November 10, 2012

• NYC Eats @ Momofuku - For our first night in New York City, we ventured to the Momofuku Ssäm Bar located in the East Village. The Ssäm Bar opened its doors in 2006 and has been listed as one of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants since 2009 (S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants) . It belongs to a group of award winning restaurants started by chef David Chang. “Momofuku” could be translated from Japanese as “lucky peach”, though Chef Chang has written that the name is “an indirect nod” to Momofuku Ando, the Taiwanese-Japanese inventor of instant ramen. Chang also suggested it’s not an accident he chose a word that sounds like an English curse word!

  Momofuku Ssäm Bar originally had the concept of an Asian style burrito bar (ssäm is Korean for wrap). After experiencing troubles, Chef Chang decided to change the style of the menu, away from the burrito-centered cuisine and eventually this change led Ssäm Bar to success. The menu contains an assortment of dishes with a vast ethnic divergence – such as platters of artisanal American hams next to a tangle of Sichuan-style beef tendon alongside a hanger steak with a romesco sauce. As for our dinner, we chose dishes with an all Asian flavour…..

  A narrow dinning hall with wood panelled walls, waiters hustling to rock music; the bar is on the left…..
  

  The menu…..
  

  First course, Royal Miyagi Oysters from British Columbia, with kombu mignonette…..
  

  Beef tendon, with beets, mustard seeds and chicharon…..
  

  Crispy pig ear ssäm, with yusu kosho, umezuki and Thai basil…..
  

  Steamed buns with pork belly, hoisin sauce, cucumbers and scallion…..
  

  

  Grilled quail with pineapple, spaghetti squash and vadouvan…..
  

  Market greens with XO sauce…..
  

  Momofuku Milk Bar- after dinner, we hopped around the corner to the Milk Bar which sells cookies, pies, shakes, ice cream and other treats…..

  Their famous Crack pie which is being trademarked…..
  

  Inside is a very sweet and tart lemon pie…..
  

  Treats before bedtime…..
  

  

  

  

  Fine bits of pineapple and coconut in a very delicious truffle…..
  

  It was a very savory dinner which emphasized more towards the meaty appetite. There are only two vegetable items on the menu (pickles and market greens). So, this place will not make a herbivore very happy. I also notice there are Milk Bars located adjacent to other Momofuku’s, which is convenient for patrons for taking out sweet treats. I’d sure come again to the Ssäm Bar and try their duck cuisine on my next trip!

  Momofuku Ssäm Bar | 207 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003 | (212) 254-3500 | momofuku.com

  • 3:47 pm
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