SuperBowl Snacks

The Greatest Snack Food Stadium Ever Built

A friend recently sent me a link to make this. Just thought I would share this work of art with everyone.

Ingredients:

The Field:

1 Pound of Guacamole

15 Oz. Queso Dip For The Steelers End Zone

15 Oz. Salsa For The Cardinals End Zone

2 Oz. Sour Cream for the Field Lines

The Players:

15 Vienna Sausages

Helmets - 3 Oz. Sharp Cheddar Cheese

The Goal Posts:

1 Slim Jim for Each Goal Post

1 Oz. Monterey Jack Cheddar To Anchor (each)

The Stands:

58 Twinkies

1 Pound of Bacon

1 Bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos

1 Bag of Cheetos

1 Bag of Corn Tortilla Chips

1 Bag of Chex Mix

The Blimp:

20 Oz. Football-Shaped Summer Sausage (optional) (on second thought, no, this isn't optional. Go buy one.)

TOTAL CALORIES: 24,375

TOTAL GRAMS OF FAT: 1,285

TOTAL COST: $86.47

TOTAL DELICIOUSNESS: 1 Billion trillion dude. One billion trillion.

Here is the link to see the full article.

http://www.holytaco.com/ultimate-super-bowl-snack-stadium

Kittichai- a double shot of food

Here at the J Spot we love to provide a wide variety of opinions on food. This blog post is a compilation of two separate critiques; one done by myself and the other by Hillary. We both had the opportunity to dine at Kittichai within the past week with friends, and not together. Each of our reviews is significantly different. Hope you enjoy.

Review #1

Kittichai….just another trendy NYC spot

With close friends and family anxiously awaiting the release of this blog post, the expectations are even higher than usual; my fingers are slightly shaking as I press each key. The reason for dining at Kittichai was to celebrate the 25^th birthday of our dear friend Stanley (Official J Spot Birthday shout out). Don’t get me wrong, I had an enjoyable evening, full of classic college stories, fantasy football banter and well overdue catching up with good friends, BUT the point of this blog is to review food and that’s what I intend on doing. Let’s get started.

As always, I arrived a little early to scope out the joint before the guys got there and to let the server know to add a candle to the desert for the birthday celebration. My first impression of the décor was that it wasn’t over the top, but added to the overall concept of the restaurant. Dark wood trim outlined the dining area. Dimly lit lights, fake bamboo shoots and a pond with floating candles filled the center of the room. The service was not up to my standard, as the waiter had to continually check the menu whenever we had questions. Not surprisingly, we all ordered off the restaurant week menu which makes his job even easier, but this guy still had to take a peek at the menu to double check. To his credit, every dish and drink order was brought out promptly, even the martini that was ordered from one of the guys in our party who will remain nameless. Six of us got beers and/or “manly” drinks but this one guy thought he was too cool for school. I’ll let you ponder just exactly who this mystery martini man really is.

APPETIZERS

Fried Mussels in a Thai lemongrass and ginger broth

Nothing special about this dish. I was interested to try fried mussels, because I have never heard of such a thing. When the soupy dish arrived in front of my face I was immediately disappointed in my choice and was jealous of the people who got the tuna tartar. The mussels didn’t have much of a taste because they were drenched in an overly seasoned spicy ginger sauce. The heavy flavors of lemongrass also contributed to the demise of this dish. It was doomed from the start. I would not recommend this dish, but I tried the tartar which I would recommend if you are ordering from the restaurant week menu.

ENTREES

Seafood Bouillabaisse with fresh scallops, clams and giant prawns

Another mistake on my part. I wish the waiter would have given me a little heads up that the two dishes I ordered would be served in identical sauces. Same texture, same color (I think, the lighting was very dark) but this sauce had even more kick then before, which actually made it worse. It was difficult to eat without rice to dull down the spicy flavors which were causing me to break out in a sweat. Again, the fresh seafood flavors were completely dominated by the sauce, so I didn’t get to enjoy a perfectly cooked scallop which was calling my name from the bowl. I usually am a huge fan of soups, but I don’t want TWO of them as a meal and I would have loved if the flavors had varied some more. I would not recommend this dish, but would highly recommend ordering the Short ribs which looked and tasted phenomenal.

DESSERT

Jasmine flan

This dessert was intriguing so I thought I would give it a try. I appreciate creativeness in the kitchen, especially when it comes to dessert. It was served with a side of homemade jasmine ice cream which was light in jasmine flavors, soft in texture and was a great pallet cleanser to conclude my spice-filled evening.

Kittichai is what I would refer to as “BIT” (Buddakan in Training). Their creativeness is there but the execution is lacking as some of the components of their dishes just didn’t come through as promised. Perhaps, the chef should speak with Stephen Starr and find out how Asian Fusion is really done. As you can see, I was not overly impressed with this trendy, posh NYC joint. They are a dime a dozen in this city.

	Restaurant Review Rating Scale
			Total Points Available
Food	6.5		10
Service	6.5		10
Ambiance	8.5		10
Bang for the Buck	7		10
Overall	7		10
	35.5		50

Review #2

Trendy but not over the top décor immediately gives you a sleek Asian vibe; the lighting was dim and there were a lot of deep wood colors. The water basin in the center of the room was floating with candles and there appeared to be Orchids hanging from above. I immediately liked the feel I got from this place. The wait staff was perfectly nice and never snooty making you feel uncomfortable or out of place.

To the food…

We opted for the restaurant week menu; there were enough choices to make everyone happy. I knew immediately what I was going to have; Tuna Tartar appetizer and Pineapple braised Short Ribs as an entrée. One of my dining partners decided to be a bit more adventuresome; asking the waiter for his suggestion she decided on the Thai steak salad and the Bouillabaisse. Warned against her choice by my incredible boyfriend- she took a leap of faith… and told the waiter that he better not be wrong in his suggestion!

Grade A .meing. tuna tartar, limestone tartlets, peanut, ginger and lime zest

The presentation certainly received an A+. The plate came out with what appeared to be a farmer's Hoe holding 8 mini limestone tartlets each filled with a peanut and some zest. To the right was the circular mound of Tuna Tartar which sat next to a small dish containing a dark, thick, seeded sauce; An interactive process. Place sauce and tuna inside tartlet; place in mouth; chew. Scrumptious. The crunch and buttery flavor of the tartlet went perfectly with the sauce that alone tasted as though it contained both coconut and fish sauce. Alone the sauce was not my favorite but together with the tartlet it complimented the freshness of the fish.

Northern thai beef salad, Chinese long beans and roasted sticky rice powder

Having only tasted one bite of this dish before it disappeared off the plate I can not say much more than the beef was very tasty – with a nice kick and a refreshing finish of mint.

Pineapple braised short ribs in green curry, thai eggplant and sweet basil

For someone who does not like curry, I'm not sure what I was thinking ordering this dish other than pleading distracted… by the short rib and eggplant. I am pleased that I overlooked that not-so-minor detail. This dish was good. It was presented in a bowl where two pieces of short rib, off the bone, sat in the center of a delectable green curry sauce with a few pieces of eggplant (I must've missed the sweet basil). The meat was perfectly cooked and fell apart to the touch. Alone, the meat itself could've used a few more spices but the meat was not alone. Each bite was infused with the accompanying green curry sauce that had the perfect amount of flavor and spice without being overpowering. As an eggplant lover, it would've been nice to see a few more pieces on the plate- but I didn't let that get to me.

Thai seafood bouillabaisse, tiger prawns, scallops, and mussels

The most controversial dish of the night; highly suggested by some not to be ordered, my dining partner was pleased that she took this leap of faith. Although the broth was a bit bland and from my view the fish didn't seem that plentiful; my partner was pleased by her selection. She enjoyed the flavors and spices of the fish, even if the broth was a bit sub-par. For my taste, the one bite I took – the mussel in broth- was fine. But who am I to judge a dish I did not order- only tasted.

Kittichai succeeded in what a good restaurant week experience is supposed to accomplish; enticing the customer to come back on a regular night. I'd go back—after I get to the rest of the restaurants on our list that is!

	Restaurant Review Rating Scale
			Total Points Available
Food	7.5		10
Service	8.5		10
Ambiance	9		10
Bang for the Buck	8		10
Overall	8		10
	41		50

Neighborhood: Manhattan/SoHo
60 Thompson St
New York, NY 10079

(212) 925-2971

KittichaiRestaurant.com

The Smith

……well worth the wait

Finally, I can honestly say I have eaten at The Smith. It took me quite a while to make it to this East Village hotspot, but the critics (my friends) were all right. Initially, I had my doubts, not about the restaurant in particular, but more so because I was going with a group of 10 people during a crowded Saturday morning brunch time. With that many people, during such a busy time can, at times alter the true potential of a restaurants success. To my surprise, the food and service was spectacular considering the amount of people I was with (mostly Jewish girls..no offense to the ladies) and the amount of requests we made while dining. Our waitress, bless her soul, was successfully carrying out each and every one of our countless orders.

The dining room was enormous and the decorations reminiscent of an old French bistro with illustrations of Victorian nudes scattered throughout. For some reason, this reminded me of a place that would be in Sex and the city (not that I have watched the show and/or the movie, and if so…I ADMIT TO NOTHING AND NEVER WILL!!!).

My end of the table ordered a bunch of different things and shared so I will be critiquing a bunch of dishes.

Homemade potatoes chips with melted blue cheese

Fresh cut potatoes.. sliced thin- and fried till perfectly crisp- served in a large bowl and topped with melted blue cheese… what could be better?—not much! The wait staff brought these out complimentary since we had such a large party. Although some were at first weary of trying that initial bite- the bowl was empty by the end of the meal and I almost bit off my right index finger in search for more melted blue cheese. These chips were irresistible and the mild, but tangy blue cheese was entirely melted over tons of thinly sliced homemade potato chips. Even if you are not a blue cheese lover- as long as your not a hater- try this delicious blend of crisp fried potatoes covered with the perfect amount of cheesy goodness.

Mac + Cheese

Maroooooooooon! This dish came out hot and cheesy, served in a small croc; small macaronis with tons of melted cheese filled to the brim. A golden brown crust topped the macaroni from the melted cheese sitting in the oven before arriving at our table. This dish was easily the first to be eaten and the first to be finished. The mixture of cheeses (Swiss, sharp cheddar & parmesan) blended harmoniously together to create one extra cheesy dish. This is a perfect side for sharing and a MUST ORDER DISH.

Potato Waffle

I know what you’re thinking, a little weird, right?? I opted to go with the oddball dish over my usual egg white omelet with spinach and goat cheese and/or feta. Whoever came up with this dish is quite creative as it combined so many different flavors. Basically, its three waffle-shaped lightly fried potato latkes covered with 3 poached eggs (not runny at all) and then drenched with a caramelized onion and creamed spinach puree. The concept of this dish was there, but the execution was definitely way off (as Tom Colicchio would say). The richness from the creamed spinach puree was too overpowering and took away from the potato waffle and the poached egg. Honestly, I would have preferred sautéed spinach and actual caramelized onions (a small portion) as a side to complement the dish.

Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict

It’s hard to be fair because after the Mac n’ Cheese and the Blue Cheese Chips I was starting to get full. A little indecisive as I sometimes can be, I chose an old friend- a go to item- Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon. The eggs were runny- just as I like it and the English muffin was crisp. The smoked salmon wasn’t anything exceptional but decent enough. Home fried potatoes were served with the dish- but my fork tended to go towards the Mac n’ Cheese in the middle of the table rather than the potatoes on my plate. In my personal opinion, the saltiness of the salmon went extremely well with the runniness of the eggs and all components were complemented well by the crispness of the English muffin. This traditional dish was done well however next time I might be a bit more adventuresome and order one of the Smith’s more unique signature items.

All in all, I really enjoyed The Smith and will be back to try a bunch of other items on their extensive menu. I highly recommend checking it out, but if you can, call ahead for a reservation first.

	Restaurant Review Rating Scale
			Total Points Available
Food	8.5		10
Service	8.5		10
Ambiance	8.5		10
Bang for the Buck	8.5		10
Overall	8.5		10
	42.5		50

The Smith
55 Third Ave., nr. 11th St.; 212-420-9800

……perfect for the indecisive diner

We all have those nights where we get home from work; starving, want a quick bite, but can never decide what to get. If you suffer from indecisiveness when it comes to food, like many do, than MetroCafe is for you. Their menu offers a little bit of everything; which might not help the indecisiveness but certainly lets a diner have their pick from an array of appealing menu items. The appetizers range from vegetable chili to dim sum BBQ ribs to crab cakes. The entrees range from pizza, to Kobe beef burgers, to fish and chips. There really is something for everyone here, especially if you aren’t quite sure what kind of mood you are in. Go in with an open mind and walk out fully satisfied.

Before we even looked at the food, we were presented with Metro’s extensive wine list (most of which were reasonably priced). They offer wine by “flights” or groupings, so you can taste four of their suggested wines within each flight (flights are grouped by types of wine and by region). For example, Flight #1 includes four 2oz. glasses of the selected wines in that flight. I strongly recommend Flight #16, which is a compilation of four Spanish wines; two Malbecs and two red blends.

APPETIZERS

We started with the Chinese BBQ Spare Ribs and due to a mistake made by the waiter two orders of dumplings; shrimp and pork shu mai and an additional shrimp dumpling. All dishes were prefect for sharing. The meat on the spare rib was a little tough and didn’t come off the bone easily, but I was confident that every little morsel of meat would be in my mouth by the end of the night. The sauce was a bit sticky and we were not given any type of wet cloth to clean our hands before our main dishes. I don’t think I would order this next time; however, I would recommend the Shrimp and Pork shui mai which they mistakenly brought out to us. Before they realized their mishap we had already devoured them, digested and already moved onto the next dish.

ENTREES

Chicken Francaise

This chicken was served in its traditional fashion; in a lemon butter sauce with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Nothing about this dish was spectacular, but neither was the price ($14), so my expectations weren’t very high. It was two huge pieces of chicken alongside a plentiful portion of garlic mashed potatoes. I enjoyed it and cleaned my plate.

Steamed Filet of Salmon with soy-ginger and scallion broth, Chinese baby greens

This dish came just as it was described; a large piece of steamed salmon a top Chinese baby bok choy in a delicious Chinese broth; tasting almost like miso soup. The broth was light and not overpowering and the salmon appeared to have been steamed in the broth itself adding extra flavor to the dish. The fish was cooked perfectly to my liking and was not overdone. The bok choy were soft and tasted as good bok choy should although perhaps a bit on the salty side. I’m not sure what I was looking for that night but I was pleased by my choice. I didn’t expect anything fanciful or overtop which is a good thing because I did not receive anything fanciful or over the top. What I ordered was the perfect Monday night meal – easy and good flavors…. oh and good company.

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Metrocafe. The service was prompt, the atmosphere was relaxed and the food was dependable and reasonably priced. With the selection and swank of a trendy lounge, but the mellow attitude and low prices of a neighborhood bar, this spot is ideal for winding down after work with friends or for a not-too-pricey date.

	Restaurant Review Rating Scale
			Total Points Available
Food	7		10
Service	7.5		10
Ambiance	9.5		10
Bang for the Buck	8.5		10
Overall	8.5		10
	41		50

MetroCafe & Wine Bar

32 East 21st Street
New York, NY 10010-7201
Phone: (212) 353-0800