The longer I blog about amazing food in New York City, the more I appreciate Fusion Food. I have become quite spoiled over the years of dining in this amazing city, so combining two or more cuisines is very attractive to me. It’s so innovative and fun, and almost every time, the flavors mesh so well. It takes a true culinary artist to come up with some of the ideas you will find in this blog. So, let me show you some of the awesome food I had here, and give you some ideas about where to have your next night out!
C As In Charlie
With a name like C As In Charlie, don’t you already suspect a special kind of restaurant? At least I did. It sounds different immediately, and I’m drawn to it without question. The place is small and tight, a typical New York City situation in the East Village. Sitting down on my assigned old chair, my bougie self is sighing, this better be worth it. Oh, but it is. It starts out with great beverages that you will probably not easily find anywhere else. The food here is a fusion of Korean and Southern food, it is served tapas style, and it comes with a side of fun and a great atmosphere. I absolutely loved this place.
I picked three tapas off their super interesting menu. Of course I had to have the Popcorn Chicken, which was made with a Sweet Gochujang Glaze, and came in a Popcorn container. Super delicious, super cute. (Their plating was also very different and fun). Next I had the Crab Drop Soup, which is a play on the Egg Drop Soup, however it looks like a cappuccino, and I can’t say I’ve had a more fun and delicious soup. Great taste, even greater plating. Last was the Seoul’sbury Steak, obviously a play on the Salisbury steak with a twist on Korea’s Capitol City. So delicious!! It comes with Gruyere Grits, and I think I’m in love. Such a great restaurant.
Shalom Japan
Ok, let’s go to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. There is lots of good food to be found here. I find myself visiting here a lot, just to find some great food. It’s also the home of Shalom Japan, a quaint restaurant by a couple that combines their cuisine from their individual heritages, Japanese and Jewish. Sounds like it’s hard to pull off, but they managed just fine! Their food is a perfect mix of both cultural dishes, innovative and fun.
I started out with the Jew Egg, which sounded super interesting, made with honey nut hummus, mushrooms and feta (I think the ingredients have slightly changed for the spring}. Such a beautiful dish, and so yummy. I took a Wagyu Pastrami Sando to go, and it traveled well. Super delicious! Wagyu made it superior. I finished the evening with a Matzoh Ball Ramen, which is probably the best fusion dish I have ever seen. It’s literally a Matzoh Ball soup with scallions, mandels, wood ear mushrooms, and then according to your choice you can add the Matzoh balls and a soy marinated egg. Absolute perfection. Great spot!
Thursday Kitchen
This lovely restaurant picked the name “Thursday Kitchen” to make a usual Thursday a more exciting day, having to compete with that pesky Friday, where most people start their weekend. I love this idea! It’s New York City, where every day can be a weekend. It is considered a “New Korean” cuisine kind of restaurant, which here means a fusion of Korean food with influences from all over the world, and I’m here for it. Cocktails, you ask? Super fun. Delicious cocktails are being served in pouches with a lit up plastic ice cube. Such a must-have.
My dishes were all scrumptious. I chose three items of their tapas style menu, and I picked wisely. First were the Tuna Tartar Tacos with chipotle mayo and yuzu creme. So good. I followed with the Duck Confit Empanadas, served with dill creme fraiche, cumin and pickled cucumber. A solid 10. I closed out with the medium rare steak with a soy-garlic glaze, that was accompanied by feta grits. I left a happy camper, full and happy. Happy to have found this place.
