PioPio on 10th.

The other night I was lost for a casual place in my neighborhood to have an interesting and filling dinner. I had seen the stylish PioPio sign on the wooden clad exterior of this Hell's Kitchen outpost of the Peruvian Chicken Restaurant Chain but, had never made the association with the Chicken take-out place on Woodhaven Blvd. in Queens where I used to live a decade ago. "Could it be?", I said. "Nah, can't be, " replied Alfredo as we went through the door. We were greeted by the hostess standing behind a slick marble counter. She, of course had room for two; it was 9:45 P.M. Led through a very slick bar area and down a wide staircase into a large double height dining room with walls and ceiling covered with a mesh of 4 foot long, or so, bare tree branches we were seated at a very comfortable table for 4. Offered a wine list and a Ceviche Menu, we passed and ordered a Negro Modelo and a Superior Beer. Hell, this is a chicken place. Then our waiter came over to take our order. We ordered the Empanadas to share and the Matador Combo (Whole Roasted Chicken with Rice and Beans, Tomato and Avocado Salad, Tostones and Salchipapa [Peruvian Sausage Pieces over French Fries]). Then, I asked the waiter, "Is this the same PioPio as the store in Queens?" "Our first place was on Woodhaven Blvd., " he said. Holy shit, I was right. That little Peruvian hole-in-the-wall Chicken place had spun itself into a chain of 8 including this Hell's Kitchen version of impresstaurant here on tenth ave. Well, anyway, out came the food. First, a plate of the most perfectly cooked golden Empanadas with a filling so flavorful as to give rise to a new standard for this usually simple snack. After that, and another round of beers, came the Matador Combo. Enough for at least three if not, four people, it was quite a spread. The chicken, perfectly cooked was moist and tender with a crisp Peruvian Spiced skin. The Salad was well dressed and enough for 2 as was the Rice and Beans. The Tostones were as good as any authentic Latin place in Jackson or Washington Heights. And, the Salchipapa; a basket filled with about 20 pieces of sausage on top of a mound of French Fries was, easily, a meal in itself. After that, dessert was out of the question, but, I had the Tres Leches anyway. Out came this beautiful dessert not looking anything like what I thought I ordered. But, that didn't matter. This impression of this age-old dessert topped with Caramelized Bananas (??), was just enough to top off this very filling meal. As well, Alfredo's scoop of light, refreshing Guanabana Ice Cream was perfectly flavored. We ambled home, our bellies full, satisfied that we had found another "sure thing" in our neighborhood for good eats. I can't wait to go back.

Brunch @ Essex

Headed back downtown with Alfredo today to try to get in on some of those Pancakes at the Clinton Street Baking Co., but as we rounded the corner of Clinton and Houston we noticed the enormous crowd waiting (hey, I thought all these guys down here didn't get up until 3:00!!) and decided to pass and head for brunch at Essex. Certainly not a substitute to say the least. But, really not much to say at all. Just the standard plate of ill prepared brunch slop accompanied by sort-of (3 included) all-you-can-drink Mimosas served in a dirty glass. And, this, while seated in a crowded mezzanine immersed in a cacophony of high pitched loud mouthed career girls from Ohio endlessly bitching to each other. Passed on dessert just to get out of there. Over to Momofuku Milk Bar for their soft serve Ice Cream which sadly is getting tired. The Cereal Milk flavor at this outlet was tasteless. Hope dinner is better.

Well, Let's Get Started.

Well, yesterday began with an excursion to Dinosaur Barbecue up in Harlem. My friend, Chris, came along and was very excited about this little foodie day trip. Luckily, the place wasn't too busy, so we sat right down. To tell you the truth, the place smells a bit musty. Perhaps a remnant of the building's previous use. Not sure, just a bit odd. Started out with a plate of the wings half Mild, half Hot. Not bad! At least they were big. We also ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes. They tasted right; tangy with just the right crunch. Then, on to the serious eats! We both had combination platters with Pork Ribs, Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket and Elgin Texas Sausage with side dishes of Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Baked Beans and Collard Greens and Corn Bread. Ribs were well flavored even thought they were a tad dry. Brisket and Pulled Pork tasted a bit ordinary (I feel my buddy agreed). But, that Sausage, was delicious; with just the right balance of barbecued sweetness and smokiness. Baked Beans were good (spicy), Sweet Potatoes were not sweet enough for my taste (Chris Loved 'em!!), and I hate Collard Greens (but, my friend gobbled them up). Corn Bread was moist and savory. A bit too savory for my taste, although, I always want Corn Bread to be a little piece of dessert I get along with dinner.
After paying the bill and washing ourselves up in the places roadhouse style men's room we made our way up the 90 or so steps to Riverside Drive and into my NYC Food Hauler (2009 Green BMW X5) for our trip downtown to find dessert. After seeing a mouthwatering picture of the Strawberry cake at Clinton Street Baking Co. I decided that would be the next stop. And, after finding a 2 hour parking spot on Houston St. (lucky us!!), we made a beeline to the place. Welcomed at the door by a very friendly waitress we were seated amidst a line of banquette style single tables topped with plates filled with heaping piles of glorious looking and smelling Pancakes; giant Biscuits topped with Scrambled Eggs topped with Melted Cheddar Cheese and Gravy and mounds of Hashed Brown Potatoes. But, it was 3:00 in the afternoon! Does everybody sleep this late in the East Village?? The missing Strawberry Cake (We don't have it TODAY) was replaced by about a quarter of a nine inch Chocolate and Raspberry Layer Cake which had just the right amount of moistness and sweetness not to be bland and accompanied by a delicious Cappuccino. But, for me, and for Chris, who didn't care much for the cake, dessert needed to be more.
So, off to Schiller's down the block and around the corner for the best dessert downtown; the Sticky Toffee Pudding. Never disappointing, this lovely little disc, looking not unlike an inverted cupcake and topped with a ladle full of the butteriest and sickeningly sweetest (in a good way, of course) Caramel Sauce was brought over to us with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream (to cut the sweetness, I love it!!). Slightly warmed, every bite is like this warm breath of Toffee goodness in one's mouth. Just, the best. Certainly enough to finish off this lunch. Dinner to be discussed later....