Mission: NYE

So of course, Uptown publishes an article on Grub right as I'm about too. Just my luck. :P So for NYE and Special K's Birthday, we decided to grab some Grub and go bar hopping. Mostly because we didn't want to pay cover fees for clubs and also cuz we're hip like that. First of all, I'm just going to throw out there that yes, Grub is a tiny bit expensive. A lot of people don't want to pay $9+ for Mac, but if you are willing, then you should consider it. Basic Mac starts at $9 and each additional item is $1. The items range from rock lobster to broccoli, so it's great for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. I chose rock lobster and truffle oil, while Special K. got broccoli, and I'm not quite sure what our friend AR got. But what I do remember is how sensational it was. People have been complaining that the cheese sauce is too saucy and not cheesy enough. I beg to differ. The sauce had a nice creamy consistency that went well with the toppings. I also highly recommend the fries or as many restaurants are calling it nowadays "pomme frittes" (to be hella french...gawd). I've been telling everyone that they're like McDonald's fries, but BETTER: thin cut and hella crisp. We also ordered asparagus for good measure. And I give Grub extra props for offering complimentary champagne and birthday brulee!

We headed to Bar Laszlo and Shotwell's afterwards. Both very cool, but also very different. Laszlo was a bit too loud (not to sound like an old man), but it might have just been a NYE thing. Love the projected films and decks on the wall. Shotwell's was less bourgey and definitely more local pub-on-the-corner-of-your-street. My night would have ended better if a drunk dude hadn't spilled his beer on me. But it's okay, I got a bacon covered hot dog at a vendor as a gift to myself.

Grub
758 Valencia Street (b/w 18th and 19th)

Bar Laszlo (It's Foreign Cinema's bar)
2534 Mission St. (b/w 21st and 22nd)

Shotwell's Bar
3349 20th Street (@ Shotwell)

Bacon-covered Hotdogs
Just look for vendors along Mission hella late at night.

Want: Wontons

After experiencing Wonton cravings for weeks, I finally got the nerve to make them myself. The process itself is not difficult, but it is a bit time consuming. I called my mom for a recipe, but like any mom she told me "a little of this...a little of that," i.e. ingredients, but no specific quantities. I guess that's what happens you know you're a pro. I adapted my mother's advice with a recipe that appeared in the Bold Italic article on dumplings in the city. I omitted shrimp because it's expensive, and I'm not a huge fan. I also left out water chestnuts...mostly because I was too lazy to get them and am not particularly partial to them in wontons. Other than that, I basically followed the recipe, but I also added an egg yolk as per my mother's recipe. Here's a link:

http://thebolditalic.com/TienlonHo/stories/340-wrappers-delight

It's actually pretty self explanatory. Wrapping them is fun, but like I mentioned before, a bit time consuming. Be prepared to wrap around 40 with that recipe!