mitsuwa

As we approach the last couple months of first year, my classmates and I have been feeling the agony of back to back practicals (meaning 10 hours drilling and filling in a windowless pre-clinic after 6 hours of classes).  I was on the brink of losing it when a friend suggested (or I may have inadvertently suggested) that we take a trip to Mitsuwa Marketplace for some homestyle Japanese food.   Japanese food has been proven to cure diseases of all sorts (including stress) so this was a solid decision on his part :).

Mitsuwa is a Japanese supermarket/food court located in Edgewater, NJ.  Think mall food court but cleaner, tastier, and strictly Japanese food.  I’ve been going here with my parents ever since I can remember.  Everything I’ve tried has been pretty good but I’d highly recommend the soba from Kayaba and the tonkotsu (melty pork) salt ramen from Santouka.  They even have complementary hot green tea and genmaicha (roasted brown rice tea) that you can help yourself to.  

No trip to Mitsuwa is complete without a soft serve ice cream from Ito-en which comes in a variety of flavors including vanilla, black sesame, green tea, and genmaicha.  
As for the supermarket, they pretty much have everything Japanese that you could possibly want: fresh sashimi grade fish, sake, Japanese munchies, rice cookers, cosmetics, movies, etc.  

My friends and l left full and happy, ready to battle another day of dental school.  

Other recommendations:

Head to St. Honore bakery (located next to the food court) and grab a loaf of “Boloniya” bread.  It’s sweet and buttery, slightly flaky, and super fluffy in the middle… just to-die-for!  They sell like hot cakes so get there early!

Love at first bite

 

Looks like spring is finally here to stay and what better way to celebrate than an afternoon in Central Park with an armful of goodies from Bouchon Bakery.  Bouchon Bakery is the result of  French culinary genius, Thomas Keller's inspiration from the boulangeries of Paris.  I've always been a huge fan of the traditional macarons but today I tried the TKO (Thomas Keller Oreo) and it was love at first bite! 
Keller's reinterpretation of the oreo is made from delicately sweet chocolate sable dough and filled with a white chocolate ganache which tastes more of fluffy whipped cream than sugary vanilla frosting.  


To top it all off, I got my healthy dose of much needed vitamin D which will hopefully last me through the upcoming exam months.  


ps. How adorable is this little girl?  Her eyes are aimed right towards the TKOs.  Do I detect another aficionado of confectionaries in the making? :)


pps. Rumor has it that Bouchon Bakery opened it's newest location at Rockefeller Center.  More TKOs!  Hooray!

Bistrot du Coin / Dolcezza - Washington DC

If you're ever in the DC area and in the mood for casual French, Bistrot du Coin is your spot. They are well known for their buckets of steamed mussels soaked in your choice of nine different flavorful broths. We tried the Moules Mariniéres (Steamed mussels in white wine with onions, shallots, garlic and parsley) which absolutely lived up to its hype.  The scallops special came with a side of creamy ratatouille risotto that was just sublime.  To top it off, there was plenty of dipping bread so we happily wrapped up our meal by sopping up the remaining broth from the mussels and garlic butter from the escargot.


The place has two rather large open floors but the tables are jam packed so be prepared to rub elbows with your neighbor. I really loved the boisterous chatter, clinking of glasses, and charming decor that gave it it's cozy French bistro feel.


After all that butter, I was in the mood for a "lighter" dessert so we skipped down the street toward Dolcezza gelataria.  The little shop has a cottage feel and some incredibly original flavors made from local seasonal ingredients.   I tried the kiwi sorbetto and lemon ricotta cardamom gelato, both of which were refreshing and just divine!


The only thing I regret was not leaving enough room to try more flavors of gelato.  I could easily be a regular at Dolcezza if it weren't five hours away... sigh.

Happy May!

 

Now this just sounds all too familiar... Happy May!
(via toothpaste for dinner)