After the first time I went to Smorgasburg, I said really wanted to go back again. Bestie C and I finally got the chance to squeeze in a visit Saturday. The weather forecast for the day predicted clouds and a bit of precipation. But it was sunny, almost cloudless, and pleasantly windy all day. The perfect weather (minus the sudden gusts of wind) for going to an outdoor food gathering.
Vermont Maple Lemonade Stand
Butternut Donut - $1
We actually got to Williamsburg about half an hour too early. All the vendors were still setting up and we could only sit and wait for them. The two of us were starving! So when we saw a stall with these dollar donuts, we grabbed one for each of us and devoured it. I thought my donut tasted a little bit stale, but it could just be that the donut is a lot denser and more muffin like than what I am use to for a donut. I love that it wasn't overly sweet, just right for me. The sweetness came mostly from the coating so (I think) it balanced well with the butternut donut.
Ramen Burger - $8
Since we arrived super early, the line for the ramen burger was still really short. So...we thought why not...!? I know I said I probably wouldn't buy it again but that was because I expected the lines to be always really long. Again, I felt that the burger was alright. I would have preferred it to have sauce on both noodles buns because it makes it taste SO much better IMO, otherwise the no-sauce bites of ramen tasted a bit bland. Throughout the day we overheard others who tried it and there were overall mixed reviews. I guess it's a personal preference kind of thing? It's definitely a novelty idea and worth at least a try.
Mighty Quinn's
Big Brisket Sandwich - $9 (the Lil sandwiches are $5)
The first time we went to Smorgasburg, we noticed the line for Mighty Quinn's was on par with Ramen Burger's line but didn't get to try their stuff. This time around I couldn't give up the chance again. We were going to get the 'lil' sandwich because we had just finished the ramen burger. But then I noticed how tiny and bite-sized the 'lil' sandwich was. That was definitely a one person sandwich. Plus, the price point of that wasn't worth getting two small ones...so one big sandwich it was. Anyways! I really liked the brisket. It was pretty moist and juicy. The only thing negative was I thought the buns (or top bun in particular) was a bit too thick for my liking.
Pecan Patti
Pomegrante Sweet Tea - $6
Fresh Ginger Sweet Tea - $6
Of all the stands that I remember of that offered non-alcoholic drinks, the teas from this stand probably gives the most value for your money. There was another stand(s) that sold quart-sized drinks but their prices were closer to the double digit range. I liked it so much that I decided to buy the ginger tea to take home for my family to try. I can't pick a favorite though...they all tasted very good to me.
Lumpia Shack
Sampler (L to R ... 3 of each: Original, Vegetarian Truffled Adobo Mushroom, Peking Duck) - $9
I also wanted to try this the last time I went to Smorgasburg but was discouraged by the price. This time I didn't care so much because I really wanted to try lumpia at least once. (I blame itsjudyslife for this craving! :P) I'm glad they offered a Sampler on their menu since I am rather indecisive when it comes to food. This was by far my favorite savory dish of the day. Of course, who wouldn't love a bit of fried food? However...I was kind of expecting them to be bigger or even longer. This seemed more like an appetizer/snack portion. Is this the standard lumpia size? I really have no idea :X
Butter & Scotch
Sticky Toffee Trifle - $6
At this point in the day, I was already pretty full from all the foods and liquids. But I spotted a couple eating this concoction and my sweet tooth was craving it. I've never had a trifle before. Basically this one was a layered dessert with toffee cake baked with some sort of fruit (I think), along with TONS of cream. I think I heard the lady at the stand say there was rum or something alcohol-y in it as well. (I am not sure about this one actually...but judging from their name, Drunk Bakers, I'd say it's safe to assume some is in there.) It was delicious. But of course very indulgent. & I will proudly say I don't regret getting it ^__^
Momo Dressing
Sesame Dressing 12oz - $7 ... (8oz - $5)
I tried Soba noodles over the summer and wanted to try eating it in a different way (other than with spicy soy sauce). The people at the Momo dressing stand recommended the Sesame version for soba. *Cross my fingers* I hope it end up I liking it! I'm actually not a big fan of sesame seeds, but do like sesame flavor. (I know that sounds very contradicting...) Has anyone tried a sesame sauce before with noodles? How is that combo?
Has anyone else made a visit to Smorgasburg yet? What did you try? What are your recommendations?
If you haven't and will be in NYC before the end of November, you still have the chance to visit!
After Bestie C took me to Smorgasbar at South Street Seaport, we both knew we had to make a trip to Smorgasburg in Brooklyn. They actually have 2 separate locations, one for Saturday and another for Sunday. Since we went yesterday (Saturday), we had to make the trek to Williamsburg to get our tummies filled up. Otherwise, Sunday go-ers would need to find their way to the DUMBO location.
Smorgasburg Williamsburg | East River State Park | 90 Kent Ave & North 7th Street | 11AM - 6PM
Smorgasburg DUMBO | Tobacco Warehouse | 30 Water Street | 11AM - 6PM
It was both of our first time going to Williamsburg so inevitably we ended up taking a full 2 hours to reach the destination once we left our houses. Mostly because we took one too many subway transfers and rode the longer way there. Now we know better for next time! The L train is VERY VERY close to the Williamsburg location (as in just a few avenues). When in doubt, I think it's probably safe to walk towards the water!
Dough
Hibisbus Doughnut - $2.75 each
I made sure I went on an empty stomach. But by the time we got to Smorgasburg, I was starving. I did my homework/research the night before and knew my first stop had to be to get a donut. Have to fulfill my sweet tooth early! I can't say I loved this doughnut though, a little too sweet for my liking. (It could be because all the sweetness comes from the thick top layer of icing.) The doughnut itself was very fluffy and soft. This is something I would prefer to share rather than finish whole by myself.
Best Summer
Poached Shrimp & Brisket Summer Rolls - 2 for $7 ... 3 for $10
Something Bestie wanted to try, so we shared two. I think this was one of the duds of the day. It tasted rather...ordinary. I liked the peanut sauce though.
Home Frite
Fry Cone with Summer Peach BBQ sauce - $5
Something we got to munch one while we were on the long line for a ramen burger. The fries got saltier as we ate towards the bottom of the cone and many of the pieces were just small potato bits. Wasn't a big fan of this buy. However, I saw that their website listed special fries with duck, bacon cheddar, or even poutine. Perhaps next time!
The line for the famous Ramen Burger was LONG! We started waiting around 12:30 ish and I think we stood for a total of 1.5 hours, plus or minus some. This is just showing the 2nd turn of the line. It went on past 2 light poles!
Halfway through, the creator came towards us counting off the number of burgers they had left. To our luck, he stopped at a pair of hopeful customers right in front of us and handed off the "I might be the lucky person" cardboard signage! Even though they wanted to purchase 2 burgers, he said there was only 1 left. Despite hearing this, Bestie insisted we stick it out...JUST IN CASE.
Ramen Burger - $8
Luckily for us and a few people behind us, we were able to get our hands on a ramen burger. (We only intended on getting one to share anyways.) Who knows how that happened! But I'm glad there was enough for us. Their wrapping was really interesting. But I really wish we knew about it's secret technology before hand. According to Keizo Shimamoto's blog, the wrapper is suppose to hold all the juices/soup from the burger..but it ended up all over us instead.
The both of us agreed that it was good while it lasted. We particularly liked the burger and sauce combo more so than the noodles...but it did give the burger a very interesting texture. I suppose it would be closest to how it would feel to eat a bite of ramen and a hamburg steak together. This is probably not something I would line up so long (and under the scorching sun) for again. Unless...maybe if they offered a different version? Of course, I do not regret trying it. It's always great to try new foods!
BiteMe Cheesecake
Chocolate Lust - $3 each ... Box of 3 $9 ... Box of 12 $36
After the long wait for a ramen burger was over, we headed to yet another long line to grab ourselves a refreshing drink. But my sweet tooth was tingling again when I noticed this stall. They didn't have the flavors that I originally wanted to try, so I ended up choosing the oddball chocolate of what they did have. It was very reminiscent of a brownie in texture. I really like the bite size portion, but it is rather pricey. Yet...I still want to try the other flavors as well. Err I'm conflicted!
Pecan Patti
Citrus Sweet Tea - $6
The star of the day! Of course, a day full of waiting on lines probably made this taste extra good. We saw so many people walking around & on the ramen burger line with these mason jars. The line for the tea was surprisingly very long as well. Thankfully, this was well worth the wait! & You definitely get a good deal for your money. The mason jar probably holds about 4 cups of the tea and ice. However...the menu sign for this stand was a little confusing. Bestie C mistaken their dessert menu for the tea flavors because some of their sweets were also sold in jars. (We should have figured from the names but we really did think they just had really quirky drink names.) The signs and descriptions for the teas can only be seen once you reach their table. Luckily, we overheard others around us and made our decision just before we reached the stand. This would definitely be on my list to buy if I visit Smorgasburg again.
After today, I did get a few shades darker. But I must say, I don't mind it. I am in need of lots of vitamin D anyways! Despite the long lines and scorching sun, I still want to visit again. There are so many vendors, so many different foods to try, all located in one place. It is hard to resist. I didn't even get to try all the vendors I had on my list, there are still 8 left. Considering that we were able to go to more than 6 between the both of us, I think one more visit to Smorgasburg should be enough to satisfy me. But of course I won't complain if I get to go more than once! Luckily, this food gathering continues on until late November. So there is still plenty of time to get my food fix.
Has anyone else gone to Smorgasburg? How was your experience?
Are there similar food gatherings where you live?
This month went by really quickly! I forgot that school does that to a person's perception of time...Especially with all the days off we had at the school I go to, I hardly felt like I've been attending classes for a whole month already. I didn't get to do many things other than go to school, eat, and shop some. Doesn't sound exciting enough to share right? But nonetheless, there were some highlights of my month!
I didn't get to post on the actual date but Happy Belated Mid-Autumn Festival! (This sounds a little weird to me because the official start of fall was only like a week ago...hah.) For this year I didn't eat the traditional mooncakes. I was finally able to try the snow-skin mooncakes. This one, in particular, was a taro one. I must say...it was yummy. Of course, it's a plus that the mooncake was purple!
The most exciting event of my September!!!!! This one deserves all the exclamation points it can get!!!
I have been anticipating this concert since they announced Big Bang will have one way back in...the summer. I didn't think I'd actually be able to go but when my friend said she was interested as well I definitely wanted to get my butt there in November. She was able to get not 1 but 2 of the highly sought after VIP tickets. I was so surprised...I checked the ticket listings for fun a few minutes after they were released and they were virtually non-existent. Despite the high ticket price, I am stoked! I can't wait for this concert.
The rare chance that my nails are actually strong enough for me to paint them! Nothing too flashy, but a nice transition going into fall no?
I also shopped more than I would like to admit this month. This is just a photo of one of my hauls...Scary! I've been putting a lot more effort into dressing "up" for school nowadays. Definitely trying to get out of the jeans and hoodies rut I was in for the longest time...
I haven't browsed the Macy's selection of clothes in a LONG time. I went the other day with my mother and I was immediately drawn to this burgundy Tommy Hilfiger button down. My mom, on the other hand, did not like it at all. But that didn't stop me from at least trying it. I LOVED the way it looked. It had a slight hi-low and when I tucked the front in, it didn't show my muffin top like most other shirts do *sigh* The only thing that stopped me from getting it was its price. I scanned the top and it came out to be $55.xx...WHY SO PRICEY?! I must wait for this to go on sale!
Do you guys think my gym gear is breaking too many fashion rules (if any)? Or does that not matter when you go to the gym? I haven't been worked out in a while so I made it a point to get myself there the other day. I don't know what made me get on the treadmill when I usually just go on the cross-ramp but it felt nice (at the time). My legs couldn't even bend without hurting for the next few days...
The only other interesting thing I did was eat.
Poutine @ Pommes Frites
I'm not sure how poutine in Canada tastes, but I think this is the closest we can get in NYC? I loved how crunchy the fries were. But I just wished the cheese curds was a little more melted/stringy.
Takoyaki @ Otafuku
A little hole-in-the-wall shop on a side street at St.Marks. I love their takoyaki! Surprisingly, of the three times I've bought from them this was the only time I've eaten it fresh and hot. It was good...The only complaint I have was I wish mine were a bit crispier on the outside. But that could have been a timing problem because I didn't want to burn myself eating the takoyaki right away...heh.
Chocolate Swirl Bread & Macarons @ Panya Bakery
I gotta say I loved both of these. Especially the bread. It wasn't overly sweet but definitely not as plain as white toast. Not something I'd indulge in often but definitely something I'd get again. I love that you can ask them to cut the loaf of bread there. They have a thick toast option! LOVE~
Sunrise (Mango & Strawberry White Tea) with Aloe Jelly @ Yaya Tea Garden
I've tried a couple syrupy teas and I think they just aren't for me...They all taste too sweet for my liking. I wonder if I could ask for less of the syrup the next time I go (whenever that is). But I do appreciate the different types of jellies they had available!
Variety of sushi rolls @ Wasabi
Since I don't eat raw fish, I always end up getting a plate full of not so healthy but very delicious sushi with something fried in it instead. Not complaining though! I love me some sushi!
Homemade Herbal Jelly (not made by me)
I've been eating this all of August and September. At first, we just bought the stuff from the store but my mom decided to try making it herself. It wasn't too bad, although some batches were more jelly like than others. I love to eat this with agave nectar instead of liquid sugar. Apparently, ABCs aren't a big fan of this? I guess I'm the exception...I love this stuff!
I wish I could be as carefree as this guy (at least it seems he is). The next coming months at school will be stressful. Not just because of the workload. Mainly because it's my first semester as a sophomore and I really still have no burning definite decision for my major yet. AHH! Was anyone else in this situation or am I just really terrible for not having a goal in life...still...?
Hi, everyone! I really hate myself for leaving my blog not updated for a whole month. But nonetheless, it happened anyway *sigh* The last couple of months was jam-packed full of activities. In the short period of time, I went to quite a few places and tried many new things. Compared to the last summer vacation I had...this one was definitely more memorable! (I admit! I just lazed around the house before :X) I was able to even get my first job...although for my own good (mentally and grade wise) I resigned from my first job as well. It was interesting while it lasted though!
Enough of why I wasn't on blogger! & Onto what I actually did :]
Besties and I made it a must to hang out more often this summer vacation. Last year we said the same thing and ended up doing absolutely nothing together! In June we went biking. In July we went ice skating in the indoor rink at Flushing Meadows Park. It was so refreshing to be inside somewhere cool cold freezing on a hot summer day. Mental note...next time I must bring a hoodie, even if it's the summer! Skating inside was definitely different from gliding outside in say Bryant Park/Central Park/Rockefeller Center. A lot of skating students of much higher levels were skating around so it was a bit more embarrassing for us newbies to skate there. But after a couple of circles, it didn't matter anyways hah
After we had our share of fun, we headed toward Flushing for dinner. We planned to go to an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant (Picnic Garden). Initially, we went there very excited. Sadly we left annoyed/disappointed. The food wasn't the problem. It was the service more than anything. Our group of 4 would get a couple of plates with a lot of food to grill thinking we'd sit and cook what we got a little at a time. However, the servers/waitresses would walk around and dump everything onto the grill (this was even before they had a dinner time rush!). We were rushed to eat and leave before we even started...I don't know if this is what happens at other similar restaurants but the four of us all agreed we'd be happier going somewhere else the next time we're in Queens.
In August we already ran out of ideas on what to do together. We always have somewhere we'd want to eat at but never anything to do! Since we decided to eat somewhere close to the Brooklyn Bridge (on the Brooklyn side) we decided to take a walk across it. As surprising as this may sound to non-New Yorkers, neither of us 4 have ever walked across before. It was very relaxing...even despite the heat that day. But please bring a lot of water (one bottle isn't enough)! We were all dying of thirst by the time we reached the other end. The walk was actually much faster than we originally anticipated. It took about half an hour to reach the other end. Do keep in mind, we were walking at our slow pace and stopped multiple times to take pictures and stare at the view!
Other than going out with the besties, I was also able to finally go to Dorney Park with my mom and brother. Times like this where I wish I had more courage to go on the 'fun' rides. Perhaps if I was with a group of friends who were also going on the roller coasters. By myself? Never! heh Instead, my brother and I spent most of the day in the water park area and boy did I get tanned. Sad to admit but I nearly drowned twice and even caused a big accident (my glasses had to be searched for...that's all I'm going to say) at one of the water slides. Oh, the troubles of not knowing how to swim and being afraid to stick my head in the water. I shall conquer my water fear...next summer! xD
MmmM! The yummy goodness~
My fave steamed rice noodle wrapped around donut(?) - 油條 (youtiao)!! Actually, this particular one was not so good...it wasn't crunchy enough!
The whole summer I was trying hard to curb my eating habits but sometimes when you're out...having a refreshing tea drink isn't too bad right?
Paris Baguette goodies
I think this was the Fruit Green Tea Cup Patbingsoo (팥빙수) & Berry Ade.
I really loved the Patbingsoo! I only wished I was eating it there with friends because even the cup size was too big for me to eat alone. Definitely a sharing food!
The Berry Ade, on the other hand, was just so-so for me. It tasted a lot like Sprite with a hint of berry. Perhaps they were just light-handed on the berry syrup?
Just like in June, I had a big cooking adventure. There were some big failures and great successes!
Curry ddeokboki & Kimchi Fried Rice (김치볶음밥)
I cheated and used a pre-made curry but it tasted pretty good nonetheless!
Fried rice, though, was amazing. (The photo is the first time I made the rice.) I don't know what I did differently the second time around but it did not taste right at all...*sigh* Just when my confidence in cooking was high!
The other fail dish: MacNCheese (left photo) & The more successful second attempt (right photo). Thank goodness it wasn't bad too since I made a big batch of the second one for both my brother and I. If it was terrible I'd either have to eat it all myself or it would go to waste...
The photo does all the talking no? It is easy to tell how bad the first attempt was just by looking!
The only baking I did was for a house party my family had in July. I love cheesecake! So I decided to give it a try and make it myself. After searching a dozen...or two...recipes I was surprised by how much cream cheese was used but it came out alright. I shall try a different recipe next time though! Anyone have one to share?
My other summer project: gardening. Well, to be exact...my mom put everything into pots and I just watered them every day. heh! Is it weird if I thought the lettuce seedlings were cute?
I couldn't believe how fast my lettuce plants grew, only been about a month!
Tomatoes...felt like it took forever to grow! Close to 2 maybe even 3 months? Some of the cherry tomatoes finally ripened. Perfect time for me to try cherry tomatoes (I've never had them before...) The iPhone's camera quality really surprises me when I get photos like these!
As for what I did the rest of my summer...
Watched the Olympics & Went to work
I quite literally woke up and caught the Olympics and went to sleep watching it as well!
Work is a whole 'nother story that is too long and complicated to share here. Let's just say there was a lot of stress and the first couple of days I felt like I was going to go crazy from all the pressure. Retail at a big store is scary...
Gave DIY bracelets a go
Made sure I used all my beauty products more than I did the last summer
And of course went shopping!
center
The dress I wish I bought from Forever21.
The trench coat that I've been eyeing from Uniqlo and bought a couple of days ago because it finally went on sale!
The outfit I wore (sans the pants...decided to wear something less skin hugging) to my job interview.
The booties I tried and decided was too much for me to handle right now (still need more practice walking in heels first!) &
The wedged sneakers from Steve Madden that I just couldn't pass up on!!
I literally saw these Olympiaa photos on Pinterest the night earlier and thought wow! it looks so close to the (way too expensive for me) Ash wedged sneakers. The next day Bestie C and I went to walk around 34th Street after class and I suggested to go into the store to ONLY try on the shoe to see if it'll fit me. Then I was completely suckered in by how comfortable they were despite being heeled shoes. Yet that wasn't the final kicker that made me purchase these...Steve Madden had a Scratch-off promo going on and I got a $20 off! The shoes are still much more expensive than I normally buy but from $99.95 to $79.95...it's probably the best price I can get them for before they go on sale and run out of my size completely (or perhaps I'm just trying to make myself feel better for buying expensive shoes in general ha!).
So that was my July & August for you! How were your summers?
Classes started last Monday. Hopefully, I won't be too caught up by school work that I ignore the blog again! Please don't get mad if that does happen :X
