An Online Food Journal

Omakase means "I'll leave it to you" in Japanese.  It's putting the fate of the meal in the chef's hands, setting aside all precursory fears and beliefs, closing your eyes, and jumping in.  You never know what the chef is going to put on your plate next, but at Sushi Yasuda it doesn't matter because it's bound to be delicious. Sushi Yasuda has an unassuming door front hidden around the financial buildings of Midtown Manhattan. The interior is tastefully simple and no-nonsense, with light wooden panels lining the walls, doors, and sushi bar.  For the full experience, we booked a month in advance for the coveted seats at the bar in order to watch all the culinary magic unfold. We started off the meal with a small jug of sake.  Warm with a distinctive rice wine taste, the sake was not too strong and a perfect complement for the sashimi and sushi to come. Before starting, the chef we were assigned to asked us if we had any dietary preferences and whe...

I don't know much about Turkish food, but there's one restaurant that my family and I consistently go to, and that restaurant is Turkish Grill.  Located in the Turkish cultural hub of Sunnyside, Queens, this small, yet elegant joint has an extensive menu, with countless kebab combinations, a variety of cold appetizers, and house specialities that cannot be found in more Americanized places.  Although I am deeply fascinated by this cuisine, which has roots in Central Asia, the Caucasus, Middle East, Mediterranean, the Balkans, and most importantly, the old Ottoman Empire, as an inexperienced outsider, I cannot deem the authenticity of the dishes, only how much I enjoy them.  However, I did ask my friend Irem, who is born and raised in Turkey, whether the dishes we ordered were actually common back in her homeland. When we visited Turkish Grill at the end of May this year, we started off the meal with our usual order of apricot juice for drinks and the mixed plate for app...

Summer is here, which means it's finally ice cream season.  On these scorching hot days, nothing beats the heat better than a scoop of cold, creamy goodness  —  whether it comes in the form of traditional ice cream, gelato, or soft serve.  Here is a list of places you can go to get some frozen, summer relief, but beware, these treats are finger-licking, cone-dripping good. NYC : Morgenstern's Finest Ice Creams: This place is my new favorite ice cream shop.  Don't be fooled by its cute retro vibe, shiny black and white tiles, and twirling bar stools, because when it comes to ice cream flavors, this place is far from old-school.  I promise that you will have a hard time deciding, because everything sounds amazing- from salt, pepper & pinenut, to blueberry labne, to durian banana.  Even vanilla and chocolate aren't boring here, with there being five varieties of each.  After much struggle and deliberation, I decided to try Cardamon Lemon Ja...