EATING OUT IN NYC- Korean Bar BQ,

Vietnamese Pho and Frozen Yogurt for Dessert

By Susan Lazarus

In a recent trip, my friends and I rented an apartment/ loft in New York City and loved the “live-in” atmosphere of our ‘digs’. Because of where we were staying, in the Chelsea/Murray Hill/Garment District area, we were just a few blocks walk to a part of Korea Town, 32nd Street  between 5th and Broadway or “Korea Way”.  There is liveliness and festivity all hours of the day and night on that street. Also there are numerous restaurants, one more crowded than the next, offering Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese specialties.

We had two opportunities to sample restaurants on the street. The first time we looked and looked and finally decided on a Vietnamese restaurant. The night before we left, we satisfied another of our planned ventures, Korean Bar-BQ.

The Vietnamese Restaurant name was Pho, also the name of a brothy concoction filled either with beef, pork, seafood or vegetables. We asked two fellows at the next table what they were eating and sure enough it was “Pho”.  “Did you like it? Is it good?” I asked.  “It’s beautiful” was the answer, almost like someone in love.  I tried the Pho and it was good, but a bit unusual for my taste buds so not sure I would be a repeat customer.

My friend and travel partner, Sheah, had a vermicelli dish which she enjoyed.  It was a very reasonable meal and I could envision a student without much in the way of funds, enjoying hot meals at this establishment.

Everyone talks about Korean Bar-BQ, but what is it really?  Our search ended at New Wonjo restaurant, open 24 hours. Upon being seated, we observed others and gratefully accepted advice from a neighboring table with two young Korean women.  They told us what the small dishes were, what we should cook, what we could eat as is, and what we should stay away from.

We ordered a meat Bar-Q (with some trepidation) and a veggie sampling. What we didn’t expect was a server, coming over to the table with a large hot pile of burning coals. He said “watch out!” and proceeded to fill our personal grill in the middle of our table with the hot coals. We were sure to keep our feet out of the way but there was a moment of fear in the casual nature of the coal setting.

Once the meat, veggies and side dishes were all in front of us, the waitress took pity and started cooking everything for us. It was fun and eventually, we prepared our own cuisine. I liked the side dishes of the lotus root and was proud that I could identify them from my experiences with macrobiotic cooking. Other side dishes were fresh garlic, noodles, lettuce wraps and various sauces.

Korean Bar BQ is an experience I would want to repeat. It was fun, adventurous, and very tasty!

If you are not totally full after dinner, you can wait in the long lines that move quickly to the two yoghurt shops ( you can choose from Pinkberry or Red Mango) on Korea Way, offering anything from watermelon yogurt with cucumber slice and fruit toppings to chocolate with chocolate chips,  chocolate sauce and mixed  nuts for toppings. You can’t convince me it’s really healthy but after all, we are on vacation.

ED. NOTE: Susan Lazarus writes about destinations, dining, literature and theater.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Azur Restaurant in Key West, FL

Susan Lazarus, Travel and Entertainment Writer

When travelling for work in Key West, one of the perks is the opportunity to try new restaurants, which are plentiful and at times unique.  A local  friend recommend Azur restaurant, a bit off the “beaten path” which is a good sign – it’s not on the overcrowded and touristy Duval Street strip but still conveniently located in the heart of Old Town.

While rather unassuming upon arrival, the interior is pleasant the staff welcoming.  We had a group of 7 with varying ages and food preferences. We all were happy with Azur.

Azur is known for its creative and inventive Mediterranean cuisine, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner options. The salad of frisee lettuce, iced pear, dates, Belgium endive and gorgonzola with honey herb vinaigrette was light and refreshing yet filling at the same time. The fish, chicken and lamb entrées  tried were presented well and were delicious. We tried the apple and almond tart dessert but next time I would look at one of the chocolate delicacies. The prices are not cheap, but typical of Key West and at least the food had the quality and the restaurant had the ambiance we were looking for.

I recommend Azur for a fine dining experience in a comfortable setting.

For more information go to www.AzurKeyWest.com of call 305-292-AZUR

Azur Restaurant is located at 425 Grinnell Street, Key West.

Ed. Note: Susan Lazarus is a writer for Ftlauderdalenews.net and covers travel, dining, destination and entertainment news and reviews.