Tito Rad's Grill & Restaurant - Six years is celebrating with comfort and homecooking

Surprise surprise!

Suppose to be how I should've felt when J took me here for our six years together. I was, but I also guessed it before we even started walking to the restaurant. I'm pretty dam good sometimes.

Tito Rad's a Philippines cuisine restaurant that specializes in home cooking, or at least that's what it felt like. The atmosphere was very laid back. Also, my first time trying real Philippines food. I really wouldn't know what to order if it wasn't for J.

The layout of the restaurant looks a lot like a Vietnamese restaurant. It's not big, but the decor felt really home-y and simple. There's TV screens everywhere, so it's like you're dining at home.

Our spread. Yes, we ordered a lot of food and yes we did finish it all. Philippine cuisine is definitely different than your Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. Not too salty or packed with a "bam" flavor either.

Dinuguan ($7.95) was a creepy dark looking dish. The appearance is quite a turnoff eh? It's pork in vinegar and pork blood, the cooked pork blood gives it that dark brown color. How does it taste? Well, for one thing, it was really iron-y and gamey tasting. I like coagulated pork blood but this was on a totally different level. It tasted too strong for me, good thing J liked it...he can have it all.

I have to have some vegetable on the table, so I decided on the Ginisang Ampalaya ($8.45). A simple dish consisted of bitter melon, eggs and shrimp. It tasted really light and not bitter at all which I'm surprise. I've had bitter melon at other restaurants before and it was always bitter. Plus, this melon is good for you - prevents diabetes.

J was so excited about the Lechon Kawali ($7.95). When it came out, I knew why. It was pork belly, fried pork belly. It wasn't even dripping in oil, felt like it was flashed fried because it was dry and still really crunchy. Ok, maybe crunchy to a point where it's a bit hard. You need to know how and where to bite so you don't get hurt. No joke, eating this takes experience and practice! Either that, or just chew and bite really slow. I really like the skin and the fat part...hehe.

Last but not least, the Inihaw Tuna Belly ($Seasonal) was really good. Smokey and tasted great with the salty sauce. It took the longest to cook and I keep telling J to wait for it because I didn't want to start eating the other dishes before this. Totally worth it because the skin was sizzling and had a nice crisp to it.

And if that wasn't enough, we ordered dessert.

Tough decision but I clenched my hands and ordered the Tito's Delight ($6.95). Presentation was really pretty and colorful, 3 different slices of cake - Ube (purple yam, addicting texture and taste), Leche Flan (tasted like a cheesecake version of flan, quite dense), and Cassava (suppose to be made from the cassava plant but I take sticky rice and banana here). Great dessert overall and it really lets you have a glimpse into the Philippine's culture.

Lovely meal and I couldn't ask for anything more than just spending the evening with my boyfriend and having a simple yet satisfying dinner for our six year.

Tito Rad's Grill & Restaurant
49-12 Queens Blvd
Sunnyside, NY 11377
(718) 205-7299

Audrey's Concerto - A little symphony to keep the sweetness going

Audrey's Concerto is a great cafe, especially in Brooklyn. Opened up and run by Chinese people, the desserts are light and quite creative.

I came here twice, once was takeout while the other time, I finally got the chance to sit down and enjoy.

There's limited seats here, 2 large tables that sits about 4-6 and then 2 comfortable cushion chairs and also a "bar."

The cafe is really clean and everything was so organized. We came on a snowy day which is why it looked so beautiful outside. The staff behind the counter were very friendly and helpful. Would never thought that J and I would have a light conversation with them.

Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate, Coffee and Shaved Dark Chocolate ($3.25)
Lavender Honey Creme Brulee ($3.25, takeout is an extra $1.50 for the cup)
Green Tea Tiramisu ($3.25)
Strawberry Rose Mousse ($3.25)
The desserts were interesting and majority of them revolved around mousse or pudding. All of them were unique in their own way and truthfully, I didn't have a favorite. None really "wow-ed" me but it doesn't mean I won't head back for more.

What I really liked was the Lavender Rose Tea w/ Honey ($3.50?). It didn't have a strong tea taste at all but just enough for you to notice and the honey worked so well. Pairing a tea with a sweet dessert really helps balance out everything. Not to mention the teabag is so pretty, you can actually see the petals.

I like the concept of Audrey's Concerto and I would come back, I would even recommend it even though the desserts weren't crazy amazing. It's a good cafe to check out and definitely different that your average Chinese bakery.

Audrey's Concerto
2379 86th St
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(718) 266-2829

John's Deli - The magic is in the sauce

The day was raining, yet J and I decided to head over to John's Deli for their famous roast beef sandwich. I wasn't crazy about it, I mean it's just a sandwich with a creepy dark sauce on it. But since J wanted to try it so much, well he's been thinking about it for a while now so why not check this off our list.

We came a bit past noon and it was starting to get crowded. Luckily, we got a table before it was all filled. John's Deli isn't the greatest nor prettiest place but they have good quality food. They have it written somewhere for their patrons to read, that if you're in hurry then this place isn't for you. Our order wasn't quick but it didn't take too long either.

Our lunch! We basically split everything since it was our first time here and seeing so many things on the counter, we wanted to get it all.

J saw a whole tray of the Focaccia ($?) and he wanted a slice. To me, it was a slice of white pizza with onions. Quite delicious though.

I wanted to try their rice balls and J chose the Ham & Mozzarella Riceballs ($3.00). I wasn't so thrilled about it, a bit on the sweeter side and it definitely had corn incorporated into the rice which I didn't like. The consistency was good but the taste did not appeal to me.

The star of it all! The infamous Roast Beef Sandwich with Mutz and Gravy ($7.75) was the bomb! Simple yet so tasty. I loved how the bread was lightly toasted and the creepy dark gravy was delicious! It complimented the whole sandwich since roast beef is on the dry side. The onions added flavor and texture to the sandwich making it quite impeccable. Next time, I'm not sharing.

At first glance, I thought there was an egg in there but it was just the mozzarella. Now, how would it be if an egg was added? Probably heavenly. I can't wait for my next visit.

So, if you ever had boring and plain roast beef, do give John's Deli a go because this will excite you.

John's Deli
2033 Stillwell Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11223
(718) 372-7481 

Jum Mum - Stick with the buns I tell ya, it's the best from the rest

So, feeling for some buns but don't really want to pay a hefty price for it. Baohaus is out since it's almost $4 for a bun, crazy! Jum Mum recently opened around last year and seems to be doing quite well from the reviews.

I knew J would be hungry after his workout so I suggested Jum Mum and we went there to grab a bite.

They have buns for a deal of 3 for $6, which totals out to just $2 per bun, totally worth it!

It was a small place and that's their work station with the steam racks. I wanted to reach over and just take some buns and run.

The girl behind the register was really nice and helpful. She was also very patient with me since I had no idea what to order since they have so many variety to choose from. I ended up getting 4 buns and noodles...and it was suppose to be a snack.

Awww shucks, I just read that poster...should've added my comment/suggestion in the box! Now I feel bummed out. Anyways, I took this photo because of the awesome strange chips/junk food they had up there...so bummed.

Starting with the Bulgogi Bun and Pork Belly Bun; whoaaa...these blew my mind. Both are a must get. I actually love the pork belly the most out of everything. The pork belly was such a big slice and look at that beautiful fat!

The Chicken Cutlet Bun and Fried Duck Bun wasn't so "wow." The chicken was covered with the spicy Japanese mayo and tasted like a chicken sandwich; whereas the fried duck was just very crunchy and oily.

The Street Style Noodles ($5) was one of the reason why I wanted to try Jum Mum in the first place. I thought it would remind J and I of Hong Kong-style rice noodles but nope *shakes head* not even close. The flat noodles were covered in shredded pork and tofu, then a sweetened soy sauce was poured over it. The sauce wasn't really soy but more on the brown sugared-caramelized type kind of thing, if you know what I mean. The dish was a bit on the salty side for me.

I wouldn't get the noodles again but I would totally try their other buns and get the pork belly again. Plus, they got rice...wonder how that would taste.

Jum Mum
5 Saint Mark Pl
New York, NY 10003
(212) 673-6745

Kun Jip - A form of line in which so organized that it's strategic

On a cold winter evening, after some shopping done, I wanted something soup-y. J couldn't agree more. But finding a place in K-Town for some good chijae is quite hard. Since Kun Jip always had a line, we decided to find out what the fuss was about.

We got on line quite quick. The "host" asked us how many people and just told J and I to stay on line. The line moved quickly and once we're inside the restaurant, the line stretches all the way to the back. Halfway through waiting, there's seats for you to sit (and wait) then you're told to head to back and wait some more. The line swings around and forms a J-shape and finally we get called to be seated. But before getting called to be seated, our orders were already taken since the menu was given to you while you were waiting on line.

Once we sat down, in less than 5 minutes, all our food came out. Woohoo!

I find that I truly dislike Chamisul Soju ($?), it has such a strong rubbing alcohol taste. I need something that's easier to go down and not burn.

Our delicious spread. See what I mean when I said everything comes out at once. They were quick though, the staff that is, and they were able to move everything into place. Banchan was great. Forgot to capture the steamed egg, best egg ever!

J had the special of Bibimbob and Soondubu ($16.95), excellent deal for the price. You get rice, delicious rice, and a tofu stew. The bibimbob itself is already around $11 so might as well get this and stuff yourself.

I had the Budae Chijae ($12.95), a bit pricey but so filling! I've always wanted to try this just because it's literally a pot filled with a lot of stuff. There's ramen, glass noodles, spam, hotdog, kimchi, tofu, rice cakes, and pork belly...definitely a load to eat. The chijae sat on top of a burner which kept it steaming hot throughout the entire time I was eating it. This was insanely filling, did I mention I ate it all myself? =]

To end the meal, a complimentary Sujeonggwa was given to us. Oh my god, the best cinnamon drink everrrrrrr. I would come back just for this, or I can have my Korean friends make it for me.
It is made from dried persimmons, cinnamon, ginger and peppercorn; the process is a bit difficult and time consuming but the outcome is so yummy.

A lot of people says that Kun Jip's staffs rushing their patrons but I didn't see that happen at all, nor did I experience it. Throughout the entire meal, we sat and ate normally and we didn't get rushed at all. Heck we even had a little laugh with 2 of the waiters towards the end. 

Excellent meal. I guess to each their own, not everyone will get a pleasant experience and vice versa.

Kun Jip
9 W 32nd St
New York, NY 10001
(212) 216-9487

Nana Restaurant & Bar - Feeling famish with a climb so high

After a lesson of rock climbing, J, a friend and I were totally starving. For us to be able to continue and climb (since it was a one day pass) we needed food in our stomach. Being not so familiar with the area we were in, we asked a staff member at Brooklyn Boulders as to where all the restaurants were.

We came across Nana and knew it would be perfect. Once you enter, you were greeted by the bartender and to your left is where all the diners are.

We cut to the chase and ordered in no time.

Only J and I ordered drinks, the Nana Mai Tai ($9) was a bit too sweet for me, tasted like sweet syrup more than anything. The Whiskey Ginger ($9) tasted a bit off, kind of weird to my liking. It was like a poorly made mojito with whiskey, if you know what I mean.

The Roti Canai ($3) was small but for its price it wasn't bad. The curry could have been a bit hotter, temperature and spice-wise.

Our entree was delicious, beside the weird dish presentation, it was really good. Ok, maybe we were hungry but it was still good! The Tofu Pad Thai ($9) was quite amazing, had small tofu pieces along with some big fried tofu chunks. The friend's Pad Kra Pao Beef ($10) came with rice, beef was very tender and flavorful as well, had a nice kick to it. As for J's The "kueh" Tweo ($9), it was great also. Had the same kick as the Pad Kra Pai Beef but with noodles. The portions might look small but don't let that fool you, it'll definitely fill you up.

And as if we weren't completely satisfied yet, we ordered dessert.

These 3 were on our list when we were shown the dessert menu. Coconut Flan ($6), Chocolate Souffle ($7) and the Black Sesame Creme Brulee ($6) all looked very appetizing. But the best one was the souffle which wasn't even a souffle, it should be called a lava cake, even though we were disappointed in the name and appearance, the taste was a 2 thumbs up! The flan was plain which didn't stood out and the brulee lacked a lot of black sesame.

So, yes I would come again because the entree was that great and I would love to have that "souffle" again.

Nana Restaurant & Bar
155 5th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 230-3749

Dough - I like how you're chewy and full because it's satisfying

J and I saw a video on Dough and was mesmerize by how they make their donuts and all the different flavors of frosting they have. So, on a spontaneous morning we decided to drive there and have our morning fix of donuts and coffee.

The selection of donuts weren't that big but the donuts itself were huge. They all look amazingly good also, there were some that sounded a bit too sweet so I passed...even though I have no idea how it might taste. Definitely don't let that deter you away from wanting to try it.

We got our Small Coffee ($1.50) and went straight to the coffee station to fix it up. The milk were in the fridge right next to the coffee station.

There were only 4 stools inside Dough, 2 facing the window and 2 facing the kitchen area where they whip up the donuts. Homey.

Sugared Donut Holes (4 for $1.25) are a great way to get rid of the holes inside the donut. They also make great snacks. Chewy and light, I can snack on this all afternoon.

The Blood Orange Donut ($2.25) is rich in flavor, tangy and a tad bit of sweetness is a great blend for a donut. I took the orange slice off since it was getting in my way and I had no idea if it's suppose to be eaten or not... Nonetheless, I enjoyed the donut. It was not your average Dunkin Donut's donut, it was ginormous, to a point where I couldn't even finish it.

J got the Lemon Poppy Seed Donut ($2.25), don't let the appearance deceive you. This was lemon-y goodness. Mind you, it got some of my blood orange on it because the girl behind the counter just smooshed it in a paper bag.

If you're not in the mood for coffee, they have a fridge full of other beverages OR if you love coffee, they have it in cans so you can buy them and brew it at home.

Truthfully, I would stay away from the coffee here and just get their donuts because the coffee wasn't so great. A bit watered down and luke warm to my taste.

Dough
305 Franklin Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(347) 533-7544 

8th Street Wine Cellar - Relaxing in a dim room until the night gets dark

Wine is great, especially during happy hour.

J told me that 8th Street Wine Cellar had a happy hour where a selection of their wine bottles are only $18, from 4-7pm. When we got there around 6pm, the place was already packed. We got seated half an hour later but at a great spot. Snuggled up in a corner of the bar, perfect.

I like how we're nestled in the corner where we won't get bothered much but can still get the attention of the bartender if needed.

We started off with a bottle immediately since time was tight.

Our food came pretty quickly. I love me some white wine, I decided on the Riesling. It was light and crisp, delicious.

Charcuterie ($16) board. Now we're talking.
From left to right -- mystery meat (no idea what it is, not that great anyways), kielbasa, gerkins, soppresata, pepperoni, and mortadella.

Baked MacDougal n' Cheese ($9) was pretty impressive, very cheesy and the secret ingredient was mozzarella cheese.

We ordered some extra Bruschette ($12) since we had some more wine. From top to bottom -- ricotta and jam, mushroom and white truffle oil, squash with goat cheese and chutney, and hummus with cucumber and tsastiki.

I would love to come back because of the great happy hour deal. But to secure a seat would mean to come early. This spot will definitely be on my list when summer comes since there's summer Fridays!

8th Street Wine Cellar
28 W 8th St
New York, NY 10011
(212) 260-9463

Wild Edibles - An early affordable aphrodisiac coming my way

One of the best places for happy hour since it occurs everyday from 12-6pm. It's early but totally worth it.

J and I came for lunch around 1pm, good thing we were able to snatch seats at the bar because it was quite packed.

There was a small section of a fish market inside the restaurant. They sell their seafood by the pound there and during our lunch there, 2 people came for this...interesting.

I had a glass of Reisling White Wine ($9) while J had the Narrgansett Lager ($4) that came with 1/2 dozen of oysters. Quite a good deal for him.

We started off with a dozen of oysters, that day's special were Bluepoint ($.99 each). So delicious and succulent. For less than a dollar an oyster, we placed another order of a dozen oysters. They were so plump and meaty. Usually at happy hour, restaurants would give you the puny and meatless oysters because you're paying a cheaper price for it, but not here. Wild Edibles gives you quality even if the price they charge you is low.

For main, I got the Oyster Po'boy ($12.99). Going to avoid the next time I go there. The wrap was filled with cole slaw which made it taste like I was eating a plain lettuce wrap. I wasn't too impress with this. On the other hand, the fries were amazing...too bad I couldn't finish it.

A round of applause for J again for choosing the best dish (rolls eye). The Grilled Tuna Steak Club ($14.99) was the best fish sandwich I had ever devour. Hands down the best. The tuna was tender and grilled lightly so you can taste the fishy flesh within the sandwich. Tasted a bit like chicken if you ask me. I need to go back for this. I had to share half with J, at least he gave me half right?

I'm returning for sure, maybe some time soon since I can't stop thinking about the tuna club now.

Wild Edibles
535 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10016
(212) 213-8552

Les Sans Culottes

One of my all time favorite restaurants would be Les Sans Culottes. They have a prix fixe menu which can literally fill you up like a balloon. They have price from $25, $32 and $35 that includes a three-course meal. J and I absolutely love this place, it's cheap and satisfies our tummy. We usually order from the $25 menu but we felt a little adventurous so we ordered whatever we wanted that night.

Fruit and Vegetable Basket

Fresh fruits and vegetables. The melons are always so sweet here.

They also give you a rack of sausage and you can eat and enjoy as much as you like. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, you can also use the table as a cutting table since they already covered it with a white sheet.

And that's not the end of the appetizers yet. They also give you bread, pate, butter and dressing to accompany the sausages, veggies and fruits. All these things are included with the prix fixe which is probably enough to fill a person that doesn't eat much.

Escargot

J and I love this dish, it's one of our favorites. Snails in garlic, butter and parsley. The reason why we love it so much and see ourselves coming back and ordering this dish is because it's actually still in its shell. Plus, it's so darn cheap... cheaper than other places that serves escargots.

Filet Mignon Champignons

Shell Steak w/ Peppercorn Sauce

The entrees are ginormous. They are seriously really generous with the portions and the food there is pretty decent.

Flan

Nothing better than to end the meal with a dessert. There's two choices you can have with the prix fixe, either flan or chocolate mousse. I'm not a big fan of chocolate so I always order the flan, though I did try the mousse before and it wasn't all that great. I recommend the flan for sure.

Definitely a great French restaurant if you want the bang for your buck kind of deal. But don't expect too much, you do get what you pay for.

Les Sans Culottes
1085 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 838-6660