It is truly amazing how quickly time flies by. In this case, the end of Mad. Sq. Eats was quickly approaching (June 3rd). The combination of errands in the area and CT being out of town next weekend, motivated us to return for a Saturday lunch. I was keen on trying some of the things we didn’t get to try last time and seeing if any of the stalls had some new offerings.
Last time, we were there on a Friday night and Sunday afternoon so we missed out on ilili’s whole roasted lamb. Unfortunately, since we were having a very early lunch, the lamb was still being prepped for the spit. I for one was glad the chef covered the eyeballs with a heavy coating of spices. Creepy!
Good to go!
It was already getting pretty hot, so CT decided to cool off with an iced tea ($2) from Spices and Tease. She got the green tea, mango pineapple, roobibos and lemongrass. She graciously shared it with me. It was a great way to cool off. The roobibos was the predominant flavor, but the other ingredients were still present.
CT says: I liked that the tea tasted like tea, with just a hint of mango and lemongrass in the background.
Our other goal was to finally try the Calexico cart. Our FBM friends Goats & Cheeeese checked out the cart and told us it was worth the hype. I ordered the Chipotle Pork burrito($8) served in a warm flour tortilla with rice, black beans, cheddar, monterey jack, pickled red onions, crema and pico de gallo. The burrito was quite hearty with a mess of fillings. I would hesitate to eat this on a workday for fear of getting something on my clothes. The flavors were spot on and had a nice bit of heat to it. It was one of the best burritos I ever had in Manhattan.
I also decided to add on a Pollo Verde taco ($3) for good measure. It had slow cooked chicken in a tangy tomatillo sauce, pickled jalapenos, cotija cheese on a warm corn tortilla. The chicken was moist and flavorful, not easy for white meat. They passed the taco test with the use of two corn tortillas to minimize the chance for breakage.
CT says: I really enjoyed the burrito as well and thought it had an excellent blend of flavors. The taco was good, much lighter than the burrito, however it wasn’t that special. I will definitely be returning to this place over the summer for the burritos.
CT wasn’t sure what to get but ended up checking out this season’s offering at the Resto stand. She settled on the Pig Head Cuban($10) with pig head, ham, swiss cheese, pickles, and mayo. The sandwich was pretty skimpy on the meat. Also, the pig head didn’t bring much flavor. It was also missing the strong garlic flavor that usually comes with a traditional Cuban sandwich. It was sad that the best thing about the sandwich was that it wasn’t greasy as pressed sandwiches usually are. It was about the size of a set of plastic utensils.
CT says: Pass. Nothing special and definitely not worth $10 when there are so many other better offerings.
To top off the meal and also cool off some more, I got shave ice($2.50) from People’s Pops. They had three flavors available and I went with the hibiscus. I was impressed with the tool used to shave the ice and collect it. It was like a small hand sander. The hibiscus was tart and refreshing. It was especially good drinking the juice on the bottom after it all melted.
All in all, Mad. Sq. Eats keeps getting better and better. I don’t want to wish the summer away, but I look forward to it hopefully returning in the fall. I am glad that Calexico will be staying behind once the rest of the other stalls pack up. The market closes this Friday, so be sure to head out ASAP!
Mad. Sq. Eats
Worth Square
(bet 5th Ave. & Broadway and 24th & 25th Streets)
11 am – 9 pm
Everyday until June 3rd
T.C. says
I haven’t tried the Calexico cart yet. You guys are all giving it a seal of approval. I might have to give their burrito a shot.
And that ice shaver/ sander is familiar to those who used to enjoy shaved ice treats on the streets…especially in Spanish neighborhoods. I haven’t had one in ages. Much better than a regular snow cone.
Feisty Foodie says
Sucks that some of what you got was only so-so, but I’ll be there on Thursday and will give some of this stuff a shot! Also, I know the standard/traditional is two corn tortillas but because I don’t like corn tortillas, I’m always happy when there’s only one so I don’t feel like I’m wasting.
BTW – the shaved ice that TC mentions – they have that all over Queens and I think I’ve seen it in Manhattan (usually near touristy areas, like outside museums by the park). I used to get them growing up. I stopped when one day, walking by one of the carts, the big block of ice generally had a towel thrown over it, I guess to help stop it from melting (I don’t know if that works). That day I saw the guy wiping his face and neck with the towel, then putting it back over the ice. Gross. I’m sure People’s Pops doesn’t do that, but that makes me wary of ever going to one of those small carts again!
TT says
Yea stay away from Resto & Hong Kong and you’ll be fine.
That is really gross about the towel on the ice block. People Pops hipsters don’t do that.
Feisty Foodie says
Hong Kong was bad too? Damn, because one of the things I’m most interested in going to HK for – uh, aside from… uh… well, it’s just food – is the night markets. Thought the stand at MSE was supposed to mimic that. Thanks for the info! Will reread both posts before I get anything.
TT says
Wasn’t bad, just ok. I think they were just being clever with the name. Not sure if they are trying to mimic the HK markets.
CT says
I thought the duck bun from HK was good – but I think you would be upset to spend $4 on just one. It was too much for me, but it was so close and convenient I was ok paying it…once. The rest is veg/soy protein… so just ok in my book.
Goats says
I was about to get a pig head cuban last Friday after work at resto, while I waited for my burrito to cook at calexico and saw this slacker hippy dude turtleslowly taking his sweet ass time making the skimpiest sandwich I’d ever seen. He looked like he was superstoned. Glad I saw it! I ran away and got 3 pretzels instead. Such a better deal!
I’ve tried calexico 4 times now, 3 in the last week. I think their pork is the best. The steak was meh, a little too limey for me, and the chicken was decent, but not mind blowing. I also think the size of the burrito changes on the time of day and the crowd. The first one I got was bigger, as I got it sat. morning right at the open, then the other 3 I got at various other times of day.
I think I’ve eaten so much at madison market this time that a break til the fall will be welcome. I am spending way too much money at that place.
CheeeeEEEEse says
All hail the pork burrito!
chakrateeze says
Man, I need some shaved ice. Whooweee! Is it hot and steamy out there! The thermometer says 95, but with the humidity it feels like 101. And it isn’t even July yet! I also really like Jamaica (Spanish for hibiscus).
As for the chicken taco, I like my meat griddled so it gets a nice crust. And where is the cilantro? The salsa verde? Big chunk of pickled jalapeno? Your pic shows a food item with as much color as an untoasted marshmallow. Color is flavor!
Tracie
TT says
Sorry Tracie but you’ll have to talk to the guys at Calexico about the taco. It tasted good, but as I mentioned the burrito was better.
CT says
Hi Tracie! I agree – I love colorful food! It’s so pleasing to look at that it makes me drool a little extra! This was actually pretty flavorful on it’s own (and even had some fresh cilantro hiding in there). I’m not a huge fan of pickled jalapeno, but I could’ve used a little minced fresh jalapeno for color and spice!
However, I have to give it to those Calexico guys…it was actually an overall well-made taco. It’s just that the flavors couldn’t compare to the super-flavorful pork in the burrito.
chakrateeze says
It wasn’t a slight, it was conversation. I really like your blog. The writing is amusing and the pics are food porno at its most gratuitous.
But, if I had Calexico’s number…?
Tracie
TT says
Yea, no worries. You can check out there website in the link above.
Feisty Foodie says
Aw, thanks Tracie! 🙂 I always like reading your comments, you have recs for other parts of the country that I really have to start writing down!
BeerBoor says
Ask TT about the best Jewish deli in NYC. Now THERE’S conversation.
T.C. says
Okay, when’s the Jewish Deli/pastrami crawl? 😛
TT says
and i’ll leave the great burger debate to you, haha.
BeerBoor says
I can’t imagine doing a Jewish deli crawl. But I’ll let you have your opinion on them! Also, I need to try Sarge’s, though they’re so not near anything for me.
TT says
Just stop in the next time you are at Joshua Tree. Sarge’s is open 24 hours.
chakrateeze says
Speaking of amusing, have any of you ever check out Jay Rayner of the UK GUARDIAN? OMG! HILARIOUS! Slap-your-knees-and-wipe-the-tears-from-your-eyes hilarious.
Tracie
Feisty Foodie says
I have his book Eating Crow – read it when it came out and it has definitely shaped who I am in some part. Is the rest of his writing like that? It was hilarious.
chakrateeze says
If you’re into dry British wit, with a generous dose of earthiness… Which I am. I love jokes you have to be extra clever to understand and an unexpected innuendo mixed into something seemingly straightforward make me chuckle. Only thing, the Brit v. American English can get “rather” confusing, but that’s what Google’s for!
Tracie
PS, he talks often about “Frazzles” — bacon flavored Fritos…why don’t we have something like that here?
Feisty Foodie says
It’s difficult enough to get chili flavored Fritos in NYC which annoys the bedaddles out of me. I don’t know why Fritos brand seems to think they won’t do well here or people don’t order them, I don’t know… I pick up a bag when I go on trips hahaha
CheeeeEEEEse says
I’m still with Goats in saying that the pretzels are one of the better things there. Both times I’ve been to Mad. Sq. Eats I’ve picked one up. I’ve had the garlic and parsley, and jalapeno cheddar (I think that was it). Both were soft, even after sitting in their display case and being reheated in their toaster oven. The flavors were strong, but not overly so….damn, I think I have to go back again tonight.
Other notes:
I’ve over heard non-foodists say Asia Dog was “meh” (Paraphrasing of course) as well as the pizza being “fantastic”.
CheeeeEEEEse says
Sorry, better things price/enjoyment ratio of course. But they were still damn good.
TT says
i only had the gigantic pretzel, never the flavored ones. since you were right about calexico, i will have to try it. mmm jalapeno cheddar
Shiney says
I totally agree about the disappointing Cuban sandwich from Resto. I’ve enjoyed brunch there over the years and really expected better from them.
I also had a beef “Mash” dog from Asia Dog and it was pretty good. The toppings (jalapeno mustard/sweet & spicy ketchup/crushed potato chips) definitely made it, though – the meat itself didn’t have a lot of flavor. Roberta’s Pizza was also good but my favorite of what I tried so far was the Kafta Lebanese from ilili – it was small but very yummy. I’d like to try more from them.
I also excitedly tried the salted caramel ice cream from Goat Town and was disappointed, it was all salt and no caramel.
After reading these posts and comments I think I’ll try to get down there one last time tomorrow for lunch to try Calexico and maybe a pretzel!
Feisty Foodie says
ilili is really good for brunch or dinner. TT has gone for dinner and I’ve gone for brunch; I really must get back there, they are so nice and really quite yummy.
BeerBoor says
I wound up with a chipotle pork burrito and a standard pretzel this evening – very crowded, as it was the final day. Good burrito, even for $8, and a tasty pretzel to top it.
If only I’d known they had decent beer at reasonable prices…
Nastassia says
loved people’s pops! the ice shaved to order was pretty impressive!