I had a craving for dim sum last night and I didn't have class today so I thought what the hey, let's get dim sum. My roommate and I trekked out to Manhattan's Chinatown to find the little restaurant I went to my first summer here in NYC since it was a little too late to do traditional dim sum where the little ladies squeeze the carts of steaming hot goodies between the tables (we got to the city close to noon).
I discovered this place two summers ago when my original intention was to try some black pepper ice cream at the famed Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, which is a total other story. This place is a few doors down from the Ice Cream Factory on Bayard, and the great thing is you can order dim sum right off the menu whenever you want. Being my first blog, I am a little embarrassed about not taking note of what the restaurant was called (sorry) but you'll know when you see them making dumplings right at the entrance and the interior looks like some cave... or jungle. But once you get past the decor, you'll find the food is decent. The waiter brought the steaming hot jasmine tea out right away (perfect for a cold winter day like today). He kept hovering over our table, however, making us feel rushed to order, but fortunately we knew exactly what we wanted.
We ordered steamed pork juicy buns, steamed crab and pork buns, pan fried pork dumplings, and spring rolls. The fried spring rolls came out first, along with two dipping sauces resembling soy sauce. One was mixed with vinegar, and the other was slightly sweet. I preferred the sweet one and didn't care much for the sour sauce. Be careful because the spring rolls are hot! I had my first soup dumplings here two summers ago, and having had them at other establishments since, I can say that I have had better. I'd have to say though, that piercing through the bun and watching the yummy broth gush out into the soup spoon never gets old. The problem I have is deciding whether to eat first then sip, or sip then eat. The crab and pork buns were almost indistinguishable from the juicy pork buns, except for the slightly crabby taste and texture. But I would have to say that my favorite was the pan fried pork dumplings. There was something extra in the flavor... maybe the ginger? I don't know but when everything started tasting the same, this dish stood out the most. Overall, we spent $23 for four items including tax and tip, and we had extra to take home. Not a bad deal. If you can get up early enough to catch the real dim sum, however, I highly recommend that instead. Nothing beats the experience of the chaos of the carts.
Since we were in the area, my roommate wanted to check out Doughnut Plant on 379 Grand St. in the Lower East Side. We were surprised to find the place was just large enough to open the door and fit maybe three customers. I don't know why I was so surprised, I mean it's NYC. So looking at the menu, the first thing that caught my eye was the creme brulee doughnut. What!! My favorite dessert in a crispy fried dough!!?? Woah! After I got past that, I noticed the prices. $3! For a teeny tiny doughnut! I wanted it so badly, it didn't matter... and I wanted the meyer lemon glazed... and the hazelnut... and the big fat jelly filled... and the churros... sigh. I walked out with the creme brulee and the meyer lemon, and I didn't even wait to get home to break through the burnt sugar layer covering the crispy fried layer covering the chewy doughy layer covering the creamy vanilla bean custard layer. I was literally giggling the whole way back to the train. It was a good day.
