kate

Tokyo's fans of pervasive cuteness will soon be able to coo at the feline-ness of every dish on the menu at a Parco department store pop-up called, quite logically, Hello Kitty Cafe. Marking a monthlong tribute to the character's 40th anniversary, the spot will use the character's (honestly) very convenient visage — more or less a circle with three dots and some swipes for whiskers — for crustless sandwiches, bento boxes, mousses, the obligatory latte art, even a pie with raspberries functioning pretty well for the hair bow.

There are turkey sandwiches with a boot of something pink:

Even the damn carrots. Photo: Parco

A roster of espresso drinks:

Of course.
Photo: Parco

And various cake pops:

The sweetest.
Photo: Parco

[Parco via Eater]

Read more posts by Clint Rainey

Filed Under: pop-ups, hello kitty, hello kitty cafe

Plus Checkers is opening two locations in the East Village, and Hooters is taking over the Peep World space.

Lower East Side: The former home of Pok Pok Phat Thai on Rivington Street is covered up with paper, and workers recently told an Eater staffer that an Afghan falafel joint is moving in and opening sometime mid-November. Andy Ricker's pad thai emporium, meanwhile, is spreading its wings at a big new space in Brooklyn. [PLYWOOD]

East Village: Signs for Rosie's Mexican and brown paper are up in the windows of what used to be the Greek restaurant Boukiés on 2nd Avenue. Rosie's is a project of Vicki Freeman and Marc Meyer, who recently opened Vic's, and Chris Paraskevaides, their partner at Cookshop and Hundred Acres. The menu will be based on Meyer's trips to Mexico. [EV Grieve]

Midtown East: Atwood Kitchen & Bar Room is coming to the old Traffic Bar space on 2nd Avenue. The restaurant hasn't released many details, but promises seasonally rotating plates and a "curated" cocktail menu. [PLYWOOD]

Midtown West: The old Peep World space on 33rd Street is keeping its seedy vibe, Hooters is moving in. After two years in the works, the breastaurant (which is only the second of its kind in Manhattan) is slated to open in about a month. [BB]

Nomad: An outpost healthy lunch chain Dig Inn is in the works at the corner of 28th and Broadway. [PLYWOOD]

Greenpoint: An Italian restaurant called the Naked Dog is coming soon to a space down the street from Achilles Heel on West Street. [PLYWOOD]

East Village: Burger chain Checkers is planning two locations in the neighborhood. A giant sign recently announced the imminent arrival of the 225 1st Avenue location. [EV Grieve]

See new signage or a restaurant? Snap a pic and tell us about it at tips@eater.com

Turkey, cranberry sauce, and gravy, all wrapped up in a neat package of celery salt croissant dough.

Momofuku Milk Bar's most genius hybrid pastry ever, the Thanksgiving croissant, is cooling on bakery counters right this very minute. The flakey celery salt dough wrapped around dark and light meat, cranberry sauce and gravy typically debuts on November 1, so this is like Christmas come early in the world of holiday-themed foods. It's here just in time for that cold snap we're about to get, so grab one, or two, or three if you're already stretching your stomach for Thanksgiving dinner, and say a word of thanks. The pastries will disappear at the end of November.

The only way to eat turkey: @momomilkbar thanksgiving croissant: stuffed w turkey, stuffing, gravy & cranberry jelly pic.twitter.com/TWNqBuyjZG

— Dave Chang (@davidchang) October 30, 2014

Going on right now through Monday in the immense plaza at the Komazawa Olympic Park in Japan is the Tokyo Ramen Show, where old and new soup styles are represented. The event has two legs, the first of which is dedicated to 20 established ramen styles, while the second portion is all about special collaborations and updated classics in the form of 20 brand-new styles. Admission is free, and each bowl costs a mere $7.80. Lines tend to get long, but that certainly sounds like a form of noodle paradise, especially once you get past the TV-show pop-idol performances and other diversions. Here's a look at some of the more beautiful bowls shot by the people slurping them.

This one is made with anchovies and buckwheat noodles.

ランチラで、東京ラーメンショー@駒沢公園なう。一杯目は、ほうきぼし✖️ムタヒロ『わぽぽ辛鶏煮干そば』今日、明日だけなんだけど並んでなかった。もっと辛くてもいいのに。麺はムッチリ旨かった。 pic.twitter.com/YvkAvim8HP

— 秋山具義 (@gugitter) October 28, 2014

Here's a shoyu-style broth with thick wonton noodles.

東京ラーメンショー2014、酒田ふわとろワンタン麺。あっさり醤油スープで美味しい！ pic.twitter.com/BVN4atkqxJ

— 大江亜里朱（グルメ行政書士） (@aliceiphone) October 24, 2014

This one has scallops, chicken, and poached oysters.

東京ラーメンショー2014 大船渡秋刀魚だしらーめん 牡蠣とわかめをトッピング☆彡 ホタテは完売(´･ω･｀) やっぱり秋刀魚だしはウマいねぇ♪ pic.twitter.com/QdghRLnBCF

— ジュリアン (@julianozone) October 27, 2014

Straight-up miso.

東京ラーメンショー2014@駒沢オリンピック公園にて完全無敵の味噌ラーメン。信州ブース。カラッと香ばしく揚げられた山賊焼きとマイルドな王道味噌スープとが無上の相性を誇る。巨大な海苔がアクセントとなった、視覚的にも楽しめる１杯。美味い！ pic.twitter.com/K1MzemOn16

— かずあっきぃ《自称・超ラーメンフリーク》 (@kazutan0264) October 26, 2014

Looks like this one doesn't skimp on the pork.

東京ラーメンショー2014@駒沢オリンピック公園にて和歌山中華そば生醤油仕立てのチャレンジ盛り。大山さんの豚骨スープに和歌山から取り寄せた生醤油を惜しげもなく合わせた１杯。チャレンジ盛りは、麺、具すべての分量が跳ね上がり、１杯で満腹。 pic.twitter.com/cVMOXhdTys

— かずあっきぃ《自称・超ラーメンフリーク》 (@kazutan0264) October 26, 2014

佐伯ラーメン愛好会 大分佐伯ラーメン♪

A photo posted by terubowz (@terubowz) on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:32am PDT

東京ラーメンショーで食べてきた。 pic.twitter.com/85dOtEIXiv

— 古河　春人 (@koga_haruto) October 26, 2014

Chicken tsukune garnish this ramen.

東京･駒沢公園に行ってきた！ 『東京ラーメンショー2014』 目当てのラーメンはただ1つ！ 鶏湯ラーメン ばふ×麺場 力皇 のコラボラーメン｢帝皇ちゃんこ味噌らーめん｣ 高山さん･力皇さん、超絶おいしかったです！！ 29日まで！ pic.twitter.com/khrC25AWKF

— 潮崎豪 (@goshiozaki54039) October 27, 2014

Spicy soy broth with huge pieces of chashu pork.

ムタヒロニュース(^-^)東京ラーメンショー行かれましたかー！本日でくろき×マタドールのわぽ会限定味噌ラーメンは今日迄です(=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ画像は全部のせの味噌でーふ！そして明日からはほうきぼし×ムタヒロの辛い醤油ラーメンが登場！！ pic.twitter.com/k2G6NliZhw

— ムタヒロ【公式アカウント】 (@mutahiro) October 27, 2014

Roasted pork and spicy pork.

《福の神食堂情報》 東京ラーメンショーやってますー！ 本日より、わぽ会ブースには『ムタヒロ×ほうきぼし』の辛い醤油ラーメンが登場！！２日間限定です！！ 駒沢公園へ急げ〜！ヽ(￣д￣;)ノ=3=3=3 #東京ラーメンショー pic.twitter.com/FzIbe2qdtk

— 福の神食堂 (@R_Fukunokami) October 28, 2014

Thicker, wonton noodles make another appearance.

東京ラーメンショー2014二杯目は山形県酒田市のワンタンメン。なんて旨いんだ。スープ、チャーシュー、ワンタンそれぞれが主役級。ホントに近所に欲しい！素敵過ぎるショーです。 pic.twitter.com/oL01k1kQqQ

— hozming (@hozming) October 28, 2014

This shio gets a salt boost from anchovies.

東京ラーメンショーでの1杯は日本のラーメンを変える若手っぽい会の塩肉煮干らーめん（アオサトッピング）。こちはらソラノイロとらーめんえんやのコラボです！2日間限定です‼︎ pic.twitter.com/TRQfgwI6nf

— ラーメンWalker (@ramenwalker) October 24, 2014

Four regional styles, including one from Wakayama, a bone-brothy Hakata-style, and an Ofunato-style.

ドタバタしててなかなか東京ラーメンショーでのインプレッション上げられていないんだけど。食べた中で印象に残った４杯は「大船渡秋刀魚だしラーメン」「帝皇ちゃんこ味噌らーめん」「和歌山ラーメン（終売）」「博多豚骨ラーメン」でしたー！ pic.twitter.com/TaPbsYnsns

— 山路力也 (@ymjrky) October 29, 2014

Some spicy-looking Okayama-style soup.

岡山名物 ぼっけぇラーメン！ 東京ラーメンショーに岡山代表として出品ですって！でぇれぇな！ pic.twitter.com/Cn5fsCO5ux

— くお・ばでぃす (@quovadis0_0) October 26, 2014

東京ラーメンショー2014第一幕@駒沢オリンピック公園にて福島鶏白湯。まずは一言。ここのは相変わらず美味い！伊達鶏はやはりダシの出方が尋常じゃない。それでいて、もたついた味になっていないのは流石。郡山で食べた時も感動したが、また感動。 pic.twitter.com/zVadhcqjgM

— かずあっきぃ《自称・超ラーメンフリーク》 (@kazutan0264) October 26, 2014

Another shot of the oyster-dunking scallop and fish ramen.

東京ラーメンショー2014一杯目は大船渡秋刀魚だしラーメン。これは旨い！秋刀魚節南部鶏ガラを使ったスープが極上すぎる。透き通ったキレイなスープはあっさりながら深すぎる…。秋刀魚だしすごいわ。三陸のホタテや牡蠣も販売されてます。 pic.twitter.com/UgtJwtZQsw

— hozming (@hozming) October 28, 2014

For dessert, there's brown sugar and chocolate-banana milk shaved ice.

アップし忘れてたけど、今日のかき氷様。雪うさぎ（大八車）＠東京ラーメンショーで「バナナチョコミルク」「黒糖きな粉」を。中からバナナやアンコ出てきてんまんまやー*\(^o^)/* pic.twitter.com/VbcEBifV4n

— 山路力也 (@ymjrky) October 28, 2014

And don't forget to say hello to this guy.

Of course there's a walking kamaboko handing out noodle brochures.
Photo: Tokyo Ramen Show

[Official site]

Read more posts by Hugh Merwin

Filed Under: slurp, ramen, tokyo, tokyo ramen show

If you've got a sweet tooth, you probably don't need much of an excuse to go stock up on all the major candy food groups: candy corn (veggies), gummies (fruit,) nostalgic chocolate (dairy), choc...

-----Based on our Japanese blog-----

Hiiii, AmiAmi Otome desu♪ We've waited for a Hinata-kun Nendoroid almost as long as he waited for a volleyball team. Well today it finally pays off!☆ Get ready for a spike (in cuteness)!

Nendoroid - Haikyuu!!: Shoyo Hinata [Good Smile Company]

Hinata's eyes are so big I feel like I am going to fall into them! This expression captures his energy and passion for the sport perfectly♪ Speaking of perfection, check out that poofy spike hairdo of his (>ω・)b

ATTACK! Like all Nendoroids the poseability lets you recreate your favorite scenes from the anime. This Hinata is just a little shorter than the real thing at 100mm tall, tehe☆ Even at this tiny size his uniform and shoes look great!

Here's a shot from the stands♪ The figure is adorable but there's one detail in particular that I just can't get enough of...

Look at these round cheeks! I just want to squeeze them right off his face!! Be careful not to touch them too much though, you don't want to wear away the paint!

Yossshaaaaa! Celebrate a win with this face (*´艸`*)

Or get serious with this one. Hinata-kun comes with three expressions in total (Smiling, Serious and Overjoyed).

Did you notice that he comes with a special vollyball court action base♪? He also comes with half a net, which can only mean one thing… More on that coming up (?)! 

Taa taa for now!

Nendoroid - Haikyuu!!: Shoyo Hinata [Good Smile Company]

(C)古舘春一／集英社・「ハイキュー!!」製作委員会・MBS
*Photos are of a prototype and the actual product may differ.

New Mouse Guard items available from Skelton Crew

http://skeltoncrewstudio.bigcartel.com/category/mouse-guard

New character art on 6” x 6” bristol. The originals are being offered as rewards in the Mouse Guard LEGO-compatible bricks Kickstarter by Crazy Bricks: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crazybricks/bricks-of-the-mouse-guard-for-your-miniature-figur

Dunkin' Donuts has finally figured out how to bring its definitely-not-a-Cronut Croissant Donut to American stores on November 3, roughly 15 months after introducing it across South Korean franchises, for some reason, as the "New York Pie Donut." The delay was just natural, explains the company; Dunkin' plans to be "selling a lot more of them than a single shop bakery" — one owned by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named — "so it was important to do it right." They were a big hit upon launch in Korea, so who knows?

Dunkin' says this novel pastry concept will sell for $2.49 and be covered in its Glazed Donut glaze, à la this:

Going cro-nuts over @DunkinDonuts NEW croissant donuts... "Hi, I'll take them all!" #cronut #mydunkin pic.twitter.com/eNeLmmqiyF

— Dinopoulos (@cdinopoulos) October 27, 2014

For future versions, the chain says it's "looking at" fillings and toppings — who knows, they could even rotate them on a monthly basis? No specific flavors mentioned yet, but chocolate is among those already tested in Korea:

In an interview, John Costello, the doughnut chain's president of global marketing and innovation, schools the AP on the "at least 20 years" bakers have been making doughnuts out of croissants, or vice versa, which is a paltry form of proof that Dunkin' isn't "copying a specific bakery in New York." The companywide name avoidance does start to border on parody, though: Asked how the Croissant Donut and Cronut differ, Dunkin's CEO Jeff Miller would only tell the AP he's "tried the product that you mention" and likes theirs better.

So yeah, cue the 31 Ways Dunkin' Donuts Went Out of Its Way Not to Say the Word Dunkin’ Donuts’ Korean ‘Cronut’ listicles. And not that they'd know this or anything, but the timing was pretty smart. The guy who makes that other "product" is kicking off his book tour for The Secret Recipes right now.

Related: The Official Cronut Recipe Is Out
Related: Dunkin' Donuts Figured Out How to Make Cronuts
[AP]

Read more posts by Clint Rainey

Filed Under: knockoffs, croissant donut, cronut, dominique ansel bakery, dunkin' donuts

Our friends over at Bedford + Bowery report the exciting news that the restaurant and café ecosystem of the Lower East Side is now sufficiently diverse enough to support the existence of an all-éclair shop. Owner Thomas Cardaccia and chef Antoine Pelhate will soon debut Les Jardins de la Duchesse, presumably because "Éclair Warehouse" is a tacky name, at 138 Orchard Street. In great news, there will apparently be salted butter, coffee, and vanilla flavors in addition to the beautiful Valrhona-slicked classic seen above. And perhaps because there's no limit to what pâte à choux can do, the Duchesse is also exploring her savory side.

Yes, those are wasabi peanuts. Photo: Sylvain Renault

As it goes with savory crêpes, it turns out, chefs have been known to slice éclairs lengthwise and stuff them with everything from sliced ham to foie gras torchons. Les Jardins de la Duchesse's sample menu has got an open-faced Caprese version, as well as one with goat cheese that's bound with a bacon strip. There's a chicken curry éclair, as well as one made with smoked salmon and Philadelphia cream cheese, with a coup de grâce of wasabi-dill icing. Bedford + Bowery says the shop will also serve hot white chocolate by the cup, which — who knows? — may turn out to be the really shocking menu item.

[B+B]

Read more posts by Hugh Merwin

Filed Under: coming soon, eclairs, les jardins de la duchess

News that Grub can get behind: According to a study in Nature Neuroscience, an antioxidant found in chocolate could greatly improve memory skills — particularly among people ages 50 to 69. The best catch is that in order for the health benefits to kick in, you'd have to eat a "large amount" of dark chocolate. No problem, right? We've rounded up 15 excellent chocolate desserts — in the name of good health, of course.

Chocolate-Sourdough Tortino
Where: Locanda Verde
Price: $12
Pastry wizard Kierin Baldwin pairs chocolate with poached pear, toasted walnuts, spiced fudge, and amaro gelato.

Chocolate Pudding, Pretzel Tuile
Where: Bar Bolonat
Price: $11
Don't miss Einat Admony's excellent desserts: The milky chocolate one's delightful, as is the Moroccan-tea gelato with walnut-pistachio baklava.

Chocolate-Thé Fondant
Where: Maman
Price: $6
Yes, the chocolate-chip cookie at this French bakery is superb, but so is the moist, molten chocolate cake — spiked with Earl Grey tea and topped with extra-rich chocolate ganache.

Chocolate Cremeux
Where: Le Fond
Price: $8
Chef Jacob Eberle is overseeing the pastry department himself — and his current menu includes a chocolate dessert with candied orange preserves and vanilla cream.

Candy Bar
Where: The NoMad Bar
Price: $13
This might be the most expensive candy bar you've ever purchased, but the housemade treat — with dark chocolate and caramel — is miles ahead of a Caramello or Sky Bar.

The NoMad Bar doesn't mess around.Photo: Melissa Hom

Mexican Iced Mocha
Where: El Rey
Price: $3.25
Here's something special: Kyoto-style coffee brewed directly with cinnamon and Aleppo pepper, plus a mixture of sweetened condensed milk and cocoa powder.

Bread and Chocolate
Where: Prune
Price: $7
Need an excuse to eat yet another comforting chocolate dessert? Prune's 15th anniversary should do the trick.

Chocolate Sablé
Where: Vic's
Price: $10
Even though Vic's has been open less than a week, it already feels like a true neighborhood restaurant. Chef Hillary Sterling's chocolate-cookie dessert — with chestnuts and cream — is the perfect end note after a pizza dinner.

Chocolate Mousse
Where: Buvette
Price: $8
No meal at Buvette is complete without the restaurant's famed chocolate mousse, made only with five ingredients: bittersweet chocolate, butter, egg whites, salt, and sugar. (Oh, and an optional dollop of whipped cream.)

Ice-Cream Panino
Where: Marta
Price: $7
The hot ice-cream sandwich trend continues, and Adam Platt's a fan of this iteration, with "smoked-mascarpone-flavored gelato, two salty, addictively delicious chocolate biscotti, and a coating of crushed pistachios."

Black Forest
Where: Bâtard
Price: Part of a prix fixe starting at two courses for $55
This rich, luxurious dessert combines chocolate sablé, kirsch-chantilly cream, and bing cherries.

"It Came From Gowanus"
Where: Ample Hills Creamery
Price: $4.75
This special new flavor, which debuted for the Gowanus parlor's grand opening, is a super-dark salted-chocolate-fudge ice cream with "with surprise mix-ins" like white-chocolate pearls and dark-chocolate brownie bites.

Ample Hills Creamery's super-dark flavor.Photo: Melissa Hom

Chocolate-Peanut Crunch
Where: White Street
Price: $12
It's nice to see a dessert with nostalgic, comforting flavors on a fancy restaurant's menu: This one includes peanut-butter ice cream and a hazelnut praline.

Warm Chocolate Budino
Where: Charlie Bird
Price: $12
There's a reason why this dessert hasn't left Ryan Hardy's menu since Charlie Bird opened: He mixes chocolate with olive-oil gelato and — brilliantly — caramelized Rice Krispies.

Chocolate Semifreddo
Where: The Eddy
Price: $10
This under-the-radar East Village restaurant has a fruity, refreshing chocolate dessert on its menu — dressed up with Angostura bitters, coconut, and banana.

[NYT]

Read more posts by Sierra Tishgart

Filed Under: grub guides, ample hills creamery, bar bolonat, batard, burette, charlie bird, chocolate, el rey, le fond, locanda verde, maman, marta, new york, prune, the eddy, the nomad bar, vic’s, white street

Korilla BBQ is now serving up Korean inspired DIY fare to the masses

EV Grieve reports that the brick and mortar location of the popular food truck, Korilla BBQ, is now open for business. The offers customers rice bowls, salads and wraps served with a choice of protein, rice, kimchi and sauces. Take a look at the menu, here.

As an homage to the restaurant's East Village location, artist Terry Galmitz has painted murals on the walls commemorating scenes from local establishments like Stage Restaurant and McSorley's.

It looks like the Aussie company decided to pull the plug on it's American venture.

Aussie pie shop and cafe Pie Face mysteriously closed all but one of its New York locations in the past few days. Eater noted over the weekend that the Union Square outpost was dunzo, but as it turns out, that was one of just six locations to go dark. The last remaining shop is at 36th Street and 9th Avenue. Signs are up in the windows of several of the other locations thanking people for their patronage and directing them to the last holdout, but offer no explanation or consolation. The chain landed in the States three years ago and seemed bring the savory pie trend with them, but apparently meat filled pastries didn't take with Manhattan lunchers.

Some pie fans do exist, however, and have taken to Twitter to mourn the loss:

@PieFaceUSA You are my everything! Why has your Times Square location been closed so often recently??

— Kevin O'Toole (@SneakersOToole) October 14, 2014

@piefaceusa @piefacenyc What's going on?! Are you pulling a Crumbs? Yr fans want to know! @ Pieface http://t.co/seuhjzQ3sk

— Ellen Scordato (@EllenScordato) October 12, 2014

why is the @PieFaceUSA on west 53rd and broadway closed

— kellyann cronin (@kellyanncronin) October 15, 2014

Takara Tomy's hotly anticipated Playstation Optimus Prime is now available for pre-order. The Autobot leader looks even better than the first color images had suggested and even features painted connection ports on his back.

While I'm not sure that I necessarily like Optimus more than the Sega Mega Drive (Genesis) Megatron, I find the design quite a bit more impressive the more we see of it. Like many of my colleagues, I also would have preferred that Optimus Prime's alt mode be a Super Nintendo (thus evoking the 16-bit console wars) although I suppose a SNES might work nicer with Soundwave from a logistical standpoint as Laserbeak, Rampage, and so forth could be used as cartridges.

At a ¥10,000 list price, I doubt that I'll bother picking up the Playstation Optimus Prime but I imagine that more eager (and less frugal) fans may jump on these pre-orders

[ Pre-order Playstation Optimus at HobbyLink Japan | AmiAmi ]

Three cheap eats recommendations from Eater critic Robert Sietsema.

Students need cheap meals, and increasingly Mexican bodegas are stepping forward to provide them. A case in point is Chinelos II, located on the western edge of the mammoth City College of New York campus, a half-block east of Broadway on 136^th Street in a hilly neighborhood that might remind you of San Francisco. Selling cactus paddles and guaje pods, Mexican sodas and bottled hot sauces, and the sweet, colorful breads called pan dulce, a grocery occupies half of the two-storefront premises. A taqueria spawned by the bodega occupies the other, with a long counter behind which a guy makes your burritos and tacos. Two TV screens are tuned to south-of-the-border soaps, and seven tables are strung out in a space that could easily hold 17.

Chinelos is named after a folkloric dance costume native to the state of Morelos, and the menu is limited to antojitos and a few hot dishes displayed on a steam table. Most of the offerings on the menu cost a merciful $4 each, including quesadillas (with lots of vegetarian options, mushrooms and squash flowers among them); burritos stuffed with rice, beans, and a choice of meats; and tacos priced at $2.50 each. Shown is a suadero (brisket) burrito enwrapping rice, beans, and tender meat, and a plate of three tacos dorados, stuffed with chicken, deep-fried, then smothered in greenery, cheese, and crema. You can grab a Jarritos soda or a beer from the fridge next door. (But be careful! Beers consumed in the dining room are $4 each.) And don't forget to ask the waitress for the hot sauces — red and green — which are freshly pureed from tomatoes and chiles. They pack quite a wallop. 530 W 136^th St, (212) 690-6077.

Oh! Susanna. Not the one in the Stephen Foster song, but the newish pie parlor named Susanna Pizzeria on Bleecker Street. The place is operated by three gentlemen of Verona, Italy, a town in the southern reaches of Emilia-Romagna. The menu slings two dozen thin-crust pizzas, in categories designated Traditional, White Pizzas, and Pizza Sandwiches, priced at $8 through $19 in the 13" size. Meal-size salads are also available in a dining room with a white-and-red decorative motif dominated by a flickering, wood-burning oven. The sunny backyard is a nice place to sit in fine weather. The biggest bargain on a menu is the so-called "panizzo." Priced at $5, it's a sandwich made with a single thin pizza crust folded over and stuffed. Other Italian names for it in other regions are torta al testo or piadina. In the example shown, the stuffing is bresaola, pecorino, and arugula. The sandwich tastes delectable, and makes a perfect light lunch. 182 Bleecker St, (646) 678-3466.

The expansive Fei Long Supermarket in Sunset Park boasts a wonderful food court for shoppers, small-scale by Chinese food court standards, but still possessing a beguiling choice of Asian cuisines among its nine stalls. There's a Japanese spot specializing in teriyaki and sushi, a Sichuan counter, and a Chinese charcuterie specialist whose name translates, "Shall We Eat." Well, why not? My favorite occupies a corner near the front entrance to the mall, called Shanghai Dumpling House, though that translation doesn't appear on the façade of the booth. The place does wonderful xio long bao, Shanghai soup dumplings distinguished by their thin skins and rich gravy inside. Six largish pork dumplings will set you back $4.75, constituting a decent-size feed for one person. The stall doesn't offer the usual pork-crab hybrid (sometimes presented with a wad of crab on top); instead, there's an all-crab dumpling priced at $9.75. Steep, but probably worth it. Other dishes available in a broad-ranging Shanghai menu include sticky rice, steamed gluten, sets of the more traditional Shanghai dumplings (small, with thick skins and no soup), and lo meins. Communal seating area provided. 6301 8th Ave, Brooklyn, 718-680-0118.

All Posts by Robert Sietsema [ENY]

The doughnuts are free today, but be prepared to wait.

Beloved Bed-Stuy-based doughnuttery Dough opened its first Manhattan location this morning offering free yeast doughnuts through the day. The line is down the block and growing, reports an Eater staffer on the scene. Wait times are around 15 minutes. So far, no one seems to be complaining about the wait.

The new shop is serving its classic flavors like hibiscus, lemon poppyseed, chocolate Earl Grey, and others. Churros have also been promised, but aren't available today today.

Inside the space, pre-morning rush.

Everyone seems to be taking their doughnuts to go.

14 West 19th Street, Union Square.

Earlier this week, Doughnut Plant introduced two seasonal flavors, apple-cinnamon and pumpkin with spiced pepitas. They may both be delicious, but the latter doughnut transcends its seasonal novelty if not just because it is the rare pumpkin-spice-themed foodstuff that contains real pumpkin, at least in the form of candied seeds — most pumpkin-spice things, after all, contain no actual squash, so call this is progress. And that's not all: The Lower East Side-based establishment, which just announced it will expand to Long Island City and will otherwise be featured at Sunday's Grub Street Food Festival, also innovated recently by launching a mole-glazed doughnut.

This makes perfect sense. Photo: Hugh Merwin

Most regional versions of the thick Mexican sauce may not actually be made with chocolate, but thankfully Doughnut Plant's mole version includes it, mashed into a barely sweet glaze with ground nuts and a bit of chile pepper. It looks modest, sure, but that glaze is subtly hot and moreover gets an expansively warm flavor profile thanks to its spices. As such, it's perfect company for a brisk, slowly graying fall day, everything the entire mafia of commercially available pumpkin-spiced products purports to be but isn't.

Equally autumnal. Photo: Hugh Merwin

Finally, here's the apple-cinnamon, which has a tart Granny Smith thing going on and bits of real apple in the glaze. All three will be a part of this weekend's Grub Street Food Festival at the Hester Street Market; check out the lineup here.

Related: The Grub Street Food Festival Happens This Sunday — You Will Definitely Want to Be There
Related: Sweet: 101 Amazing American Doughnut Shops With Serious Street Cred

Read more posts by Hugh Merwin

Filed Under: carbs, doughnut plant, doughnuts, lists, mole doughnut

Taco Bell, which has been doing some of its best work to date with PepsiCo's back catalogue, has taken a temporary break from its Mountain Dew–ifed menu suite by concocting Starburst Freeze. Some of the fast-food chain's customers spotted it in select markets last month during testing, but per an official Facebook announcement, it's available to the frappéed-gelatin-loving masses starting today.

"You can freak out now," the company told Facebook fans. So far, freaked-out comments have ranged from "I just got one today it tasted exactly like a pink starburst the best thin ever !!!" to "Please bring back pina colada. Dr Pepper and Mt Dew are yuck!" to, well, things that should not be reprinted. In any case, the flavor is allegedly strawberry, and to be fair, it does sound like it'd be okay if you put some tequila in it.

Related: The Mountain Dewification of Taco Bell Begins With Three Brand-New Sodas

[Taco Bell/Facebook]

Read more posts by Clint Rainey

Filed Under: the chain gang, starburst, starburst strawberry freeze, taco bell, yum! brands

Taco Bell has quite the recent history of turning otherwise-disgusting-sounding menu items into massive hits. While it's still too early to tell what fate history holds for Starburst smoothies, word is that Bell locations in Kansas are already testing another potential megahit: a Sriracha menu that, at least according to Thrillist, showcases the beloved condiment on five different items: Sriracha Nachos Supreme, a Sriracha Quesarito, the so-named Sriracha Scrambler Burrito, a Sriracha Loaded Griller, and, of course, Sriracha Tacos.

Since what we're really talking about here is just a squeeze of the Thai hot sauce, you can also request it on any regular menu item. But there's one potential issue holding things back: Redditors who've tried Taco Bell's "sriracha" say it's not the pure stuff we all know and love. Rather, it's something creamier that "isn't quite the same," seems to be more in the vein of Subway's Sriracha mayo. Will high college kids the taco-loving masses care that the sauce is a rooster impostor? Probably not. After all, "lack of authenticity" has always sort of been a crucial part of the Taco Bell experience.

Earlier: Taco Bell Is Making Frozen Drinks Out of Starburst
[Reddit, Thrillist]

Read more posts by Clint Rainey

Filed Under: the chain gang, news, sriracha, taco bell, tie-ins

If the opening of Mike Solomonov's all-hummus restaurant in Philadelphia proves anything, it's that American chefs are only becoming increasingly passionate and creative when it comes to the Levantine dip. In fact, the ubiquitous spread is popping up the menus of more and more New York restaurants — truffle hummus at Claudette, burnt-jalapeño hummus at Empéllon Cocina, and even beetroot hummus at Maman. In honor of everyone's favorite party snack, we've rounded up eleven standout versions available in New York.

Roasted Carrots and Hummus
Where: Bar Sardine
Price: $10.
New to the menu at Gabe Stulman's West Village bar is a dish comprised of roasted carrots, hummus, pepitas, and crowd-pleasing sriracha. It's a nice, light antidote to the excellent barbecue-mayo-topped cheeseburger.

Burnt-Jalapeño Hummus
Where: Empéllon Cocina
Price: $10.
Alex Stupak pairs big, meaty heirloom black beans with crema, cotija cheese, and a smooth spread of slightly spicy hummus.

Black-Chickpea Hummus
Where: wd~50
Price: Part of the $90 tasting menu.
There are many reasons to get to wd~50 before it closes, and this amuse-bouche of lamb belly, black-chickpea hummus, cherry, and cucumber is certainly one of them.

White Bean & Sage Hummus
Where: Kingside
Price: $12.
Sit at the bar to enjoy Marc Murphy's earthy hummus, which comes with olives and warm, grilled flatbread.

Beetroot Hummus
Where: Maman
Price: $6.
The menu changes daily at this brand-new French café, so if you see the open-face crostini with beetroot hummus and ricotta cheese, order at least two.

Hummus "Mortar and Pestle"
Where: Balaboosta
Price: $9.
Bar Bolonat's a bona fide hit, but don't forget about Einat Admony's first restaurant, where she serves super-fresh hummus with tahini, roasted garlic, and za'atar pita. And at brunch, you can get Hummus Masabacha with boiled eggs, chickpeas, jalepeño, and a spicy green sauce.

Truffle Hummus
Where: Claudette
Price: $18.
"Pain Tunisien" — warm garlic flatbread with truffle hummus — is a dish that sounds gimmicky, but actually ended up winning over many critics (and everyday diners).

Lamb-Topped Hummus
Where: Tanoreen
Price: $12.
There's a good hummus option uptown, too: At old favorite Tanoreen, chef Rawia Bishara serves hummus topped with spiced lamb, pine nuts, and olive oil ... for breakfast.

Hummus With Beet-Pickled Turnips
Where: Mile End
Price: Part of $40, five-course Mediterranean menu.
The brand-new prix-fixe menu that chef Eli Sussman serves at Mile End's Manhattan location includes an excellently delicate hummus spread with house-made pita, beet-pickled turnips, and matbucha — a cooked-tomato-and-pepper salad.

Fava-Bean Hummus
Where: Mimi's Hummus
Price: $9.
This Ditmas Park restaurant's known and named for its hummus, so of course there are several standout options: mushroom hummus with an onion-cumin stew, tahini hummus with a lemon-garlic dressing, and meat hummus with ground beef and pine nuts.

Zizi Hummus
Where: Zizi Limona
Price: $16.
The Williamsburg restaurant's namesake dinner dish is comprised of grilled vegetables and additional chickpeas over hummus. For breakfast, you can order hummus masabacha, a warm dish that includes eggplant, hard-boiled eggs, and tahini.

Read more posts by Sierra Tishgart

Filed Under: grub guides, balaboosta, bar sardine, claudette, empellon cocina, hummus, kingside, maman, mile end, mimi’s hummus, new york, tanoreen, wd-50, zizi hummus

Earlier this month, a Michelin-starred chef quietly opened a small French bakery and café on Centre Street, called Maman. It's a collaboration between Armand Arnal (the aforementioned chef, who cooks at La Chassagnette in the South of France), Experimental Cocktail Club's Benjamin Sormonte, and baker and designer Elisa Marshall. The team has nailed every detail: a stunning space (complete with an open kitchen and separate back dining room adorned with vintage windows); solid savory options like a beetroot-hummus tartinette and a quiche with Parisian ham; and pastries like lemon-thyme madeleines and apple tarts. But the real standout is something even humbler: Maman's chocolate-chip cookie, which is pretty much the Platonic ideal.

Arnal says he wanted to create a cookie that combined his American and French baking sensibilities: As you'd guess, he starts with excellent ingredients (sea salt, a top-secret "French chocolate") and adds macadamias, almonds, and walnuts.

The cookies that emerge from the oven are just crispy enough on the outside — like Blue Ribbon Bakery Market's excellent cookie — with the kind of soft, melting interior that reminds you of Levain Bakery's famous creation. No matter how excellent your own cookie recipe may be, it would be very difficult to achieve the textural contrast of these $3.75 creations.

But if you make it to Maman (which is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends), you should very well eat an entire meal there — or bring your laptop, or a good book, and enjoy the pretty, Parisian-inspired space. Here's a look around.

A classic croissant.Photo: Melissa Hom

Chocolate on chocolate.Photo: Melissa Hom

A tuna sandwich that's far from mediocre.Photo: Melissa Hom

More cookies!Photo: Melissa Hom

Awaiting a million Instagram posts.Photo: Melissa Hom

Open-air windows.Photo: Melissa Hom

The back room.Photo: Melissa Hom

Maman, 239 Centre Street (between Grand and Broome), 212-226-0700

Read more posts by Sierra Tishgart

Filed Under: openings, bakery, chocolate chip cookie, cookies, maman, new york, soho

Have no clue what you're doing for New Year's yet? Well, maybe now you at least have dinner figured out: With this precooked 26-dish osechi set for ¥14,580 (about $136, delivery included), you can stuff yourself on crab legs, daikon, and chestnut paste, and still have plenty of leftovers the next day. It's Kenko Sansai's healthier version of the traditional year-end feast, but inside a Poké Ball, and with at least 100 percent more manga than usual.

The very faithfully re-created orb houses two bento-style boxes lined with a vast assortment of goodies, from hamburger patties and star-shaped fruit to mochi, herring eggs, and stewed kumquat. All of them have special, highly significant meaning, too, according to Japanese New Year tradition, which probably means you won't get a pass on those large black soybeans, either.

[RocketNews24]

Read more posts by Clint Rainey

Filed Under: tie-ins, japan, osechi, pikachu, pokémon

Lucasfilm, Disney's arm in control of the Star Wars franchise, has discovered Empire Brewing Co.'s Strikes Bock beer and believes the resemblance is just too strong in this one. The Syracuse-based brewpub, which is in the midst of a Chuck Schumer–approved massive expansion, plans to sell bottles for the first time in stores, so it applied to trademark its maybe too cleverly named German lager.

Strikes Bock has actually been around for seven years, Empire points out. But Lucasfilm caught wind of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office application and filed a notice of opposition arguing the label — which owner David Katleski concedes "might make it appear" a little confusing — "so resembles" The Empire Strikes Back that it basically can't but trick tons of Star Wars fans. In particular, it seems, Lucasfilm is sweating the fact (seriously) that it could muddle down Star Wars–themed wine sales at a Napa winery it operates called Skywalker Vineyards. Katleski's semantics-based explanation that "it's 'Strikes Bock' by Empire" and "not 'Empire Strikes Bock'" comes across as a little weak, and his lawyer says they're all Tie Fighter-ed out in this "'big dog against small dog' thing," so probably kiss any chances of a follow-up IPA called "A New Hop" good-bye.

[Syracuse.com]

Read more posts by Clint Rainey

Filed Under: striking back, beer, empire brewing co., lucasfilm, star wars, strikes bock

Continuing the kind of innovative work that few fast-food chains have the gall to attempt these days, KFC Korea has abandoned all rational ideas about nutrition and dared to dream with this thing, the Zinger Double Down King. It's got chicken, beef, and pork that have been fried, grilled, and griddled, respectively. What's more is that it's still bunless, of course, like its forebear, and there's some kind of special sauce involved. It's on sale now, allegedly only has 750 calories, and from the looks of some of the photos that have been circulating online, we can safely say it's in the running for the most unwieldy and completely monstrous fast-food item of all time.

In a rare variation of one of the greatest of fast-food traditions, these customers' photos of the actual Zinger Double Down look a lot crazier than its actual menu board photo.

징거더블다운킹 먹고왔습니다. 징더다맥이 치킨과 버거의 중간쯤되는 형태였다면, 이건 그냥 고기덩어리입니다. pic.twitter.com/Rn1USkckTh

— 쫑 (@thalene) October 18, 2014

징거더블다운킹 먹어본소감 : 1. 아주 고기고기하다 2. 소스가 2종류나 발라져잇어서 제법 맛있다. 3. 아주 느끼하다. 맥주나 콜라 필수 4. 결론은 맛있는거+맛있는거=엄청맛있는거 pic.twitter.com/4VycDqIvKb

— 미키미키=새우@스쿠페스쉬는중 (@Rippi_DaisukiS2) October 18, 2014

징거더블다운킹 비쌍 비싸여.. pic.twitter.com/eEHr666ORe

— 콩 (@kong_408) October 18, 2014

This one even required a steak knife.

징거더블다운킹! pic.twitter.com/eA2EW9GNMG

— 엪♥ (@efkmtoho) October 19, 2014

And, finally, continuing the theme of overdelivering, it seems that KFC Korea has a secondary version of the behemoth in its "zinger" arsenal, this one with bacon and cheese.

Oh, no.
Photo: KFC Korea

Related: Burger King Japan’s Black Burgers Are Even Worse in Real Life
[Independent UK]

Read more posts by Hugh Merwin

Filed Under: the chain gang, double down, kfc, kfc korea, zinger double down

Dear Prudence, 23 October 2014:

Dear Prudence, I live in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the country, but on one of the more “modest” streets—mostly doctors and lawyers and family business owners. (A few blocks away are billionaires, families with famous last names, media moguls, etc.) I have noticed that on Halloween, what seems like 75 percent of the trick-or-treaters are clearly not from this neighborhood. Kids arrive in overflowing cars from less fortunate areas. I feel this is inappropriate. Halloween isn’t a social service or a charity in which I have to buy candy for less fortunate children. Obviously this makes me feel like a terrible person, because what’s the big deal about making less fortunate kids happy on a holiday? But it just bugs me, because we already pay more than enough taxes toward actual social services. Should Halloween be a neighborhood activity, or is it legitimately a free-for-all in which people hunt down the best candy grounds for their kids? —Halloween for the 99 Percent

Dear Halloween for the 99 Percent,

Forgive me for straying toward another holiday altogether, but I’d like to paraphrase one of the most beloved literary characters of all time: 

Are there no workhouses? Are there no prisons?

I think you see where I’m going with this. Already you must divert what funds you should rightfully be able to use on that second yacht to supporting America’s notoriously robust, even overadequate, social safety net. Must you also give candy bars to poor, lazy urchins who don’t even know the value of a hard day’s work, and thereby teach them that they deserve the same king-size Kit-Kat bars that the nose-to-the-grindstone children in your own neighborhood have earned honestly?

It’s not your fault that your neighbors’ precious offspring had the foresight and diligence to be born into unimaginable wealth, while these moocher-babies couldn’t even get it together enough to land with a couple of piddly-ass lawyers.

This is America, not communism! Don’t feel bad for standing up to this encroaching oppression; give the poors a Snickers and they’ll soon get all kinds of uppity ideas about having access to the same education, health care and political enfranchisement that their wealthy superiors enjoy. And then where would we be? A nation full of people who believe they’re created equal in the eyes of the Great Pumpkin?

Halloween isn’t about trick AND treat, it’s about trick OR treat. Feel free to avail yourself of the “or” and instead of handing out candy, drop a bootstrap in their buckets.

We all know that Amazon’s acquisition of Comixology changed the digital comics landscape. While the benefits that Amazon can bring for Comixology are evident, and still developing, it wasn’t without some steps backwards. When Comixology stopped making in-app purchases due to Amazon/Apple tensions, many publishers saw a drop in digital comics sales.

As we’ve noted before, other players are stepping in to promote their services.

So it should come as no surprise that ComicsPLUS, the digital comics app from iVerse that has long been the second player in the digital comics world, is getting a big makeover starting in November. iVerse CEO and owner Michael Murphey gave us a peek at the new app at New York Comic Con, and it has several shiny new features, including a new uView enhanced reading experience; enhanced search functions; a streamlined interface that offers comics series not only in chronological order but also a “Storyline” view that offers all the books in a given storyline. And the new app will also offer the ability to import any drm-free PDf, ebook or iTunes file into the service where it can be streamlined via uView and be searchable under its name.

uView is the ComicsPLUS version of “Guided View” and I’m told it does not conflict with the patent that Disney holds on that version of “enhanced viewing experience,” to give the non trademarked name for panels that zoom and flow on a tap. It’s entirely user controlled, and based on the preview Murphey gave me, it’s dead simple to use – you basically pinch and zoom to get panels moving in your preferred way. I’m not sure now many comics readers will want to go through all their comics and “uView them up” – but publishers or creators can also use this system themselves. In other words, yet another job for the intern.

I asked Murphey if this would lead to an iVerse version of Comixology’s “Submit” program and he pointed out that “we don’t turn people away.” Although they occasionally reject material that has problematic content, anyone can sell their comics via ComicsPLUS, and uView will offer a way for creators to take control over the viewing experience.

The “Storyline” feature is perfect for people who follow mainstream comics events. The revamped iVerse interface offers a very streamlines view of issues in a series, with the newest one on top. You can also see all the issues that tie in to a storyline—in reading order. Like I said, this is very useful if you’re catching up on Final Crisis or any Big Two event from the last 15 years. It would also be useful for something like Love and Rockets which has a twisting storylines that even experts have a hard time following. (Note, Fantagraphics books aren’t available on iVerse, I’m just spitballing here.)

The search function is basically a smoother application, and the goal is eventually to have a more “Netflix-like” interface. So if you read Punisher, for instance, you could be offered “more comics featuring amoral hitmen.”

Finally, there’s the import function, which for a digital hoarder such as myself could be useful. Basically any legally purchased book you own in epub or pdf format (possibly others, my notes are a bit hazy here) can be imported into the ComicsPLUS app and indexed along with your purchases in the app.

iVerse is definitely putting some muscle into this update, which will roll out starting in November. Some of the features will go live in early 2015. Of course, there is still the matter of publishers: iVerse offers Dynamite, Valiant, Marvel trades and many other publishers. But not DC at this point. Valiant has the biggest parnership with iVerse thus far, having put their entire library on the platform.

Is there room for another digital comics platform? I’m told that Apple would be thrilled to have their piece of the digital comics pie again: Comixology was frequently the top grossing app for iPad, and it firmly put digital comics on Apple’s radar. It was Amazon’s dislike of giving Apple their 30% cut of in-app purchases that led to them being removed from Comixology’s app. (You can still buy comics directly on the CX website, however.) So yeah, there are some pennies to be made there. If digital comics become some kind of status symbol in a tug of war between Apple and Amazon, it means more money thrown into the pot.

I’m also told several publishers are considering being available on multiple platforms for obvious reasons. Amazon’s feuds, price wars and heavy handed tactics are all well and good when you want to buy cheap pants, but you don’t want to get caught on the wrong side of the equation.

iVerse has developed into a player in the library market so it will be interesting to see where this goes.