NYC: Han Bat Korean Restaurant

This is my favorite Korean go-to restaurant in all of Manhattan.  It might've been my cousin Ester who introduced me to this restaurant years ago when I first moved to New York City, and what a find.  My two favorite dishes here are Pajun (seafood pancake) and Gop Dol Bi Bim Bap.  I always leave here painfully full.  It's just too hard to stop eating even when you think your last bite will be your last...it never is.

Here's why these are my favorite dishes...the Pajun is perfectly crispy on the outside and chock full of seafood and scallions on the inside without being greasy.  What a wonderful combination of flavors and textures.  The Gop Dol Bi Bim Bap is the BEST in all of New York.  Bi Bim Bap is a bowl of rice, assorted vegetables, beef and a fried egg on top.  You mix in some guchujang (hot chili paste) and  you mix it all up.  Gop Dol or Dol Sot, is a stone bowl used to serve your bi bim bap extra hot.  This is my favorite Korean dish, and since it's something you can't really replicate at home unless you have a stone bowl, this is the place where I go when I have this special craving.  No other Korean restaurant makes their stone bowl as hot as Hanbat.  The best part of this dish is scrapping the bottom to get the crunchy burnt rice.  After eating here a few dozen times, I've finally mastered the mixing technique to maximize the surface of burnt rice in my bowl...my mouth is watering right now just thinking about eating here again.

Ban chan

Pajun

Bul Go Gi

Gop Dol Bi Bim Bap

All mixed up

Han Bat (map)

53 W. 35th Street (near 6th Avenue)

New York, NY 10018

NYC: Cachapas Y Mas - Venezuelan Sandwiches

Since I moved to Inwood last July, I really haven't explored many of the restaurants in the neighborhood.  It was Friday and I was craving something local, so Ethan suggested Cachapas Y Mas - our first time here.

We both ordered the patacones, which is fried green plantain smashed into a tortilla shape and used as the bread.  Ethan ordered the Chicharron (fried pork) and I ordered the Pernil (roasted pork).  Both were good...I wouldn't say great, but I really have to give this place one more chance.  Maybe next time I'll have to try the Cachapas (baby corn cakes), or the Arepas.

The space is really small, only two booths and four stools facing the front window.  There was a constant flow of people coming in and out, most people were taking their food to go.  I really had high hopes for falling in love this this fried plantain sandwich - everything about this included something I would love.  The only problem was that it really did feel quite heavy and greasy - not that that's bad, but as much sauce I would put on it, it just tasted kind of bland.  I will definitely be coming back to check out more items on their menu.

Patacones Chicharron (fried pork)

Patacones (fried green plantain)

Cachapas Y Mas (map)

107 Dyckman Street (bet. Nagle & Post Ave)

New York, NY 10040

NYC: Bar Breton

It was a Thursday night when we went to Bar Breton.  The chef, Cyril Renaud, previously opened a restaurant called Fleur de Sel which received a star from Michelin three years in a row.  When he closed Fleur de Sel in 2008/2009, he opened up Bar Breton, a brasserie style restaurant.  With such a stellar resume and reviews, why was I so disappointed?  Maybe the word disappointed is a bit too strong.  I had pretty high hopes, and it's not that the food was bad, it just wasn't amazing.

I ordered the Cauliflower Gratin to start - good, but nothing really special.  In fact, it didn't have much flavor.  For my entree, I had my eye on the Salmon with Lentils, but once I heard the special, I ordered the Black Sea Bass.

Ethan ordered the House Smoked Salmon with horseradish creme, shallots, chives, and radish.  It was quite good and the flavors really complimented each other.  The only downside was the portion--more along the lines of an appetizer rather than an entree...I noticed Ethan eating slower than he normally does just to keep pace with the rest of us.

For dessert, we shared the Nutella Galette.  It was good, but the Chocolate Mousse ordered by our friends is better if you are in the mood for something more rich and chocolaty.  Since I didn't order a savory galette (they're known for their galettes), I thought we should get one for dessert.

Nutella Galette

One thing I was quite impressed with was the selection of gluten free dishes which was a majority of the items on the menu.  I think I would like to try the brunch menu sometime.

Bar Breton
254 5th Avenue (map)
New York, NY 10001-6406
(212) 213-4999