled fat. The meat was so excellent that it scarcely needed seasoning, just a hint of salt and pepper, a small smear of wasabi, and a little dip in soy sauce. To my amusement, the waitress asked, "You know wasabi right?" when she laid the dish beside me. I started laughing and answered, "Yes, don't worry, I won't put the whole thing in my mouth at once." Even the chef was laughing as we discussed moments when people have popped chunks of wasabi in their mouths, not knowing the extreme pain this would cause them. Apparently this has happened a few times in this place, thus the precautionary warnings. But moving along, yes, this steak was phenomenal.

And as if I wasn't already smiling ear to ear, the chef then cooked up some wonderful garlic rice. Oh this is a restaurant just after my little Filipina heart, I tell you ...

And to cap it all off, some creme brulee and chocolate ice cream. I don't even know how I managed to cram this in my stomach but I did.

A truly epic meal. I love this country.

My only beef with Japan is the jet lag. Now back to bed to try to squeeze in a nap before breakfast ...

first few bites in japan

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:32:00 +0000

Less than 24 hours so far in Tokyo and pondering why the rest of the world can't eat as well as they do. Food here is so fresh and delicious. My first bite in Japan was a tuna-mayo rice ball and a little bottle of Yakult.

Sweet, plump white rice and yummy tuna mayo wrapped in nori. Was it my imagination or does nori taste better here too?

First sushi dinner was at Sushizanmai. For 3,000 yen ($30), you get the Magurozanmai Special, a sick plate with ultrafresh O-toro, toro, tuna, broiled toro, negitoro and tuna roll. The O-toro (high grade fatty tuna) was deliciously fatty and rich without being overwhelmingly so. It's incredibly fresh and melt-in-your-mouth tender. One bite of O-toro and makes you realize you haven't really had tuna before. Even the supposedly "regular" tuna on this plate was amazingly fresh and delicious. That's the stuff they might call toro in New York and sell you for an arm and your firstborn.

Mika had several orders of the engawa or flounder's fin. It's a bit more substantial in texture, almost with a slight crunch. Extremely delicious.

I just HAD to have uni. Oh the sea urchin goodness ... Not everyone is into uni (even Mika refuses to touch it) but once you acquire the taste for it, it is one of the gastronomic world's most amazing pleasures. It's velvety and buttery, and the flavor of sea urchin is just to die for. To me, it is as amazing as a piece of seared foie gras. This had to be the freshest piece of uni I've had so far. And Mika says it will only get better as the week progresses so I am excited for more!

That piece of salmon sushi down there had me saying that if you were a Japanese fisherman back in the old days and tried this piece of incredible raw salmon, it would make sense for you to decide you know what, I'm just gonna eat my fish raw from now on. I mean, why would you want to have this velvety piece of salmon any other way? It rocks my world, I tell ya ...

Another order of O-toro and some sake for the road ...

For today we've only gotten as far as breakfast. While we waited, we perused The Japan Times and lo and behold ...

Yes dear friends, this beauty is a Japanese TV personality who just won the Miss International Queen 2009 transsexual beauty pageant in Thailand. Oh Asian queens, you always make me feel inadequate. Gorgeous isn't she?

And then breakfast came, which was totally worth the wait. Check that out:

I love this place. Off for more adventures! Konnichiwa b*tches!

turning japanese

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:17:00 +0000

By this time tomorrow, I'll be on a plane to Tokyo. Soooo excited! Unfortunately, I've been influenced by a certain last minute-packer Finn when it comes to packing (and sending out laundry) and I haven't packed a thing. So I consulted Japanese style website Style Arena to see what chic Japanese girls are wearing on the street. There are some very cool looking people on this site (especially in the Harajuku section) but I'd totally dress like these two girls.

So I'll be off the blogosphere for a couple of weeks while I eat and shop my way through Tokyo and Manila. I hope I'll have time to sporadically blog, but in case I don't, have a lovely Halloween and talk to you in two weeks!

Love,

blond and bobbed

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:39:00 +0000

My friend Ludette tells me to just say no to bobs because therein lies the danger of ending up with soccer mom hair. But how can I not think about it when even Scarlett Johansson is rocking a sexy tousled blond bob on the Mango fall campaign?

Add to that Marie Claire's proclamation of the bob as the Ultimate Winter Haircut. I guess if it's longish like this, it could work for me. But that would entail a lot of time with my flat iron every morning.

Fluffy, cotton candy-esque hair seems to be all the rage these days. These shots are meant to show the versatility of the long bob.

Wonder if it would look as good with black hair ... Thoughts?

to chuck or not to chuck?

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:17:00 +0000

This year I bought two pairs of Chucks. One for my little sister and one for my little niece. Nada for me. The thing is, I've always been intimidated by Chucks. I know that sounds ridiculous, but for a tiny 28-year-old person, it really is. The line between insouciant cool and adolescent playing dress-up is a fine one when you're 28 and barely 5 feet tall.

Do you think it can be done? Do these J. Crew looks only work because these chicks are super leggy and skinny? Or do small chicks with hips have a chance?

Will be pondering this issue until I see a small chick my age successfully rocking Chucks. And then I might actually shell out $65 for J. Crew's Jack Purcell sneaks. Maybe.

under my trench coat

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Getting your nails done in a new color is such an underrated pleasure. I bought a new nail polish this week: Under My Trench Coat from Sephora by OPI. Despite having two Sephora's within walking distance of my workplace, I rarely wander in there. But I did one night this week and became completely obsessed with this nail color. Been wanting to veer away from my fuchsias and reds, and go for a more putty-like neutral. This is perfect.

I just adore the grayish/khaki-ish hue with light gold shimmer on top. And this is seriously one of the easiest polishes ever to apply. I did all my fingers and toes in one go, with nary a mistake. I feel like my nails look quite professionally done even though I just did it from my bathroom.

Next up on my list: a dark and mysterious nail color. I'm thinking Dark Room, also from Sephora by OPI. Simple pleasures.

the problem with market-based menus

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:15:00 +0000

Anthony Bourdain obsessed freak that I am, I HAD to trek over to Williamsburg to check out Diner after seeing Tony wolf down a bone marrow butter-smeared ribeye in this joint. It's one of those places that offer a very seasonal, market-based menu. You can expect grassfeed beef all around, butchered right at Marlow and Daughters a few doors down. While there are very few regular items in the menu, the specials list takes maybe 5 minutes to recite. I loved the look of the place. Diner inhabits a cozy 1927 dinercar, and is dark and candlelit—a great place to go for those just-heating-up second dates.

The sad thing is, there were absolutely no steaks when we went. They had apparently sold so much of it over the weekend that they had none left by the time our party rolled in. SO SAD. This is the first time I experienced the downside to market-based menus. When there's no more cow to go around, there's just no more cow. We had to content ourselves with beef carpaccio and burgers ...

The burger was quite delicious. Nice and juicy with all the gooey melted goodness of white cheddar on top. YUM. Yum enough to make me salivate for a burger right now, but not enough to make me trek all the way back to Williambsburg. I would trek back though to attempt another shot at the bone marrow butter-smeared steak. I mean, it's smeared with bone marrow butter for crying out loud. I will not rest until I have it.

In the meantime, I am starving. I woke up at 3:40 after a night that involved me doing my very first keg stand, among other things. So I'm gonna go out and buy an overpriced cafe mocha and sandwich at Starbucks. That's all I got folks! Happy Sunday!

Diner is located at 85 Broadway Brooklyn, NY 11211. Tel. (718) 486-3077

get that warm and fuzzy feeling

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:08:00 +0000

After a few days of almost summery weather,the winter chill is descending on Manhattan today. I got my wool winter coats from the cleaners today and received the new down coat I ordered yesterday. I guess you could say I'm over the denial and anger stages, and have now come to accept that it's winter again.

If there's one thing keeping my spirits up despite the plummeting temps, it's the idea of cozying up in a beautiful glamorous fur. This fox fur jacket by Pologeorgis at Saks is super cute and only $500.

Ok fine, for me and my rapidly rising credit card bill, "only" and "$500" don't really belong in one sentence together. But if you've got better finances than me, you gotta admit this is a good price for a fur. And here's a great deal to motivate you: from today, October 23 through Sunday, November 1, Saks on Fifth Avenue in New York will give you 25% off a woman's or men's coat, fur, or men's suit if you donate a gently worn coat or men's suit to One Warm Coat, an organization that has donated over a million coats to people in need. For more information, call 212.753.4000 or visit The Fur Salon on Two Women's Outerwear on Four Men's Suits and Outerwear on Six and Seven.

Talk about getting that warm and fuzzy feeling!

hora feliz at tapeo 29

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0000

We discovered an amazing happy hour spot a couple of weeks ago thanks to our favorite Irish man, Conor. He celebrated his birthday at Tapeo 29, a cool little tapas spot on the Lower East Side. This place has a wicked happy hour every day, from 6 - 8 PM on weekdays and 5 - 7 PM on weekends. Check out the massive sangria, which comes in a Bordeaux glass. Good stuff and only $5!

There are also some super delish tapas for just $3 and $5. The pan con tomate is not worth the calories, in my opinion. Spring for the $5 tapas and enjoy the super tasty chorizo al sidra, which combines savory and sweet from the chorizo being roasted in apple cider.

If you're lucky like we were, maybe the tapa for the day will be the mejillones en chimichuri. I can never get enough of mussels, and having them seasoned with chimichuri is a nice new twist. I could've had two plates of those, seriously.

The one drawback for me is that Tapeo 29 is pretty far east in the Lower East Side for me to go there constantly. But if you're in the area, this is definitely one not to miss.

Tapeo 29 is located at 29 Clinton Street (on the corner of Stanton Street), New York, NY. Tel. 212-979-0002

hoodies

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:31:00 +0000

I'm on the hunt for a comfy hoodie to wear under my leather biker jacket. Yesterday, while I was waiting for my skim no-whip mocha at Starbucks, I spied this very cool looking, modelesque blonde wearing a gray heathered hoodie underneath a battered leather jacket. She looked so cool.

Since I'm not 6 feet tall though, I'd like a more snug fit on my hoodie. The dream hoodie would be this plush cashmere hoodie from J.Crew:

I wish it cost a little less that $198 ... maybe it's worth the investment? Maybe I should try Uniqlo, they might have some cheaper options. I remember Uniqlo was the first place I saw a cashmere hoodie back in 2006. They have some pretty affordable cashmere options. Speaking of Uniqlo, if you're determined to waste a Sunday doing unproductive things like I am, their website can suck away a good ten minutes of your life with this. You'll see 1000 Japanese folks wear Uniqlo hoodies in different ways. Kinda fun. I thought of it more as research on what to pack for my upcoming trip to Japan (woot! woot!).

Well that's about all I've got for today. Back to my coffee, couch and Sex and the City reruns! Happy Sunday!

random thoughts on a freezing saturday

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 02:40:00 +0000

I felt like I was on a rollercoaster for the last three weeks. There were some massive ups and downs in my personal life, work was non-stop and frenetic, and partying was almost at fever pitch. I alternated between exhiliration and exhaustion on a daily basis. Today Mika left for the US Open, and I had my first free Saturday in awhile. I decided I needed a full day of doing nothing just to regroup. I only stepped out to grab a coffee and a pizza slice, but pretty much just vegged out and watched practically every show I'd recorded on my DVR. It was good ...

Now I'm catching up on my favorite blogs and leisurely browsing the Internet. I'd forgotten how wonderful aimless Internet use can be! So forgive me if today's blog post is a bit random. It's my day off ...

Random thought #1: I love this picture of Olivia Palermo by The Sartorialist. I haven't watched enough of The City to dislike her. I just find her incredibly striking, and this picture makes me want to put on a blazer and poufy little skirt. And extend my legs drastically.

Random thought #2: Is anybody else bothered by this Fendi skunk fur bag? I'm terribly disturbed by it. If I saw this on someone's arm, I might just freak out and throw something at her. I do like fur, but skunk fur?? Pepe le pew. And you want me to pay a little under 2 grand for that? You. Have. GOT. To. Be. Kidding. Me.

Random thought #3: A sweater coat like this one from Anthropologie would be so awesome for my wardrobe. Cozy but tailored and chic. Love.

Mmmm ... that's about it for now. I gotta go to bed before my craving for bacon and garlic rice drags me to the kitchen for a midnight snack. Good night dearies, hope you had a cozy Saturday like I did!

Love,

the back room

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Images via New York Magazine

Last week we stumbled into yet another very cool speakeasy on the Lower East Side. The Back Room has got to have the sketchiest entrance yet of all the speakeasies I've visited so far. You have to go down a flight of stairs from the street level into an ominous-looking alley. Let's put it this way: if you were brought here by someone you didn't know very well, your heart will probably hammer in your chest, in fear that you're in danger of getting whacked. But walk a few more meters and you'll see another flight of stairs and the false facade of a toy store. Climb up the stairs, push open the door with a peephole, and you'll find yourself in a whole other world.

I loved the lush interiors, with its mirrored bar, crystal chandeliers, velvet sofas and loveseats, copper ceilings, and paintings of nude nubiles. The cocktails, served in teacups prohibition era-style, were fantastic, as well. Our favorite was the Bee's Knees, which is a classic Prohibition cocktail. I don't recall the exact mix used at The Back Room but Bee's Knees is generally a mixture of gin, honey and lemon jazzed up at times with some lavander blossoms. It is delish! This would be an excellent date place—though guys, you might want to wait until the third date because if she's never been here and doesn't quite trust you yet, she just might knee you in the b*lls in fear that you're trying to kill her. Seriously.

I've heard that it can get crowded here on the weekends, but on a Thursday night it's quite calm without being totally dead. I found out later that there is another hidden bar within this hidden bar, accessed through a moving bookshelf and only for VIPs. I just might have to come back just to see just how difficult it is to sneak in there ...

The Back Room is located at 102 Norfolk Street between Rivington and Delancey, New York, NY.

paper cuts

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:20:00 +0000

The last thing I'd want on a crazy workweek like this is a papercut ... unless it's Made by Julene.

You can get ready-made pieces from Julene's Etsy shop for $95 or commission a custom-made piece starting at £185. Just some pretty eyecandy to get us through the day!

warehouse sale alert: john varvatos

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:03:00 +0000

A little birdie named Sophie told me about an upcoming John Varvatos Warehouse Sale! Prices will be radically slashed, with 90% off on pieces from the 2008-2009 John Varvatos Design Collection and the John Varvatos USA* Collection, full range of sportswear, tailored clothing, suits, trousers, sweaters, knits, dress shirts, soft luxury coats & jackets in leather and cashmere; bags, belts & ties. With Christmas fast approaching, I definitely want to hit the sale up to get a little something for the men in my life. Mika loves John Varvatos, so this would be a great place to get him a lil something.

The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on October 23 and 24. The locations is Metropolitan Pavilion, 4th floor, 123 W. 18th St, New York, NY 10011. Admittance will be by RSVP only, so see the flyer below for more information!

dbgb

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:22:00 +0000

"Why does this place only get two stars?" Mika asked in disbelief last night, while our party massacred several burgers at Daniel Bouloud's new downtown establishment, DBGB. He was in utter disbelief at the injustice wrought by online critics on this place, which has had us dreaming of juicy beef patties tucked snugly into a toasted brioche bun with scrumptious pork belly confit and crisp bacon since our first visit last week.

"Maybe," I said, "the people who gave those reviews secretly love this place and just want to make sure they can always get a table here."

Our friend Foster, who kept his eyes closed in rapture after taking his first bite of the Monster Frenchie (the aforementioned burger/pork belly wonder except with TWO beef patties—hence the "Monster" moniker), said, "I would totally do that."

Okay I'm sure that some online critics actually have very valid reasons for disliking DBGB, but after two visits to DBGB, we have not found any. The beer selection is solid. There are 22 craft beers on tap originating from Brooklyn to Dusseldorf that will satisfy every beer craving, whether it's for a light white beer, a crisp and hoppy lager, or a satisfying oatmeal stout.

The dishes we've tried so far have been wonderful. On our first visit, we tried the escargots with persillade custard, tomato, almonds & mushrooms ($14). It's something like a deconstructed escargot tart (if such a thing exists). The plump snails and juicy roasted tomatoes sit on a bed of parsley-infused custard, and are accompanied by crisp filo puff pastry. I do love the classical preparation of escargots but this was very good as well. Last night we flirted with beef bone marrow seasoned with pickled mustard seeds and garlic, and served with a few slivers of Katz's famous pastrami, some watercress, and rye bread toast ($11). The seasoning was a bit overpowering to me as I do love just plain old bone marrow, but it was still quite a treat and I would come back for more. DBGB also offers a hefty selection of sausages. I'm not sure which one we had last night but it was so good that I'd definitely want to try more.

What I appreciate most about this place is the great service. Everyone from the bartenders to the runners are just impeccable. That's something that's not always easy to come by in this neck of the woods. I also love the interiors of this place, which tell so many stories. Copper pots owned by star chefs adorn the shelves in the main dining area, while the bar's mirrored walls are etched with funny quotes from celebrities and gastronomes. Given a choice, I would always eat at the bar. They have these super comfy bar chairs for two (great date place!), and you never have to wait for your beer. Definitely coming back here again and again and again ...

DBGB is located at 299 Bowery between Houston and 1st Street, New York, NY. Tel. (212) 933.5300

michael kors watches

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:21:00 +0000

Sorry I've been off the air for a week. I've been slammed at work, and had some personal issues over the weekend and was just not up for blogging. With a little bit of yoga and forced laughter, however, I'm starting to feel better. So back to blogging!

How is it that I never noticed the gorgeous watches Michael Kors makes?? Is all this awesomeness a recent development? I just adore these new chronos with tortoiseshell- and horn-esque bracelets. How cool are they? I am especially dying for the the tortoiseshell one ...

I'm tempted to go a bit more classic with a plain gold watch. I've been watching loads of Rachel Zoe Project (my new guilty pleasure) and have been wanting to accessorize a la Zoe: with a big gold watch and piles of gold bracelets on my wrists. The Michael Kors watch below would certainly do the trick, don't you think? And that black enamel watch ... ohhhh how tough and sexy!

The best part about these watches is the price: $195! Not bad right? Maybe I'll get this as an early Christmas present for myself ...

umi nom for typhoon ondoy victims

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Dear Readers, if you live in New York and are looking for more ways to help the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in Manila, there will be a special benefit brunch and dinner at Umi Nom on October 11, 2009. Some generous Filipino chefs in New York are banding together for this event, which will raise money for the San Antonio Parish Youth. This is one way you can help and also be sure that the money goes straight to those in need, foregoing any bureaucratic red tape.

Brunch is from 2pm-5:30pm (last seating at 3:30) and costs $75. Dinner is from 7pm-10:30pm (last seating at 8:30) and costs $100.

Of course, it is a perfectly valid point that you might as well give all of the money you would otherwise spend on the meal to those in need. For me though, I think of it as more like if I'm going to go out and share a nice meal with friends or my boyfriend that weekend anyway, then I'll just go to Umi Nom so that I can do some good while enjoying a great meal. In other words, if I'm going to spend good money on eating out during the weekend, then might as well spend my money at the fundraiser, right?

I'm not sure yet who the other participating chefs will be, but I assume Chef King Phojanakong is one. This Filipino-Thai chef is the man behind Umi Nom and Kuma Inn, the Lower East side tapas establishment I love going to (Incidentally, Tyra Banks is apparently also a fan of this Asian tapas joint). I've been meaning to check out Umi Nom so this is a great reason to do so.

Please feel free to pass this information along! The flood victims need all the help they can get.

Umi Nom is located at 433 DeKalb Avenue between Classon Avenue and Taaffe Place, Brooklyn, NY. Tel. (718) 789-8806

Images via Time Out NY

hp mini 110 by studio tord boontje

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:42:00 +0000

It's a little harder to blog these days, when all I can seem to think about are the victims of the flood back home. It seems inappropriate to talk about spectacular meals and shopping desires when there are people back home who have literally lost everything ... but the blog can't just freeze, so I guess for now I'll talk about things that I find both beautiful and relevant.

I've been thinking of getting a small laptop since I am hoping to go back to school next year. I'm planning on doing graduate school in the evenings while continuing to work full time during the day, so it would make writing papers and keeping up with schoolwork much easier if I have a laptop that I can carry around in my bag. My top candidate right now is the new HP Mini 110 by Studio Tord Boontje:

I love Tord Boontje's work, and I've been lusting after this garland shade that he designed for over a year now. Maybe the HP Mini is a more useful investment.

What I like about this product is its environment-friendly slant. The packaging and user guides are made 100% from recycled materials and printed with soy-based ink. The intricate design of the cover shows endangered animals like the polar bear, blue whale and red squirrel, raising awareness about their plight. I have to say that I wish HP would go a step further and donate a portion of profits to a wildlife conservation fund. The environment-friendly angle that they currently have, while still commendable, seems a bit half-baked.

The product does not seem to be available yet, but I saw it on the window of Lord & Taylor two weeks ago because they're doing some promotional thing with HP. It is really lovely in person. And check out how small it is! Just use the sunglasses as a point of reference.

It weighs just 2.68 pounds, and is just a little over an inch thick. The screen measures 10.1 inches and the keyboard is at 92% of the standard size, which is fine by me and my 11-year-old sized hands. HP boasts that this mini uses 3D PC surface technology (a first), which is why the layers of design appear to float on the cover. So pretty. The best part, I feel, is that this version has a pretty good price at $399 (compared to the Vivienne Tam version that I am still lusting over, which was priced at $699). Maybe I'll finally get a Tord Boontje piece one of these days ...

please help

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:23:00 +0000

I woke up on Saturday to the news that my hometown, Manila, was submerged in the worst flooding the city has seen in four decades. Thankfully, my relatives in Manila are safe, and our home there was spared from the flood. But it was staggering to see how it could've easily not been so. Our family's ancestral home, the home I grew up in, was submerged in flood waters all the way to the roof. On Facebook, I watched friends' status updates with horror as they listed names of people who were trapped on their rooftops and on the higher floors of homes for days with dwindling food and water supplies. Just to give some perspective on how bad these floods were, Hurricane Katrina dumped over an inch of rainfall in Louisiana for 3 hours and another 0.5 inches per hour over the next 5 hours on August 29, 2005. Tropical Storm Ketsana dumped an average of 2.24 inches per hour for six hours over the Metropolis.

One way to help from outside the Philippines is to make a donation to Red Cross through this website. I'm trying to find a more direct way to help. I've heard that Filipinos are mobilizing in New York to get relief goods together to send back to the Philippines, so I'll try to help through that group. I'm appealing to readers to please do what you can to help as well.

See the following articles to read up on the tragedy that has befallen Manila:

TIME

CNN

BBC

an epic day

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:02:00 +0000

What a truly amazing day yesterday was. In the morning, I watched President Barack Obama address the General Assembly at the United Nations for the first time.

His speech just gave me so much hope that maybe people can decide that maybe they would rather be "defined by what they stand for" and not what they "stand against." That maybe the powers that be will forego grandstanding for making actual sweeping changes that'll make the world a bit of a better place.

As if that wasn't enough, at the end of the day, I got to watch U2 perform at the Giants Stadium. I have always said that U2 is the one concert that I must see before I die. I love U2. I've always loved Bono but now that I work in the diplomatic community, I love him even more.

Last night was undoubtedly one of the best nights of my life. I have been dreaming of jumping up and down to "Elevation" and "Vertigo", of feeling deep fervor over "Sunday Bloody Sunday", of experiencing the throbbing emotion of "With or Without You" for so long. It was surreal to finally experience it last night.

Truly the definition of an epic day. I'm still in awe of how fortunate I am.

halston

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Love, love, love these ethereal dresses by Halston for Spring/Summer 2010. What more could a girl want from a summer dress than flowy white fabric, delicate gold beading, and simply flattering lines? I want all three!

*sigh*

naeem khan

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Truth be told, since I shifted careers last year, I haven't been paying as much attention as I used to to the NY fashion world. I didn't really check out what went on in the tents until today when I needed a break from studying for GREs and cooking chili. I guess that these days, fashion is just one other thing I love indulging in (as much as say, a great meal, a masterfully made cocktail, or a fantastic vacation), but I refuse to live my life for it anymore. That said, there are still some things that make my heart skip a beat.

These beautiful gowns by Naeem Khan just made me swoon. No intellectualizing, no groundbreaking silhouettes, just plain old beautiful clothing. I would kill for the gown in the middle, seriously.

At the end of the day, I don't need or want to make an earth-shattering statement with my clothing. I just want to look beautiful! Thank you for understanding that Naeem Khan.

public

noreply@blogger.com (The Chiconomist Celine) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000

On Johan and Lucie's last night in New York, we had a wonderful dinner at Public. I took Johan there on one of his trips to NY last year and we ended up eating at the bar because the restaurant was packed. This time, we made a reservation, though the restaurant was noticably emptier. Whether it was because of the economy or the fact that it was a rainy Friday evening, I guess we'll never know. It's not because of the food, that's for sure, as Public apparently received it's first Michelin star this year.

In any case, we went straight for the entrees that night. Being the experimental freak that I am, I knew what I wanted to order immediately: Snail and oxtail ravioli with pickled shiitake mushrooms, oven dried tomatoes, peashoots and smoked paprika oil ($24.50).

In all honesty, I was a bit disappointed. I love snails, whether it's escargot soaked in buttery, garlicky goodness or the Filipino preparation of ginataang kuhol where the snails are swimming in spicy coconut milk. In this preparation, I could not taste the snails at all. What this dish tasted like to me was beef brisket stuffed into a dumpling. I've had beef brisket soup with peashoots and noodles in many Chinese restaurants, and this was what this dish tasted like to me. I suppose this was meant to be a play on that, since Public serves "Australasian" cuisine after all. All that said, I ate every single bite willingly.

Lucie seemed very happy with her roast lamb sirloin on crispy goats cheese polenta with saffron braised baby vegetables and harissa aioli ($27). I've had this dish before and it's quite yummy, especially with the lovely shiraz we enjoyed. My beef with this dish was the crispy polenta, since I do prefer mine creamy (hello, Bottega's lovely polenta under glass). But Lucie loved the crispy goat cheese flavored polenta, and I can't say anything bad about that nicely medium rare lamb sirloin.

Both times I went here, I wanted to kick myself for not ordering fish because Johan did both times and practically swooned over his food. I'm such a carnivore, but next time I should give fish a chance. I'm not 100% sure, but I think Johan ordered the Australian barramundi with vanilla celeriac puree, braised garlic greens, verjus and muscat grape sauce ($28). I would definitely order that next time. I mean, muscat grape sauce? Uh, yum!

The high point of our meal, however, turned out to be dessert. The great thing about skipping apps is that you leave enough room for dessert and don't feel (too) guilty getting one each. Johan's choice was definitely the best of the bunch: Strawberry shortcake with candied almonds and amaretto mascarpone.

That, my friends, is a wonderful use of $9. Do have it if you get the chance. The strawberries drunk on amaretto, the cream, the crunchy candied almonds, and the delicious shortcake is just heaven.

My dessert paled in comparison, I must admit, but I loved it anyway. I had the salted milk chocolate mousse with tahini ice cream and sesame candy ($9). I do not have much of a sweet tooth and often tire of chocolate after a few bites (yes, I am a strange creature). But make the chocolate a tad salty, and I'm all over it. This dessert is not for everyone. But if you're one of those people who can eat chocolate and potato chips at the same time, give this a whirl.

Our final dessert was Lucie's choice: Roasted peach, buttermilk panna cotta, peach ginger soup and blueberry gelée ($9). This is totally my kind of dessert. I have a friend who doesn't think fruits belong on her desserts (or is it just berries Ludette?) but I am the exact opposite. I looooove fruits on my desserts. I just loved the lightness of the panna cotta paired with the crunchy topping. The sweet peach with a hint of ginger was a nice twist too. The blueberry gelée I could take or leave, but I suppose it made it all look prettier.

My one complaint about my experience was that I got attacked by mosquitoes under the table! I was wearing tights and those pesky devils managed to get through. Even so, I would definitely like to come back, especially to try their brunch. I've heard interesting things about coconut pancakes, a venison burger on a miso bun, and vanilla brioche French toast with some of that delightful amaretto mascarpone and fresh basil. Must wake up for that one of these weekends!

Hope you're having a great Sunday with a nice brunch, hot coffee, fresh OJ, and no chores!

Public is located at 210 Elizabeth Street between Prince and Spring Streets, New York, NY. Tel. 212.343.7011