Our fate in the hands of the chef.

I’ve lost count of the number of visits to New York. But, Brooklyn seems to be another world. Why don’t I make it here more often? If I were to compare it to Los Angeles distance wise, it would be like going from Downtown to Silverlake. It’s really nothing, a quick train and you really are in a new place. Thanks to one of our very own Poketo crew, Joe, a former New Yorker, we got some tips to the sweet spots in Williamsburg. The #1 being Fette Sau. The best bbq, hands down. We ordered a couple of pounds of pulled pork, brisket, and pork ribs… one of the best bbq I’ve ever had, period.

Then it was off to Mast Brothers Chocolate Tasting Room and Factory. The tour, we were too late to attend, but, the tasting room was the amuse-bouche to our next visit. Can’t wait.

We picked up a few chocolates… Vanilla Smoke, Stumptown Coffee x Mast Brothers, and an Almond Marine Sea Salt. Ended it with a couple night caps of Smoky Velvets at the Roebling Tea Room. A place like this, Angie could get her tea and fries and I got a nice cocktail. Perfect.

We were on a plane for most of the day yesterday and arrived in the city we love to visit. Thanks to Poketo fan and friend Lia Bulaong, we got New York started right with a little hole in the wall in East Village… Xi’an Famous Foods. This place is small and the decor is nothing, but, the food is so darn good. The flavors remind both me and Angie of the time we visited Xian some 10+ years ago.

My memory of that city is the Muslim quarter, the aroma of meats on sticks, and the dense, smoke filled streets from grilling streetside. The air was literally filled with smokey goodness, it was amazingly awesome. Xi’an Famous Foods is nothing like the real sights and smells of Xian’s Muslim quarter, but, some of the flavors brought me back, especially the spicy, cumin lamb. It was like having my meat on a stick so many years ago. NYC continues for the next week… follow us on instagr.am.