Dumpling Cafe Restaurant

A reader of mine alerted me to the opening of Dumpling Cafe in Forest Hills about a year ago, and I’ve been meaning to go check it out for a while.  I was a lil disappointed when I finally got over there and discovered it appeared to be little more than a take out Chinese place… with a few items of interest on the menu.  Unfortunately, being the silly girl I am, I didn’t manage to try those this first time.  Being called the Dumpling Cafe, I of course ordered pork dumplings (fried).  This order of 8 was $4.95.  They were remarkably juicy and I liked the black vinegar provided with the dumplings.  Tasty.  At the same time, though, I could get these in bags of 50 at the Chinese supermarket.  They weren’t amazing – but they were very good.  (I’m jaded because of my intense fascination with dumplings.)  Dumpling Cafe has something I haven’t seen in years though – an under $5 lunch special!  I think the last time I saw that was when I was... [continue reading]

Project 365: Day 68

When in doubt, post a pic of the pup.  Staring at me, asking me again why I am not sleeping yet or petting her.  Today was an ordinary day; school, school, school.  Home, right, work, etc.  I meant to take a pic of my dinner today – I have a break between two classes where I study and scarf down dinner – because today’s was the biggest yet.  Thin slices of pot roast on toasted potato bread spread with (still cold, still congealed) gravy that melted into the bread, omg SO GOOD…; 5 mini “cuties”/Mandarin oranges; stick of Monterey jack cheese from Trader Joe’s; bag of salt & pepper Pop chips; pretzels and hummus (individual size); and of course, a bottle of Diet Pepsi (I go to a Pepsi school).  Yum yum yum.  Awesome night of eating in class, hah.  What is Project 365?  Read More →

Eleven Madison Park

I’m not that big on Valentine’s Day in general, especially the zoo that the restaurant industry becomes around that day.  This year, it fell on a Sunday, and it disturbed me that a certain Batali restaurant had a special menu for that day which cost xx, but also offered the same ’special’ menu on Friday and Saturday before Valentine’s Day… for half that price.  I just think that’s rude!  It was blatant and out there… not cool.  (Admittedly, at least one other Batali restaurant had no special menu at all for Valentine’s Day, which boosted my opinion of that one EVEN MORE… I’m sure you can figure out which place that is, based on my high opinion of them already!)  But I’m not one to say “no” when the BF wants to take me out to eat at a fancy place.  I mean, honestly, it wasn’t just to celebrate Valentine’s Day, it was more for him to take me out and ’spoil’ me which yes, he does like to do, and to show... [continue reading]

Project 365: Day 67

Don’t you love it when plans come together?  I’d intended to have dinner with a few ex-coworkers, mentioned it to a few friends, and it ballooned into a huge gathering.  Pretty cool.  I always love seeing friends I haven’t seen in a while, catching up, talking about things… boys, boys, boys.  We hit up K-town for dinner, then a nearby pub, then a wine & chocolate bar… lots of hook-up attempts, lots of chatter, fun and … FOOD.    How it should be!The above?  Belgian chocolate covered strawberries compliments of the maitre’d at the wine & chocolate bar… I won’t go into why… haha.  Thanks to everyone who came out and made the night special!  What is Project 365?  Read More →

Recette

StB returned home recently, so of course dinner plans were made.  She chose Recette, having heard good things.  Of course, SpB and I arrived late, both having come in from far-Queens… but I immediately ordered a fizzy drink – sparkling wine with a cube of sugar in the bottom.  It was okay.  StB ordered the razor clams with a chili compote.  She said it was tasty.  ($9)HB and I both ordered duck carpaccio with chicken liver mousse and apple slivers.  I liked this dish quite a lot, but at the same time, honestly?  $12 for the above and that’s a ‘generous’ tasting portion?  Hmmm.  I liked the earthiness of the liver filing inside the slices of raw duck.  I really enjoyed my dish, but the portion size was just simply too small.  HB also enjoyed her own dish.  HB and StB both ordered the hamachi crudo with uni, blood orange, jalapeno and mache.  I know they both liked it.  ($15)I continued on and ordered roasted foie gras with fig jam and... [continue reading]

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