Lucid Thoughts: Lockdown Eats
If there is really one thing, that I miss the most, it has got to be dining out. So here we are, it’s been 84 years of being on lockdown. As I watch so many, on social media, posting up their returns to restaurants, bars, clubs. As a foodie, which if you are here reading this, you are pretty aware of my love for food.
Starting the day with a cuisine in mind. Will it be sushi, mediterranean, Mexican, or just good ole southern comfort food. Make a reservation at a favorite place. Step in and be engulfed by the aromas of tasty delights that have yet ton come. Stomach rumbling with excitement to feed on the blessings that are bestowed upon us, by the culinary gods. Hearing “your wait will be 5 minutes”. Walk over to the bar and order a drink just to kill some time. Some small talk with the bartenders. A light tape on the shoulders ‘your table is ready’. Step by step make it to a booth, drink in hand, anticipating to hear todays specials. Appetizers, entrees and desserts oh my! Everything gets ordered. Pure bliss ensues right from the first sip to the very last bite. A Feast of all feasts. Such was life.
But here we are. Home. Most with stocked kitchens, but no motivation to cook a ‘real meal’. How many simple pasta dishes have you made by now? Cereal has never been the best snack, now more than ever. It’s even harder when you are quarantined alone. I’ve never really been good at making a ‘meal for one’. Let’s be honest, most of us never eat ‘serving size portions’. Believe me I've tried! Just know, servicing sizes may vary per household! Even when going out alone, my table looks like there are at least three others with me. YIKES!
Now a disclaimer: I do not get anything from Ubereats or is this a promo thing. Thank you.
So what has become my best friend, online ordering, especially UberEats Pass. With the UberEats pass you pay $10/month. You get FREE delivery, 5% off your order and can cancel the pass at anytime. Also before I get yelled out by those who will say “you should support your local businesses” That is literally what I do when I order and leave tips for them as well. Also I have found recently that most apps do charge some of the restaurants more, so many would prefer that you order directly from them. As I do value this option highly, like with many businesses in NYC, delivery availability is an issue. I really would like for places to be clear that if you state you “deliver in & around NYC” that you please understand that means ALL 5 boroughs. Not just limited to Manhattan. It can be daunting when you try to place an order, to then be told they don’t deliver, because its “across the bridge”. Apps such as UberEats, Grubhub, Seamless, etc. helps make these great eats accessible.
I don’t order everyday. But at the beginning of quarantine, there was so much uncertainty on everything. I chose to order every other day. To limit how much of my at home stock I was touching. Just in case. Now being 3 months in, deliveries and stock levels are in decent shape. But I can say being able to order some of my favorite things has helped with feeling some kind of ‘normal’. I love Ramen so much, regardless of what season it is. So being able to get that, has made these last few months amazing. My orders are mostly things I don’t know how to make or at the time I did not have ingredients to make myself. For next month I’m going to give sushi making a try as well as General TSO’s Chicken. If you only knew the struggle its been to find corn starch!!!
It’s been fun finding new places via the app. Once things get better, I would love to visit in person and hopefully do some videos too. Below is a list of some places and dishes I have really enjoyed:
Jin Ramen: Spicy Shoyu Ramen (near Columbia Univ)
Rai Rai Ken: Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen (Harlem)
Tiny Buns: All sliders (Harlem)
Hudson Smokehouse: Half rack of ribs, Mac & cornbread (The Bronx)
Ceetay: Pad Thai & Eel Avocado Roll (The Bronx)
Sam’s Soul Food: BBQ chicken & all the sides! LOL (The Bronx)
Bickles 2 Go: Jerk chicken & Collard Greens (The Bronx)
Landin Macaroni & Cheese: Cheeseburger Mac (The Bronx)
Now that I am hungry again after writing all of this, let me go pull up something on the app. Let’s see what new and exciting restaurants are yet to be discovered by me. If you find yourself missing out on dining out, find a local business you love or have yet to try it out. Fix up your dining table, get some music going, pour yourself your favorite beverage and take yourself out to eat, at home. The new normal.
Happy Quarantine life to all. See you next week.
Lucid OmniJack