TASTE TEST: Chocolate Baby Back Ribs at Ember Room

Hidden on 9th ave. between Hell's Kitchen and the Theatre District is an Asian Fusion restaurant known as Ember Room. As usual, I read about it in my Thrillist newsletter. It mentioned ribs. I love ribs. So I was totally game. However, when I got there I took a closer look at the menu and discovered that the "ribs" were actually Chocolate-covered Baby Back Ribs. Chocolate? On my ribs? (shakes head)

I like chocolate on my sundaes. I love Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate--only from the Bronx, where they add milk. I only eat chocolate cake. Crumbs makes the sickest triple chocolate Blackout cupcake that is mind-blowingly good. However, I don't really like chocolate candy, or chocolate sprinkles, or chocolate ice cream, and if someone suggested that I try putting chocolate on my ribs, I'd say that was gross and that they're insane...and I'd be wrong.

First off, it's important to clarify that while these ribs are dripping in dark sauce, it's not all chocolate. Most of it is barbecue sauce. You can taste and smell some of the chocolate, but it's not a completely jarring experience. It eases you into the flavor. However, if you're not a fan of chocolate, I wouldn't recommend it. After the second rib, you'd have your fill.

The companion dishes I'd recommend are the BBQ Short Ribs and the Roasted Oxtail. The latter is super salty and I could feel my blood pressure rising with every bite, but it balances out the sweetness of the chocolate flavor.

I've been to the restaurant twice already in two weeks and I plan on going again this Friday before I see The Motherfucker With Hat, due to my new theater kick. But I must force myself to try other places all summer. I cannot have a repeat of last summer, which consisted of me gorging myself on BonChon Monday through Saturday. After all, I didn't make a list for nothing.

647 9th Ave, Btwn 45th & 46th St

SUMMER PROJECT: Decorating my new apartment

Ok ok, so I don't have one yet, but it's a work in progress. I've been forced to have staycations or low-budget, in-continent vacations every summer since I studied abroad and spent thousands traveling through Europe.

Totally worth it. Totally broke. 

I do, however, intend on backpacking through Europe next Easter. But until then, I've saved up enough money to buy myself an apartment and to furnish it. So instead of traveling this summer, I'll be enjoying NYC and making an apartment wishlist.

First up on that list is something that's probably very seasonal and impractical, but awesome:

Zoku Quick Pop Maker ($49.95) + accessories ($69), Brookstone

I find myself realizing that I can't take everything I love about my parents' apartment with me. I've made mental notes: Snag the Emeril frying pans. Don't forget the skeletal bride+groom cake decoration you bought at the church fair. Figure out who gets custody of the Wii you bought... But I almost forgot about the plastic Popsicle mold I use to use every summer as a kid. This could be a potential replacement. A pricey one, but for $69 more I get a measuring toolkit, 6 sticks, a storage case, and a recipe book. Tempting.

TASTE TEST: Nuevo Latino at Zengo

I'm on a Bon Chon strike. I've seriously been gorging myself on Korean fried chicken for like 8 months, soooooooo I comprised a list of restaurants I plan to force myself to try. The first of what hopefully will be many was Zengo. I get all of my restaurant recommendations from my Thrillist newsletter, because they always introduce me to places with interesting menus...and because I'm too lazy to look anywhere else.

They mentioned that Zengo had Nuevo Latino cuisine, a mix of Latin American and Asian delicacies. I figured since I love both of those types of foods, I'd probably love them together.

When Ali and I first arrived one Saturday night around 9pm, we were told it would be a 20 minute wait. It was actually an hour-long wait and probably would've been longer if we hadn't complained to the bartender. We were then given booth seating meant for at least five people, so that made up for the neglect. Prior to being seated we got drinks at the upstairs bar. I'd recommend going up there. If you love architecture and interior design, you'll be in awe of the above-view of the hanging wooden beams and spiral chandelier. It's like a permanent art installation.

Once we were seated near the windows, I saw the intricate designs of the window gates. The decor seemed very Asian-inspired.

After realizing that the bar bill doesn't carryover onto the meal bill, I skimmed the menu for food I normally eat (pork, beef, and pasta). I never eat chicken or fish outside, because I already eat chicken at home every night and I'm afraid of food poisoning when it comes to seafood. I also try to stray away from $20 salads (because they're not very filling or flavorful), burgers (because nobody can top Five Guys), sandwiches (because nobody can top Subways or Chopt), and anything with spicy sauces (because downing five glasses of water is sort of a killjoy).

So after skipping over Churrasco (since I've never really liked it), lamb (because I can't remember if I like it and I didn't want to find out for $31), tofu (because yuck), and all the seafood, I settled on Braised Beef Short Ribs ($28).

And I'm so glad I did. It was de-licious! However, I read the words ribs and thought, That's totally edible. I decided to skip reading the meal description so that I wouldn't talk myself out of it. Had I read it though I would've known that it contained oaxaca cheese potato puree, shiitake (a Japanese mushroom), huitlacoche (an edible corn fungus), and dragon sauce. Dragon sauce. As in spicy. The tender beef and smooth mashed potatoes just melted on my tongue, cradling it in pillowy waves...and then assaulting it like a fire-breathing dragon. It's delicious, like I said, but probably far more enjoyable if you like spicy food.

Ali ordered the Achiote-Masala Grilled Chicken ($21) with black bean dal and mango salsa. I thought it was kind of bland, but she really enjoyed it. All in all, I'd recommend this restaurant if you love an array of Latin and Asian food. I probably won't eat there again because $28 is pretty pricey for a meal that's too hot for me to finish, but they have several other interesting-sounding offerings: Torched Wagyu Beef, Volcano (seared salmon, red crab, sesame-chipotle aioli), Mango Eel Roll, Thai Coconut Chicken Soup, Tuna Tataki (involved grilled watermelon), and even a Build Your Own Bento Box option. It sounds like one of those restaurants you only hear about on the Food Network. So if you have every series from the channel TiVOed, get off your couch and get to Zengo.

622 3rd Ave. | at 40th St | New York, NY

#1 Reason to Get a Smart Phone: NYC Food Truck App

I don't have a smart phone. I know. At this point that's like admitting that I go to the library to write this, because I only have a typewriter at home. But there are so many negative variables involving smart phones (i.e. short battery life, expensive phone plans, an addiction to Angry Birds, etc.) that I've managed to resist the urge to upgrade from my text-friendly Sidekick to an iPhone or a Droid.

However, every now and then, I learn yet another cool thing a smart phone can do that tempts me to reconsider. After all, who needs to pay rent when I can photograph scan tags that allow me to watch trailers as I read Entertainment Weekly's Summer Preview? That isn't the reason I'm tempted today though. No, that was yesterday's reason. Today's reason is The New York City Food Truck App.

I don't normally eat from food trucks, but every food truck I have eaten from has provided me with a delicious meal. The thing is: I don't know where most of them are. Several of them have numerous spots they like to park at and I obviously never frequent those areas, because I never see them. I've had the good fortune of discovering the Korean food truck on 49th between 6th & 7th ave. that serves the most delicious Bulgogi beef, and I once passed the Wafels & Dinges truck in Union Square, but I've yet to cross paths with the rest of the food trucks my friends gush about.

At this point in food truck history, several of the business and web-savvy entrepreneurs have wised to putting a kabosh on their anonymity, and broadcasting their current locations on Twitter. That's great and everything, but how about a less text-heavy, all-encompassing guide to food trucks? How about a map that pinpoints nearly every food truck in Manhattan, giving you a bird's eye view? *sigh* Now that's the stuff.

TASTE TEST: Korean Fried Chicken at BonChon

I haven't sat down and had a long talk with my buddy Kristine in a very long time. So I made her trek all the way from Jersey City to meet me for something I've never tried before: Korean fried chicken. Originally, we were supposed to meet up at Dok Suni's in the East Village, but I didn't feel up for the travel—I know, I'm a douchebag; she traveled plenty far for me—so we scrambled for somewhere closer to eat. She told me that if my heart was set on trying Korea's version of fried chicken, I could meet her at BonChon Chicken. Sounded good to me.

As usual, I immediately perused the menu for what was edible. The chicken menu was broken up into wings and drums and combos of wings and drums, and then there were sauce options. I, being the wuss that I am, chose the non-spicy garlic soy sauce and 3 drums. I thought they might be appetizer small, but when the meal arrived, they were adult-sized. Still a little wary of the taste, I took a timid bite.

Crunch!
Sweet!
Juicy!
Mmmm.

I can still taste it. It's like Chinese fried chicken, but ten times better. It's like they fried the chicken twice, and rubbed honey and duck sauce all over it. Where has this been all my life?

I'm a chubby girl, but my chubby friend Ty decided to get a lap gastric band and her doc said she wouldn't be allowed to eat fried foods for several months. That meal, among many others, are why I exercise whenever I can and eat healthy when I eat-in. Because there's no amount of medical warnings that would stop me from consuming that again...unless at least three experts proved it was poisonous. lol

98 Chambers St.