Kumo Sushi

Someone once said, "variety is the spice of life" and to be totally honest, I don't know who said it. I also do not really know what that really means, since taken out of context it can mean just about anything. Ok, I'll stop playing dumb and make this a bit educational. The actual quote is, "Variety's the spice of life, that gives it all its flavour." This quote comes to us from English poet William Cowper and it's a perfect fit for Kumo Sushi.

I know a lot of people cringe when they hear of buffets or the term "all you can eat" but I offer the following thoughts: 1 - not all buffets are created equally (read: while some buffets may in fact be sketchy, there are others that are bigger and better and certainly worth your attention. 2 - you do not need to go to Vegas to enjoy a good buffet. 3 - Just because the buffet is in Vegas, doesn't make it all that special. Trust me, I've had my fair share and they can be brutal.

Kumo Roll (L), Spicy Salmon Roll (R)

Anyway, that's enough digressing. Let's focus on the subject at hand, Kumo Sushi (72nd St between Columbus and Amsterdam). More importantly, let's focus on the fact that they offer an all you can eat sushi option for about $27 which naturally intrigued me from afar. After drawing me in and perusing their extensive menu, I was impressed by the value they were offering since there are a number of specialty rolls that can be had as part of this special (some specialty rolls have a menu price of $8-15 and it's important to point out that these rolls are delivered fast, fresh, and at full size - since some places will scale back the size of dishes in these prix fixe type situations.)

Diamond Roll with a side of eel

The photo at left is of the Kumo Roll, having carte blanche to eat just about any roll on the menu, I figured I had to try their namesake and it was an excellent choice. The shrimp tempura was light and delicious and the eel/avocado pairing at top was full of flavor. I also kicked things off with the spicy salmon roll and wish I had another sitting beside me as I type up this review. I also wish I had one of these diamond rolls, partly because it just looks nice and reminds me of the winter and partly because it just tasted so good and I'm quite hungry right now.

I'm not sure how things were way back when and I'm not a big fan of delivery (especially pizza and sushi is a close 2nd!) but I can tell you that if you venture to the UWS for some really good sushi, Kumo will hit the spot. If you are foodventurous and want to try a bunch of different rolls, go for the AYCE option. If your appetite is not that hearty, there are a couple of lunch special options that may fit the bill and fill your belly.

Rating - 4.5/5 - I do enjoy a good buffet and this, while not typically a buffet, is a good AYCE. I found it to be fresh food and a really good value for my food dollar. I also would like to point out that I almost took a full day vacation from eating after visiting Kumo!

Their site - I can't seem to find one so I'll give you this information instead. 165 West 72nd Street, New York, NY 10023 (212) 580-5900. That's a short walk from the 1, 2, 3 line which stops right at the corner of 72nd. Now you have no excuses not to go and enjoy yourselves!

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Corey's Catsup and Mustard

I liked this glass. It held my water.

On The Road....Manchester, CT aka Burger Apathy, Part 2
I was driving through CT on my way back home and it was a sucky rainy day. I thought to myself, "Self, this sucks. What better than a cheeseburger or two to make things better?" I debated, do I go with the classic, tried and true Louis Lunch? Or do I try something new to give y'all a new review? I honestly wasn't feeling too adventurous to do both so I just opted for something new. My search for "Best Burger Hartford" quickly yielded some names that I've recognized and I settled on Corey's Catsup and Mustard in Manchester, CT.

Their burger list is pretty extensive and my decision was not going to be easy. After much deliberation my stomach and eyes were in agreement that Auntie Annie's Laurie's was the burger for me.This particular burger features: Auntie Laurie's House-Made Blue Moon Mustard, horseradish cheddar, pretzel bun, bacon, lettuce, tomato. How good does that sound?? I was literally salivating while I waited for this creation to arrive.

The burger, (at left) with bacon, cheddar, and all that other good stuff was presented nicely. The bun, was so inviting with it's golden brown glow. Seriously, look at it. Stare at it. How good does that bun look? Now gaze at that mountain of accoutrements on top of the burger, I vote yum yums.

Looks can be deceiving, don't judge a book by its cover, etc. etc. All those cliches exist because they are true. Now how can the masterpiece at left go awry? Well, let's start with flavor. The burger was ordered rare and served medium-well (honestly anything beyond the reddish-pink is well done in my brain) and as we've learned, I have two bugaboos when ordering a burger. Let's recap.

1. I'm not going to tell you how I want it cooked. You're going to ask me.
2. If you ask me how I want it cooked, deliver. It's not hard. If this is your first burger ever then maybe you get a hall pass but I am not coming to eat your first burger ever. Am I?

Just above my thumb is a scant amount of mustard...see it?

So the waitress asks me how I want it cooked and I say, "rare" with all the thickness of my BK accent. I'm assuming it was not lost in translation. Seriously though, allow me a moment to praise my waitress. Was it Corey or Kori (I didn't get the proper spelling but she was nice, friendly, attentive, and very helpful. She earned a very generous tip even though (SPOILER ALERT!!!) I was VERY disappointed with this burger.

There was nothing redeemable about this burger. The burger itself was so overdone and there was almost no mustard to speak of. I needed something to moisten this beast and debated dunking it into my water. I refrained and kept chewing and chewing until I hit mustard! EUEREKA! It was like 1849 all over again though the mustard rush was very short lived. It was gone in a flash and I was back to my dry, overdone burger. That bacon...oh bacon. I love you so much and I hate seeing you treated so cruelly. I apologize that you had to be torched to a wooden texture and I apologize that I had to eat you like that. I promise to never do it again.

My review - 1/5 - Overcooked. Dry burger, beyond crispy and flavorless bacon, enough lettuce for a side salad, and barely enough mustard to cover the tip of my finger.

Their Site - http://www.catsupandmustard.com/


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Burger Bros

On The Road....Towson, MD aka Burger Apathy, Part 1**
Just up the road from Towson University you can find Burger Bros, a burger joint that has been making a lot of noise in the local foodmunity (that's food community, I just invented it). I was recently in MD for the holidays and would like to report on a number of stops I made while there. First on the menu is Burger Bros., located at 14 Allegheny Avenue Towson, MD 21204

Their burger is described as, "6 whoppin’ oz. of hand-packed Fresh Ground Angus Beef charbroiled to perfection and served on a bun." Now, if perfection means charred to death, then this is Burger Heaven and I'm Saint Paul. I was a bit alarmed when I saw the flames from the grill shooting up about four feet high for a good twenty seconds. At that point I knew my burger was torched beyond belief and just not edible for someone like me who prefers his burger closer to it's living state.

The burger, (at left) with bacon, cheese, and sauteed mushrooms looks good enough. The bun, however, serves as a warning sign. Now I love me a lightly toasted bun and was happy to see them toasting the bun...until it turned black on the edges. I was already leery enough from the aforementioned flame show.

The Bros also serve up grilled chicken sandwiches (the thought kinda scares me) along with wings (we sampled the honey bourbon) and fries. The wings were ok. They were overcooked, which should come at no surprise, and that was unfortunate because I really enjoyed the sauce. The fries, well, as you know by now I'm not a guy that typically orders fries but if there are fries there I will try them. I really liked the fries here, natural cut and they were not overcooked (YAY!)

In all, I'm really not sure what the hype is surrounding this place. I know the area quite well and I know there are a lot of good (read better) burger options in the area.

My review - 1/5 - Way overcooked, not cooked to order. Dried out burger and overcooked wings. An overall experience that was barely salvaged by the fries

Their Site - http://burgerbrosburgers.com/ (coming soon at the time this is written) but you can click through to their menu from here.


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**Remember friends, if there's a part 1 there's sure to be a part 2! 

Dunn-Gaherin's

Dubliner - Ham, Cheese, Egg Salad with home made slaw

On the road...Newton, MA
Nestled in the Boston suburb of Newton, MA is Dunn-Gaherin's, an Irish Pub that has one of the best burgers I've had all year. While I was trying to figure out how Dunn-Gaherin's, which is located not far from where I once lived, has eluded me for the past decade-plus, I got excited at the prospects of finding a new burger spot in a very familiar neighborhood.

I browsed the menu and found the perfect burger for me, the Dubliner. Going full throttle in showing off my Irish Pride, the Dubliner was calling me like a stalker at 3am. Smokehouse ham, cheddar cheese, and egg salad?!? I've never seen a pairing like this before and I cannot tell you just how good this burger is and it's all because of the house-made egg salad.

It's important to point out that the sirloin was fresh, not frozen and it was cooked to perfection. Rare and pink and delicious. The size of the bun is on point. It's the perfect amount of dough to hold this burger up but not be overwhelming. And the egg salad. Wow! Who knew? I'd also like to point out that the home made slaw was really, really good. I was somewhat forced into the slaw because everything I read told me that I had to try the eggplant fries and sho' 'nuff I was there on an afternoon where they were all out of eggplant fries. It worked out for the best, I think, because this slaw was on point and I'd order a bowl of that on any future visit.

Rare. Perfect!

I'd also point out that the staff was amazing and they deserve a thumbs up as well! To get great food and amazing service is unfortunately not as common as it should be. I'd also love to point out this little anecdote. When the manager saw my burger, she actually intercepted it to confirm that I wanted such a rare burger. I told her it was perfect for me and I was so happy that they got it right. You'd be amazed at how many of the "best" burger joints cannot seem to cook a rare burger, rare.

Rating - 5/5 - Just on the Dubliner alone it's a perfect score. Add the staff to the mix and it might be a 10!

Their site - http://www.dunngaherins.com/index.html and their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dunn-Gaherins/55743493327?ref=search

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Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street's exterior looks as if the restaurant was plucked right out of the French Quarter and dropped right into midtown Manhattan. I really appreciated the rustic look of the building, complete with the gas lamps on the exterior. Last week I tweeted that we were hitting the road for Bourbon Street, located at 346 West 46^th Street in the heart of NYC. I reviewed the menu before my visit and had a plan as to what I was going to eat. For those that do not know, I am a big fan of the Big Easy so I was equal parts intrigued and skeptic. I was ready to grab a burger and a po' boy, needing both because I simply could not decide which I wanted so I figured why not have the best of both worlds?

Bourbon Street's Double Gator Burger

Shortly after my tweet, they tweeted back and suggested that I order the special "Double Gator Burger" and I was quickly convinced that this was the way to go! I cannot express how happy I was that they suggested I go this way. The gator was so juicy and had great flavor and spice. I'm not sure how often this is a special but I can tell you that if you are there and you see it on the special menu, get it and you will not be let down! Loyal readers will also know that I am not much into french fries but these fries are really, really good. They're thick, crunchy, and generously seasoned and provide a perfect compliment to this awesome burger. To steal a tag line from a popular 80's cartoon, this burger is "truly outrageous!"

Creole Red Beans And Rice

But Bourbon Street is not just about the burger. There's a wide variety of po' boys, appetizers, and drinks. I was fortunate enough to sample both the Creole Red Beans and Rice and the Chicken and Andouille Gumbo and both of these really hit the spot! Generous portions that exploded with flavor and I was impressed with the generous amounts of andouille and chunks of chicken in the gumbo.

Rating - 4.5/5 - this place is on point. Why not a 5? Well, I think the dessert menu was missing a couple of NoLA staples - No beignets? No bananas foster? Beyond that, this place is on point!

Their site - http://www.bourbonny.com/index.aspx - as referenced earlier, they are also very active on the different social networking sites so be sure to hit them up today to find out about what's coming out the kitchen! They're also very active on Twitter so be sure to follow them @BourbonNY

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And for more on that tagline, click here for the full intro video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSLhrIuAZak 


UPDATE! We received a tweet over the weekend stating that Beignets are back in town at Bourbon Street. Thanks to @BourbonNY for keeping us in the loop. We'll be there soon to try 'em!

G&A Restaurant

G&A Menu

On The Road....Baltimore, MD

With the holiday season wrapping up, no pun intended (or was it?), it's important to include the food exploits that have been a part of my 10 pound increase and adoption of a second chin (it's a seasonal accessory, I swear). Rolling down I-95 and hitting up Baltimore, MD for a hot dog joint that is about to celebrate it's 75th anniversary on Eastern Ave. Any small business that can last for 75 years gets a big thumbs up in my book. Any restaurant that can still serve up great food to large crowds on a daily basis is even more impressive. So here we are with the Charm City Edition of 5BFG.

I have family members that grew up within ten minutes of G&A and they all swear that nothing has changed for as long as they can remember and that is not just the food but also the interior. Walking into G&A is equivalent to walking into the old fashioned luncheonettes that I barely got to know as they mostly faded away from the Brooklyn landscape during my youth.

Let's get back to business, shall we? It's said that the dogs are just as good as they always were, the chili just as delicious. For me, I can only judge recent visits and I can tell you that this place is simply amazing. Now I know many of my NY readers will make the occasional run down to Baltimore and I implore you to find your way to G&A for some chili dogs and chili burgers.

Burger and two dogs with LOTS of chili!

The dogs are a good size. They're not huge but they're definitely worth the price, especially with the chili and onions. I know, I know. I keep harping on this chili but it is just so good you have to try it to understand. It's also important to add that the chili really serves to enhance the flavor of the dogs rather than overpowering them.

Rating - 4.5/5 - It's not just a slice of Americana and a healthy dose of nostalgia served up at G&A. It's great food at very reasonable prices. The chili is worth the price of admission and I'd suggest putting some in your pocket for your ride home! The owner is a really nice guy and I think he just might oblige.

Their site - http://www.gandarestaurant.com/
*With the above menu photo, you have the address, phone number, and hours of operation. Let it never be said that I don't take care of you.

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Beard Papa

Beard Papa Himself

Frequent readers have been inundated with a run on burgers and pizza, two of my favorites. However those that know me can attest that I have quite the sweet tooth (and not one cavity to speak of - and I'm knocking on my wooden tooth to not jinx things).

Lets rewind a bit, we'll call this (non acid induced) flashback: Giant White Man in Tokyo. In this episode, the giant white man is played by me and Tokyo is played by itself, after all whom can play a city? To say I had much of a clue as to where I was while in Tokyo is an understatement, however thanks to a good friend we were able to navigate our way around the city and take in the sights. One pleasant surprise was the bearded man himself! Fear not my friends, while I know my recent reviews have taken me on the road I'm only adding the presence of Beard Papa in Tokyo as an anecdote. HOWEVER! If you are a true die hard and find yourself in Tokyo, give Papa a taste of the best cream puffs your Yen can buy.

Where we were? Ah yes, puffs. On the east coast we have only two locations to choose from and since one is over in Fort Lee, NJ we'll leave that out of the mix and set our sights on 2167 Broadway, the home of Mr. Papa. When I say that this is the best cream puff ever, I mean it. It's the best cream puff ever. Don't believe me? What's it say on their site? Ahem, "World's Best Cream Puff." That's good enough for me. Oh sure lil' Miss Skeptic, don't believe me or them. Go there and give it a try for yourself and fear not, I'll save room on the bandwagon.

Three good reasons to try Beard Papa's today!

1. You think those frozen, pre-made cream puffs are good and you're upset that your freezer is now void of said puffs. Consider this your lucky day because Papa's Puffs are much, much better.
2. They say they are the best. I know the p.c. police do not like such bombastic statements but I do. I especially like these claims when the claimant can back it up the way the bearded one can.
3. How can you say no to that gnome?

But what makes them so good? I say the secret is nestled in Papa's magical beard. Or maybe it's the pipe? In truth, the pastry is fresh, light, flaky and delicious. The cream, not too sweet and just right. The end result, the best puff ever! And they are always filled to order and never just sitting around filled with cream to get all soggy for you.

Rating - 5/5 - I was going to go with a 10 here since it's like totally the world's best but I figured a perfect score was just as good. However, they are really better than perfect so maybe I should stick with a 10!

Their site - http://www.muginohointl.com/

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Candlelight Inn

I'll preface this by saying this is not going to be a review, not a formal review anyway. For quite some time I've heard great things about the Candlelight Inn in Scarsdale, specifically their wings. I was in the area last week taking my mom to the doctor and I suggested that we try the Candlight for a late lunch/early dinner. It's not every day I'm in Scarsdale so this just had to happen.

Upon arrival, I checked in on Foursquare and my friend Nick hits me up and simply asks, "Chernobyl?" I answer in the affirmative and he replies "You could have just come over to my place and I would have stabbed you in the tongue." I laughed for a while and debated leaving to go get stabbed in the tongue, after all you need a baseline to determine which of these things feels worse.

Chernobyl

I knew what I wanted but for some reason, the waitress didn't believe. Or maybe it was she didn't want to serve me? Or most likely, she just didn't want to see this grown man cry. I asked for an order of 10 wings, Chernobyl. She said, "Are you sure?" Yes I'm sure. She asked again, "Why don't you just get hot wings? I can bring you some Chernobyl sauce on the side." I replied, "No thanks, I want Chernobyl." She said, "You really sure? They're so hot. 98% of the people who order them can't eat them." Yes, I'm sure.

All this talk made my mouth water. I LOVE hot food and was ready to take on these wings that share their name with a Russian nuclear disaster. Deep down, I never did question whether or not I can finish the ten wings. My own stupidity would not allow me to stop short of finishing the heat these wings could deliver. I must say these wings are HOT! They are possibly the 2nd hottest wings* I've ever eaten and my physiological reaction spoke volumes - uncontrollable tearing, sweating, red swollen lips. However, as strange as it may seem, my mouth did not feel hot. It sounds crazy and it's hard to explain but these things are so hot but it was not unbearable.  More important than the heat is the size. For under $7 I got 10 wings and look at the size of them. Big, meaty, juicy and NOT fried.

If you enjoy hot wings I'd suggest the Candlelight Inn to you. If you want to push how high you can go on the Scoville Scale, go for Chernobyl and let me know what you think.

*Note - The hottest wings I've ever eaten were at a spot just outside of Boston. I challenged that place to make them as hot as possible and when I bit into the first wing it felt like I was kicked in the teeth and my mouth went numb.

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