Buffet! Buffet! Buffet!

I can't believe I've never written about the East Manor Buffet over in Rego Park in Queens. I've been there a couple of times and it was always worth the trip. For under $15, you get Peking Duck, sushi, king crab legs and oh, so much more. I'm also addicted to their teeny pecan pies. When you come for dinner, for a couple more dollars (still under $20), you even get oysters. Endless freakin' oysters!

My roommate and I have made a sport out of it. If vanity is the devil's favorite sin, gluttony is mine.

NY Restaurant Week

In all two weeks that was Winter Restaurant Week in NY I was able to try exactly one restaurant. Restaurant week is an opportunity for us with tight budgets to try out the different participating restos, some of which I can't even imagine looking at the menus. The idea is that restaurants offer prix fixe lunch for $24.07 and dinner for $35, stressing the idea that NY is open 24/7 (of course, so is Manila!). My friends did try out one of the more expensive places, a French restaurant, but were quite disappointed. I suppose, they will not offer the top items on their menu for that price.

After poring over countless menus online, the one restaurant that appealed to me and my friends was Blue Water Grill. Naturally, island people that we are. Although this was not really a restaurant that was unattainable at all, I still thoroughly enjoyed the set lunch we had. The place was huge but had a surprisingly homey feel. We were led to the loft area which was perfect for people watching, especially since we had a good view of the bar (tender!) downstairs.

For my appetizer, (apart from the bartender who was certainly eye candy!) I had the fried oyster maki roll. It had the ideal mix of crunch and chew, and its light lemon foam dip gave it that distinctive Asian-Western fusion taste. My main entree was a perfect follow up to the maki roll--a seared tuna salad lightly tossed in vinaigrette dressing. I was pleasantly surprised with the refreshing dessert which was a selection of three sorbets: kiwi, pineapple and mango. Although the kiwi sorbet was a taste I don't think I will soon acquire, the pineapple and mango were a perfect end to the meal. Overall, I think I can say that I did a pretty good job ordering for this little "adventure". What's so great was that I realized I could actually go back to Blue Water Grill on a regular day and not be afraid of breaking the budget too much.

Worth It

In one of our afternoon strolls in the city, my friend Camille and I decided to treat ourselves to a nice supper at Union Square Cafe. Because the regular restaurant was closed between lunch and dinner, we were seated at the bar. Although limited, their bar menu was still quite a treat if only for the pretty good selection of oysters that they offer. At first glance, I thought that a $12 salad was pretty steep especially if you're on a student budget. Good thing Camille picked up the tab for the oysters!

Sitting at the bar for a meal was a new experience for me. Unknown to me, however, the afternoon would be quite worth the prices on the menu. The bartender was quite attentive, telling us what the difference is among the different oyster selections. I realize that I preferred the creaminess of the Western ones versus the sea water taste of those harvested here in the East. We also decide to have a beer or two, being seated at the bar and all. I ask the bartender if they offered some wheat beer and of course, they do and again, I am educated with the different kinds. He offers us an organic wheat beer, Edelweiss Hefenweisen (I hope I got that right). Although i couldn't really care less about it being organic or not, it was darn good beer. Each bottle was actually a pint, so two of those did it for me. What was so great, though, was that the bar tender even gave us a free taste of the one on tap, which naturally, I forgot what it was but was good, although a bit more spicy.

Camille, although reluctant to have a drink at first, now tells me she's actually craving for the beer. I can't wait to go back to the place because even if it was quite pricey, it is a good treat once in a good while. Not only for the food, but also for the interaction with the "help" which turned out to be educational. I can't believe I'm saying that about a bartender!

I get it now... why these places charge so much. They make you feel good about eating or drinking there. I haven't tried enough of the expensive places to say that that's how it is overall, but this place was, I have to say, worth the $10 bottle of beer.

Marcel from Top Chef

I'm creating a new category for star sightings in NY. It's so funny how people know that they see famous people, but pretend not to be interested. Well, being the jologs that I am, I will pretend not to be interested but will write about it.

Last week, to those who watched this season's Bravo's Top Chef, Marcel the a__hole runner-up on the phone outside Le Cirque in Midtown. I so wanted to scream "LOSER!!!" at him...

Also, Christmas of two years ago, Lucy Liu shopping along 5th Ave., with an assistant and about a dozen bags from Coach. She made a couple of female friends and family happy that year.