NYC FOODIE BRUNCH OF THE WEEK: DIM SUM BRUNCH AT BETEL

I love dim sum. Period. I love going to Chinatown on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and hitting a dim sum spot, and eating everything off those rolling carts. Well, Betel (pronounced beetle), a Southeast Asian restaurant in the heart of the West Village has a dim sum brunch with some tasty bites too.

You should dine on some delectable steamed Wagyu buns ($15) and some fabulous Pearl Balls ($8). Both are great.

Spiced salmon fish cakes ($14) are wonderful. I've had plenty of dried out fish cakes in my life. These were juicy and flavorful.

Definitely save room for the Banh Mi Burger ($14) with lime chili mayo and sweet potato fries. It's juicy and delicious, and those fries are totally addictive!

So, if you don't feel like traveling all the way down to Chinatown, Betel in the West Village can satisfy your Dim Sum cravings. Although it's a bit pricier than C-Town, tasty bites are bound to be had.

Betel
51 Grove St. (bet. Bleeker and 7th ave)
New York, NY 10014
212-352-0460

www.betelnyc.com

NYC FOODIE BURGER OF THE WEEK: BEACON

Another day, another burger. Two Sundays ago fate led me to Beacon for brunch. I had never once walked inside this restaurant, but have heard a lot about Waldy Malouf's great wood fire cooking. I had also heard great things about the burger at Beacon, and that is exactly what I ordered. 

The restaurant is expansive and sprawling, you would never know from just walking by. I took a seat at the empty bar and ordered the Beacon Hamburger ($18), which comes with garlic fries, on a homemade roll, and a side of homemade ketchup. The burger was excellent and great. Flavorful and juicy, and just about perfect. It paired well with my Bloody Mary! The garlic fries were wonderful, and I loved the homemade ketchup, which was almost like a barbecue sauce. 

The Beacon Burger lives up to the hype. Get one, eat one, devour one. Burger heaven awaits.

Beacon
25 West 56th Street (bet. 5th and 6th)
New York, NY 10019
212-332-0500

www.beaconnyc.com

NYC FOODIE SANDWICH OF THE WEEK: THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER FROM SALTIE

The NYC Foodie loves sandwiches, and ventured to Brooklyn to check out Saltie, a new sandwich shop that opened in Williamsburg. For $8, The Captain's Daughter, sardines, pickled egg, and salsa verde, surely hit the spot. Nestled on fresh, home baked foccacia, it was refreshing and delicious. The play on saltiness tickled my taste buds effervescently. Truly lovely.

Saltie
378 Metropolitan Ave (at Havenmeyer)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-387-4777
www.saltieny.com

NYC FOODIE AMAZING MEAL OF THE WEEK: BO SSAM LUNCH FROM MOMOFUKU SSAM

I like big butts and I cannot lie; pork butt, which is actually the shoulder of the pig. I love me that butt. 

If you never had the Bo Ssam from Momofuku Ssam, you should. It's whole slow cooked pork shoulder, a dozen oysters, white rice, bibb lettuce, ssäm jiang (korean bbq sauce), kimchi and ginger scallion sauce. The dish is essentially pork and condiments wrapped in lettuce, but it's out of this world. It is mind-blowing and amazing. It costs $200, so you should go with around 8 people as I did last week, and it turns out to be a fabulous deal! 

The meat is so tender, wonderful, and delicious, your taste buds will scream in a frenzy of wonder and enjoyment. There is a lot of meat on the butt, so come hungry. Add an oyster to your bite, and it will take you across culinary boundaries you have never dreamed possible. 

Here is the food porn, but go for yourself if you have the chance; not only is it worth it, it'll change your life.

Momofuku Ssam
207 2nd Ave (at 13th St.)
New York, NY 10003
www.momofuku.com

NYC FOODIE FISH TACO OF THE WEEK: MERCADITO'S MAHI MAHI FISH TACO

Mexican Food in NYC? Whatever. I do enjoy a few spots, and one spot that gets it right is Mercadito. They have one of the best fish tacos in NYC! Last week when I had their estilo baja ($14.50), beer battered mahi mahi, mexican style coleslaw, chipotle aioli, queso fresco, chipotle-balsamic vinaigrette, it was just reconfirmed to me. These perfectly cooked tacos, come with tender fish, splendidly battered, and not overly-so, great flavor, and balance of hotness and crunch. Put it in your mouth, smile, and enjoy. Pair it with one of their fabulous margaritas, and smile some more.

Mercadito
179 Avenue B (bet. 11th and 12th)
New York, NY 10009
212-529-6490
www.mercaditorestaurants.com

NYC FOODIE BURGER OF THE WEEK: SHAKE SHACK (TIMES SQUARE)

Ah, the burger from Shake Shack. Many New Yorkers love this burger. Many rave it's the best in NYC. I disagree. I've had some decent burgers from the Shack in Madison Square Park, but waiting in line for a hamburger always makes me squeal, cringe, and run away. The last burger I had from the Shake Shack at the Madison Square Park location, was overcooked and unacceptable. 

I stopped by the most recent Shake Shack that opened on 44th and 8th in the new Intercontinental Hotel, right down the block from Times Square, and ordered a double Shackburger ($7.25) and cheese fries ($3.75). The burger was really good, excellent, and tasty. The fries were not really good at all, they never have been. But, I am happy for all tourists and people who work and live in Midtown West that the Shack has opened. Because when they are hitting their stride, they make a fine ass buger.

Shake Shack
691 8th Avenue (at 44th Street)
New York, NY 10036
www.shakeshack.com

NYC FOODIE BREAKFAST OF THE WEEK: THE LAMBS CLUB

When I think about the word "cool", Times Square never comes to mind. Well, after having breakfast at the sexy, modern, and old school cool restaurant The Lambs Club this morning, my thoughts have changed. Geoffrey Zakarian's new hot spot in the brand new Chatwal Hotel, is not only cool, (think James Bond meets Charlie Chaplin,) but his "luxury bar and grill" fare is fabulous!

With red leather banquettes and black leather walls designed by Thierry Despont, I wanted to smoke a cigar and drink a brandy upon arriving for my breakfast at 9am. I didn't have a brandy, I usually wait til after 10am for that, so I went with a perfect iced Intellegentsia coffee ($4.50). I also had a fabulous nectarine protein shake ($10). I could drink this shake every day for breakfast!

My chicken fried steak and two poached eggs ($19) with homemade biscuit gravy was absolutely amazing. Perfectly crisped outside, housing succulent steak inside, matched with the beautiful gravy, and the two perfectly poached eggs, made this an outstanding dish!

My dining companion's blueberry stuffed French toast ($14) with hazelnut butter and warm maple syrup was honestly orgasmic. After two bites I was in culinary heaven. Luckily there were only four other diners in the restaurant, because I moaned with joy a little too loud. I wanted to cozy up with this French toast by the fireplace (yes, there is a stunning working fireplace here!), and watch DVD's all night, cuddle, and make love.

If you are going to start the day with such fabulous fare, you may as well order some sides of griddled bacon ($6), Myers of Keswick Breakfast sausages ($8), and roasted herbed potatoes ($6). All were perfect, fantastic, and delicious!

With breakfast this great, it got my mouth watering for what was in store here for lunch and dinner, I cannot wait! Luckily for me, this place is two blocks from my apartment. I thought by me living in this area it would bring up the "cool" factor a little, but now with the arrival of The Lambs Club, it will take it to another level. With a cocktail menu created by Sasha Petraske, drinks are sure to be amazing too. The Lambs Club is the next new "hot" spot, so if you want to be cool, stop by for a bite or drink. If anyone asks, you don't have to tell them you're in Times Square, just tell them it's top secret.

The Lambs Club
Chatwal Hotel
132 W. 44th St., (bet. 6th and Broadway)
212-997-5262

www.thelambsclub.com

NYC FOODIE LUNCH OF THE WEEK: TAIWANESE STYLE FRIED CHICKEN FROM THE NYC CRAVINGS TRUCK

The trucks are taking over! These culinary mobile restaurants are sprouting up all over, like freckles on Lindsay Lohan. I enjoy a lot of the food from many food trucks, and one food truck I recommend is the NYC Cravings truck.

Last week I ordered their Taiwanese style fried chicken over rice with pork sauce ($7) and was pleasantly satisfied. This dish was perfectly cooked, truly tasty and delicious, as well as a great bang for your buck! 

NYC Cravings Truck (various locations)
www.nyccravings.com

NYC FOODIE COOKIE OF THE WEEK: COCONUT NUTELLA COOKIE FROM THE STREET SWEETS TRUCK

The NYC Foodie cookie of the week comes to us from a truck. The Street Sweets truck, one of the numerous new food trucks taking over the city, has some great sweets. Their coconut nutella cookie, a crispy coconut cookie, filled with delicious nutella, is truly orgasmic! Yes, I get culinary orgasms from many dishes and bites around NYC, and this cookie is one of those bites! Try it for yourself, and thank me later.

Street Sweets
(Various Locations- It's a mobile bakery!)
212-888-6633
www.streetsweetsny.com

NYC FOODIE BURGER OF THE WEEK: BACON ROYALE FROM ROYALE

I still cannot stop fantasizing about the cheeseburger I ate last week from ABC Kitchen, it lingers in my mind..Alas, one must move one, so this week's burger of the week is less than half the price of the $21 dollar ABC burger, coming in at a cool $8.50, Royale's Bacon Royale is the NYC Foodie burger of the week. It's your typical burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle. I chose cheddar as my cheese, and it was just about perfect. For $8.50 it is also a great bang for your buck! The fries ($3.50) are fine too.

Royale
157 Ave. C (bet. 9th and 10th)
New York, NY 10009
212-254-6600
www.royalenyc.com