Welcome back to blind blog! I apologize for my long absence, I have been busy with classes but I have returned with a new food critic review. Here is a restaurant for anyone who is a fan of Italian food:
Angelo of Mulberry St.
146 Mulberry St. (between Hester and Grand St.)
New York NY
4.25 stars out of 5 stars
There is nothing like excellent Italian food at a local restaurant, so then why did I chose to try out a touristy establishment in Little Italy? Good question: Angelo’s actually makes delicious authentic food even though it has a reputation for being the destination of many people from out of town. Despite the subpar service, I enjoyed the ambiance; I was part of a diverse crowd of people in a relaxed setting. My friend and I decided to split two dishes: pappardelle Campagnole (long and flat egg noodles in a sauce of tomatoes, garlic, and wild mushrooms), and pollo Portobello (chicken breast with shitake and Portobello mushrooms in a champagne sauce). The first course to arrive was the pappardelle which went above and beyond my expectations: the pasta tasted so fresh and unlike any boxed variety I have ever tried, and was complimented perfectly by the flavors of the tangy tomatoes, mushrooms, and garlic. The sauce, in particular, was a remarkable creation which we agreed made up for the expensive price of the pasta. The next entre was the chicken dish which was outstanding. I was impressed by the champagne sauce, it was clear that the alcohol had been burned off during the reduction phase of the cooking process which left a sweet note to the sauce that I really liked. It should not be surprising that the chicken and various mushrooms were quite fresh, but again the sauce was the highlight.
As a restaurant which attracts many tourists, Angelo’s prices are far from cheap. However, if you are searching for some of the finest Italian food that this city has to offer, then I would encourage you to dine at Angelo’s.
Dan
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Updated top ten hamburger list for New York City as of july 2010
Hello, today I would like to update my list of the top ten hamburgers in New York City. I have spent a considerable amount of my free time conducting qualitative studies, my aspiration to be a food critic does require some real work once in a while. I have been working on this list over the past year which has involved mostly trying these fantastic selections out (all for the best readers in the world), and have compiled this controversial list. (No two food critics have the same list, let alone the same number one, so debates can become rather heated) I am currently in a state of happiness while being totally full, (I just finished eating the number 4 selection a couple of hours ago), so here we go:
(The following opinions are only mine and cannot be replicated or duplicated without the express written consent of blind blog):
(This list is in random order, not number 1 through 7 from best to worst, and please forgive me for any misspelled words.)
1. Primehouse: They make a great hamburger for lunch or brunch composed of rib eye steak and ground chuck. The beef is very high quality, seasoned properly, with excellent homemade thick cut steak fries.
2. Rare bar and grill: I like this restaurant, and they make an incredible, incredibly expensive, t-bone burger which is out of this world: a hamburger consisting of a blend of sirloin & strip steak, flambéed in tequila, wrapped in apple smoked bacon, topped with cheddar & crispy onions, can you ask for anything more than that?
3. Shake shack: What can I say; I went from the expensive to the affordable. I prefer the newest location on Columbus Avenue where there is much less of a line (near my old internship, hint hint). My favorite is the double burger, which is seasoned just enough to enhance the flavor of the beef, and cooked the way I like. On another note, how about those shakes: they are to die for (literally?).
4. Minetta tavern: When I think about this restaurant, it's all about their black label hamburger ($26 for a hamburger, really? You have to taste it to believe it!) It starts with a patty created from a combination of four cuts of dry aged beef, (the guesses so far are brisket, short rib, strip steak, and rib eye), topped with sweet caramelized onions and placed on a homemade soft bun from their bakery. The charred outside, excellent seasoning and collection of flavors is top notch!
5. Rue 57: This place is very touristy, but their burger is one of the best. I am not sure how they season it but it is served with a mouth watering crispy outside, delicate inside, and just a hint of some mysterious and excellent flavor. Oh yeah, and the fries (crispy pommes frites, shoe string fries from France) aren't bad either.
6. Ottomanelli's: This restaurant might not receive any national attention but it is a local favorite of mine. I consider it to be the best burger in the immediate area (no, not J.G. Melon’s, this is far superior). This restaurant is quality through and through; you can't go wrong with any dish here, although I am not telling you to travel from outside of Manhattan to eat there.
7. Rub bbq: Warning: this restaurant only serves hamburgers three hours a week, Mondays from 6-9 pm, so if interested please arrive as early as possible. This extremely delicious hamburger is smashed then cooked in a skillet at 600 degrees until it is beautifully charred, it is only five ounces and comes with no fries but the taste is exceptional. (By the way, each week there is a special burger of the week which is chosen to highlight the taste from a particular region or a style of preparation, my first time at Rub the flavor was “bacon egg and cheese”)
8. Union square cafe: I can already anticipate the negative comments about this one, and some of you will undoubtedly disagree with this pick. However, it is always rated as one of the top restaurants in the city, and their burger does not disappoint. As usual, I order mine medium well, and I find that especially the smoky crisp outer layer represents a fantastic taste. (Their fried calamari is quite excellent as well.)
9. Peter Luger's: My opinion is biased here, and I haven't tried this burger yet, but everyone puts it on their top ten lists. In addition, if the beef used for the burger is anything like their steak, then we have nothing to worry about.
10. McDonalds: The legendary quarter pounder combined with an order of crispy salted fries is... (Just kidding, but did I fool you?) (Actually their fries are kind of tasty, but I would avoid fast food at all costs after having personally tried 7 out of 8 of these hamburgers before).
A few popular places didn't make my list, and I am still anxious to try out other fine hamburger establishments (Little owl, Spotted Pig, and coming soon: a shake shack in my neighborhood!). Please leave your comments below so that I know what you think about my first list, I have a feeling that it will be very controversial.
Take care
Dan
(The following opinions are only mine and cannot be replicated or duplicated without the express written consent of blind blog):
(This list is in random order, not number 1 through 7 from best to worst, and please forgive me for any misspelled words.)
1. Primehouse: They make a great hamburger for lunch or brunch composed of rib eye steak and ground chuck. The beef is very high quality, seasoned properly, with excellent homemade thick cut steak fries.
2. Rare bar and grill: I like this restaurant, and they make an incredible, incredibly expensive, t-bone burger which is out of this world: a hamburger consisting of a blend of sirloin & strip steak, flambéed in tequila, wrapped in apple smoked bacon, topped with cheddar & crispy onions, can you ask for anything more than that?
3. Shake shack: What can I say; I went from the expensive to the affordable. I prefer the newest location on Columbus Avenue where there is much less of a line (near my old internship, hint hint). My favorite is the double burger, which is seasoned just enough to enhance the flavor of the beef, and cooked the way I like. On another note, how about those shakes: they are to die for (literally?).
4. Minetta tavern: When I think about this restaurant, it's all about their black label hamburger ($26 for a hamburger, really? You have to taste it to believe it!) It starts with a patty created from a combination of four cuts of dry aged beef, (the guesses so far are brisket, short rib, strip steak, and rib eye), topped with sweet caramelized onions and placed on a homemade soft bun from their bakery. The charred outside, excellent seasoning and collection of flavors is top notch!
5. Rue 57: This place is very touristy, but their burger is one of the best. I am not sure how they season it but it is served with a mouth watering crispy outside, delicate inside, and just a hint of some mysterious and excellent flavor. Oh yeah, and the fries (crispy pommes frites, shoe string fries from France) aren't bad either.
6. Ottomanelli's: This restaurant might not receive any national attention but it is a local favorite of mine. I consider it to be the best burger in the immediate area (no, not J.G. Melon’s, this is far superior). This restaurant is quality through and through; you can't go wrong with any dish here, although I am not telling you to travel from outside of Manhattan to eat there.
7. Rub bbq: Warning: this restaurant only serves hamburgers three hours a week, Mondays from 6-9 pm, so if interested please arrive as early as possible. This extremely delicious hamburger is smashed then cooked in a skillet at 600 degrees until it is beautifully charred, it is only five ounces and comes with no fries but the taste is exceptional. (By the way, each week there is a special burger of the week which is chosen to highlight the taste from a particular region or a style of preparation, my first time at Rub the flavor was “bacon egg and cheese”)
8. Union square cafe: I can already anticipate the negative comments about this one, and some of you will undoubtedly disagree with this pick. However, it is always rated as one of the top restaurants in the city, and their burger does not disappoint. As usual, I order mine medium well, and I find that especially the smoky crisp outer layer represents a fantastic taste. (Their fried calamari is quite excellent as well.)
9. Peter Luger's: My opinion is biased here, and I haven't tried this burger yet, but everyone puts it on their top ten lists. In addition, if the beef used for the burger is anything like their steak, then we have nothing to worry about.
10. McDonalds: The legendary quarter pounder combined with an order of crispy salted fries is... (Just kidding, but did I fool you?) (Actually their fries are kind of tasty, but I would avoid fast food at all costs after having personally tried 7 out of 8 of these hamburgers before).
A few popular places didn't make my list, and I am still anxious to try out other fine hamburger establishments (Little owl, Spotted Pig, and coming soon: a shake shack in my neighborhood!). Please leave your comments below so that I know what you think about my first list, I have a feeling that it will be very controversial.
Take care
Dan
Monday, June 14, 2010
totally teriffic tasting: my experience at the Gourmet Latino Festival
Hello everyone, last weekend I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend an event during the first Gourmet Latino festival here in New York City. “The Art of Authentic Cooking & Cocktail Pairing” was an amazing tasting of food and drinks from Ecuador. (I know nothing of the cuisine from this country, but in the end I was more than satisfied with the delectable selections) Iron chef Jose Garces, who is from Ecuador, cooked up dishes which are popular in his country. My favorite of these was macitas fritas, which consisted of tender pieces of pork shoulder which were fried and then braised in the same pot, creating a crunchy and chewy result with a mouth watering array of spices. This afternoon also included a tasting of four cocktails created by top “mixologists”, which seems to be another word for creative and intelligent bar tenders. (I mean no disrespect by saying this, I simply wanted to clarify this term for my readers, in my opinion the mixologists did an terrific job) This was right up my alley, and no it is not what you are thinking: I do not consume alcohol very often. However, sometimes I will think of a new combination for a cocktail, so I can understand the mind of a mixologist. The first cocktail was composed of tanqueray, sherry, Creole shrub (a liqueur containing rum, sugar cane syrup, and orange peel), and orange bitters. My first thought was that this strange combination of ingredients would not mix well; after all I wasn't even familiar with Creole shrub. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how smooth this cocktail was, these various flavors actually formed a delicious drink. The second cocktail called summer time, which turned out to be one of my favorites, contained cognac, lemon and grapefruit juices, licor 43 (a citrus and vanilla flavored liqueur), orange bitters, and lemon thyme. (I know, I would have never thought to add thyme to a cocktail, I suppose this is why I am not a mixologist!) These very different elements combined to make a refreshing drink, manifesting both sweet and sour notes. I can just imagine sitting outside while drinking this cocktail on a warm day in the summer. I will honestly admit that I did not like the third drink, but it is no fault of the creator: I do not like two of its ingredients. However, for the record, this cocktail was a mixture of scotch, lime juice, honey syrup, beer, and chipotle pepper puree (it was poured into a glass with a salt and pepper rim). I applaud the mixologists for their creativity, but being the picky food critic I am, I did not enjoy it. The fourth and final cocktail, while I am sure is very caloric, was another one of my favorites. This was a dessert cocktail which was a frozen combination of grand marnier, Ecuadorian red bananas, and mocha. I was in heaven from the first sip, the sweetness of the mocha blended well with the consistency of the bananas, along with the potency of an outstanding type of grand marnier.
I enjoyed this tasting very much, it introduced me to food, drinks, and flavors which I did not know even existed. In addition, everyone sitting at my table was extremely nice to me and I am thankful for their assistance. (Even after the event they have helped me to remember all of the various ingredients which were used, so thanks to all of you) As an aspiring food critic and future social worker, I find it extremely interesting to learn more about another culture. I gained awareness which increased my competence, while at the same time adding to my knowledge of what people from around the world eat and drink. (Surprisingly it is more than hamburgers, pizza, and fast food) As you can probably tell, I had a great time and I look forward to attending similar events in the future!
Dan
I enjoyed this tasting very much, it introduced me to food, drinks, and flavors which I did not know even existed. In addition, everyone sitting at my table was extremely nice to me and I am thankful for their assistance. (Even after the event they have helped me to remember all of the various ingredients which were used, so thanks to all of you) As an aspiring food critic and future social worker, I find it extremely interesting to learn more about another culture. I gained awareness which increased my competence, while at the same time adding to my knowledge of what people from around the world eat and drink. (Surprisingly it is more than hamburgers, pizza, and fast food) As you can probably tell, I had a great time and I look forward to attending similar events in the future!
Dan
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
I like to stay busy!
Hi everyone, yes, as the title implies, I seem to be in a constant state of being busy. This might sound strange at first, but after reflecting on this concept for a while I realized that I actually prefer to have a life which is full with a somewhat busy schedule. In fact, I believe that I get bored with too much free time; I seem to thrive from activity. Therefore, I thought it would be appropriate today if I shared with you a little bit of what I enjoy doing all day long: (if you were thinking “eating dark chocolate and being overly sarcastic” then I am sorry, those two things almost made the top five)
1. Earning a master’s degree in social work: I began my first class in the MSW program last Tuesday and I have really enjoyed my first two weeks. The topic of my class is extremely interesting; pardon the cliché but I actually do learn something new every day (actually I have gained much more knowledge and insight than that).
2. My aspiration to become a food critic: There is something which is extremely delightful about trying out different kinds of food, and every once in a while I come across an opportunity to do so. Last weekend I was presented with one such event, during the first ever Gourmet Latino festival I was invited to a tasting of food and cocktails from Ecuador. You might be asking yourself: “how much does Dan know about Ecuadorian food?” Well… before Sunday the answer was: nothing. Luckily for me, there was a dynamic chef and “mixologist” who were there to teach me. As my readers know, I am very picky, especially about food that is too spicy, but there were certain dishes (such as the masitas fritas, pork shoulder which was fried then braised) which I actually enjoyed very much. (If you would like to read more about this event, you are in luck: there will be a separate blog coming soon. If this type of food does not interest you, why not read my blog anyway?).
3. Working out: After eating all of that delicious food, and just overeating in general, I have been working out on a regular basis. I find it easier to get up really early in the morning and go to the gym before class, that way I don’t have the chance to procrastinate later on in the day. (give me a stationary bike and an iPod and I’m set)
4. Following the Yankees: June is a great month for baseball, and although I haven’t been to any games this year, I enjoy listening to a good game. Despite numerous injuries, the Yankees continue to stay competitive and hopefully will still be close to first place when the entire team becomes healthy. (I am generally optimistic, but I am also a realist: having injuries is one thing, but horrible pitching and poor offense are two things I cannot excuse)
5. Reading: Yes, I said it, I like to read! Audio books have come a long way, and with an hour long trip each way to school, I am truly fortunate to have such excellent entertainment with me along the way. I have even read a science fiction book or two, and I’m trying to be more flexible and branch out into different genres. (within reason of course)
I hope this list has given you some insight into my life and why I enjoy being busy. Thanks for reading, I’ll talk to you next time: I am the busy blogger!
Dan
1. Earning a master’s degree in social work: I began my first class in the MSW program last Tuesday and I have really enjoyed my first two weeks. The topic of my class is extremely interesting; pardon the cliché but I actually do learn something new every day (actually I have gained much more knowledge and insight than that).
2. My aspiration to become a food critic: There is something which is extremely delightful about trying out different kinds of food, and every once in a while I come across an opportunity to do so. Last weekend I was presented with one such event, during the first ever Gourmet Latino festival I was invited to a tasting of food and cocktails from Ecuador. You might be asking yourself: “how much does Dan know about Ecuadorian food?” Well… before Sunday the answer was: nothing. Luckily for me, there was a dynamic chef and “mixologist” who were there to teach me. As my readers know, I am very picky, especially about food that is too spicy, but there were certain dishes (such as the masitas fritas, pork shoulder which was fried then braised) which I actually enjoyed very much. (If you would like to read more about this event, you are in luck: there will be a separate blog coming soon. If this type of food does not interest you, why not read my blog anyway?).
3. Working out: After eating all of that delicious food, and just overeating in general, I have been working out on a regular basis. I find it easier to get up really early in the morning and go to the gym before class, that way I don’t have the chance to procrastinate later on in the day. (give me a stationary bike and an iPod and I’m set)
4. Following the Yankees: June is a great month for baseball, and although I haven’t been to any games this year, I enjoy listening to a good game. Despite numerous injuries, the Yankees continue to stay competitive and hopefully will still be close to first place when the entire team becomes healthy. (I am generally optimistic, but I am also a realist: having injuries is one thing, but horrible pitching and poor offense are two things I cannot excuse)
5. Reading: Yes, I said it, I like to read! Audio books have come a long way, and with an hour long trip each way to school, I am truly fortunate to have such excellent entertainment with me along the way. I have even read a science fiction book or two, and I’m trying to be more flexible and branch out into different genres. (within reason of course)
I hope this list has given you some insight into my life and why I enjoy being busy. Thanks for reading, I’ll talk to you next time: I am the busy blogger!
Dan
Sunday, June 6, 2010
I graduated!... Finally!
Hello world, I do not even have words to express my happiness today: I have finally received my bachelors degree in social work! Now I know some of you are saying: why is this a big deal? Thanks for asking: the magnitude of this achievement represents the end of a long journey for me. When I started college I was unaware that I would be so interested in the amazing field of social work. Therefore, I will admit that I dropped out of school to follow my dream; unfortunately I envisioned a life for myself which ended up being the wrong path. In other words, it did not take me the stereotypical four years to complete my undergraduate degree, and I am almost ashamed to state how many years I have been a college student. (I might have a face that makes me look young, but don’t be fooled!) I have taken classes at a few different colleges; I was on a never ending quest to figure out what I wanted to do with my future. Even though I had many interests, I think about those times now and realize that I had no focus. While I did well at whatever I attempted, I could not find my path. When I decided to go back to school, I chose the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), and this is where I discovered the field of social work. I believe that when I registered for an associate’s degree in human services at BMCC, I was deciding to move forward with my life. I finally understood that I felt the need to help others with disabilities, and I have been on the right track ever since. I truly hope that this blog serves as an explanation as to why, after graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a 3.9 GPA, I am so pleased.
Dan
Dan
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Better brunch blog: uptown lounge
Hello readers, what kind of food critic would I be if I didn’t blog about my latest restaurant adventure? (that’s rhetorical by the way, no answers please) All jokes aside, I have decided to share with you my excellent experience at brunch today. This is a fairly new restaurant, it was my first time there and I was quite impressed. (As the picky or “selective” eater that my faithful readers know I am, it sometimes takes a lot to impress me) Therefore, here is my food critic review:
Uptown Lounge
1578 3rd Avenue
New York NY
4 stars
Brunch can be the most important meal of the day for me, so I was preparing to lower my expectations today, just in case. (I was hoping that this place was not going to choke like A-rod does with the bases loaded, that’s not an insult, it actually happened as I was eating, true story!). At the uptown lounge, you can choose from a wide array of dishes, from omelets to sandwiches to even fish. Your entree is accompanied with your choice of two drinks, alcoholic or not (can you guess which one I chose? Just kidding). The staff was friendly, actually going over the top to accommodate me. I selected the delicious-sounding uptown omelet: filled with ham, mushrooms, onions, and Swiss cheese.
There was no disappointment to be found at this restaurant. The omelet was expertly prepared and the flavors seamlessly blended together to create quite a tasty dish. The zest of the ham, combined with the mushrooms and sweet onions, and mild but flavorful Swiss cheese, were more than enough to satisfy my brunch craving. The better than average bacon, salty but authentic home fries, (both of which I asked for as extra crispy and were served that way), and whole wheat toast on the side only added to my terrific time.
Before I finish my review and make the decision whether or not to recommend a restaurant, I like to end with a few points just so that you are fully informed. First, the brunch costs $16, which might sound pricy to some. However, it does include the two drinks, the staff is very good with helping out with substitutions or changes in your order, and this price is actually reasonable in my opinion compared to what some other restaurants charge. In addition, my review is only based on brunch, I cannot vouch for any other meals at this establishment. Therefore, now that we have that out of the way…..
I would like to wholeheartedly recommend the Uptown Lounge. I hope all of my readers have the chance to check out the brunch for themselves. Until my next food adventure, take care and stay positive!
Dan
Uptown Lounge
1578 3rd Avenue
New York NY
4 stars
Brunch can be the most important meal of the day for me, so I was preparing to lower my expectations today, just in case. (I was hoping that this place was not going to choke like A-rod does with the bases loaded, that’s not an insult, it actually happened as I was eating, true story!). At the uptown lounge, you can choose from a wide array of dishes, from omelets to sandwiches to even fish. Your entree is accompanied with your choice of two drinks, alcoholic or not (can you guess which one I chose? Just kidding). The staff was friendly, actually going over the top to accommodate me. I selected the delicious-sounding uptown omelet: filled with ham, mushrooms, onions, and Swiss cheese.
There was no disappointment to be found at this restaurant. The omelet was expertly prepared and the flavors seamlessly blended together to create quite a tasty dish. The zest of the ham, combined with the mushrooms and sweet onions, and mild but flavorful Swiss cheese, were more than enough to satisfy my brunch craving. The better than average bacon, salty but authentic home fries, (both of which I asked for as extra crispy and were served that way), and whole wheat toast on the side only added to my terrific time.
Before I finish my review and make the decision whether or not to recommend a restaurant, I like to end with a few points just so that you are fully informed. First, the brunch costs $16, which might sound pricy to some. However, it does include the two drinks, the staff is very good with helping out with substitutions or changes in your order, and this price is actually reasonable in my opinion compared to what some other restaurants charge. In addition, my review is only based on brunch, I cannot vouch for any other meals at this establishment. Therefore, now that we have that out of the way…..
I would like to wholeheartedly recommend the Uptown Lounge. I hope all of my readers have the chance to check out the brunch for themselves. Until my next food adventure, take care and stay positive!
Dan
Welcome to the updated restaurant awards!
Hello everyone, before I dive in to my food reviews, I thought I would take a quick look at some of the best restaurants around, in my opinion of course! (Sorry McDonald’s, you didn’t make the cut this year despite all of your mcnugget goodness and crunchy French fries). I will be referring once in a while to the Zagat’s food guide, in particular their 2010 ratings
I believe that it is time to review my gourmet adventures in a numerical way. The Zagat guide rates their restaurants in three important ways: food, décor, and service.
Now, we all know that only one of those numbers matter. I’m talking, of course, about food! (no offense to fans of service, and décor: I can take it or leave it, as long as the food is top-notch). However, I strive to be as official as possible, so the following list contains all three ratings:
(All of these restaurant ratings are out of a maximum of 30 points, and they rarely get beyond 27 or 28).
Restaurant name: food décor service
The winner for barbecue food (envelope please): dinosaur's (One of the top two barbecue restaurants in New York City, my apologies to Blue Smoke, you are number two): 22 15 17
The winner for Italian food (although this restaurant technically serves Roman food: sandro's (scrumptious cuisine featuring an incredible bucatini amatriciana): 25 15 20
Best hamburger (readers of my blind blog should not be surprised by this): primehouse (Go for the outstanding brunch, they use a combination of rib eye and ground beef in their burgers and don’t forget to try the steakhouse burger with sautéed mushrooms and onions): 24 23 23
Honorable mention: union square café (On one hand it’s a bit touristy, and is one of the most popular restaurants in the city, but has a very nice hamburger and fried (I know) calamari): 27 23 26
Winner of best paella: socarrat (I am proud to be one of the first bloggers to write about this outstanding Spanish restaurant, their paella is only ahead of Malaga’s by a little, long waits so get there early and enjoy!): 24 17 20
Winner for best muscles: flex mussels (A fabulous restaurant offering big mussels with 23 different sauces, by the way, if you don’t like mussels maybe this is not the right restaurant for you): 22 17 19
Winner for best pizza (I’m sure I will get in trouble for saying this):lucali's (This excellent restaurant is top two for pizza just ahead of Difara’s, great calzone!): 26 16 19
I feel extremely fortunate to have tried out the excellent cuisine from all of these establishments, in my quest to find the best in every category of food. I guess that readers of my blind blog can finally understand why I am always complaining about the scale and how much I weigh! (Don’t worry, it’s actually alright, I am on a health kick and plan to continuously work out until I work off all of the bad calories).
I want to thank all of my readers for this opportunity, thanks to my great family, outstanding friends, and anyone who is reading my blog.
Dan
I believe that it is time to review my gourmet adventures in a numerical way. The Zagat guide rates their restaurants in three important ways: food, décor, and service.
Now, we all know that only one of those numbers matter. I’m talking, of course, about food! (no offense to fans of service, and décor: I can take it or leave it, as long as the food is top-notch). However, I strive to be as official as possible, so the following list contains all three ratings:
(All of these restaurant ratings are out of a maximum of 30 points, and they rarely get beyond 27 or 28).
Restaurant name: food décor service
The winner for barbecue food (envelope please): dinosaur's (One of the top two barbecue restaurants in New York City, my apologies to Blue Smoke, you are number two): 22 15 17
The winner for Italian food (although this restaurant technically serves Roman food: sandro's (scrumptious cuisine featuring an incredible bucatini amatriciana): 25 15 20
Best hamburger (readers of my blind blog should not be surprised by this): primehouse (Go for the outstanding brunch, they use a combination of rib eye and ground beef in their burgers and don’t forget to try the steakhouse burger with sautéed mushrooms and onions): 24 23 23
Honorable mention: union square café (On one hand it’s a bit touristy, and is one of the most popular restaurants in the city, but has a very nice hamburger and fried (I know) calamari): 27 23 26
Winner of best paella: socarrat (I am proud to be one of the first bloggers to write about this outstanding Spanish restaurant, their paella is only ahead of Malaga’s by a little, long waits so get there early and enjoy!): 24 17 20
Winner for best muscles: flex mussels (A fabulous restaurant offering big mussels with 23 different sauces, by the way, if you don’t like mussels maybe this is not the right restaurant for you): 22 17 19
Winner for best pizza (I’m sure I will get in trouble for saying this):lucali's (This excellent restaurant is top two for pizza just ahead of Difara’s, great calzone!): 26 16 19
I feel extremely fortunate to have tried out the excellent cuisine from all of these establishments, in my quest to find the best in every category of food. I guess that readers of my blind blog can finally understand why I am always complaining about the scale and how much I weigh! (Don’t worry, it’s actually alright, I am on a health kick and plan to continuously work out until I work off all of the bad calories).
I want to thank all of my readers for this opportunity, thanks to my great family, outstanding friends, and anyone who is reading my blog.
Dan
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
important update (creative title)
Hello world, I am writing a quick 5 minute update so that all my great readers can have a concept of what I have been up to. I have been working at a social work internship since the beginning of march, it is going really well and I am so excited to help out people who are blind like myself. I am learning a great deal about this field and I feel this experience is extremely beneficial. I have been keeping track of the Yankees’ progress so far this season: the team looks very competitive but after all it is still early and anything can happen. Nevertheless, I am hoping for the best (eternal optimist) and would really like to attend a few games this season (hint hint). The return of baseball is a great thing, especially because I experience an immense feeling of anticipation during the months of the off-season.
I enjoy reading audio books very much, and I just finished reading a fascinating yet strange science fiction book: WWW Wake. It is difficult to summarize such a complicated but well-told story, so for your information this is part of amazon.com’s description: “Blind teen Caitlin Decter gets an experimental signal-processing implant that inexplicably opens up her vision to the wondrous infrastructure of the World Wide Web. Inside the Web is a newborn webmind, a globe-spanning self-contained consciousness that is just becoming aware of the outside world.” I recommend this book, as long as you found that portion of the description to be of interest.
In other news, my struggles with weight loss continue, and my scale can never decide how much I weigh from day to day. I have been creating many salads this week, and I am continuing my diet despite the occasional frustrations. Finally, I am busy doing many reviews of restaurants and venues for a project I am working on called Accessible New York. According to our new website, “Accessible New York empowers people with disabilities to share their experiences of New York's dining, lodging, and entertainment destinations, and provides quality information about these establishments to people who are ready, willing, and able to dine, stay and play in the greatest city on Earth”.
I hope you have learned more about me and my progress from this update, there will be more blogs to come in the near future. Thanks everyone!
Dan
I enjoy reading audio books very much, and I just finished reading a fascinating yet strange science fiction book: WWW Wake. It is difficult to summarize such a complicated but well-told story, so for your information this is part of amazon.com’s description: “Blind teen Caitlin Decter gets an experimental signal-processing implant that inexplicably opens up her vision to the wondrous infrastructure of the World Wide Web. Inside the Web is a newborn webmind, a globe-spanning self-contained consciousness that is just becoming aware of the outside world.” I recommend this book, as long as you found that portion of the description to be of interest.
In other news, my struggles with weight loss continue, and my scale can never decide how much I weigh from day to day. I have been creating many salads this week, and I am continuing my diet despite the occasional frustrations. Finally, I am busy doing many reviews of restaurants and venues for a project I am working on called Accessible New York. According to our new website, “Accessible New York empowers people with disabilities to share their experiences of New York's dining, lodging, and entertainment destinations, and provides quality information about these establishments to people who are ready, willing, and able to dine, stay and play in the greatest city on Earth”.
I hope you have learned more about me and my progress from this update, there will be more blogs to come in the near future. Thanks everyone!
Dan
Saturday, March 20, 2010
whittiest title ever: new food critic review: Malaga
Hola amigos, yesterday night I went to a favorite Spanish restaurant of mine, and I thought I would share the experience with all of you. Vamos:
Malaga
406 E. 73rd St.
New York NY
4.5 out of 5 stars
Ah, the wonders of garlic. It can be an incredible ingredient (in my opinion, but I’m right). Is it delicious? Yes. Is it good to eat while trying to be social? No, Listerine or scope would not have even done the trick. Nevertheless, I really enjoy garlic and that was the key element of the dish which I planned to order here. When I entered Malaga, I appreciated it’s laid back ambiance: it was crowded but not loud, the Spanish music in the background added to the atmosphere but was not overpowering, and the restaurant just felt very relaxed. For the record, I don’t think that you can go wrong here, everything on the menu is tasty, from the paella to the tortilla omelet, I have never had a bad meal at Malaga. However, I knew exactly what I wanted so I ordered shrimp ala chef grilled: the menu offers no description for this dish, and it is true that it is extremely difficult to describe the goodness known as shrimp ala chef. This dish essentially consists of sautéed shrimp and numerous pieces of crunchy and fragrant garlic. I could smell it coming and could hear the dish because it was served on a sizzling platter. My first taste was heavenly, my senses were in overload and therefore were going crazy. The succulent shrimp paired with the delectable garlic made an incredible combination of flavors. It was nice to have a side of broccoli but it didn’t really matter in the end, I was just there for the amazing shrimp.
If you are reading this blog, then you should be aware that I was also drinking sangria (a Spanish wine-based drink) at the time, but I believe that my positive review of this establishment is based on reality and not on the alcohol. I would wholeheartedly recommend that all of my readers visit this great Spanish restaurant. However, there are two issues which I must address. First, Malaga is not wheel chair accessible (there are two steep steps before you arrive at the front door). In addition, a meal can be a little pricy, so I hope you understand that your experience might result in good food and a big check. Restaurants in Manhattan can be expensive, but at least the Spanish food at Malaga which you pay for is high quality. Thanks for reading, adios!
Dan
Malaga
406 E. 73rd St.
New York NY
4.5 out of 5 stars
Ah, the wonders of garlic. It can be an incredible ingredient (in my opinion, but I’m right). Is it delicious? Yes. Is it good to eat while trying to be social? No, Listerine or scope would not have even done the trick. Nevertheless, I really enjoy garlic and that was the key element of the dish which I planned to order here. When I entered Malaga, I appreciated it’s laid back ambiance: it was crowded but not loud, the Spanish music in the background added to the atmosphere but was not overpowering, and the restaurant just felt very relaxed. For the record, I don’t think that you can go wrong here, everything on the menu is tasty, from the paella to the tortilla omelet, I have never had a bad meal at Malaga. However, I knew exactly what I wanted so I ordered shrimp ala chef grilled: the menu offers no description for this dish, and it is true that it is extremely difficult to describe the goodness known as shrimp ala chef. This dish essentially consists of sautéed shrimp and numerous pieces of crunchy and fragrant garlic. I could smell it coming and could hear the dish because it was served on a sizzling platter. My first taste was heavenly, my senses were in overload and therefore were going crazy. The succulent shrimp paired with the delectable garlic made an incredible combination of flavors. It was nice to have a side of broccoli but it didn’t really matter in the end, I was just there for the amazing shrimp.
If you are reading this blog, then you should be aware that I was also drinking sangria (a Spanish wine-based drink) at the time, but I believe that my positive review of this establishment is based on reality and not on the alcohol. I would wholeheartedly recommend that all of my readers visit this great Spanish restaurant. However, there are two issues which I must address. First, Malaga is not wheel chair accessible (there are two steep steps before you arrive at the front door). In addition, a meal can be a little pricy, so I hope you understand that your experience might result in good food and a big check. Restaurants in Manhattan can be expensive, but at least the Spanish food at Malaga which you pay for is high quality. Thanks for reading, adios!
Dan
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
I hate my scale (the mystery of the 4 pound gain in 24 hours)
I hate my scale! Yes, I really do. Is it wrong to despise an inanimate object? Oh well, it’s true, it is my lifelong enemy. How can it be that I gained four pounds in one day? Yesterday I was feeling good about myself: I came to the false conclusion that I had lost 2 pounds, and I was in a positive mood. Today, my scale says (allegedly) that I have gained 2 pounds. (A four pound gain in only one day, from a loss to a gain of 2 pounds) How is this possible? Here was my day of eating yesterday: Breakfast: fiber one cereal, lunch: low fat cold cut sandwich, dinner: small lean hamburger with sautéed vegetables, and an apple. Does all of this manifest a four pound gain? I don’t think so. Now I feel confused and frustrated that I gained weight in the last month despite working out 4 times a week and eating a (mostly) healthy diet.
I don’t understand the art of weight loss. My body just does not want to give up the fat (my doctor even told me that). How many calories must I eat in a day, how many times must I work out in a week, in order to obtain my desired results? This is an ongoing struggle for me and I feel that I am losing it. No, seriously, I am losing it. Here are some possible factors: 1. I have a large bone structure, 2. I drink numerous glasses of water each day, 3. I take several different types of medication which could affect my weight. However, if these reasons do not change from day to day, then I cannot figure out this puzzle. I need some help: Any advice? I know that I always ask for comments but I really need some support, or just some tips, thank you all.
Dan
I don’t understand the art of weight loss. My body just does not want to give up the fat (my doctor even told me that). How many calories must I eat in a day, how many times must I work out in a week, in order to obtain my desired results? This is an ongoing struggle for me and I feel that I am losing it. No, seriously, I am losing it. Here are some possible factors: 1. I have a large bone structure, 2. I drink numerous glasses of water each day, 3. I take several different types of medication which could affect my weight. However, if these reasons do not change from day to day, then I cannot figure out this puzzle. I need some help: Any advice? I know that I always ask for comments but I really need some support, or just some tips, thank you all.
Dan
Sunday, March 14, 2010
I'm on a health kick (not literally)
Hi everyone, well after all of the bad eating choices I have made lately (who me?), I have decided to start eating more healthy foods. Are you disappointed that I will no longer be able to enjoy those delicious treats such as pizza, hamburgers, fried foods, and oh no—chocolate? Don’t fear, I prefer the philosophy of moderation. I have attempted to diet in the past, sometimes being successful and sometimes… not so much. A couple of times I tried to eat just healthy foods, like egg whites, fruits, vegetables, and grilled chicken and fish. However, this meant cutting out 100% of the foods which I loved very much,(carbs and sugar used to be two of my best friends), therefore I eventually quit those diets.
How am I doing? I have not consumed any red meat since my last hamburger review, (it’s in the archives, check it out), I did eat pizza (but just once last week and it had mushrooms, so come on!), and am limiting my fried food intake. In addition, I have been keeping my chocaholism under control, so no worries. I also have been using a service called “create a salad”: I go to a local restaurant or deli and tell them exactly what I want in a salad and they make it for me specifically in that way (did I ever tell you about my selective nature A.K.A being picky,, well, I am very picky). Anyway, this phenomenal concept of salad creativity allows me to eat several servings of vegetables in a day and enjoy it too!
I have replaced the red meat themed polls with healthy related ones, please participate. Feel free to say hi or share your comment because I’m now on twitter:
www.twitter.com/blindblog
Dan the healthy man
How am I doing? I have not consumed any red meat since my last hamburger review, (it’s in the archives, check it out), I did eat pizza (but just once last week and it had mushrooms, so come on!), and am limiting my fried food intake. In addition, I have been keeping my chocaholism under control, so no worries. I also have been using a service called “create a salad”: I go to a local restaurant or deli and tell them exactly what I want in a salad and they make it for me specifically in that way (did I ever tell you about my selective nature A.K.A being picky,, well, I am very picky). Anyway, this phenomenal concept of salad creativity allows me to eat several servings of vegetables in a day and enjoy it too!
I have replaced the red meat themed polls with healthy related ones, please participate. Feel free to say hi or share your comment because I’m now on twitter:
www.twitter.com/blindblog
Dan the healthy man
Saturday, March 6, 2010
sleep: so elusive
Hello everyone, I am so very tired today. I am finding out that getting a full uninterrupted night of sleep can be one of the most elusive problems in the world. I believe this is true because there is no all-inclusive cure: if you want to lose weight, you go on a diet and exercise, if you have an addiction then you can use a program like AA, but if you can’t sleep then what do you do? I have tried taking over-the-counter sleeping pills, ambient, going to bed at the same time every night, cutting out TV before bed, even an extensive sleep study (not all at once, of course). One technique might work once or twice, but eventually its effectiveness wears off and I am left back at square one. I don’t know what to do, at this point I am happy just venting electronically (silly, I know). This last week I have been running on caffeine (don’t knock the iced mochas), but I need to get back on track and on a regular schedule of obtaining successful sleep. This mysterious and intangible problem needs to be solved, so here’s my plan:
Good night!
Dan
Good night!
Dan
Sunday, February 21, 2010
red meat overdose: my review of Burger Joint
Hi everyone, my recent diet has included way too much red meat so I am going back to a more moderate and healthy regimen. However, I figured if I was going to be “bad”, I might as well try out another restaurant which my friend said makes excellent hamburgers. That is the story behind my new food review:
Burger Joint
119 W. 56th St. (inside Le Parker Meridien, really? Yes!)
New York NY
4 stars out of 5
I would have never thought that this crowded restaurant for an inexpensive but tasty meal would be located inside of a fancy New York City hotel, but I was incorrect. It was extremely hard to even find it: the burger joint is hidden behind curtains in a hallway leading from the lobby. The menu is very simple: “if you don’t see it, we don’t have it!” This is the exact message on their menu and they mean it: the list of available food and drinks are short but cover all the bases, which are hamburgers, fries, and shakes. Therefore, I decided to be old-fashioned and simply ordered a plain hamburger (yes plain, no lettuce, tomato, etc.) and a chocolate shake. While waiting for my meal, I found the last available seat in the cramped dining area. The burger joint’s ambiance was laid back: people from all over the city gathered together, a variety of music was playing, and it felt very comfortable. When the food arrived, my mouth was watering and I felt relieved that it did not disappoint me. I bit into the hamburger and was reminded of old summer time barbecues, sitting on the grass and feeling the warmth of the sun. By this I mean that the hamburger was well cooked, delicious, and consisted of a patty of high quality beef (it had a distinctive grilled flavor). I wouldn’t call it a “top ten” burger, but I was very satisfied and it met my expectations. The shake was thick rich, and sweet, it did not meet the excellence of Shake Shack but was still a real treat.
The burger joint is a place that I would recommend to try out once. It’s atmosphere was unique and the food was of a superior quality. Please do not be dismayed by my comparisons of this to other establishments, it is simply my mental way of ranking restaurants in order to determine their merits. I would be curious to hear your feedback about my review, or of this restaurant, please leave your comments below. Until next time… I will try to eat better and I look forward to hearing from my great readers.
Dan
Burger Joint
119 W. 56th St. (inside Le Parker Meridien, really? Yes!)
New York NY
4 stars out of 5
I would have never thought that this crowded restaurant for an inexpensive but tasty meal would be located inside of a fancy New York City hotel, but I was incorrect. It was extremely hard to even find it: the burger joint is hidden behind curtains in a hallway leading from the lobby. The menu is very simple: “if you don’t see it, we don’t have it!” This is the exact message on their menu and they mean it: the list of available food and drinks are short but cover all the bases, which are hamburgers, fries, and shakes. Therefore, I decided to be old-fashioned and simply ordered a plain hamburger (yes plain, no lettuce, tomato, etc.) and a chocolate shake. While waiting for my meal, I found the last available seat in the cramped dining area. The burger joint’s ambiance was laid back: people from all over the city gathered together, a variety of music was playing, and it felt very comfortable. When the food arrived, my mouth was watering and I felt relieved that it did not disappoint me. I bit into the hamburger and was reminded of old summer time barbecues, sitting on the grass and feeling the warmth of the sun. By this I mean that the hamburger was well cooked, delicious, and consisted of a patty of high quality beef (it had a distinctive grilled flavor). I wouldn’t call it a “top ten” burger, but I was very satisfied and it met my expectations. The shake was thick rich, and sweet, it did not meet the excellence of Shake Shack but was still a real treat.
The burger joint is a place that I would recommend to try out once. It’s atmosphere was unique and the food was of a superior quality. Please do not be dismayed by my comparisons of this to other establishments, it is simply my mental way of ranking restaurants in order to determine their merits. I would be curious to hear your feedback about my review, or of this restaurant, please leave your comments below. Until next time… I will try to eat better and I look forward to hearing from my great readers.
Dan
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
This is it: the review (I'm serious, this is it!)
Hello world, I am extremely excited to bring to you my latest movie review (popcorn time?):
This is it:
4.25 stars out of 5 stars
Have you ever watched a film that made you feel happy, sad, moved, and contemplative all at the same time? “This is it” was one of those films for me. Before delving into the details of this wonderfully crafted film, let me just get a thing or two off of my chest: I know where I was on June 25, 2009, and I bet that many of you do too. For any of my readers who are not aware, that was the day when Michael Jackson passed away, and I can recall coming home after a full day of summer classes and hearing the bad news. Most of us never took the time to understand the king of pop while he was alive, but then again the thing he wanted the most was his privacy. This movie demonstrates the true nature of his personality in different aspects. As a fan of Michael Jackson’s music while growing up, I learned a very important rule about viewing someone like him: you must separate the man from the music. No one will ever know the truth behind all of the legal matters with which he dealt, but I do know that there will only ever be one Thriller. “This is it“ was a profound movie, covering four months of rehearsals before Jackson’s untimely death (murder?) and it does a fantastic job of combining this footage into one cohesive work. This film portrays MJ as an extremely humble man, however he also manifested a tendency towards being a perfectionist. He performed several of his most popular songs, so please allow me to share my favorite five performances with you:
5. They don’t care about us: this moving song was improved by the creativity of Kenny Ortega, who not only directed this film but also was responsible for putting together this entire concert. He used the “green screen” effect; eleven dancers dressed up as soldiers were magnified to look as if there were one thousand one hundred soldiers on the stage. Originally written as a protest to discrimination, “they don’t care about us” was assisted by special effects which reinforced the point.
4. Thriller: I don’t think anyone would doubt that this is top five material, even if you have not viewed the film (I remember “watching” this video on MTV in the 1980’s). However, the astounding array of special effects really blew me away: it looked like a haunted house with dead bodies, rats and spiders, and plenty of other scary surprises to accompany Michael Jackson on stage for this classic.
3. Earth Song: I believe that MJ was ahead of his time when he wrote this song about saving our planet, and his vocals were pitch perfect. Certain images accompanied the song which enhanced the experience: they told the story of a little girl who wandered through a forest, fell asleep, and woke up to find the forest destroyed by man. Jackson’s voice is heard at the end telling of the dangers of Global Warming and the lack of time left, and I found it to be very moving.
2. Human Nature: I enjoyed this song due to the lack of the special effects which had dominated so much of his other performances. In the movie, he sings Human Nature first as an acapella, then acoustic, and finally through using the full band. He perfects his craft along the way and this was one of his most brilliant moments.
1. I can’t stop loving you: Mr. Jackson shined the most on this song which he sang with Judith Hill (one of his backup singers who was excellent herself). It felt as if he strived to hit even higher and better notes because of some imaginary competition between Judith and himself. My view of the way in which concerts should be performed can best be summarized as anti-special effects. Therefore, “I can’t stop loving you” fit the bill perfectly.
I recommend this movie to everyone, no matter how you feel about Michael Jackson or even about music in general. I do not believe that there will ever be another icon like Michael Jackson and this movie provides a unique opportunity to learn more about this musical genius.
Dan
This is it:
4.25 stars out of 5 stars
Have you ever watched a film that made you feel happy, sad, moved, and contemplative all at the same time? “This is it” was one of those films for me. Before delving into the details of this wonderfully crafted film, let me just get a thing or two off of my chest: I know where I was on June 25, 2009, and I bet that many of you do too. For any of my readers who are not aware, that was the day when Michael Jackson passed away, and I can recall coming home after a full day of summer classes and hearing the bad news. Most of us never took the time to understand the king of pop while he was alive, but then again the thing he wanted the most was his privacy. This movie demonstrates the true nature of his personality in different aspects. As a fan of Michael Jackson’s music while growing up, I learned a very important rule about viewing someone like him: you must separate the man from the music. No one will ever know the truth behind all of the legal matters with which he dealt, but I do know that there will only ever be one Thriller. “This is it“ was a profound movie, covering four months of rehearsals before Jackson’s untimely death (murder?) and it does a fantastic job of combining this footage into one cohesive work. This film portrays MJ as an extremely humble man, however he also manifested a tendency towards being a perfectionist. He performed several of his most popular songs, so please allow me to share my favorite five performances with you:
5. They don’t care about us: this moving song was improved by the creativity of Kenny Ortega, who not only directed this film but also was responsible for putting together this entire concert. He used the “green screen” effect; eleven dancers dressed up as soldiers were magnified to look as if there were one thousand one hundred soldiers on the stage. Originally written as a protest to discrimination, “they don’t care about us” was assisted by special effects which reinforced the point.
4. Thriller: I don’t think anyone would doubt that this is top five material, even if you have not viewed the film (I remember “watching” this video on MTV in the 1980’s). However, the astounding array of special effects really blew me away: it looked like a haunted house with dead bodies, rats and spiders, and plenty of other scary surprises to accompany Michael Jackson on stage for this classic.
3. Earth Song: I believe that MJ was ahead of his time when he wrote this song about saving our planet, and his vocals were pitch perfect. Certain images accompanied the song which enhanced the experience: they told the story of a little girl who wandered through a forest, fell asleep, and woke up to find the forest destroyed by man. Jackson’s voice is heard at the end telling of the dangers of Global Warming and the lack of time left, and I found it to be very moving.
2. Human Nature: I enjoyed this song due to the lack of the special effects which had dominated so much of his other performances. In the movie, he sings Human Nature first as an acapella, then acoustic, and finally through using the full band. He perfects his craft along the way and this was one of his most brilliant moments.
1. I can’t stop loving you: Mr. Jackson shined the most on this song which he sang with Judith Hill (one of his backup singers who was excellent herself). It felt as if he strived to hit even higher and better notes because of some imaginary competition between Judith and himself. My view of the way in which concerts should be performed can best be summarized as anti-special effects. Therefore, “I can’t stop loving you” fit the bill perfectly.
I recommend this movie to everyone, no matter how you feel about Michael Jackson or even about music in general. I do not believe that there will ever be another icon like Michael Jackson and this movie provides a unique opportunity to learn more about this musical genius.
Dan
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
My frustration with access a ride:
Access a ride: the best of times, the worst of times:
I am feeling extremely frustrated with access a ride after today’s debacle. I admit that access a ride can be extremely helpful to people with disabilities, it allows us to go to work, meet friends, go to doctor appointments, and travel from one place to the next in the same way as our nondisabled peers. However, after what I went through today, I am not so sure if it is the greatest solution for me. I do not use this service very often, I happen to be totally blind and therefore I prefer to take the subway as long as it is the most convenient form of transportation. However, my trip today, according to hopstop.com, would consist of over seventeen miles, three subways, and a bus. I believed that access a ride offered the best option for traveling so I booked my reservation far in advance. I waited patiently in front of my building for my 4:11 PM pick up. In fact, I waited a half of an hour until I became concerned that I would miss the meeting and decided to call to check on the status of my transportation. To her credit, the woman who assisted me was very helpful and friendly, but her news was anything but good: my driver was currently driving on an express way in queens and wouldn’t arrive at my location for at least another fifteen to twenty minutes. This information by itself indicated that I would be late for the meeting, but I became even more annoyed when I heard the next part of the story: the driver’s plan was to pick me up, then pick up another three people, drop them off at their destinations, and then finally take me to Kingsborough community college in Brooklyn. I understood at this point that I definitely would not be able to make the meeting, so I hid my frustration and nicely asked the woman to cancel both parts of my trip. Therefore, I am now sitting at home, feeling extremely frustrated, and am not able to attend the meeting which I was looking forward to. Thanks for nothing, access a ride!
I am feeling extremely frustrated with access a ride after today’s debacle. I admit that access a ride can be extremely helpful to people with disabilities, it allows us to go to work, meet friends, go to doctor appointments, and travel from one place to the next in the same way as our nondisabled peers. However, after what I went through today, I am not so sure if it is the greatest solution for me. I do not use this service very often, I happen to be totally blind and therefore I prefer to take the subway as long as it is the most convenient form of transportation. However, my trip today, according to hopstop.com, would consist of over seventeen miles, three subways, and a bus. I believed that access a ride offered the best option for traveling so I booked my reservation far in advance. I waited patiently in front of my building for my 4:11 PM pick up. In fact, I waited a half of an hour until I became concerned that I would miss the meeting and decided to call to check on the status of my transportation. To her credit, the woman who assisted me was very helpful and friendly, but her news was anything but good: my driver was currently driving on an express way in queens and wouldn’t arrive at my location for at least another fifteen to twenty minutes. This information by itself indicated that I would be late for the meeting, but I became even more annoyed when I heard the next part of the story: the driver’s plan was to pick me up, then pick up another three people, drop them off at their destinations, and then finally take me to Kingsborough community college in Brooklyn. I understood at this point that I definitely would not be able to make the meeting, so I hid my frustration and nicely asked the woman to cancel both parts of my trip. Therefore, I am now sitting at home, feeling extremely frustrated, and am not able to attend the meeting which I was looking forward to. Thanks for nothing, access a ride!
Friday, January 29, 2010
My sweet tooth: based on a true story
My sweet tooth:
It is true, my sweet tooth seems to be always getting me into trouble. (Please allow me to clarify, I fully take responsibility for my actions and any weight gain which might occur as a consequence, thanks for asking). Note: unlike the common misconception, I do not have a sweet tooth, rather all of my teeth love sweets, but for the rest of this blog I will continue to use the term sweet tooth because it sounds better than saying “I have sweet teeth”. In a strange way, sweets make me really happy, I am not sure why, it might be due to their goodness and taste but perhaps there is some extra mystery factor of which I am as yet unaware. However, this passion for sweets always gets me down in the end: a sugar high to an esteem low, how do I go so far downhill?
It might start with something as innocent as a cupcake (yes, cupcakes are innocent until proven guilty). After reading an article in time out magazine, detailing where to find great cupcakes in the city, I have been on a quest to find the best. My most recent attempt was with the establishment known as cupcake stop: a truck that travels around Manhattan, posting its location on facebook and twitter, and selling tasty homemade cupcakes of all varieties. When I finally tracked it down, I was so happy, but my heightened expectations were my downfall so I could not accurately report on them (although I will try). All I can say is that they were good, not the best that I ever tasted but still quality cupcakes, I believe that they were better than most. The “cookie dough” cupcake was rich but with a light texture, with a piece of a cookie on top of the flavorful icing. I asked for a triple chocolate cupcake and instead received a red velvet one, I was slightly disappointed at the time but now I’m fine. In any case, it was also tasty, with a fluffy cake on the bottom and a mild tasting cream cheese icing on top. Overall, it was a good attempt, but my mission goes on.
Anyone who knows me should know my obsession with chocolate, especially with dark chocolate. Sure, you might think that dark chocolate is healthy with its antioxidants and flavanoids, and you might be right (I really hope so). However, I am always on a mission to find the best chocolate, which almost included paying for chocolates to be shipped from California. (Back story: I read online that some of the best chocolates being made in the United States were manufactured from this one person in California, the prices were expensive but not exorbitant for a chocoholic such as myself) For the record, I finally came to my senses (when I read the price for shipping) and now I’ll stick to what’s locally available in this great city.
I could go on and on, writing many pages more about this topic, I can be a very picky eater but there are just so many desserts which I enjoy, and I didn’t even get to ice cream! What I am trying to say is: moderation is the key (sorry, I needed a cliché phrase in here somewhere). Let’s try to enjoy these sinful foods on occasion but not go overboard, it is easy to say that but very hard to do in real life. Sweet tooth: you are on notice!
Dan
It is true, my sweet tooth seems to be always getting me into trouble. (Please allow me to clarify, I fully take responsibility for my actions and any weight gain which might occur as a consequence, thanks for asking). Note: unlike the common misconception, I do not have a sweet tooth, rather all of my teeth love sweets, but for the rest of this blog I will continue to use the term sweet tooth because it sounds better than saying “I have sweet teeth”. In a strange way, sweets make me really happy, I am not sure why, it might be due to their goodness and taste but perhaps there is some extra mystery factor of which I am as yet unaware. However, this passion for sweets always gets me down in the end: a sugar high to an esteem low, how do I go so far downhill?
It might start with something as innocent as a cupcake (yes, cupcakes are innocent until proven guilty). After reading an article in time out magazine, detailing where to find great cupcakes in the city, I have been on a quest to find the best. My most recent attempt was with the establishment known as cupcake stop: a truck that travels around Manhattan, posting its location on facebook and twitter, and selling tasty homemade cupcakes of all varieties. When I finally tracked it down, I was so happy, but my heightened expectations were my downfall so I could not accurately report on them (although I will try). All I can say is that they were good, not the best that I ever tasted but still quality cupcakes, I believe that they were better than most. The “cookie dough” cupcake was rich but with a light texture, with a piece of a cookie on top of the flavorful icing. I asked for a triple chocolate cupcake and instead received a red velvet one, I was slightly disappointed at the time but now I’m fine. In any case, it was also tasty, with a fluffy cake on the bottom and a mild tasting cream cheese icing on top. Overall, it was a good attempt, but my mission goes on.
Anyone who knows me should know my obsession with chocolate, especially with dark chocolate. Sure, you might think that dark chocolate is healthy with its antioxidants and flavanoids, and you might be right (I really hope so). However, I am always on a mission to find the best chocolate, which almost included paying for chocolates to be shipped from California. (Back story: I read online that some of the best chocolates being made in the United States were manufactured from this one person in California, the prices were expensive but not exorbitant for a chocoholic such as myself) For the record, I finally came to my senses (when I read the price for shipping) and now I’ll stick to what’s locally available in this great city.
I could go on and on, writing many pages more about this topic, I can be a very picky eater but there are just so many desserts which I enjoy, and I didn’t even get to ice cream! What I am trying to say is: moderation is the key (sorry, I needed a cliché phrase in here somewhere). Let’s try to enjoy these sinful foods on occasion but not go overboard, it is easy to say that but very hard to do in real life. Sweet tooth: you are on notice!
Dan
Friday, January 15, 2010
stress: you gotta love it
Hey everyone, wow I feel so stressed out right now, I am sitting here and trying to finish my take home midterm. I am feeling so much stress that I decided to write a blog about it in sort of a free form flow, just writing what comes to mind. This is my last class at Lehman, at least until I start the masters program in the summer (yes I know it’s not a given but with a 3.9 GPA you would think that they wouldn’t turn me down, and no I am not bragging just being sincere and stating facts). Anyway, rationally I don’t understand why this sociology course is causing me so much anxiety but it has to stop, right about now! Seriously, folks, I’m done, I am knocking this thing out before the MLK holiday on Monday and then I am done, well I’ll be done temporarily. Don’t forget: the final is of course next Friday and there is always more homework. Sometimes I feel that I am never done, that this work will never stop. This is obviously not the reality, in fact I get bored with too much free time on my hands so this is probably a good thing.
“Write, just write!” I keep telling myself this, three essays are all I need, actually that plus some chocolate, money, friends, a paying job, ok so maybe not just that, but it would be a very good start indeed. By the way, I apologize to any of you who might be reading this, if I carry on for too long or if you are thinking that there are more important problems in the world like the catastrophe in Haiti or the doomsday clock or our alleged impending doom in 2012 (really? Are you serious?).
Actually I do feel very bad for those who have been affected by the horrible events in Haiti, for the people of that country and for their families. For some reason it made me think about hurricane Catrina and its devastation, probably because I am a fan of the city of New Orleans and have been there a few times. I just wish for the best for everyone, enough said. No, I am sorry to disappoint those of you who thought that the world will end in 2012, that won’t happen. When, you might ask, will it end? I don’t know, but I do not pretend as if I have any clue. If Hollywood has taught me anything, perhaps it will be the day after tomorrow? (For those of you who are reading this blog after the 17th, then I was incorrect and new York is not flooded yet). In all seriousness, yes I like to joke around a bit, but all of these natural disasters, terrorism, and violence does scare me a tad (thank you Microsoft word thesaurus). Terrorism, in particular, frightens me. I am sure that there will be someone reading this post, maybe you do not live in a major city, and you are saying “it could happen here”… uh, no, sorry it couldn’t. New York in my opinion is the primary target, so I tend to be vigilant, even on the good old 4 train line.
Ok, I feel more calm now, thanks for listening to my thoughts, world. Let me conclude by saying this: I started this blog one year and a half ago and I write it for myself, not for the comments and not for notoriety, just for my own health and clarity, so thanks for tuning in.
Dan
“Write, just write!” I keep telling myself this, three essays are all I need, actually that plus some chocolate, money, friends, a paying job, ok so maybe not just that, but it would be a very good start indeed. By the way, I apologize to any of you who might be reading this, if I carry on for too long or if you are thinking that there are more important problems in the world like the catastrophe in Haiti or the doomsday clock or our alleged impending doom in 2012 (really? Are you serious?).
Actually I do feel very bad for those who have been affected by the horrible events in Haiti, for the people of that country and for their families. For some reason it made me think about hurricane Catrina and its devastation, probably because I am a fan of the city of New Orleans and have been there a few times. I just wish for the best for everyone, enough said. No, I am sorry to disappoint those of you who thought that the world will end in 2012, that won’t happen. When, you might ask, will it end? I don’t know, but I do not pretend as if I have any clue. If Hollywood has taught me anything, perhaps it will be the day after tomorrow? (For those of you who are reading this blog after the 17th, then I was incorrect and new York is not flooded yet). In all seriousness, yes I like to joke around a bit, but all of these natural disasters, terrorism, and violence does scare me a tad (thank you Microsoft word thesaurus). Terrorism, in particular, frightens me. I am sure that there will be someone reading this post, maybe you do not live in a major city, and you are saying “it could happen here”… uh, no, sorry it couldn’t. New York in my opinion is the primary target, so I tend to be vigilant, even on the good old 4 train line.
Ok, I feel more calm now, thanks for listening to my thoughts, world. Let me conclude by saying this: I started this blog one year and a half ago and I write it for myself, not for the comments and not for notoriety, just for my own health and clarity, so thanks for tuning in.
Dan
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Braille: it's alive!
An open letter to the New York Times:
In the article “listening to Braille”, the question is asked: With New Technologies, Do Blind People Lose More Than They Gain? In my opinion, there is very much that we can gain, however, it should not be forgotten how much we have to lose. Technology is a great thing, I think that many of us can agree on that statement. Unfortunately, it is regularly being used as a substitute for Braille, which I cannot condone.
When I was five years old, I learned how to read Braille, the ingenious system of dots representing letters, numbers, music, and accents. To this day, my book shelves are still filled with volumes of Braille: Harry Potter, Shakespeare, cookbooks, and books filled with puzzles (yes, I am a crossword fan, and that book was written by New York Times’ Will Shortz, its current crossword creator). Not to be redundant, but Braille is my print, and I use it in my everyday life: a few examples include reading books, Braille notes, and public signs (I wouldn’t want to walk into the wrong bathroom). I don’t want this generation of children to grow up without knowing how to spell, with no knowledge of vocabulary, or even not understanding concepts like paragraphs, tabs, and margins. However, if it were up to Ms. Sloate, the first women interviewed in this disturbing yet interesting article written by Rachel Aviv, Braille would be “abolished”. Well this is very easy for her to say: she receives all of her news media in an audio format and she has a secretary to whom she can dictate, a luxury which most of us will never possess. I comprehend that Braille is expensive, but does that mean that this nation’s 1.3 million citizens who are blind should be deprived of knowing what a comma is?
From my experiences, I can tell you that I only personally use Braille for certain types of materials but not for others. For example, Braille is almost a necessity for foreign languages, mathematics, sciences, and music. I don’t intend to take a negative stance on technology, I really do enjoy it. In fact, I am a happy member of audible.com where I read two audio books every month, and I think that this site and many others which offer audio materials are excellent. I am simply puzzled by one question: Do you use audio or Braille? OR? I’m sorry, but… really? Were we supposed to make a choice about that? If this was a multiple choice question, I would circle all of the above. In other words, technology is excellent, but don’t let Braille die!
Sincerely,
Dan
(If you would like to read the article from which this letter is based, please click or copy and paste the following link):
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/magazine/03Braille-t.html
In the article “listening to Braille”, the question is asked: With New Technologies, Do Blind People Lose More Than They Gain? In my opinion, there is very much that we can gain, however, it should not be forgotten how much we have to lose. Technology is a great thing, I think that many of us can agree on that statement. Unfortunately, it is regularly being used as a substitute for Braille, which I cannot condone.
When I was five years old, I learned how to read Braille, the ingenious system of dots representing letters, numbers, music, and accents. To this day, my book shelves are still filled with volumes of Braille: Harry Potter, Shakespeare, cookbooks, and books filled with puzzles (yes, I am a crossword fan, and that book was written by New York Times’ Will Shortz, its current crossword creator). Not to be redundant, but Braille is my print, and I use it in my everyday life: a few examples include reading books, Braille notes, and public signs (I wouldn’t want to walk into the wrong bathroom). I don’t want this generation of children to grow up without knowing how to spell, with no knowledge of vocabulary, or even not understanding concepts like paragraphs, tabs, and margins. However, if it were up to Ms. Sloate, the first women interviewed in this disturbing yet interesting article written by Rachel Aviv, Braille would be “abolished”. Well this is very easy for her to say: she receives all of her news media in an audio format and she has a secretary to whom she can dictate, a luxury which most of us will never possess. I comprehend that Braille is expensive, but does that mean that this nation’s 1.3 million citizens who are blind should be deprived of knowing what a comma is?
From my experiences, I can tell you that I only personally use Braille for certain types of materials but not for others. For example, Braille is almost a necessity for foreign languages, mathematics, sciences, and music. I don’t intend to take a negative stance on technology, I really do enjoy it. In fact, I am a happy member of audible.com where I read two audio books every month, and I think that this site and many others which offer audio materials are excellent. I am simply puzzled by one question: Do you use audio or Braille? OR? I’m sorry, but… really? Were we supposed to make a choice about that? If this was a multiple choice question, I would circle all of the above. In other words, technology is excellent, but don’t let Braille die!
Sincerely,
Dan
(If you would like to read the article from which this letter is based, please click or copy and paste the following link):
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/magazine/03Braille-t.html
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Where's the beef? Find out here in my newest food critic review:
Hello and thanks for joining me today in my food critic’s corner. I had an excellent new year’s eve this year, and what made it great, only in terms of the food of course, was a prefix dinner that I enjoyed with a good friend of mine at Morton’s steakhouse. I had never dined at this renowned establishment previously, and even though my favorite is steakhouse is the palm steakhouse, I decided to try out the food here which did not disappoint:
Morton’s Steakhouse
551 5th avenuavenuee
New York NY
4.25 stars out of 5 stars
When I walked into this restaurant, I was warmly greeted, and they staff went out of theire way to accommodate my friend and myself. This same quality of service also carried over to our waiter and all other staff employees, which really impressed me. The waiter presented us with several choices, from salmon to lamb to quite a number of steak choicess, which ranged from ribeyerib eye to filet mignon to cirloinsirloin. However, I already knew about the prefix special so I had already selection made up my mind. As part of the prefix, I started with a Caesar salad, which I adjusted to fit my picky nature (not an anchovy fan). The crisp lettuce contrasted the savory Parmesan cheese and the crunchy croutons well and I really liked this salad. After this I chose the small filet mignon steak, which I found to be tender, grilled to perfection, and seasoned just enough to bring out the flavor of the meat. A small crab cake accompanied the steak; it was delicious with succulent crabmeat and was perfectly matched with a few spices. In addition, as if this meal wasn’t great enough, I received a plate of delicious crispy hash browns, made with fresh shredded potatoes. You might think that I was pretty fulfull at this point, and you would be correct. Dessert probably wasn’t necessary after such a large meal, but I still tried it out for a few reasons: 1. It came with the meal, 2. I am a food critic so it is my nature to try out different types of food, and 3. I am admittedly a “chocaholic” so the idea of a chocolate themed dessert intrigued me. I ordered Morton’s hot chocolate cake, (I know, big surprise). I don’t really have accurate words to describe the sinful goodness of this creation, which consisted of a warm and slightly crunchy cake surrounding a hot fudge chocolaty type of filling, it was one of the best desserts I have ever dined on. The vanilla ice cream on the side was really not necessary, I was just happy with the cake and wanted only a long walk afterwards to burn off all of those tasty calories.
As a college student, I would never call this type of a meal “affordable.” However, it was a good deal based on Morton’s regular prices, where a steak can cost, yes, over forty dollars! I would recommend this restaurant 110% to anyone who would like a great meal at a wonderful steakhouse. I can honestly say that I am still a fan of the palm steakhouse, but this meal made me realize that there are other excellent steakhouses, which I plan to try out, here in this, the greatest city in the world. Until next time, thanks for coming with me on my latest food adventure!
Dan
Morton’s Steakhouse
551 5th avenuavenuee
New York NY
4.25 stars out of 5 stars
When I walked into this restaurant, I was warmly greeted, and they staff went out of theire way to accommodate my friend and myself. This same quality of service also carried over to our waiter and all other staff employees, which really impressed me. The waiter presented us with several choices, from salmon to lamb to quite a number of steak choicess, which ranged from ribeyerib eye to filet mignon to cirloinsirloin. However, I already knew about the prefix special so I had already selection made up my mind. As part of the prefix, I started with a Caesar salad, which I adjusted to fit my picky nature (not an anchovy fan). The crisp lettuce contrasted the savory Parmesan cheese and the crunchy croutons well and I really liked this salad. After this I chose the small filet mignon steak, which I found to be tender, grilled to perfection, and seasoned just enough to bring out the flavor of the meat. A small crab cake accompanied the steak; it was delicious with succulent crabmeat and was perfectly matched with a few spices. In addition, as if this meal wasn’t great enough, I received a plate of delicious crispy hash browns, made with fresh shredded potatoes. You might think that I was pretty fulfull at this point, and you would be correct. Dessert probably wasn’t necessary after such a large meal, but I still tried it out for a few reasons: 1. It came with the meal, 2. I am a food critic so it is my nature to try out different types of food, and 3. I am admittedly a “chocaholic” so the idea of a chocolate themed dessert intrigued me. I ordered Morton’s hot chocolate cake, (I know, big surprise). I don’t really have accurate words to describe the sinful goodness of this creation, which consisted of a warm and slightly crunchy cake surrounding a hot fudge chocolaty type of filling, it was one of the best desserts I have ever dined on. The vanilla ice cream on the side was really not necessary, I was just happy with the cake and wanted only a long walk afterwards to burn off all of those tasty calories.
As a college student, I would never call this type of a meal “affordable.” However, it was a good deal based on Morton’s regular prices, where a steak can cost, yes, over forty dollars! I would recommend this restaurant 110% to anyone who would like a great meal at a wonderful steakhouse. I can honestly say that I am still a fan of the palm steakhouse, but this meal made me realize that there are other excellent steakhouses, which I plan to try out, here in this, the greatest city in the world. Until next time, thanks for coming with me on my latest food adventure!
Dan
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