Zach Bell, Yale University
After reading a positive Yale Daily News review of Pancho Café, I decided to try the new Mexican-Cajun restaurant for dinner. The Cajun side of the menu intrigued me, as I had never eaten New Haven’s interpretation of Louisiana soul. I ordered guacamole and the creole chicken, to balance Mexican with Cajun.
Filed under College Life, Food, Restaurants, Reviews, Yale, Zach B.
Zach Bell, Yale University
At Hearth, red felt hangings adorn the walls, softening noise and casting the restaurant in warm hues. Hearth transplants hearty Italian cuisine into the modern American kitchen, while trying to preserve the hospitality of the home. Even before I sat down to begin the meal, I noticed the walls. I found the felt curious, since other soundproofing materials would work just as well and more inconspicuously. The felt must have had some purpose beyond the practical.
Filed under New York City, Restaurants, Reviews, Yale, Zach B.
Zach Bell, Yale University
At Yale, restaurants don’t receive much attention. Sure, a new place will get a write-up in the Yale Daily News and a mention on a blog or two, but the audience is small. Yale Dining functions off of the feature that if a student lives on campus, they have to be on some form of dining plan, and these plans range between three options, unlimited meals, 21 meals a week and 14 meals a week. With such limited options (and limited access to kitchens in housing), there is an incentive to eat in the dining halls (of which there are many) pretty much all the time.
Filed under College Life, Food, New Haven, Restaurants, Reviews, Yale, Zach B.
Zach Bell, Yale University
From the thrill of the first pitch, to a royal flush, to that first instant of free fall, humans revel in the thrill of competition. We love the adrenaline high, that state of fluctuating power borne of our courage and prowess. Most associate thrill-seekers with extreme sports or danger, but with the growing industry of food tourism, some now get their adrenaline hits from food.
Filed under New Haven, Restaurants, Yale, Zach B.
Zach Bell, Yale University
When one has eighty pounds of peaches to use before they get too ripe, one has to use all the weapons in the arsenal. My first line of defense? Pie. Summer does not get much better than a fresh peach pie, so I decided to make good use of the glut of peaches in my house.
Filed under Food, Pics or it Didn't Happen, pie, Yale, Zach B.
Zach Bell, Yale University
Studying abroad in a small French town, population nine hundred, baking supplies were not easy to find. Despite the limitations, a few friends and I decided to bake enough pie to serve the twenty people involved in the program. This was a daunting, potentially disastrous, back to basics experiment.
Filed under College Life, pie, Travel, Yale, Zach B.
by Andrew Giambrone, Yale University
As someone of both Chinese and Italian heritage, the eggplant has always been a staple in my family’s cuisine, from stewed eggplant on my mother’s side to eggplant parmesan on my father’s. But even my relatives sometimes forget that eggplant, like the tomato, is actually a fruit; beneath its bitter taste and purple skin lie small, soft seeds. The fruit is capable of absorbing large amounts of cooking fats and sauces, which allows for very rich dishes. Hence, it’s no surprise that many restaurants try to compensate for the eggplant’s bitterness by dousing it in oil or sauce.
While visiting Yale for commencement this weekend, I ordered eggplant specials from two eateries in New Haven—Basil and Alpha Delta Pizza—which offer eggplant with garlic sauce ($7.95) and an eggplant version of the Wenzel ($8.95) respectively. Sadly, each prioritized oily sauces above fresh fruit and so fell short of the balance between bitter and sweet that I expect from eggplant dishes at home. Continue reading
Andrew G., Yale University
Call me un-American, but I have a weakness for all things French: French women, French literature, and—bien sûr—French cuisine. So, when a friend who attends Columbia University suggested that we dine at a nearby eatery called Crêpes on Columbus, my Francophilic senses were tingling. The café-style restaurant boasts a selection of savory and sweet crêpes as well as sandwiches, salads, omelets and other breakfast items (served all day). Though I can’t claim that these were the best crêpes I’ve ever eaten, the restaurant’s strength lies in its versatility; whether you’re seeking a morning-pick-me-up to start your day or a late night snack to keep you going, Crêpes on Columbus has something on its menu for you. Continue reading
Filed under Andrew G., Columbia University, New York City, Restaurants, Reviews, Yale
Zach B., Yale University
From the outside, Patricia’s Restaurant doesn’t look like much. In fact, it doesn’t look much better on the inside, sporting a few worn booths and a tiny kitchen that looks like it had once been a storage closet. Patricia’s is the paradigm of the greasy spoon diner, simple accommodations and honest food for a low price. (Pictures after the jump)
Filed under College Life, New Haven, Restaurants, Reviews, Yale, Zach B.
Zach B., Yale University
In a college town, restaurants have to find a niche market. An establishment often has to choose between quick, low price meals for the college student on a budget, and more expensive long service meals for a special night out or for professors and residents of the surrounding area. Oaxaca Kitchen, a new restaurant near Yale, tries to capture both demographics, with relatively pricier options and an extensive bar facing off against casual Mexican fare. As a result, the food fails to find its voice.
Filed under New Haven, Restaurants, Reviews, Yale, Zach B.
