Totally cool day of eating and drinking and more

So last week, we bailed out of Hester Street Fair. I was stuck in inner Queens so we decided to try this Saturday.

I think we will need to wait for Grub Street to get the full effect. This was the regular fair so it was smaller. Tried and true favorites Pies and Thighs and Luke's Lobster Roll were in attendance as was Ample Hills ice cream, a New York favorite.

I tried the Salted Crack Caramel from Ample Hills Creamery which was interesting. You can taste the saltiness of the pieces of saltines and sweet of the caramel but to be honest, my heart belongs to the Salty Pimp - vanilla, dulce de leche, chocolate, and sea salt.

Afterward, we went around to Essex Street market and walked around. Some of the aisles were so small, it was rather claustrophobic to stand in. But we opted to go to Agozar's instead of staying for some sandwiches or even the dominican place across from Economy Candy because they don't have alchy!

Not-so-great Sangria

So off we went to Agozar, newly dubbed hotspot for white loud and valley sounding crowds all around! It made us resort to texting.

Vaca Frita with Eggs

Anyway, we got the brunch special which comes with a complimentary sangria or bloody mary. I got eggs benedict with Spanish ham over toast. Barb of course got the eggs over vaca frita. Normally, their service is awesome and so are their drinks. For Cinco de Mayo, it was some shaity service. Food was great, as usual. I quite enjoyed it. Then they tried to make us pay for the unlimited service brunch, which was $22 but Barb corrected them to $14.95. We just couldn't escape fat enough with all that noise.

Eggs Benedict with eggs

We walked around St. Mark's with no luck. Barb opted to drag my butt out to Brooklyn, to shop for shoes and dresses. However, I ended up buying two dresses and a short cardie. Then we walked down to Smith street and found Coco Roco. Frankly, Barb insisted upon learning that they had all sorts of Pisco drinks!

So, this is one spot where the owners care about the comfort of their patrons. There is a bar at the front on the right side as you enter and a bunch of tables on the right. There is a smaller room separated by a glassless partition, through which there is a outside patio for outside dining.

The staff is super-friendly. I didn't catch our waitress' name but she was really nice and made a really great drink. The restaurant was really nice and even charged Barb's phone which drains its battery rather quickly! (iPhone, I heart you)

Pisco Chilcano (upfront) and Pisco Sour (in the back)

We started off with a pisco sour and a pisco chilcano (oddly enough, doesn't show on the online menu). They were great - so great that I went for a pisco sour and Barb asked for a 2nd round. Just so you know, pisco sour is the traditional cocktail - made of pisco (peruvian brandy), simple syrup, lime juice, egg whites and Angostura Bitters (which seem a bit like cinnamon). My other drink - the chilcano is made of pisco, ginger ale, and lime. Both were delicious but the Pisco Sour really hit the spot at this restaurant.

Empanads and fried Yucca

As usual, we started off with one beef and one chicken empanada. They were not as seasoned as can be so we asked for the chimichurri, a lovely garlic, parsley oil sauce that goes well, with...well, everything!!

Fried Yucca, Chicken Empanada, Beef Empanada

The empanadas tasted way better filled with chimichurri sauce. Chicken was nice and tender, with a nice shell. The Beef empanada, was just as tender with crispy shell.

Chimichurri sauce - after we decimated it

After much debating, we got advice from our waitress, Barbara decided on the pescado al lo macho, a filet of red snapper with shrimp (they are willing to alter their dishes to suit your taste).  It usually comes with seafood - which is a lot of different items that Barb didn't eat so she asked for just shrimp.

Pescado al lo Macho

I decided on the Paella Coco Roco because I love paella, seafood and this dish combined both.

Paella with seafood and chorizo

This was pretty tasty on its own. I hated the green peppers but then I'm not a peppers person. This dish was just full of seafood - mussels, one clam, octopus, chorizo, 4-5 shrimp, and chopped up carrots, some corn, and string beans.

Closer view of the dish

So, of course, you know I didn't skimp on the chimichurri sauce over my paella. I know, but I will eat chimichurri sauce over toast, over empanadas, over ANYTHING non-dessert like. The chimichurri sauce kicked it up 100%. It made for just an awesome food experience. I have to say this though, because I wanted my dessert, I only ate just a bit - one-third, really. It is really quite enough food for about 2-3 people, honestly.

The restaurant loses points for not having crepes. Crepes are awesome. How can you be without dulce de leches crepes or tres leches cake?!!!!

So after being bitterly disappointed, we decided on the chocolate empanadas and flan. So, where to begin on the empanadas???

Chocolate empanadas with coconut ice cream

Be forewarned. The ice cream is coconut. They do not have vanilla or whipped cream, neither of which would have saved this dessert. The dough was too thick and a bit salty. The chocolate bled out like an cut artery. I will need to insist...do not get this dessert ever!!! It needed to be made with a sweeter dough, rolled thin, and possibly not this syrupy chocolate... I would have gone with a thicker consistency in the chocolate before frying it. I love the coconut ice cream but was not happy with the chocolate empanada. Waitress confirmed it is not one of her favorites either.

Coconut and lime flan with dulce de leche

The coconut and lime flan with dulce de leche was so good. I would have loved coconut on it but Barb is picky and doesn't eat coconut. :P But this was by far the better dessert. It was not overly sweet and the dulce de leche drizzle was delicious.

I'll still have to go to Chimu for my desserts but this place has a lot more to offer in terms of drinks, and dishes. I still say bring back the crepe!!

Ample Hills Creamery

623 Vanderbilt Ave

Brooklyn, NY 11238

tel. 347.240.3926

Hours:

Sun-Thurs: 12 pm - 10 pm

Fri-Sat: 12 pm - 11 pm

Agozar's

324 Bowery

New York, NY 10012

Tel: 212.677.6773

Hours:

Mon-Thurs:
Lunch: 12 pm - 4 pm
Dinner: 5 pm - 11 pm
Friday:
Lunch: 12 pm - 4 pm
Dinner: 5 pm - 3 am
Kitchen is open until 12 am
Sat:
Brunch: 12 pm - 4 pm
Dinner: 5 pm - 3 am
Kitchen is open until 12 am
Sun:
Brunch: 12 pm - 4 pm
Dinner: 5 pm - 10 pm


Coco Roco
139 Smith Street (Bergen & Dean St.)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
tel. 718.254.9933
Hours:
NA
Delivery hours:
Sunday to Thursday 12:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Friday and Saturday 12:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Happy Hour:
Mon-Thurs: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Another dinner at Chimu's!

Once again, I am behind on posts but as I am the only contributor and also free, you get what you paid for. Ha!
So a few weeks back, another trip back to Chimu was in order. So my BFF and I got ourselves back to the familiar intersection of Metropolitan and Union for more.

Pisco Sour, fried corns, and empanadas

As usual, Pisco Sour was the first thing we ordered along with one each of their beef and chicken empanadas. Just like the first time, they were most delicious.

Unlike last time, we did switch out the main courses.

Tallerin Verde

This time, Barb opted for the Tallerin Verde with skirt steak and more minced garlic in oil. It looked tasty and was served with potato. It seems Peruvians eat lots of carbs.

Aji de Gallina

Take for instance my own order of Aji de Gallina, which with the aji sauce over rice is just divine except there were more potatoes and rice than of the shredded chicken.

Tres Leches

Of course there were leftovers for the next day since we saved room for the dulce de leches crepe and tres leches cake. Both were extremely satisfying for my sweet tooth and sends one into sugar highs for the night.

Dulce de leches Crepe

As usual, service is quick and friendly. But I totally would come only when I feel like getting starchy foods.

Chimu Peruvian Cuisine and Steak
482 Union Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Tel. 718.349.1208
Hours:
Monday 3:00-11:00 pm
Tuesday 3:00-11:00 pm
Wednesday 3:00-11:00 pm
Thursday 3:00-11:00 pm
Friday 12:00 pm - 12:00 am
Saturday 12:00 pm - 12:00 am
Sunday 12:00-11:00 pm

Chimu...Best Peruvian ever???

So a while back, I wanted to go to Otafuku but didn't make it. However, Japan week started and I was able to go with Barb! It wasn't much but I spied Otafuku and yes, I bought takoyaki! o(^▽^)o

Takoyaki under Orange lights

It was so good and reminded me of Osaka!!! I apologize for the pic but the whole place was sooo orangey! It is a delicious ball of flour with octopus inside. Simply scrumptious!

After the octoball goodness, Barb said she was hungry and something was chanting Chimu at her so we went. (It wasn't me, I swear. Umm, yeah...Anyways.)

Chimu was already pretty packed when we got there at about 7pm. However, there were available seats and we got to sit away from a bulk of the crowd and the door.

The host was attentive as was the waiter. We got a full rundown and all of our questions were answered graciously.

Fried Corn Kernels - no flash so the color is not that great.

They automatically place their green sauce on the table. They also served fried corn kernels, salted. The fried corn was addictive and I am not sure if it was hunger or the fried saltiness of it. It was good though. 

The waiter recommended a drink not on the menu, Pisco Sour, which is made from the national Peruvian drink called Pisco, lime, syrup, egg whites and bitters. It tastes not unlike a margarita but somehow, better.

Pisco Sour

We decided to split the empanadas - one beef and one chicken.  They all look the same outside. ;)  What put this empanada over the edge was the garlic oil sauce they served with it. It tasted like something my mom makes or that a chinese place would serve with plain chicken. It really made the empanada stand out.

Empanada x 2

 The empanadas were crispy outside, filling was seasoned just right and the garlic sauce put it over the edge. It's not really a sauce but minced garlic in oil. But it was *delicious*.

Chicken on left, Beef on right. Both yummy

I ordered the regular roast chicken with rice and beans. Now, their roast chicken itself was not as yummy as their Aji Amarillo sauce. I am not saying it is bad but Pio Pio's chicken is tasty as is whereas the pieces I got weren't as tasty at Chimu's. 

Roast Chicken

The rice also was not very tasty. I really had to use the Aji Amarillo sauce which is *the best* in the city. Spectacular - right amount of heat versus tastiness.I would love to have their sauce...and other dishes when I return. :)

Rice + Beans

And here is the full dish, together one a single plate - because the table was small and we needed the space!!!

Voila - entire dish on one plate!

And just so, Barb took her time and got the Vallarin Verde With Skirt Steak, which is a basil pasta with skirt steak. The steak was lightly seasoned and cooked well. She asked for the garlic oil and poured it over the pasta. Then took the left overs home.

Vallerin verde with skirt steak and roasted potato

Of course, gluttony does not end here but finished off with dessert.

Special dessert - pumpkin fritters in brandy sauce...served only Friday, Sat, and Sunday

 Pumpkin fritters were delightful - I took the bulk home for my parents to consume and they loved it.

But our favorite was definitely the dulce de leche crepe. The crepe is served with a light fresh whipped cream which is very delicious. It was one of the most delicious items I had ever eaten. Truly delicious.

Most awesome dulce de leche crepes

This place is now a favorite and we will be back for more...

Chimu
482 Union Ave, between Conseleyea & Skillman Streets)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11211
tel. (718) 349-1208
Hours:
Mon - Sun, 10 am - 11 pm