Bite of the big apple...

“Food is like us, it is ugly if we all look alike.”-Ali El Sayed

We can learn a lot from the wise Chef Ali El Sayed, who is the chef and owner of Kebab Cafe, located in Queens NY. Chef Ali is more than just the man behind the stove. He is an entertainer, a character, a friend and a hero to food lovers everywhere.

His words most aptly describe my food adventures in New York City. In one city I was taken all over the world via taste buds, and in four days I had eaten Japanese, Mexican, Turkish, Cuban, Korean, and Egyptian cuisine. Each nationality brought a distinct personality to the table… Literally. Ancient traditions were represented in dishes that were good ol’ home cooking for natives, yet exotic and exciting for me. Oh how I pity picky eaters who never try new foods. They will never know the delicate nuances of fresh sushi, the pungent pleasure of Kimchi, or the luxuriant texture of calves brain!

Actually.. I don't feel bad for them, because that means more yummy food for ME! ( And finicky eaters annoy the hell out of me anyway... but that is another story!)

Ammmmazing food from all the corners of the world would be incomplete without company to share it with! I was lucky enough to wine and dine with lovely Mom, Pops, and my big sister who guided us to some fabulous food finds. Since YOU weren't there (you'll be invited next time ), YOU can live vicariously through my blog! Visit the big apple by simply scrolling down! Hop on Anna's Magic Food School Bus cause we are headed to the wonderful world of food... Wahoo!!!

First Stop: Japan!

Welcome to Bamboo52, a swanky Manhattan sushi bar with a live DJ, and a dance club ambiance that'll make you wanna groove. Crack open your chopsticks and enjoy! On the menu tonight... Seaweed salad with a ginger vinaigrette, and a spicy tuna "sandwich" ( spicy tuna, avocado, sticky rice, american cheese sushi roll), and a paradise roll ( sushi with crunchy panko crumbs and banana). Don't forget the MONSTER volcano bowel... Meant to be shared of course! Unless you are a hott mess who feels the need to not remember your beautiful dinner!

Oh boy... we are not in Kansas anymore! Now we have gone south of the border...

Location: Mexico

Bienvendio to the restaurant Arriba Arriba! Origin of The Most Amazing "Salad" I have ever eaten... What appears to be just a regular pile of greens in a mango vinaigrette is really just a coverup for a crunchy layer of salmon, caramelized rice, avocado, cheese, and an egg! Ai ca-rumba!

Location: Cuba

Victor's Cafe welcomes you with soft salsa playing in the dim lit cabana. Cuban cuisine is a mystery to many. In my few encounters with Cuban food, I find it to be a balance of hearty and light. Staples of thick black beans, dense beefy sandwiches, and fried plantains are foiled against the tropical freshness of mango, lime, and coconut. Cuban food is soul food. Be warned: consuming delicious Cuban cuisine may lead to spontaneous salsa dancing. Below we have some ceviche with an mango salsa, and friend plantains with a garlic and herb dipping oil.

Location: Turkey

As the Turks say...
"Coffee should be as black as hell, as strong as death, and as sweet as love." Let me tell you... Turkish coffee is an experience. The thick layer of grounds left in the bottom of my cup seemed magical-- Similar to the tea cup prophecies of Harry Potter, I started to see mystical creatures in the residual abyss at the bottom of my little cup.

Note to Self: A Gyro Pide is about the size of a Baluga whale, so next time, have someone to split it with.Delicious appetizer of rice, pumpkin seeds, and sweet herbs wrapped in grape leaves.

Location: Korea

A wrong turn and a misstep down an unknown alley magically led my family to Little Korea. Some nameless restaurant became a warm haven from the cold rain. The restaurant’s warmth was echoed in the many steaming bowls of hot noodles, spicy soups that scented the air. Since I am such a food nerd, I was giggling with excitement to try Kimchi for the first time. Kimchi is as classic Korean dish of spiced and pickled cabbage. It is in everything, served hot or cold, alone or as an ingredient. Sorry Campbell’s Soup-- It is Koren food that warms you heart and soul.

Kimchi- About 3,000 years old. Most Koreans cannot go a week without having kimchi cravings.

Location: Egypt

The Kebab cafe was the crown jewel of the trip! The Kebab café’s reputation precluded my visit. I had seen the café through my TV thanks to Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. I always knew the hours I have spent glued to the Travel Channel would aid in my travels somehow.

The warm colored walls of the tiny café were plastered with artifacts and knickknacks that probably have long stories attached to them. The random hodgepodge décor seemed to match the owner and chef himself who was welcoming and eccentric air kept made you smile and kept your interest.

Madre and Me... sitting where Anthony Bourdain sat.. Oh yeah... Our bums were on the same bench... WHAT NOW?

Chef Ali greeted my family like he was our distant relative. We did not receive menus, instead he promised his finest and we devoured the 6 or so full courses he presented! Lambs brain, lambs cheek, whole baked fish might have made some cringe, but they were beautifully prepared and beyond delicious! I am telling you, never let your food ignorance stand in your way of trying another culture's specialty! You may never know what you are missing.