Author Archives: Ri Dong

36 Hours in Manhattan, 59th Street and Below

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36 Hours in Manhattan, New York (59th Street and Below)

By Ri Dong Zheng

 

Home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, New York City is definitely a city of diverse ethnicities. With people from all nations, tribes, and tongue, come numerous kinds of cultures. With numerous kinds of cultures, come unlimited choices of food. Explore New York City, Manhattan from 59th Street and below, to experience the whole world in just 36 hours.

 

Friday

  1. RAMEN TIME, 5 P.M.

With an increasing influence all over the world with its music and dramas, Korea has a role. Become like the actors and/or actresses you see and admire in the dramas by eating what they eat. Head on over to H Mart and select from a whole isle of Kimchi and Ramen, making you all out Korean even in your own home. Want something extremely spicy that is also flavorful? Try the Hot Chicken Ramen ($5.99 for a 5-pack). If you are not the spicy person and are more health conscious, buy a pack of Sam Gye Tang –Ginseng Chicken Soup ­­­­– ($6.49). Not only is it good for the blood circulation, but it also keeps you nice and cozy in the middle of winter.

nakji-bokum

Nakji Bokum, Mog C. for Yelp

  1. JAL MEOKGESSEUMNIDA, 6 P.M.

Why go to Korea just to eat Korean food? Get a taste of authentic Korean food at Kunjip. Serving delicious Korean 24 hours a day with ventilations right above your table for Korean BBQ, try their Nakji Bokum – Spicy pan-fried octopus with vegetable and noodles – ($20.95) that entangles you into the sea. If looking for something more simple, but at the same time gives you a punch of flavor, order a Soon Doo Boo Chigae Combination –Spicy soft tofu & seafood stew– (Vegetarian available, $11.95) that you gives you a nice kick of spicy from Korea.

 

  1. SAY CHEESE, 8:30 P.M.

Born in 1894, Veniero’s was born. Serving freshly made pastries and cakes every day, you can taste Italy from New York City. Made with the finest and freshest ingredient such as fresh ricotta and whole eggs, have a slice of Italian Cheese Cake ($4.50). Ignore your conscience and order New York’s one and only Cannoli with fresh ricotta cheese (choice of vanilla or chocolate) stuffed in a crisp shell on the side ($3). You can indulge yourself in a plate of Italian dessert.

 

  1. TIME TRAVEL, 10 P.M.

Time travel back into the late 1800’s by visiting McSorley’s Old Ale House. Written in a poem by E.E. Cummings, you sit on aged chairs with sawdust still on the floor. Enjoy some Draft Ale (2 for $5.50) in either light or dark, showing the limited choices that was only available back in the days. Order a small plate of American cheese or Aged Cheddar cheese ($4) to go along with it. You can feel as if you were living in the times of American Prohibition.

 

Saturday

  1. TEA TIME, 11:00 A.M.

Start your day like the Chinese by having “Yum Cha” (literally meaning “drink tea”) with some tea and dim sum at Nom Wah Tea Parlor. Being around since 1920’s, this Chinese veteran has received much fame serving authentic dim sum. With a classic, run down look, their old schooled dimsum will definitely satisfy your morning. With dozens of dimsum (average $4 each dish) to choose from, try their House special roast pork bun ­­–a bun filled with savory Cantonese style roast pork– and their different kinds of rice rolls (comes in either plain, shrimp, beef, or vegetarian). Have a drink of their Pu-er Tea (bo-lay) on the side to compliment your dim sum in Chinese style.

 

  1. SHOPPING IN HONG KONG, 1:30 P.M.

One of Chinatown’s biggest and most popular supermarket, the Hong Kong Supermarket has supplied people with many of its products. Ranging from seafood, meat, and produce, to snacks, drinks and dried goods, you can get almost any kind of Chinese product you can think of. You can grab some bottles of sauces such as Chinese cooking wine (there are many different brands with different value, ranging from $2~$5) or even soy sauce. You can possibly cook Chinese food without having these sauces back at home. You can also head downstairs into the basement to grabs some Chinese snacks on the go. Buy a bag of Chinese Rice Crackers (around $2~$5 depending on size of bag) that is crunchy and is popular among the Chinese as a snack.

 

  1. CHEALSEA MARKET, 3:00 P.M.

Home to where Oreos were invented, the National Biscuit Company used to occupy what is now known as the Chelsea Market. It is now one of the greatest food and shopping halls. Selling everything from seafood to meat, soups to candies, burgers to tacos, you can experience many different cultures in just a distance of one city block. Head over to Creamline, grab a shake, all natural and made from Ronnybrook Farm milk ($6.5), and turn around to Los Tacos for Carne Asada Tacos ($3.75). Enjoy the food while you stare in amazement of the Chelsea Market Waterfall.

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Katz’s Pastrami Hot Sandwich, ilovekatzs.com

  1. MOUNTAIN OF MEAT, 5:30 P.M.

Been around since 1888, go to Katz’s Delicatessen and “send a salami to your boy in the Army.” It was the piece of advice during World War II from Katz’s. Enjoy a fusion of Jewish kosher style food with a NYC kick. Featuring a classic American Diner environment, get yourself a taste of Katz’s Pastrami Hot Sandwich ($19.95) that has been smoked to juicy perfection and hand carved to your specifications or stuff yourself with Katz’s Corned Beef Hot Sandwich ($18.95) made from their secret dry cure pickling formula (it requires a full month to be ready to serve).

 

  1. EXOTIC ICE CREAM, 8:00 P.M.

What was the weirdest ice cream flavor you ever had? Ever had durian flavored ice cream before? Ginger? Red Bean? Zen Butter? Are you thinking, “What in the world are these flavors?” These are just normal ice cream flavors at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. Exotic is normal and normal is exotic. Only at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory do you get crazy flavors. Try their Durian flavor, an Asian fruit known for its funky smell yet delicious flavor, Don Tot flavor, a light creamy egg custard, or even Black Sesame. Buy a scoop of experience for $4.35 or double the fun with two scoops for $6.99.

 

  1. DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT, 9:00 P.M.

Need prescriptions? Stop by Apotheke and order some pain killers from the menu. Featuring mad scientist mixologists dressed in lab coats, you can get the medicine you need for the night in a 19th century Paris style bar. Watch as the mad scientist experiment and have you fall into a Lucid Dream and pretend you’re in Tokyo Drift (average $20 a drink). Go to this hidden gem in a old looking alleyway of Chinatown for some wild experience.

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Pastries at Dominque Ansel Bakery, Ri Dong

Sunday

  1. Croissant or Doughnut? 8:00 A.M.

Ever debated whether to get a croissant or doughnut for breakfast? Why not get a Cronut? Invented by Chef Dominque Ansel, Dominque Ansel Bakery is famous for its Cronut ($5.75), a hybrid between a croissant and donut. They make it fresh every day starting at 2 A.M., but start preparing it 3 days earlier. Although only one flavor every month, it will make you satisfied for as long as you can remember. Opening its doors at 8 A.M., people start to line up starting at 7 A.M. just to guarantee a bite of their Cronut. Order a Chef’s Hot Chocolate ($4.50) to go with it, tasting rich in cocoa beans and not something you get from packaged products. It will surely be worth the wait and get your morning going.

 

  1. ITADAKIMASU, 10:00 A.M.

Who doesn’t like sweets? Try out the various kinds of Japanese sweets found at Minamoto Kitchoan. Greeted in Japanese, you entered the Japanese sweet haven. Delicious Japanese sweets, made from the best natural ingredients, are all around you. Pick up a Peach Jelly ($16) or Macchasenbei (6 pieces for $18.60 + tax) and you will enjoy a balance of taste on your palate, without pricking your guilty conscience.

 

  1. EATING IN ITALY, 12:00 A.M.

Ever wanted the best Italian food? You can get it at Eataly, home to dozens of Italian markets, restuarants, cheese store, wine store, seafood store, and even sweets. You can get anything you can think of that has to do with Italian. Choose from dozens of different kinds of cheese, Grana Padano (raw cow’s milk, $14.80/lb) to Robiola Pura Capra (goat’s milk, $32.00/lb). Grab some fresh pasta or dried ones to take back from aisles and aisles of choices. The smell of cheese, pasta, and bread makes you mouth watery. You can grab a bite at Il Pesce and order Fritto Misto alla Ligure ($24), a plate of assorted fried seafood Ligurian Style. You can bring home Italy.

 

Lodging

Stay at Hilton Garden Inn located in New York Herald Square, one of hottest place in NYC. Room rates starting from $152 a night, it allows you to be as close as you can be to the trains to get to wherever you need to, whenever you need to.

 

Map: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ObMCUSZqjL0Kez17PkW_ceU4XFI&usp=sharing

 

Sources

Chan, K. Y., & Eats, S. (2009, August 17). Sugar rush: Muscat jelly Sorbet at Minamoto Kitchoan. . Retrieved from http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/08/sugar-rush-muscat-jellysorbet-at-minamoto-kit.html

Cummings, E. E. Classic poem. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://poetrynook.com/poem/i-was-sitting-mcsoreleys-outside-it-was-new-york-and-beauti-fully-snowing

Bruni, F. (2007, May 30). Go, eat, you never know. Dining & Wine. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/30/dining/reviews/30rest.html

Hmart. (2016). Home page NJ. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://nj.hmart.com/

Sifton, S. (2010, October 19). An appraisal of Eataly, the Manhattan Italian food hall. Dining & Wine. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/dining/reviews/20Eataly.html

Superfame, hello@. (2016, November 21). Chelsea Market. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://chelseamarket.com/index.php/About/contact/about-chelsea-market

Nom Wah tea parlor in Chinatown, New York — open since 1920. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://nomwah.com/chinatown/

Zagat. (2016). Apotheke – Zagat review. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.zagat.com/n/apotheke-new-york

Zagat. (2016). McSorley’s old ale house – Zagat review. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.zagat.com/r/mcsoreleys-old-ale-house-new-york

Zagat. (2016). Veniero’s pastry > Veniero’s pastry menu. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from https://www.zagat.com/r/venieros-pastry-new-york/menu 2015. (2012). Ice cream. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://www.chinatownicecreamfactory.com/ice-cream/

  1. (2011). Dominique Ansel bakery. Retrieved December 3, 2016, from http://dominiqueansel.com/cronut-101/

 

 

 

Le District Reflection (Tuesday Class)

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Group Members: Ri Dong Zheng (Food and Beverage Director), Angela Liang (Beverage Manager), Kaylah Bilal (Catering Manager), Lisbel Hernandez (Restaurant Manager). 

Brief description of our responsibilities: A Food and Beverage Director is responsible for the efficient and effective operation of all the departments that has to do with food and beverages. Some examples are kitchen, catering banquet, restaurants, room service, bars, etc.

A Beverage Manager is responsible for the smooth operations of beverages while ensuring high pour-cost percentage with minimum pilferage. This may include bars, restaurants, or banquets.

A Catering Manager is responsible for selling and servicing, catering, banquets, meetings, and exhibitions in a way that exceeds guest’ expectations and produces reasonable profit.

A Restaurant Manager is responsible for ensuring the smooth operations of a restaurant while exceeding guest service expectations, hiring training and developing employees, and setting and maintaining quality standards.

Observations: During our site visit to the Le District, we made some significant observations according to what our roles are. Our Restaurant Manager noticed how well the employee in Sprinkles Cupcake was doing in which the employee was able to greet customers with a warm and welcoming smile. The employee was also able to use suggestive selling, where she gave her own experience of only eating original flavors but started to like red velvet after eating it. Another observation made was when the employees were making bread or dessert, it was noticed that one of the employees did not had the hairnet, had her phone in her pocket, and was not using gloves.

Our Beverage Director observed that the types of beverages served was simple and basic with nothing too fancy. This is befitting of a place where it serves mainly business people and gets overcrowded during lunch time. With something not complicated, orders can be taken and done in a quick and efficient pace. As a Food and Beverage Director, I noticed how the different types of beverages serve has to do with location. On one end, caffeinated drinks were served where breakfast and desserts were sold. In the middle, non-caffeinated drinks where actual food and meals were being sold. On the other end, only coffee of a special kind was served where groceries were being sold. There was also a bar serving alcoholic drinks where there many tables. So the types of beverages sold at different locations matches well with what is being sold nearby.

Our Catering Manager noticed that the menus in the various stores were using different kinds of materials to write the prices and options of their products. Some of which were chalkboards, pamphlets, and tags next to their products. By using re-writable options, prices of products of prices are subject to change without having to reprint thousands of menu pamphlets. As the Food and Beverage Director, an observation about the menus made was the fact that they were all simple and easy to read. Instead of having all the products listed our with each individual prices next to it, only one or two prices for different sizes (ie; small, large), all the different kinds of choices were below it. Easy menu makes easy ordering.

Ri Dong Zheng – New York Transit Museum (Tuesday) (Edited)

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The New York Transit Museum is significant to the culture of New York, because the whole city is on top of a vast transit system. It is “impossible to imagine New York without a mass transit system.” New York City has always depended on this “network of transportation routes and systems for its vitality and development.” It is New York’s “lifeline” as it ensures “workers can get to their jobs,” life-sustaining and life-enriching goods can get to the marketplace,” and satisfy New Yorkers’ “requirements for travel and recreational pursuits.” Founded in 1976, the New York Transit Museum tells and preserves the “stories of mass transportation” and its impact on New York City.

 

http://www.transitmuseumeducation.org/trc/background

Edited: Additional source: http://downtownbrooklyn.com/places/arts-entertainment/new-york-transit-museum

Brooklyn Waterfront

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Ri Dong Zheng, Daniel Pelaez, Lily Cheung, Destiny Rivera

The area of tourism for our group is culinary tourism. Culinary tourism is the pursuit of eating and drinking experience while traveling, to enjoy and taste the culture of the community. Around the Brooklyn Bridge Park and DUMBO area, there are many great places to experience and taste the Brooklyn culture of New York. Ranging from small little hole-in-the-walls such as the Lizzmonade Brooklyn Pop-Up Pool where you can enjoy various kinds of custom drinks, to a great eatery with an outdoor terrace at the Brooklyn Bridge Garden Bar. You can also enjoy an ice-cold ice cream dessert anytime of the day and year at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory or sit down and sip a nice cup of steaming hot coffee at the Brooklyn Roasting Company, which features coffee beans from all around the world. There are various ways to experience the taste of Brooklyn. Four significant areas that are worth visiting are the River Cafe, Smorgasburg, Dumbo’s Food Truck, and the Brooklyn Grange. The River Cafe, with an Michelin’s Star rating, features a fine dining experience with an New American Menu and a stunning view of the river and Manhattan skyline. Smorgasburg and Dumbo’s Food Truck, on the other hand, are also great places to eat for those who may prefer something cheaper. It features a variety of food from the Brooklyn style food to vendors and trucks. With the Brooklyn Grange, you can enjoy time with nature with the world’s largest organic rooftop garden. Because there is a wide range of activities to do around the Brooklyn Bridge Park and DUMBO area, you can experience the culinary tourism of Brooklyn to the fullest.

Ri Dong Zheng (edited)

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As a prospective leader in Hospitality Management, I want to achieve a position of oversight. I love to learn more about hospitality management and what it means to be a part of this industry. I am confident that I will be able to do well because I like to help or serve people. I hope that I will be molded into who I want to be.