Il laboratorio del gelato (NYC)

When Miss U and Missy went on this NY trip, they are supposed to be on a diet.  Diet or not, there is still a need to eat, but with restrictions.  There was supposed to be list of gelato shops Missy was hoping to hit, but gave that up. 

It was with great pleasure (mostly on Missy’s part) to discover this gelato shop, right across Katz’s deli.  At the frist look, it definitely don't look much like any gelato shop.  But Missy is usually not good at much, except with names associated to food or ice cream and in this case gelato.   Being the Queen of gluttony, she immediately recognized "gelato" as food!!!!  She will definitely convinced Miss U to go and take a look at it, no matter what.

Stepping into Il laboratorio del gelato was like stepping into a laboratory, everything was so sterile and clean…. Slightly scary, was expecting someone coming out in their laboratory uniform to chase them out.    Instead there was a rather hassled person trying to put out all the flavors, he was trying to serve at the same time.  There was so many flavors to choose from, from oriental to the more classical flavors.  Missy took quite a while to decide, and Mr Hassled Person wasn't impressed at her indecisiveness.  As there was only two chances at tasting, Missy just go for the ones she had never tried before.  Honey Lavender and toasted white sesame.   Honey lavender was with a very slight lavender and honey taste which just kiss and good bye so fast, leaving wonderful pictures of standing in a field of lavenders with distance sounds of busy bees.  Definitely heavy taste of the toasting along with cream, giving the toasted white sesame a heavier taste than regular black sesame (found in Singapore).  Both flavors were winners. 

Although Singapore does have their own artisan ice cream parlors, Missy thinks they are still a long way to go when compared to il laboratorio del gelato.   Not saying that Singapore ice cream parlors are not good, Missy just find that most of them would concentrate on local flavors.  Beyond Singapore, such flavors might just be once a blue moon treat, and not a good excuse to hit gym daily.  It would be nice if the hassled person aka Jon Snyder aka the boss would consider having a Singapore branch. 

Katz's Delicatessen

Ox tongue (Katz’s tongue) sandwich had been on her mind, ever since Missy saw it on some food network show… Can’t remember if it was “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern” or was it “No Reservations by Anthony Bourdain”.   It is with great pleasure * burps * that she said it is no longer on her list.

During her visit to NYC, Missy made a purposeful trip to Katz's Delicatessen.  It was a long and rather difficult journey, dragging a non-foodie who doesn’t understand the urge thru a rather complex (to Missy) train system.  Missy is definitely not a good person to bring on travels, as she tends to leave her brains back in Singapore.

The whole thing was rather surreal to Missy.  She was handled a ticket, which reminded her of the old bus stub of Singapore.  Of course, she was told not to lose it, and being the bimbo she was, she kept asking the two nice and patient security enforcers why.  Very nice and retro place, it looked just like a typical US bistro?  Don’t think much had changed since they moved into this location in 90’s.  

Ox tongue (Katz’s tongue) sandwich is what Missy wanted, and a nice bowl of chicken noodles soup.  Although chicken noodle soup can be bought in Singapore, it could never remove the wonderful memories of Missy’s idea of only having the best chicken noodles soup in NYC.

You can order it as a whole or half a sandwich.  Missy thought she could just order half and a bowl of soup, so she might have room for maybe a pastrami or even a salami sandwich.  Unfortunately the sandwich came in a rather big sized, it was a full slice of bread with a stack of ox tongue slices and with some mustard.  * YUMMy *  The chicken noodles soup was excellent, just like those of her memories.

After (and BEFORE) food, there was plenty of running around to take as much shots of the place as possible.  The servers must be used to the tourists, cause they did not even blink an eye, as Missy went around snapping photos.  As for the non-Foodie person (aka Miss U), she enjoyed the first of the many bagels in our NYC trip.

Although it did not make an impact there and then, the memories of the sandwich lingered.  More than 2 weeks had passed, Missy is missing Katz’s delicatessen and plotting how to smuggle  import some of delicious ox tongue over.  Sometimes it is the simple food that we will miss most.

Click for more pictures... 

The #CookForFamily Initiative

Being a person who loves to eat and comment on others's cooking, Missy find it rather stressful to cook for others.  Missy was approached to participate in the cook for family initiative by Daniel.  Cook  and take pictures would not be that difficult after all, it is just family.  

What to cook? When to cook? To satisfy a group of super duper fussy eaters... French, italian or just a pork roast that will definitely be welcomed?  After a few weeks of thinking, the best dish to cook is Missy's family version of the Hokkien Popiah.   This recipe is from Missy's mother's mother in law aka Missy's granny.   Missy's mother is not the greatest cook in the world, but she can certainly cook some dishes.  Remembering this recipe but not exactly mastering, was a series of trial and error for Missy and Mighty mouse (Missy's sister).

Just prep'ing the vegetables will usually take about 2 to 3 hours with about 4 pairs of hands, and the cooking will take about the same amount of time.  Missy's granny used to do it all by herself.  Sisters and Missy came out with an idea to entertain their friends.  Telling how granny only pass one part of the recipe to one grand kid and this dish can only be made if everyone is present.  A few friends actually thought it was truth, as the family only invite friends for this wonderful dish on rare occasion.

Cooking for family is indeed a joy, a pain and and accomplishment.  To have family settle back with satisfied smiles is the best reward for the hard work.