San Remo Pizzeria and Restaurant, Ridgewood

San Remo Pizzeria and Restaurant, Ridgewood

5601 Myrtle Avenue
Ridgewood

http://sanremopizza.com/pizza.htm


Yelp Review

Yeah, I'm sure they do.  from http://sanremopizza.com/pizza.htm

Just a word about pizzeria.... why not pizzaria?


After some intensive research (25 seconds on google) I found the answer to this: 

"Pizzeria" is the correct one, because it’s a store ("-ria") where you make "pizze" (that’s "pizzas" in Italian). It’s pronounced "pee-tseh-ree-ah" in standard Italian, and if you wanted more than one pizzeria, that’s "pizzerie" ("pee-tseh-ree-eh").

Anyway!

There is no shortage of establishments that sell pizza in NY.  It's most likely the state dish.  Off to google to confirm this.  Verdict: According to wiki, apples (huh, right, I'm so sure...) and the state muffin is an apple muffin...oh the creativity.

But it is a good pie to try when not in the mood for mediocre (but oh so childhood nostalgic for me) Little Ceaser's pizza.  They are a bit costly in comparison to dominoes and the ilk, but the pie is huge.  That is a huge thing going for NYC; huge pizzas.  I also had an order of buffalo wings, but I wasn't as happy with that.  The dipping sauce looked inedble so I threw it out.  And the wings had no plump to them, and they just tasted like a cheap brand from a supermarket, not restaurant quality.  I'd order the pizza again, but I think we may as well try other places for a bit more quality that matches the price point.

Vanessa's Dumpling

Vanessa's Dumpling, Union Square/East Village

220 E 14th St

New York, NY 10003

Yelp Review

from jaunted.com

A wonderful cheap and tasty dumplings experience.  After checking my trusty blackberry, I came by one day, starving and wanting a quick lunch before heading home.  The dumplings at my local chinese delivery spots have been such a disappointment, so I had been craving restaurant quality ones for weeks.  It's not the best here, but it certainly does the trick.  Plus, I have been back at least 3 or 4 times, and will continue to do so whenever I'm in the Union Square vicinity and need a quick bite.


This is primarily a Japanese restaurant that has some other choices.  More on that in a second.  The dumplings are varieties of pork, chicken, shrimp and vegetarian, either fried or steamed, placed solo on a dish or in a soup.  For a basic 6-8 set of dumplings (and also depending on the time of day), it will only cost 2 to 6 dollars per plate.  My favorite is the pork and chives, fried.  Personally, with a coke, this meal is sufficiently keeps me sated.  But then I look around and see that sometimes people get the sesame pancake sandwiches to go along with their meal.  The last time I came in along with my boyfriend, we each got our own set of dumplings and a sandwich.  The roast pork sandwich I got was so tasty.  It's only kind of like a pancake, a deepfried dough of awesome filled to the brim with the roast pork (no skimping!).  David got the vegetarian kind, and it was filled with lettuce type leafy things and carrots.  He enjoyed his as well.  But it really is such a large meal, I had to take dumplings home! David just ordered more for him to take home as a midnight snack as well.


They also have teriyakis and sushi (although I believe the sushi is not made on site).  But I think I will stick with the dumplings.  And trying to get a table.

Cupcake War: Magnolia Bakery vs Crumbs

Magnolia Bakery, two locations in Manhattan
http://www.magnoliabakery.com

Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/magnolia-bakery-new-york-5

Crumbs, various locations in Manhattan
http://www.crumbs.com

Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/crumbs-new-york-11

from magnoliabakery.com

            




I live in a golden age of NY where food fads demand attention.  I missed bacon mania (damn) but I am at the tail end of cupcake fever.  And it is glorious.  Why else would I spend upwards of 5 dollars on a dessert the size of my hand (or smaller)?
    

                     VS.
    

from crumbs.com

I tried Crumbs because my friend Emily brought some over for poker night.  All four of us had one, even though this cupcake is so dense it is quite sufficient to have only half and be satisfied.  Dense is sometimes a bad word in cooking, but I only mean that it is filling.  The cake part is moist  and amazingly does not go stale even after a few days still in the plastic encasement it comes in.  I know it is baked fresh everyday, but who knows b/c it still tastes fresh after a day! Maybe a more discerning palate can taste the difference, but I can't.  Crumbs is also famous for having tons of variety, as you can see at their website.  My favorites are the peanut butter cupcake and the devil's food.  Surprisingly enough, I don't love the red velvet, maybe because my boyfriend's homemade red velvet cake is far superior (he's ruined me, lol).  Is it worth the price?  Considering I had many jealous looks thrown my way on the subway as I carried a 6pack home one night, yes!

Magnolia bakery, I have heard many many good things about, but since since I was satisfied with Crumbs, I never went out of my way looking for them.  Then my friend Erin with her husband came to visit, and she had mentioned since Magnolia was featured on the food network sometimes, she would like to try them.  So one night as we walked past Rockefeller Center, there was Magnolia, around the corner.  Erin and I got two cupcakes each.  This is a slightly different set up than Crumbs.  First off, there is not as much variety.  The cupcakes are a lot smaller, but still have a high price point.  Longer lines (but that could have just been location and that there is only 2).  I chose the vanilla and chocolate cupcakes.  I like the icing a lot, as it was very simple, sugary and light in contrast to the sometimes loaded  icing of Crumbs.  But Crumbs, hands down, had the superior cake portion.  Magnolia's tasted just about the same as if it came from a box.  Good, but not pricey good.

So in my cupcake war the victory would go to Crumbs.  But if anyone dissents I would love to know the reason why!