The New Jersey Foodhound™

Hell's Kitchen has no shortage of places to find a quick lunch, the trick is finding one with good food that breaks the typical mold of catering to the hot-table zombies. Luckily, Sophie's Cuban is here to break the monotony of the everyday routine with time-tested, delicious Cuban classics. The Grub: Sophie's is a great grab-and-go eatery obviously specializing in Cuban cuisine. Their offerings include some of the well-known classics like roast pork, fried chicken cutlets, baked chicken, and pork-chops with onions which are also their most popular dishes. I would also suggest giving their spicy grilled chicken and shredded beef stew a try, though quite honestly - you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu here. When you order, you are asked to pick an entree and 3 sides - which, in and of themselves could make a meal for most. Again, no wrong choices with the side dishes, but I would suggest some Moro rice, black beans (unless you are gluten-free like ...

There are a lot of places to find a bagel on Staten Island, but I'm going to be honest - most of them aren't very good. Of course that's just my opinion, but I spent a great deal of time visiting over 30 shops and the best of the best by far is Hot Bagels & More . The Grub: Hot Bagels & More is your average NY/NJ deli establishment with a number of breakfast and lunch options you would typically find at any deli. What really separates them though is their bagels and bialys made in-house. Again, these are by far the best iteration of each I was able to find on the island. The dough consistency, bite, crunch and texture are 100% on-point when compared to a number of the more bread-like or improperly baked bagels available on SI. I highly suggest an Everything bagel with cream cheese, or my personal favorite, a bialy with butter (according to wikipedia:  Bialy, a Yiddish word short for biały or bialystoker kuchen, from the city of Białystok in Poland, is a small...

In and around my area there just so happen to be quite a few spots to grab high-quality ramen. Blackbeard Ramen in Cliffside Park is one of those - and if you find yourself in the area I highly recommend a trip!  The Grub:  Would it shock you to hear that the featured cuisine at Blackbeard is, in fact, ramen noodle soup? It certainly shouldn't! Blackbeard doesn't have what one would call an "extensive" menu by any means, but then again the ramen is so good you really wouldn't them to focus on anything else. They have four soup options on the menu : Tonkotsu (pork broth), Tonkotsu Gyokai (pork/dashi broth), Miso (pork broth/miso), and Green Curry (pork/fish broth with a Thai twist). Pick whatever fits your mood when you sit down and get ready for a good meal. If you think you need a starter or something on the side, I would suggest trying the Cha-Don rice bowl with chashu pork - always a welcome addition if I'm feeling extra hungry! My Order: Miso R...

A few years ago my girlfriend was diagnosed with a fairly serious egg allergy, which spurned a diligent search around NYC for vegan friendly baked goods. Since there are very few restaurants and eateries that serve food based on an allergy-friendly basis, vegan food seemed like the closest analog that offered what we were looking for. Our search lead us to the dead center of Manhattan, to a little food stall inside the PENNSY food hall (adjacent to Penn Station and MSG) known as The Cinnamon Snail . The Grub: I think first it's important to mention that The Cinnamon Snail has more than just vegan baked goods. They also offer a menu of fully vegan lunch/dinner options in short-order fashion - sandwiches or 'samiches' like the Basil Grilled Tofu Banh Mi and the Mushroom Red Quinoa Meatball Sub seem to be quite popular. Also offered is a selection of meatless burgers like the Beastmode Burger Deluxe and Smoked Sage Seitan Burger both of which I haven't tried...

On a recent trip to London, it was one of my personal goals to find a gluten free Indian restaurant - Chicken Tikka being one of the unofficial national dishes, it seemed a must-eat. My search brought me to a lovely restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden aptly named, Masala Zone . While the name may not be as "classy" as some of the other establishments, the food, ambiance, and service all exceeded my expectations by a long shot. The Grub: It should come as no surprise that a restaurant called Masala Zone serves Indian food, what is surprising was just how amazing it was. On offer are a number of traditional Indian classics as well as unique spins on old favorites that made me wish I had the time (and ability) to try them all. As I was waiting to order, a quick scan of the other patron's tables clued me into the popularity of the Thali (an Indian-style meal made up of different dishes served on a platter) which is comprised of a main dish along with a selection o...

For generations, denizens of the Five Boroughs have started their day with the humble, tasty, ubiquitous ring of dough known as the bagel. And for just as long, the very same New York natives have been debating where the best examples can be found. I can't claim that the debate is settled, nor can I guarantee that it will ever be, but what I can say is if you want a damn good bagel - get yourself to Black Seed in Nolita (or any of their 7 locations) pronto. The Grub: Black Seed's bagels are honestly some of the best I've ever had. They take great care in making what seems a very simple baked item, and you can definitely taste the difference against any run-of-the-mill bagel slinger. As accompaniments, traditional butter and cream cheese is offered - but their bagels also serve as the foundation for a number of delicious Egg 'n' Cheese sandwiches like The Hampton (beef sausage, egg and cheese), The Leo (Salmon, egg, cream cheese and sauteed onions), or for t...

Down-home Southern baking may be one of the last things that comes to mind when thinking about New York City. Even so, there are a few hidden spots where a home-sick Southerner or curious foodie can find authentic pastries and the like. One such location is Donna Bell's Bake Shop , tucked under the World Wide Plaza building on 49th St. in Midtown. The Grub: If you have ever found yourself in the mood for a fresh buttermilk biscuit then look no further than Donna Bell's . They typically have a variety: plain buttermilk, cheddar, ham and Swiss - lots of creative and absolutely delicious choices to be had here. Want something a little sweeter? They've got you covered! Cookies, cupcakes, scones, muffins, cakes are all available but their flavors change very regularly (sometimes daily!) so be sure to stop in often for something new! Keep in mind that they are a very small shop, so things can sell out very quickly. While you're getting something to eat, you may as we...