New York Bites: Xi'an Famous Foods

Hello there Nomsters,

Spicy Lamb Noodles

It's been a while since we last met, but I'm promising that from now on I won't wait two months+ to dish out the latest food porn, reviews and recipes. For many college students, summer is a time to relax, travel, or start that internship that we chased during the spring semester. Personally, I ended up in New York, which is the perfect place to be a foodie in my free time. So over the next few weeks I will be blogging about my fantastical foodie adventures in the boroughs! To kick the summer off I thought Xi'an Famous Foods would be a fun place to visit after a semester spent in Shanghai.

Spicy Lamb Burger

Xi'an Famous Foods was conceived in Flushing, NY, the place to be if you want authentic Chinese food. After gaining a firm following at their location in Flushing, the owner expanded to Manhattan, making it that much easier for those who sought out authentic Chinese food! The menu features mainly noodle dishes along with some "burger options." Xi'an Famous Foods keeps things simple by doing what they do best, noodles.





On my first visit, we went to their Chinatown location on Bayard street. The ambiance of the restaurant is really reminiscent of being in China. The limited seating, quick service, and menu board picturing each item all reminded me of the little hole in the wall food spots in Shanghai! One of the quirkiest aspects of the restaurant was the dumbwaiter in the middle of the room that sent up patrons' meals!


I ended up ordering the Spicy Lamb Noodles ($7.00), featured in the picture above, and we also ordered a lamb burger ($3.00) and a pork burger ($3.00). The noodles were delicious, very fresh and chewy as they would have been in China. There was a generous serving of tender cumin-spiced lamb meat atop my noodles with fresh herbs, but boy was it spicy! If you order any dish labeled "spicy" off the menu, be sure you can commit to it, because once you start, there's no going back. The burgers were also very tasty. Huge portions of both lamb and pork nestled between crispy pancake rolls, like the ones seen being sold in the streets of any Chinese city. The lamb in the burger was also super spicy, the pork on the other hand is a great option if you are not a fan of spice. The pork was tender in texture and had a sweet flavor that contrasted well with the savoriness of the bun.

Overall, Xi'an Famous Foods is a great option if you are looking for an authentic Chinese restaurant for some good take-out. Every one of Xi'an's locations is cash only, so make sure you're prepared. Additionally, psych yourself up for the spiciness!

Xi'an Famous Foods

67 Bayard Street
Manhattan, NY

(212) 608-4170

Keep Calm and Nom On,
GF

As Published by the Georgetown Guide-Easy Bake Without the Oven

Easy Bake Without the Oven

Culinary Quips

By Elizabeth Sabol-Jones

Published: Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Updated: Sunday, March 25, 2012 15:03

Original Link

This week’s quip is mainly aimed at dorm-dwellers but will also appeal to readers who either lack a stove or heavily rely on the microwave for meals. 

We have experienced the hassle of packing up our belongings and moving from home back to Georgetown. By the time we’ve packed, we’re already laden with clothes, bedding and books, so why would we want to add a couple of boxes of pots and pans? Unless you really enjoy cooking, you would not have an incentive to bring kitchen supplies when you have delivery, Leo’s and the restaurants of M Street at your disposal. 

As a result, students’ kitchens are sometimes barren wastelands of Easy Mac boxes, random leftovers and communal forks. Luckily, modern technology gave college students the microwave. There are an array of quick, frozen and often unhealthy snacks. Although these quick-fix meals serve their purpose, often something fresh just tastes best. 

The meals and desserts you can make without using the stove would surprise you. So if you’re not fully prepared to step into the world of stovetop cooking, this is a window into the realm of “microwave magic.”

MICROWAVE MAGIC

Scrambled Eggs:

1. In a small bowl, beat together 2 eggs and 2 tablespoons milk with salt and pepper to taste until blended. 

2. Cook eggs on full power for one to one-and-a-half minutes, stirring once or twice, until they are almost set. Stir. If necessary, cover with plastic wrap and let stand for about 1 minute until eggs are thickened and no visible liquid egg remains.

Instant Chocolate Cake:

1. In a large mug, whisk together 1/4 cup flour, 5 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 egg, 3 tablespoons milk, 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, a pinch of salt and a dash of vanilla extract until smooth. 

2. Microwave until puffed, about 2 minutes. 

The Best Oatmeal:

1. Take a 1/2 cup instant or regular oats (regular take a bit longer in the microwave) and place in bowl.

http://www.restaurantwidow.com/images/oatmeal_1_1.jpg

2. Add a dash of vanilla and teaspoon of cinnamon and begin microwaving on high for 1 minute.

Elizabeth Sabol-Jones is a junior in the College. CULINARY QUIPS appears every other Friday in the guide.

Freshmen15: Georgetown + DC's top spots for freshmen foodies

Hello Nomsters,

This particular post is dedicated to the Freshmen who will be gracing our presence in the next two weeks and to all of the familiar faces we'll be seeing in our favorite food spots around G'town/DC.
If you're a freshmen at Georgetown, you've hopefully been following Vox Populi's freshmen features (the blog maintained by The Georgetown Voice) to get the inside scoop on what to expect. While Vox already covered some of the best food options around G'town, we figured we'd expand a bit and give you some more options and details!

With summer vacation quickly coming to an end, Georgetown and DC are about to be stupefied by a swarm of students once more. For freshmen, your battle with boxes, carts, and SWQ elevator frustrations will be stifling with the hot DC heat; but cool breezes, parent-paid dinners, and random floor meetings/parties will fill your nights. After your week long "welcome" onto the Hilltop, you'll no doubt want some insider information on where to get fed in the weeks following your parents' departure. So here we are to give you the skinny on the foodie culture around campus and in DC! Now, we're by no means encouraging gaining the "freshmen 15," but for the love of cake, be sure to explore your options. Up first, the basics around campus: Sandwiches & Pizza

Sandwiches: Nothing quite works as a the perfect combination of ingredients like a sandwich. Whether you're looking for a sub, croissant, pita, or bagel, you'll be able to find any of those options at one of these fine Georgetown establishments.

Wisemiller's Deli (36th & N. ) is a Georgetown favorite. With classics like the California Chicken (grilled chicken, honey mustard, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and sprouts, served warm on a croissant)
and specials like the "Hot Chick," (chicken fingers, cayenne ranch dressing, pepperjack cheese, and tomatoes) you'd be hard pressed to find a more flavorful sandwich. Wisemiller's (Wisey's) is home to fan favorites like the Chicken Madness and Burger Madness (both of which could easily send your body into a food coma), but they also play host to an array of sandwich options. So whether you're looking for a breakfast sandwich, cold cuts, or something that'll make your heart pound, you'll be sure to get your fix at Wisey's. Also, their cookies are pretty amazing, the most popular is the Oreo Cookie (a cookie with in a cookie!). Reviews/Number $5-$10
No delivery, you can call ahead though.

If you're looking for something a bit more green, "Healthy" Wisey's (Wisconsin and P) is also an option with smoothies, salads and wraps. Healthy Wisey's Menu $5-$10
Offers Delivery


Quick Pita: (Potomac & 33rd) Home to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, Quick Pita provides options for students looking for an atypical sandwich. Quick Pita offers small plates like tabouli (salad-like appetizer, $4.45), hummus/pita ($4.95), and falafel ($8.64))and a variety of sandwiches ranging from chicken shwarma to eggplant sandwich Besides their Mediterranean flare, Quick Pita offers a daily lunch special, sandwich, fries, and a soda, for $6.82. Quick Pita also has a series of meat and veggie pies that you can purchase as a light meal or small snack.  Quick Pita Menu. $5-$11 Offers delivery

The Miami Burger, Booey's

Booey's (32nd & Prospect): A bit further off campus then Wisey's, Booeymonger's is another frequented spot by both students and residents. Booey's makes a mean sandwich and has a larger variety of breakfast options if you're looking to avoid Leo's. The Miami Burger is one of my favorites, it's your standard Lox & Bagel with all of the trimmings; and without buying the ingredients yourself, it's probably the cheapest you'll find in the Georgetown area ($7.25). I also know for a fact that the Fifth Avenue ($6.50) is also delicious, with hot pastrami, grilled mushrooms, muenster cheese, on a french roll (which is perfectly crispy), you can't go wrong. If you're looking for something a bit littler/veggie, the Natural is also a good option with spinach, tomato, turkey, melted provolone, and Russian dressing (6.50). Along with sandwiches, fries, salads, and dessert, Booey's also has some of the cheapest pitchers of *hem hem* beer ($7.25) in the neighborhood. $5-$13 Booey's Menu No Delivery

2am Miracle

Pizza: Now, you have a couple of options for pizza. If you're looking to order in, a quick fix, or a post party late night slice then Tuscany's (Prospect & 33rd) is your best bet. Offering a quarter-pie slice of either cheese or pepperoni for about $3.75, you can't go wrong. Just make sure you ask for a side of ranch!! I know, I know, "why ranch." But have faith in this blog and the majority of the Georgetown student population, ranch-dipped pizza is like french fries dipped in a Wendy's Frosty: it just works (especially at 2am). Fun fact: If you're looking for more than pizza, Tuscany's Turkey Pesto Sandwich is a great choice. It's both fresh and gives the appearance of being healthier. Keep in mind though that the sandwiches are huge there, so sharing is caring. 4am on weekends, 2am weekdays.   Order Here $4-$10 Offers Delivery

Ledo's pizza is also a good option for delivery if you're in search of a full pizza. Their claim to fame is providing the public with square pizzas that are cut in the same shape. The overall taste and quality may be a bit better than Tuscany's jumbo slice, but you can't beat the convenience of Tuscany's. $12-$22 Order Here 

Ledo's, courtesy of Serious Eats

If you're in the mood for a sit down pizza option, there's both Uno's Pizzeria or Pizzeria Paradiso on M. Street. Being a Chicago native, I tend to shy away from Uno's and their claims to "Chicago-Style" deep dish, but they do have a good thin crust option. On the other hand, for those of you in the 21+ club Uno's has a phenomenal happy hour, which occurs twice daily in the afternoon and late-night. Pizzeria Paradio is home to more traditional Italian style pizzas. With very thin crust, light sauces, and fresh ingredients, Paradiso is usually a good option for a nice dinner out that won't completely rip through your pockets. Paradiso also has really good happy hour specials on both pizza and drinks. $12-$20 Uno's Menu  Paradiso Menu

Finally, if you're up for a walk, the Safeway up Wisconsin has a variety of cafe options, including pizza, sushi bar, salad bar, and sandwich station.

That's all for now and let us know if we were helpful! Comments always appreciated :)
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Happy Nomming,

The Georgetown Foodie

Simple Recipes and Common Sense: Sweet Potato Fries

Hey Fellow Foodies and Readers,

Sorry I haven’t been around for a bit. Between Lollapalooza taking over my life and pretending to clean/pack for college, I’ve been a bit consumed. But! I’ve decided to drop a quick post to let you know I’ll have a great Lollapalooza feature soon; for now, I thought I’d leave you with a recipe.

I love sweet potatoes, mashed, chips, baked, and even in muffins! However, something I’ve been craving lately are sweet potato fries. So, I figured I’d experiment with a recipe/common sense to see if I could come up with a recipe that didn’t require the fries to be fried, but rather baked, you know, to at least attempt that healthy alternative!

I found a recipe in Cook’s Country for regular baked potato fries, a recipe online, and a recipe in a cookbook I own. After reading through each recipe, I decided to use a bit of each. This is a great recipe for all you Georgetowners and college students that want an easy recipe that tastes great and will satiate your craving for fried foods or sweets!

My family decided to grill burgers today. So as my mom and dad grilled, I baked up these fries. The overall result was a satisfactory, soft, sweet fry with a nice crisp. Next time, I may add more seasonings (paprika, garlic salt), and also let the fries dry a bit more before I coat them so that I get a more crispy texture, but overall, they were very tasty!

SO here you go!
3 Large Sweet Potatoes, washed, and thickly julienned (cut into spear shapes)
6 tablespoons of olive oil or vegetable oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch (if you don’t have this, I don’t think it’s a huge deal, but let your potatoes dry a bit after microwaving/blotting)
Seasonings (optional: salt, pepper, garlic salt/powder, paprika)

-Preheat the over to 450 (f)
-Microwave sweet potatoes in large bowl covered with saran wrap for 4-6minutes to slightly cook,
-Remove the sliced potatoes from bowl and blot dry (gives fries a crispier texture), let sit for five minutes if you aren’t using cornstarch,
-As fries dry, use 5 tbsp of the oil to coat a cookie/baking sheet, then place sheet in oven for 5-7 minutes (until the sheet begins to smoke),
-While oil heats, mix remaining oil (1 tbsp) with cornstarch (optional) and, then toss fries in mixture, making sure to coat each, add seasonings,
-Place fries in single layer rows on the heated cookie sheet, place back in oven and cook for 25-35 minutes, flipping fries halfway through cooking time,
-Remove from oven and place fries on paper towels to blot excess oil, lightly salt if desired.
-Enjoy!

Summer Feature-University of Illinois: Champaign-Urbana

As a college student, living life on the cheap is just one of our many talents. However, living life on the cheap while maintaining a balanced diet is another story; but then again, what’s life without a little grease? I spent this past weekend down at University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) with a friend. After being home for Georgetown for over a month, I had already forgotten what a typical college diet looked like, and what I encountered at UofI was ten times crazier since I was staying in an apartment full of gymnasts. Chicken fingers for lunch, pepperoni pizza for dinner, and for a snack? How about a few handfuls of Costco size Pub Mix! Well, it was no wonder so many people get the freshmen fifteen if their eating like that! I lived on a freshmen floor that tried to eat somewhat healthful… except for the Nightly Noms baking, and the random late-night pizza and ice cream binges, we were pretty tame.

So, on my second day, I decided to venture out onto Green St. (for all you Gtowners, it’s the equivalent of M. Street, and to my readers, just imagine a packed street with little restaurants, shops, etc). I’d decided if I was going to eat like a college student for the weekend, I might as well do it right, meaning sans frozen food. Of course UoI has the typical Chipotle, Noodles & Co., and greasy pizza joints, but I was looking for something “original.” So, I bring you two reviews of restaurants in the heart of the UofI campus: Mia’za’s and Cravings!

Mia’za’s: Italian, pizza, pasta, Panini, soups, and salads!

Like Flattop Grill or Chopt, Mia’za’s attempts to take “DIY” to a whole new level. They offer a basic menu for the above categories, but then also offer a “make your own.” So whether you’re feeling a pepperoni pizza with mac’n’cheese, bacon, and hamburger meat, or you want a salad with tomatoes, chicken, mushrooms, and peppers, Mia’za’s has you covered, and generally for $8 or less.

I decided to order of the regular menu this time around, doing a Salad+Panini combo (another great thing about the place is you can mix and match almost anything!). Ordering a Buffalo Chicken Panani (Buffalo Chicken, ranch, and mozzarella) and Mia'za's garden salad, I was prepared to sit down to consume a somewhat well-balanced a meal. The salad was subpar, your typical romaine, iceberg, tomato, pepper mix, but the Panini was a winner. Although the Panini was more of an open-face sandwich or flatbread on half of a hoagie, the creaminess of the ranch had soaked into the bread and the chicken had just enough spice! The toaster-oven seemed to know exactly how to make the bread crispy, but soft. The soups looked delicious too and same with the make your own pizzas.

3 Noms: if you’re with a crowd and have no idea what you want, go to Mia’za’s, chances are you’ll be able to create something delicious with their wide-range of offerings.

Miaza's

Cravings: Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Japanese… basically something from each country in East Asia.

This place was amazing. I have to say for small town Chinese food, Cravings knew what they were doing, which was especially apparent after seeing the amount of native Chinese eating their fare. I was a bit skeptical when my friend said we had to eat at this Chinese restaurant, but as soon as I walked in I had a feeling that I wouldn’t be disappointed. Honestly, I’m sad to say that Cravings was better than any Chinese food I’ve had in DC, and while Chicago has some great places, I wish there were more like Cravings. The menu board boasted too many dishes to decide from, ranging from curries to udon noodles, to mixed vegetable dishes. As a result, I decided to order what my friend suggested: Indonesian Fried Rice. Best decision ever! The native Chinese owners brought me a steaming plate of moist, freshly fried rice mixed with onions, chilies, tender chicken, shrimp, and a lovely fried egg to top it off. As soon as I took my first bite I was hooked. The dish had just the right amount of spiciness for the average eater, and the portions were huge! I definitely have leftovers for lunch, which for less than $7 is a great deal. The dish lacked vegetables, but that’s generally how fried rice goes, and the flavors made up for the amount of calories I was consuming. My friend’s Sesame Chicken was very tasty also, and luckily not smothered in bread like most dishes of the same name.

4 Noms: Cravings is the place to go if you’re looking for a wide range of traditional “Asian” food for a good price. The menu is made of up American favorites like Sesame Chicken and Sweet and Sour Pork, but the offerings also include more traditional dishes such as Chinese Broccoli with brown sauce, Indonesian Fried Rice, and Scallions with Chicken.

Cravings