I was able to enjoy for the first time a summer roll; I went to MadEats located at 24^th and Broadway. I decide that I should go bold and try a unique roll, so I tried the beet, lentil and goat cheese summer roll; this is a typical Vietnamese street food. I have to say that visually the roll looked beautiful you were able to see the vibrant red and white from the beets and goat cheese through the wrapper. The earthy flavor of beets that has a appealing copper taste and the tangy creamy taste of the goat cheese and the nice grainy taste of the lentil. I felt that the combination of all three components created a great flavor combination of tangy, sweet and fresh. I though that the summer roll was refreshing, light and great on the go food. I really enjoyed it and would definitely try it again in the future probably a different flavor.

This weekend I also tasted grill squid in Brooklyn’s Smorgasburg, something that I have never tasted before. I’m not normally a seafood and fish person, I don’t really enjoy the taste. However I felt that I should broaden my pallet and food knowledge so I decided to give the grill squid a try. The squid had a smoky flavor to it that I found enjoyable, its texture was slightly chewy and elastic. When I eat it the accompanied green sauce I found it to be more enjoyable. The sauce was a green tomato with jalapeno and cilantro which gave the squid more flavor and a refreshing spicy kick to it that I felt that it needed. I personally didn’t like it because I felt that the texture was chewy and the squid was flavorless without the sauce.

This weekend I visited Smorgasburg in Brooklyn NY and tasted this incredible dish of deep fried courgette flower that was stuffed with Ricotta and herbs. I have never heard or seen anything like this before, I’ve had heard of eating flowers but it was never something that appealed to me. There was a difference in texture from the outside to the inside, in the outside it was crispy and salty from the breading while in the inside it was soft and slightly mushy. You were able to taste the tangy creamy and silky flavor of the ricotta while also tasting the earthy and piney taste of the herbs. The texture of the flower was slightly mushy and chewy, I honestly felt that the flower didn’t have no distinguish taste. I didn’t really like that taste of the dish, not only was the texture difference something that didn’t appeal to me but the flavor combination didn’t work for me. I also felt that the dish was salty form both the ricotta herb combination and the crispy breading from the outside.

Everyone knows ramen, however mostly usually knows it by the plastic bag artificial ramen. In our group visit to Ippudo NY we had authentic Japanese ramen that was simply delicious. For my visit to Ippudo I decide to have the Shiromaru Hakaata Classic, which consist of soup noodles, pork loin, seasoned kikurage mushrooms, menma, red pickled ginger and scallions. The flavors and quality of the ingredients were phenomenal you could really taste each component and the silk richness of the noodles. The rich and creamy taste of the broth with the house made noodles was the perfect combination. Yu are able to taste the tender juicy flavor of the pork throughout with the nice freshness of ginger was a great overall dish to experience. I really enjoyed the ramen, the freshness and richness of the flavor combination was absolutely amazing, I would continue going to Ippudo NY until I have experienced and tasted every ramen available.

This was the first time that I have ever eaten Pork buns was for the culinary tour group project at the Japanese restaurant at Ippudo NY, I really didn’t know what to expect since I have never had it before. The severing came of two pork buns but I wish that the serving were bigger. The pork buns consist of the bun, lettuce and seasoned pork. I was really surprise by the texture of the bun; it is was an airy soft bun that almost had the texture of uncooked dough without being chewy or elastic. The bun was this soft pillow that was the perfect complement to the pork and lettuce and like nothing that I have ever had before. The BBQ pork was juicy and rich and the sweet and tangy sauce was the perfect compliment to the buns. The buns are the perfect pairing to the pork because the buns absorbed the favor of the pork. The lettuce brings the whole bun together because it adds a fresh crisp element to the buns making it the perfect balance.