The Craving Report

2:35 am Tuesday: Medieval Times‘ Roasted Split Chicken

photo: Myspace.com forums

Maybe it’s because I just finished working with power tools, but I want me some food I can manhandle!

The last time I went to Medieval Times, my friend and I sat next to a sweet Hindu couple. After I’d made some significant damage to my succulent, salty, finger-lickin’-good meat on the bone, I looked over and saw they’d been served some kind of veggie rice pilaf, and were delicately scooping it up with some flimsy plastic forks.

They said it was good, but I just couldn’t believe MT could not come up with some kind of rustic, barbarian vegetable that could be ripped apart, savagely bitten into, and truly “feasted” upon…that’s one of the quintessential elements of the experience!..a chance to get back to our primal roots! So what if Pepsi and puff pastry are not 100% accurate. If MT served gruel their ticket sales would plummet.

(Don’t take that personally Black and White Knight! You rule!)

But something must be done about this vegge-lemma. Maybe a whole head of romaine lettuce? A roasted beet? Grilled Corn a la Cafe Habana? Quick! Someone call Top Chef! Get thee to Lundhurst, New Jersey! King Alfonso and his troop of wenches are in dire need.

Greasy Cheesy in the Big Easy

I got my April Bon Appetit today and was really excited to see their featured food map of New Orleans. Then I took a closer look. Of the 11 places they listed, there wasn’t a single one I’d set foot in when I lived there five years ago. For every number on the map I could think of a greasy spoon, bar, or takeout joint that was equally notable, even at 4 or 5 am…places that made that year one of the happiest/chubbiest eras of my life.

The Bon Appetit article claimed to cover “white linen highbrow to corner-bar lowbrow,” but one man’s lowbrow is another man’s monthly rent, so I proudly bring you…

The Lowlowbrow Guide to New Orleans Food

When Hurricane Katrina happened, my Aunt Betsy, my three cousins, two dogs and one cat evacuated to the serenity of my parent’s house in Pennsylvania, just in time for my birthday cookout. Knowing they were safe made my party twice as happy, but there were many others that were not as lucky. The one I worried about most was my praline man.

Kati-garten

My cell phone took a dive into some dirty dishwater last night (with my baking biz going, dishes take up about 1/4 of my life). It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I will get my first camera phone soon! So, hopefully this will be the first, and last, pictureless snack post.

Two points of [unrelated] advice I can offer as a result of my Midtown New York Public Library experience today:

#1: Beware of creeps roaming the third floor who touch themselves while browsing interior design books.

#2: If you happen to stumble on The Kati Roll Company on your way home, consider it fate!

There is another Kati Roll on MacDougal, right around the block from my old apartment, but I brushed it off because the Indian sandwich/burrito/wrap they offered seemed trendy and upscale in comparison to Yatagan, the $2 falafel joint a few doors down (my trusty late-night spot).

But Midtown is another story, and when I spotted that orange awning, I was more than ready for my first Kati roll. Once inside the bustling shop, I took my place in line and looked over the menu.

At first, it made me mad. My usual; “FOOD. BELLY.NOW.” mantra was interrupted by an illustrated chart that I had to look at for a minute to understand. 

The beef roll is represented by picture of a docile-looking steer. The paneer roll is two white cubes sitting cozily side-by-side. Mutton, the one thing I most needed an detailed illustration for, was a brown blob shape – not much help.

Ultimately, I was charmed byKati’s bright menu – a throwback to kindergarten and learning the four food groups. And I take comfort in the fact that we have a menu in this town that people from anywhere in the world could order from by simply pointing.

 The girl behind the register had perfect brows that were set into a fierce “no funny business” look, but I decided to do the slow and annoying thing and ask for her advice anyway. Her scowl quickly melted away as she took a moment to go over my choices, and helped me settle on one chicken roll and one potato roll.

I got them to-go and had a one-woman picnic in the beautiful winter desolation of Bryant Park. In comparison to my Jackson Heights “taco” (a few posts ago), these were more expensive ($4.50), but more conveniently located, and just as delicious.

This time, the spiced potatoes were rolled up inside a plain paratha with red onion, sweet sauce, and some other yummy toppings. The chicken was a bit more “agressively” spiced, and very flavorful.

One roll would have been enough for a snack, and two were more than enough lunch to satisfy my first-world appetite. I will definately be back for more, and maybe next time I’ll demystify that mutton.

As music from the carousel mingled with a police siren, I suddenly realized the Bryant Park skating rink was gone! Well, in New York, things come and things go, but a yummy snack is always right around the corner!

Kati Roll Company
39 West 39th St., between 5th and 6th Aves.
Midtown

Think Outside the Bulgogi

While I’m at it, kimchee tacos anyone?

I want.

Paki-Taco

I went to Jackson Heights today on a Patel Brothers bulk bean spree, for the soups I will be making for Phoebe’s. Hopefully, this week’s Yellow Lentil will go over as well as last weekend’s Vegan Moroccan-Style Chili (a.k.a. Harira, but with kidney beans).

On the way (okay, maybe a little out-of-the-way), I got myself a little (well, maybe not-so-little) snack at Al-Naimat on 74th. My Aloo Paratha was just what I was craving; a whole wheat Roti, filled with perfectly-spiced potatoes and grilled in butter. Um, yum.

I got it topped with salad, tangy yogurt sauce, and spicy mango pickle. Actually, I got it to go, found myself a nice, sunny little tree stump to sit on and assembled it myself.

I think this deserves the picnic of the year award at $3.00!

 

Next time I will have to try the Dosa.

Al-Naimat Sweets & Restaurant
37-03 74th St.
between Roosevelt and 37th Ave.
Jackson Heights

*UPDATE* On a completely unrelated search (for info on kheer/rice pudding), I found this amazing recipe for real Indian tacos! It’s a great recipe blog- very creative and exotic munchies – just like I like.