It's Saturday and Zoe and Karie are both free so off we go on our adventures! Of course it's a late start and we don't get into Manhattan until almost 2pm but that's okay. It's a late night because we're celebrating Karie's birthday so we can afford the late start.
First stop is for me: I'm a food nerd and have recently gained interest in Chinese/Taiwanese chef Eddie Huang. (His book and new TV show Fresh Off the Boat are both fairly relatable to me and I enjoy the Asian kid growing up in America with parents fresh off the boat. It's an interesting life.) So of course, having just finished his book, I now need to go to his restaurant in the city: Baohaus.
LOCATION: 238 E 14TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10003
We walk in and it's pretty much how I imagined it; tiny place with graffiti and stickers on the black painted walls, old school 90s hip hop blasting from the speakers, just another asian restaurant with an incredible young american feel. I love it. I order two Baos - The Chairman Bao (the pork belly bao) and The Birdhaus Bao (the fried chicken bao) along with an order of Taro Fries. My level of excitement is through the roof. We just beat the rush of people and sit down as the line triples in length. Karie and Zoe end up each ordering three baos - the two I got and the Uncle Jesse which (the tofu Bao). We did in. I start off with the Birdhaus Bao, saving my pork belly Chairman Bao for last and I much on Taro fries (which are even better than I imagined because I was skeptical about the Taro). In the end the Birdhaus Bao is actually my favorite much to my surprise. Zoe is in the fence between the Birdhaus and the Uncle Jesse, while Karie sticks to the classic and says the Chairman is her favorite.
Overall, great little menu and such a chill feel. I love this place.
Next stop! We go shopping and see a movie, but we start Karie's birthday celebration at dinner so she chooses next. Apparently after 5 phone calls, not restaurant wants to take a reservation for 6 people on a Saturday night leaving us wandering around Manhattan like lost hungry children. Most wait times are 2 to 3 hours which none of us are feeling, so we continue to wander until we get to GEMMA.
LOCATION: 335 BOWERY, NEW YORK, NY 10003
This Italian restaurant is crazy busy but we ask for a table of 6 and they give us an hour wait time. Deal. 30 minutes later we're sitting at a table getting ready to order, so quick service is what we're about tonight. Bread is enough of an appetizer for me, so I order a main course of lamb with roasted cauliflower. I'm a pretty big fan of the cauliflower, good color and flavor, not mushy or crunchy. I haven't had lamb in forever so I'm pretty excited, but honestly I'm a little let down. I order it medium rare and I believe lamb should be, and center pieces are getting pretty close to rare while the end pieces might as well be charcoal. Charred to the point of not tasting like meat anymore and drowned in capers, I can barely taste the gaminess of the meat and I'm kind of disappointed.
Gemma does redeem itself with dessert. I order a Vanilla Panna Cotta and they put a little candle in Karie'e Nutella Calzone and let us sing to her (at the top of our lungs). Good vanilla flavor and the berry compote on the side is the perfect light touch for me. At least the end of the meal was as nice as the start. Karie is happy with her selection though so that's all that matters for her birthday.
We're all stuffed and ready to celebrate, bar hopping and ducking into different clubs nearby until 3:30am. A successful night.