Great Finds at Choice Eats 2011

Last Tuesday, I attended the 2011 Village Voice Choice Eats Tasting Event.  It was a great place for a daring foodie with an appetite,  like me.  The opportunity to sample food from all over the city is one that should not be missed, and apparently few did.  The  excited crowd of foodies was huge, but congenial.

It would be difficult to  capture the entire experience here. (Be there, next year!) However, I share some of the less known and/or surprises below.

Great Finds…

• The Vanderbilt This eatery’s excellent selection of charcuterie made a trip the restaurant an absolute necessity!  I made my way there the next day.  (Look for a detailed review  to follow!)
• Buka This Nigerian restaurant was a delightful surprise!  Their goat pepper soup was delicious, with fresh herbs and incredible flavor.  I made a point of visiting the restaurant four days later! (Look for a detailed review  to follow!)
• Red Hook Lobster Pound It is hard to go wrong with lobster.  The Lobster Pound delivers a simple, yet simply delicious lobster roll!
• Sunburnt Cow Despite my many food adventures, I had never  really tried Australian food.  The great vibe of the moo life crew and the yummy sliders have made me a fan.
• Coney Island Taste This Peruvian fast food offers great flavor with no pretensions.  The ceviche and chicha morada (purple corn drink) certainly got my attention.

Worth further investigation….

• KyoChon I was unfamiliar with this Korean wing chain; however, the Soy Garlic, Hot & Sweet and Honey wings had a lovely crunch and great flavor.
• Porchetta This team offered a pretty decent pork sandwich.  It is definitely worth stopping by to explore their simple menu.
• Bao Haus The all-natural Taiwanese steamed sandwiches on offer were really good.  A late night exploration of their menu is in order.

Saved a trip…

• The Meatball Shop I love meatballs and had high expectations for this eatery.  Unfortunately, the meatballs were quite bland and a great disappointment.  It is a shame that this team did not put their best foot forward.
• Maima‘s Liberian  Bistro -  Liberian food usually appeals to my palate due to the generous use of peppers.  Unfortunately, the Maima offerings were seriously lacking in flavor.
• Ditch Plains Celebrity chef Marc Murphy’s restaurant has long been on my list of restaurants to visit, but no longer.  The offering of a hot dog with mac and cheese was putting, and showed poor judgment with regard to selection.  (Too much bread/roll with pasta/macaroni.)  I have to believe that it was not representative of the overall quality of the restaurant’s menu; however, there are way too many NYC restaurants to waste time finding out.