A Taste of My Travels: Spencer Makenzie’s Fish Co in Ventura, CA

Pockets of Love, and Ahi

I know I have been terrible about updating in the past few months, but my life has been slightly nomadic.  Almost immediately after graduating from NYU in December, I embarked on the first of a series of exciting journeys around the world; I spent January and February backpacking through Australia and New Zealand, which was unbelievably fun.  Since returning to the States, I’ve been making quite a few trips domestically.  Most recently, I spent time in San Francisco, Ventura, Denver and Austin.  I’m passionate about traveling for a lot of reasons, but succumbing to gluttony trying new foods/restaurants is undoubtedly one of my favorite parts.  Suffice it to say, I have eaten supremely well in essentially every city I’ve visited in these past couple of months.  Oddly enough, one of my most memorable and delectable meals was in perhaps one of the more unlikely places–in adorable Ventura, California.

Shrimp Wontons with extra Fire Sauce!

Spencer Makenzie’s Fish Company is the kind of place you dream about while watching Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  The little shack’s divey, unassuming exterior may not reveal it, but Spencer Makenzie’s has some of the freshest and most delicious seafood ever.  Best part?  It’s ridiculously cheap.  While pretty much everything on the menu can be categorized as yummy and budget-friendly, the Ahi Pockets are a revelation.  The Ahi Pocket consists of a mildly sweet tofu pocket stuffed with sushi rice, topped with “Dynamite” sauce & blackened Ahi tuna.  The pockets are $3.25 a piece, although it would be foolish not to get two of them–not because they aren’t filling, but because they’re too good and too cheap not to (YOLO).  The Wontons, which are $5, are also rad city.  These little puppies are filled with shrimp and cream cheese, and topped with a sweet and spicy sauce. I suggest getting extra Fire Sauce, because it is spicy, sensational and tastes good on just about anything.  Ventura may be small, but it is a powerhouse when it comes to cheap, awesome food.

If you ever get the chance, Ventura is only about an hour away from LA, and is well worth visiting.  If not for the beautiful beaches or cozy antique/vintage store-packed downtown, then at least for the superior budget eats.  Lucky for me, I’ve got a sister and a canine nephew calling me back there, so my next Ahi Pocket is always just a few months away!

http://www.smfishco.com/ 

My gorgeous nephew, Shark

To Cure a Hangover: Williamsburg Edition

We’ve all been there.  Sometimes you have a little too much fun, and the next morning all you need is a perfect hangover cure.  Manhattan is literally overflowing with greasy, eggy and cheesy hangover helpers, but my faves are definitely in Williamsburg.  From the East Village (where I live), Williamsburg is easily accessible.  Plus, it’s quirky, charming, and far cheaper than Manhattan.  My absolute favorite cheap spots for greasy, yummy eats are Whirlybird for breakfast tacos, and Pies N Thighs’ for their legendary chicken biscuit.  If Williamsburg is indeed the hipster capital of the universe, then by God, those hipsters have mastered the art of curing hangovers in the most delicious way possible.  P.S. each of these places is equally wonderful without a hangover–although a certain degree of shamelessness may be required to gobble down the chicken biscuit under normal circumstances.

Not your average breakfast taco

Whirlybird kind of represents Williamsburg in a nutshell.  It is a tiny hole-in-the-wall shop serving exclusively organic, gluten-free breakfast tacos and some mean espresso.  Oh, and it doubles as a  record-label gallery (natch).  Eccentric, adorable and affordable–just what the doctor ordered!  The basic Whirlybird breakfast taco involves gooey melted Oaxaca cheese, fluffy scrambled eggs, homemade salsa and is topped with crumbled jalapeno potato chips and a nice sprinkle of cilantro.  Without chorizo, that breakfast taco is just $3, but I definitely suggest adding the chorizo for the extra dollar.  One breakfast taco with chorizo is a really great breakfast, not to mention a generally fulfilling experience.

The harmonious marriage of trashy and gourmet

I first fell in love with Pies N Thighs at the 2011 Time Out New York Annual Food and Drink Awards, when they won “Best Southern Comfort.”  They were sampling their chicken biscuits, and I know I ate an obscene amount of them because I walked past the table multiple times sneaking samples while trying to look coy and curious as if I had yet to try them.  As I said, there has to be a degree of shamelessness involved when you are eating a Pies N Thighs chicken biscuit.  Anyways, the chicken biscuit is really baller.  This ingenious creation encompasses a juicy fried chicken cutlet atop a warm, buttery biscuit with hot sauce and honey butter.  It’s simultaneously sweet, salty and spicy, but more than anything, it is just the utmost manifestation of comfort food.  Very filling and guaranteed to solve your problems, no matter what they are (unless your problem is obesity).

 

I am 100% obsessed with Williamsburg.  As much as I complain about hipsters, they have created a cheap food paradise in Williamsburg.  If you are anywhere near the L train (or even if you’re not), I highly suggest taking advantage of what Williamsburg has to offer, foodwise.  Whether you are hungover, poor or just love walking in cutesy neighborhoods, Williamsburg has got just what you need.

This Way or That Way at This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef in the East Village

That Way!

Beautiful weather today aside, winter weather has arrived in New York.  And nothing screams winter weather like comfort food.  Personally, when I am all bundled up in the cold, all I want is something cozy and hot to eat; fortunately, there is one little roast beef joint dangerously close to my casa that can fulfill those cravings whenever necessary.  This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef, as one could probably conclude based upon its name, is just precious.  In addition to combining two of my favorite things–cutesy themes and shamelessly trashy yet absurdly delicious comfort food– This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef is wonderfully cheap, open late, conveniently located and consistently yummy.

Right now, This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef is even cheaper than cheap, as it is currently featured on Scoutmob for BOGO on any rolls or heroes.  If you don’t have a Scoutmob app and like free food, then you had better get all up on that ASAP.  Anyways, the two most famous sandwiches served at TLPHRB are the “This Way,” featuring roast beef with au jus and cheez whiz, and the “That Way,” a roast beef sandwich with gravy and fresh mozzarella.  A roll of either one is $5.50, and a big hero is $9.50 for each.  Go with a friend with your BOGO Scoutmob deal and pay as little as $2.75 each for a massive sandwich.  Or be a little piggy and go by yourself and have two roast beef sandwiches.  Whatevz.

I went with a friend and we each got a roll.  Make no mistake, the rolls are exceedingly large and filling, so unless you are massive really hungry, I would really recommend sticking with the rolls!  The real beauty of going with a friend is that you can double-whammy and try more than one thing.  I honestly can’t decide what I like better between the This Way and the That Way.  They are both exquisite, and they are both very different.  Each one features the classic fresh, juicy, cooked-to-perfection TLPHRB roast beef.  There is no freezer or microwave in the restaurant kitchen, so you can be 100% sure that your luscious beef is fresh as fresh can be.  Anyways, the This Way may not sound gourmet per se what with the cheez whiz and all, but rest assured that the cheez whiz lends an amazing texture and flavor to the roast beef.  It melts really nicely onto the sandwich, and its saltiness perfectly complements the slight sweetness of the au jus.  It’s a perfect, endearingly trashy spin on a classic roast beef sandwich.  Unbelievably good.

This Way!

The That Way is also a force to be reckoned with.  The mozzarella that is generally heaped on the That Way is really delicious, and combined with the rich gravy, it makes for a truly decadent sandwich.  The That Way is perhaps a bit more filling as a result of its heavier components.  Both, however, are wonderful options, and I can’t imagine being dissatisfied with either one.  Whether you opt for the This Way or the That Way or any of the other beefy creations at This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef, you can take solace in knowing that you are in the hands of roast beef pros, and therefore no option is a bad option.

Posted in East Village, New York City, Sandwich Shop | Tagged Cheap eats, East Village, manhattan, NYC, roast beef, scoutmob, this little piggy had roast beef | Leave a comment