Taco Thursday at 7 star Deli

I know a good taco when I see one. So when I heard the little crap hole 7 Star Deli around the block from my office in Dumbo, Brooklyn was serving tacos on Thursdays, I was VERY skeptical. I arrived in the dirty deli with smiley Asian ladies behind the cash register with low expectations. I then moved to the deli counter, atop was a sheet of paper prompted up, stating, "Special: Taco Thursdays", well then, it was official, I'm in the right place. Bring it on. In addition to that sign, there was another stating something about a new chef. Dirty delis have chefs? who knew? There were two miniature Mexican cooks in the back, promising, very promising, considering I was looking for tacos.

There were 2 types, chicken (which was pre-cut and looked nasty), and pork. I looked down and saw a whole pork shoulder roasting in its own juices. Pork Please! They toasted the tortillas, and then chopped up perfectly chunked pieces of succulent hog to order. Then topped with freshly diced cilantro and white onion. They were served with an avocado sauce (also grub) and a fresh juicy lime wedge.

These tacos were LEGIT!! So tasty, just squeezed that lime over the top of that soft pork and smother them in avocado goodness. And for two bucks each a real deal.



I think I need to talk to the owner for some kind of kick back because I have half my office hooked on these tacos. Now I have something to look forward to on Thursday besides The Office.

-J

Mushroom Barley soup that doesnt...

...make me fart. Who knew? It may sound strange, but usually a good mushroom barley soup turns my ass into a trumpet. Not so for this soup served up from Almondine Bakery in Dumbo Brooklyn. Almondine is my favorite lunch spot, so if you like this post, be sure to check out all the others from this place.

My mom cooks a mean mushroom barley soup that can never be topped, but for soup that wasn't home made this one holds it own. Slightly creamy, nice chunks of various mushrooms and the barley makes me think of my childhood. That little hedgehog looking thing to the right is a piece of french bread. Crusty and warm.


Another desk meal that doesn't suck. And my co-workers are thanking this place for its ability to not turn me into a musical instrument.

-J

Almondine's vegetarian sandwich hits the spot

You guys know me pretty well by now, I'm a meat a dude. I dig beef and like to kill little piggies. So if a vegetarian sandwich makes it onto this site you know it better be phenomenal. I told you I go to Almondine in Dumbo a lot and I'm going to continuously prove that fact on this site.

Behold this beautiful sandwich below. Its ok, you can stare, she like it. Look at her crusty bread, oh so crunchy, oh so good. This $7.25 sandwich was packed with roasted vegetables (red peppers, squash, cauliflower and asparagus), topped with a generous amount of creamy goat cheese and drizzled with high quality olive oil. Fucking delicious.


I know you noticed the keyboard in the background, so yes, this is another pathetic desk meal. But as I said in the past, at least I get to grub on world class sandwiches from around the corner.

-J

Mulligatawny at Almondine

Made popular by the infamous Seinfeld episode, mulligatawny is a delicious Indian soup. But Kramer explains it best:

Cosmo Kramer: A hot bowl of mulligatawny would hit the spot.
Elaine: Mulligatawny?
Cosmo Kramer: Yes, it's a delightful Hindu concoction simmered to perfection by one of the great soup artisans in the modern era.
Elaine: Who, the Soup Nazi?
Cosmo Kramer: He's not a Nazi, Elaine. He just happens to be a little eccentric. Most geniuses are.

I have to say, ever since watching that episode I have been more intrigued with the word mulligatawny than the actual soup. Say it with me, mulligataaaaawnyyyyy. I finally had a chance to try this soup a few weeks ago. They served it at my favorite lunch spot Almondine in Dumbo Brooklyn. I previously stated that Almondine was owned by Jacques Torres, but I was only partially correct, it's actually owned by both Jacques and Hervé Poussot, former pastry chef of famed Le Bernardin (super fancy pants Frenchie restaurant in nyc).

Anyways, onto the soup. This version was made with coconut milk so it was silky smooth. Spiced with coriander and other Indian spices that usually have me running to the nearest restroom. For some reason this gorgeous concoction sat just right in my stomach. I'm a big fan of this soup, not sure if all versions are going to be this good, but I'm definitely willing to try going forward.


Combined with my favorite pretzel bread, this Indian classic made my Seinfeld fantasy come true. Thank you Frenchies, job well done again.

-J

Hearty Lunch

Get used to it...I eat at my desk...a lot. Maybe because its freaking cold outside, or I like my food illuminated by my computer monitor, either way, the point of view you see below is generally mine at lunch time. Today's meal is from Jimi's Market (the link doesn't do it justice, really more than a Chinese food spot). Jimi's is a off the beaten track, hole-in-the-wall type of crap hole that serves really good food on the CHEAP. They don't even have a real door, its one of those sliding barn yard doors with a flimsy handle. The formula there is simple, cafeteria style, one meat, two sides, $5.50. period. Below you will see my assortment of mashed potatoes, green beans, and a chunky beef stew with even more potatoes (what can I say, i was hungry).


The meat was tender, the green beans were garlicky with a nice crunch to them, all and all a great ROI for this desk meal.

-J

Tasty Sangwich

As sad as it may sound, being in the tech industry tends itself to eating at your desk quite often. Luckily for me, I work in between two offices(Dumbo, Brooklyn and Soho) that have pretty great lunch options. This lunch comes to me by way of Almondine Bakery in Dumbo. Almondine is owned by famous Frenchie Pastry Chef Jacque Torres and sits directly across the street from his Brooklyn chocolate wonderland. I probably eat here 2-3 times a week because the sandwiches and soups are so ridiculously good. This one had prosciutto, sweet peepers, artichoke hearts and provolone cheese. As you can imagine the bread there is phenomenal, as Frenchie's really know how to make good bread. To the left is a chocolate chip cookie that midnights as a frisbee, chewy and crunchy at the same time (how do they do that?).



So yes, its very sad to eat at your desk...but don't lie to yourself, you know you do it too. At least I get to grub on a tasty sangwich now and then.

-J