The Girl Who Ate Everything

Blogging about food and whatever since 2004.

Max Brenner, Shopsin's, Mamoun's, Galanga

Max Brenner
chocolate inside!

He's bald. He makes chocolate. He's...MAX BRENNER, HOLY SHIZZ!

...Wait, wuh? I didn't know much about the Israeli chocolatier (besides that he's bald and makes chocolates) until he opened one of his combination store-and-cafe chocolate-filled wonderlands in NYC. Yesterday Jason and I checked it out. For dinner. It's okay to eat chocolate-based goods as a meal if you're on vacation. And perhaps if you fast for the following few days.

more seating
chocolatey feeling

Max Brenner is mainly a large restaurant space with a small shop in the front by the entrance. "Chocolate" pipes run overheard (much more appealing than, say, sewagey pipes...although labeling them as chocolate would be a good disguise, eh?) and behind my seat were stacks of ginormous regular and white chocolate blocks. You know, stuff you could build chocolate pyramids out of, although I don't think that's what they're for.

menus
menus

You're given two menus: one with the sweets, one without. Gee, which one will you order from? I guess if people want something non-sweet like a sandwich to go with their chocolate cake, it's nice to have the option. Perhaps balance out that blood sugar level. But surely none of YOU would be so foolish. The dessert menu is gigantic-er and filled with food porn as opposed to the one-sheet words-only "regular stuff" menu for a reason; you're supposed to order dessert. (Jason simply states that ordering the savory food at a chocolate bar would be blasphemous.) Max Brenner must be one of the few places where the dessert menu overshadows the regular menu by a few gazillion calories.

Sharing (tasting for two, part 1)
fondooo

After mulling over the huge menu for way too long, we took the easy way out by ordering the variety dish for two (aka "the thing you order when you're indecisive"). We were first presented with the "chocolate fondue with marshmallows and fresh fruit" portion. Instead of a regular fondue pot, the set came with a miniature three-tier bain marie-eque thing, Max Brenner style. The fondue bowls were presented on what resembled a wooden sushi board.

Sharing (tasting for two, part two)
part 2

The other part of our tasting was less straightforward. Fondue: impale things with thin metal skewers, bathe impaled thing in chocolate goo, maneuver chocolate coated foodstuff into mouth without getting liquified chocolate all over your face. Tasting plate: huh, what is this? If I had memorized the menu, I would've known to expect "crunchy chocolate cream snack, popping candies chocolate lick, warm banana split waffles, chocolate-covered ice cream." Or not. Here's my rundown of stuff:

  • Chocolate cream snack (rectangular thing on the left side behind the whipped cream): two-layer praline hazelnut ganache thing. Maybe. Smooth, sweet, yummy.
  • Popping candies (left-most shot glass): Pop rocks piled on top of chocolate sauce; why didn't I think of that? It's a yummy combination, although not something that I'd be dying to eat again. For one thing, it's troublesome to eat without spoons. WE GOT NO SPOONS. Could we have gotten them if we asked? Probably. But...whatever. We attacked it with our forks, which initially worked since there was more poppin' rock action than liquidy chocolate and forks are made to handle non-liquidy things. Later when there was more liquid than solid, we ended up with...forks dipped in chocolate. Oops. Maybe we were supposed to gulp it back in one go like a real shot, although this chocolate version is porentially more dangerous.
  • Warm banana slip waffles: Jason and I agreed that this was the best thing on the plate, which was kind of ironic since it wasn't chocolate-based. A soft, fluffy waffle topped with toffee glazed banana slices, drizzled with the beaker of chocolate sauce. Once of the nicest waffles I've had.
  • Chocolate covered ice-cream: Another awkward thing to eat. The hard chocolate shell was too thick to easily crack though, leading me to stab it with my fork. Repeatedly. I thought the ice cream was disappointing texture-wise; not creamy enough. Also. the scoop was just so tiny! It wasn't even a baby scoop, more like a preemie scoop.

We found eating off one big plate to be rather awkward. This was probably another instance where we could've gotten something (extra plates) if we asked for them, but shouldn't these things be automatic? Because there are two people? Especially if they don't want chocolate goo dripped on the table? Which is what I did? Oops?

The fondue was fine, but I don't know how to rate fondue as I'm not enthralled with the idea of dipping things into chocolate. If I had to choose between eating a plain strawberry or a chocolate covered strawberry, I'd rather have plain. To me, the combination of fresh fruit and chocolate (I treat dried fruit differently) ends up with a clash of flavors in which the chocolate is watered down and the fruit tastes slightly chocolatey in a weird way. But that's just me! Lala!

Overall, the desserts were good, but unimpressive for what I was expecting. Shock! Horror! I'm usually so easily pleased! If not for the cool environment and serving ware (chocolate beaker, cute S&P shakers, etc), it would be more disappointing. Chocolate lovers should obviously check it out, but if you want the sharing platter for two, demand spoons. And plates. If you're not a giant chocolate lover and just happen to have $12 to blow on a dessert, go to Blue Ribbon Bakery and bury your head into one of these babies.

Our server was very friendly and gave us adequate attention. It was all good...until he gave us the check and kinda hovered right next to our table as we talked about how we were splitting the check and pulled bills our of our wallets. Um. Awkward.

And now for your photo splodge! (Click on the photos for moooore action.)

another view trufflebaked goods cookies Drink Me chocolate pieces
chocolate...everywhere...oh my god get it off me!

If anyone knows what rare element the $6.50 cookies are laced with, let me know.

Tisserie
Tisserie

After checking out Max Brenner's store, we...er, ate some more. Just a little more! It's not my fault that Tisserie was nearby and I still hadn't sampled any of their goods.

brownie
brownie

Keeping with the chocolate theme, our eyes focused on the large walnut brownie. Oooooh. But alas, like Max Brenner we would be presented with seemingly overpriced, not quite good enough food in a nice enviroment. Doesn't the brownie look dense, chewy, and fudgy? How could be know that it was actually a facade for the lack of density, chewiness, and fudginess? It was strangely light and had a tender crumb, although not in a cake-like way. It kinda just...melted in your mouth. If the dessert were nameless and I had eaten it blindfolded, I would've thought it was fine. However, the unfulfilled expectation of brownie sensations is what made Jason and I cry foul.

Ah well, we still ate the whole thing.

This entry is oddly negative so far. If you think that I ate the "wrong" things, give me suggestions! :) Maybe I should've gotten what Julie ate. Doh.

Cinema Village
movie time

After parting with Jason so he could return to the dephs of New Jersey, I watched I Like Killing Flies with Janet and Youngna (after they ate at Pio Maya, review at Gothamist). The documentary follows the Shopsins (primarily Kenny, the eccentric foul-mouthed head of the restaurant/family/chef/the world) in their original, tiny Greenwich Village location before moving to...another larger Greewich Village location. (What's up with them now? Selling their space? Noooo! Ooo! Eee! Ahhh! Horrors! There were so many things left on their menu that I had to eat!) I have no idea how Kenny pumped out a seemingly impossible of array of items from his tiny kitchen; it must be what he was born to do. For a great profile about Shopsin's, read Calvin Trillin's essay in the New Yorker.

Overall, I liked the documentary except for the camera shake that accompanies low budget productions such as this one. Shakey camera = nausea = shakey Robyn. One of my favorite parts of the film was Kenny's closing bit of wisdom: all people are shit. Or something to that effect. Hey, that's my philosophy!...with slightly more colorful language. He equated the belief in thinking one is totally awesome and good (not his exact words, but something like that) to having a new, pristine car. With age the car will inevitably get scratched and messed up. Just like you! The future is lookin' bright.

I'm quite happy about my impending doom.

lunch
your mouth shouldn't water

On a totally random note, I think I've eaten homemade basil and mozzerella sandwiches (plus a splosh of olive oil and balsami vinegar) once a day for four days in a row. Why? I like basil and mozzerella sandwiches. This is as close to "home cooked" I've gotten all week. The above photo was taken outside NYU's Kimmel Center (general student center with many couches that are most useful for napping) on the second floor terrace that looks towards Washington Square Park. A bunch of people must've been pissed when their view of the park became blocked by the student center, which was built just a few years ago. OH WELL.

cheap greenwich village eats

Mamoun's
Mamoun's Falafel

Mamoun's Falafel is a well known cheap eat among NYU students and other people who may or may not be broke. The hole in the wall is most well known for its falafel, but more so because it's cheap, not because it screams awesomness.

falafel plate
falafel plate

Not that there's anything wrong with the falafels. I tried the falafel sandwich ($2) once during my first semester and thought it was okay, just not good enough for me to buy again. John ordered the falafel platter ($5), which came with six falafels surrounding a salady stuff (...do I really need to describe what's in the photo?) doused a thin, tangy, yogurt sauce and two pitas.

lamb shwarma
lamb shwarma

I went with a shwarma sandwich ($4), consisting of half chopped up roasted lamb and half all-purpose salady stuff. And it was half good, half okay. Or maybe 65% good and 35% okay. When the lamb bits were done right (not that I know what "right" is; I'm just assuming it's the opposite of "wrong", which I'll get to in a sec), they were damn tasty. Slightly crispy, tender, flavorful bits of lamb meat whose protein has been denatured by the means of slow roasting on a ginormous skewer for optimum tastiness. The "wrong" bits were small slabs of fat that would bring the formerly enjoyable lamb munching experience to a halt. Slab-o-not-so-flavorful-fat = road block to higher level of palatability. I did enjoy it overall though and it consituted a satisfying lunch.

HOT DOG!
HOT DOG

I slunk in the background of Gray's Papaya while taking photos as but John procured liquid refreshment (not so surprisingly, they have a papaya drink).

cute signs
best hot dog everrrr?
holy crap that's a lot of dogs
hot dog army

Would the "p�lser"-loving Norwegians enjoy Gray's Papaya? :) I mean to try it someday (after having passed it innuerable times), but I'm never in the mood for hot dogs. Oh well.

DSCN0300 DSCN0299
Taiwanese style

On a related note, one of my blog readers Hong-Ming contributed these photos of hot dog-centric baked goods from Taiwan. Oh, crazy Chinese bakeries...I love you. So damn tasty.

Galanga gave me noods

interior
Galanga

Thai restaurant Galanga is one of those places (one of many places) that I've passed a gazillion times yet have never tried. On Tuesday I finally tried it for lunch with co-workers Tony and Hoan.

soup salad
soup or salad?

Each item on the lunch menu includes a soup or salad. And...there they are. Onto the real food.

drunken noodle
drunken noodle

I went for the spiciest item on the menu, "drunken noodle". I'm not sure what makes it drunken, but the menu description, "Thai street style hot & spicy wide rice noodle with chili pepper, bell pepper, Chinese broccoli & fresh basil," informs us that it is "street style". Maybe the style of the street is to make noodles while drunk. Or maybe it means nothing at all and they just wanted a title catchier than "spiciest-thing-on-the-menu noodles". Thick, chewy, wide rice noodles (chow fun) are one of my most favorite foods in the universe. The drunken noodle version came with generous amounts of vegetables (since I chose the vegetable version; otherwise I guess it would have meat cunks), a lot of basil goodness, and enough spiciness to get the mucus (and some tears) a-flowing. It may not look like a lot in the photo, but the portion was very filling to the point that I couldn't eat it all even though I wanted to. I hate those dilemmas.

grilled pork thing
grilled pork
pad thai
pad thai with vegetarian duck

Hoan's tender grilled pork came atop sweetened Jasmine rice. Mmmmm, tasty combo. I wasn't a big fan of the vegetarian duck in Tony's pad thai (my proposed name that no one would ever use: "brown-chunks-o-soy-protein-based-somethin'"), but the rest was good.

Galanga
Galanga

If you've ever near Galanga, it's a satisfying and quick "under $10" lunch option. Rob prefers Klong, which I have yet to visit.

(On a random note, Hoan and Tony said that the waitresses were looking at me funnily while I was taking photos. I wouldn't be surprised if this usually happens and I just don't notice. As long as no one stops me, then I don't really care! Woohoo!)

google time

Max Brenner
841 Broadway
New York, NY 10003

Tisserie
857 Broadway
New York, NY 10003

Mamoun's Falafel
119 MacDougal St
New York, NY 10012

Gray's Papaya
402 6th Ave
New York, NY 10011

Galanga
149 W 4th St
New York, NY 10012

randomness

Once again, thank you to the gazillionth power for contributing to my website fund. It's hard for me to believe that people could be so generous, especially when I acknowledge that I don't desperately need the money (but maybe I will soon since I won't have a job in Paris). It's heartwarming to see that so many people are willing to sustain the well-being of my websites. :) To give some more information (because you deserve it), I don't intend to get my new hosting plan until next year when my current one runs out; I only set up this fund now since it's my birthday month. My history with webhosts has been sketchy (four hosts in five years with some blog data lost on the way...which might not be such a bad thing), so I'm set on finding my webhost knight in shining armor that I won't hate after a year even when things seemed so peachy and dreamy at first. Media Temple and Dreamhost are my top picks as found through reputable websites that I like. Still haven't decided what to go with.


Check out Nick's blog, 365 Days of Beer, for a explosion of JAPANESE CRAZINESS. If the title didn't already give it away, his blog is mainly about beer. BUT! He also talks about other things.

holy shizz
katsu heaven

I really want to go to Japan, but a part of me fears that in a land that paradoxically teems with the most delicious foods in the world eaten by some of the slimmest people in the world, I will become that whale-esque American that everyone will point and laugh at as a horror from the gluttonous West...not to my face, of course, because that's rude.

Japan! JAPAN! WHYYYYY? YOUUU! TASTY!? GRAMMAR NONEXISTENT.


Selection of vegan ice cream at the 2006 Pitchfork Music Festival (by Temptation) almost looks unreal. I have a feeling the chocolate isn't "local", but maybe the peaches and starwberries are grown in...someone's backyard. Organically. This makes me feel bad because I am a big fan of things with creamy, fat filled moo juice and am far, faaar away from being a vegan despite learning about all the horrors of meat and watching that nice video of a meat factory worker slicing down the belly of a cow and pulling out its entrails.

I GUESS I HATE ANIMALS WITH A BURNIN' PASSION. But I do love ice cream.


I rate this entry: "not enough humor."

Comments

mzn / August 5, 2006 8:38 AM

Holy shizz! "Not enough humor"?!?!?

I was wondering why you kept saying that that dude is bald until I noticed the "chocolate by the bald man" sign. Does baldness create a desire for chocolate?

The tangy stuff on your falaf should be tahini=sesame seed paste+lemon juice+water. Oooh.

ParisBreakfasts / August 5, 2006 8:58 AM

Where have I been? I'm very late to this wonderful party-so much to chew on..Thanks for all the depth & delish photos & & & I could stay here all day & reread...damn have to get to work :P
Thanks again PB

Michelle / August 5, 2006 9:25 AM

Max Brenner has been in Melbourne for almost three years now, and personally, I think it's over rated. Ok... they might be using good quality chocolates, but really, their desserts are soso, and there's so many other good dessert places in Melbourne. I guess it's the concept that has people hooked on it. I mean, LOOK AT THEIR CUTE "DRINK ME" CUPS WITH HOLES FOR STRAWS!!! and the other one...the ones that keep ur hands warm whilst ur drinking the hot chocolate...cute...

There's another chocolate-orgy shop called Koko Black in Melbourne...apparently more ex, more yummy, and possibly more over-hyped than Max Brenner. I want to try it.

Adalmin / August 5, 2006 9:30 AM

All that gorgeous food crashed my computer! And it takes a lot of gorgeous food to crash a Mac! And yet, I am not angry!! WHY??!?!?!

Chocolate makes me shouty.

Dina / August 5, 2006 10:00 AM

I'm not a big fan of chocolate covered strawberries either. I think the chocolate makes the strawberries taste too sour.

The only fruit I like mixed with chocolate is blueberry. The blueberries are sweet enough so you don't get that watered down chocolate-sour fruit taste.

And dried fruits with chocolate are okay.

We're coming to visit in November and were thinking of going to Max Brenner's. We'll definitely not order what you ordered.

But I'll be interested to hear if you go back. If I start hearing every item on the menu is as mediocre....we'll skip the place. Not that I expect you to go there and try everything for us. Especially since I haven't contributed to your fund yet (am planning on it....just waiting for a paypal code???? ) But maybe other people will go....will be lurking among the blog world. Searching for Max Brenner customers.

By the way, I totally use your website to plan our trips. You need to write a NYC guidebook.

Tychen / August 5, 2006 12:19 PM

My friends have been asking me to go to Max Brenner's too, and I have yet to go. I will definitely note the warm banana slip waffles. yum yum.

I was at Taiwan last summer and all the bread there is amazing. I have some pictures of it...perhaps I'll post it on Flikr sometime.

It's incredible how crazy those asians can get with their bread. I cannot get myself away from it all...

hxy / August 5, 2006 12:41 PM

oh yes, Japan is food heaven!
went Tokyo on a work trip a few years back, must have gained a couple inches at the waist at the end of the few weeks ;)

Cat / August 5, 2006 2:55 PM

The best Thai I have had in the city, is in Billyburg, Brooklyn at Planet Thailand. My favorite chocolatier is still Jaques Torres in BK. If you haven't been to the orginal shop and then to Almondine (His bakery with his Partner) you really must try it, they are both very accesible via the F, and whilst your over there go to grimaldi's pizza for some very good pie.

tokyorosa / August 5, 2006 3:34 PM

Mmmm...gained 26 pounds in a year in Tokyo--but for a short visit, you'd be fine!!

I think most people gain a lot when they drink (as the Japanese seem to love to do), but the food? To die for....

Annie / August 5, 2006 5:31 PM

Calvin Trillin wrote that the only true measure of whether or not food is good, is if it tastes good (and, to an extent, looks good). So what if you don't have the genuine Mediterranean fish for your bouillabaisse--does it taste good? Then it is good! By the same token, if you don't like something, it is NOT good. Some food writers (I can send you a list) prize food on its authenticity, which is like prizing a restaurant on its hipness. Those are legitimate points, but they have nothing to do with food goodness.

My point is that if you don't like something (and especially if other people agree with you), it's not good food.

Please keep this honest point of view with you when you go to Paris, and we'll probably see a few examples of "The Emperor's New Clothes".

Michelle v2 / August 5, 2006 7:49 PM

I thought I must have posted a comment in my sleep, but I guess there's just another Michelle in Melbourne! Not so inconceivable really, I guess!

Koko Black (the one in Lygon Street, never been able to get a seat at the one in the city) is just okay, in my opinion. Overpriced, and they don't stock soy milk (in Lygon Street!). The place a few doors down with Mexican hot chocolate is the place to go!

Kathy / August 5, 2006 9:05 PM

Oh, oh you make me envious! They closest I've come to Max Brenner's is reading Chowhound posts, lol! Food porn, indeed. I remember many falafel visits to Mamoun's - oddly enough they only tasted good to me at night when I couldn't see the mismash of yogurt sauce over everything. But then I discovered pizza bianca. And that changed everything :)

Nico / August 5, 2006 9:24 PM

I've no idea what happened in Japan, but without even trying i lost approximately 10kg in one year. And it's not like I was being careful about what I ate--quite the opposite, I stuffed myself silly with Japanese yummy goodness.

cybele / August 5, 2006 11:03 PM

I'm sooo glad you got to go to Max Brenner. I'm very curious and will probably make a point of going next time I'm in NY, no matter what the critics say (but hopefully folks will have worked out the good & bad concensus).

Fantastic photos, as usual!

Annie - love your points ... I too agree, especially when people criticize my affection for certain Thai or Indian restaurants that they snub as not being "authentic" enough. Who cares? The food is fresh and tasty!

Janice / August 6, 2006 12:14 AM

OH MY FREAKING COW... So much goodness of choco things... and other food shtuff. YUM!

I always get weird looks when taking pictures. Heck, I get weird looks all the time. So I guess I'm just used to it! When are you going to Paris? My friend lived on baguettes and chocolate for four months there. Nice eh?

roboppy / August 6, 2006 12:52 AM

Ahh god I'm too slow today. :O

suze: I didn't try any drinks (wanted to either eat or drink chocolate...and I chose eating), but next time perhaps?

mzn: I was disappointed with the humor level when I read it over. But ye know..too lazy to do much about it. BWAHAH!

I gues the baldness thing is very defining for him. "CHOCOLATE BY THE BALD MAN." Can't forget it.

Thanks for the sauce definition. Or equation, rather.

PB: You can join the party now! Woo!

Michelle: The concept is what would make me go back. The...chocolate OVERLOAD! Mmm! But I already have favorite dessert places and Max Brenner's prices are rather prohibitory. :\

I'd want to try Koko too!

Adalmin: SHOUTY! YES! You've pumped with food powah.

[pets your mac] Yipes.

Dina: I'm not a big fan of..strawberries, actually. I hope it doesn't make me too snobby to think that the only really good strawberries are fresh from a farm, warm from the sun, delicious from..um..small farm-ness. I didn't think this until I actually got freshly picked starwberries and thought they were some of the best things I've ever eaten in my life. Egaaad.

Oo, you'll have fun when you come here. The chocolate show is in November I think?...in case that coincides with your trip. I'd think by then Max Brenner will be better, or maybe i just didn't order the right thing. :\

You don't have to worry about contributing; I'm all set! Wee! :)

I hope my website steers you in the right direction!

Tychen: My friend who went to Taiwan over winter break smuggled some taro bread back for me! ;D SO GOOOD. Asians are crazy about their bread. Awesome.

hxy: I feel so silly for not being into food when I had visited Japan. I just went to Disneyland and temples and stuff. Rawr!

Cat: I haven't been to the original JT. Boo on me! Oh, today I went to the one in Soho and while I was telling my friend that there were two JTs, the cashier said, "So far..." with a smile. ;D I only went to Grimaldi's once, but I loved it! Must go back.

tokyorosa: 26 pounds..oh my god I'd cry! .__. Although I did gain about that much since...uh, dieting and not dieting. Oops.

I don't drink! SWEET JESUS! Maybe I'll be alright.

Annie: Ahh, I love that Calvin. Rating food is so subjective. I like a lot of things, but I don't know if they're done "right". Maybe it's for the best that I'm not well aware of what's authentic or how things were originally prepared in a certain place at a certain point in history, blah blah.

Oh god, I'll probably get it all "wrong" in Paris. BUT WHATEVER! :)

Michelle number 2! Oh, not so good? I've never had Mexican hot chocolate...need...to get it. Actually I have blocks of mexican chocolate meant for making hot chocolate, but I never made them into drinks. I just...ate the blocks. [cough]

Nico: 10 kg...wow. I'd hope there was some exercise involved? ;) I have a feeling stuffing myself silly will not end well for me.

cybele: Of course, YOU should try Max Brenner. ;D I wonder what's in the cookies though. Something magical and expensive.

I dunno what authentic Thai or Indian food is, but most of the Thai and Indian food I eat is mega tasty. However, I would like to go to Thailand or India someday..FOR FOODS.

Janice: I get weird looks too! In general!

I'm leaving on September 1st, and to answer the question I get a lot, I'M NOT PREPARED YET. UHH. I should at least get some kind of guide to common french phrases. Baguettes and chocs sound good to me.

ann / August 6, 2006 10:23 AM

drunken noodles, from what i understand, are supposed to be so hot that you're going to drink so much beer that you're going to hecome drunken
i've yet to find a thai place who's drunkman noodles (another name for them) can stand up to this claim
to them i say: bring it on!
max brenner: a place i will stay away from
chocolate should not be quite so mucked about with...

Cat / August 6, 2006 11:13 PM

Were you at the Chelsea Market on Saturday, outside Sarabeth's? I swear I saw you, But I wasn't sure, so I didn't say anything.

Mila / August 7, 2006 3:08 AM

Max Brenner opened two years ago in Manila and it was all the 15 minute bit of fame rage, then has slowly become one of the few quiet spaces in this overly noisy city. I like the suckao, dark chocolate heated over a warmer, like a diffuser. The brownies aren't that good though and have not found the muffins to be worth going back for. Sometimes I try their savory meals, but think it's overpriced. I go just for chocolate.

Cathy / August 7, 2006 8:04 AM

Robyn your site always cracks me up. :) I don't think I would ever eat a $6.50 cookie no matter how good it looked. Think of all the other things you could buy for $6.50: A matinee movie ticket, a pair of jeans and t-shirt at the thrift store, two half-gallons of premium ice cream (the good stuff, not the store brand), two boxes of girl scout cookies... Anyways, I think cookies are a rather simple baked good and if most people can make it themselves then it's pretty arrogant to think someone would pay $6.50 to eat one of yours. Why is this bothering me so much? I don't know.

ParisBreakfasts / August 7, 2006 9:15 AM

I went into Max's saturday night just to have a look around-it was MOBBED! But I can't say I was bowled over :( I didn't like the phoney model displays liek they KNEW you were going to take their chocolate. The food looked excessive but not captivating to me. And of the order of your old fashioned sundae style joint. Not the high-end chocolate of La Maison..hmmm Lots of milk chocolate was my impression and the prices were ridiculous. I will go back and taste something but reluctantly.

JULIA / August 7, 2006 2:45 PM

WOW! MAX BRENNER IS VERY IMPRESSIVE...!
YOU'VE GOT ME ALL MOUTH-WATERING, HERE BEHIND MY COMP.
JUST DISCOVERED YOUR BLOG AND REALLY LOVE IT! VERY, VERY MANY DELICIOUS THINGS :) BECAME A REGULAR.
HAVE ALSO JUST STARTED MY OWN BLOG... HOPE YOU'LL CHECK IT SOMETIMES!

roboppy / August 7, 2006 5:19 PM

Ann: That makes sense. The menu actually rated spiciness with glasses (I would've expected chiles/peppers, hehe) and the thing I got had three glasses. If I could make a spiciness rating, I'd use tissues, as in, "THIS IS HOW MUCH MUCUS YOU WILL EXPELL."

Cat spotted me at Chelsea Market! :O If anyone else spots me, say hi!

Mila: Ah, this suckao thing sounds like a winner. In the winter I'll feel like drinking hot chocolate. :)

Cathy: The $6.50 cookie befuddles everyone I mention it to! :O We figure it has crack in it or something.

PB: Whoa, mobbed? I guess I went during chocolate downtime, hehe. The environment is nice, fun and not stuffy, but the prices are kind of prohibitive. Despite that, I'll probably go back too. DAMN CHOCOLATE, why so tasty?

Julia: Don't get any drool on your keyboard! ;) Thanks for stopping by!

Garrett: Thanks! I AIM TO PLEEASE.

tulips / August 7, 2006 5:23 PM

Just wanted to say I've enjoyed reading your blog for a few months now. I don't know how you eat out so much and stay skinny - I'm jealous! I live in San Francisco, a fabulous foodie town, and I'm fat. :P It's hard not to be! Come visit sometime - the food will please and amaze you. :)

Also, I host with Dreamhost, and what they offer for the price is unbeatable. Huge amounts of storage and transfer can be yours for under $20/mo. They are way great, and I dig 'em. I don't get anything for telling you this, just wanted to let you know there are happy Dh customers among your readers.

Love your photos and reviews - keep it up!

roboppy / August 8, 2006 2:43 PM

tulips: Ohhhhmmm I'm not skinny. :[ I've constantly straddled the line between "not fat" and "kinda fat"...like chubby, but not really. MY ARMS JIGGLE TOO MUCH [jigjig].

I would LOVE to vsit SF! Crazy food ye got there. Lori made a bunch of posts about SF and they made me seeethe with...sugary jealousy! (As though her regular posts don't already do that to me.)

Thanks for letting me know about Dreamhost! I've heard mainly good things and a few "OMG IT SUCKS" remarks, but dreamhost sounds very good at the moment.

Nick: Oh yes, the Japanese genes. DAMN YOU.

lori / August 9, 2006 5:50 AM

We have a Max Brenner here in Manila too. It's hoity-toity expensive and not worth it since I can melt down some chocolate and drink it from a mug too. But they do put on a "good show," if you know what I mean.

BTW Rob, the bakery photos of yours in this post are enough to send my flu-addled brain looking for a carbo-load!

kj / August 9, 2006 12:52 PM

Regarding Tisserie, my new FAVORITE bakery in all of NYC, I think probably the brownie is the only thing I would have told you NOT to pick. Their background is French/Venezuelan, and so american style treats aren't their calling (notice they have no cupcakes, no cookies)..HOWEVER, go in the early evening and get their unbelieveable, to DIE for dark chocolate streusel tart (which looks just like it sounds)- HOly God. Nirvana. And there is NO ONE in the city who can match their touch with pastry- their chocolate croissant is hands down my favorite in New York, and perhaps, ever. Perfect chocolate to pastry ration, lovely light/crispy pastry, and perfect chocolate- not too dry, and not too puddinglike/smooshy like a lot of delis have. WONDERFUL.

kt / November 29, 2007 4:39 AM

the vegan ice cream at pitchfork was totally yummus. i had strawberry and then had the orange cream at lollapalooza. again, yummus.

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