One Shot: Shang, Thompson LES (RIP?)

Fine Dining, Food, Lower East Side, MEAT, New York, Nightlife, One Shot No Responses »
Jun 072011

Oh, Shang (Thompson LES).  I would’ve linked, but your website is down.  Your food, so delicious.  Your service, so atrocious.  I waited 20 minutes for a table in a half-empty restaurant, only to be called forward, then asked to wait 15 more minutes while they prepped a table.  It was Valentine’s day (’11), I had the special, a delightful steak garnished with peppers that made my eyes water (in a good way).  It was a great deal, $25 for a prix fixe that included a little bubbly, a nice dessert.  But then a tragic soft-indie-rock band started soundchecking in the middle of dinner…  Not too romantic.

Spicy Steak at Shang, Thompson LES

Spicy Steak at Shang, Thompson LES

In a later visit, I watched as horrified dinner patrons scurried away (some abandoning tables) from blasting urban club music while a D/E-list hip hop producer, hangers-on and a gaggle of chickenheads drank free liquor (some “healthy” infused tequila shit that tasted like cough syrup) to the dismay of the tragically overstaffed bartenders (all 2 of them).  The sushi chefs had actually taken seats on the balcony because no one was actually ordering food.  I wept a single tear for the establishment.  Because the decor and the food really had the potential to be quite sexy.  However, this restaurant’s demise is proof positive that it really takes more than just that.  It’s ambiance, vibe, warmth, hospitality, people, attitudes that make the place.

I hope the chef lands someplace great, it’ll be worth a visit in calmer pastures.

Posted by admin at 12:18 am Tagged with: , , , , ,

don't try this at home ~ beef bacon

Food, Harlem, Homecooked, New York 1 Response »
May 032011

When I was on a hunt for gumbo ingredients the other day (beef smoked sausage and possibly andouille sausage) in Harlem, I found myself in the C-town on 125th.  While for a long time that grocery was the only one for miles around aside from Fairway and a few exorbitantly priced organic markets… that doesn’t excuse the fact that in general, all C-towns in the city have a faint lingering odor of under-refrigerated meat and dairy products.  I braced myself and ran in, all the way to the back, where I knew the prepackaged Hillshire Farms sausage would be.

Once inside though, I was fascinated by the proliferation of “regular” groceries.  I’d insulated myself in a bubble of organic fresh fruits and veggies and sustainably packaged grains and granolas for so long, the sight of hundreds of boxes of Fruit Loops and other neon cereals startled me.  And then I remembered how much I *loved* Frosted Flakes as a kid, and grabbed a box.

So I quickly found the beef smoked sausage and allowed my eyes to peruse the shelf to see what other odd random “regular” groceries they had.  Hot sausage by the 5 lb box, but something about it was a little too neon red to pique my interest.  Then I found the beef bacon.  I found duck bacon at Fairway once before and it was a delightful experience, so I figured this would be tasty if not delicious.  Good god, was I wrong!

It was like salt cured beef with no smoke flavor…  All grease and stringy mush.  I threw it away.  Couldn’t eat it.

All that said, I would be willing to bet that if I got the beef bacon from Fairway, Whole Foods, or some other fancy organic market, or from a good local source it might be delicious.  No. 7 in Fort Greene taught me well that all prepared meats are NOT created equal!

But those fancy markets never had it.  Because beef bacon is… gauche.

I suffer, so you don’t have to.

Beef Bacon raw, w/packaging

It seemed like a good idea at the time

Beef Bacon in a pan

it turned out a disaster

Posted by admin at 12:48 am Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,
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