Smorgasburg

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Smorgasburg is a fabulous food festival just a short subway ride from Manhattan, along the East River waterfront in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

This is held every Saturday from 11am-6pm.

There is a huge selection of local vendors selling delicious creations inspired by cuisine from around the world. You will not be able to try everything there, so I recommend bringing a few friends.

All the Smorgasburg tents

View from East River Waterfront

Here are just a few things I sampled with some friends.


ThirsTea
First off, I did my homework and I found out that the bubble tea place ThirsTea would have a booth there. I've heard good things about their store location in the East Village, so this was the next best thing.

The Menu

Honey Lavender Boba - Large $5

They have only a few options and I think their prices may be a bit higher than at their store.

I tried the honey lavender bubble tea.

• Taste: very strong herbal lavender flavor sweetened with honey, too intense for my taste
• Boba: a bit too soft, they were all stuck together
• Price: $5 for a large is very pricey for just simple tea with no milk and a scant amount of boba

The lavender flavor was so strong it was kinda medicinal almost the intensity of lavender in a soap or something. Also there were very few boba for the amount of drink. It was hard to eat them too because they were kinda stuck together and didn't come up the straw easily. I hope that ThrisTea's bubble tea is actually better at their store location. Maybe my experience is effected by the limitations of making bubble tea in a tent. I would probably only give them 3 out of 5 bubbles.



Takumi Taco

These Japanese inspired tacos were delicious. 

Spicy Tuna Taco $6

We tried the spicy tuna for $6. It was a small taco but it was stuffed with fresh chunks of raw tuna in a creamy spicy sauce. If you've ever had spicy ahi poke then this was pretty much like that in a taco shell. 

It is a great concept and I would definitely go back to try more of their taco flavors.



Lumpia Shack

Growing up in Hawaii, I am no stranger to lumpia, a Filipino spring roll of sorts. The Lumpia Shack creates lumpia filled with delicious meats such as Peking duck and sucking pig. They add various sauces and toppings to the lumpia. We tried both these types and they were so good. I could have easily eaten a dozen. Most of their lumpia was around $6 for 6 pieces.

Suckling Pig Lumpia

We Rub You
Yummy Korean-American fusion specializing in Korean BBQ meats. We tried the beef bulgogi sandwich, that has delicious meat, kimchi, and cucumbers.

Bulgogi Sandwich $7

Nadia's Moroccan Kitchen

I really wanted to try their lamb meatballs but they sold out, so I guess you have to come very early for those. I got the lamb merguez sausage sandwich instead. It was so good and you got a lot for $8.

Merguez Sandwich $8

Dough

All their sweet options

 Literally the best doughnut of my life. I tried Dough's passion fruit glazed doughnut topped with cocoa nibs. It was amazing. The dough was very light and delicious but the best part was the glaze that had an incredible amount of passion fruit flavor. It was just like the fresh fruit. The doughnut was also huge, easily the size of two regular doughnuts. I can't wait to try more of their flavors.

Passion Fruit Doughnut $2.50

I highly recommend going to Smorgasburg for a more unique taste of the city.
Bring cash, water, friends and sunglasses.

Guide to Shave Ice Hawaiian Style

Shave ice is as vital to the local lifestyle as the ocean, the land, and spam. And nothing is more refreshing after a day at the beach.

In other regions of the world there are many variations and names for shave ice. But I am most familiar with Hawaiian style shave ice. It is what I grew up with and it is what this post is all about.

Two Simple Rules to Shave Ice:

1. It is NOT a snow cone.
2. It is NOT shaved ice, no 'd.'

If you can remember these rules, then you will have no big problems.

Hawaiian Shave Ice:

Shave ice has been a part of Hawaii's local food culture for over 100 years. I'm not going to go into that history but if you'd like to learn more here is a brief article about it: "Shave Ice" by Mike Gordon.

Today, shave ice can be found everywhere in Hawaii. Almost every crack seed or small convenience store offers it. Hawaiian style shave ice, in its most basic form, is made from finely shaved ice that comes from larger ice blocks. The ice shavings are then lightly compacted into a cone, cup, or bowl. The ice should not be crunchy at all. Various flavored syrups are then poured over the shave ice. Hawaiian style shave ice differs from other varieties in types of syrups and toppings offered.

Syrups
The majority of syrups tend to be fruit flavored with a strong emphasis on local tastes. Flavors such as mango, guava, pineapple, lychee, lilikoi, and li hing mui can easily be found. Most shave ice places in Hawaii have a mix of syrups made from artifical and natural flavors. Some have homemade syrups and some don't. A wide variety of syrups can be found. Another iconic aspect of Hawaiian shave ice is the rainbow option. Rainbow shave ice is made by using red, blue, and yellow syrups. Most commonly strawberry, blue vanilla, and banana flavors. Rainbow is probably the most popular choice of kids because of its bright colors.

Toppings
Hawaiian shave ice also has several topping options. Not every place has the same options but the most common toppings are: ice cream, azuki beans, condensed milk, and mochi balls.

Shave ice also varies in size and price. One shop's small may be another shop's large, etc. But I find that most shave ice ranges from $2.50-$5.00. All depending on size and number of toppings.


So then, the big question is:

What is the BEST shave ice in Hawaii?

Everyone seems to have their own favorite. This depends largely on your neighborhood and which shave ice store you went to as a child. I have my own personal favorite (to be revealed later), whether or not this is the best is debatable.

All of the places I mention are on Oahu. I haven't had too much shave ice on the neighboring islands. I can only recommend Ululani's on Maui. They have a fine shave, although not the finest I've had. They also have huge sizes and great tasting flavors. 

On Oahu there are many excellent shave ice shops. But there is one huge misconception about the best shave ice. It is NOT Matsumoto's. That's right, I said it.

Matsumoto's
Located in the North Shore's historic Haleiwa town.

Matsumoto's is way overhyped. Many travel guides say this is the best. That is why hoards of tourists drive out to North Shore. There is always a line out the door here, but it is really worth it? No. There are many places with better quality shave ice back in town. Matsumoto's shave ice isn't very fine and their syrups don't really standout from anywhere else. They do have cheaper prices for their sizes, but I don't think it is worth the wait.
If you are dying for shave ice and you're on North Shore, then I would suggest Aoki's.

Matsumoto's (see the large ice crystals)

Aoki's

Aoki's is only a few feet from Matsumoto's.

Aoki's shave ice has the same price and sizes, but I think they offer more flavors. Aoki's has a finer shave than Matsumoto's and they have the BEST azuki beans on the island. Aoki's doesn't get as much publicity as Matsumoto's but it is definitely better and the line is always shorter.

Aoki's

Now around Honolulu there are several places that truly are some of the best. Waiola, Ailana, Jung's, and Shimizu's all have their own fans. They are all great is their own respect, but my absolute hands down favorite is Waiola.

Waiola

There are two locations, one in Moiliili and one in Kaimuki.

Waiola has been around for over 70 years. They also have the finest shave ice I have ever EVER had. It is so finely shaven you can lick it like ice cream. Waiola also has the most syrup flavors I have ever seen and excellent toppings. I always get Waiola's green tea flavor and mochi balls. It is so damn good. Waiola is where I always go and where I take everyone. Just the quality of their ice is something you must experience.

Recently I have come across a brand new place, that is definitely raising the bar for shave ice in Hawaii.

Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha
In the Aina Haina Shopping Center, Uncle Clay's is a bit pricier, but the quality is amplified. All the syrups are natural and homemade. They even have homemade mochi. They have the BEST syrups I have ever tasted. It is literally like eating liquid fruit, it tastes exactly like the real thing. The shave ice is also very fine, although not quite as fine as Waiola. I don't think anyone can top them.

Also it is worth going here just to meet Uncle Clay and hear his philosophy of pure aloha. He is a real character. The first time I went there he spoon-fed me the first bite of his shave ice. He is very very friendly. When you go he immediately welcomes you into his ohana. He is very proud of his shave ice and just wants to spread aloha to the world. He's a really nice guy who loves to talk, so you need at least 15 minutes to go.

Uncle Clay's

Uncle Clay's may actually be the best quality shave ice in Hawaii. It is so near perfection. But Waiola is still my favorite because it is closer to where I live and I just love their green tea and mochi balls.

So basically if you want to experience the best Hawaiian shave ice you must go to Waiola and Uncle Clay's. They are both the best in their own right.

Cafe de Tim

1120 Maunakea St.
Honolulu, HI 96817

Inside Chinatown's Maunakea Marketplace in the outside courtyard area.

I ordered: green tea soy milk slush

• Taste: creamy matcha green tea flavor, well blended 
• Boba: Chinese black tea taste, soft and chewy
• Price: $3.50 for a huge 24 oz. size

This was a delicious bubble tea. The strong tea flavor of the boba added something extra to the drink. I also tried their coffee flavor too. It has a very strong espresso taste which I love.

The one thing I didn't really like was that their menu wasn't very clear. There are a lot of different drinks. Some with boba and some with jellys. I'm not sure if they charge extra for adding things to the drinks on their menu. It isn't very clear, but I'm sure you'll enjoy whatever you end up with. They also have egg puffs and fresh sugar cane juice.

Menu

Cafe de Tim is super cheap for the huge size you get. I would also reccomend trying Thang coffee & bubble tea right next door. It is almost the same as Cafe de Tim, but I think they specialize more in real fruit bubble teas. You can get hard to find flavors such as soursop, durian, and avocado.

I will definitely be coming back to these places whenever I'm in Chinatown. You can't beat these prices.

4.5 out of 5 bubbles

City Cafe

1518-F Makaloa St.
Honolulu, HI 96814

City Cafe may not look like much from the outside, but inside they offer a variety of bubble teas, shave ice, sandwiches, and other food options. On a side street off of Ke'eaumoku, City Cafe is near both Ala Moana shopping center, Walmart, and Don Quijote market.

I literally have driven past City Cafe hundreds of times without realizing it was there. It's location isn't bad, there are so many stores and restaurants in the area, but there are only few parking stalls. It can be difficult to find parking right in front of the shop. Nevertheless, it is an easy walk from any of the nearby shopping areas.


My Order: Jasmine Green Milk Tea Slush

• Taste: creamy texture, great jasmine tea flavor, not too sweet
• Boba: excellent texture with a slightly sweet tea taste
• Price: $3.50 for tall (16 oz.)

I really enjoyed my bubble tea from City Cafe. I found nothing wrong with it. I can't wait to go back and try more flavors and their Taiwanese style shave ice.

City Cafe also has very reasonable prices. Although when I went, I saw a sign saying that starting July 1st they are raising their prices due to the economy and the rising costs of goods. Hopefully the price increase won't be too much.

I am giving City Cafe 4 bubbles for now since I haven't had the opportunity to try more of their offerings.

4 out of 5 bubbles

Epcot

On my vacation in Orlando I went to Walt Disney World's Epcot park. I have to say I love the World Showcase portion of Epcot. I completely buy into the constructed authenticity of each country. For those unfamiliar with Epcot here is the website. The main thing I enjoy about Epcot is all the food offered in each country. When I go to Epcot, it is to eat.

Mexico

There are some great margaritas, nachos, and typical Mexican fair. You can learn about tequila and buy lots of handmade Mexican crafts.

Passion fruit Margarita

Norway

In this country there is a Norwegian bakery and a crazy viking boat ride. Here we tried an almond pretzel which was more like a flaky pastry in the shape of a pretzel. It was delicious.

Norwegian Bakery

Almond Pretzel

Troll

China

I think China has the worst options food wise. It is basically the same kind of things you'll get from a cheap Chinese take-out place. There is a huge gift shop and a nice pond.

Germany

Mmm Germany has some delicious sausages with sauerkraut and there is a wine section where you can taste different German wines. 

Italy

Italy also has a lot of wine to offer along with some Italian restaurants. Instead of going to the restaurants I just got gelato, delicious.

Gelato

Japan

There are a few small food stands but Japan mainly has sit down restaurants. Japan definitely has the best shop. It is huge with all sorts of Japanese snacks, ceramics, and even anime stuff.

Morocco
There is great food and ambience in this section. It is so pretty. The hummus, pita, meats, and veggies are very delicious.

France

France is very picturesque with lots of cute shops and a great little bakery.

United Kingdom

The UK has a great little pub that serves fish and chips along with other British cuisine. There was a real Brit with me at Epcot and he even approved of the quality of the fish and chips. 

fish & chips

Scotch egg

Epcot also has an America and Canada section but I didn't really spend time in either.

HP Drinks

On vacation in Orlando I visited Universal's Islands of Adventure where the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located. I tried butterbeer and pumpkin juice there.

Butterbeer (left) and Pumpkin Juice (right)

Butterbeer

I am rather indifferent towards HP, I find LOTR to be much better. However, I was surprised by how much I liked butterbeer. Butterbeer tastes like cream soda topped with a thick and sweet butterscotch cream. It is sweet but just as sweet as any soda. They offer a unfrozen and frozen versions for $3.25 and $4.25 respectively. The unfrozen one is carbonated but I think the frozen one is better and less sweet. 

Pumpkin Juice

I thought I would like pumpkin juice more than butterbeer, but I wasn't a huge fan. It tasted like apple cider with extra pumpkin spice flavorings. I thought the pumpkin juice had too much added flavoring and I couldn't drink too much. You can get the pumpkin fizz too which is just a carbonated version of the juice.

Just a short post now, more to come about my time in Orlando...