Blue Chili/Siam Inn

I feel like everyone I talk to loves Thai food but every time I try it, I tell myself never again. But recently, I discovered a Thai restaurant in New York City that I absolutely love. It's called Blue Chili and located on 51st Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.

There seems to be some confusion about the name of the restaurant. It's sometimes called Blue Chili/Siam Inn Restaurant and sometimes just Blue Chili, but the Siam Inn sign is the most prominent when you reach the restaurant. It may not look very nice on the outside, some of the signs even leave you wondering if you're actually looking for the fast food Thai place next door, but don't hesitate and walk right in to the dimly lit cosy little restaurant. If you go around 7pm for dinner, expect it to be full and wait a little for dinner.                                             

The restaurant has a bar area that serves happy hour drinks such as fruity cocktails, beer and wine from 4pm to closing. The lychee Martini and pomegranate Cosmo are delicious!

The food is the best Thai food I've ever tasted. There are options for meats, rice, noodles and even a few vegetarian entrées. For starters, try the chicken skewers. There's four per order and they come with a cucumber relish and amazing peanut sauce. For the main course, try the chicken satueed with mushrooms and bird's eye chili served with jasmine rice is one of my favorites. Be careful of the spice meter, this dish only has a medium spice warning but can be quite spicy for those of you who aren't used to eating such food. The Thai fried rice with chicken is also yummy and once again a little spicy. The shrimp with peppercorn is perfect for people who don't like spicy food. The shrimp are fresh and the dish is flavorful but easy on the tastebuds. To end the meal, order the chocolate soufflé for dessert, a perfect light treat to share for two.

Blue Chili is definitely a restaurant I'll be visiting again! 

Umi Sushi

I love sushi and I can't believe it's been so long since I've had it!

I decided to try a new place yesterday, around the Korea Town and Herald Square area, called Umi Sushi. From the outside, it looks like a little whole in the wall and all the advertisements and papers in the window don't help. But once you walk inside, you realize it's a cute little place with soft lighting and bamboo decorations.

The waitress was really nice and brought hand towels for me to clean my hands at the beginning of the meal. The service was quick and she often came to refill the water glasses. I was sitting right next to the sushi bar, so I could practically watch the chefs making my food, which I don't really like. I'm not sure if there was a back area with additional seating (I would hope so or this place is actually as small as it looks) but I felt like I was being watched by the chefs while I ate my food.

The sushi itself was good. The menu has some choices that you wouldn't expect in sushi restaurants. I had the shrimp tempura and mango roll, which sounds really odd but the sweetness of the mango brings all of the flavors together. There's also an option of a banana tempura roll which might be interesting if you really like bananas. They have an extensive list of special maki rolls which takes up two pages on the menu and there's something on there to please everyone. There's also a wine and beer menu to go along with your email. The menu is very reasonably priced compared to the amount of food you get.

Was this the best sushi place I've tried? No. It smelled a little like cucumbers and as I said I didn't like the seating. But there are some different things on the menu for you to try and the service is good. It may be a good place to go if you're looking for a quick lunch.

Umi Sushi
118 E 31st St, New York 10016
Between Lexington & Park Aves.

Strawberry Shortcake

This is one of my favorite cake recipes. It's very simple and you can also use a boxed golden cake if you don't feel like making the cake from scratch. For those of you who prefer thicker cakes, I would double the batter and make two round cakes instead of making one and cutting it in half.

Ingredients

Cake:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Strawberries and Cream:

• 2 pints strawberries
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

For the cake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch round cake pan or use non-stick spray.

Whisk the flour with the granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Lightly whisk in the butter, egg, milk, and vanilla, just until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes, then turn it out of the pan, flip upright, and cool completely on the rack.

For the strawberries and cream: Set aside 1 pint of the best-looking whole berries for topping the cake. Hull and thinly slice the rest of the berries and toss with the granulated sugar. Set aside. Whip the cream with the confectioners' sugar and vanilla to soft peaks. This step generally takes a good 5-10 minutes depending on the speed of the blender. Refrigerate until ready to use.

To assemble the cake: Cut the cake in half horizontally with a serrated knife (skip this step if you're using two cakes). Place the bottom layer cut side up on a cake stand or serving plate. Drizzle the juices from the sliced berries over the cut sides of both halves. Fold a couple tablespoons of the whipped cream into the sliced berries and spread over the bottom layer. Top with the other piece of cake, cut side down. Spread the remaining whipped cream on the top of the cake and decorate with the remaining berries. For more color, add some blueberries on top.

Know-How: Cutting a cake into layers is easy as saw-spin-separate: Begin to saw the cake in half horizontally. Just before you reach the middle of the cake, give it a quarter turn. Continue to saw almost to the center, then give it another quarter turn and saw again until you reach your original point of entry. Saw completely through the cake's center and separate the layers.

Tip: For those of you making two cakes for the layers, the cakes may rise more in the middle than the sides. Layering these uneven cakes may result in the strawberries falling out of the center. To prevent this, cut the very top of the first cake with a serrated knife to even the surface. Then go ahead and follow the rest of the recipe.

I hope you enjoy this recipe!

Recipe courtesy of Food Network.

Terry's

When I went to Stuyvesant High School, my favorite place to eat was Terry's, a deli located between the school and Battery Park. It's a regular deli with salad options, freshly baked donuts and beverages but its sandwich options are what truly set this deli apart from the other options in the Battery Park area.

The deli has a variety of "combination sandwiches" that are served on a hero. My favorite is their grilled chicken sandwich with avocado, sun-dried tomatoes and honey mustard. The combination of ingredients may seem a little weird at first but I promise you'll love it when you take your first bite. Get an iced coffee with your sandwich for the perfect cold refreshment.

Terry's salads are also delicious and better priced than most of the other delis in the area. There are many fat-free dressing options for people concerned with their weight. The fat-free Caesar is one of my favorites. For those of you who aren't, I recommend you try the Asian Sesame dressing. It has the perfect combination of spices and sweetness to bring out the flavors of your salad.

For those of you who are just looking to add a twist to your lunch, Terry's also has options for you. Their breakfast special is served all day and enough food for two people. It has eggs anyway you want them, toast, hash-brown and your choice of meat. For a real change up, try a pizza bagel. It's marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese with or without chicken or pepperoni served on a bagel of your choice. It's a great way to treat yourself if you just need a break from class or work. But be careful, this sandwich is always really really hot!

For anyway of you who happen to be in the Tribeca area, I would definitely try this deli for a quick lunch. Take it to Battery Park and enjoy a great view of the river while you enjoy your food!

Terry's is located on Chambers Street between River Terrace and North End Avenue.

Heritage of India

I often go to Indian restaurants with my family and friends for special occasions. I think it's become more and more difficult to find restaurants that serve good Indian food without trying to "Amercanize" the cuisine. Last night I went to Heritage of India for a friend's birthday, and it was one of the best Indian restaurant I have ever been to.

One of the best things about the restaurant is that it has its own parking lot. Anyone whose tried to park on a busy NYC street, knows how difficult it can be to find parking! The restaurant's dim lighting and dark red decor provide a great intimate atmosphere that makes the largest of dinner parties feel very private. Be prepared to bring your table manners and hushed voices to this white tablecloth and red napkin restaurant!

The food of course is true to Indian cuisine and absolutely delicious. One of my personal favorites from the appetizer list is the stuffed mushrooms. I'm not sure what they're stuffed with, but they're crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and come with an amazing sauce! The dinner menu has the usual list of entrees to be expected at an Indian restaurant. The chicken tikka masala is always a good option but if you're in the mood for something spicier, try the chicken chilly. It's an Indian twist on Chinese chicken with garlic sauce. Another favorite is the biryani, a spicy rice dish. It takes a lot of effort to even make decent biryani but this restaurant's is the best. There are vegetarian and meat options to please all customers. For those of you who always order naan, try ordering the onion kulcha which has tons more flavor. The restaurant also has a great drinks selection. The mango lassi is good but can be quite filling. I'd go for a glass of spicy red wine like Chianti or Shiraz. I don't particularly like their kheer or ras malai, but the moong dal halwa is a perfect Indian dessert to end your meal!

The waiters at Heritage of India are very helpful. They have perfect timing in terms of bringing your next meal and refilling your water cup. If you call ahead of time and let them know of someone's birthday, they'll even bring out their Manhattan Truffle dessert with a candle!

Make sure you check out this Indian restaurant located on 2024 Hillside Ave, New Hyde Park, NY.