My Favorite Sangvich (Sandwich)

On a whim for lunch, I decided to try out this place in TriBeCa.  One day, I simply walked by Bubby's, stopped to look at the menu and thought it looked interesting so I took a mental note.  It has a weathered feel; with cream and green paint cracked/peeled on the interior and exterior (on purpose) and probably wasn't that clean but it seemed inviting.  I looked it up on menupages and the reviews weren't too favorable, mostly criticizing the price and the cleanliness (it happened to close due to hygiene issues back in 2008).  Nevertheless, I rationalized that if they reopened, it's because they worked their stuff out for the better.
  

Some Baked Goods at Bubby's

Usually the re-openers are the cleanest places you can go to (i.e.; Serendipity 3).
We sit down and are graced with freshly baked biscuits with homemade strawberry jam.  The jew in me is happy since I like to be given something to eat as soon as I sit down.  But this week's theme isn't "My Favorite Biscuit that comes with Homemade Strawberry Jam" so let me get to the tasty heaven on a plate.  The Chicken Fried Chicken Sandwich (yes, two 'chickens') is by far one of the most memorable and fulfilling sandwiches I have ever had, anywhere.  They take Bill Evans White Meat Chicken, fry it to perfection so you have a good 80/20 ratio (I'm all about ratios I guess) of chicken to breading.  On top, a healthy portion of caramelized onions, juicy tomatoes, slice of romaine and that favorable oil & egg yolk combination, better known as Mayonnaise.  Alone, this would be a great sandwich BUT it needs that extra something.  And by extra something, I mean some BACON.  Bubby's smokes and cuts their bacon slices thick which works so well when inserted in this sandwich.  The size of the sandwich is enough to share amongst two people.  I'm definitely the sharing type but when it comes to this I just can't - I choose to not share this meal (OCS perhaps?).

Now the kicker/edge-pusher to this delight is that it comes with one side too.  Some of my favorite choices include:  Handcut French Fries, Onion Straws, Hush Puppies, Mashed Potatoes or Creamed Spinach BUT my all-time favorite is the Crusty Mac & Cheese. 

I have since gone to Bubby's about ten times and have tried many other dishes but the Chicken Fried Chicken Sandwich is the old-reliable at $16.  Other recommendations are the Garlic Burger, Chicken Club, BLT Club, Mr. Crunch (a Croque Monsieur that never ends) and the Tuna Apple Salad Sandwich.  All of these come with a choice of side. 

Some Additional Notes about Bubby's:
- They bake fresh pies, cakes, muffins, donuts daily
- Their menu is inspired by using/taking some of the most prolific ingredients and family recipes from around the country
- Open 24/7
- Have seasonal offerings of homemade BBQ

I think I know where I'm going for lunch today, if I get the chance anyway:

Chicken Fried Chicken Sandwich
Bubby's Pie Co.
120 Hudson Street (cnr. N. Moore St.)
New York, NY 10013
www.bubbys.com

Everyone's Brunch Favorites!

So here are all of our favorites (and alternatives):

- Adina & Eric L. - Eggs with Hash Browns - Pegasus - 8610 3rd Avenue (Brooklyn)
- Mark E. - Fruit-Filled Crepes - Les Halles - 411 Park Ave. S. - www.leshalles.net
- Lauren C. - French Fries - Les Halles - 411 Park Ave. S. - www.leshalles.net
- Kantro - Pig in a Poke - Tipsy Parson - 156 9th Avenue - www.tipsyparson.com
- Kantro - The Grey Dog - 242 West 16th Street - www.thegreydog.com (Alternative NYFF)
- Nora S. - St. John - Kitchenette - 1272 Amsterdam Ave. - www.kitchenetterestaurant.com
- Emily A. - Crab Cake Benedictos - Yuca Bar - 111 Avenue A - www.yucabarnyc.com
- Stefan K. - Steak - Dock's Oyster Bar - 633 3rd Avenue - www.docksoysterbar.com
- Stefan K. - Shopsin's - 120 Essex Street, Stall #16 - www.shopsins.com (Alternative NYFF)
- Jordan K. - Mexican Matzo Brei - 120 Essex Street - www.essexnyc.com

Later today, I'll kick off this week's theme which will go on till Monday, 9/27.  The theme:  your favorite sangvich... anywhere in the city, ever.  Doesn't have to be a sandwich place, doesn't have to be a lunch place.  If they serve a sandwich, and it's your favorite, and it's in the city, then please pass along this info in the comments section so I can eat it too.

My Favorite Brunch

A lot of good theme recommendations were sent along to me - some of which I have already lined up for the coming weeks.  One theme that I realized should garner a lot of favorites is always the city brunch.  Honestly, when you aren't in the city, you simply call this "breakfast".  But of course, in Manhattan, "brunch" is larger (and more expensive) when you're really just getting breakfast.  I'm not a regular bruncher.  Why?...  because I'm straight and brunches tend to lean more towards the female persuasion. 

BUT, the only good thing I've realized about brunch is the ALCOHOL (caps needed).  Most places will have your standard breakfast options - eggs in assorted preparations (benedict, omelette, over-easy, milky, etc.), batter in assorted preparations (waffles, crepes, pancakes, etc.) and your occasional blueberry muffin lightly toasted with a side of margarine.  But they will then incentivize you with an alcoholic beverage, or three beverages and even unlimited quantities of booze.  In the JDizzle Theory of Alcohol Proportion to Food, the scientific ratio of booze:food should be at least 3:1.  I've conducted many studies and found this to be the case... and by studies I mean I've drank and eaten a lot.  One drink doesn't do anything to you if you're eating a sizable breakfast and unlimited drinking, although delightful, impairs the taste of the food and just leaves you (and your palate) drunk. 

Based on this proven (and published) theory, there is one brunch place that i've been to several times that stands out from everything else.  The Essex Restaurant & Bar, a go-to place of mine for years is easily the best brunch  I have ever had.  The food is based on the influences of the area it resides in (as well as it's history); traditional jewish and latin-american flavors.  It's a very interesting and weird fusion of cuisines but definitely works.  When you arrive at the corner of Essex and Rivington in the Lower Eastside, you come across what looks like an abandoned warehouse with red bricks surrounding the exterior; probably with 5-10 people waiting outside.  You wouldn't know you're there except for the flag waiving the restaurant's name far above.  It will probably be very congested once you enter but don't let this discourage you.  Inside you have a nice-sized bar to your right, white tennis balls stuck on the white brick wall to your left and split-level seating both above you and in front of you. 

View from the second level inside Essex Restaurant & Bar

Once seated, there will be no time wasted before you have the choice of a mimosa, bloody mary or screwdriver - pick the screwdriver.  They are sizable and NOT watered-down; oh and you get THREE of these puppies. 
There are many options to choose from for the food portion of your semi-drunken mid-day visit.  A few of my prior choices include the LES Matzo Brei with homemade apple sauce & chicken apple sausage and the crispy potato pancakes with sautéed apples, honey cream sauce and spinach-shiitake-black bean hash.  But, the old-reliable on their menu of difficult decisions is the Mexican Matzo Brei.  It is unlike anything I've had and I consistently salivate over it (even right now).  Scrambled eggs are gently mixed together with tortilla crisps, fresh monterey jack cheese, avocado, black beans & pico de gallo.  The portion is not small.  What I call "the dessert" is served right after you order your food, it's the onion roll.  I dare you to have just one. 

As has become standard, some additional notes on Essex Restaurant & Bar:
- Reservations need to be made at least a week in advance (Opentable Preferred)
- Due to NYC Blue Laws (don't get me started), you cannot consume alcohol before Noon on Sundays so they serve complimentary non-alcoholic beverages starting at 11am
- Brunch is Cash Only
- Although they limit your drink consumption to three drinks, if you are nice to your waiter/waitress they will "forget" how many you had and keep pouring

So, My Favorite Brunch in the city is:

Dish: Mexican Matzo Brei
Place: Essex Restaurant & Bar
Address: 120 Essex Street (corner of Rivington) New York, NY 10002
Website: http://www.essexnyc.com/

Everyone's Chinese Food Favorites!

Here are everyone's favorite Chinese food places:

- Adina & Eric L. - Egg Drop Wonton Soup or (Protein) Chow Fun - Wo Hop - 17 Mott Street
- Brittany W. - Shark Finn Dumplings - Vegetable Dim Sum House - 24 Pell Street
- Mark E. - Nostalgic Pick of the Week - Evergreen Shanghai/Hong Fat - 63 Mott Street
- Nora S. - Wine Au Gratis - Pearl's - 796 Amsterdam Avenue
- Heather G. - Szechuan Gourmet - Sesame Chicken with Szechuan Dumplings - 21 West 39th Street
- Kantro - Steamed Dumplings - Nice Green Bo Restaurant - 66 Bayard Street
- Paul S. - Soup Dumplings (Pork or Crab) - Joe's Shanghai Restaurant - 9 Pell Street
- Jordan K. - Sliced Chicken with Garlic Sauce - Wo Hop - 17 Mott Street

So I'm opening up next week's theme to all of you and the one that seems to be the most interesting will be selected.  Simply post a comment below if you have any suggestions.  Next week's theme will begin next Tuesday (9/7)!